as Newe Testament which are most fit and notable promises of the grace and mercie of God for the forgiuenes of sinnes which beeing here set on a rowe one by another and placed as it were on a table all in sight it shall serue for the instruction of the poore penitent sinner and that in this wee may keepe some order we wil first shewe the testimonies which are apparant of the goodnes of God which is as it were the surest foundation and the first cause of all our hope In the second place we wil adde the causes which are as it were the matter and substance concerning the desert and intercession of our Lorde Iesus Christ the sonne of GOD then the causes of faith and repentaunce shall followe and finally that which belongeth to Inuocation and praier these are the poyntes and degrees by which the faithfull soule ought to goe vp to the throne and to the grace of God for to receiue the consolation and Spirituall health First therefore it must looke vppon the obiects of the loue and mercie of God and the benefites of Christ to haue therein a perfect knowledge then it must by Faith allie and whollie trust vpon him with a perfect consolation of God in calling vpon him it must I say perswade it self of the loue and mercie of God and after haue full assurance of the merites of Christ which caÌ„not be done without faith it is therefore requisite to vse this prayer which followeth Of the bountie and mercie of God Exo. Chap. xxxiiij WHen the Lord passed before Moses face hee cryed out The Lord the Lord strong mercifull and gracious slowe to anger abouÌ„dant in goodnes trueth reseruing mercie for thousands forgiuing iniquitie transgression and sinne not pardoning the wicked As God hath created the world mainteineth and preserueth it so doth he mainteyne nourish and giues vs health and prosperitie in this life wherein he shewes vnto vs his omnipotent and eternall power his wisedome and wonderfull foresight and his great bouÌ„tie but in that we haue offended him by our sinnes and iniquities yet he receiueth vs into his mercie againe reconciling himself to vs forgiuing vs our transgressions so that in this hee declareth vnto vs his clemencie and infinite mercie whereof he certifieth and giueth vs full assurance in his worde as he doth in this place to Moses saying that hee is not onely the eternall God almightie but also mercifull and gentle for to haue mercie and compassion vppon poore miserable sinners belongeth to God and in that he is of great patience he sheweth a manifest declaration that he neuer punisheth the wicked so soone as they offend but a long time staieth for their amendment before he makes them feele his wrath and indignation by which reason he accompteth himselfe to bee slowe to anger and of great patience And in the ende that none may thinke his mercie be either short or scant that it cannot suffice for diuers sinners he also addeth that he aboundant in benignitie shewing by the same that his bountie is so full that it can neuer bee emptied He is altogether infinite eternall and cannot be restrayned nor contayned in the heauen of heauens nor determined in the measure of any time it can neuer be stayed being a liuely flowing spring which cannot be dryed vp for most certaintie whereof he maketh meÌ„tion of his fidelitie repeating vp his promises by which he may assure vs that he will mercifull vnto vs wherein he sheweth himselfe alwaies to be true in that he is aboundant in benignitie and also faithfull in keeping promise how full of mercie he is he declareth in that which followeth that he is mercifull vnto thousands wherein wee may learne that he sheweth not his mercies vnto some little number or some particuler place but to many hundreth and thousands shewing by this word an infinite and the greatest number that can be expressed by which maner of speech diuersitie of ages and varietie of liues maye bee vnderstood as it is sayd in other places that he is mercifull gentle and faithfull in which words he expresseth that he is alwaies prone and readie to forgiue our sinnes and to pardon our misdeedes wherein we see that the true and proper effect of God is to haue forgiuenesse of our sinnes Then to the ende that none may think that he forgiueth some light offences onely he vseth diuers words which comprehende all kinde of sinnes not only naming the sinne whereby all offences are shewed but also the iniquitie which is done maliciously with deliberation and setled purpose when iniurie or hurt is wrought against others The meaning then of this worde transgression is a disobedience or rebellious action or intent against God which is a greeuous and