made of iron nor of steele but of a weake and variable substance And yet neuerthelesse they dispose not themselues vnto their end neither make anie prouision for those thinges which concerne the time to come The beastes herein doe passe vs as Ieremie sheweth in the 8. of his prophesie For by the skie the Storke knoweth the season of the yeare and the Turtle and the Crane doe marke what time is fittest for their comming and all these byrdes doe well knowe howe that it is not alwayes Summer and that Winter will come But men marke not the iudgementes of God but sleepe in the world as if they should neuer remoue It is a thing verie certaine that wee must all die seeing that wee be all sinners and that death is the reward of sinne as S. Paul writeth in the 6. to the Romans True it is that the scripture setteth downe vnto vs three kindes of death The one is the sundering of the soul from the bodie with making nothing of the bodie vntill the resurrection An other is the death of sinne as it is often said that men which are nourished in their sinnes are dead And Iesus Christ speaking of those which knew not God said Let the dead burie the dead The third is called in the Apocalyps the second death sometimes the eternall death whereunto the wicked shall bee condemned in the last iudgement Now albeit that the Painimes sometimes seeme to haue spoken pretilie of death Yet so it is that two thinges haue made them vncertaine in this matter and vnprouided of sound consolation The first is that they neuer well vnderstoode the cause of death neither the remedie thereof The one whereof was by the fall of Adam the other giuen by Iesus Christ Moreouer they neuer vnderstoode the spring of true life that lyeth in God and in the beholding of his face where of the children of God shall after the resurrectioÌ„ be the beholders both in soule and bodie Although then that Adam before his sinne was created according to the bodie of the dust of the earth yet in deed so it is that if hee had not sinned the diuine vertue and Image of God had swallowed vp in him all corruption and defended him against death in such sort as without griefe when it had pleased God he should passe into heauenlie life But his wilfull transgressing made him with his posteritie seruile vnto death so as hee had receaued for him and for his a most blessed condition if hee had not sinned And as concerning that the death of Adam did not follow for his sinne all at one time it was not but through the mercie of our good God whose will is to preserue mankinde in the meane time punishing sinne in that that Adam and all his rase haue bin and are of one mortall condition full of labor and miserie Wee doe also see the pitifull entrie that wee doe make into the world casting forth a thowsand gronings and sighes from our first ariuall into the world Furthermore euerie one will easilie coÌ„fesse that death is a thing most fearefull that can happen vnto man because that it doeth represent vnto vs at one time the wrath of God and a miserable vndoing of our life whereof naturallie wee are so desirous Behold wherefore wise men are manie times giuen to search out coÌ„forts wherewith to sweeten for vs the sourenesse of death But those that haue not tasted of the word of GOD haue nothing to stay vppon not finding anie resolution but that wee must beare that which is ordained for vs by an irreuocable arrest Manie of the Heathens being indued with a knowledge somewhat higher than the rest and affirming the immortalitie of the soule hold this for a resolution that in the other life the state of good men shall bee happie seeing that here belowe they be ordinarilie subiect to manie miseries And in deede wee must come to this point that by the temporall and present estate one caÌ„not iudge of mens happinesse as also contrariwise they that most doe prosper in this world in earthlie things die oftentimes as brute beastes hauing a soule buried in earthlie things albeit that there is a difference betwixt man and beast because euerlasting death is reserued for the wicked and because the end crowneth the worke Though that in this world a man receaued great giftes of God yet the continuance and all the vertues doe declare and shew themselues chieflie in the Agonies of death Therefore euen as one wretched nature hath brought vs vnto one lyke condition of death so doeth the grace of God make the difference that the one to wit the vngodlie die to their destruction And the other which bee the children of God guided by his spirit and by his word Psal 116. doe die for to liue more happilie so that their death is pretious before GOD. Then let vs say that which is said in the 23. of Numbers I pray God I may die the iust mens death which are assured as Iob saith in the 19. Chapter that one day they shall see GOD in their flesh This was the cause that men were customed to burie the dead with a certaine speciall care For as men locke vp their apparell in a chest meaning to weare them againe euen so are the dead bodies buried in full hope of a certaine rising againe Truelie wee ought well to wish this time where as Christ saith in the 22. of S. Matthew when wee shall bee like vnto Angels in happinesse and in pure conuersation and thoughtes Then shall this be the true fulfilling of our redemption wheÌ„ as we shal be gathered together on high where there is neither cold nor heate Apoca. 7. hunger nor thirst but a lasting blessednesse But to whome is death pleasant but to those that doe labour The poore day-laborer is glad that he hath done his dayes labour So is death sweete vnto the afflicted and the remembrance thereof is bitter to those that rest themselues in worldlie thinges The chiefe point is let vs labor whilest it is day and let vs learne to know God so long as we be in this world seeing that in the knowledge of him lyeth our saluation Oh what a comfort dooth a faithfull soule â—inde in that that Iesus hath spoken in the 17. Chap. of S. Iohn My Father I will that where I am those may be there also which thou hast giuen me So then when as wee doe meditate of these thinges in good time death will be sweete vnto vs. And thereuppon it commeth to passe euen as to those whose discourses and thoughtes haue bin sweete vnto them all day long that likewise their dreames bee all the night verie pleasant and quiet But the troublesome men and busie trotters vp and downe haue their dreames commonlie full of vnquietnesse Such like shall the death of those bee that doe incomber themselues with worldlie thinges And as S. Augustine saith What is this but death This is the leauing of the
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
offered since the foundation of the world but now in the end of the world hath hee appeared once to put away sinne by the sacrifice of himselfe So was hee once offered to take away the sinnes of manie c. Out of the 10. to the Hebrewes For with one offering hath hee consecrated for euer them that are sanctified Out of the first Epistle of S. Peter the 3. Chap. It is better if the will of God bee so that yee suffer for well dooing than for euill doing For Christ once hath suffered for sins the iust for the vniust that he might bring vs to God and was put to death concerning the flesh but was quickened in the spirit Out of the 4 Chap. of the first of S. Peter Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for vs in the flesh arme your selues likewise with the same minde which is that hee who suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sinne that he henceforward should liue as much time as remaineth in the flesh not after the lustes of men but after the will of God Also in the 13. verse Reioyce inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christes suffering that when his glorie shall appeare ye may be glad reioyce A prayer on the death and passion of Iesus Christ O Lord my God since that this faire and goodlie Image according to which man was created was thus through sinne disfigured drawe mee neere vnto thy sonne Iesus in whome thou hast created vs as it were anewe Acknowledge in me thy worke and blot out that which is not thine Behold not that which is from me or from Satan Looke O Lorde vppon the humanitie of thy sonne to take pitie on mine infirmities Consider the punishment of the redeemer and forgiue him his sinnes whome hee hath bought againe Wherefore was it that hee who was so obedient should suffer punishment of disobedience vnlesse it were to saue vs This is he who is the good shepheard who hath brought home the straying sheepe and hath presented before thy face those that were straglers and runagates by meanes of their sinnes O good God therefore looke vppon thy deere sonne spread abroad vppon the crosse bow downe thy head to see thy poore creatures for the loue of whome thy welbeloued yeelded vp his spirit vpon the crosse and hath bowed downe his head Behold his wounded handes and forgiue the offences of our handes See his innocent side whereout ran bloud and water in the day of his passion Alas good God wilt not thou content thy selfe with so pretious and deere a paiment as was payed for our offences Behold the feete pearsed with nailes which neuer walked but in thy lawes and in thy obedience and haue compassion vpon vs which haue walked in the way of sinners O glorious passion that hast slaine our enimie Sathan and hast purchased for vs so great a friend euen the eternall God O what an exchange is made through this blessed and happie Passion when as euerlasting life is offered vnto vs in stead of eternall torment Thy sonne went downe to hell His desceding into hell and hath felt the horrour and wrath that wee had deserued to exalt vs into heauen O death where is thy strength O hell where is thy dread and feare syth Christ hath redeemed vs from both O good God grant me grace nowe that as thy sonne hath suffered for my sake so manie tormentes and rebukes that I also may patiently abide punishment for his name And as hee was stripped out of his garmentes to goe to the crosse so let me be vnclothed of these worldly cares and vncouered of my fleshly affections yea and aboue all of pride of presumption to be arayed with a true faith and with pitifull and heartie affections towardes my neighbours And euen as the same Iesus Christ did make a free confession before Ponce Pilate so likewise before all the iudges of the world yea before all men let me also confesse him when I shall haue neede Pilate the vniust O my God hath condemned the iust But thou iust Lorde haue mercie on me vniust for thy sonnes sake vniustly condemned who was hanged on a tree and made accursed that I might be blessed in him and by him granting me grace daily to die to sinne and to liue to righteousnes So be it Errors contrarie vnto the afore saide Article of Iesus Christes death They that thinke howe he hath made a shewe to suffer and hath not truely suffered in the flesh 1. Pet. 3.18 Item the Schuencfeldians that thinke that the diuine nature hath suffered because that the sonne of God hath suffered in the flesh the diuinitie being vnsufferable They that seeke other sacrifices and offeringes for sinne than the onely sacrifice of Christ once suffered on the crosse for all Philip. 3. They whose bellies is their God which are enimies to the crosse of Christ and would haue a vellot Gospell They that liue in all worldly wantonnesse not hauing anie mortification They that doe worshippe crosses of wood stone or of siluer in steede to worshippe and honour him that was crucified and in place to beare the true crosse which they doe cause the poore martyrs to carie To be short these heere tread vnder their feete the bloud of the couenaunt as it is sayde in the 10. Chap. to the Hebrewes that hauing the knowledge of the trueth doe willingly sinne neither will they amende their liues The thirde daie hee rose from the dead A prayer and meditation vppon the Lordes rising againe NOw praysed be God since that which was esteemed most to be feared of the worlde verie death is now ouercome and destroyed Praysed be the Lorde by whom death hath lost her sting and that there is no more condemnation for vs. Nowe it is that sinne is ouercome sith that Christ is risen For seeing that he was our pledge if death had yet anie power against vs it had kept our pledge But for somuch as hee is risen and was not kept in the graue wee see how hee hath destroyed death and hath brought life and immortalitie vnto light through the Gospell 2. Tim. 1. Our righteousnesse is now manifested for if the righteousnesse of Christ that was giuen and imputed vnto vs had not beene perfect hee had still beene kept by death and hell For death is the reward of sinne Romans 6. Let vs therefore reioyce for such a sauiour Rom. 4. that was dead for our sins and is risen againe for our Iustification This is the cause why the Euangelists and the Apostles haue made thereof so often mention as is to bee seene in the 2. Chap. of the Actes and in the 15. Chap. of the first to the Corinth O Lord giue vs also grace that we bee not drawen away in the desire of earthlie thinges neither yet to bee buried in worldlie cares but that being risen againe with thy sonne Iesus wee may seeke the thinges from aboue Colos 3. euen vntill such
