not of these Kynges Prophetes Apostles Learned and commen of holye stockes I deceaue my selfe thynke thou with thy selfe yf I beleue GOD beynge the same GOD that he was wyll spare me whose wyckednesse is no lesse but muche more then some of theyrs he hateth synne nowe as muche as euer he dydde the longer he sparethe the greater vengeaunce wyll fall The deeper he draweth his bowe the soorer wyll the shafte pearce But yf yet thy harte be so hardened that all thys geare wyll not moue thee Suerlye thou arte in a verye euyll estate and remedy now know I none What sayde I none knowe I none yes yet there is one which is suresbye as they saye to serue yf anye thynge will serue you loke to knowe what this is Forsooth the passion and death of Iesus CHRISTE You knowe the cause whye Christe become man and suffered as he suffered was the synnes of hys people thot he myght saue them from the same Consider y e greatnes of the soore I meane sinne by the greatenes of the Surgion and of the salue Who was the Surgion no Aungell no sainct no Archaungel no power no creature in heuē nor in earth but onely he by whom al thinges were made all thinges are ruled also euen Gods owne dearlyng and onely beloued Sonne becōmynge man Oh what a great thinge is this that coulde not be doone by the aungels archaūgels potestates powers or all the creatures of God without his owne Sonne who yet muste nedes be thruste out of heauen as a man woulde saye to take oure nature and become man Here haue ye the surgion greate was the cure that this mightye Lorde toke in hande Nowe what was the salue Forsoth dere geare and of many compositions I cannot recite al but rather must leaue it to your hartye considerations Three thyrtye yeares was he curynge oure sore he sought it earnestly by fastinge watchinge prayinge c. The same nyghte he was betrayed I read how busy he was aboute a plaister in the garden when he lying flat on y e grounde prayenge with teares and that of bloud not a fewe but so manye as dydde flowe downe on the grounde agayne cryinge on this sorte Father sayth he yf it be possible lette this ruppe departe frome me that is yf it be possible els mankyndes synnes canne be taken awaye graunte that it maye be so Thou hardest Moyses cryinge for the ydolaters Thou hardest Lot for the zoarites Samuell Dauyd and manye other for the Israelites and deare Father I onelye am thyne owne sonne as thou hast sayde in whome thou arte well pleased wylte thou not heare me I haue by the space of three and thyrty yeares done always thy wyll I haue so humbled my selfe that I woulde become an abiecte amongeste men to obeye thee Therefore deare father yf it be possible graunt my request saue mankynde nowe wythoute any further laboure Salues or playsters But yet sayth he not as I wyll but as thou wylte But syr what harde he thoughe he sweate bloude and water in makynge his playster for oure sore of synne yet it framed not twyse he cryed withoute comforte yea ▪ thoughe to comfort hym GOD sente an Aungell we yet knowe that thys Playster was not alowed for sufficiente vntyll herevnto Christe Iesus was betrayed forsaken of all hys Discyples forsworne of his dearelye beloued bounde lyke a thefe belyed on buffeted whypped skourged crowned with thornes derided crucified racked nayled hanged vppe betwene twoo theues cursed and rayled vppon mocked in myserye and hadde geuen vppe the ghoste then bowed downe the heade of Christe that is GOD the father whyche is the heade of Christe i. Corinth xi then alowed he the playster to be sufficient and good for the healynge of our sore which is synne Now wolde God abyde our breath because the stincke that is dampnation or gyltynesse was taken awaye by the swete sauour of the breath of this lambe thus offered once for all So that here dearelye beloued we as in a glasse maye se to the broosynge of oure blockyshe harde heartes Goddes greate iudgement and anger agaynste synne The Lorde of Lordes they kynge of kynges the brightnes of Goddes glorye the sonne of GOD the dearelynge of hys father in whome he is well pleased hangeth betwene twoo theues cryinge for thee and me and for vs all My God my god why haste thou forsaken me Oh harde heartes that we haue whiche make tuttes for synne looke on thys toote in the verye harte of Christe pearced wyth a speare wherein thou mayeste see and reade Goddes horrible anger for sinne woo to thy hard harte that pearsed it And thus muche for