you turne you from your euyl wayes for why will ye die O ye house of Israel Psal 32 1. Blessed is he whose wickednes is forgeuen and whose sinne is couered 1. Tim. 1 15. This is a true saying and by all meanes worthy to be receaued That Christ Iesus came into the worlde to saue sinners of whom I am chiefe Mar. 2 17. He sayd vnto them the whole haue no neede of the Phisition but the sicke I came not to call the righteous but the sinners to repentance Exod. 34 7. Reseruing mercie for thousandes forgiuing iniquitie and transgression and sinne and not making the wicked innocent visiting the iniquitie of the fathers vpon the children and vpon the childrens children vnto the thirde and fourth generation 1. Pet. 4 1. Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for vs in the flesh arme your selues likewise with the same minde which is that he which hath suffered in the flesh hath ceassed from sinne 1. Cor 6 11. Eph. 2 12 13 Titus 3 3. And such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are iustefied in the name of the Lord Iesus and by the spirit of our God 1. Pet. 1 15 16. As he which hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all maner of conuersation Because it is written Be ye holy for I am holy Act. 3 19. Amende your lyues therefore and turne that your Sinnes may be put away when the time of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Rō 6 22.23 But now being freed from Sinne and made seruantes vnto God ye haue your fruite in holynes and the ende euerlasting life For the wages of Sinne is death but the gyft of God is eternall lyfe through Iesus Christ our Lord. If we acknowledge our sinnes 1. Iohn 1 9. he is faythfull and iust to forgiue vs our Sinnes and to clense vs from all vnrighteousnesse Speake vnto all the congregation of the children of Israel and say vnto them Ye shal be holy Leuit. 19 2. 20 7. Luk. 1 75. Deut. 10 17 Rom. 2 11. Galla. 2 6. for I the Lord your God am holy OF IMAGES AND IDOLS YE shall see in Babylon Gods of Siluer Bar. 6 3 13 14 18 21 22 and Gods of Wood borne vpon mens shoulders to cause the people to feare One holdeth a Scepter as though he were a certaine Iudge of the Countrey yet can he not slay such as offende him Another hath a Dagger or an Axe in his right hand yet he is not able to defende him selfe from battayle nor from theeues So then it is euident that they be no Gods They lyght vp Candles before them yea more then for them selues whereof they cannot see one for they are but as one of the postes of the Temple The Owles Swallowes and Birdes flye vpon their bodyes and vpon their heades yea and the Cattes also By this ye may be sure that they are not Gods Therefore feare them not All they that make an Image are vanitie Esa 44 9. and their delectable thinges shall nothing profite and they are their owne witnesses that they see not nor know therefore they shall be confounded Esa 46 7. They beare it vpon the shoulders they cary him and set him in his place so doth he stande and can not remooue from his place Though one cry vnto him yet can he not answere nor deliuer him out of his tribulation Psal 115 4 5 6 7 8. Their Idols are siluer and golde euen the worke of mens handes They haue a mouth and speake not they haue eyes and see not They haue eares and heare not they haue noses and smell not They haue handes and touch not they haue feete and walke not neither make they any sounde with their throate They that make them are like vnto them so are all that trust in them Psal 16 4. The sorowes of them that offer to an other God shal be multiplyed their offerings of blood will I not offer neither make mention of their names with my lyppes Ier. 10 5. The Idoles stand vp as the palme tree but speake not they are borne because they can not goe feare them not for they cannot do euyll neither can they do good Wisd 13 10. Miserable are they and among the dead is there hope that call them Gods which are the workes of mens handes golde and siluer and the thing that is inuented by art and the similitude of beastes or any vayne stone that hath been made by the hande of antiquitie Leuit. 