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
and to make doubtful this Article for the forgiuenesse of our sinnes to the ende to trouble our poore consciences Let vs holde I say this for an vndoubted article as it is saide in the 10. of the Actes that all the prophetes doe giue this testimonie of Iesus that through his name all that beleeue in him without exception of persons shall receiue remission of sinnes We haue indeede strongly to wrestle and we feele yet the lawe of our members which kicketh against the spirit Rom. 7.23 neither also doe we beleeue an vtter putting off of our sinnes but the forgiuenesse of our sinnes and therefore wee crie out with S. Paule Alas wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from the bodie of this death I thanke God through Iesus Christ our Lorde who as it is saide in the 4. Chap. to the Romans is ordained an oblation for the forgiuenesse of our sinnes Prayers and meditations to dispose a man to the acknowledgement of his sinnes A prayer of S. Augustine out of the 11. and 24. of his priuate meditation of the soule with God O Lorde I thy poore creature will yet haue hope in the shadowe of thy winges all sinnefull that I am hauing remembraunce of this thy goodnesse according to the which thou hast created mee Helpe therefore thy creature that thy goodnesse would frame and suffer not that he whoÌ„ thy mercie hath made be destroied through my malice For if I O Lord returne to dust whereto shall thy creature serue thee It was not my deseruinges neither the grace that was in me then when I was but dust which could leade thee to create me let then this clemencie which moued thee to create me let the same lead thee to keepe me Whereto shall it serue thee that I was made if thy right hande holde me not vp Alas my God I verie wel knowe that thy hande is not shortened that it cannot saue me neither is thy eare likewise stopped that it cannot heare But I truely feele that they are my sinnes which haue made the diuision betweene thee and mee betweene darkenesse and light betweene death and life betweene vanitie and veritie betweene this daylie life and the euerlasting life Notwithstanding O mightie God I that am the worke of thy handes I will call vppon thee yea I will crie vpon thy name O Lorde For it is not in my selfe neither in my strength that I haue set my hope It is thy arme that shall saue me it is the light of thy couenaunt that shall make me glad Otherwise alas if thou weart not my hope I shoulde despaire But thou art my maker which neuer leauest them that trust in thee Thou art a great God louing sweete pacient disposing all things with an vnmeasurable mildenesse True it is that we are as a withered leaâ—e or as a litle flower and all our life is but vanitie and a winde that passeth away For this cause wee beseech thee also that thou proceede not against vs in thy wrath yea seeing that we be thy litle children that thou hast made of the earth alas wouldest thou trie thy strength against a leafe or against strawe and stubble We haue hearde so much praise of thy mercie in that thou desirest not the death of vs poore sinners Therefore suffer not death whome thou hast not created to rule ouer thy creature I desire O Lorde to be saued but in hauing a will thereto I haue not the power thereof to be short I can doe nothing vnlesse thy power comfort me I doe not knowe to will and desire that I ought vnlesse thou graunt mee grace that thy will be doone in mee as it is in heauen Thou art the Lorde of the whole worlde and the prince of all fleshe That which doth like thee thou doest fulfill in heauen in earth and in the depthes Let then thy will be done in vs on whom thy name is called vpon and that thy creature whom thou hast created to thy likenesse perish not A prayer vpon the same matter O Lorde howe dare I name thee my father and esteeme my selfe thy childe seeing that in me there is no obedience How dare I lift vp my eies to heauen seeing I am vnworthie that the earth should beare me For death is the rewarde of sinners and my iniquities are before mee which set thine anger in my sight I haue alas so often offended and my sinnes haue fought against thy mercie Thou hast giuen mee vnderstanding to knowe thee and a heart to honour thee Thou hast giuen me eies to beholde thy workes and handes to stretch foorth to the comfort of my neighbour to be short thou hast fashioned mee to thy glorie But O God I haue turned backe my spirite doeth applie it selfe to iniquitie My heart hath serued this wretched bodie which is but a vessell of dung and must be a pray for wormes My soule hath not loued thee with all her strength neither hath meditated in thy worde My eies haue beene fixed on the grounde I haue stretched out my handes to doe sooner euill than good My feete haue walked in the way of the worlde and not in thy pathes And in such sort O Lorde as if thou shouldest goe forwardes against mee in thine anger I could not awaite for anie other thing at my departure out of this worlde than to make my abode in hell I cannot awaite but for thy iudgement and this horrible sentence that shall flash and lighten vpon the wicked when they shall be sent vnto euerlasting fire But O good God I haue yet my trust in thee for it is not the assurance of my workes whereon I rest it is in thy great mercie it is in thy sonne Iesus which is flesh of my flesh and bones of my bones according to his humanitie Beholde then his precious bloud which was shedde for me Forgiue thy sinfull seruant for thy innocent sonnes sake Wipe away that tract that Sathan hath made in me and graue in my heart thy commandementes Quench vice in mee and there kindle faith and true godlinesse Take from me a stony heart and giue me a heart apt to be taught which may loue thee honour thee and delight in thy worde and that so I may haue part in thy kingdome Another confession of sinnes O Lorde my God I haue sinned against thy maiestie I haue prouoked thy wrath against me and also my soule is in sorrow For it feeleth the condemnation that it hath deserued and hath no satisfaction that may content thee What then O Lord shall I perish in mine iniquitie must I in steede of breathing againe despaire in my selfe It had beene much better that I neuer had beene borne in the world than to be here without thy grace Whereto doth this life serue me if thou which art life dost not fauour me Alas my God by my sinne I haue lost thy fauour but thou neuer loosest thy goodnesse therefore looke not vpon me a sinner in thy righteousnesse
souldiers wherof they vant and bost to wit their skarres and maimes to shewe how they haue beene the first at the medley or fight Therefore let vs not be greeued if we doe receiue in this world some losse beatinges and skarres for Christes sake and let vs not thinke to be ouercome what euill so euer happeneth but to be ouercommers so long as by faith we doe surely hold ourselues in the Lorde An other goodlie example taken out of the 13. Chapter of Iob to bee vsed in the middest of the greatest Temptations Lo though he slay me yet wil I put my trust in him and will reprooue my wayes in his sight He shal be my saluation also for the Hypocrite shall not come before him c. CONSIDERATION BEcause of the doubtfulnesse of this worde Loe in the Hebrewe tongue some reade this Text thus See he will slaie me and I will not awaite or looke for any more as if he should say I haue nothing else to awaite after Neuerthelesse this is the meaning and intent of Iob to say Albeit that God kill me and that there is not herein anie apparaunce after my death to looke for any more good of the Lorde yet so it is that I will not leaue off from acknowledging my selfe a sinner reproouing my waies and to holde him for the God of my saluation who also quickeneth dead thinges as by the deawe of the spirite he causeth to spring foorth those things that seeme as dead euen as it is sayde in the 26. of Esaie 5.19 Therefore it is the propertie of Faith not to limite any thing to God but to suffer him yea if he would kill vs or bring vs to dust And in the 78. Psalme the Iewes are reproued in tempting God and to limite the holie one of Israell Contrariwise the faithfull say My soule keepeth silence vnto God Euen as it is sayde in the 62. Psalm ver 1. and patiently abideth in the Lorde and suffering him that knoweth to draw out of darkenesse light and out of death life and who also declareth his Power Strength and Vertue in our weakenesse 2. to the Cor. 12. Wherefore doe not we remember this infinite power of the euerlasting Lorde in the middest of our Anguishes Why doe not we beholde the Prince of life in the middest of the shadowe of death and also vnto him who through his death hath giuen vs life And whose goodnesse is better than life it selfe As it is sayd in the 63. Psalm O that we had truely the excellent greatnesse of his power before our eies done to vs which do beleeue through his force strength whereby hee hath wrought it in Christ when he raised him vp from the dead and made him to sit at his right hand according as S. Paule speaketh in the 5. Chap. of his Epistle to the Ephesians Howe much more of courage would we be when namely we should receiue it as the sentence of death in our selues if we do come againe to consider thereof Philip. 1.21 how Christ liueth in vs and that to die in him is life and aduauntage To bee short in place to murmure against God in our anguishes we should reproue blame our waies and our sinnes with Iob for our only sinnes are they that do destroy mankinde Certaine notable sentences touching Faith taken out of the Psalmes and an assurance of the true faithfull Out of the 27. Psalme Hope in the Lord and be strong he shal comfort thine heart and trust in the Lorde Though that my Father and my Mother should forsake me yet the Lord will gather me vp The 36. Psalme How excellent is thy mercie O God and therefore the children of men trust vnder the shadowe of thy winges They shal be satisfied with the fatnesse of thine house and thou shalt giue them drinke out of the ryuer of thy pleasures For with thee is the well of life and in thy light shall we see light The 40. Psalme Blessed is the man that maketh the Lorde his trust From a heartie Faith proceedeth the confession of the mouth and regardeth nor the proude nor such as turne aside to lies I haue not hid thy righteousnesse within mine heart but I haue declared thy trueth and thy saluation I haue not concealed thy mercie and thy trueth from the great congregation Withdrawe not thou thy tender mercie from me O lord let thy mercie and thy trueth alwaies preserue me The 50. Psalme Call vppon me in the day of trouble so will I deliuer thee and thou shalt glorifie me The 55. Psalme Cast thy burthen vpon the Lord and he shall nourish thee hee will not suffer the righteous to fall for euer The 62. Psalme In God onely is my trust in God only is my saluation he is my rocke my castle and my defence therefore I shall not be moued Yet my soule keepe thou silence vnto God for my hope is in him in God is my saluation and my glory Trust in him alway ye people powre out your heartes before him for God is our hope Yet the children of men are vanitie the chiefe men are lies Trust not in oppression nor in roberie bee not vaine if riches increase set not your heartes thereon The 63. Psalme Because thou hast beene my helper therfore vnder the shadow of thy wings will I reioyce My soule cleaueth vnto thee for thy right hande vpholdeth me The 71. Psalme In thee O Lorde I trust let me neuer be ashamed For thou art mine hope O Lorde GOD euen my trust from my youth Vpon thee haue I beene stayed from the wombe thou art he that tooke mee out of my mothers bowelles my praise shal be alwaies of thee Cast me not off in the time of age forsake mee not when my strength faileth me The 73. Psalme Whome haue I in Heauen but thee And I haue desired none in the Earth with thee My flesh faileth and mine heart also but God is the strength of mine heart and my portion for euer For loe they that withdrawe themselues from thee shall perish As for me it is good for me to drawe neere vnto God therefore I haue put my trust in the Lord God that I may declare all thy workes The 84. Psalme Blessed are they that dwell in thine house they will euer praise thee Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee I had rather be a doore keeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the Tabernacles of wickednesse For the Lorde God is the sunne and the shielde vnto vs the Lorde will giue grace and glorie and no good thing wil he withholde from them that walke vprightlie O Lorde of Hostes blessed is the man that trusteth in thee The 91. Psalme Thou hast sayd the Lord is my hope thou hast set the most high for thy refuge there shall none euill come vnto thee For hee shall giue his Angelles charge ouer thee to keepe thee in all thy waies Because hee hath loued mee