the fyrste parte of repentaunce I meane for the meanes of workynge contricion Fyrste vse prayer thē looke on GODDES lawe thyrdely se hys curse fourthlye sette exaumples of his anger and laste of all sette before thee the death of Christe frome this and prayer cease not tyll thou feele some hartye sorowe for thy Sinne. The whiche when thou fealeste then laboure for the other parte that is fayth on this sorte As fyrste in contrition I willed thee not to truste to thy free wyll for thattaininge of it so do I wyll thee in this Fayth is so farre frome the reache of mannes free wyll that to reasonne it is playne folyshnes Therefore thou muste fyrste go to GOD whose gyfte it is thou muste I saye gette thee to the father of mercye whose woorke it is Iohn the syxth that as he hathe brought y e downe by contricion and humbled thee so he woulde geue the fayth rayse thee vppe Collossians ii and exalte thee On this manner therefore with the Apostles and the poore man in the Gospell that cryed Lorde encrease oure fayeth Lorde helpe my vnbeleife praye thou and saye O mercyfull GOD and deare father of oure Lorde and sauyoure Iesus Christ in whom as thou arte well pleased so hast thou commaunded vs to heare hym forasmuche as he often biddeth vs to aske of thee and ther to promyseth that thou wylte heare vs and graunte vs that whyche in hys name we shall aske of thee Loe gracious father I am bolde to begge of thy mercye thoroughe thy Sonne Iesus Christe one sparckle of true fayth and certayne perswasion of thy goodnes and loue towardes me in Christe where throughe I beynge assewred of the pardonne of all my sinnes by the mercyes of Christe thy Sonne maye be thankefull to thee loue thee and serue thee in holynes and rightuousnes al the dayes of my lyfe On this sorte I saye or otherwyse as God shall moue thee praye thou fyrste of all and looke for thy request at GODDES hande withoute any doubtyng thoughe forthwith thou feeleste not the same for often tymes we haue thynges of GOD geuen vs longe before we feele them as we woulde do Nowe vnto thys prayer vse thou these meanes folowynge After prayer for fayth which I woulde shoulde be firste Secondlye because the same
spryngeth oute of the hearynge not of Masses Mattens Cannons councels doctours decrees but out of the hearing of gods word Get the gods word but not that part whiche serueth speciallye to contricion that is the lawe but the other part which serueth specially to consolacion and certayn perswasiō of gods loue towards the that is the Gospel or publication of Gods mercy in Christ I meane the free promyses But here thou must knowe y t there is two kyndes of promises one which are properly of y e law another which ar properly of the Gospell In the promyses of the lawe we may in dede behold Goddes mercy but so that it hāgeth ouer the condicion of our worthynes as yf thou loue the Lord with al thy hearte c thou shalte fynde mercy This kynd of promyses though it declare vnto vs Goddes loue which promiseth wher he nedeth not yet vnto him that feleth not Christe whiche is the ende of the law they are so farre from cōfortinge that vtterly with the law they bringe manne to greate dispayre so greatly we are corrupt for none so loueth GOD as he oughte to doe From these therfore get the to the other promyses of the Gospel in which we may see suche plentie and franke liberalite of Gods goodnes that we can not but be muche comforted though we haue very depelye synned For these promyses of the gospell doe not hange on the condicion of oure worthynesse as the promyses of the law do but they depende and hange on Goddes trueth that as GOD is true so they can not but be perfourmed to al thē which lay holde on them by faith I had almost sayd which cast them not away by vnbelefe Marke in them therfore two thinges nameli that as wel they are free promyses without anye condiciō of our worthines as also that they are vniuersal offred to al all I saye which are not so stubborne as to kepe styll ▪ theyr handes whereby they should receaue this almesse in theyr bosomes by vnbeliefe As concerning infantes and children you know I now speake not but cōcerning such as be of yeres of discrecion And now you loke that I shuld geue you a tast of these promyses whiche are both free and vniuersall excepting none but suche as excepte themselues Well you shall haue one or two for a saye In the thyrde of Iohn sayeth our Sauiour so God the Father