whereby the true Church of God is discerned from that false and bastard Church which wanteth both true faith Ephe. 3.14 true inuocatiō Now I bowe the knees of my soule to the Father of our Lorde Iesus Christ to the end that according to the riches of his glorie The Pastors of the Church of Orlians that were preserued M. Gallars M. Anton. Chanorrier M. Robert Mason M. Pet. Baron Daniel Toussain he will graunt vs that wee may be strengthened by his spirit that Christ may dwell in you through faith through the which you may be rooted and grounded in all true knowledge of his will And as it hath pleased him in the middest of so manie floudes miraculouslie to keepe the Pastors of your Church whom God be praised he employed alwayes to his seruice that it will please him to shewe you this fauour raysing vp your estate as from death to haue strength to reioyce againe and that quicklie to the end that we may altogether as it were created anew sing vnto him a newe song to his honor vnder the protectiō of the shadow of his winges Frō S. Lābert within the coūtie Palatine this 20. of Iuly 1578. Daniel Toussain THE FOVNDATION and spring of all holy prayers and christian meditatiōs ought to be faith Behold where fore we shall set heere in the entrie the articles of our faith which some call the symbole of the Apostles as in deede they conteine a summarie of the Apostles doctrin as is to be sene of that which is written in the 15. Chap. of the 1. vnto the Cor. vers 3. elswhere it is to be seene by the writings of the elders as by the cathechisme of Cyrill and the treatise of S. Ambrose of Cayne and Abell and in the 8. Chap. of S. Augustines booke named Enchiridion that is to say Manuel that these Articles of the faith were holden amongest them as the true beginninges and foundation of Christian religion I Beleeue in God the Father almightie maker of heauen and earth And in Iesus Christ his onelie sonne our Lord. Which was conceiued by the Holie Ghost borne of the virgine Marie Suffered vnder Ponce Pilate was crucified dead buried he descended into hell The thirde day he rose againe from the dead He ascended into heauen and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almightie From thence shall he come to iudge the quicke and the dead I beleeue in the Holie Ghost The holie Catholike Church The communion of Saints The forgiuenesse of sinnes The resurrection of the bodie And the life euerlasting Amen IN the yeare of our Lord 273. in the Synode of Antioch was condemned the heresie of Samosatenus who would not auowe Iesus Christ to be the worde subsisting but made thereof a sound or decree of God not a seconde person of his diuinity in such sort as against his errours was published a confession by George Neocoefariensis as is to be seene in the 3. booke of Eusebius IN the yeare of our Lord about 332. 1. Synode called vniuersall was vnder Constantine the Great assembled a Synode or Councel to the assisting whereof there were 328. Bishoppes at Nice a citie in Bythinia there where was chieflie condemned the heresie of Arrius who dinied the true sonne of God equall with the father and of the same substance In this Synode were made plaine and cleare against Arrius the Articles of faith which concerne Iesus Christ by a confession as followeth 1 I Beleeue in one God The Symbol of Nice the Father Almightie maker of heauen and earth and of all things visible and inuisible 2 And in one Lorde Iesu Christ the onely begotten sonne of God begotten of his Father before all worldes 3 God of God light of light verie God of verie God begotten not made beeing of one substance with the Father by whome all thinges were made 4 Who for vs men and for our saluation came downe from heauen 5 And was incarnate by the Holie Ghost of the virgin Marie and was made man 6 And was crucified also for vs vnder Poncius Pilate he suffered and was buried 7 And the thirde day he arose againe according to the Scriptures and ascended into heauen and sitteth at the right hand of the Father 8 And he shal come againe with glory to iudge both the quicke and the dead whose kingdome shall haue none ende 9 And I beleeue in the holie Ghost the Lorde and giuer of life who proceedeth from the Father and the Sonne who with the Father and the Sonne together is worshipped and glorified who spake by the Prophets 10 And I beleeue one Catholike and Apostolike Church 11 I acknowledge one Baptisme for the remission of sinnes 12 And I looke for the resurrection of the dead the life of the world to come Amen IN the yeare of our Lorde 386. Seconde Councell there assembled at Constantinople the second Synode called vniuersall which confirmed and ratified the confession made at Nice adding onely that which followeth against the heretike Macedonius who denied the true diuinitie of the holie Ghost We beleeue in the holy Ghost Lorde and giuer of life proceeding from the father