preheminence saueth thee but Thy faith hath saued thee Wherefore was the Bible And behold wherefore all the Bible is written to wit that wee might beleeue howe Iesus Christ is the Sonne of God and that beleeuing therein we might haue euerlasting life O therefore howe much is the doctrine of the Gospell necessarie and fit for vs seeing that it is as Paule saieth in the 10. to the Romanes the woorde of Faith whereby the Lorde kindleth and maintaineth faith in our hearts O how great also is the vnspeakeable goodnes of this mightie God which giueth vs blessednes and euerlasting life for nothing and requireth no other thing of vs but that we put our trust in him and that we doe beleeue in his worde O blessed we for whose sake he hath so louinglie spoken yea sworne and made an othe that hee would be vnto vs a father and sauiour But woe more than accursed are those that beleeue not in the Lorde who hath confirmed and ratified so manie goodlie and solemne promises by oth yea by the precious bloud of our Sauiour What Faith is For Christian faith is not an opinion or light beleefe of all that a man might set before vs but it is the gift of God Ephes 3. and a worke of God Iohn 6. by which gift and woorke of the Lord wee are brought vnto a certeine knowledge of his will by the meanes of his holie promises made in his woorde as S. Peter in the sixt of S. Iohn saieth Wee haue beleeued and doe knowe that thou art Christ and S. Paule in the first of the second to Timothie He hath giuen vs a spirite of a sounde minde and wee knowe verie well in whome wee haue beleeued and wee are persuaded that hee is able to keepe that gage c. Rom. 4 2â— And therefore we giue glorie vnto God beleeuing in the promises of our God being certeine and fullie assured that that which hee hath promised vnto vs hee will and can doe it to wit to forgiue vs our sinnes The effects of Faith and euerlasting life through Iesus Christ who was deliuered to death for our sinnes and rose againe for our iustification by whom also wee haue peace with God and haue accesse through faith vnto his grace wherein we stand and reioice vnder the hope of the glorie of GOD to come calling also vpon his name in all our needes and necessities as it is said in the Psalme 116. I haue beleeued and therefore haue I spoken and in the tenth of the Rom. Let vs call on him in whom we doe beleeue Things contrarie vnto faith By this it appeareth that there are three things which cheeflie are contrarie vnto faith First the despising of Gods word and of the preaching of the Gospell seeing that the Lord inspireth our harts by this meane and giueth vs also faith not willing that our beliefe and saluation should bee builded vpon mans discourse or fleshlie wisedome but vpon him alone Secondlie the doubts distrusts are contrarie vnto faith if a man doe not resolue himselfe in GOD if a man walke in vncertaintie Double errours in the Papaltie in the maner of Faith if a man doe not assure himselfe of his saluation as it is seene in the Papistes howe they in this behalfe doe commit a double fault In the first place as it is to be seene in the sixt session of that goodlie councel of Trent 9. Chapter They taught how it was a vaine trust when as men did fullie assure themselues of Gods grace and that none could knowe an assurednesse by faith that he had the grace of God O how bare weake and vnable of power should our consolation bee against sinne the diuell and hell namelie in the article of death if this doctrine tooke place For that which they say howe man because of his infirmitie cannot so assure him in his God The aunswere is easie to wit that the certaintie of faith is of God and of his word and not of our strength and merites or deseruings and therefore it ouercommeth all our weakenesse For we be also saued not after the greatnesse and weakenesse of our beliefe but through the excellencie and mightinesse of him in whom we doe beleeue that is to wit Iesus Christ in such sort as weake faith leaueth not off to be a faith to saluation because it apprehendeth the euerlasting sonne of God The other errour of the Papists is that not fullie trusting in the Lord they cal vpon Saints of both kindes not considering how that we do beleeue in one onelie God and we must also call vpon God alone For we doe call vpon him in whom we doe beleeue and fully put our assurance Rom. 10. as also in the 44. Psalme The Church protesteth not to haue lifted vp hir handes to a strange God To be short there is nothing more contrarie vnto faith than the distrust of the goodnesse fauour and assistance of our God or to think that he hath not heard our praiers seeing that it is his propertie to heare them as Dauid saith in the 65. Psalme All creatures shall come vnto thee because thou hearest their prayers They sinne there also against the nature of faith which do not beleeue that which they doe see and so soone as they see no succour prosperitie and riches they are discouraged and leaue religion And as it is said in the eleuenth Chapter to the Hebrues there prooued by manie goodlie examples that faith is the rest or stay of the thing a man hopeth for a shew of things a man seeth not For S. Augustine saith Man beleeueth with the heart not by the hand vnto righteousnes so as diuers beleeue not that which they doe touch with the hand or doe see with the fleshlie eie Thirdlie this of all other is contrarie vnto faith to purpose or to set foorth or to establish anie other thing than Christ the sonne of God Rom. 10. vpon whom we ought to trust be they our works riches or men for establishing vs vpon our selues we doe ouerthrowe so much as lieth in vs the righteousnes of God And so we deceiue our selues because that there is none other name but the name of Iesus Acts. 4. by whom wee shall haue life prosperitie saluation and in summe all maner of blessings A Praier vnto God to obtaine true Faith and encrease therein OVR Lorde God Father of light from whom proceedeth euerie good and perfect gift S. Iames. 1.17 which hast promised to powre vpon thy seruaunts the spirite of grace and of prayer Zach. 12.10 we most humblie beseeche thee Ephes 1. that for the loue of thy sonne Iesus by whom it hath pleased thee to choose vs and to blesse vs in all spirituall blessing let it please thee also to giue vs a truenesse of faith by the which wee may comprehend this largenesse depth length and height of thy delight towards vs to trust and comfort
vnto the poore euen a strength vnto the needie in his trouble a refuge against the tempest a shadow against the heate for the blast of the mightie is like a storme against the walk Thou shalt beate downe the noyse of the strangers as the heate in a drie place And he will destroy the couering that couereth all people and the veile that is spred vppon all Nations He will destroy death for euer and the Lord GOD shall wipe away the teares from all faces and the rebuke of his people will he take away out of all the earth for the Lord hath spoken it And in that day shall men say Lo this is our God we haue waited for him and he will saue vs. This is the Lord we haue awaited for him we will reioyce and be ioyfull in his saluation The 30. of Esai Your strength shall be in silence and in hope The 41. of Esai For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand saying vnto thee Feare not I will helpe thee Feare not thou worme Iacob and ye men of Israel I will helpe thee saith the Lord and thy redeemer the holy one of Israel The 42. of Esai I am the Lord this is my name and my glorie will not I giue vnto an other neither my prayses to grauen Images And I will bring the blinde by a way that they know not and leade them by pathes that they haue not knowen I will make darknesse light before them crooked thinges straight These thinges wil I doe vnto them and not