horrible sinne which although of all others it be most detestable yet God doth here promise to make full remission and forgiuenes of sinne Let vs hold this then for a certaine and vnfâ—llible rule that there is no forfeite so great or transgression so monsterous but it is forgiuen by the meere mercie of God And wheras it is said in the end that he forgiueth none it is onely ment of those which are wicked and obstinate in their wickednesse and those which shall feele finally the seuere vengeaunce of God For so much then as he is named gentle it is to poore and penitent sinners which doe repent them of their sinnes committed so is he also termed a iust Iudge for to giue punishment to the hard and impenitent sinner to the ende that none should abuse his grace and clemencie ouer much Deut. Chap. 32. ver 4. Ye nations praise him praise him his people for he will auenge the blood of his seruants and will execute vengaunce vppon his aduersaries and will bee mercifull vnto his land and to his people MOses speaketh this here in the name and authoritie of GOD as a Prophet assuring the people of Israell that after GOD hath visited them with his rod and punished them with sudden and straunge calamities for their misdeedes he would also make punishment of their enemies and deliuer them from their miseries and tribulations being mercifull vnto the land that is to the inhabitants of the land The Children of Israell hauing purged themselues and made them cleane of their sinnes by Gods mere fauour and onely mercie that he might bee alwaies fauourable towards them and that forraine nations and straunge people might praise the children of God and haue them in estimation and accompt them happie in hauing the fauour of such a mightie God and that thereby others should haue occasion to reioyce together for so great and bountifull benefites froÌ„ the Lord. If then the Gentiles had receiued such ioye as to be partakers of so great happinesse we must needes esteeme this promise to pertaine to vs also and that continually though he doth afflict vs which is not but in good cause and iustly for to correct vs for our offences Yet he is
gentle and very ready to receiue vs into fauour of his bountifull fauour not imputing vnto vs our iniquities whereof wee maye haue alwaies cause to praise our God eternally after that he hath drawne vs forth out of the handes of the oppressors and calamities of this world and hath receiued vs into his eternall rest Psal 103. The Lorde is full of compassion and mercie slowe to anger and of great kindnesse he will not alwaies chide nor keepe his anger for euer He hath not dealt with vs after our sinnes nor rewarded vs according to our iniquities for as high as the heauen is aboue the earth so great is his mercie towards them that feare him As farre as the East is from the West so farre hath he put our sinnes from vs. As a father hath compassion on his children so hath the Lorde compassion on them that feare him THe more a man is miserable and worthy of death and damnation the more the mercie of God surmounteth and ouerpasseth our miserie and calamitie which is declared vnto vs in diuers places of holy Scriptures as it may appeare in that which wee haue heretofore spoken of Exod. 34. which portion of Scripture is agreable vnto this although it containe a more ample declaration so great is the mercies of God to aduaunce and amplifie the time knowledge of him his clemencie towards his people by the ministrie of his Prophetes by whom the mercy of God is shewed vnto vs either by a singnall promise by holy scripture and marueilously amplified by comparisons parables both fit and excellent to this ende that we may be better perswaded of the Lord and his mercie as Dauid confesseth saying The Lord is mercifull gentle slow to anger and of great compassion These are the very selfe same titles which God doth attribute vnto himselfe in the place aforesayd wherein his nature is described vnto vs because this matter concerneth our saluation principally for this thing is shewed plainly by his effectes in that he saith That he is not alwaies angrie c. for seeing we be disobedient and rebellious vnto him and do not giue him such honour as wee ought yet he pleadeth not in his wrath against vs for to haue his right and that which especially doth pertaine vnto him but that which hee doth he doth by admonitions reprehensions threatnings of his worde corrections that her by he may punish the transgressors and in this maner it is sayd that by the space of fourtie yeeres he striued in the Wildernes with a stubber generation an vnthankfull people of Israel as the