and the sonne who with the father the sonne together is worshipped and glorified HEere followeth the Symbole or confession of Athanasius Bishoppe of Alexandria being chosen fiue monthes after the Councell held at Niece who hath abiden great combats for the pure doctrine of the sonne of God against the Arrians WHosoeuer will be saued before all things it is necessarie that he holde the Catholike faith Which faith except euerie one doe keepe holy and vndefiled without doubt hee shall perish euerlastingly And the Catholike faith is this that we worship one God in Trinitie and Trinitie in vnitie Neither confounding the persons nor diuiding the substance For there is one person of the Father another of the Sonne and another of the Holie Ghost But the Godhead of the Father of the Sonne and of the Holie Ghost is all one the glorie equall and the maiestie coeternall Such as the Father is such is the Sonne and such is the Holie Ghost The Father vncreate the Sonne vncreate and the Holie Ghost vncreate The Father incomprehensible the Sonne incomprehensible and the Holie Ghost incomprehensible The Father eternall the Sonne eternall and the Holie Ghost eternall And yet they are not three eternalles but one eternall As also there bee not three incomprehensibles nor three vncreated but one vncreated and one incomprehensible So likewise the Father is almightie the Sonne almightie and the holie Ghost almightie And yet they are not three almighties but one almightie So the Father is God the Sonne is God and the Holie Ghost is God And yet are they not three Gods but one God So likewise the Father is Lord the Sonne Lorde and the Holie Ghost Lorde And yet not three Lordes but one Lorde For like as wee be compelled by the Christian veritie to acknowledge
substance the father that neuer was begotten the onely sonne of the father and the holy Ghost proceeding from both the holie inseparable trinitie one almightie God Thou Lorde hast made vs strong and mightie when as we were not and when wee were lost through our offence thou hast restored vs miraculously through thy goodnesse Therefore neuer suffer vs O Lorde that we shew our selues vnthankefull and to yeelde vs vnworthy of so many thy mercies graunt rather good GOD to increase in vs faith hope and charitie So by this thine accustomed grace make that we may be stedfast in faith apt to all good workes that by thee we may come vnto euerlasting life that one day Lord seeing thy glorie such as it is wee may worship thy maiestie singing vnto thee this song Glorie be to the father which hath created vs glorie bee to the sonne that hath redeemed vs glorie bee to the holy ghost that hath sanctified vs glorie be vnto the most high and inseparable Trinitie whose workes are inseparable and Empire euerlasting Here followeth to the Articles of the Faith The father almightie maker of heauen and earth Of Gods almightie power Of the making of all thinges and of his diuine prouidence Of Gods almightie power TO the end that the knowledge of our God bee not acknowledged in the aire and that we may see also that they are good tokens that wee should put our trust in him it is written in these Articles of our faith that in his word he is reuealed euen as well as by his workes that we might also so much the more discerne our selues from the people that doe not know him aright and truelie Thererefore this is the verie proper gift of the Church to know God such as he is to wit in substance and therewithall these three persons the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost And he who knoweth not the Father knoweth not the Sonne Iohn 14.11 and he that knoweth not the Sonne knoweth not the Father Now albeit that hee is also our Father as we doe call him in the Lordes prayer yet be wee not but the children of adoption receaued and adopted Psal ◠for the loue of his onelie sonne euerlasting and eternallie engendred of the Father in whome he taketh his good pleasure Behold how God is here called Father to shew vnto vs that our onelie faith is builded on God alone But this verie God whome the Church woorshippeth and in whome it beleeueth is the Father How God is manifested the sonne and the holie ghost the which God hath truelie shewed himselfe in the world by foure diuine workes most excellent aboue all by the creation by the redemption made of mankinde by the assemblie and conseruation of the Church and by the woonderfull giftes that God did partake vnto this Church giuing vnto her forgiuenesse of sinnes and euerlasting life in that she confessed the true God so as by the meanes of this knowledge Rom. 15. wee might say as S. Paul did in the 3. 