blessed and experience make vs mercifull then whensoeuer the Lorde giueth vs anie tast of woe he doeth but schoole vs vnto happinesse But I passe it ouer and now let vs consider what a verie monster and vglie beast in nature he is who hauing himselfe drunke of the beggers dish and tasted the smart of néedy want yet neuer the more is mooued in tender kindnesse to others when God hath made him able to helpe them but as brasse or yron turneth both hande and heart away when pitifull sutes are made vnto him for some comfort And then viewe we in like manner the force of sight in such examples as wee haue commended to vs in the scriptures When Pharaohs daughter sawe little Moses in the basket she pitied it when Iesus sawe the multitude he had compassion on them and healed all their sicke when hée sawe their want of teachers he pitied them when he saw the woman wéepe whose sonne was dead he pitied her when the Samaritan saw the wounded man he pitied him when the Lorde sawe his debter fall downe he forgaue him all and hée that séeth his brother want and turneth his face awaie O howe is the loue of God in him with a number such So that sight I say aboue either hearing or manie other meanes is a vehement worker of this vertue in vs if wée be the Lordes and of this vertue not in part but in whole for if you marke the examples againe you shall neither sée pitie without helpe nor helpe without entire compassion in them but both together the one folowing euer after and vpon the other which if it be so then shoulde wée take a view of our selues occasioned by this doctrine and diligently weigh what either sight of other mens woes or hearing or anie other meanes worketh in vs and if we find a fiintie heart within vs whatsoeuer we sée or heare iudge then betimes what will be our case at one time or other when blessed shall be the mercifull Surely we shall finde what the Lorde hath spoken that iudgement without mercie shall be vnto vs because wée haue shewed no mercie And if we finde the contrarie as greatly may it ioie vs againe on the other side But I forget my selfe in following this discourse too farre and therefore here will I cutte it off once againe desiring you neither in this vertue nor others euer so much to regarde what the worlde doeth thinke as what the God of heauen that made the worlde doeth iudge For if you doe you shall neuer whilest you liue kéepe a straight course in any good The Lord saieth the mercifull man shall be blessed therefore shame vnto the face that once auoucheth it that mercy maketh miserable The Lorde accepteth it let the worlde neglect it the Lorde rewardeth it let a senselesse worldling be neuer so vngratefull and what the Lorde rewardeth it can neuer make a man worse if he vse it therefore be mercifull What should I saie Certainely Frailtie till God become false till his blessings become cursings his promises vnprofitable and his rewardes not worth hauing the féeling heart and the helping hand head tongue or anie member gift or abilitie in vs can neuer impouerish vs beyond our good as you plainely sée and therefore your temptation is answeared and your weaknesse strengthened if the Lorde graunt you féeling and vse of his word which I trust he will and beséech him that he may Strength against Dissimulation the sixt temptation YOur next temptation ariseth by dissimulation and a mighty motion you finde to do as the world doth But Frailtie would you leaue to thinke gaine to be godlinesse and beginne to thinke onelie godlinesse to be gaine as the Apostle teacheth and a little to weigh with your selfe what in euerie age euerie honest man and woman hath thought of this beastly vice were it neuer so generall surely you woulde finde strength against it in your selfe and a maruellous hatred kindled in your heart of it I beléeue verily For there is nothing that pulleth any bodie into this Metamorphosis of nature but a carelesse contempt of al opinions of vs so wée may flourish and get our desire of this cursed worlde Which I must say againe is a beastly vice in man or woman because it so maketh them that vse it this being euer the propertie of a man to preferre honestie before all vtilitie Nowe if you aske what hath béen thought I am able to shew you euen vnder one sight both God and man against it and man not onely Christian but heathen such as beside the light of nature had no direction by the Lorde For Wo vnto them saith the Lorde that seeke deepe to hide their counsels from me That is that carie more shew than trueth as they doe which are outwardely religious and inwardly most prophane contemners of the same Helpe Lord saieth the Prophet Dauid for it is high time there is not one godlie man left but the faithfull are minished from the children of men they talke of vanitie euery man with his neighbour they doe but flatter with their lips and dissemble with their double heart And then in the detestation of so vile a thing the spirite of the Prophet breaketh out into a curse and the Lord roote out saith he such deceitfull lips Which certainely is a spéech that shoulde pierce vs déepe when wée consider and thinke of it The Apostle Peter also crieth vnto all that feare God Laie aside al maliciousnesse and al guile and all dissimulation enuie and all euill speaking opposing these to the sincers milke of the worde of GOD which al men ought to desire that they may growe thereby as things that cannot agrée and dwell together in any man And if we marke examples was it not I praie you a horrible thing for Simeon and Leuie to pretende such friendshippe to the Sichemites and to harbour secretely so bloudie conceites Did not the soule of their godlie father Iacob detest both such