forsake them They shall be turned backe that trust in grauen Images they shall be greatlie ashamed The 50. of Esai The Lord God is my helper therefore shall not I be confounded Therefore haue I set my face like a flint and I know that I shall not be ashamed He is neere that iustifieth me Let vs stand together who is my aduersarie Let him come neere to me Beholde the Lorde God will helpe me who is he that can condemne me The 51. of Esai I euen I am he that comforteth you Who art thou that thou shouldest feare a mortall man and the sonne of man which shal be made as grasse And so forgettest thy Lorde thy maker who hath spread out the heauens and layd the foundations of the earth for the heauens shall vanish away like smoke and the earth shall waxe olde like a garment and they that dwell therein shall perish in like manner But my saluation shal be for euer and my righteousnes shal neuer be abolished A complaint of the vnbeliefe and Apostasie of men The 2. of Ieremie THus sayth the Lorde What iniquitie haue your fathers founde in mee that they are gone farre from mee and haue walked after vanitie are become vaine and haue not sayde where is the Lorde where is the Lorde that brought vs out of the Lande of Egypt And lead vs through the lande of Wildernesse through a desert and wast land through a drie land and by the shadow of death by a lande that no man passed through and where no man dwelt and I brought you into a plentifull countrie c. O ye Heauens be astonied at this be afraide and vtterly confounded sayeth the Lorde For my people haue committed two euils they haue forsaken me the fountaine of liuing waters to digge them pittes euen broken pittes that can holde no water The 9. Chap. of Ieremie Thus saith the lord Let not the wise man glorie in his wisdome nor the strong man glorie in his strength neither the rich man glorie in his riches but let him that glorieth glorie in this that he vnderstandeth and knoweth me for I am the Lord which shew mercie iudgement and righteousnesse in the earth for in these thinges I delight saith the Lord. The 17. of Ieremie Thus saith the Lord Cursed be the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arme and which draweth his heart from the Lord for he shall be like the heath in the wildernesse and shall not see when anie good commeth but shall inhabit the parched places in the wildernesse Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord whose hope the Lord is for he shall be as a tree that is planted by the water which spreadeth out her rootes by the riuer and shall not feele when the heate commeth but her leafe shall be greene and shall not care for the yeare of drought neither shall cease from yeelding fruite O Lord the hope of Israel all that forsake thee shall be confounded They that depart from thee shall be written in the earth because they haue forsaken the Lord the fountaine of liuing waters A godlie example of the three companions of Daniell and of their constancie and faith taken out of the 3. Chap. of the Prophet Daniel ver 16. SHadrach Meshach and Abednego aunswered and said vnto the king O Nabuchadnezar we are not carefull to aunswere thee in this matter Behold our God whome we serue is able to deliuer vs from the hote fierie fornace and hee will deliuer vs out of thy hand O king But if not be it knowen to thee O king that we will not serue thy Gods nor woorship the golden Image which thou hast set vp An obseruation vpon the said place NOte ye that first these good men did verie well see that in partaking neuer so little in the seruice of Idols it was to serue the diuels To partake with the Idolaters is to serue the diuels as it is said in the 106. Psalme ver 37. and also in the 1. to the Corinth 10. Chap. ver 20. As God threatneth also to roote out all those that shal sweare by the Lord or by Melchon in the 1. Chap. of Sophonie For as one Marcus Arethusius aunswered Marcus Arethusius in the historie of Theodoret. When men would not bestowe but one Tournois vnto a wicked act then did euerie man contribute And as on a day the Christians aunswered according as it is written in the same Theodoret in the 4. booke and 20. Chap. When as the tyrantes fumed yet more with rage furie than before they were woont we could not denie nor start frō the trueth seeing that in the world Renouncing of the trueth there could not be found a greater torment than to renounce the truth There is also a goodly historie in the 4. booke of Eusebe and the 13. Chap. When there was mention made of the Edict that Anthonius the Emperor proclaimed forbidding to persecute the Christians for said he You shall make them victorious through their persecutions in that they loue better to die than to obey you An expositiō of the text which is in the 5. chapter 2. booke of Kinges That which some men to couer their wickednesse and ydolatrie doe alleage the place of the soconde booke of the Kinges the 5. Chap. and the 18. ver when Naaman the king of Syreas Connestable saide vnto Eliseus The Lorde be merciful vnto the seruant that
What was it that gaue so many torments vnto their mindes spirites It was O mightie God these poore people that were captiue certainely thou art great in the middest of thy people For thy children all together poore and litle that be in the world are terrible vnto the wicked because that they leane and stay vndoutedlie vpon thy strength Herode trembled hearing of a childe that was borne at Bethelem Therefore a miserable man a miserable people a miserable kingdome which hath none other streÌ„gth but vpon his owne arme and vpon their owne counsell The wicked haue greatcraft to consult subtilitie to woorke deceites and are subtle and presumptuous But all this O Lord is nothing before thy face but a great heape of smoke the which the higher it ascendeth the more it vanisheth away On the other part thy people walking in their simplicitie are afflicted and lie open to manie wronges But thou redressest them by thy mightie hand euen in such sort that as the seede dying in the earth bringeth forth greater abundance of fruite euen so dooth thy Church increase and waxe fruitfull vnder the crosse by meanes of the deawe of thy grace In such manner as neither the hote sonne nor the cold moone nor any other difficulties can bee hurtfull vnto thy children Seeing then O eternall God that against thee there is no power nor deceipt that in thee we haue our streÌ„gth and wisedome graunt vs grace that wee feare nothing but thee neither put our trust in any but in thee and that wee bost not ourselues but in thee through thy son Iesus Christ So be it An other example of Gods fatherly care of his people in their neede out of Exodus the 3. Chap. ANd the Lorde sayde vnto them I haue surely seene the trouble of my people which are in Egypt and haue heard their crie because of their taske-maisters for I knowe their sorowe and am come downe to deliuer them out of the hande of the Egyptians A prayer necessarie in these daies O Lord how great wrong haue we when as we doe not thinke that thou doest see vs in all our afflictions and that thou art farre from vs as the world is perswaded that thou hast no care or keepe ouer vs. For albeit thou be great yet despise thou not thy little ones And although that thou art a glorious God yet cast not away those that are in affliction and sorrow And albeit that thou art a spirituall substance yet thou hast eyes to see that is to say a woonderfull prouidence the which dooth not alonelie beholde but dooth gouerne also the whole world Thou hast thy eares open of mercie and pitie to vnderstand the prayers and cryinges of thy people Thou hast thy handes of strength and might to helpe vs. Thou hast the feete to come downe swiftlie that is to witte the readinesse of thy force and good will which thou in neede makest vs to