and make head against the diuel for he himselfe doth alleage the scripture and therfore if we be not well seene or exercised therein he will trouble and ouercome vs. Let vs also pray this good God that he will giue vs his holy spirite which is the true teacher and expounder of the scripture the which the deuill in not being able to haue hath nothing but the barcke of the scripture and is easie to be vanquished and ouercome by those which are caried by the spirite of God Of prayer which is one of the effectes of Faith 7. Chap. of S. Matthewe Aske and it shal be giuen you seeke and you shall finde knocke and it shall be opened PRAYER O Lorde GOD seeing that thou thy selfe doest offer thy selfe vnto vs with so great kindenesse and sweetenes suffer vs not that we be negligent in calling vpon thee neither permit that we become restiffe in asking when as thou art readie to giue And to this effect graunt vs grace to feele howe much thy helpe is necessarie for vs euen for vs poore creatures which haue not neither possesse we any thing but of thy fauour and grace and yet neither that which we haue can prosper without thy blessing We therefore namely do acknowledge the great wantes and defectes which are in vs in respect of those heauenly things For neither faith hope nor charitie can be in vs vnlesse thou doe store vs with thy light S. Iames. 1. and helpe our infirmities For all good guiftes doe come from aboue from thee thou father of light Wherefore should we not then call vpon thee hauing thy promises Or wherfore shold wee goe elsewhere synce that in thee is all aboundance and sufficiencie Giue vs grace O good God not onely to pray to thee but also to knocke at thy gate It seemeth that it is somtimes shut against vs and that thou hast no care ouer vs as in verie deede the gates of grace were shut vp against vs because of sinne But we haue our mediator Iesus Christ at thy right hande who hath promised to open it vnto vs. Open therefore vnto thy children that knocke thou which hast giuen thy deere sonne for vs giue vs faith that may bring vs vnto thee and also hope which may entertaine vs in faith and giue vs in summe that which thou knowest farre better than we to be necessarie for vs for thy sonne Iesus Christes sake A notable sentence to hold the faithfull in a true confession of Gods name taken out of the 10. Chap. of S. Matthew FEare ye not them which kil the bodie but are not able to kill the soule But rather feare him which is able to destroy both the Soule and bodie in hell Whosoeuer therefore shall confesse me before men him will I confesse also before my father which is in heauen But whosoeuer shal denie me before men I will denie him before my father which is in heauen MEDITATION THe feare of death is the thing that dooth most turne away men from our Lorde The feare of death and from the imbracing of his worde For Iesus Christ sheweth what the follie of man is in this we feare death for feare of losing life But man cannot take away life wherefore are they then afraid For life is in the hand of God who hath giuen it But if it be a question of sorrowes and tormentes then death is no more it that we feare Iob. 5. for they are the sorrowes wherein we be borne as the bird to flie and those which we ought patientlie to beare euen as a valiant souldier beareth certaine woundes to be after crowned As concerning the bodie that is put in the graue we doe not thinke it lost because that nothing is lost but the infection and corruption the which wee doe desire to loose And our bodies shall rise againe glorious bodies For it is euē as when a man melteth a great masse or lumpe of Copper to make a faire Image of Truelie then is not the copper lost but fined and set in honour Moreouer as a good martyr named Simeon said of whome is spoken in the Ecclesiasticall historie of Sozomene in his second booke and 10. Chap. Seeing that of nature we be alreadie mortall wherefore should we not account this for a great honor when we die for Iesus Christ But our Lord dooth yet vse an other Argument If we feare death then wee must feare the great danger that is euerlasting And that is wherein God may cast those downe headlong that offend him This is the secōd death whereof is spoken in the Apocalyps in the 21. Chap. ver 8. Blessed are they that feare God more than men Alas he asketh no great thing of vs to be short he requireth but that we trust in him and that we confesse his name The Elementes Psal 16. the earth the trees and the riuers doe declare his glorie Psal 148. so doe the byrdes on the braunches Wherefore is it that man which is created vnto his likenesse will not praise the Lord And when we doe confesse him it dooth serue him but for little marrie it dooth bring much vnto vs that he confesseth vs in his glorie and that hee acknowledgeth vs to bee his Now what pitie is it when so manie men shew themselues so slacke and vnfaithfull vnto the Lord some forsaking him and openlie blaspheming him other some being ashamed of him hauing the knowledge of the trueth hidden and shut vp in them Moreouer Titus 1.16 how manie be there which confesse him by their tongues and denie him in their heartes and wicked life O Lord therefore open our lippes and make cleane our heartes so as wee may beleeue with the heart and confesse with the mouth that we be not confounded in this great comming of thy sonne Iesus Christ but rather that we may haue his honor to be reknowledged and also declared thy children and heires of thy kingdome That through faith we goe vnto Christ and what the yoke of the faithful is 11. Chap. of S. Matthew COme vnto me all ye that are wearie laden and I will ease you Take my yoke vppon you and learne of me that I am meeke and lowlie in heart and yee shall finde rest vnto your soules for my yoke is easie and my burthen is light A consideration vppon the said text BLessed are those saith Dauid in the 119. Psalme that are vpright in their way and walke in the lawe of the Lord. But what Where is the man that walketh vprightlie For they are all gone out of the way taking damnable pathes as it is said in the 14. Psalme and in such sort through infidelitie and disobedience are men turned away from the Lord and walke after vanitie they are turned againe into their course saith Ieremie in the 8. Chap. as the horse that rusheth into the battell Now see the sonne of God who so gratiouslie dooth call you againe and bid you to come againe vnto him
Therefore vnto thee O God bee eternall praise and glorie for euermore So be it Errors contrarie vnto this Article The Epicures and all those which thinke that this world is gouerned by aduenture The Manichees and others which doe establish more beginninges than one They which doe not acknowledge Gods prouidence in all thinges in the verie same thinges which seeme strange and little They which put their trust in anie other than in one onelie God They which thinke how GOD hath created some thing to ill purpose and thinke to make it more perfect than God They which abuse the creatures of God not vsing them to his glorie and with thankesgiuing And in Iesus Christ his onelie sonne our Lord. CONSIDERATION THe creation of the whole world together ioyned with a prouidence iustice and woonderfull wisdome is the first witnesse that the Articles of our beleefe doe set downe vnto vs of our GOD to the end to reuerence him and to trust in him Yet followeth there an other more wonderfull witnesse and that presenteth together vnto vs a passing goodnesse and infinite power that is to say the worke of our redemption For to redeeme and to quicken the creature that was lost and to buie him of such a price to wit with the pretious bloud of Gods euerlasting sonne and not to deliuer him onelie from bondage and death but also to communicate with him euerlasting life this is so great a woorke and so singular a benefite as no tongue can expresse nor heart can sufficientlie comprehend it Hence it is that God hath so loued the world that hee hath giuen his onelie sonne to the end that all those which beleeue in him shall not perish but haue euerlasting life Man was therefore created good perfect as it is said in the 7. Chap. of Ecclesiastes But he taried not in this happie estate But following his owne inuentions and discourses with the euill counsell of the Diuell hee was so turned from his GOD and by this meanes cast headlong into destruction as hee made himselfe and his posteritie guiltie of death and euerlasting perdition Rom. 6. For death and all the thinges belonging vnto death as are all kindes of aduersities be the reward of sinne Oseas 13. Euen so commeth our destruction of our selues For asmuch as man abusing his freewill yeelded himselfe a slaue vnto the diuell and by this meanes drew vppon him the iust vengeance of the euerlasting God O What a change and pitious alteration was this when as the Image of God was so defaced in man and that of so noble a creature hee was become vile miserable and full of sinne and filth For albeit that man was fashioned of the dust of the earth yet so was it that the spirit of God if hee had not sinned had swallowed vp that which was of the earth corruptible and had freed man of his weakenesse and putrefaction But hauing chased away from him Gods good spirit Gene. 6. hee remaineth a foule lumpe of flesh and is not now of his nature but dust and clay and his heart from his infancie altogether froward For although that there is but one GOD in whome wee doe beleeue Iesus Christ the matter that our faith onelie looketh on as S. Ierome verie well saith vppon the 4. of the Ephe. Yet so is it that the sonne which is the second person of the diuinitie who is one substance is the true obiect and foundation of our faith and not without cause Iohn 14.9 For first in beleeuing in him we doe beleeue in God because that hee is God blessed for euermore as S. Paul saith in the 9. of the Romans Secondlie hee it is of whome Moses the Prophetes and the Psalmes haue spoken and vnto whome they haue directed vs as it is also said in the 24. of S. Luke Thirdlie it is hee that the father likewise willeth that wee heare and that is the subsisting Image of the inuisible GOD Colos 1. Hebr. 1. the brightnesse of his glorie and the ingraued signe and marke of his person by whome also the father hath spoken and doone all thinges Lastlie this is the person that hath taken our nature and hee who is called Immanuel God with vs and GOD manifested in the flesh So that this is the cause why S. Paul saith that no man can lay anie other foundation than that which is laid to wit Iesus Christ and that hee woulde not know anie thing saue Christ Not that hee would not likewise know and vnderstand the Father and the holie Ghost but because that in him man knoweth all 1. Cor. 3. both the Father and the holie Ghost as it is said in the first Epistle to the Corinthians and second Chapter 1. Cor. â— And that without him wee can neither know the Father neither haue accesse vnto this light not able to bee come vnto vnlesse the Sonne giue vs both assurance and accesse Euen as Saint Paul teacheth vs in the 2. Encridion 5. Chap. Chap. to the Ephesians ver 18. And as Saint Augustine yet teacheth how manie heretiques doe speake of Iesus Christ vaunting them of his knowledge yet so it is that when a man dooth neerelie looke therein it is found that they haue onelie but the name and that they are but woordes without trueth and effect For where as they will neither speake neither yet vnderstand or teach as it behooueth concerning his Person or teach anie euill concerning his Office So is this a proper gift vnto the Christian Church to knowe with a wholesome knowledge the eternall and liuing GOD that is to say Iohn 17. to know him in Iesus Christ and to call vppon him through him holding Christ for verie God and verie man the onelie mediator betweene God and man That which thing neither the Turkes neither the Iewes neither Papistes nor manie heretickes doe as in deede the diuell dooth labour to raise vp false Prophetes in all times to darken and vtterlie to ouerthrowe the knowledge of Iesus Christ on the earth who is as a signe or a marke against which euerie man gainsayeth euen as Simeon did speake in the 2. of S. Luke But against such kinde of people wee must retaine these Maximes or rules Maximes First that such a mediatour and sauiour is necessarie for vs to haue which was verie God and verie man and who partaketh to the end to bee a meane with the natures of those that were at strife in such sort as hee might ouercome sinne death and the diuell and giue men accesse vnto the light not able to be come vnto Ephe. 1. It was necessarie that hee should bee stronger than all creatures to witte God and the welbeloued of the Father vnto whome wee might be fit and agreeable As of the other side it was meete that the same flesh which had bin ouercome Rom. 8. Esai 53. should haue the victorie and that the flesh which had sinned might beare the