Prophet witnesseth in the 95. Psal vers 10. Neither leaueth he here but doth the like with their posteritie and ofspring in forbearing with their sinnes and wickednes as it appeareth in the first verse of the 4. Chap. of Hoseas in all which places hee sheweth himselfe marueilous patient when being Lord almightie and soueraine iudge of all the earth yet abaseth him selfe so much as to contende and maintaine his right against so poore and feeble creatures whome he might haue destroyed and ouerthrowen in a moment if he had extended his iust iudgement seueritie against them for although hee might iustly complaine of vs at all times and at euery hower because of our wickednesse yet hee is so mercifull that he chideth vs not continually but many times demisseth all complaints and suites and yeeldeth vp his owne right because his mercie endureth for euer neither doth he correct vs continually as we deserue neither is he angrie with vs for euer and although he punish vs for our iniquities yet not according to the custome of men who suffer them selues to bee caried away by the rage and strength of her violence and excessiue affections but according to the reprehension and feeling of those which hee striketh with his rodde and visiteth with his Plagues if hee seeme to be angrie it is for a time it can not continue for euer neither last long Wherefore they which be striken by him doe truely feele it and makes their coÌ„plaint vnto God saying why dost thou continue thine anger for euer or shal thy wrath burne against the sheepe of thy pasture Psal 74. How long Lord shal thine anger continue without ceasing Psal 79. vers 5. But if we consider the greatnesse and multitude of our sinnes wee shall finde that the wrath of God is of smale continuance towards vs seeing we bee not consumed of him we may finde him as wee imagine sharpe whereas on the contrary we shall thinke him in his great and inestimable goodnes freely to forgiue vs after so many sorts and fashions For this cause it is saide that his wrath continueth but a short time but in his fauour resteth life euerlasting Heauines may lodge with a man one night but ioye commeth in the morning as it appeareth by this which followeth The church speaking vnto God by declaring his euerlasting mercie that although he hideth his face â—rom them and consumeth them because of â—heir sinnes yet in as much as they bee the worke of his owne hands he will not suffer â—he Cittie of his Sanctuarie to lye waste Esay 54. For after that GOD had afflicted Israel by the Asserians and troubled them â—y the Madianites by the Philistines Moaâ—ites and such other nations that knew not him he sufficiently sheweth that he was angrie against his people yet in that he raised vp Iudges Heads and Captaines by whom he deliuered theÌ„ from the hands of their oppressors and gaue them quietnes and peace in the Land wherby he caused them to know that his indignation was past neither did it continue or last for euer The captiuitie of Babilon was an euident testimony of the wrath of God against the Iewes yet by the Commaundement and Edict of Cyrus hee brought them backe againe into their country and caused the people to knowe that hee had altogether ceased from his anger and put away the burning of his indignation as he sheweth in the 85. Psal vers 4. See how he hath quieted himselfe and doth not hould his anger for euer But all this which is spoken toucheth the faithfull onely as for the vnfaithfull which do not beleeue the wrath of God remaynes on them as it is said Ioh. Cha. 3. ver 36. The third effect of Gods clemencie the cheefest towards vs is that he rewardeth vs not acccording to our wickednes neither correcteth vs according to our sinnes for the fruites and reward of sinne is anguish tribulation damnation and death on euery soule as it is written to the Rom. Chap. 2. ver 9. and Chap. 6. vers 23. Then if God should punish vs and handle vs according to our deserts we should be excessiuely afflicted and continually in anguish without ende yea one should bee alreadie ouerthrowen and destroyed but in as much as he spareth forbeareth vs defending vs from so many perrils and deliuering vs from so manyfold dangers and which is more that