1. Cor. 3. Chap. of the first Epistle to the Corinth that all thinges are ours because that we be vnto Christ as Christ is vnto God who is the father of our Lord Iesus Christ as S. Paul manie times calleth him Now is he called also Almightie and thus lifted vp aboue all creatures and aboue the Gods of the Gentiles and their Idols Psal 115. that haue handes and cannot touch Eyes and cannot see But our God that hath his throne in heauen dooth what him pleaseth And as concerning vs poore creatures we know not to make alas one slippe of grasse and there is none that with all his care industrie can adde one cubite vnto his stature or height Mat. 6. This is then for you to woorship and to feare the almightie that hath power ouer heauen ouer earth ouer bodies ouer soules goods children and ouer all that which is vnto vs Psal 149. ouer kinges ouer the prowdest princes yea to buind them in chaines when it shall please him to vse his iudgementes and to bring them to nothing Lift not vp your hornes on high saith Dauid in the 75. Psalme for it is GOD that is your Iudge who lifteth vp and setteth downe as it pleaseth him How was it that hee tamed Pharao How did he put downe Nabuchadonozer whome he made to feede with beastes for seuen yeeres space And this it is as Iob speaketh in the 21. Chap. Against the wicked shall griefe of minde and trouble be strengthened because hee hath stretched forth his hand against the Almightie Esai 33. And how should man helpe himselfe before his face that is as a consuming fire Who is he that would abide in continuall burninges See wee not the mountaines leape and tremble before him as it is said in the 19. of Exodus and in the 68. Psalme But what say I the mountaines Yea the verie diuels are constrained to tremble Iames. 2.19 knowing and feeling that there is a God Therefore what blockishnesse is this what hardnesse what mischiefe that man shall sometimes be so froward and presumptuous that hee as it were would spite the Lord Euen as men may see enough therein who despise his threatninges and doe sooner feare earthlie man that is with all his glorie but as a flower and grasse than the Almightie before whose face the fearce and foming Sea the hard rockes and the earth also doe quake and tremble as wee doe reade in the 114. Psalme Wherefore let vs remember euen all the daies of our life that which was spoken vnto Abraham in the 17. of Genesis I am the God almightie walke thou before mee And I pray you what better Maister could we finde than him who hath all abundance in himselfe and that may doe all that he will For his power is ioyned with trueth righteousnesse He can doe that which he will but hee will not anie thing sauing that which is agreeable to his trueth and righteousnesse Iohn 10. Wee ought to haue remembrance namelie in our afflictions of this Almightinesse of the Lord and that none can take away his hand frō vs When God nourisheth sustaineth and preserueth his not onelie by ordinarie meanes but also by woonderfull meanes when it pleaseth him as he shewed when he diuided the Sea to make his people to passe through conducting them with a clowdie Pillar yea a fierie Pillar giuing thē Manna and so manie other his woonderful benefites 1. Cor. 2. and singular woorkes as one may yet dailie marke Therefore blessed are we whose faith is not builded on the wisedome of man but on the power of GOD. But Owe thrise yea foure times vnhappie if wee doe not trust in the almighty but doubt in his promises For that which is harde before our eies shall it therefore bee harde before the eies of the euerlasting himselfe Like as he speaketh in the 8. Chap. of the prophet Zacharie and as it is
which are in earth thinges visible and thinges vnuisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers It appeareth by this place that when it was spoken in the 1. ver and the 1. Chap. of Genes howe God created heauen and earth Creation of Angels we must comprehende there also the creations of the Angelles But as Athanasius sayeth in his questions vnto Antiochus Moses wold not willingly speake much of Angels in the beginning of his historie then knowing the superstition and curiousnesse of the Iewes where of after the Church being more aduaunced was spoken of by the prophetes and Apostles Also mention is made in the first of the Hebrewes of the creatiō by the sonne hath God made the worldes Thou Lorde in the beginning hast established the earth and the heauens are the worke of thine handes The creatures of God are good Nowe must we knowe that God is not the onely creator of all thinges but also all that which he hath created as it proceeded from him is good as it is saide in the 1. Chap. of Genes and in the 4. Chap. of the 1. Epistle to Timoth. But the creatures in part are turned away from God as the wicked Angelles that haue not kept their beginning as it is sayde in the Epistle of Iude. And in speaking lies they spake of their verie owne not according to their first creation man was also lead away by the olde serpent which is the Diuell as wee doe reade in the 3. of Genes and in the 12. of the Apocalyps The creatures which in part had