know Now if thou hast had anie pitie of thy people Israel in AEgypt yea if the great exaction and violence which was doone vnto them hath mooued thee to prouide for them it is now surelie time that thou helpe thy Church Their malice vnfaithfulnes extortion and tyrannie are they not come vnto their fulnesse Was AEgypt then more cruell than those which rise vp in these daies against thy people Was Pharao more hardened in heart than our aduersaries No Lord for he straâ—e to driue away Moses But these thirst without ceasing after our bloud doe dailie inuent new torments and cruelties O God almightie wherefore wilt thou who hast the heartes of kinges in thy handes not bend them as thou hast doone Manasses and that of Nabuchadonezer and therein doe thy iust iudgementes and shewe thy glorie thy power against the tyrantes as thou hast doone in times past against Pharao And as concerning thy people O Lord draw them out of AEgypt out of this harder bondage than to make Brick since that it is seruile vnto Antichrist and Idolatrie Make soft their heartes that are reuolted giue them grace to knowe the horrible captiuitie where they be vnder Antichrist that neither the Garlick nor the Onyons neither anie other stincking pleasures of the flesh and world doe let them or stay them to come out of AEgypt to seeke out the places wherein thou art both purelie serued and honored to call vppon thee in purenesse and sinceritie of faith and in rest and peace of conscience through our Lord thy Sonne Iesus Christ A consideration of this place which is in the 13. of Exodus of the Clowdie Pillar in the day and of the fierie Pillar by night that departed not from the people O How blessed are the people of whom GOD is the Lorde for as hee is the creator and Lord ouer all things so dooth he make all his creatures to serue as a coÌ„moditie vnto his chosen May it be possible to see a more greater care prouideÌ„ce louingnesse than that which the Lorde hath shewed vnto his people who did not alonelie withdrawe theÌ„ from a wretched and hard bondage that was too much but was also a guide and an assistant and companion likewise with his signes and witnesses so woonderfull of his fauour Where then are they which alwaies are afraid to want and to bee destitute if they passe out of AEgypt and giue ouer their idolatrie and therefore looke dailie backe as Lots wife did Yea but some will say wee doe see no more these signes neither the fierie Pillar nor the cloudie pillar Truelie they cannot bee seene to them whose eyes the brightnesse of worldlie honors doe lighten and that haue no more sight than the back or mouldiwarpe But the children of GOD doe sufficientlie acknowledge the most certaine testimonies of Gods presence For haue they neede of the clowdie pillar The holie Ghost shall refresh them and yeelde them contented and strengthen them in the middest of temptations GOD is also their fierie wall which dailie kindeleth in them faith and other giftes most excellent In summe The pillars which doe guide and comfort vs in world the children of God doe not require more fairer and goodlier Pillars to guide them and comfort them in the pilgrimage of this vaile of miserie than the pure Ministerie of Gods word and the pure administration of his holie Sacramentes Hauing this Pillar of trueth they are certaine to bee surelie grounded to bee well guided and to be well directed in all their liues when as the people of the world shall be drowned in the puddle of Idolatrie with Pharao and with the pleasures of this present world that shall perish Why should we then be so vnhappie to forsake the pure seruice of our God and to doe seruice vnto strange Gods eueÌ„ like as it is said in the 32. of Deuteronomie that we would recompence the Lord Is he not our father our possessour hath he not made and fashioned vs Let vs consider saith hee in the same place
his welbeloued sonne O good sauiour haue mercie on thy brethren come vnto them and dwell in them A prayer concerning Iesus Christ for to know him rightly O Lord my God seeing thou hast prouided for vs so precious a gift giuing vnto vs thy sonne Iesus fill my soule with the feeling of his bountie kindle in me a true desire of thy deere sonne and of his grace quench in me all euill affections neither suffer that my soule be vexed by worldlie cares but lift it vppe O Lorde and drawe it vnto a perpetuall meditating of thy sonne my redeemer Let his name be in my mouth let his mercie be shed in my heart to run through all my bones marowe and that I may neuer tast any other thing than this good sauiour that is dead for me Grant me also grace to correct my manners and take away from mee that which displeaseth thee for to giue me that which is agreeable and pleasing vnto thee Alas who shall make man cleane that is conceiued in vncleannesse if he be not washed and made righteous by thy sonne Iesus My health lyeth in thee good GOD and my weakenesse is before thee Heale this and by thy grace graunt vnto me the other For it is thou that healest the infirmities and keepest them that are healed and all through thy mercie An other prayer on the same matter O Lorde if our eyes be so tender and weake that they bee not able to beare the light of the sunne howe can we alas beholde thee if thou haddest not declared thy selfe in thy sonne which is the eternall worde and brightnesse of thy glorie O woonderfull secret that is not vnderstoode by mans wisedome the which is come out of the heauenly closet This is it that GOD was made man the euerlasting is made mortall hee that was not subiecte to suffer was made subiect to suffer the maister to abide the death for his seruauntes and he which ought nothing hath payed the debt to set vs poore sinners free O the great goodnesse of our sauiour to abide and suffer so much for vs O great power of our Lord Iesus Christ to ouercome death Hell had thought to haue swallowed him vp but it is hee that hath ouercome hell And in such manner it is come to passe therein as vnto fishes the which are taken when they thinke to take the baite euen so death taking our redeemer was himselfe taken And nowe Lorde who is he that will not trust in thee seeing that thy sonne is risen againe on the thirde daie so gloriously and tryumphauntly seeing that hee is ascended aboue all the highest heauens and hath deliuered man from his captiuitie to make him way euen vnto the heauenlie dwelling place It is there where hee sitteth on thy right hande and where wee doe worshippe him with thee the father and with the holie Ghost the comforter of the afflicted This is thy sonne our Lorde who is our life and our resurrection This is the hope and trust of the afflicted this is our light in our darkenesse this is the dewe of our thirstie soules This is he that doeth strengthen vs in our weakenesses and that healeth our woundes Wee are sinners but our sinne is not so great and mightie as is his mercie We be wanderers in this worlde but he is our shephearde and we doe awaite vpon him with a most earnest desire that our bodies may be alike vnto his glorious bodie and that wee may O mightie God beholde thy face A prayer and meditation vppon the birth of Iesus Christ taken out of the 15. Chap. of the Meditations of S. Augustine O Exceeding goodnesse O inestimable loue of thee my God who hast giuen thy sonne to redeeme thy seruaunt God was made man that man being lost should be redeemed out of the diuels pawes It must be O Lorde true that thy sonne Iesus hath right tenderly loued mankinde seeing that he hath not alonely brought him selfe so lowe to bee willing to become man and to bee borne of a virgine but did willingly yeelde himselfe vnto the punishment of the crosse and that for our saluation The good sauiour is come vnto vs he by his goodnesse is come to seeke out that which was lost