onely by nature creation but also by right of redemption for he is our redeemer and our pledge which hath redemed vs and keepeth vs against all enimies Mich. Chap. 7. vers 18. Who is a God like vnto the Lord that taketh away iniquitie passeth by the transgressions of the remnant of his heritage he retaineth not his wrath for euer because mercy pleaseth him hee will turne againe and haue compassion he will subdue our iniquities and cast all our sinnes into the bottom of the sea thou wilt performe thy trueth to Iacob and mercie to Abraham as thou hast sworne to our fathers in old time TRuely there is none that may bee cōpared vnto God either in gentlenes or in power for he and none other remitteth sinne and although he met a sinner in the way because all thinges bee present vnto him yet he will not stay himselfe to punish but depart farther of as though he took no heede what is done and leaue behind him the offence committed By this maner of speech it is sayd that God casteth our sinnes backe from him Esay Chap. 38. ver 17. yet onely to those which do properly appertaine vnto him whom he doth auouch acknowledge for his inheritance and peculiar people who are of that Church to whome hee graunteth grace from which all others bee sequestred And be it that sometymes he doth anger himselfe and his wrath be mooued against his owne iustly yet it is not of long continuaunce in so much that hee is rather prone to mercie and clemencie then to seueritie and rigor And although he seeme by our offences and vices to turne himself back from vs and to afflict vs as we deserue yet he will returne againe and wil shewe vs the cherefull and comfortable light of his countenance in shewing compassion on vs he forgiueth all our sinnes by putting downe and destroying all the violēce and force of death so that we are no more houlden in captiuitie and bondage but made free and set at libertie by him not by casting them on the groūd onely but by destroying and deliuering vs from them by throwing them into the bottome of the Sea that they may appeare no more but the memorie of them passe away as a thing which is bound vp and cast into the deepest Sea And in this we see that he is not mooued for any worthinesse that is in vs but of his onely bountie and clemencie being gentle and full of mercie slowe to anger and of great goodnesse by nature faithfull in his promises which he made vnto the fathers and cōfirmed by his oth and in these latter tymes fulfilled the bountifulnesse of his mercie in his onely Sonne who is the onely pledge to assure vs of the forgiuenesse of our sinnes And wheras the Prophet saith that God doth not onely forgiue our sinnes but passeth them ouer not by putting them downe onely but casting them into the bottome of the Sea for to abolish them wholly it cannot be more plainly expressed or declared how God forgiueth vs. Then if in the tyme of the lawe and shadowes his promise was not in vaine how much ought we now to be more certaine of it vnder the kingdome of Christ by whome wee obtaine trueth and grace The grace of GOD towardes vs by meanes of our Lord Iesus Christ Ieremy Chap. 31. ver 31. Beholde the day is come sayth the Lord that I will make a new couenant with the house of Jsrael and with the house of Iuda J will put my law in their inward parts write it in their hearts and wil be their God and they shall be my people I will pardon their iniquities and will remember their sinnes no more THis is the holy and happie alliaunce that wee obtaine with God by Iesus Christ his Sonne by whome albeit we bee sufficiently taught and instructed in the knowledge of his trueth both in wil and affection to obey him according to his commandements yet we goe oftentimes astray and doe against his deuine precepts by the wickednesse and imperfections which remaynes in vs wherefore we haue alwayes neede of his grace for the remission of our sinnes in the promise which hee hath made vnto vs as wee are taught in this place of Scripture which although it was made in the auncient couenant of the lawe wherein al things also are included yet it partaineth properly vnto the newe promise obtained by Iesus Christ the very Sonne of GOD the sure foundation and perfect substance of our saluation for he is the mediator of the newe Testament as it is sayd in the Epistle to the Heb. Chap. 9. It is he by whose desert all our sinnes are forgiuen which could not bee remitted by the outward figures and vaine shadowes of the lawe Esay Chap. 53. ver 4. Surely he hath borne our infirmities and caried our sorrowes he was wounded for our transgressions broken for our iniquities the chastisment of our peace was vpon him and with his stripes wee are healed The Lord hath layd vpon him the iniquities of vs all by his knowledge shall my iust seruāt iustifie many for he shall beare their sinnes AS God is by nature gentle and mercifull so is he a seuere and iust Iudge for he leaueth not sinne vnpunished but layeth the punishment of it vpon his onely Sonne who in the fulnesse of time deliuered him for vs