beene created for man hauing sinned were subiect to vanitie as it is saide in the 8. to the Romanes and the earth was cursed as may be seene in the third of Genes Men also greatlie abused the creatures Abuse of the creatures of Iron and steele to murther of wine and of other meates and foode so of manie other creatures the which wee ought to haue receaued as Gods giftes 1. Cor. 10. and to vse them with all reuerence and vnto the glorie of the creator For so ought the creature be vnto vs as a booke as a certaine Aegiptiā Eremit named Anthonie of whome is spoken in the 8. booke of the tripartite historie and the 1. Chap. saith that the Cloister of this whole world was a goodlie booke wherein there is as many leaues as there are creatures and wherein a man might with great pleasure reade yea and dailie reade againe and learne to know God who sheweth his name great and woonderfull in this great and large world as Dauid singeth in the 8. Psalme S. Augustine in the 21. Chap. of his priuate Meditation O Lorde how great and woonderfull shall the riches be S. Augustines prayer which thou preparest for those that loue thee in the true countrie and euerlasting kingdome when as we shall see thee face to face For if thou doost vnto vs so manie good turnes in this world which is but a prison and doost shew vs so manie excellent thinges what wilt thou doe then when wee shall bee in thy Pallace Graunt vnto vs therefore grace O Lord to aspire vnto this happinesse that eye hath not seene neither eare heard and that mans tongue cannot expresse But the wise man dooth well exhort vs in the 12. Chap. of Eccles to remember our maker before the dayes of aduersitie come In the meane time men for the most part care not at all as the Lord complayneth in the 5. Chap. of Ieremie Feare ye not me saith the Lord Or will yee not be afraid at my presence which haue placed the sand for the boundes of the Sea by the perpetuall decree that it cannot passe it and though the waues thereof rage yet can they not preuaile though they roare yet cannot they passe ouer it But this people hath an vnfaithfull and a rebellious heart they are departed and gone For they haue not said in their heart Let vs now feare the Lorde our GOD that giueth raine both earlie and late in due season hee reserueth vnto vs the appointed weekes of the Haruest Gene. 6. Notwithstanding it appeareth that the world was not created for the wicked for so soone as all fleshe had corrupted his way God sent a floud vpon the earth And as Dauid saith in the 37 Psalme That the wicked and vngodlie shall bee rooted out and the godly shall inherit the land For they shall possesse all thinges in God The Philosophers and others haue truelie considered the creatures of God and haue commended them yet notwithstanding they haue strayed to all vanitie more woorshipping the creatures Rom. 1.25 than the creator not seeing how these visible signes ought to guide vs vnto a consideration of inuisible thinges For when wee doe see anie faire peece of worke this maketh vs to inquire after the woorkeman that wrought it euen so ought a man to inquire after the Lord. Furthermore this world how faire soeuer it is is a bondman and sigheth awaiting the deliuerance of the sonnes of God How much more ought we to aspire vnto heauenlie thinges because that wee tread the earth vnder our feete to shew vnto vs how that man ought to make but little account of earthlie thinges but ought rather to haue his conuersation in heauen Philip. 3.20 where as our head is preparing a place for vs. Of Gods prouidence NOw if God had onelie created the world and that hee did not gouerne it dispose and maintaine it with all her partes he should not bee the almightie but a halfe God This is because when as one speaketh of the creation It is necessarie alwayes to ioyne dailie the doctrine of the prouidence of God as also the Scripture dooth with the woonderfull disposition of all thinges which are in this whole world For hauing made his woorke especiallie man which is as the head of his worke he did not there set him and leaue him but wrought with the Sonne and the holie Ghost dailie blessing multiplying preseruing restoring and disposing all thinges to his glorie and the saluation of his elect as it dooth appeare by these places and examples that follow The 28. of Iob. God daily woorketh The windes the raine The thūders God beholdeth the endes of the world and seeth all that is vnder heauen To make the waight of the windes and to weigh the waters by measure To make a decree for the raine and a way for the lightnings of the thunders The 37. of Iob. God thundereth maruelouslie with his voyce he worketh great thinges which we know not For hee saith to the Snow The snow be thou vppon the earth likewise vnto the small raine and to the great raine of his power with the force thereof hee shutteth vp euerie man Men. that all men may know his woorke At the breath of God the frost is giuē Frost and the bredth of the waters is made narrowe The brightnesse commeth out of