hee hath sought out the lost sheepe and hauing founde him he hath taken him vppon his shoulders to carie him vnto the sheepe folde O good Lorde O true shephearde O woonderfull charitie And who is he that may heare these thinges without beeing astonied from the bowelles of this mercie Who will not marueile thereat or rather reioyce therein in that thou hast so much loued vs Lorde thou hast sent thy sonne in the likenesse of a sinnefull man that he who was without sinne might ouercome sinne and that we might of thy righteousnesse reioyce in him For hee it is that is the true Lambe without spotte and that hath taken away the sinnes of the worlde and that in dying hath destroyed death and in rysing againe hath brought life But alas O Lorde what shall I yeelde vnto thee for these so excellent benefites What prayses what thankesgiuing shall I giue vnto thee O Lorde Although wee shoulde be indewed with the knowledge of Angelles yea though all our members shoulde bee turned into tongues yet shoulde we be vnsufficient and vnwoorthy to praise so great a louing kindenesse for thy inestimable charitie that thou hast shewed vnto vs poore and vnworthie creatures dooth ouercome all knowledge Because that thy sonne hath not taken the seede of Angelles but of Abraham beeing made like vnto vs sinne excepted Therefore hauing taken humane nature and glorifying it and through his resurrection decking it with immortalitie he hath lifted vp him selfe aboue all heauens and hath placed him at thy right hande where hee is hee that is thy sonne worshipped and feared of Angelles Nowe beholde my comfort and my hope and wee all haue a portion in his flesh And since that he that hath taken our flesh raigneth with it I doe beleeue that I shall raigne because that my flesh is glorified in the person of Christ we shal be also glorified Albeit that my sinnes may let mee therein yet will this coniunction that I haue with Christ take away the lettes My God is not so rigorous and seuere to despise man seeing hee hath carried man and the humane nature vp on high How should hee forget that that hee hath with him Truelie this good Lorde is gentle and louing and loueth his flesh And if the Father loue his sonne as in deede hee loueth him hee also loueth all the which dooth appertaine vnto him so that from henceforth we be as raised vp in Christ Wee be alreadie seated in the kingdome of God since that the humane nature is gone vp thither with Christ No man hath euer hated his owne flesh We be bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh Oh that this is a great secrete saith the Apostle this of Christ and of his Church O
maiestie O God thou art my treasure grant me grace to haue my heart there where my treasure is and to meditate night and day in thy worde which is the light that guideth my steppes and is in tribulation more sweete vnto my heart than honny is vnto the mouth The reason of man was truely O Lorde a goodly lampe that thou haddest giuen vnto man but as it is darkned it cannot shewe the way which leadeth man from sinne to righteousnes and from death to life and they which otherwaies are not lightened but by the same doe perish as beastes Psalm 49. Nowe since it pleaseth thee to haue a Church on the earth which thou hast gathered together thorowe the preaching of thy worde inlighten my eies to beholde and see the spirituall state and magnificence of this house to the ende I may loue it and delight my selfe therein And because that I am a stranger in the land inlighten me in such sorte that seeing the way of euerlasting life in thy word I may follow it vntill I come vnto the true countrie which is in heauen Out of the 59. Chap. of Esaiah verse 21. Beholde my couenaunt with them faith the Lorde my spirit that is vppon thee and my wordes which I haue put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seede nor out of the mouth of the seede of thy seede saith the Lorde from henceforth euen for euer CONSIDERATION THese wordes doe declare vnto vs that the onelie people which haue the word of GOD and the purenesse of the Doctrine are auouched the true people of the Lord. For with this word God worketh and vnfoldeth the force of his spirit Rom. 1. as by this occasion is the Gospell also so called the power of God to saluation to all beleeuers to bee short by the meane of this word 2. Cor. 5. and through the ministrie of reconciliation God hath established his couenant amongest vs being fauorable vnto vs and forgiuing vs our sinnes Therefore this Church is not gouerned by swords or by Crosses but by the spirit and by the word of God And because that this word is euerlasting it is not in the power of the world to stop the course thereof But God to punish our vnthankfulnesse draweth it backe sometimes from vs and in the meane while it is in such sorte as hee maketh it to waxe fruitefull elsewhere and that which wee doe not see our posteritie shal see it with whom the Lord hath also his couenant O the follie of mankinde which heareth not wisedome crie out in the streets and biddeth vs come vnto her Prou. 1. Therefore of good right doeth she laugh at the destruction of all those which despise her A Prayer vppon this place Out of the 15. Chap. of S. Matthew EVerie plant which mine heauenlie Father hath not planted Prou. â—0 shall bee rooted vp O Lord my God because that thine onelie word is pure cleane and a buckler vnto all those that trust in thee giue me grace to loue thee and since that thou thy selfe inuitest vs vnto the wholsome waters that thou giuest for nothing guide me vnto those running brookes keepe my soule from being led away by this enemie which soweth Cockle and euill hearbes in the world 1. Iohn 4. Giue mee the spirit of discretion to proue the spirites and suffer me not to bee lead with euerie winde of Doctrine 2. Tim. 1. but dailie to holde the true patterne of thy wholsome word 1. Cor. 11. which is in faith and loue in Iesus Christ And albeit to proue thine thou doest suffer manie times the euill plantes to increase and permittest heresies as is to bee seene of olde when as the blasphemie of the Arrians tooke roote as it were in all the East and in our dayes popish Idolatrie hath doone in the West 2. Thes 2. So in likewise haue wee also seene how thou hast vnrooted them and manifested the dreames of men so that there is none nowe deceaued but those whome despise the trueth and loue the Epicures life yeelding themselues woorthie to bee led away by the spirit of blindnesse and errour In the meane while O GOD beate downe them which make Sectes Partialities Rom. 16. and Scandals a part against the pure Doctrine graunt power and might to the Ministrie of thy holie Gospell that all heresies and errors may bee rooted out of mens heartes and that in quiet peace and concorde wee may praise thy name all the dayes of our life Also shew thy fauour vnto vs and now that it is so late in the end of our time yea and that it seemeth O Lorde that this faire sunne of trueth would goe to rest whome thou hast shewed in the world Mat. 28. may remaine with vs and strengthen vs in thy knowledge following this thy promise that thou hast made to bee with vs euen vnto the end of the world So be it Of the hearing of the word of God Out of the 11. of S. Luke Blessed are they that heare the word of God and keepe it MEDITATION BLessed are they then not that heare much know much and speake much of the word of God But that keepe it in obedience of faith For whereto serueth the seede throwne into the ground if it tooke not roote there to increase and bring forth fruite Whereunto serueth as saith Iesus Christ in the 7. Chap. of S. Matthew to make a high building if vppon the blowing of the first windes the house fall They loue me saith Christ in the 14. of S. Iohn that doe not onlie heare but also keepe my