26 1. Ye shall make you none Idols nor grauen Images neither reare you vp any Pillar neither shall ye set any Image of Stone in your land to bowe downe to it for I am the Lord your God Ye shall take heede to all thinges that I haue said vnto you Exod. 23 13. and ye shall make no mention of the name of other Gods neither shall it be heard out of thy mouth Neither company with these nations that is Iosh 23 7. with them which are left with you neither make mention of the name of their Gods nor cause to sweare by them neither serue them nor bow vnto them The residue thereof he maketh a God Esa 44 17. euen his Idoll he boweth vnto it and worshypeth prayeth vnto it and sayth Deliuer me for thou art my God For mine owne sake for mine owne sake Esa 48 11 12 13. will I doe it For how should my name be polluted Surely I will not giue my glory to another Heare me O Iacob and Israel my called I am I am the first and I am the last Surely mine hand hath layde the foundation of the earth and my right hand hath spanned the heauens when I cal them they stand vp together Cursed be the man that shall make any carued or molten Image Deut. 27 15. which is an abhomination to the Lord the worke of the handes of the Craftsman and putteth it in a secret place And all the people shall answere and say So be it EXHORTATION 2. Cor. 6 14 15. BE not vnequally yoked with the Infidels For what fellowshyp hath righteousnes with vnrighteousnes and what communion hath light with darknes And what concorde hath Christ with Belial or what part hath the beleeuer with the Infidell 1. Iohn 5 21. Babes keepe your selues from Idols Amen 1. Cor. 8 4 5 6. Concerning therefore meate sacrificed vnto Idols we know that an Idoll is nothing in the worlde and that there is none other God but one For though there be that are called Gods whether in heauen or in earth as there be many Gods and many Lordes Yet vnto vs there is but one God which is the Father of whom are all thinges and we in him and one Lord Iesus Christ by whom are all thinges and we by him 1. Cor 10 14. Wherefore my brethren flee
wickednes of his lyppes but the iust shall come out of aduersitie Pro. 13 2. A man shall eate good thinges by the fruite of his mouth but the soule of the trespassers shall suffer violence He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his lyfe Pro. 13 3. but he that openeth his lyppes destruction shal be to him A false Tongue hateth the afflicted Pro. 26 28. and a flattering mouth causeth ruine No constancie is in their mouth Psal 5 9. within they are very corrupt their throate is an open Sepulcher and they flatter with their tongues The stroke of the rodde maketh markes in the flesh Eccle. 28 17 18 19. but the stroke of the Tongue breaketh the bones There be many that haue perished by the edge of the sworde but not so many as haue fallen by the tongue Well is him that is kept from an euyll tongue and commeth not in the anger therof which hath not drawen in that yoke neither hath been bound in the bandes thereof The man that is accustomed to opprobrious wordes Ecclu 23 15 will neuer be reformed all the dayes of his lyfe Well is him that dwelleth with a wife of vnderstandyng Ecclus. 25 8. and that hath not fallen with his tongue and that hath not serued such as are vnworthy of hym Blessed is the man that hath not fallen by the worde of his mouth Ecclus. 14 1. and is not tormented with the sorrow of sinne He that refrayneth his tongue Ecclu 19 6. may lyue with a troublesome man and he that hateth babling shall haue lesse euyll Ecclu 19 16 A man falleth with his Tongue but not with his will and who is he that hath not offended in his Tongue EXHORTATION 1. Pet. 3 10. IF a man long after lyfe and to see good dayes let him refrayne his Tongue from euyll and his lippes that they speake no guyle Ephe. 4 31. Let all bitternesse and anger and wrath rayling and euyll speaking be put away from you with all maliciousnesse Ephe. 5 4. Neither filthynesse neither foolish talking neither iesting which are thinges not comely but rather geuing of thankes Eccle. 28 25 26. Binde vp thy siluer and golde and weigh thy wordes in a balance and make a doore and a barre and a sure brydle for thy mouth Beware that thou slyde not by it and so fall before him that lyeth in wayte and thy fall be incureable euen vnto death 1. Pet. 4 11. If any man speake let him talke as the wordes of God Pro. 4 24. Put away from thee a froward mouth and put wicked lyppes farre from thee Collo 3 8. Now put ye away euen all these thinges wrath anger maliciousnes cursed speaking filthy speaking out of your mouth OF FAIGNED FRIENDES and Friendshyp LET euery one take heede of his neighbour Ier. 9 4. and trust you not in any brother for euery brother wyll vse deceipt and euery Frinde wyll deale deceitfully Some man is a Friende for his owne occasion Ecclus. 