also saide in the 18. Chap. of S. Luke Those thinges that are vnpossible to men are possible yea and verie easie vnto our God For as Dauid sayth in the 33. Psalme That which he spake is and that which he commandeth is established he scattereth the counsell of the people Esay 2.22 his counsell remaineth fast and sure O then sayth he the people are blessed whose God is the Lorde and the people whome hee hath chosen for his heritage Cease therefore from man that is nothing neither let vs be affraide of them so much which are but a vapour and whose breath is in the nostrels in such sort as stop their nostrels and they die And let vs worshippe and reuerence that almightie God putting all our trust and confidence in him Maker of heauen and earth Of the creation and prouidence of God CONSIDERATION Amongest other titles that are attributed vnto the Lorde our God to knowe him and to discerne him from false Gods this is that he is the Creator as we see Esaie 40. Chapter WHo hath measured the waters in his fist and counted heauen with a spanne and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountaines in a weight and the hilles in a ballance Who hath instructed the spirite of the Lorde or was his counseller or taught him All nations before him are nothing To whom nowe will ye liken mee that I should be like him sayeth the holie one Lift vp your eies on hie and beholde who hath created these thinges and bringeth out their armies by number calleth them all by names By the greatnesse of his power and mightie strength nothing faileth Why sayest thou O Iacob and speakest thou O Israell My way is hid from the Lorde and my iudgement is passed ouer of my God Knowest thou not and hast thou not hard that the euerlasting GOD hath created the endes of the earth Hee neither fainteth nor is wearie there is no searching of his vnderstanding And in the 10. of Ieremie it is written in the Chaldie tongue that the superstitious Chaldies might vnderstande it Thus shal you say vnto them the Gods that haue not made the heauens and the earth shall perish from the earth from vnder these heauens This is he who hath made the earth by his power and established the worlde by his wisedome and hath stretched out the heauen by his discretion He giueth by his voice the multitude of waters in heauen causeth the cloudes to ascende from the endes of the earth he turneth lightninges to raine and bringeth foorth the winde out of his treasures Euerie man is a beast by his owne knowledge Euerie founder is confounded by the grauen Image for his melting is but falsehoode and there is no breath in him They are vanitie and workes of errors in the time of their visitation they shall perish The portion of Iacob is not like vnto them for he is the maker of all thinges To create This therefore is proper to our God to create that is to say to giue to all thinges beginning and to make to be that which was not and to bring foorth of nothing some thing Euen as S. Paule sayeth in the 4. Chap. to the Romanes Hee giueth life vnto the dead and calleth those thinges which be not as though they were And in the 11. of the same Epistle For of him through him and for him are all thinges to him be glorie for euer and euer Creation a worke of the Trinitie And because the creation is a worke of all the Trinitie as heere before it was alreadie declared it is saide in the 1. Chap. to the Colossi that in Christ all thinges were created to wit by him and for him For that which is called in the 15. vers the first borne of all creatures is not as if the euerlasting sonne of God had beginning and were numbred amongst the creatures For according as it is after sayd in the 17. vers he is before all thinges and through him all thinges consist But he is called first borne not as if we should say that he was created but to shewe his prerogatiue and domination howe he is the beginning and head of all thinges Nowe must we not heere giue place to the curious speculations of the flesh That the worlde hath had a beginning and of the Philosophers amongst whom some of them haue thought that the worlde was eternall as the * These Philosophers had the name of studying as they went about or walked Peripaticiens and others haue thought that it was made by chaunce or aduenture as the Epicurians the one sort disputing how it was possible that of nothing all thinges should haue beene made indeuouring to measure the infinite power of the deuinitie according to their idle discourse through wāt of knowing his force and the strength and vertue of his worde Therefore we must with faith beleeue that which the vnderstanding cannot comprehende as it is saide in the 21. Chap. of the Epistle to the Hebrewes Through faith we vnderstande that the worlde was