commaundementes For how shall wee heare if hee doe not pearce our eares Psal 40. and open our vnderstandinges because that it is nothing to heare outwardlie vnlesse that God doe speake vnto vs inwardlie and if it be not heard within vs. Men truelie haue eares But they haue not all eares to heare and to make their profit of the word of God Now since that they are vndoubtedlie accursed which neither heare nor keepe this word and doe loue better to heare worldlie songes or foolish follies Let vs pray without ceasing this God that hee will open the heartes to vnderstand his word as hee did vnto this Lydia a seller of purple of whome mention is made in the 16. Chap. of the Actes And that wee doe not take it of the Lord in ill part when hee shall punish vs because that in so doing hee doth open our eares to receaue instruction euen as it is said in the 36. of Iob and the 10. verse A prayer vppon the same matter O Most gratious and mercifull GOD thou hast declared by thy dearelie beloued sonne Iesus Christ that they which heare thy word and keepe it are blessed Doeth it not rather belong vnto vs O Lord to acknowledge and to maruaile at thy blessednesse and felicitie It is for vs to speake of thine and thou doest
experience and amongest manie temptations learned the deceites of the Diuell oftentimes said that one day he would put hand to penne to write a great volume against Satan to discouer his wiles and craftes and all the kindes of temptations wherewith hee was accustomed to fight against vs. Besides this hee did dailie aduertise the people both priuatelie and openlie that it was not a thing so light as men thought it to haue dailie Satan at our heeles and an enemie so craftie that spied out but the occasion to sift vs and to destroy vs. Now on a time Luther being requested by a good man who suffered manie tēptations and other vnquietnesse for some comfort Hee wrote this vnto him that followeth in a booke brieflie expounding this sentence of S. Iohn set downe before Satan from the beginning of the world was a lyar and through lyes hath a desire to tempt mankinde Behold how Adam and Eue our first parentes were ouertaken and caught which were created vnto the Image of God For hauing beguiled them through lies hee was therein also a murtherer in that that of the immortall they became mortall Not long after hee set Caine against his Brother Abel and did thrust forward the brother to imbrue his handes with the bloud of his brother And this is the manner and guise of all Satans kingdome Hee began through lying to seduce men afterward hee ceaseth not to stirre vp persecutions against the true faithfull which would not cleaue vnto his lies In the meane while hee bringeth his maintainers to dispaire as it is to be seene of Caine Iudas and others Therefore it is for vs to beware of so cruell and craftie an enemie Let vs also beware and take good heede of his false and dreaming doctrines which commeth forth out of his shoppe the end whereof is vtter destruction To be short let vs take heede of lying and crueltie seeing both the one and the other commeth of the Diuell Moreouer let vs marke that our comfort is that Iesus Christ was giuen vnto vs who appeared to ouerthrow and destroy the workes of the diuell And in deede hee was found the stronger that did buind his enemie Satan and draue away the Prince of the world Against his leinges he hath armed vs with the trueth of his Gospell Against death hee gaue vs life giuing himselfe to bee our Emanuel that is to say God with vs. What greater comfort should wee know to desire For if a man would say yea but Christ is in heauen Behold that which Iesus saith If anie man keepe my word hee shall not perish The doctrine of the lawe accuseth vs and setteth downe before vs our condemnation But the Gospell is the word of life and power of GOD to saluation O miserable and wretched world that forsaketh this pretious word The auncient Fathers haue woondred at a hearbe called Panacea which as some say healed all maner of diseases And seeing manie times we doe see that men esteeme more of some little experience of Phisicke that they shall haue against anie sicknes Why then doe they not commend and praise aboue all the doctrine of the Gospell which healeth vs against death Is it because that the world is so earthlie and lustfull which is not otherwise guided but by fleshlie considerations and neither trusteth in God nor in his promises But wee must feare the iudgementes of God For as they which doe keepe this word shall not feare death So contrariwise they that keepe it not shall see the first and the second death And howsoeuer it seeme vnto men that they passe away with eies closed vp vnto death yet neuerthelesse they doe see death whē the bitternesse thereof and the wrath of God present themselues before their eyes Now concerning the children of GOD they see them dailie dying and themselues also doe die But because their soules learne the word of GOD they see not death For hee teacheth them euen as those that doe goe into darke places by the light who see not the darknesse which is ouercome by the light So a faithfull man which possesseth Gods grace doeth not behold death in his nature and as Gods iudgement but as a sweete sleepe whereby wee doe passe into heauenlie rest and how much the more wee beleeue so much the more are wee assured and certaine against death But the more wee be negligent to heare the word of God so much the more wee lie open to terrours and feares O how strong is therefore the faithfull man who is a member of the Church which staieth himselfe vppon the word of God The great warriers Alexander Iulius Caesar and others hauing braued in the world haue beene famous for their onlie prowes they are dead and those commonlie are the most astonied when death commeth as it is read of Adrian the Emperour The Sorrowes of Adrian the Emperour who at the point of death made such like mournings O poore soule naked and a vacabond into what place goest thou now to yeelde thy selfe Alas what shall become of thee thou companion and ghest of my bodie Thou from hence forewardes shalt haue no more pastime Loe this is the vnquietnesse and vnsetlednesse of the people of this world Let vs pray therefore as in the 90 Psalme that God will giue vs grace to consider the shortnesse of our dayes to the ende we may applie our heartes vnto wisedome A prayer vpon this place Out of the 14. of S. Iohn If any man loue me he will keepe my worde and my father will loue him and we will come vnto him and will dwell with him O Lord who is he which will not loue thee syth that thou hast so loued vs to haue giuen thy sonne for vs Nowe because that thou discernest those which do loue thee in deede from hypocrites when as they loue and keepe thy worde giue me grace yea vnto mee that naturally loue but vice and vanitie to loue thy word vnto me that can doe nothing but in thee and by thee to keepe thy worde and to yeelde obedience vnto thee For what a benefite is it to haue thy companie yea this sweete companie of thee and of thy sonne Iesus and of thy holie spirite which thou hast promised to them that wil yeeld themselues affectionated vnto thy worde What greater mischiefe could happen than to be thrust backe and depriued of such a companie For whosoeuer is not with thee it behoueth that hee be with Sathan that is to say with all euill Because that in as much as thou giuest peace felicitie and life vnto them with whome thou dwellest euen so also is sathan the authour of all euill and of all mischiefe Therefore O Lorde giue me grace to abide in thee as the braunch in the vine to bring foorth the fruites of thy glorie to liue in thee and vnto thee to feele thee daily with all the comfortes that thou giuest vnto thine Let thy good spirite succour mee in my weakenesse Rom. 8.