vnto the shamefull and accursed death of the Crosse wherein his iustice and mercie is founde by ioyning both together in an inseperable bond of vnitie And first in that that Iesus Christ suffered for our iniquities the other in that that he was well pleased to suffer his Sonne to be a pledge and an attonement for vs. This then the Prophet teacheth in this place that Christ hath suffered for vs an infinite number of greefes torments and punishments as touching his soule he suffered a death full of shame and reproch in the worlde to iustifie and deliuer vs from damnation and eternal death acquiting vs from the wrath of God Seeing then that in hart and affection wee acknowledge him for our tru◠Sauiour and Redeemer we neede not to feare although we shall perceiue and acknowledge our selues to be guiltie yet wee may bee assured that wee are in peace with God because Iesus Christ our Redeemer hath borne the paines due for our iniquities If Sathan then doe assaile vs by terrible imaginations of the paines and torments which we haue iustly deserued in respect of our iniquities let vs present our selues in the rightuousnesse and holinesse of Iesus Christ for he hath borne our greefes layde our sorowes on him he hath bene wounded hurt and murthered he died for vs which are vniust and rose againe for our sanctification to the end he might iustifie and absolue vs. Zach. Chap. 12. ver 1. In that day there shal be a fountaine opened to the house of Dauid and to the inhabitants of Ierusalem for sinne and for vncleannes THis is the
fayre and cleare fountaine of grace the liuely water that floweth to vs by Iesus Christ by the shedding of his precious blood which is opened to all those which are of the houshold of God and made Citizens of the heauenly and spirituall Ierusalem which is the true Church wherein they wash and purge their sinnes Let vs therefore goe vnto this liuely water and into this life euerlasting where the one neuer stayeth running and cannot be dryed vp nor the possessors of the other shall euer taste of the second death for this spring floweth in great aboundance so that we shal be washed faire and cleane bee our iniquities neuer so foule and polluted Math. Chap. 11. ver 18. Come vnto me all ye that are wearie and heauie laden and J will refresh you THe admirable and bountifull loue of the Lorde Iesus is in this place shewed in that he vouchsafeth to helpe and succour those which be poore and in miserie he will not cast them away neither send them to others to make their mone and complaints but he calleth them himself vnto him I say he which is the very Sonne of God the Lord of glory calleth those vnto him which are oppressed troubled in their consciences by the feeling of their sinnes and therefore promiseth to ayde them and giue them rest the true tranquilitie and happie quietnesse of the soule Let vs goe therefore to Iesus Christ our onely Sauiour and redeemer let vs goe in a true faith and earnest repentāce seeing he stretcheth forth his armes to receiue vs seing he is sweet gētle mercifull of great goodnesse Are we therefore heauy loden with the burthen of our sinnes he will deliuer vs from the yoke and seruitude of the house of bondage Are we ouer hayled and tyed by the tyrannie of sinne and death he will preserue vs from the seruitude of the one and from the deadly sting of the other Iohn Chap. 1. ver 29. Behold the Lambe of God which taketh away the sinnes of the world THis is the testimonie that Iohn the Baptist witnesseth openly of our Lord Iesus Christ who was ordayned and sent of God to be the Lambe without fault without spotte which in former times was figured in sundry Sacrifices of the law yet more especially in the Passouer or Lambe which was offred euery day morning and euening for the sinnes of the Priest and people but this Lambe when none was worthy to offer him vp to his father hath willingly offered himselfe that by dying once for al he might obtaine forgiuenes of sinnes for all and by this meanes he hath brought vs vnto God the father that he might continually not for once acquite and deliuer vs frō our sinnes which is shewed more forceable if wee marke the worde which he vseth he doth take away which is declared in the tyme present and that by the merite of his death which is alwaies of one and the same vertue and perpetual efficacie whereby we obtaine our eternall redemption as it is sayd by the author to the Heb. Chap. 9. And this benefite being so precious great serueth not for one or two onely neither for one onely Nation but reacheth ouer al people and euery Nation of the earth as this word world proueth Let