doe hide their faces before him And man vnlesse that hee died could neuer see his maiestie yea man such as he is on the earth a sinner and mortall But oh happie and blessed shall that daie be 1. Iohn 3. and this houre ought to be desired of vs when as wee shall see this great God such as he is with a soul altogether cleane and a glorified bodie The knowledge of God from hencefoorth is vnto vs as Nazianzen saith in respect of the spirit as the sunne is vnto the bodie This is a light well liking vnto vs but happie is the soule that shall see him face to face and in seeing him shall liue for euermore In the meane-while let vs put our trust in the sonne who speaketh in his Gospell of that which hee hath seene and hath partaken his secretes vnto vs Iohn 15. as vnto his friendes and louers Vppon the 3. Chap. of S. Iohn God so loued the world that hee hath giuen his onely begotten sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life MEDITATION S. Paul oftentimes saith how he would not boast but in Iesus and the same crucified And in deede if man would consider these thinges at leasure which are contained in this sentence of S. Iohn hee would easilie agree with that which S. Paul speaketh and should finde that there is no knowledge in the world that giueth so much contentation as the knowledge of Gods loue through Iesus Christ in such sort as this sentence of S. Iohn ought to be as a pretious owel which a man dailie weareth about his necke euen so ought wee to imprint in our heartes this excellent witnesse of Gods loue For what are men that GOD loueth them What cause hath the immortall to loue the poore woormes of the earth The righteous to loue sinners The Maister the ingrate and vnfaithfull seruauntes Are wee not of nature the children of wrath Ought hee not without ceasing rather to represent vnto vs the hatred and the iust anger of this mightie God and that because of our corruption And moreouer if GOD had beene affectioned to some iust or excellent men yet say I this should bee greatlie to debase him But O diuine loue Oh woonderfull diuinitie Thou hast loued the world without considering anie certaine world anie Sexe anie Qualitie yea all the creatures which are come of the earth since Adam and Eue men and women great and little poore and rich fooles wisemen And all the cause and occasion that thou hast had to fauour them was not for their beautifull eyes but it was euen thy great and extreme bountie All their righteousnesse is as an vncleane cloth before him Esaiah 64. And their excellencie is but as a flower Esaiah 40. which withereth and fadeth from day to day Therefore it hath pleased thee O God to loue man But what say I to loue What tongue shall not iudge himselfe vnsufficient yea what heart shall not bee vnable to deduct or comprehend this so great a loue which hath brought thee to giue one onelie and innocent sonne to death and that to giue life vnto those creatures that are so vnthankfull and so corrupted Where is it that one shall finde a man in this world that will pledge himselfe euen to suffer death for an other were hee his friend and an honest man Truelie it is verie rare But what O Lord thou hast doone truelie more For thou hast not giuen an Angell or an Archangell but thou hast giuen thy onelie sonne vnto a sorrowfull and most shamefull death for to redeeme thy enemies that were reuolted from thee but alas wherefore is not this friendship alike Wherefore doe wee not loue thee with a burning desire as thou hast loued vs Wherefore complaine wee of a little earth lost in thy Seruice and thou hast not cōplayned at all of the death of thy welbeloued sonne of thy delight when the question was of our redemption When a prince dooth not giue vs his good countenance and fauour then we are sore troubled and greeued and yet in respect thereof we make ah alas but small reckenning of thy loue which art the king of kinges and the eternall God Therefore that which wee doe want is that we doe not sufficientlie tast how much the Lord is good and sweete Seeing now O Lord that thy loue is endlesse graunt vs heartes that may comprehend his infinite goodnesse and that wee may forthwith feele therein an endlesse comfort which may swallow vp all the sorrowes of this wretched life So be it Out of the 6. of S. Iohn Simon Peter answered Iesus Maister to whome shall we goe Thou hast the wordes of eternall life And wee beleeue and know that thou art the Christ the sonne of the liuing God Out of the 3. Chap. of the first to Timothie Without all gainsaying great is the mysterie of godlinesse to witte that God is manifested in the flesh iustified in the spirit seene of Angels preached vnto the Gentiles beleeued on in the world and ascended vp in glorie Out of the 4. Chap. of the first Epistle of S. Iohn Hereby know yee the spirit of God Euerie spirit that confesseth that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God And euerie spirit which confesseth not that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God but this is the spirit of Antichrist of whome you haue heard how that hee should come and now alreadie he is in the world And wee haue seene and doe testifie that the father sent the sonne to bee the Sauiour of the world Whosoeuer confesseth that Iesus is the sonne of God in him dwelleth God and he in God And wee haue knowen and beleeued the loue that GOD hath in vs. Here followeth VVhich vvas conceiued by the holie Ghost borne of the virgin Marie CONSIDERATION THis is not vnto vs as saith S. Basyl in a Sermon which hee made of Iesus Christes humane nature neither for vs much to inquire how Christ is come downe here below And wherefore God is serued with such a meane rather than with anie other For thou man saith hee thou wast lost and so recoiledst backe from the face of thy God that thou couldest not come neere thereunto Sith now that he is so humbled and brought low to come vnto thee wouldest thou dispute much thereuppon Rather acknowledge in all humblenesse this blessing of the sonne of God yea and with as great affection as thou canst or maist who is according to the euerlasting diuine nature ingendred by the Father not made nor created as it is said in Athanasius Creede both without Mother and without beginning but is according to the humane nature a like vnto vs sinne excepted begotten of a woman and the sonne of Dauid In such manner as Sedulius saith in a Hymme The creator of the world hath taken shape of a seruant to the end that hee might redeeme our flesh through his flesh and that those
the worlde beganne But nowe is opened and published among all nations by the scriptures of the prophets at the commandement of the euerlasting God for the obedience of faith To God I say only wise be praise for euer Out of the 4. Chap. of the Epistle to the Galathians When the fulnesse of time was come God sent foorth his sonne made of a woman and made vnder the Lawe that hee might redeeme them which were vnder the lawe that we might receiue the adoption of the sonnes Out of the 2. Chap. of the Epistle to the Philippians Let the same minde be in you that was euen in Christ Iesus who beeing in the forme of God thought it no robberie to be equall with God But he made himselfe of no reputation and tooke on him the forme of a seruaunt and was made like vnto man and was found in shape as a man He humbled himselfe and became obedient vnto the death euen the death of the crosse Out of the seconde Chap. of the Epistle to the Hebrewes For as much then as the children were partakers of flesh and bloud he also him selfe likewise tooke part with them that he might destroy through death him that had the power of death that is the diuell And that he might deliuer all them which for feare of death were all their life time subiect to bondage For he in no sort tooke the Angels but he tooke the seede of Abraham Wherefore in all things it became him to be made like vnto his brethren that hee might bee mercifull a faithfull high priest in things cōcerning God to the end he might make reconciliation for the sinnes of the people Borne of the virgin Marie The historie of the Lordes Natiuitie we haue it with all the circumstances thereof in the 2. Chap. of S. Luke Howe hee was borne vnder Octauian Augustus the Emperour Borne in Beth-lehem the citie of Dauid was wrapped in swadling clothes and layde in a cratch for he became poore to make vs rich 2. Cor. 8. Chap. This birth was by the Angels declared to the sheepeheardes Moreouer the wise men of the East were guided by a starre vnto Beth-lehem 2. of S. Matthew A MEDITATION vpon the conception and birth of Iesus Christ after the flesh WHo is he that would not desire to beholde with all reuerence and with great wonder this mightie mysterie of our God concerning the incarnation of Iesus Christ and our redemption seeing that the verie Angels desire to looke thereon as S. Peter speaketh in his 1. Chap. 1. Epistle For it is the Gospel that doeth declare and reueile this hidden secret Rom. 16. at all times figured through diuers ceremonies and trulie fulfilled in the latter dayes O that so many kings patriarks prophets haue desired to see him but now men make litle account of this so great a secret O how beautifull are the feete of them that do declare vnto vs this Gospel of peace O and how much are the heretikes to be abhorred that would turne away from vs the knowledge of this Christ true God and man who hath not doone this honour vnto the Angelles to take vpon him their nature to redeeme them which were fallen but hath shewed this fauour vnto vs poor◠wormes of the earth Psal 51. as to take on him our nature Wee alas are conceiued in sinne and in iniquitie But the holy of the Lorde which was conceiued by the working of the holy spirite is come into the worlde to sanctifie saue vs. Ephes 2. We are borne the childrē of wrath But the welbeloued of the heauenly father was giuen for vs and now is our nature in honour and grace because that the euerlasting word was made flesh not leauing that which it was but taking vnto him that that he was not that is to say our nature ◠Iohn 1. O what an excellent word considering that is spoken of it that it was and did alwaies rest with God as the seconde person of the diuinitie but if a man haue respect vnto his essence it was and is God as S. Iohn sayth in the same place And that it is so all thinges haue beene made by it the life the light and all fulnesse is in it By it hath the Lorde spoken and reueiled the secrets of Paradise But what is it that this hath taken knit with him this word Our flesh And what is our flesh Flesh When as the scripture would speake of our poorenesse it calleth vs flesh as in the 78. Psalme And the Lord remembred that they were but flesh Howsoeuer that Iesus had taken vpon him all our nature that is to say the bodie and the soule as he is the redeemer of all mankinde yet so it is that we be but flesh and rottennesse He hath not therefore taken this flesh which was sinfull or the affection and passions of the flesh but the substance the weakenesses and the alterations that are in the flesh here withall did he charge himselfe He was not then ashamed of vs as the Schuencfeldians thinke that it should be to debase him too much if it were sayd that he had bin made flesh For the scripture sayth the same that he was made flesh that is yet a more vile word than the worde creature But as S. Bernarde sayth The more that thou considerest the humilitie of Christ so much the more seest thou thy glorie and the honour that God hath doone vnto thee how also God hath exalted thee and hath giuen thee a name aboue all names in such sort as they that forsake and despise thee shal one day feele that they shall haue to doe not with anie poore creature but with the king of kings and with the iudge of this worlde A praier of S. Ierome concerning the incarnation of Iesus Christ. O Lorde Iesus thou art my God and my sauiour that hast suffered for mee And although thou wert true God before all ages begotten euerlastingly of the father of an vnserchable generatiō yet wouldst thou to bee conceiued in the wombe of a virgin and to be made man like vnto me and in such manner as thou art true God and true man For thou hast in such sort taken humane nature in the virgins wombe as thou art God and man so as the diuinity is not the humanitie neither the humanity the diuinitie Thy two natures are not confounded and yet doe they make one the selfe same person O eternall worde that was made flesh to become our brother Thou hast had hunger and thirst Thou hast taken our weakenesse vppon thee sinne excepted which did neuer enter in thee as we bare it euen from our mothers wombe Nowe in thee O Lorde dwelleth bodily all fulnesse of grace and diuinitie Thou art made lesse than the father if a man doe respect thy humanitie And if one doe consider thy diuinitie thou art equall vnto him and now that thou hast debased thy selfe he doeth acknowledge thee for