our heartes bee as his temple O right blessed are they that thus doe eate the flesh of the Lorde hauing a desire to remaine with him and to obey him The bodie of Christ set foorth in his worde is our foode The meane and way to eate him is faith that doth stay vpon his promises and is ioyned vnto him On earth we do communicate with Christ by the helpe of his worde and sacramentes but on hie in heauen we shal eate this heauenly bread without anie outwarde helpe and shall drinke this holy drinke feeling effectually his presence the ioie of that glorious life O happy time so much desired in the which we shall eate with the holy Angels at the table of the Lorde in his kingdome O we now very happie blessed from hence forth seeing we sauour already the sweetenesse of the life to come in Christ O howe easily may we despise the rich mens tables and their iounket and delicate meates to partake the bloude of Christ in the Church of God Yea this bloud yea this is our victorie and glorie this is it that we ought to take chearefully in the supper and so to beare with Christ all afflictions in this life although the banket of the crosse seeme verie thinne and troublesome vnto the beastly ignorant worlde But they which do possesse Christ care not to possesse the world and they that haue drunke of the Lordes cup care not they are at a point to powre out their bloud for the name of Christ for their liues are most assured in their sauiour Reioyce thou thē flocke of the Lorde seeing thou hast so liberall a sheepeheard which feedeth thee with his bloud that thou maiest liue by his life For they that liue not but of the infected bloud of Adam and of the carnall and sensuall life are more wretched than the beastes To this feast are not onely bidden the sacrificers and priestes of Leui but all the Church But aboue all let vs take heede that this gift of God be vnto vs a wholesome gift and that we partake not therein to our condemnation Let vs therfore take on the wedding garment and make cleane our vessels to receiue so excellent a gift Let vs also beware of hauing therein any profanation in steede of deuotion Let vs keepe our selues from communicating in darkenesse when we doe come neere vnto this light And as S. Ierome sayeth writing vnto Theophilus When we drawe neere to Christ let vs not giue him a Iudas kisse Let vs knowe that these are the poore in spirite that shall finde comfort in that banquet These are not the worldlinges nor the high in degree neither the ouerweening and brablesome persons For if Christ declare that euerie oblation displeaseth GOD without reconciliation howe should he make an offering vnto vs of a thing so singular if wee haue not peaceable heartes And if we be not knit together with our brethren howe would we that he shoulde knit himselfe with vs A prayer concerning the holy supper O Lorde God the heauen of heauens cannot comprehende thee and yet thou doest vnto vs this honour to haue fellowshippe with vs. Alas who are wee that thou shouldest take pleasure to bee with vs yea in vs Neuerthelesse wee doe thanke thee in that through thy mercie thou makest vs able to receiue thy graces whereof Psalm 36. of our owne corrupt nature we were altogether vnwoorthie For in trueth they onely are blessed that doe not depart from thee and they that doe partake with the bodie of thy sonne on earth beginne alreadie to liue in heauen The Israelites haue eaten manna in the desert but the most part in the meane while are dead in the wildernesse without seeing the lande of promise But they that eate of this sacred foode are assured to come to the euerlasting heritage O what comfort is this vnto vs in this vale of miserie to bee refreshed with such a pasture O woonderfull pasture which seemeth to bee eaten with teeth in so much as the signes doe beare his name and yet in the meane space is neuer consumed but nourisheth the soule with great vertue That which Adam and Eue did eate in the earthly gardein by the temptation of Sathan caused them to die But O Lorde this meate that we do eate by thy appointment bringeth vnto vs life Now Lorde seeing it hath pleased thee to ioine the earthly with the heauenly by this sacrament the humane creatures with the celestiall graunt vs grace truely to consider these so hie mysteries and to vse them withal innocencie and reuerence For Lord Iob. 14. who is he that shall make cleane that which is vncleane O father who hast redeemed vs by the bloude of thy sonne thou canst only wash and sanctifie vs by thy spirite And as the fulnesse of ioie and gladnesse is to see thy face and to feele thy presence So let our soules feele effectually the sweetenesse of thy son Iesus let vs feele the increase of strength and of faith by the meanes of this holie sacrament and suffer vs not to followe the example of Esau who for a messe of pottage lost his birthright but rather that wee doe not forsake thee for any worldlie thing But that all our consolation may rest in thee Graunt vs O Lorde that thou keepe that assurance which thou hast promised likewise as thou wilt that wee keepe a remembraunce of thy sonne and of his death so haue thou daily remēbrance of vs and as he was giuen for vs so let vs yeelde ourselues louing vnto our neighbours through christian loue and that aboue all our heartes may be lifted vp where our head Iesus Christ is in thy glorie Further more for so much O Lord as we doe eate at thy table as thy children and familie of thy house let vs also walke in all goodnesse as it is becomming those which doe belong vnto such a Lorde And for so much O God as this sacred meate beseemeth not an irkesome and full stomacke Graunt vs grace that we may haue a true and a right hunger yea and a holie appetite vnto these graces that we may sauourly tast these meats of thine and well degest thē tasting how gratious sweete thou art also how bitter all the delights of the worlde are in comparison of the sweetenesse of Iesus Christ So be it Another prayer concerning the supper What tongue O Lorde can expresse and what heart can comprehend thy wonderfull loue towardes vs for that to redeeme a wretched creature thou wouldst that thy sonne should suffer so many labours and sorrowes euen to bee sacrificed on the crosse And howsoeuer it be that thou doest not content thy selfe with all these things that are alreadie done but to the end that the remembrance of thy loue should not be blotted-out of our heartes or that our faith should flite or be shaken syth that thy sonne is ascended vp to thy right hande thou leauest not yet to nourish
this so desired a rest which thou hast prepared for vs. O how sweete louing shall this awaking be when as in our graues we shall heare the voice of thy son to raise vs vp againe in a glorious immortalitie Yet while wee doe awaite for this last comming we recommende our selues vnto thee O heauenly father the peace and preseruation of thy Church superiors magistrates all those which haue neede of thy succour beseeching thee that in this oldenesse of the worlde wherein all kingdoms of the worlde do shake that thou wouldest be the stay of thy poore people and in steede of so many sorowefull daies and yeares as we haue seene we may behold some rest in the middest of thy Church Raise vp daily O Lord some softer father and also some retiring place for thy children that no violent oppression ouerwhelme them and that for thy sonnes sake in whom I trust and vppon whom I rest my selfe So be it Heere followeth a litle Paraphrase and short exposition of the Lordes praier taken out of S. Cyprian almost worde by worde THe doctrine contained in the Gospell is no other thing than the ordinance of our maister God the grounde whereon to builde our hope and to strengthen our faith the foode wherewith to nourish our soule the pylates whereby to guide our shippe in this nauigation the helpes by whom we come to saluation in such sort as when the faithfull heart yeeldeth it selfe to be trainable heere in earth it is a meane to bring it vp vnto heauen It hath pleased God that many thinges were often spoken by the prophetes and heard by them But how much more excellent ought that to be reputed which the father hath sayd and pronounced by his sonne than that which he hath sayde by his seruantes For in them spake the spirite of Christ and he himselfe hath spoken in the later time in his owne voice He doth not now commaund that men prepare the way vnto him that commeth because that he himself is come and discouereth the true way that wee which goe wandering and groping in the darknesse of death may be by the light of his wisedome directed in the way of life Now amongest so many good lessons as he hath left vs for our