men and such dealings Was it not vile and vnséeming either for a king or an honest man to dissemble such liking of Dauid as that hée woulde giue him his daughter to wife and yet meane nothing therby in truth but to snare him and to worke his certaine ouerthrowe by it Such loue come to them that long for it and such fathers in lawe God kéepe vs euer from may we thinke and say if we marke it Was it not a detestable nature in Cain vnder a brothers face to dissemble a murthering heart and minde Can you abide but euen to thinke of that cursed Courtier Ioabs spéech Art thou in health my brother Amasa and leaning forwarde to kisse him secretely to stabbe him with his dagger that he died presētly These are the effects of this cruell vice these are the fruites of such vnnaturall men as haue caried faces vnder an hood moe than they would shew which assuredly the Lorde hath caused to be
woman in the world euen in the midst of al their worldly wantes be they neuer so great Yet hath it annexed for our further ioie the consent of other places manie and experiences of the same in knowne examples not a fewe As If thou lend to my people that is to the poore I wil blesse the saieth the Lorde The Lorde deliuereth the poore in al his afflictions The Lord wil be a defence vnto the poore euen a refuge in due time of trouble He remembreth and forgetteth not the complaint of the poore when he maketh inquisitiō for bloud The poore shall not alwaies be forgotten neither the hope of the afflicted perish for euer Lorde thou hast heard the desire of the poore thou preparest their heart and thine care hearkeneth thereunto He hath not despised the lowe estate of y e poore but they shal eate and be satisfied I am poore and in miserie but the Lorde careth for mee Better is the poore that walketh in his vprightnesse than he that peruerteth his waies though hee be rich That which is to be desired in a man is his goodnes and better is such a poore man than a lier God regardeth the poore and is their strength And vnto whom againe saieth the Lorde shall I looke and haue regarde but vnto him that is poore and of a contrite spirite and trembleth at my wordes The spirite of the Lorde is vppon mee and hath annointed mee to preach the gospell to the poore And the poore do receiue the glad tidings of the Gospell Call the halt and lame poore to the Supper And hath not God chosen the poore of this world saith Iames c. with a number such like testimonies The comfort whereof if they be rightly considered and the blessing of them vnto our heart by humble praier begged at the Lordes hands no tongue of man is able to expresse For the Lord our God is not a man that hée should repent nor as the son of man that he should change but if hée loued the poore when these things were spoken he loueth them still and to the end he will loue them and if he regarded them he forgetteth not vs and euen amongst our selues if he sée you he beholdeth also me and if he comfort mée hée will doe no lesse for you for there is no respect of persons in his eies Yet adde vnto these the experience of examples and they wil be more swéete Naomi and her daughter Ruth how did the Lorde regarde blesse comfort and prouide for The poore widow of Sareptha whose meale and oile were at an ende and yet the dearth foretolde much to come howe regarded he and fedde during all y e time The other pore widow also helped by Elisha to pay her debts and to liue afterward with comfort of the rest how sheweth it the care of the Lord ouer the poore that are godlie and howe mightily shoulde it encrease our faith What an example is old Tobiah and his familie and what a spéech of faith was that to his sonne Feare not my Sonne because we are made poore for thou hast manie things if thou feare GOD and flie from sinne and do that thing which is acceptable vnto hym Howe loued the Lord the offering of the poore widowe that cast in but two mites How chose he Disciples and folowers of his trueth euer of the poorer sort Howe chose he his parents of the very meanest certainly of a multitude and howe himselfe hath he honored the estate of godlie pouerty for our eternal comfort hauing not so much in this world as the Foxes and Birdes borne in a stable wrapped in ragges laide in the manger and yet the God and Lord of heauen and earth and the disposer of all the glorie in them both O my heart and hand howe is the one too narrowe to conceiue this heauenly swéet and the other vnable to laie downe but euen that little that I doe féele Shall anie worldlie want make vs thinke God loueth vs lesse when wée sée the most loued that euer was in the greatest want shall anie discountenaunce dissauour discredite causelesse shall any snubbes checkes taunts scorne contempt rumours or the very power of y e spite of hel driue vs out of hope in our gratious father when we sée examples in his dearest of them all O Frailtie Frailtie open thine eies looke vpon thy God weigh his nature marke his dealings with his dearest heare his promises make him no liar but gather strength increase in hope and the Lord in mercie graunt it to vs euer Lette the changes and chances of this worlde be what they will or rather what it pleaseth God let our orderly walking in our places with true paines heart and meaning with due carefulnesse with no vnthriftinesse vp early downe late and whatsoeuer meanes that good are to liue and laie vp by for our selues and ours yet want their ende of such reasonable store as we desire let vs neuerthelesse trust in our God and hang vpon his hand and neuer measure his fauour towardes vs by these things for they are no iudges of it being as we sée oft graunted to the wicked and restrained greatly from