woonderfull thing that the coniunction of humane nature is made with the diuine without changing of natures also without anie confusion of persons therein For Christ hath so knit the natures together as hee both God and man is in diuine substance but one person with the father and the holie ghost O strange thing wee were not woorthie to be seruauntes and now wee be children and coheires with Christ And now I pray thee good God graunt mee grace in good ernest to acknowledge thy vertue that I may with a burning desire loue thee all the daies and time of my life and that my faith be stayed on my redeemer who was seene in the world and was lifted vp into glorie It Followeth Suffered vnder Ponce Pilate was crucified dead and buried hee descended into hell CONSIDERATION YEe neede not to maruaile that in this Article of our faith wee doe passe from his natiuitie vnto his death For first all his life was a preparatiue vnto death a perpetuall passion Secondlie the death and passion of Iesus was the true witnesse of his obedience and then was ended this true Sacrifice that hath abolished sinne and death Euen as the auncient high Priestes did take of the people that which they had to sacrifice so hath hee also taken of vs our nature and this bodie which hee hath sacrificed on the crosse being the sacrifice and the sacrificer Therefore hee had will to suffer truelie in our flesh and to die that in him we might haue life And that wee may liue and die in him dailie dying to the world to vice to liue vnto all righteousnesse and to his glorie who hath redeemed vs. Death the graue hell are verie terrible thinges yea more than terrible But Iesus Christ hath triumphed ouer death and arising againe hee hath sanctified our graues and hath by his vertue ouercome the sorrowes of hell and hath broken all the boltes and chaines to make free and to set in safetie all his elect so as there is no condemnation vnto those that doe beleeue in him Rom. 8. Away with these sacrifices of these popish Priestes seeing that this true sacrifice made with the shedding of the bloud of the Lambe without spot Iohn 1. taketh away all the sinnes of the world Places of the holie scripture testifying the death and passion of Iesus Christ Out of the Prophecie of Dauid 22. Psalme For Dogges haue compassed me the assemblie of the wicked haue inclosed me they pearced my handes and my feete I may tell all my bones yet they behold and looke vppon me According to the exposition of some as if the should haue said he shal not be ouerwhelmed with troubles and sorrowes For he is the euerliuing sonne of of God of an euerlasting generation But this is for our sinnes and by the counsel of God that it should happen vnto him They part my garments among them and cast lottes vppon my vesture Out of the 69. Psalme I was constrained to restore that which I tooke not They gaue me gall in my meate and in my thirst they gaue me vineger to drinke A prophesie of the death and passion of Iesus Christ Out of the 53. Chap. of Esaiah Surelie hee hath borne our infirmities and carried our sorrowes yet did wee iudge him as plagued and smitten of God But hee was wounded for our transgressions hee was broken for our iniquities the chasticement of our peace was vppon him and with his stripes are wee healed All wee lyke Sheepe haue gone astray wee haue turned euerie one to his owne way and the Lorde hath laid vppon him the iniquitie of vs all He was oppressed and hee was afflicted yet did hee not open his mouth he is brought as a sheepe vnto the slaughter as a sheep before her shearer is dumme so hee openeth not his mouth He was taken out from prison and from iudgement And who shall declare his age For hee was cut out of the land of the liuing and for the transgression of my people was he plagued And hee made his graue with the wicked and with the riche in his death though hee had doone no wickednes Vnto the rich neither was anie deceite in his mouth Yet the Lord would breake him and make him subiect to manie infirmities This was Ioseph of Arimathe when hee shall make his soule an offering for sinne hee shall see his seede and shall prolong his dayes and the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand Of the abasing of Iesus Christ in this world Daniel also hath prophesied in the 9. Chap. and 26. verse ANd after threescore and two weekes shall Christ bee slaine and shall haue nothing and some doe translate there shall none remaine to helpe him or hee shall bee altogether made of none effect This death of Christ was figured by the offering of weathers and Lambes and likewise by the offering that Abraham made of his sonne Isaac in the 22. of Genesis The brasen serpent and by the brasen serpent set vp in the wildernesse whome those that did behold were deliuered from the venemous bitings of serpentes as it is written in the 21. Chapter of Nombers This brasen serpent did signifie that Christ should take the forme of a sinner and should bee notwithstanding without sinne That which was set vp on a tree did signifie that Iesus Christ should bee lifted vp vppon a crosse as wee doe reade it in the 3. of Saint Iohn As Moses lifted vp the Serpent in the wildernesse so must the sonne of man be lifted vp That whosoeuer beleeueth in him shall not perish but haue eternall life And to shew in deede that it was not in the brasen serpent that had anie vertue annexed to it but that wee ought to looke more high King Ezechias seeing how the people did goe a whoring after this Serpent â— King 1â— hee brake it in peeces and named it Nehustan that is to say a vile thing and woorth nothing The historie of the passion and death of Iesus Christ wee haue drawen out by the foure Euangelistes especiallie in the 22. 23. of S. Luke THe causes of the passion and death of Iesus Christ The causes of Christes death were first the vnchangeable counsell and prouidence of GOD as it is said in the second of the Actes and the 23. verse Hee was deliuered by the determinate counsel of God And againe the loue of God towardes mankind God so loued the world that hee hath giuen his onelie begotten sonne as saith S. Iohn in the 3. Chapter And wee doe reade in the 5. Chap. to the Ephesians and the 25. verse how hee also loued vs and gaue himselfe willinglie for vs. If wee must come vnto other outward causes of this death and which bee inferiour there is the hatred of the diuell and the enmitie whereof it is spoken in the 3. Chap. of Genesis betweene the serpent and the seede of the woman There is
time as our bodies bee raised also at the last comming of Iesus Christ The historie of the resurrection is right diligently brought foorth by the Euangelistes Matth. 27. to shewe the follie of the Scribes and Pharisees who hauing rowled a great stone on the tombe thought to let this rising againe and moreouer to hide it afterwardes they gaue money that they should say how he was taken vp by his disciples THis was the cause wherefore hee was yet conuersant in the worlde 40. Christs appearinges daies after his resurrection and appeared vnto his diuerse times shewing them his hands feete and woundes S. Marke maketh mention that hee appeared three sundrie times and that the Angell declared his rising First he did appeare to Marie Magdalene the seconde time he did appeare vnto two that were in the way going into the fieldes the third◠time vnto the eleuen that were sitting at a table Likewise S. Iohn 20. Chapter S. Luke 24. doe make mention of three appearinges and S. Matthewe in the 28. of two appearings S. Paul in the 15. Chap. 1. Epistle to the Corinth reciteth many appearings how he was likewise seene to mo than 500. brethren But specially hee appeared vnto S. Peter that had denied him as we reade in the 24. of S. Luke and in the 15. of the first Epistle to the Corinthians The fruites and effectes of Iesus Christ his resurrection Out of the 2. Chap. of the Actes Psalm 16. Whom God hath raised vp and loosed the sorrowes of death because it was vnpossible that he should be holden of it for Dauid speaketh of him I haue set the Lorde alwaies before me for he is at my right hand therefore I shall not slide Wherefore my heart is glad and my tongue reioyceth my flesh also doeth rest in hope For thou wilt not leaue my soule in the graue neither wilt thou suffer thy holie one to see corruption Thou wilt shewe me the path of life in thy presence is the fulnesse of ioy Men and brethren I may boldly speake vnto you of the patriarke Dauid that hee is both dead and buried and his sepulchre remaineth with vs vnto this day Therefore seeing he was a prophet and knew that God had sworne with an oth to him that of the fruit of his loines he should raise vp Christ concerning the flesh to set him vppon his throne He knowing this before spake this of the resurrection of Christ that his soule should not be left in graue neither his flesh to see corruption This Iesus hath God raised vp whereof we all are witnesses Out of the 5. Chap. of the Acts 30. vers The God of our fathers hath raised vp Iesus whom ye slewe and hanged on a tree Him hath God lift vp with his right hande to be a prince and a sauiour to giue repentaunce to Israell and forgiuenesse of sins And we are his witnesses concerning these thinges which wee say yea and the holy Ghost who God hath giuen to them that obey him Out of the 14. Chap. to the Romanes Whether wee liue wee liue vnto the Lorde or whether we die we die vnto the Lorde whether we liue or die wee are the Lordes For Christ therefore died and rose againe and reuiued that he might be Lorde both of the dead and the quicke Out of the 6. Chap. of the first Epistle to the Corinthians God hath also raised vp the Lorde and shall raise vs vp by his power Out of the 15. Chap. and the first Epistle to the Corinthians Now if it be preached that Christ is risen frō the dead how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead For if there bee no resurrection of the dead then is Christ not risen And if Christ be not risen then is our preaching vaine and your faith is also vaine Out of the 4. Chap. of the 2. to the Corinthians We know that he which hath raised vp the Lord Iesus shall raise vs vp also by Iesus and shall set vs with you Out of the 1. Chap. to the Ephes The Lord giue vnto you the spirit of reuelation to vnderstand the exceeding greatnesse of his power which he wrought in Christ whē he raised him from the dead c. Out of the 3. Chap. to the Colossians If yee then be risen with Christ seeke those thinges which are aboue where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God Set your affectiōs on things which are aboue and not on thinges which are on the earth Out of the 2. Chap. of the Second to Timothie Remember that Iesus Christ made of the seede of Dauid was raised againe from the dead according to my Gospel wherein I suffer trouble as an euill dooer euen vnto bondes S. Peter in the 3. Chap. of his first Epistle saith that we haue witnessed with a good conscience before God by the resurrectiō of Iesus Christ He ascended into heauen CONSIDERATION HOwe is it that death should bee ouercome if we had not an other life or an other hope than in this vale of miserie And that we should heere daily crawle in this dwelling place of serpentes and dragons What is it to come forth of the graue if a man did not but enter into the worlde which is but a gulfe and bottomlesse pitte of all euils What had this beene if the children of Israel had gone out of Aegypt and if they had not beene guided into the promised lande flowing with milke and honnie To the ende therefore that our deliueraunce might not be vnperfect and maimed and that we may knowe whereat wee must aime or leuell aright to bee short that we may see that our heritage is out of the power of the prince of this world from all the children of the world this Iesus our Lorde would ascende into heauen and that in the sight of all his Apostles making his bodie to tryumphe that a litle before was crucified taking againe the full possession of that glorie which was not lost Iohn 17. but as it were hidden when as he did abase himselfe to present vnto God this clensing Sacrifice for our sins O Lord what are we that thou goest vp on high to prepare for vs a place Alas wee bee not worthy to liue on the earth Iohn 17. As our fathers in deede were driuen out of the gardein wherin thou haddest placed them so doest thou nowe giue vnto vs farre better than that garden of Edon out of the which was Adam Eue driuen when as in our name and with our nature thou takest possession of the most high heauens and of the manner house of thy glorie to inuest vs thy children therin to the end that where thou art they may bee there also Alas Lorde is this reason that thy seruauntes should be as well as their maisters But also good God thou hast doone vnto vs this honour to call vs thy friendes to whome thou hast communicated thy secretes to call vs O Lorde Iesus