loued the world that he woulde geue his dearling his owne only sonne that all that beleue in hym should not perish but haue euerlasting lyfe Lo syr he sayeth not that some might haue lyfe but al sayth he And what all all y t loue him wyth all theyr heartes all y t haue lyued a godly lyfe naye all y t beleue in him all thoughe thou hast liued a most wicked and horrible lyfe yf nowe thou beleue in him thou shalte be saued Is not this swete geare Agayne sayth Christ Mat. xi come vnto me all you that labor and are laden and I wyll refresh you Let vs a little loke on thys letter come vnto me Who shuld come Lord Priestes Holy men Monkes Freres Yea coblers tinkers whores theues murtherers also yf they lamente theyr sinnes Come vnto me sayth he all ye that labour and are laden that is which are afrayd for your sinnes And what wilte thou doe Lorde and I wyll refreshe you sayth he Oh what a thinge is this and I wyll refresshe you wote you who spake thys he that neuer tolde lye he is the trueth there was neuer gyle founde in hys mouth and now wyl he be vntru to the good brother whiche arte sorie for thy greuous sinnes no forsoth Heauen and earth shall passe and perishe but his woorde shall neuer fayle Sainct Paule sayth i. Tim. ij God would haue all men saued lo he excepteth none And to Titus ij the grace of God bringeth saluacion to all mē As frō Adam all haue receyued sinne to dampnation so by Christ al haue grace offred to saluacion yf they reiect not the same I speake not nowe of infantes I saye nor I nede not to enter into the matter of predestinacion In preathinge of repentaūce I would gather wher I could with Christ As surely as I lyue sayth god I wyll not the death of a synner Arte thou a synner yea Lo god sweareth he wyll not thy death howe canste thou nowe perishe Consyder wyth thy selfe what profyte shouldeste thou haue to beleue this to be true to others yf not to thy selfe also Sathan doeth so Rather consyder wyth Peter that the promyse of saluacion pertayneth not only to them whiche are nye that is to suche as are fallen a lyttle but also to all whome the LORDE hath called be they neuer so farre of Loe nowe by me the Lorde calleth thee thou manne thou woman that art very farre of The promyse therfore pertayneth to thee nedes muste thou be saued excepte thou wyth Sathan say GOD is false and yet yf thou do so GOD is faythful and can not denye him selfe as thou shalt feele by hys plages in hell for so dishonoringe God to thinke that he is not true Wyll he be founde false now the matter hangeth not on thy worthynesse but it hangeth on Gods truth Clap hold on it and I warrante thee Christe is the propiciation of oure synnes yea for the synnes of the whole world Beleue this man I know thou beleuest it saye therefore in thy hearte styll Domine adauge mihi fidē lord increase my fayth Lord help my vnbelefe Blessed are they which see not by reason this geare but yet beleue Hope man past all hope as Abrahā dyd Roma iiij And thus muche for a taste of these promyses which are euerye where not only in the new testament but also in the olde Reade the last ende of Leuiticum xxvi The Prophete Esay from the .xl Chapt. in the .xxx. sayth he God tarrieth loking for thee to shewe the mercy reade the .ij. Regum xxiiij Psalm xxxiij Ioel. ij c. Howebeit yf thys geare wyll not serue yf yet thou fealeste no fayth no certayne perswasion of Gods loue then vnto praier and diligent consyderinge of the free and vniuersall promyses of the Gospell Thyrdely set before the those benefites which god hath to foregeuen thee and presently geueth thee Cōsyder how he hath made the a manne or a woman whiche myghte haue made the a tode a dogge And why did he this verely because he loued the trow est thou that yf he loued the whē thou wast not to make the such a one as he most graciouslye hath made y e wil he not troweste thou now loue the beinge his handye worke doeth he hate any thinge that he made is there vnablenes with him doth he loue for a day and so fare wel no forsoth he loueth to thende his mercye endureth for euer Say therfore with Iob Operimanuum tuarum porrige dexteram to the woorke of thy hand