the most beloued Onelie let our pouertie make poore our spirites and breake the secrete pride of our hearts and then feare not we haue a warrant of truth Blessed are the poore in spirite for theirs is the kingdome of heauen And a broken and contrite hart O God thou shalt neuer despise The contrarie now might as greatly be amplified to our comforte if I thought it néedefull For as his mercifull promises are manie and swéete as we haue heard to the poore so are his fearefull threatnings to the rich not a fewe and as great is the good that is wrought in the childe of God by this crosse of want so feareful are the faults that are giuen vnto the soules of many by their store of wealth Let it suffice to marke what this same our Sauiour saith by the mouth of Luke and opposeth ouer against the promise spoken of nowe alreadie Woe be to you that are rich for you haue receiued your consolation saith he and after him his apostle Iames again Go to now ye rich men weepe and houle for your miseries which shall come vpon you your riches are corrupt and your garments motheaten your golde and siluer is cankred the rust of them shall be a witnesse against you and shal eate your flesh as if it were fire c. And Paul againe Gaine is not godlinesse but godlinesse is great gaine if a man be content with that he hath for we brought nothing into the world and it is certaine that we can carie nothing out Therefore when wee haue foode and rayment let vs be therewith content for they that will be rich fall into temptation and snares and into many foolish and noysome lustes which drowne men in
dissembling and so thereby to winne fauour to winne wealth to winne friends countenance in their dealings that me thinke I cannot stand anie longer in the innocencie of a good conscience but I must doe as they doe that I may get what they get Yet knowe I this to be diuelish but I am Frailtie by name and I feare mee by nature I shall be no lesse Thirdly when any vnquietnesse growes in towne and countrie or any iarring vnkindnesse I see such hazard in dealing betwixt them such subtilties and fetches to make a man a partie in that which his soule hated and so to trouble him and let the best be supposed I see vsually so small thanke gotten of either partie but euen the cōtrarie that I assure you I sit still and let them bate the fire that made the fire and themselues waste one an other and a thousande moe too for mee if they wil. Notwithstanding my conscience accuseth mee secretly that this is not wel doone of mee And thus indangered without and accused within me thinke my case is harde and grieuous But I wil not wearie you with any moe of my infirmities For I euen shame to shewe you these but that you are Faith a friend where you take strong and comfortable and gaue me libertie to be thus boulde with you before Faith In déede Frailtie you are when these things thus flowe vpon you yet Frailtie may you cease to be by the grace of God if you wil diligently wey what strength in the scripture is ministred against them For to begin with you first letting store of other scriptures passe to kéep me stil in this fift of Matthew euidently it may there appéere that the Lord knewe it would assault his children and therefore vttered this sentence no doubt of purpose to confirme them still that Blessed are the mercifull for they shall obtaine mercie Wherein if it were well marked there is comfort hidden euen sufficiēt against this vile suggestion For shall the Lord of heauen set a blessing vpon the head of a thing and we not be mooued with it Nay shall it not more mooue vs than al the spéeches or conceites in the worlde to the contrarie tending What though a dull heart say let all men perish so I may be safe or what though a thousand policies pricke to a priuate regarde aboue measure of priuate welbeing doe we not heare with our eares and sée with our eies the spéech of truth which shall stand when heauen and earth shal fall Blessed is the merciful Either then make God false or this blessing assured to the vertue euer And if it be assured then neuer regarde the conceits of a witlesse world but consider the vertue in it selfe and what it shall pull vppon you Then to the imagination of want that may growe by this grace and to the sting that ariseth vpon their ingratitude whom we haue béene mercifull vnto oppose the promise that followeth in the place For they shall obtaine mercie Doth a man obtaine mercie when he is in this world made worse and in the world to come no better No you know he doth not and therefore it must néedes folow that this promised mercie implieth a greater good than euer can come harme by a liberall and mercifull hande in order either in this world or in the other or in both And it hath confirmation also of scriptures beside For I haue beene yong saieth the Prophet Dauid and nowe am olde yet sawe I neuer the righteous forsaken nor his seede begging their bread But the righteous is euer mercifull and lendeth and his seede is blessed And againe in another Psalme A good man is merciful and lendeth and he shall neuer be moued but had in euerlasting remēbrance Whereby it is plaine plaine inough that let the worlde and her chickens be as churlish as they may be yet mercie is gainefull by the promise of the Lord vnto the mercifull And more should we regarde what our God liketh loueth blesseth than what with worldly wretches getteth rewarde Yet euen here also it hath his praise as you may sée by proofe in Iob and others manie though not peraduenture euer in all that are most bound vnto it Wherfore euen a thousand times we shoulde contemne this rude nature of vnreformed worldlings and lette them be as vnkinde as vngratefull