ordained by the word of God so that the thinges which we see are not made of thinges which did appeare For wee haue verie plaine places of the creation in the scripture as also there is no historie so antient from the first beginning of all thinges as that which we haue in the first booke of Moses there say I doe wee reade in the first Chap. That in the beginning God created heauen and the earth Genes 1. the sea and all things that are in them He created by his word Of nothing The spreading out or firmamēt which he calleth the heauen the earth Of the earth The beastes and afterwardes man The waters Which hee maketh to bring forth fishes Out of mans bodie he tooke and created the woman It is likewise spoken in the 33. Psalme and in the 16. of the Prouerbs of the creation The Lorde hath made all thinges for himselfe yea the wicked for the day of calamitie not that God hath made the euill for as it is saide in the 1. of Genes All that he had made was verie good But hee would shewe the wisedome of the Lorde which turned the malice of the wicked vnto his glorie Also in the 89. Psalme O Lorde God of hostes who is like vnto thee which art a mightie Lorde and thy trueth is about thee Thou rulest the raging of the sea when the waues thereof arise thou stillest them The heauens are thine the earth is thine also thou hast laide the foundation of the worlde and all that therein is Thou hast created the north and the south And in the 45. of Esay I haue made the earth and created man vpon it I whose handes haue spread out the heauens and haue euen commaunded all their armies Also in the 1. Chap. of S. Paules Epistles vnto the Colossians By him were all thinges created which are in heauen
Symbolo Insomuch as S. Augustine sayeth As it is a curiousnesse to aske how or in what sort Christ is in heauen so must we faithfullie beleeue that he is there But in the meane while he is not there simplie as Henoche who was lifted vppe or Helie that was ascended thither Gene 5. 2. Kinge 2. or as the other his faithfull members but he is there as Head and he is there as he that is set on the right hande of his father For Iesus Christ as the sonne of God hath had trulie alwayes all power in heauen and in earth And now this Iesus who hath taken humane nature this person that is true God and true man gouerneth all thinges and hath a glorie and empire aboue all creatures whereof it doth not followe as some railers thinke that this his humane nature is in al places and euerie where For although that the right hande of God and his mightinesse is infinite yet is it not said that he is made the right hande of God or that the bodie of Christ is become the right hande of God but that hee is set at his right hande Nowe to sit at the right hande of God is not to spreade his bodie throughout all but to gouerne all with the father And likewise that which is spoken of the whole person cannot be particularly and simplie vnderstoode of his humane nature which keepeth alwaies his properties Furthermore the scripture by this sitting at the right hande of God doth not conclude that the bodie of Christ is throughout all but that he is in heauen as it may appeare by the places following Out of the 26. of S. Matthew verse 64. Hereafter shal ye see the sonne of man sitting on the right hand of the power of God and come in the cloudes of heauen Out of the 16. of Marke Iesus was carried vp into heauen and sitteth on the right hand of God Out of the 2. Chap. of the Actes verse 33. To wit as Christ and by his might For hee was laid in the graue awaiting the resurrection How Christ sitteth at the right hand of God Since then that hee by the right hand of God hath bin exalted and hath receiued of his father the promise of the holie Ghost hee hath shewed forth this which ye now see and heare For Dauid is not ascended into heauen but hee saith the Lord said vnto my Lord sit at my right hand vntil I make thine enemies thy footstoole Therefore let all the house of Israel know for a suretie that God hath made him both Lord and Christ this Iesus I say whom yee haue crucified Out of the 5. of the Actes verse 30.31 The God of our Fathers hath raised vp Iesus whome yee slew and hanged on a tree Him hath God lifte vp with his right hand to bee a Prince and a Lorde to giue repentaunce to Israel forgiuenesse of sinnes Out of the 7. of the Actes and 55. verse S. Steuen being full of the holie ghost looked stedfastlie into heauen and sawe the glorie of God and Iesus standing at the right hand of God Out of the 8. Chap. to the Romans verse 34. Who shal condemne it is Christ which is dead yea or rather which is risen againe who is also at the right hand of God and maketh request also for vs. Out of the 1. Chap. to the Ephes verse 20. According to the woorking of his mighty power which is wrought in Christ when hee raised him vp from the dead set him at his right hand in the