6 8 9 10 11 12. and wyll not abide in the day of thy trouble And there is some Friende that turneth to enmitie and taketh part against thee and in contention he wyll declare thy shame Againe some Friend is but a companion at thy table and in the day of thy affliction he continueth not But in thy prosperitie he wylbe as thou thy selfe and wyll vse libertie ouer thy seruantes If thou be brought low he wylbe agaynst thee and wyll hide him selfe from thy face Euery Friend sayth I am a Friend vnto him also Ecclus. 37 1 2 3 4 5. but there is some Friend which is onely a Friend in name Remaineth there not heauines vnto death when a companion Friend is turned to an enemie There is some companion which in prosperitie reioyceth with his Friend but in the time of trouble is against him There is some companion that helpeth his Friend for the bellies sake and taketh vp the buckler against the enemie Pro. 27 10. Thine owne friende and thy fathers friende forsake thou not neyther enter into thy brothers house in the day of thy calamitie for bettet is a neighbour that is neare then a brother farre off Ecclu 27 16 Who so discouereth secrets looseth his credite and findeth no friend after his will Ecclu 6 1. Be not of a friend thy neighbours enemie for such shall haue an euyll name shame and reproch and he shall be in infamie as the wicked that hath a double tongue EXHORTATION Ecclu 6 7. IF thou gettest a Friend proue him first and be not hastie to credite him Ecclu 27 17 Loue thy Friende and be faythfull vnto him but yf thou bewrayest his secretes thou shalt not get him againe Pro. 18 24. A man that hath Friendes ought to shew himselfe friendly for a Friend is nearer then a brother Ecclu 6 6 14 15 16 17 Holde Friendshyp with many neuerthelesse haue but one counsaylour of a thousand A faythfull Friend is a strong defence and he that findeth such one findeth a treasure A faythfull Friend ought not to be changed for any thing and the weight of golde and siluer is not to be compared to the goodnes of his fayth A faythfull Friend is the medicine of lyfe and immortalitie and they that feare the Lord shall finde him Who so feareth the Lord shall direct his friendshyp aright and as his owne selfe so shall his friend be Giue not ouer thy Friend for any good Ecclu 7 18. nor thy true brother for the golde of Ophir Forget not thy Friend in thy minde Ecclu 37 6. and thinke vpon him in thy riches Forsake not an olde Friend Eccle. 9 12. for the new shall not be like him a new Friend is as new wine when it is olde thou shalt drinke it with pleasure Doe good vnto thy Friend before thou die Ecclu 14 13 and according to thine abilitie stretch out thine hand and giue him OF WITCHES and Sorcerers IF a man or woman haue a spirit of diuination Leui. 20 27. or south saying in them they shall die the death they shall stone them to death their blood shal be vpon them Saul sayd vnto his seruantes 1. Sam. 28 7 8. Seeke mee a woman that hath a familiar spirit that I may goe to her and aske of her And his seruants sayd to him Beholde there is a woman at En-dor that hath a familiar spirit Then Saul changed him selfe and put on other rayment and he went and two men with him and they came to the woman by nyght and he sayd I pray thee coniecture vnto mee by the familiar spirit and bring mee him vp whom I shall name vnto thee Iosiah also tooke away them that had familiar spirites and the soothsayers the images 2. kin 23 24 and the idols and all the abominations that were espyed in the land of Iuda and in Ierusalem to