and as peruerse as their corruption can make thē if the Lorde soften our hearts and giue vs this vertue of mercie our rewarde is certaine the bill of our blessednesse is signed and we as we could euer desire assured to be gainers Sincke it then Frailtie in your heart if I may obtaine anie thing of you and heare not these things without any profit Ponder the good promised in your minde and ponder the trueth of him that promiseth it God of heauen earth If the good counteruaile your hurt as a thousād times it doth your temptatiō is strengthned and if he neuer deceiued that hath giuen his worde for payment of you it is more strengthned but both of these are true and therefore God giue you vse of them the blessing of mercifulnesse to al that truely néede your helpe is assured This were inough then if you be not vtterly fallen out with mée and will credite nothing that Faith telleth you to stay your steps in this godly duety of mercie yet regarding your nature rather than the néede of the thing adde vnto al this but some litle view in your minde of the vertue it selfe in it selfe and it may be you shall finde strength increased by it Is it not in his nature thinke you an assured vertue that God maketh euer anie promise of rewarde vnto Or can it make miserable that the Lord saith maketh blessed Or is it not cause ynough to continue you euer in the practise of it that the Lord so often so earnestly and so generally to all estates commaundeth it Surely it is and therefore mercie in it nature is a most notable vertue Is it not to be honored that maketh men in whome it is so renowmed as that all ages speake and write of their names and natures for it But this vertue of mercie hath béene such to many and therefore in all truth a notable vertue For proofe of my assertion I let passe the multitude of the faithful whome either scriptures or stories or present practise as yet amongst vs honorably speake and think of And I remember you onelie of his name whose nature in this action being an heathen hath often well liked me Alexander the great Whom when one Petillus humblie besought to helpe him with some money towardes the bestowing of his daughter in mariage by and by he commaunded 50. talentes to be giuen vnto him and when the man refused so great a gift saying that ten talentes would suffise beeing tolde of it he also aunswered that it behooued a good nature not onelie to consider what an honest friende
one truth may glorify thée in the true and constant profession of the same all the daies of our life Comfort O Christ thy afflicted members wheresoeuer or howsoeuer troubled and graunt vs peace if it be thy pleasure in our daies Finally because the night is now vpon vs and we readie to take our rest let the bed O Lord strike into our hearts that the graue is almost readie for vs. Which of vs can tell whether these eies of ours once closed vp shall euer open anie more againe or no Lorde therefore receiue vs into thy handes wée all here nowe commend our selues bodie and soul we bequeath vnto thée kéepe vs this night and euermore ready for thée when thou shalt call for vs. Heare vs O Lorde O God and father mercifull in these our petitions for thy sonne Christ Jesus sake our Sauiour in whose name we al together beg these mercies saying O Our father which arte in heauen halowed be thy name thy kingdom come thy will be doone in earth as it is in heauē giue vs this day our daily bread and forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs and leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill Amen Let thy mightie hand and outstretched arme be still our defence thy mercie and louing kindnes in Jesus Christ our saluation thy true and holie word our instruction thy grace and holy spirite our comfort and consolation vnto the end and in the end The Lorde blesse vs and saue vs the Lorde make his face to shine vpon vs and be mercifull vnto vs. The Lorde turne his fauourable countenance towarde vs and sende vs euer his peace Amen The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ the loue of God the Father the most comfortable felowshippe of the holie Ghost be with vs all blesse vs and kéepe vs this night and for euermore AMEN Iob. 3. Syrach 13. 16. Luke 6 20. Non magnum est sua sed se relinquere Exo. 22. 25. Deu 15. 10. Iob 26 15. Psal 9. 9. verse 12. verse 18. Psal 10. 17. Psal 21. 24. Psal 107. 22. Prouerb 28. 6. 22. Esay 25. 4. 66. 2. Luke 4. 18. Matth. 11. Luke 4. Iames 2. 5. Ruth 1. Kings 17. 2 Kings 4. Tobias 4 21. 1. Tim. 4. 6. Gen. 4. 5. verse 11. 12. 1. Sam. last 2. Sam. 17. 23 Acts. 1. Psal 6. 6. Rom. 15. 4. Luke 19. Rom. 9. Psalm 74. 9. Mich. 7. 2. Micheas 7. 2. Luke 6. Numb 11. 12. Ierem. 15. 10. Ierem. 20. 7. 1. Sam. 3. Luke 1. 38. 2. Timot. 2. 25. Psal 25. 9. Galat. 5. Math. 11. 29. That we hurt our selues also in earth by heat of affections Chap. 5. 1. Cor. 4. 11. 2. Cor. 11. Mat. 13 38. Verse 5. 37. 25. 112. 5. 31. 20. Prou. 11. 26. Mich. 6. 6. Colos 3. 12. Note Luke 6. Math. 18. Marke 6. Luke 10. Matth. 6. Matth. 3. 1. Cor. 11. 29. Rom. 12. Cor. 15. Howe mercifulnesse is wrought in men Experience Heb. 2. 17. 4. 15. Sight a worker of mercifulnesse Exod 2. Matth. 14. Marke 6. Luke 7. Luke 10. Luke 18. Iames 2. 13. Scripture against it Esay 2◠Psalme 12. 1. Pet. 2. 1. ◠Sam. 18. 21. ◠Sam. 20. 16. Psalme 34. Psalme 32. Psalme 15. Fathers against it Simplices qua si sine plicatione Anselm in Rom. 9. Lib. 1. Ad Caelant Heathen against it Cic. Offic. 2. Syrac 8. 19. 13. 9. De Sacerdotio lib. 1. Scriptures teach vnitie Psalm 133. 1. 2. 3. 4. Iohn 34. Ephes 4. 1. Thinges in nature teach vnitie Hose 2. 22. Deuter. 28. 32. 1. Tim. 5. 23. Actes 14. Apoc. 4. Psalme 119. Psalme 27.