hym so that there to he wyl not adde wylling offences This willing and witting offending and sinning whosoeuer doeth flatter him selfe therein doth euidently demonstrate and shewe that he neuer yet in dede tasted of Christe truelye He was neuer truely perswaded or beleued how foule a thinge synne is how greuous a thinge Gods anger is howe ioyfull and precious a thing Gods mercy in christ is nowe exceding broade wyde highe and depe Christes loue is Perchaunce he can wryte prate talke and preache of thys geare but yet he in hart by fayth neuer felte this geare For dyd he once feele this geare in dede theÌ„ wold he be so sarre from continuing in synne willingly wittingly that wholy hartely he wold geue ouer him self to y t which is coÌ„trari I meane to a new lyfe renewing his youth eueÌ„ as the Egle doth Psalm â—iii For as we being in y e seruitude of sinne demonstrate our seruice by geuing ouer our meÌ„bres to y e obeyinge of synne froÌ„ iniquitie to iniquitie eueÌ„ so we beynge made free from sinne by fayth in Iesus Christ endewed with gods spirite a spirit of libertie .ij. Cor. iij â–ª must nedes demoÌ„strate this fredoÌ„ libertie by geuing ouer oure meÌ„bres to thobedieÌ„ce of y e spirite by y e which we are led gyded froÌ„ vertue to vertue al kind of holynes As thunbeleuers declare their vnbeliefe by y e working of y e euil spirit in theÌ„ Eph ij â–ª outwardly the fruites of the fleshe Gal. v. Euen so the beleuers declare theyr fayth by the workinge of gods good spirit in theÌ„ outwardly the fruites of the spirit For as the deuyll is not deade in those whiche are hys but worketh styll to theyr dampnacion so is not God dead in them whiche be his but worketh styll to their saluacioÌ„ the which working is not the cause of y e one or thother being in any but only a demonstracion a signe a fruit of the same as y e aple is not the cause of y e aple tree but a fruite of it Thus then you see briefely that newnes of life is not in dede a parte of penaunce but a fruit of it a demonstracion of the iustyfying fayth a sygne of gods good spirite possessing the heart of the penitent As the old lyfe is a fruyte of impenitencie a demoÌ„stracioÌ„ of a lippe fayth or vnbelief a signe of Sathans spirit possessing the heart of the impenitent which al those be that be not penitent For mean I knowe none he that is not penitent that same is impenitent he that is not gouerned by Gods spirite the same is gouerned by Sathans spirit For all that be Christes are gouerned with the spirite of Christ Rom. viii which spirite hath her fruites Gala. v. Al other that be not Christes are the deuyls He that gathereth not with Christe scattereth abroade Therefore dearely beloued I beseche you to coÌ„syder this geare and deceaue not your selues Yf you be not Christes then pertain you to the deuyl of which thinge the fruites of the fleshe doeth assure you as whoredom â–ª adultry vncleanes wantonnes ydolatri witchcraft enuie strife contencion wrathe sedicion murthers dronkenes glottonie blasphemy slouthfulnes ydlenes baudy talking sclaunderinge c. Yf these apples growe oute of the apple trees of your hearts surely surely the deuylis at Inne with you you are his byrdes whom when he hath wel fed you he wyl broch you and eate you chaw you and champ you world without ende in eternall wo and miserie But I am otherwyse perswaded of you al I trust you be al Christes Iesus his people and childreÌ„ yea brethren by fayth As ye see your sinnes in Gods lawe and tremble syghe sorow sob for the smae euen so you see his great mercies in his Gospell and free promises and therefore are glad merrie and ioyefull for that you are accepted into Gods fauour haue your sinnes pardoned ar endued w t y e good spirit of God eueÌ„ the seale signe manuel of your electioÌ„ in Christe before the beginning of the world The which spirite for that he is the spirit of life geueÌ„ to you to worke in you with you by you here in this lyfe sanctificacioÌ„ and holynes where vnto you are called that ye might be holy euen as your heauenly father is holye I beseche you all by admonicion warninge of you that you wolde stirre up the gyftes of God geueÌ„ to you generalli particulerli to y e edifying of hys Church that is I praye you that you would not moleste the good spyryt of God by rebellinge agaynste it when it prouoketh and calleth you to go on forewardes that he which is holy myght yet be more holy he whyche is righteous myghte be more righteous As the euyl spirite moueth and stirreth vp the fylthy to be yet more fylthy the couetous to be more couetous the wicked to be more wicked Declare you now your repentaunce by workes of repentauÌ„ce bring forth fruites and worthye fruytes lette youre sorowing for