them and of their children after them Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your hart Deut. 10 16 and harden your neckes no more OF THE WORKES OF DARKNES and workes of the Flesh Gen. 6 5. THE Lord saw that the wickednesse of man was great in the earth Gen. 8 21. And all the imaginations of the thoughtes of his hart were onely euyll continually Ephe. 4 18 19. Hauing their cogitation darkoned and being strangers from the lyfe of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the hardnesse of their hart Which being past feeling haue geuen them selues vnto wantonnesse to worke all vncleannesse euen with greedines Rom. 1 21. Because that when they knew God they glorified him not as God neyther were thankfull but became vayne in their imaginations and their foolysh hart was full of darknesse Mark 7 21 22. For from within euen out of the hart of man proceede euyll thoughtes adulteries fornications murthers theftes couetousnesse wickednesse deceit vncleannesse a wicked eye backbyting pride foolyshnesse All these euyll thinges come from within and defyle a man Gall. 5 19 20 The workes of the Flesh are manifest which are adulterie fornication vncleannes wantonnes idolatrie witchcraft hatred debate emulations wrath contentions seditions herisies enuie murther drunkennes gluttonie and such lyke whereof I tell you before as I also haue tolde you before that they which do such thinges shall not inherite the kingdome of God Many will say to me in that day Lord Lord Math. 7 23. haue not wee by thy name prophecied and by thy name cast out deuyls and by thy name done many great workes Then shall ye begin to say Luk. 13 26.27 We haue eaten and dronken in thy presence and thou hast taught vs in our streetes But he shall say I tell you I knowe you not whence ye are Depart from mee all ye workers of iniquitie Away from mee all ye workers of iniquitie Psal 6 8. for the Lord hath heard the voyce of my weeping Then shall he say vnto them on the left hand Math. 25 41 Depart from mee ye cursed into euerlasting fire which is prepared for the deuyll and his angels EXHORTATION THE nyght is past and the day is at hand Rom. 13 12. let vs therefore cast away the workes of darknesse and let vs put on the armour of light And haue no felowshyp with the vnfruitfull workes of darknes but euen reproue them rather Ephe. 5 11. The grace of God Tit. 2 11 12 that bringeth saluation vnto all men hath appeared And teacheth vs that we should denie vngodlines and worldly lustes and that we should lyue soberly and righteously in this present worlde Walke in the spirit Gall. 5 16. and ye shall not fulfill the lustes of the flesh Gal. 5 22 23 24 25. The fruites of the spirit is loue ioy peace long suffering gentlenesse goodnesse fayth meekenesse temperancie against such there is no law For they that are Christes haue crucified the flesh with the affections If we lyue in the spirit let vs also walke in the spirit Math. 7 13. Enter in at the straight gate for it is the wyde gate and brode way that leadeth to destruction and many there be which goe in thereat Luk. 13 24. Striue to enter in at the straight gate for many I say vnto you will seeke to enter in and shall not be able FINIS A GODLY PRAYER AND CONFESSION OF our Sinnes vnto God O MOST merciful Lord God and my tender and deare Father vouchsafe I hartely beseech thee to looke downe with thy fatherly eyes of pittie vpon mee a most vile and wretched sinner which lie heere prostrate in hart before the feate of thy bottomlesse mercie for I confesse I haue most greeuously sinned against the throne of thy glory and before thee O Father in so much as I am no more worthy to be called thy sonne neuerthelesse forasmuch as thou art the God and Father of all comfort and desirest not the death of a sinner but like a true Samaritan takest thought for my seely wounded soule Make mee I pray thee by infunding thy precious oyle of comfort into my woundes ioyfully to runne with the lost Sonne vnto the lappe of thine euerlasting pittie For loe thou art my hope and trust in whom I onely repose my selfe hauing in thee full confidence and stedfast fayth and so I say with a very true and faythfull hart trusting only in thy mercie I beleeue in thee O God the Father in thee O God the Sonne and in thee O God the holy Ghost three persons and one true and also very God besides whom I acknowledge none other God in heauen aboue nor in the earth beneath yea and I poore miserable sinner doe accuse my selfe vnto thee deare Father that I haue sore and greeuosly offended thy Almighty goodnesse and maiestie in the committing of mine abundant and manifolde sinnes and wretchednesse which exceede the number of the Sandes in the Sea and haue not kept the least of thy most godly and blessed commaundementes lyke as thy