for he lift vp his eyes vppon his disciples saieth the text when he spake these thinges as knowing what store of stormes shoulde arise vnto them by reason of their calling And therefore let them take it in the name of God as it is offered to them and claspe it in their armes so harde to their heart as all the woes in the world may not loose their houlde from it For the trueth hath saide it and experience trieth it they shall loue and not be loued they shall labour and not be liked they shall serue at the altar but poorely liue of the altar Their pietie shall be hypocrisie their zeale choler their heat youth their praiers shall not profite their watchings wast their fastings doe no good but sinne shall still reigne iniquitie abounde the greater part remaine vnreformed and they for al their loue labour and true faithfulnesse be reiected and contemned in the ende Whereupon what woe doth growe to the soul that sauored anie truth of meaning loue to God or goodwill to men let them iudge that haue felt or whose wisedomes can weigh what the Lorde hath not giuen them triall of in themselues Surely such it is as is able to make the méekest Moses pleade with y e Lord and aske why he so vexeth his seruant with an vnthankeful charge and commandeth to carie in his bosome as a nurse the suckling child so peruerse a people as though he had conceiued thē or begotten them all himselfe Such as is able to make Ieremie cry in the twitching torment of his minde Wo is mee my mother that euer thou bare mee a contentious man a man that striueth with the whole earth I haue neither lent vpon vsurie nor men haue lent me vpon vsury and yet euery one doth curse me O Lord thou hast deceiued mee and I amdeceiued thou arte stronger than I and hast preuailed I am in derision daily euerie one mocketh mee For since I spake and cried out of wrong the word of the Lord was made a reproch vnto me and therefore I will make mention no more of thee nor speake anie more in thy name But here is a comforte to stay all impaciencie and to continue their course in seruing of the Lorde in their callings stil Blessed are they that mourne for the want of the feare of God in men for their sorrow shall haue ioie and they shall be comforted at the last And in the meane time Elie his spéech is méete for euerie one It is the Lorde let him doe what seemeth good vnto him And Beholde here am I be it vnto me as my God will Thus may the ministers apply this promise And for you Frailtie or anie one in your case I pray you also cōsider how it fitteth you For what can you saie nowe groning vnder this griefe of yours traueling heauie loaden with your sins what can you say I saie if you saie your worst but euen crie out vpon the fulnesse and foulenesse of your iniquitie vppon the ripenesse and rottennesse of your sinne saying your life is losse vnto you and there is no ioy vnder the sunne that you can conceiue of anie thing by reasō of your sinne For you haue béene an Jdolater a blasphemous swearer a Sabaoth breaker a disobedient child to parentes and subiect to Prince a murtherer malicious and spitefull an adulterer wanton and light a thiefe deceitful and vniust a false witnesse an euill thinker and what not And therefore though for manie sinnes you could hope of mercie yet for so many you cannot but a heape togither beateth you down when many single ones could not do it This is the worst you can saie and this is ill ynough if God giue not faith Yet sée howe all this is nothing where this promise is marked For euē this sorrowe this mourning this discomfort and griefe that you haue conceiued by ruing of your life is a sure token that you are the Lordes and that he hath mercie for you if you will not stand in defiance of him but be of good hope he séeth you And my proofe is no worse than the Lords owne words Blessed are they that mourne for their sins and transgressions for their wants and weaknesse and for their loose course in the waies of so good a God for they shall be comforted Shall he say blessed and you say cursed shal he promise comfort and you say you are cast a way God forbid Remember what the spirit saith in the 1. Iohn 5. 10. Hee that beleeueth not God hath made him a lier And therefore conclude with your selfe and be chéered with it were there no more promises which yet are many besides of mercie vnto sinners yet were this sufficient to stay the weakenesse of anie if the Lorde be in them to giue them faith in it that the God of trueth hath pronounced happinesse to this wo and intailed surely a certaine comforte in time to descende vnto this sorrowe Manie moe I saie are the promises of God and manie moe are the places of comfort in this your case but my leasure serueth not now to make a treatise of a conference and when ynough is saide why shoulde you not be satisfied God hath spoken it the power of Hell cānot disprooue it you should beléeue it and I doe end with it happy are you or anie man or woman in the worlde if you féele your sinne and sorrowe for it so that you wil beléeue For you are not cast away but you shall be comforted you wéepe nowe but you shall laugh and you shall féele the performance of the wordes of Dauid Psalme 126. 5. They that sowe in teares shall reape in ioy and they that go weeping and carie pretious seed shall returne with ioy and bring their sheaues with thē Wheras y t same god saith with a thundring sound woe be to them that laugh nowe for they shall wéepe Woe be to them that in this life stretch themselues vppon beds of Juorie sing to the sound of the Uiole and drinke their wine in bowles of golde without sense and sorrowe for their sinnes for the daie wil come when this swéet shall want and what hath not earst béene felt shall smarte and sting and burne no lesse than the fire of hell and strongest venome of destruction that euer was or may be God therefore giue vs faith and what féeling of sinne it pleaseth him For this fleshly peace and securitie within vs is no token of loue and the contrarie wakening griefe and woe is nothing euer to dismay vs. Amen Strength against heat of affections the third temptation YOur third assault ariseth of the diuers iniuries sundry wrōgs that you sustain abroad without redresse or reuenge togither with the vndutifulnesse either knowne or imagined in your own houshold and family wherby you are driuen to greater impaciencie often than may stande with the liking of your God whom you serue and whereby indéede as you saie