that haue thy worde and thy promises and with whome thou art reconciled as thou hast promised by thy prophet Esaiah Esay 54. That although for a time thou hidest thy face away from thine yet neuerthelesse thou hast sworne as in the daies of Noah that thou wouldest no more suffer the waters to ouerflowe the earth so also hast thou sworne that thou wilt be mercifull vnto thy people 1. Peter 3. Whereof thou giuest vnto vs assuraunce in the sacrament of Baptisme in which thou shewest vnto vs both life and death as vnto Noah death in the waters and life in the arke Our sinnes O Lorde are the meanes of thy wrath sufficient to drowne vs but in receiuing vs into thine Arke which is thy Church and graffing vs in thy sonne Iesus whereto thou giuest vs a visible signe and testimonie in baptisme wee be saued and quickened Albeit therefore though the faithfull be in small number as was also the familie of Noah made onely of eight persons yet suffer not that I turne away for this from thy Church or that euer O my God this desperate spite take me to drowne and destroy my selfe with the multitude But O heauenly father giue mee rather grace to watch and to continue that I bee not ouerwhelmed and sette vpon by thy iudgementes euen as they were in Noahs time which sported themselues and gaue themselues ouer to their delightes Matth. 24. but rather that I may be found watching and awayting patiently and constantly the comming of my good maister Iesus Christ So be it Ierusalem was also a figure of the Church of God For as it is sayde in the 122. Psalme Ierusalem is builded as a citie that is compact together in it selfe whereunto the Tribes euen the Tribes of the Lorde goe vp according to the testimonie of Israell to praise the name of the Lorde It is called the house of the Lorde in the which the brethren are set in order In the 56.7 of Esaiah the temple shall bee called the house of prayer for all people The tabernacle that was also so welbeloued for the testimonies that God gaue therein of his presence Psalm 84. and that there they did seeke the Lorde as it is saide in the 33. of Exodus was a figure of the Church where is the meeting and congregation of the Lorde The Church in the 10. Chap. of S. Iohn is compared vnto a sheepefolde whereof Iesus is the sheepehearde and in the which the sheepe doe heare and vnderstande the voice of the sheepheard In the 5. Chapter of the Epistle of S. Paule to the Ephesians as also often times in the prophetes the Church is compared vnto a welbeloued spouse in whom the Lorde taketh his pleasure and of whom he is the heade as the husbande of his wife whom he maketh much of and for whome hee hath giuen himselfe So then the true Church is compared in the scripture vnto a heauenly Ierusalem Heb. 12.22 and hath most excellent titles when as man doth respect the chosen of God and the companie of the true faithfull which the Lorde knoweth and approueth But when the scripture beholdeth this visible Church and considereth it at once and outwardly then is it compared vnto a great fielde that yeeldeth maniefolde and sundrie kinde of graines where amongest and in which there is great store of Darnell or else like vnto a nette Matth. 13. that hath taken all manner of fishes For all they which are outwardly Iewes as S. Paul saith in the 2. to the Romanes be not therefore very Iewes in deede So likewise all they that say Lorde Lorde Matth. 7. shall not enter into the kingdome of heauen But God doth alwaies reserue some seede in the middest of these corruptions and without that wee had as Esaiah sayeth euen a good while agone beene as Sodom and Gomorra Certaine places of the scripture concerning the Church of God and the profite of his worde Out of the 93. Psalme vers 5. Thy testimonies are verie sure O Lord holinesse becommeth thy house for euer Out of the 94. Psalme vers 12. Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest O Lorde and teachest him thy lawe that thou maiest giue him rest from the daies of euill whiles the pit is digged for the wicked Out of the 119. Psalme vers 32. I will runne the way of thy commaundementes when thou shalt inlarge mine heart A prayer O Lorde my God because that the way of thy saluation is declared vnto vs in thy worde and that by so many testimonies of the prophets and Apostles wee do vnderstande what is the true and right way suffer me not to lose my selfe wandering through the large way of the world and going in the counsell of the wicked or following the traditions of men Psalm 73. Make me to knowe that all they which trust not in thee are in daungerous and slipperie places And suffer me not O good God that in this faire way wherein thou hast set me I waxe feeble or slowly walke but that rather I may runne out this holie course euen vnto the ende and that I may remaine constant in thy obedience and that I may by a true faith ouercome the offences and lettes that Sathan offereth vnto them which doe runne vnto thee Alas O Lorde I truely knowe that the best runners are some times subiect to stumble but keepe me from falling and if I fall let thy holie hande relieue mee and soone set me vpright that so Lorde feeling thy goodnesse and sweetenesse that I serue thee not vnwillingly and grudgingly but where as in times past I ranne after vanities and ydolatrie I may nowe runne O my God in the way that thy worde doeth appoint vs and to the ende I may runne set my heart at libertie Psalm 32. for our spirites are naturally so much let with worldly cares that we are become more duller and restiue than oxe or mule But it is thy vertue wherein I so hope and trust it is thy aide that I call for that by thy mighty spirite my weake spirite may be vnswathed and vnroled there may be nothing to stay me from walking in thy feare to the ende I may vowe my selfe in thy seruice O Lord blessed are they which be in thy schoole where thy worde soundeth and thy spirite gouerneth which comforteth and strentheneth vs against all afflictions namely against death 1. Cor. 9. declaring vnto vs that wee runne not in vaine but for the vncorruptible crowne of glorie O Lorde giue mee grace so to runne that I may learne him and come euen vnto thee We doe require as Dauid sayeth Psalm 119. in this worlde they face in thy Church But we doe not see as yet thy face vncouered we see thee in thy worde and in part But O happie are we when as wee shall see thy glorie and that we shall see thee such as thou art without sacrament or figure inioying the trueth and presence of thy
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.
that that which is an offence vnto the worlde 1. Cor. 1. to wit the Gospell of the crosse may bee my comfort and my treasure that I may feele the vertue power and strength of this thy woorde euen in all the partes of my soule from this time foorth and for euer more So be it Of the vse of the holie Scripture Out of the 3. Chap. of the 2. Epistle of S. Paul vnto Timothee The whole scripture is geuen by the inspiration of God and is profitable to teach to correct and to instruct in righteousnesse that the man of God may be absolute being made perfect vnto all good workes The first vse of the scripture is to teach vs for where is it that a man shall finde in other bookes the secretes that the scripture teacheth vs It learneth vs on the earth a science which shall remaine in heauen as S. Ierome sayth it teacheth vs to knowe Christ and in him the life euerlasting The Angelles doe woonder at this same doctrine as it is sayde in the 1. Chap. of the 1. Epistle of S. Peter We ought therefore to bring our children vnto this schoole and the eldest also haue to learne in this science all the daies of their liues The scripture is also giuen to confute the gaine sayers to ouercome heretiks to correct vices and to hew them downe as it is sayde in Hosea Hoseah 6. for in teaching that which is good it turneth vs from euill It is also fitte to instruct vs and to giue manie aduertisementes for the gouernement of our liues towardes magistrates fathers of houshouldes and vnto other particular persons A meditation vpon the holy supper whereby we do grow in the Church and doe strengthen our faith drawen for the most part out of S. Cyprian WHen as this good sauiour went to take the cuppe and drinke so bitter of his death and passion his pleasure was to ordaine and offer vnto vs the sweete wholesome lyquor of his bloud with the partaking of his body He raised vp Lazarus going to death and appointed the supper to make our soules to liue Hee then that gaue life vnto others could he not well defende himselfe against death could it haue beene any other than a willing obedience whereby hee would so fulfill our redemption O howe great was the prouidence of this good sauiour which hath giuen vnto vs the partaking of his body before his death to shewe vnto vs that by death hee should not be destroyed and that he would neuer leaue his Church But how What banquet is this heere to eate the flesh of the Lorde and to drinke his bloud Truely it is a woonderfull thing as we doe see in the 6. Chap. of S. Iohn that the Capernaits coulde not comprehende But beholde the secret Iesus Christ spake of his flesh notwithstanding he did not speake fleshlie he spake to eate but it was not for our teeth neither for our bellies concerning the substance of this sacrament his wordes are spirite and life So as these sacred meates be of none other tast nor of any other sauour vnto a carnall and sensuall man But whereas humane sense cannot pearce through there can faith enter and the maner of speaking which seemeth harde vnto vs at the first sight we shall finde them fitly applyed if wee doe vnderstande the language of the scripture Therefore the worde of God sometimees calleth this sacrament bread and sometimes bodie and flesh that by the helpe of these knowen thinges and visible we may comprehende the thinges that are inuisible and spirituall For as the bread nourisheth the bodie euen so doth Christ nourish the soule As the flesh is a substance so is it not by imagination that our soules are nourished but the sonne of GOD incarnate is the cause of this so substantiall a foode of our soules because that he was crucified for vs. As the life is in the bloud so Christ also by his bloud hath giuen vnto vs life and is our life our fleshe our bloud and our life was of a wretched condition but by Christ all the partes of our life are restored But from whence commeth this newe commaundement to partake with the bloud of Christ Was it not forbidden in the lawe to eate the bloud of any beast because that the life was in the bloud Beholde also the vndefiled Lambe The bloud of beastes did shewe vnto vs that our life ought not to be brutish or that we should be giuen to crueltie And the bloud of Christ which wee are commaunded to drinke teacheth vs howe our liues ought to be Christian like and pure that wee might say with S. Paul in the 2. Chap. to the Galathians It is not I that liue but Christ liueth in me Therefore this communion is not a consubstantiation with the Trinitie for there is but the father the sonne and the holy Ghost which are consubstantiall It is not a confusion of persons in Christ but it is an vnion of the heade with the members it is an vnion of affections and of willes a partaking together of the euerlasting riches and in the life of Christ This is a warning to be short that we must not liue vnto our selues but vnto God And as they that haue eaten some excellent meate that hath in it some good sauour doe feele there in a good nourishment and sweetenesse of breath euen so must it be that they which are sedde with this sacred meate and wherein Christ dwelleth that in all their wordes and deedes a man may feele a good smell and that may increase to edification and that all that which they doe may bee vnto the glorie of this great GOD. And so we doe see that it is not the teeth which wee doe sharpen comming vnto this holy banquet but that we do bring hither faith to distinguish the sacramēt from the thing of the sacrament the earthly element from that which is diuine and heauenly and so to consider in one onely Christ the vnion of two natures diuine and humane For altogether like as in the person of Christ Note this comparison of S. Cyprian the humane nature was seene here belowe and the diuinitie was not seene yet did it not leaue to worke great thinges without the chaunging of one nature into another so in the supper we doe see bread and wine but the bodie of Christ we doe not see yet doth it not leaue to worke in vs nowe that he is ascended into heauen And as the bodie of the light which is on high is intire in himselfe howe so euer it be spreade abroade heare beneath So is Christ intire there on high and yet leaueth hee not to partake himselfe fully to euery one of vs without lessening himselfe when as hee giueth himselfe vnto vs which be weake without being inclosed in the bread whē as he is notwithstanding receiued by vs without darkening his maiestie when hee entereth into our small tabernacle and when he will that