righteousnes may require and demaunde the same of me which if thou Lord shouldest so require there were no helpe or hope in me but that I must needes perysh and be damned for euer I confesse also that I haue not honoured thee lyke my God nor dread thee lyke my Lord loued thee lyke my Father nor trusted in thee lyke my creator and Sauiour Thy holy and dreadfull name vnto whom all honour glory of duetie belongeth haue I vsed in vayne I haue not sanctified the holy dayes with works which be acceptable vnto thee nor in instructing my neighbour in vertue accordingly I haue not honoured my Parentes nor been obedient vnto them The high powers rulers which take their authority of thee I haue not been willingly obedient vnto I haue not kept myne hart pure and cleane from man slaughter theft adulterie enuie malice hatred disdaynefulnes pride couetousnes drunkennes gluttonie wantonnesse backbyting slaunder falsehood and false-witnes bearyng but haue in my hart and minde wyshed and desired my neighbours goodes and thinges I haue folowed the great Prince of this worlde Satan which hath been a lyar euen from the beginnyng in concupisence of the flesh in deceitfulnesse in all kinde of euyll and wicked lyuing in thought worde and deede in dispayre and also mysbeliefe But in what manner soeuer that I haue offended and sinned agaynst thy eternall Maiestie for no man knoweth throughly his sinnes as the prophet witnesseth whether it hath been by day or els by nyght yea euen from my chyldhood vnto this day were it in wordes workes or thoughtes secretly or openly O most mercifull God and heauenly Father I am most sorie for it euen from the bottom of my hart yea and my soule mourneth for very sorow within me O most mercifull Father that I am not a thousande tymes more soryer then I am Howbeit in token of my great and vnfeigned repentance though all hartes be knowen well ynough vnto thee I do cry and call vnto thee for refuge in the bitternesse of my hart and soule Lord God and Father haue mercie Lord God and Sonne haue mercie and Lord God holy Ghost haue mercie Spare mee good Lord of thine infinite mercie both now and all the dayes of my life and graunt mee of thine aboundant grace so as I may change my sinfull life and put off the olde man with all his euyll concupisence and deceiueable lustes and that I may die vnto the worlde and so goe foorth in a new life Strengthen thou mee O Lord I humblie beseech thee in a true humble lowlie and perfect hart faythfully to loue hope and trust in thee Giue my soule most heauenly Father the grace of thy holy spirit to desire thee onely in thee onely to reioyce and repose my selfe and that I may vtterly renounce and forsake the vanities and vaine affiance and delightes of this worlde so that thou mayest finde mee readie with the good Seruant in the midnight of my death which shall sodaynely steale vpon mee like a theefe eare I be aware Bee thou vnto mee at that time of neede O Lord a Tower of strength a Pallace of refuge and a defencible God namely against the face of the feende who like a roring Lyon wil be then most readie to deuoure me and against desperation which then wil be busie to grieue and assayle mee Graunt mee most mercifull Sauiour that when death shall shut vp the eyes of this my mortall body yet that the eyes of my soule may still beholde and looke vpon thee with a liuely and perfect fayth that when death hath taken away the vse of my tongue and outward senses yet that my hart and soule may cry and say vnto thee O Lord into thy handes I giue and commit my soule Lord Iesu receiue my spirit vnto thee Fetch then againe Lord God the Father I humblie beseech thee that which thy wisedome and puissant might hath shapen and fashioned Fetch then againe Lord God the Sonne that which thou hast so wisely and carefully gouerned and bought with the deare price of thy most precious blood Take then againe thou Lord God holy Ghost that which thou hast kept and preserued so louingly in this region of sinne and vale of miserie Vnto whom as of right and duetie belongeth be all honour power prayse and glory for euer and euer worlde without ende Amen Despise not a man that turneth himselfe away from sinne nor cast him not in the teeth withall but remember that we are all worthy blame Ecclus. 8.5 Imprinted at London by William White 1598.