doeth aske but what his abilitie is well to spare and giue Thinking belike which in trueth is often so indéede that either modestie or feare or some one regarde or other may make an honest nature not aske so much as in déede he standeth in néede of manie a time therefore good reason a faithfull friend should haue respect to such an one aboue his asking euer Was not this a swéete nature then and a notable vertue in this man Or can anie man reade this of him and not loue and like him for it Great therefore is the praise of mercie and tender kindnesse euer By mercie we resemble God and prooue our selues his children For our heauenlie father is mercifull By mercie we become instruments and as it were amners to the Lorde to deliuer his gratious benefites to our brethren and euen verie equitie requireth it at our handes that if we finde mercie our selues in all our néedes with God wee shoulde not denie it in their wantes vnto our brethren For so saith the Lorde to that euill seruaunt in the Gospell that he should haue forgiuen because he was forgiuen himselfe and shewed kindnesse to his fellowe since he had founde it with the Lorde himselfe Last of all that fearefull threate of mercie euer to be denied to vs if we denie it our selues to others should strengthen and staie vs in this vertue for euermore Therefore looke not I say againe vpon mens acceptance of our dooings but looke vpon the vertue it selfe howe it adorneth a man howe it commendeth a man and howe it maketh his fame to flie both farre and néere in euerie place And looke vppon the sure rewarde that is promised to it by the Lorde If you be mercifull you shall be blessed if you bee mercifull you shall haue mercie if you bee mercifull you shalbe renowned you shall assure your soule that you are the Lordes because you resemble his nature and if you be not both God and man shall curse you Therefore be mercifull This may incourage vs and this will incourage vs certainely Frailtie if the Lorde be not quite departed from vs. But as it is néedful that this vertue should be in vs so is it as néedefull that it be rightly in vs for otherwise we deceiue our selues and wee shall misse the rewarde in the ende And therefore as I haue indeuored to stirre you vp vnto it so it shall not be vnprofitable per aduenture altogether if I also direct you a little in it Some then haue thought this vertue to haue béene deliuered in the verse before which we haue heard of vnder the name of méekenesse but in déede they differ much For méekenesse then is shewed when we our selues are wronged and yet reuenge not but put it vp and leaue it to the Lorde And mercie when wee our selues being no way hurt yet are touched and mooued with other mens wantes and euen suffring with them because they suffer indeuour ourselues to our abilitie to relieue and helpe them So that this vertue of mercy as you sée standeth of two partes to wit of a tender féeling and compassion within vs and of an outwarde louing helpe with our abilitie whatsoeuer it is without vs. The miserie of man is of two sorts and therefore also this mercifull pitie and helpe of as many For either a man wanteth what is néedefull for his soule or what is conuenient for his bodie And both of these doth a mercifull christian tender and pitie and helpe as he can Of the former we haue a proofe in the example of our sauiour Christ whose bowels euen yerned and heart aked to sée the spirituall miserie and want of that great multitude that then he sawe being destitute of knowledge and altogether as wandering shéepe without a sheapheard Of the seconde we haue a proofe also in the Samaritan whose mercifull nature sheweth it selfe towarde bodily wantes and outward griefes of him that théeues had so ill handled And in both these you sée the partes I spake of namelie inwarde compassion and outwarde helpe Without which neuer can this vertue stande nor wee be liked either of God or man For if we pitie and yet helpe not that feareful spéech of Iohn lighteth on vs Howe dwelleth the loue of God in vs and we shall assuredly heare it in the day of iudgement When I was naked yee clothed me not when I was hungrie yee fedde me not and so foorth And if we helpe a man in his néede and yet doe it not vppon anie tender compassion towarde him but vppon a iolitie and pride in our selues and vppon an imagination of merite for the worke sake or such like it is loothsome againe all that euer we doe to the Lorde and we loose our rewarde If you doubt of this you may sée it prooued in the Pharisies whose almes abounded made a glorious shewe But because they let the weightier matters passe as iudgement and Mercie and fidelitie their outwarde déedes had neuer reward Therefore euen a thousande times marke it howe want of right disposition in the heart maketh outwarde dealing of giftes be it neuer so magnificall but pharisaicall and wicked against that blockish assertion of some that the déede doone must néedes be rewarded This tender féeling doth the Apostle both professe in himselfe and require in others In himselfe when hee asketh who is weake and he is not weake who is offended and hee burneth not In others when be saith wéepe with them that wéepe and rebuketh the Corinthians for that they séeing so great a fall of their brother were puffed vp and did not rather sorrowe So well thus you sée what manner of mercie must be in you if it be allowed of the Lorde Nowe howe this good vertue is begotten in vs let vs also consider and beside diuers others that might be named you shall sée the workers of it especially and aboue other meanes to bee experience and sight For the first wee sée it in the wisedome of the Lorde our God most plainely who therefore gaue his owne sonne a sense of our woes that experience might make him a more mercifull readie and carefull regarder of our sutes It behooueth him saith the Apostle in all thinges to be made like to his brethren that hee might be a merciful and faithfull high Priest And againe We haue not an high Priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but wee haue one that was in all things tempted in like sort yet without sin concluding thereupon presently Let vs therfore go boldlie to the throne of grace that wee may receiue mercie and grace to help in time of neede Why so Assuredlie because wee can neuer féele that want which he knoweth not and knowing experience worketh effectually a readie regarde and helpe Whereuppon by the way wee may grounde a great comfort against anie crosse if we marke it For thus may we thinke if mercifulnes make vs