heauenlie places farre aboue all principalitie and power might and domination and euerie name that is named not in this world onelie but also in that that is to come And hath made all thinges subiect vnder his feete and hath appointed him ouer all thinges to be the head to the Church Out of the 3. Chap. to the Colos verse 1. Seeke those thinges which are aboue where Christ sitteth aâ— the right hand of God Out of the first Chap. and the 3. verse to the Hebrewes The sonne hath by himselfe purged our sinnes and sitteth at the right hand of the maiestie in the highest places In the 13. verse Vnto which also of the Angels said hee at anie time sit at my right hand til I make thine enemies thy footestoole Out of the 8. Chap. to the Hebrewes verse 1. Wee haue such an high priest that sitteth at the right hand of the throne of the maiestie in heauen and is a Minister of the sanctuarie and of the true Tabernacle Out of the 10. to the Hebrewes verse 12. This man after hee had offered one sacrifice for sinnes sitteth for euer on the right hand of God And from henceforth tarieth till his enemies be made his footestoole Out of the 12. to the Hebrewes ver 2. Looking vnto Iesus the Author finisher of our faith who for the ioy that was set before him endured the crosse and despised the shame and is set at the right hand of the Throne of God Out of the 3. Chap. and first Epistle of S. Peter verse 22. Christ is at the right hand of God gone into heauen to whome the Angels and powers and might are subiect A prayer O Lorde my God giue me grace neuer to be ashamed of the Crosse of Christ seeing that he is exalted at thy right hand and that hee is the Lord of all creatures And seeing that thou hast so much honored our nature let me despise all rebukes for thy name and patientlie awaite the hower in the which all thy enemies shall be made thy footestoole From thence shall he come to iudge the quicke and the dead MEDITATION OH the woonderfull counsell of God that hee who was wickedlie iudged vnder Ponce Pilate is established not onelie a mediatour and Sauiour but also iudge of the quicke and the dead O Iudge truelie to be feared of all vnbeleeuers Iohn 3. For hee that dooth not beleeue in thee is condemned and subiect alreadie to perdition Rom. 8. how proude and gallant soeuer he be But yet to bee desired and awaited of all the faithfull to whome there is no condemnation for so much as they are grafted in thee Oh that diuers and manie times do the faithfull lift vp their heades amongst these vniust and most tyrannous going forewardes of these wicked Iudges in so manie tormentes and persecutions dailie looking for such a Iudge who will iudge the causes of his little ones and those that the world treadeth vnder foote Psal 12. It is from heauen and not on the earth that wee must awaite for such a Iudge who shall bring the hidden thinges and shall doe this honor vnto his seruantes that they shall bee as his benchars counsellers and companions in iudgement as it is said in the 6. Chap. of the 1. vnto the Corinthians That the Saintes shall iudge the world and in the 19. of S. Matthew That the Apostles shall iudge the tribes of Israel insomuch
our soules and hast left vnto vs amongest others the sacrament of the supper that we should be assured howe his life doeth flowe into vs. O what a refreshing is this to vs in this our pilgrimage yea to them that feele and laie holde of such like graces By the presse men doe drawe foorth out of the grapes the lyquor of wine And thou O Lorde thou hast put thy sonne vpon the presse of the crosse to make vs drinke of this holy lyquor But nowe O Lorde my God to the ende that I doe not vnworthily present my selfe vnto this holie table and foode which is marueled at and honoured by the Angelles purifie and cleanse my heart by thy holie spirite Powre foorth thy loue through all the partes of my soule that I may take increase in all vertue and holinesse and that I may so continue in this blessed fellowshippe of the bodie of thy sonne that I may drawe out of him strength and life as the branch out of the vine stocke and that beeing knitte with thy sonne Iesus I may be one with thee that I may liue to thee vntill the time I doe come euen vnto thee So be it A giuing of thankes after the supper O Lord I giue thee thankes for thy inestimable loue for that not onely I haue this benefitte of my beeing and mouing in thee but chiefly in that it hath pleased thee to make mee to liue for euer in thy kingdome redeeming mee from euerlasting damnation which I had deserued through my sinnes But good God I beseech thee that this precious bloud be not shedde in vaine for me but daily nourish my soule by the partaking of the flesh of thy sonne Quicken mee in his bloud that I may be of the number of thy children and a member of the bodie of thy Church that I be not so vnhappie to abuse these sacred meates which haue