saluation The forme of praier hee hath chieflie giuen vnto vs the right forme of prayer he that hath made vs to liue hath taught vs also to pray yea he hath done it after his grace goodnesse wherethrough he hath stored vs with all thinges and wrought it vnto the ende that his father might the more willinger heare vs when wee praie vnto him in that praier that his son hath taught vs. He did foretell howe that the houre should come wherein the true woorshippers should worshippe him in spirite and trueth He hath also fulfilled that which he had promised giuing vs his spirite to worshippe him The Lords praier What praier may be now more spirituall than that which hath bin giuen vnto vs by Iesus Christ by whome also the holy spirite hath beene sent vnto vs What praier shal be more true and perfect before God than that which cōmeth from the sonne who is the trueth of Gods owne mouth In manner as otherwise to pray concerning the substance then hee hath taught vs is not alonely an ignorance but also a blockish fault as he rebuketh the Iewes elsewhere how they did despise Gods commaundement to set vp their traditions Let vs therefore pray my brethren euen as hee which is both our God and maister hath taught vs. That prayer is agreeable vnto God when one praieth with a praier that is his and when we make the wordes of his sonne to mount vp vnto his eares The father doth acknowledge his sonnes language when wee doe pray let him that dwelleth in our heart be also in our voice vpon our tongue And seeing that the sonne is our aduocate as often as we doe demaund forgiuenesse for our sinnes let vs take in our mouthes the wordes of our aduocate For seeing that he sayth how all that we shall aske of the father in his name it shal be granted vnto vs whē shal our praiers haue greatest strēgth but then when we shall call vppon him by the peculiar praier which he hath made It behoueth those which pray to keepe a certaine forme in their speach with a staied manner and full of all reuerence humblenesse Let vs remember that it is before Gods face that we presēt our selues Let vs therefore seeke to please him as wel in the behauiour of our bodies as in the conueiance of our voice It is an ill fauored thing and a signe of impudencie to vse much crying out in praier and there is nothing that doeth set it out more than modestie To be short wee doe see that the Lorde doth allowe that praier which is made priuately in secret and in ones chamber a thing that well agreeth with our faith to the ende to make vs vnderstand that God is present throughout all that he heareth and seeth all and that the fulnesse of his maiestie pearceth into the most hidden secret places as the scripture speaketh I am thy God neere at hande and not afarre off If a man be hidden in a priuie or close place doe not I see him Doe not I fill both heauen and earth Then when wee shall come together with our brethren we must in good order solemnise the sacrifices of God not thinking to make our praiers to take place before the Lord with chaunting and crying out God vnderstandeth the heart not with the voice for it is not needeful to aduertise him by a lifting vp of a voice who seeth our thoughts This is it that he often sayth that he is the searcher of hearts hauing the knowledge of our most secret thoughtes We haue a goodly example in the good woman Anna mother of Samuel who prayed vnto the Lord not with a strong or lifted vp voice but secretly soberly and in her heart Her praier was secret but her faith was open shee spake not with the voice but with the heart knowing verie well that the Lorde our God so heareth his and in such sort she receiued in effect that which by faith she had required We haue another example of a praier right wel directed and verie modest in the person of the Publicane He went vp into the temple and made his praier not in a rude and presumptuous maner as the other without lifting vp his head or his forehead he only fell downe confessed with his mouth his sinne that hee felt shut vp in his heart in such sort as God heard the prayer of the humble that rested not vpon his owne innocencie For who is hee that is innocent His praier was humble and hee which aduaunceth and fauoreth the humble heard the poore Publican Thus much cōcerning the fashion and coūtenance that we ought to keepe in our praiers Let vs now consider how our maister
shut out of Gods kingdome But that we may be vnder his guide and Empire Manie shall come saith hee from the East and West and they shall sit with Abraham But the children of the kingdome shall be cast out into outward darknesse there where shall bee weeping and gnashing of teeth The Iewes were the children of the kingdome so long as they were the children of God and hauing lost this qualitie they haue well changed both their condition and their estate It followeth then Thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen Wee say not let God doe that hee will but that wee may doe that hee will For who is hee that wil resist against God What is hee that shall let him to doe his will Now because that the diuell is continuallie about vs to turne away our hearts from obedience to God and to doe that which God would wee must bee holpen by himselfe and none alas is assured but by his grace Our Lord Iesus being in the agonie of death and according to the infirmitie stronglie fighting against a number of temptations hath left vs yet a faire example When hee bursteth out in this sort If it bee possible O father let this bitter cuppe passe away from me Yet neuerthelesse not my will but thy will bee done There is in the second Chapter of the first Epistle of S. Iohn an other faire sentence Loue not the world for in so doing the loue of God is not in you Seeing that the world with all his desires shall passe away And as concerning God hee is euerlasting and he that will dwell with him for euermore must doe the will of the euerliuing God Now The will of God what is the will of God It is that which Christ hath fulfilled and that hee hath taught vnto vs. And what is that Humblenes in conuersation stayednesse in faith modestie in wordes iustnesse in doings mercie in workes discipline in manners and not to doe wrong vnto an other and to abide it in himselfe to keepe in peace with his brethren to loue God with all his heart to loue him as a father and to feare him as God and to haue nothing more dearer than Christ for hee also hath nothing more dearer than vs to keepe our selues vnseuered in his charitie to beare him cōpanie couragiouslie in his crosse when his name or glorie is called in question And in our talkes to shew a stayed confession and an assurednesse in our aunsweres when wee bee set vppon and to shew patience in death seeing that by it wee are crowned To doe these thinges is to bee willing to be coheires with the sonne and to fulfill the will of the Father In heauen and in earth We may take the spirit for the heauen and the flesh for the earth that all our partes may bee obedient vnto God or rather that we doe the will of God as Angels Giue vs our dailie bread This may be vnderstood spirituallie of Christ which is the liuing bread as S. Iohn in his 6. Chap. saith But it is certaine that here the Lord would teach vs not to be caryed away with the cares of this present life for as it is said elsewhere it sufficeth for euerie day to haue his miseries Mat. 6. And in deede this will not agree well to desire the kingdome of God and withall to loue the earthlie life and to delight therein Now as S. Paul saith 1 Tim 6. sith that we brought nothing into this world neither shall wee carie anie thing away wherefore doe wee not content our selues with foode and apparell seeing likewise that those which doe aspire vnto riches fetter themselues in manie sorrowes and easilie fall into the snares of the diuell To bee short the coueting of riches is the roote of all ill This is a goodlie shewe that our Sauiour maketh in the 12. of S. Luke Oh wretch that thou art this day shall they demaund thy soule and for what purpose shall the great heapes of thy ritches stored vp serue thee And will we be well disposed to follow Christ It behooueth vs at the least to hinder the causes of worldly thinges In the meane time the iust remaineth not forsaken neither brought into an extremitie by famine The heauenlie Father which prouideth for the young Rauens and Sparowes Pro. 10. Psal 37. well knoweth to furnish vs of our lackes that are necessarie Wee doe see by example apparantlie that which happened vnto Elie in the first booke of the kinges and the 17. Chapter where wee reade that namelie a Rauen caried vnto him wherewith to refresh him After wee doe pray that