kingdome diuided in it selfe can neuer stande And that other also of the Poet. By concorde small to muche is brought And discorde great thinges brings to nought Upon al which then gather this conclusiō that if this great vertue of peace and loue be to the Lorde himselfe so acceptable and to all estates in the world so profitable must it not néedes be in it selfe howsoeuer the worlde accepteth it a most singular thing and a most deserued praise to a man to be a peace-maker amongest men Certainelie it must But we neede not to gather it by conclusion For the Lorde Christ himselfe hath saide it in the same 5. of Matthewe as preparing strength before hande for this verie same temptation that nowe you féele That blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God And neuer as I haue nowe often saide doeth he set a blessing vppon the heade of anie thing but the same in it nature and before his maiestie is a worthie thing Wherefore this place shoulde bee to you euen a thousande argumentes to confirme your obedience in so Christian a duetie as peacemaking is and a thousande spurres to pricke you dailie to it when opportunitie is offered and occasion giuen to the same For Frailtie what can you resolue this speach of Christ into if you marke it wel but into this sense As if he should haue saide to his disciples in this order I knowe the manifolde discomfortes that shall bee giuen to all men and especiallie to you ministers in that duetie of peace-making which yet both belongeth to al men and especially to your calling notwithstanding euer to indeuour so farre as power shall serue And therefore least hereafter when it shall so fall out either you or anie other should be tempted through mens vnthankefulnesse to the giuing ouer of that so thrise néedeful a thing I forewarne you here before hande and euen giue you in charge as I am your Lorde and maister that you neuer regarde cleaue and sticke in the acceptaunce or thankefulnesse of men for your paines and trauell in this matter For if you doe you shall be discouraged But euer looke you vppe to heauen what is there thought of it and to the better sort of the worlde also whome the Lorde hath giuen eyes to discerne good things with al. And whatsoeuer you finde at mens handes for so godlie a labour you shall well knowe it finde it and féele it that with the Lorde in heauen blessed for euer shall bee the peacemakers and both of him and his true children heere in earth that knowe what is what they shall be counted taken and acknowledged for the sonnes of almightie God that shall liue with their Father for euermore Which is inough Frailtie if there be either touch or tast or anie féeling in the worlde in vs to staie vs for euer in this dutie be the peruersenesse of men neuer so much For what can we desire more than to haue our doinges accepted of the Lorde and our selues assured of euerlasting rewarde at his handes for men Let men be mad and mad againe let their crooked affections worke and writhe them whither they can and euen all vnthankefull spéeches burst from them against vs for our good-will that may be imagined my God is pleased shoulde a Christian heart thinke with my indeuour and his acceptaunce is my satisfaction his content is my rest and a sufficient requitall of all my paines Otherwise Frailtie I pray you euen earnestlie consider it What loue of God is that in vs that the loue of man driueth out of vs what care to please him is that that mens displeasure quencheth Fie fie it is too grosse and ten thousand wonders may it be that euer anie of vs can sléepe with this imagination that wee loue God aboue all and yet in such thinges as by name are commaunded and by promises commended to vs wholie guide our obedience according to mens acceptance or not acceptance liking or misliking Wherefore on still Frailtie with this dutie and indeuor to reconcile disagréeing mindes in the name of God and were the bitter gaule the spitefull péeuishnesse and all the vnthankfulnesse of the Diuell and his whole hoast in euerie man and woman you deale withall yet haue you comfort inough if either the Lords acceptance can content you or your owne promised rewarde and blessing please you or good accompt to bée one that God hath chosen for his childe with the better sort of the worlde comfort you Nowe by the way of a little digression in hope I doe not wearie you I would also wish you a little to consider that if this peace and agréement amongest neighbours in towne or countrie be such and so swéet in the sense of the Lorde as that euen the preseruers of it and restorers when it is broken are so heartily blessed and accompted for it the sonnes of God must it not néedes followe that those thinges likewise are in high accompt before his maiestie which being in men and women doe most mightilie maintaine this blessed vertue in all and euerie societis vnder heauen Surely it must néedes followe And what are they Manie and diuerse are they if one should make a curious recitall but for my part when I marke the course of thinges and the causes of good agréement in anie place I thinke but euen especiallie of these thrée First a patient and méeke nature in our selues able to beare and tolerate something without mounting into the house top immediatly and flashing out all on fire by and by vppon the sight or hearing of it Secondly a wel iudging heart of others till wée be certaine of the contrarie And lastly a good tongue Must not I say if peace be so pleasing to the Lorde these things also be pretious in his eies which all the worlde knoweth to be nourishing nurses of the same wheresoeuer they are If peace-making pull a blessing vppon vs as the Lorde liueth these so great preseruers of peace shal haue a happy reward And if this be true then on the other side againe the contrarie vices for their contrarie effect must néeds be as loathsome hatefull and accursed Namely an impatient hastie fierce frowarde furious nature y e is as short as mosse that hath neuer fought withall and foiled anie affection but cleauing still in pure naturalles is vnregenerated and euer casteth out the sauour of old Adam vpon euerie occasion be it but a trifle Secondly a suspicious misdéeming mind of euerie bodie that they say thus of vs worke this against vs or at least thinke thus of vs when in trueth it is nothing so O poison of peace in anie kingdome countrie towne house or person liuing in the worlde this misdéeming minde And to a mans selfe there is no more twitching tormēt vnder the son For it is euen a worme that is euer gnawing and euer biting and can neuer be contented Lastly an euill tongue a peaceles tongue that can neuer be