our soules and hast left vnto vs amongest others the sacrament of the supper that we should be assured howe his life doeth flowe into vs. O what a refreshing is this to vs in this our pilgrimage yea to them that feele and laie holde of such like graces By the presse men doe drawe foorth out of the grapes the lyquor of wine And thou O Lorde thou hast put thy sonne vpon the presse of the crosse to make vs drinke of this holy lyquor But nowe O Lorde my God to the ende that I doe not vnworthily present my selfe vnto this holie table and foode which is marueled at and honoured by the Angelles purifie and cleanse my heart by thy holie spirite Powre foorth thy loue through all the partes of my soule that I may take increase in all vertue and holinesse and that I may so continue in this blessed fellowshippe of the bodie of thy sonne that I may drawe out of him strength and life as the branch out of the vine stocke and that beeing knitte with thy sonne Iesus I may be one with thee that I may liue to thee vntill the time I doe come euen vnto thee So be it A giuing of thankes after the supper O Lord I giue thee thankes for thy inestimable loue for that not onely I haue this benefitte of my beeing and mouing in thee but chiefly in that it hath pleased thee to make mee to liue for euer in thy kingdome redeeming mee from euerlasting damnation which I had deserued through my sinnes But good God I beseech thee that this precious bloud be not shedde in vaine for me but daily nourish my soule by the partaking of the flesh of thy sonne Quicken mee in his bloud that I may be of the number of thy children and a member of the bodie of thy Church that I be not so vnhappie to abuse these sacred meates which haue cost so deere a price of thy deere beloued sonne Iesus to prepare them for vs that I be not also like vnto the dogges which returne vnto their vomittes and swine that goe backe againe vnto their puddle Alas Lorde make me that I neuer forsake thy holie couenaunt for any thing in the worlde For whither is it that I shoulde goe but vnto thee that hast the wordes of euerlasting life Let it not be a daie onely that the remembrance of thy sonnes passion bee before my eies But that I may for euermore honour this good sauiour which hath left vnto vs so faire an heritage by his testament and hath giuen vs thereof so goodly an earnest in the supper Now to thee O God my creator to thee Christ my redeemer to thee holie Ghost my comforter who worketh this holie coniunction of men with GOD and of earth with heauen vnto thee one alone true God be honour and glorie I poore creature doe recommende my selfe vnto thee glorious God being well determined through thy grace to goe in peace and in ioy to death when the houre shall come since that Christ is my life Auaunt from me all delightes and earthly meates which doe turne into doung syth that I haue a foode which turneth me to immortalitie the bread of Angelles the breade which wee shall eate without signes and sacramentes when as we shall inioye that felicitie beeing in heauen Prayers for the Church A Prayer against the aduersaries of the Church ALmightie God since that thou seest thine aduersaries so proud yea with a diuelish rage to force against thy Church cause that wee may feele how thou art the verie same whome all thy faithful haue prooued in times past in all ages to wit that thou hast the care of the saluation of those that call vppon thee with a pure heart yea and seeke thee in extreme distresse and necessitie that although thou stretchest forth thy hand at this day and repressest this rage which thou seest to be kindeled against all thy seruauntes and children to the end that last of all the reprobates may feele and vnderstand and that to their destruction how they haue not vndertaken warres against a miserable people corrupted stripped and naked of all ayd but against thine vnestimable vertue that being confounded albeit they haue no shame rore out the more against thee and against thy power yet they may serue notwithstanding for an example and bee for a manifest instruction that thou art not onelie faithfull in all thy promises But also furnished and garnished with such vertue that thou canst execute and fulfill all that which thou hast promised for the safe keeping of thy Church vntill such time as thou hast fullie deliuered vs out of our enemies hand An other prayer vppon the same matter ALmightie GOD forasmuch as thou seest how wee be at this day compassed about on all sides with so manie enemies who practise continuallie our ouerthrowe and that we are so weake and feeble make vs learne to looke vnto thee and that our faith may so rest vppon thee that into whatsoeuer daungers wee be put and howsoeuer our flesh saith wee may neuer doubt but that thou art stored with a mightie power to make all our enemies afraid that amongest the daungers of this life wee may liue in rest of spirit and that wee cease not from calling vppon thee as thou hast promised to be a faithfull protector of those that call on thee in Iesus Christ his name So be it A prayer to perseuere in the doctrine of the Gospel ALmightie God seeing we be so much inclined vnto corruption that with great hardnesse wee doe enter into the listes so lightlie wee retire our selues from the course being well instructed yet we fall off and doe easilie degenerate graunt that being by thy spirit furnished with constancie we may perseuere to the end in that same right way that thou hast shewed vnto vs by thy word Furthermore though that manie are cast into diuers errors yet that wee maie take pleasure to call and to withdrawe them backe againe yea if wee doe not profite anie whit therein yet at the least that wee be not allured after them but that wee may remaine constant in faithfull obedience vntill such time as hauing atchieued all our Combates we may be gathered together to that blessed rest which is kept for vs by our captaine and sauiour Iesus Christ in the heauens A Prayer to bee constant in Religion against all lettes or withstandinges Almightie God sith that Satan setteth before vs at these dayes manie feares and dreades which might altogether cast vs downe and make vs lose courage as in deed wee bee but feeble and weake graunt that wee hauing our eies lifted vp to heauen wee may consider this inuincible power wherewith thou art furnished to make vs ouercome all lettes Besides although nothing doe appeare in this world but that which is contemptible which may confirme or maintaine our faith yet notwithstanding graunt that wee may pearce by the eyes of our faith into this secret vertue and so
beholde rather thy creature in thy louing kindenesse Thou hast bidden vs come vnto thee then whē as we sought thee not and thou hast saued vs when we were thine enemies Cast not therfore now away them which seeke thee and with all humblenesse call vpon thee For that that I make my selfe strong with thy clemencie is not through presumption but because of thy promises that doe assure vs of thee thou wilt not the death of sinners but their conuersion and life And to make them liue which were dead thou hast caused thy only begotten sonne to die and wouldest also that he should beare the name of a sauiour Wherefore shall I distrust then of grace Wherefore should my soule liue in sorrow syth that it findeth in thee so great a sweetenes O Lorde my God I remēber the poore Publican who humbling his eies to the ground groning vnder the burthen of his sins and requiring thy mercie went down into his house iustified I remember the poore thiefe who confessing his fault and acknowledging thy sonne Iesus vpon the crosse whereon he was hanged went to paradise I consider also the example of thine Apostle who hauing forsakē his maister three times was not put out of his fauour nor out of his Apostleship because the weeping bitterly he was cōuerted to thee But God grant me the Publicans hūblenes the confession of him that was hanged with Christ the repentance of thy Apostle the holding on the way which they haue held I may with them inioy thy fauour and enter into thy glorie A prayer vpon the same matter O Lorde what man is he that dare speake vnto God Howe dare we aske thee life seeing we haue deserued death Frō whēce commeth this boldnesse to haue our recourse vnto thee whom wee haue offended Is it not thy great mercie that is so noted throughout the worlde Was it not because that thou art slowe to anger and of great clemencie But if thou wouldest enter into iudgement with vs no man liuing could be iustified before thy face I pray and beseech thee therefore O Lorde that thou wouldest vnderstande my gronings and hearken vnto my praiers I was Alas conceiued and borne in sinne and my iniquities are so great in number that I can not knowe them by the one halfe so as O Lorde this burthen would ouerwhelme me if thy mercie did not comfort me But I pray thee chastise me not in thy wrath neither assay thy might against me otherwise I were vtterly vndoone and in the twinckling of an eie thou couldest destroy me in thine anger Chaunge rather my heart that I may be an organe of thy glorie and a vessel of honour in thy house Imprint in my soule all righteousnesse and godlinesse that I may serue and honour thy maiestie I haue wandered like a poore sheepe but bring me againe into thy fold and be thou my sheepheard for euer For Lorde when thou hast brought me to nothing and confounded me Alas I shal not any more blesse and praise thee But if thou be mercifull vnto me I shall render vnto thee thankes giuing I shall vowe my selfe to thy seruice and I will remaine in thy holy temple to worship thee A prayer to aske of God true repentance Almightie God seeing that our sinnes continually crie vnto heauen and when one of them is ouercome an other forthwith springeth vp so that ambition being ouercome couetousnesse doeth tempt vs and couetousnesse being vanquished presumption doth solicite vs or some other greedie desire graunt vs grace carefully to walke and to fight this good fight against our selues truely to examine and to sound our selues and so we cōdemning our selues may preuent thy iudgement stirring vp one another to true repentance and amendment of life to the ende that it bee not in vaine that thy healthfull grace may appeare vnto vs and that wee make not sad thy holy spirite and that so O God walking in thy feare we may be made true partakers of the forgiuenesse of sinnes that thy son hath purchased for vs by his bloud shedding that we might growe vp according to the new man and make the olde man to die vntill that we being vnclothed of this mortall bodie we might come vnto that perfection then O Lorde when as thou shalt be all in all and that beeing gathered together in thee wee shall beholde thy glorie in thy kingdome So be it I beleeue the rising againe of the bodie TErtullian an ancient Doctor verie well saith in the booke which he hath written of the resurrection that this article is proper to Christians and is their speciall comfort to beleeue that this flesh shal rise againe at the last day wherof the philosophers Sadduces did but make a mocke But hee who hath giuen vs these bodies can verie well bring to passe that they shal liue againe out of the dust as we do protest that we beleeue not heere giuing place to any thing but vnto faith no not to the speculations of reason Christ is also risen againe being made as it were the first fruites and the honorable head of all those which are risen or heereafter shall bee raised againe For this was through his only vertue This also is the reason that that body which did suffer so much should be likewise partaker of life glorie For Christ hath wholie redeemed mankinde and without this trust we should be miserable we which do suffer so many tormentes in our bodies for the name of Iesus Nowe to comfort and resolue vs more more in this article we must consider of these witnesses folowing Out of the 19. Chap. of Iob. I am sure that my redeemer liueth and he shall stande vp the last of the earth And though after my skinne wormes destroy this bodie yet shall I see God in my flesh whome I my selfe shall see and mine eies shall beholde Out of the 26. of Esaiah The dead shall liue euen with my bodie shall they rise Awake and sing ye that dwell in dust for thy deaw is as the deawe of hearbes and the earth shall cast out the dead Out of the 13. Chap. of the prophet Hosea I will redeeme them from the power of the graue I will deliuer them from death O death I will be thy death O graue I will be thy destruction A meditation of OEcolampadius The Lorde sheweth by this place that if the people had repented they should haue beene deliuered though they hadde bin as it were in the graue alreadie The Hebrewe word signifieth Hel or the graue and is often times taken in the scripture for some great and extreeme daunger as also by the worde of the plague is vnderstood a great destruction S. Paul in the 1.5 Chap. of the 1. Epistle to the Corinthians when he intreateth of the resurrection he alledgeth this place according to the greeke translation of the 70. interpreters rather than after the Hebrewe text and thus taketh it Where is thy sting As preparing himselfe against