the Lord forgiue vs our offences as wee doe forgiue them that offend against vs. Now hauing receaued assistance of our foode wee doe demaund the forgiuenesse of our sinnes to the end that hee who is nourished of God may liue to God and that so wee may not onelie haue our bread in this life but that wee may also haue the inioying of the other that is farre better and whereunto wee cannot enter if our sinnes be not forgiuen vs. Now our sinnes are called debtes as likewise in the 18. of S. Matthew I haue forgiuen thee all thy debt because thou hast required it of me Wee are then my brethren here warned that wee be sinners praying to God for the forgiuenesse of our sinnes and asking grace of God the conscience being ouercome through offence Therefore let none of vs set vp our selues what giftes soeuer wee have seeing that dailie we sinne and doe aske mercie of GOD. If wee doe confesse our sinnes saith S. Iohn in the first Chap. of his first Epistle hee is faithfull and iust to forgiue vs our sinnes But if wee say that there is no sinne in vs wee doe lie And since that this good Iesus doeth make vs aske forgiuenesse o◠our offences hee giueth vs a certaine assurance to finde it hee I say that maketh vs strong through the mercifulnesse of his father The condition that hee hath ioyned to this demaund buindeth vs before GOD to forgiue others if that wee will that he forgiue vs. This is it that hee speaketh in an other place With what measure you mete vnto others the same shall they measure vnto you And in the 18. Chap. of Saint Matthew the seruant that goeth on against his companion with all rigor is reproued cast into prison and declared vnwoorthie of the fauour of his Maister And yet this is more clearelie expressed in Iesus Christ When yee shall appeare before God to pray vnto him If you haue anie thing against anie bodie Forgiue him otherwise your father will not forgiue you Then doe wee neuer make this prayer but that we doe condemne our selues if wee forgiue not one an other For as the Lord calleth vs to peace in regenerating vs so will hee that wee doe continue in that brotherhoode and friendship And in deede this is the fairest sacrifice that wee can offer vnto God
that is our louing heartes knit together For God loueth the offering of him who hath a louing heart But if the heart be froward then doeth nothing of his actions or doinges please the Lord. A thing that is plainelie seene in the histore of Abel and Cain In short for so much as hee which hateth his brother is a murtherer 1. Iohn 3. God will haue no acquaintance with murtherers let vs make no account to obtaine his diuine fauour if wee be not louing and at peace with our neighbors Afterwards the Lord warneth vs howe wee should pray Lead vs not into Temptation ANd in this behalfe hee dooth warne vs howe the aduersarie can doe nothing against vs but in so much as the Lorde dooth suffer him to the end that all our feare and reuerence bee alwayes made readie to the Lorde Wee reade in the 24. Chapt. of the second booke of the Kinges how God did deliuer the citie of Ierusalem into the handes of the king of Babylon For it was by the occasion of our sinnes that the wicked were let loose against vs as it is said in the 42. of Esai Who is it that giueth Iacob for a spoile Is it God against whome they haue sinned And in the first booke of the Kinges and 11. Chap. The Lord threatened Salomon to raise vp an aduersarie against him because that he had forgotten himselfe in cōmitting so manie vilanous thinges Wherefore wee be tempted And as concerning these powers and temptations which hee prepareth against vs they are for two diuers causes Either it is to punish vs when wee doe offend or else to make vs victorious when as by them wee be onelie proued tried which may be seene in the historie of Iob. The Lorde in the 19. of S. Iohn speaking of himselfe said vnto Pilate Thou shouldest haue no power ouer me if it were not giuen thee from aboue Now this prayer whereby wee doe pray that the Lord lead vs not into temptation doeth represent before our eyes mans weakenesse that is subiect vnto so many knockes in such sort as it is not for him to doe any brauerie but rather dailie to watch to the ende that hee enter not into temptation following so many warninges as are made vnto vs. The spirite is readie but the flesh is weake what then shall we doe Let vs praie the Lorde and that that we shall aske with humblenesse he will grant vs for his fidelitie There is in the end of the praier But deliuer vs from euill Vnder this is cōprehended all that our enemies can deuise and platte against vs and wherewith we be defended if the Lord doth heare our praiers lend vnto vs his helpe Well then when we doe pray to be preserued from euill it is to be deliuered from all daunger and from all enterprises whether it be from sathan or the world in such sort as hauing the protection of God against euil we may wel hold vs most assured For how shall he feare any ill in this world that is kept of God in this world compassed about with his safegard To be short this is the life euerlasting the fulnesse of all good hap Iohn 17. to know one onelie true God and him whom he had sent into this world Iesus Christ our Sauiour Now our Lord Iesus hath not onelie commaunded vs to pray Luke 6. but he himselfe hath giuen vs an example withdrawing himselfe oftē vp into the mountaine to make his prayer And if he did pray which was exempt frō sinne how is it then that we poore wretches doe not pray to God The prayer of Iesus Christ And if he haue passed some times whole nightes therein wherefore doe we leaue off a thing so necessarie His prayer was not so much for himselfe as for vs. And wee see that which is spoken how that Sathan had desire to sift the Apostles but that he had prayed that their faith should not faile them In the 17. Chap. of S. Iohn he saith I pray not onelie for thē but for all those that shall beleeue in me O what bountie affectioned loue was that of our sauiour that was not contented to redeeme vs by his bloud but had moreouer great desire to pray for vs. And he hath prayed that we might bee all one well knowing that in the kingdome of God no discord doeth enter Nowe when wee pray my brethren let all fleshlie thinges bee farre from vs that the spirit may thinke vppon none other thing but vppon onelie praier And thereof commeth the manner that wee haue when as one in the beginning of our prayers pronounceth these wordes Lift vp your heartes And the people aunswere Wee lift them vp vnto the Lord. So that it is requisite that our heartes be shut vp from Sathan and open vnto our God The Diuell is craftie and hee seeketh some clift creuie or chinke by the which hee may slide into our vnderstandinges and to turne them away from God So that by this meane hee maketh vs to haue one thing in our heartes and an other thing in our tongues and yet in the meane space it is the heart that God demaundeth not the sound of the mouth For what lack of consideration is this for a man to be wretched in manie thoughtes in praying to God seeing that it is a thing wherein wee ought so much to take heed how wee pray vnto this great God How wouldest thou that GOD should heare thee when that thou doest not heare thy selfe Wouldest thou that God should haue remembrance of thee thou doest nowhit at all remember thy selfe This is to giue our selues for a pray vnto our enemie and to offend the maiestie of GOD This is also to watch with the eyes and to sleepe with the heart Furthermore it is needefull that the praier haue his effect and not be barren and this is the cause wherefore the scripture hath often times ioyned with it almes and fasting as the examples are thereof in Toby and in the good captaine Cornelius whereof it is spoken in the 10. of the Actes And in the 58. of Esay amongest other thinges that the Lorde requireth of those which call vpon him it is that they breake their breade vnto those which haue hunger Beholde heere the chiefe pointes that are requisite in true prayer that S. Cyprian describeth Blessed are those whome the Lorde shall finde waking and praying be it that he take vs by death or else that wee be chaunged in the twincking of an eie to appeare in his iudgement Now O Lord giue vs grace to praise thee vnto whom be all honour and glorie for euer So be it 2. Thessalonians Chap. 2. Brethren stande fast and holde the ordinaunces which ye haue beene taught whether it be by our preaching or by our Epistle Our Lorde Iesus Christ and God and our Father which hath loued vs and hath giuen vs euerlasting consolation and good hope in grace comfort your hearts and stablish you in all good saying and dooing FINIS