for thée that when the hower commeth we may neither feare nor faint in faith but ioyfully without anie skrikes and cries of desperation and of a troubled and vexed conscience passe away in full hope and assuraunce that all our sinnes are wiped away in the bloud of Jesus Christ and we to thée in him so reconciled that life for euermore is certaine vnto vs. Last of all good father with most humble and heartie thankes for thy goodnes to vs this night let thy mercifull eye looke vpon vs this day and so kéepe vs bodie and soule that being occupied in our seuerall callinges we may be safe by thée from al our enemies liue to thée or die to thée as it best shal please thy gratious goodnes These thinges O Lorde and whatsoeuer else we haue néede of graunt vs for Christ his sake in whose name we aske them saying as he hath taught vs OUr Father which art in heauen halowed be thy name thy kingdome come thy will be doone in earth as it is in heauen giue vs this day our dailie bread and forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs and lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill Amen Let thy mightie hand out stretched arme O Lorde be still our defence thy mercy louing kindnes in Jesus Christ our saluation thy true and holy worde our instruction thy grace and holy spirite our comfort and consolation vnto the ende and in the end Amen The Lorde blesse vs and saue vs the Lord make his face to shine vpon vs and be mercifull vnto vs the Lorde turne his fauourable countenance towarde vs and this day and euermore vouchsafe to sende vs his peace Amen The blessing of God alminghtie the father the sonne and the holie Ghost be amongst vs and remaine with vs both nowe and for euer Amen ¶ An other for the same at night O Immortall God creatour of heauen and earth before whome all creatures feare and tremble were it not that thou hast commaunded vs neuer durst we appeare before thée so corrupt is our nature and so manie are our sinnes But good Lorde thou doest bid and therefore we obey thou doest call and therefore we come giue vs spirites to pray aright First then héere met together déere father we yéelde thy maiestie most humble and heartie thankes for all the mercies that euer thou hast bestowed vpon vs in bodie or minde in our selues or in ours priuate or common temporall or eternall Manie and meruelous haue they béene and still are vpon vs yea euen good Lorde past finding out This day what thou hast done for vs which of vs knoweth or is able to expresse Father of heauen forgiue vs that wée cannot acknowledge them or praise thée for them as we ought and quicken vs in this duety more and more Pardon and forgiue vs whatsoeuer wée haue offended thée withal this daie or euer before either in thought worde or déede yea euen our secret sinnes such as we haue committed and knowe not of remit them vnto vs for Christs sake Change vs O Lorde and wee shal be changed Create in vs cleane hearts and renew a right spirite within vs. Breake the strength of sinne that would subdue vs more and more And O mercifull father so frame these harts of ours within vs that we may more delight to liue according to thy will than to enioy all the worlde and all the pleasures therein Laie it often good Lorde before our eies by thy remembring spirite that thou hast not breathed the breath of life into vs that we should liue as wée list but that in holinesse and righteousnesse wée shoulde walke before thée all our daies Laie it before vs O Lorde that the time will come when the trumpe shall sounde the dead shall rise and we euen wée here mette together at this time all and euerie one of vs shall most assuredly stand before thy iudgement seate with naked hearts with open and vnfolded consciences there to giue an accompt howe wée haue so doone In which daie O the ioie O the endlesse ioie that they shall haue who waining themselues from the glistering shew of this wretched world in heart trueth haue sought serued thée Come come ye blessed of my father to their comfort shal they beare possesse the kingdom prepared for you But woe woe to all carelesse liuers in that flerie daie they shall drinke the wine of the wrath of God be tormented in fire and brimstone before the holie Angels and before the lambe they shall haue no rest daie nor night and the smoke of their torment shall ascende for euermore Father of hauen haue mercie vpon vs knit these hearts of ours fast vnto thée and now whil we haue time giue vs grace rightly to thinke of these things O continue thy worde of truth amongest vs euer to our comfort Let the séede thereof nowe sowen in our hearts take such déepe roote that neither the burning heat of persecution cause it to wither nor the thornie cares of this worlde riches or voluptuous liuing choke it but as séede sowen in good grounde it may bring foorth fruite according to thy pleasure O father giue grace that whē we heare or finde by thy word anie sinne that is in vs touched we maie striue and study without delay willingly to reforme it Kéepe vs good God y t wée neuer swarue for the feare of man from our own true knowledge becōming seruers of time and deniers of thée Kéepe vs from all hardnes of hart contempt of thy word and from all dissembling of sinceritie increase true loue amongst vs more and more stay our heady wrathful and wicked affections more and more And euerie waie good Lorde renew vs to thy liking Blesse thy whole Church O God with graces necessarie this parcel of it our natiue land and countrey déere father blesse it still with continuance of thy truth Lessen in it daily the number of blinde and wilfull Papists prophane Atheists increase the number of thy true children O presse vs not déere God with the weight of our ingratitude whose liues and knowledge answeare not the daies that we haue had worke with vs hence forward for thy mercies sake Preserue vnto vs long aliue good Lord our gracious prince gouernour multiplie thy spirite vpon her that still more and more she may séeke and sette out kéepe and maintaine that which pleaseth thée Giue to her honourable counsell graces necessarie for so high a calling Blesse all other Nobles Magistrates and the whole bodie of this realme with true heartes to thée and this country Increase in Israel the number of true watchmen whose harts may séeke thée and thy people and not their owne glorie or commoditie Bring to thy tolde by them such wandring remnants as are thine and O Lorde be gracious to our kinred and friendes in the flesh lighten their heartes with the sunne of vnderstanding that they and we acknowledging