death and shewing that she had no more power sith that Christ is risen againe Nowe will some say howe doth this place agree with S Paule Wee must consider the thinges more neerer It was sayde that if the people had turned to God he had deliuered them through his diuine mercie But forasmuch as there was nothing in vs but sinne and so likewise death it behoueth vs to looke vpon Christ who hath ouercome death and vanquished Hell in such sort as they cannot hurt the children of God For being graffed in Christ we feare nothing Wherefore S. Paule who reioyceth himselfe in Christ and in his righteousnesse and who considereth that through him saluation is giuen vnto vs doth with good right dispite and tryumph ouer death and as concerning him he doth not recite the wordes of the prophet worde for word but he hath a respect to the intent and meaning of them By Christ then are we quickened therefore haue we sure hope of the resurrection so as that which the righteousnesse of the lawe could not do is fulfilled and wrought through Christ in whome wee feare not death Thus by faith we are deliuered from the whole curse Out of the 22. Chap. of S. Matthew Iesus disputing of the resurrection against the Sadduces sayde And concerning the resurrection of the dead haue ye not read what is spoken vnto you of God saying I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaae and the God of Iacob God is not the God of the dead but of the liuing Out of the 5. of S. Iohn The houre shall come in the which all that are in the graues shal heare the voice of the sonne of man And they shall come foorth that haue doone good vnto the resurrection of life but they that haue doone euill vnto the resurrection of condemnation Excellent witnesses of the resurrection out of the 15. Chapter of the first Epistle to the Corinthians If there be no resurrection of the dead then is Christ not risen But Christ is risen was seene of manie Then is there a resurrection of the dead If we haue our only hope in this life we shall be most miserable of all mankinde But our faith is not in vaine neither the witnesse that the holy Ghost doth yeelde vnto our heartes that wee be the children of God Then is there another entire life of man and consequently a resurrection The seconde Adam is truly as mightie at the least as the first Nowe all these die which are borne of Adam it followeth then that they which be borne againe in the seconde Adam which is Christ are also made liuing after the bodie and soule The sacrament of Baptisme is vnto vs also a sacrament which doth represent vnto vs our mortification our life and resurrection when the people were drawen through the water The saintes and faithfull neither fought nor suffered in vaine For if there were not another life in vaine should they suffer euen vnto death We haue likewise saith S. Paul an example of the resurrection in the graine of corne and in other seedes which die in the grounde and in dying doe in the spring time rise againe more fairer wherefore is it that that should not so likewise happen vnto our bodies Out of the 3. Chap. of the Epistle of S. Paule to the Philippians Our conuersation is in heauen from whence also we looke for the sauiour euen the Lorde Iesus Christ who shall change our vile bodie that it may be fashioned like vnto his glorious bodie according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all thinges vnto himselfe Out of the 2. Chapter of the 2. Epistle to Timothie S. Paule reproueth Hymeneus and Philetus which haue erred from the truth saying that the resurrection is past alreadie and doe destroy the faith of certaine I beleeue the life euerlasting Euerlasting saluation is the ende of our faith as sayeth S. Peter in the 1. Epistle and 1. Chap. This is truely the glorie of God which ought to be our ende and that whereunto wee doe aspire euen the price which is promised to this militant Church that is life euerlasting The soule of Lazarus separated from the bodie Luke 16.22 was receaued to euerlasting rest It was said vnto the good thiefe as he is called which confessed Christ with repentance To day shalt thou bee with me in paradise Now who is hee which could expresse the blessednes of the life euerlasting For this word Life comprehendeth all ioy peace glorie and honor as S. Paul saith in the 2. Chap. to the Romans Vnto those which with patience are giuē to goodnes shall bee giuen Glorie honor immortalitie and life euerlasting And they shall shine as the sunne in the kingdome of their father as it is said in the 13. of S. Matthew Contrariwise the Infidels shall bee cast out from the face of the Lorde with anger with euerlasting tormentes where shall bee weeping and gnashing of teeth Behold what is the auncient faith that the Apostles haue held and S. Peter hath preached for the which our Churches are persecuted and wee are called heritikes But what Wee oftentimes call to remembrance that goodlie admonition that S. Paul made to Timothie in the 6. Chap. of his first Epistle Fight the good fight of faith Lay hold of eternall life whereunto thou art also called and of that which Dauid speaketh in the 138. Psalme Lorde though I walke in the middest of trouble yet wilt thou reuiue me And of this goodlie place which is in the 25. of Esai The Lorde will destroy death for euer and will wipe away the teares from all faces and the rebuke of his people wil he take away out of all the earth And in that day shall men say Lo this is our God wee haue awaited for him and hee will also saue vs. This is the Lorde wee haue awaited for him wee will also bee ioyfull and reioyce in his saluation And though wee bee deliuered to death for the name of Iesus yet doe wee know that his life shall bee manifested in our mortall flesh as it is said in the 4. Chap. of the 2. to the Corinth But the fearefull and vnbeleeuing the abominable and murtherers and whoremongers and sorcerers Idolaters and lyers shall haue their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death Apoca. 21.8 Comfortes against death taken out of manie auncient Doctors IT is not without great reason that the great philosopher Plato saith that the life of a wise man ought to passe in a continuall meditation of death For wee shall in deede auoid a number of offences if we haue in remembrance our end and the estate of this life which is so short as it is said in the 7. of Ecclesiast Nowe it is a strange thing to consider the blockishnesse of men in this case which by dailie experience well see that they must die They see well that our bodies bee not
bee founde a watching faithfull seruaunt And as the prince of this worlde comming towardes thy sonne Iesus Iohn 14. founde nothing what to bite vpon him so also the same enemie may not haue any thing against me seeing that I doe belong to thy sonne Iesus By faith O Lorde haue our fathers ouercome kingdomes and closed the mouthes of the Lyons Therefore O Lorde graunt me grace that I may also ouercome by faith all tentations vntill that this faith being ended I may enter into thy euerlasting â—est A prayer against the sorrowes of Death O Lorde GOD my father who weart willing that thy sonne Iesus should yeelde vppe his spirite to saue me graunt mee grace that I may beare in my heart the remembrance of his bitter sorrowes and passion and that I may forthwith remember the sweete tender affection that thou bearest vnto vs poore sinners sauing them with so pretious a price that of one part I may with a true sorrowe die vnto sinne and forsake all mine iniquities and of the other part the remembrance of thy grace may make my soule liue let thy mercie O good God be vnto me a lampe and light to lighten me in the darkenesse of death vntill that I come vnto thee O Lorde if thou weart vnto me so good a father in life be also the same vnto me in death Leaue me not then when as my strengthes shall faile me And euen then namely when my mouth shal be no more able to speake leaue not off Lord to heare my desires vnto the last breath of my life Comfort againe thy weake creature and receiue my soule into thy glorie who yeeldeth vp to thee Thou O Lorde hast saued mee into thy handes I recommende my spirit Grant me the last words of thy sonne Iesus in his voice vppon his crosse that they may be my last wordes in this life Behold the earthly abode of this bodie which dissolueth it to yeelde my selfe ioiful of this tabernacle most blessed which is not made with mans hands This great prophet Elias when hee was taken vp into heauen let fall his cloke so willingly would I also leaue this garment both earthly and corruptible to bee clothed with immortalitie Heeretofore I was a wayfarer nowe am I come into my true countrey Euen vntill this time was I in fight now go I to triumph with our head Iesus Christ I begin to see alreadie this hauen which I haue so long desired hulling amongst the tempests of the world To be short I ioyfullie passe out of darknesse into light from daungers of this world to a place of assurance out of a lamentable case into a blessed state from battaile to victorie from an earthlie to an euerlasting life Here am I blind and there shall I receiue light In this place was I hacked with manie woundes and there shall I receaue healing O wretched life O fraile and life vncertaine in this world howe deceitfull and yrksome art thou The more thou thinkest or beleeuest the more thou distrustest and misbeleeuest The more one goeth in this world the more is hee charged with faintnesse and miseries Blessed is hee which knoweth the vanitie of this world yet more blessed that dooth not set his affection therein and most blessed which is withdrawen from thence to bee with thee Oh my God and my sauiour A prayer vppon the same Argument Alas when shall I come before the face of my God and when shall I haue my abiding in his house How long shall I bee in this exile whereunto for sinne we were banished But how shall a sinner stand before this great God How shall this poore flesh get vp into euerlasting paradise But praised bee my God who hath giuen vnto vs so good an assurance in his holie word Blessed bee GOD which hath ordained for vs this good ladder by the which wee ascend vp into heauen to wit Iesus Christ so that which was vnto vs impossible is possible to the beleeuer Therefore looke not O Lord into the manifold sinnes that are within me But rather remember that I am thy creature and the worke of thy handes I am vnworthie to bee called thy childe but it hath pleased thee to bee my father Thy will was that thy sonne Iesus should come downe here below to vs to make vs ascend vp to thee I feare not then death seeing I haue life with me Thy son hath destroyed death for all those which doe beleeue in him And albeit that this bodie be gnawen with wormes yet the soul goeth forthwith into rest the body awaiteth the resurrection I do desire therfore to die to beholde thy face and willinglie leaue this life to be with Christ Oh my God if the simple sound of thy worde which I heare on earth doth cause my soule to liue alreadie what life what countenance shall I haue there on high wheÌ„ as I shall receiue it in my heart seeing thy glorie being in so blessed a companie Open vnto me then O Lorde the gate of thy kingdome Make mee to heare this sweete voice which was prepared for the poore thiefe on the crosse To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Alas Lorde I am vnworthy thereof yet thy mercie giueth me assurance Grant me also O father streÌ„gth to perseuere giue me daily this desire of the life to come for if we be so much affectioned to this earthly life that is but for a day ful of miseries with what wish ought I to desire that glorious life which thy sonne Iesus hath purchased for vs Other short praiers for certaine necessities of the Churches To demand perseuerance Almightie God seeing we be knit together by the guide and counsell of thy sonne to this bodie of the Church which was so often scatered and dispersed graunt that we may abide in this vnitie of faith and that wee may constantly fight against all temptation of this worlde and that wee may not turne away from a true and right intent though it come to passe that troubles vppon troubles doe happen offences vpon offences seeing our faith is not builded vpon the holinesse of man or vpon their persons but vppon thee O true and almightie God And whatsoeuer euilles or deathes that shal be offered vnto vs we may not be possessed with such feare as may plucke away our hope out of our heartes but that we may rather learne to lift vp our eies yea our vnderstanding all our wittes vnto this thy power by the which thou quicknest the dead raisest vp that which was of nothing that our spirites may alwaies aspire vnto euerlasting rest albeit it behooued vs daily to die vntill at the last thou shalt shewe how thou art the true fountaine of life granting vnto vs the immortalitie through thy sonne Iesus Christ A prayer to haue stedfastnesse and constancie EVerlasting and almightie God al good and mercifull seeing we be heere subiect to so great aduersities and of so many sortes
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