cost so deere a price of thy deere beloued sonne Iesus to prepare them for vs that I be not also like vnto the dogges which returne vnto their vomittes and swine that goe backe againe vnto their puddle Alas Lorde make me that I neuer forsake thy holie couenaunt for any thing in the worlde For whither is it that I shoulde goe but vnto thee that hast the wordes of euerlasting life Let it not be a daie onely that the remembrance of thy sonnes passion bee before my eies But that I may for euermore honour this good sauiour which hath left vnto vs so faire an heritage by his testament and hath giuen vs thereof so goodly an earnest in the supper Now to thee O God my creator to thee Christ my redeemer to thee holie Ghost my comforter who worketh this holie coniunction of men with GOD and of earth with heauen vnto thee one alone true God be honour and glorie I poore creature doe recommende my selfe vnto thee glorious God being well determined through thy grace to goe in peace and in ioy to death when the houre shall come since that Christ is my life Auaunt from me all delightes and earthly meates which doe turne into doung syth that I haue a foode which turneth me to immortalitie the bread of Angelles the breade which wee shall eate without signes and sacramentes when as we shall inioye that felicitie beeing in heauen Prayers for the Church A Prayer against the aduersaries of the Church ALmightie God since that thou seest thine aduersaries so proud yea with a diuelish rage to force against thy Church cause that wee may feele how thou art the verie same whome all thy faithful haue prooued in times past in all ages to wit that thou hast the care of the saluation of those that call vppon thee with a pure heart yea and seeke thee in extreme distresse and necessitie that although thou stretchest forth thy hand at this day and repressest this rage which thou seest to be kindeled against all thy seruauntes and children to the end that last of all the reprobates may feele and vnderstand and that to their destruction how they haue not vndertaken warres against a miserable people corrupted stripped and naked of all ayd but against thine vnestimable vertue that being confounded albeit they haue no shame rore out the more against thee and against thy power yet they may serue notwithstanding for an example and bee for a manifest instruction that thou art not onelie faithfull in all thy promises But also furnished and garnished with such vertue that thou canst execute and fulfill all that which thou hast promised for the safe keeping of thy Church vntill such time as thou hast fullie deliuered vs out of our enemies hand An other prayer vppon the same matter ALmightie GOD forasmuch as thou seest how wee be at this day compassed about on all sides with so manie enemies who practise continuallie our ouerthrowe and that we are so weake and feeble make vs learne to looke vnto thee and that our faith may so rest vppon thee that into whatsoeuer daungers wee be put and howsoeuer our flesh saith wee may neuer doubt but that thou art stored with a mightie power to make all our enemies afraid that amongest the daungers of this life wee may liue in rest of spirit and that wee cease not from calling vppon thee as thou hast promised to be a faithfull protector of those that call on thee in Iesus Christ his name So be it A prayer to perseuere in the doctrine of the Gospel ALmightie God seeing we be so much inclined vnto corruption that with great hardnesse wee doe enter into the listes so lightlie wee retire our selues from the course being well instructed yet we fall off and doe easilie degenerate graunt that being by thy spirit furnished with constancie we may perseuere to the end in that same right way that thou hast shewed vnto vs by thy word Furthermore though that manie are cast into diuers errors yet that wee maie take pleasure to call and to withdrawe them backe againe yea if wee doe not profite anie whit therein yet at the least that wee be not allured after them but that wee may remaine constant in faithfull obedience vntill such time as hauing atchieued all our Combates we may be gathered together to that blessed rest which is kept for vs by our captaine and sauiour Iesus Christ in the heauens A Prayer to bee constant in Religion against all lettes or withstandinges Almightie God sith that Satan setteth before vs at these dayes manie feares and dreades which might altogether cast vs downe and make vs lose courage as in deed wee bee but feeble and weake graunt that wee hauing our eies lifted vp to heauen wee may consider this inuincible power wherewith thou art furnished to make vs ouercome all lettes Besides although nothing doe appeare in this world but that which is contemptible which may confirme or maintaine our faith yet notwithstanding graunt that wee may pearce by the eyes of our faith into this secret vertue and so