your euyls demonstrate it selfe by departinge froÌ„ the euyls you haue vsed let your certayntie of pardon of your sinnes throughe Christe and youre ioye in hym be demonstrated by pursuing of the good thinges which gods word teacheth you you are nowe in Christ Iesus gods workemaÌ„ship to do good workes whiche God hath prepared for you to walk in For the grace of God y t bringeth saluacion vnto al men hath apeared teacheth vs that we should denie vngodlines and worldlye lustes and that we should liue sobrelye righteouslye and godly in this present worlde lokinge for that blessed hope glorious apearing of the mighty God and of oure Sauiour Iesus Christe which gaue him self for vs to redeme vs from al vnrighteousnes and to purge vs a peculier people vnto him self feruently geueÌ„ vnto good workes Titus ij Agayne Titus .iij for we our selues also were in times past vnwyse disobediente deceaued in daunger to lustes and to dyuers maners of voluptuousnes liuing in maliciousnes and enuie full of hate hating one another But after that the kyndnes and loue of God our Sauiour to manward appeared not by y e dedes of righteousnes which we wrought but of his mercye he saued vs by the fountayn of the new byrth and with the renuing of the holy gost which he shed on vs aboundantly thorow Iesus Christ our Sauioure that we once iustifyed by his grace should be heires of eternal lyfe through hope This is a true saying but I wyll make an ende for I am to tedious Dearely beloued repent your synnes that is be sorye for that which is past beleue in gods mercy for pardon how depely soeuer you haue synned both purpose and earnestly pursue a newe lyfe bringing forth worthy and true fruytes of repentaunce As you haue geuen ouer your members from synne to sinne to serue the deuyl your tongues to sweare to lye to flatter to skolde to iest to skoffe to baudy talke to vayne iangeling to boasting c. Your haÌ„des to picking groping idlenes fighting c your fete to skipping going to euil to dauÌ„sing c. youre eares to heare fables lyes vanities euil thinges c. So now geue ouer your meÌ„bres to godlines your tong to speake youre eares to heare youre eyes to see your mouthes to tast your handes to woorke youre feete to go about such thinges as may make to Gods glorie sobrietie of lyfe loue to your bretheÌ„ that dayly more more diligently for in a stay to stand you caÌ„not ether better or worsse you are to daye then you were yesterdaye But better I trust you be wil be yf you marke wel my theme y t is Repent you y e which thinge that wold do as before I haue huÌ„blye be sought you eueÌ„ so now yet once more I do agayn besech you y t for the tender mercies of God in Christ Iesus our lord RepeÌ„t you repeÌ„t you for the kingdoÌ„ of heaueÌ„ that is a kingdom ful of al riches pleasures myrth beautie swetenes eternal felicitie is at hand The eye hath not sene the lyke y e eare hath not hearde the like the heart of maÌ„ cannot conceaue the treasures plesures of this kingdoÌ„ which now is at hand to such as repent y t is to such as are sory for their sinnes beleue gods mercy through christ earnestly purpose to lead a new life the god of mercy through Christ his sonne grauÌ„t vs his holy spirit worke in our hearts this sorow fayth new life which through his grace I haue spoken of both now for euer AMEN ¶ Imprinted at LondoÌ„ in Paules Churche yearde at the signe of the Rose By Iohn Wight 1. Pe. iiâ—â— Heb. xi Ie. xâ—iiij Hie. vij Am. vij Act. xvij Gen. xix Gen. vi Ex. xxxij â— Ioh. iij Psa xix Psalm xxxviij Den. vi mat xxij Mar. xx Luke x. Ioh. xiij Mat. vi Lu. xvij Ap. xxij De. iiij xij Apo â–ª xiii 1. Ioh. ij Iam. i. i. Reg. ij Hie. xxxi Lam. v. Actes v Iam. ij Ro. vij Ro. vij De tempore Barlarico 〈◊〉 Gal. iij. Iob. xv Apoc. iij. Gen. vi Gen. xix Gen. xix Iosuâ— Caleb i. reg iij. iij. Reg xxi xxij 4. kin 21 4. kin 10 2. kin 11 xij xiij xvi xv Lu. xvi Iosu vij iiii re v Act. i. Act. v. Da. xiij Psalm xxxvij mat xxâ— â–ª Lu. xxij Psalm xxiij â— Pet. ii Mat. 24 â–ª Ezec. 3. ActunÌ„ ij ij tim ij Lu. xvij Mar. ix Iohn xx Ioh. xiij Psa 87 Gen. iii. Gen. iiij Gent. ix Gen. xix Gene. 38 xxxvij Num. xi Exod. 32 Ro. viij Hebr. iij. ii Re. â—i Rom. x. Dan. iij Iona. iij. Ioh. xx Ioh. xx mat xxvi Lu. xxiii Lu. xxiij Heb. xiij Esa xxx Mat. vij Heb. x â–ª Rom â–ª v. Phil. ij iij. â—e xix Ro. viij ij Cor. i. i. thes iiij i. Petr. i ij Tim. i Eph. iiij Apo. xxij Ephes ij Titus ij i. Cor. ij esa â–ª lxiiij