vs not then doubt that our sinnes are remitted by the death of Christ whose death should nothing auayle vs if we should not receiue the fruite of it by faith in his promises seeing that sinne dwelleth in vs continually as it is prooued in the 7. Chapter to the Romaines Therefore we receiue pardon for them continually by him who hath brought vs to the throne of grace where with boldnesse we may call his father abba our father Acts Chap. 5. ver 31. This is that Jesus which God hath lifted vp with his right hand to bee a Prince and a Sauiour to giue repentaunce to Israel and forgiuenes of sinnes THe Empyre and soueraigne dominion of Christ is here shewed vnto vs by S. Peter to the ende he might declare vnto vs the power spirituall libertie which he bestoweth on his Church meaning his people of Israel that is to say that by him our sinnes are remitted with chaunge of newnesse of life promised to our eternall saluation These two graces then being ioyned together can neuer bee seperated that thereby none may doubt of the obtayning of this excellent benefite purchased by the Lord Iesus which otherwise would pull back from his highnes and debate his power who will for these benefites be honoured in word and glorified in deede Acts Chap. 13. ver 38. Be it knowne vnto you that through this man our Sauiour Christ is preached vnto you forgiuenes of sinnes THis place is like vnto the former concerning the benefite purchased by Christ by whom we obtayne forgiuenes of our sinnes a thing worthy of all men to bee had in memorie of the which euery man ought to bee certaine and resolued in the assurance of his saluation Rom. Chap. 5. ver 8. God sheweth his loue towards vs seeing that while wee were yet sinners Christ dyed for vs much more now being iustified by his blood we shal be saued from wrath through him for if when we were enemies we were recōciled to God by the death of his sonne much more being reconciled shal be saued by his life and not onely so but also reioyce in God through our Lord Iesus Christ by whom we haue obtayned reconciliation THis is to assure vs of the loue and mercie of God towardes vs and of our saluation when we consider what Christ Iesus hath done for vs who beeing the Sonne of God iust and innocent suffered so many torments for vs vniust and guiltie so that now wee are purged and made cleare of al our faults and iniquities yea we are acquited and absolued from the wrath and anger of GOD who is wholly quieted peace being made betweene him and vs by the reconciliation of the Lord Iesus who is the meanes by the vertue of his death and preseruer of our life by the vertue and power of his dietie for our life is hid in him our death is buried in him in him therefore all our glory consisteth for there is nothing wherein wee may glory our selues nor our works but onely in the great fauour and mercie of our God and in the grace and mercie of our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christ Iohn 1. Epist 1. Chap. ver 7. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth vs from all our sinnes ALthough we bee guiltie and polluted with many sinnes which are in the eyes of the Lorde stayned and filthie yet the holy Apostle doth assure vs that wee are washed and purified from them not by any counterfeite water of mans fancie nor by a fayned imagination of fire in Purgatorie in any other worlde neither by the blood of Martyrs as some haue falsly taught but only by the precious blood of the Sonne of God which is of such efficacie and continuall
frō the slaunders which was reported of them had for this thing such a displeasure and sorowe in themselues that the Apostle thought it commodious profitable for their saluation On which example he draweth this excellent and notable sentence that the sorowe which is according to the will of God for offending him in neglecting the charge committed to vs is profitable And this is drawne by an vsuall fashion to bring the offendor to repentaunce and to induce a man into an ardent desire to do better in tyme to come which is the way and perfect meanes to come into the porte of saluation for such a kinde of repentaunce none ought to bee displeased but rather bee glad and reioyce for it Ioh. 1. Epist Chap. 1. ver 9. If wee acknowledge our sinnes he is faithfull and iust to forgiue vs to cleanse vs from all our vnrightuousnesse AS the poore sicke man ought to declare his disease to the Phisitiō therby to receiue helpe of his griefe euen so ought wee in like maner to acknowledge the spirituall desire of the soule before God not that hee is ignorant of them or that hee hath neede of any aduertisement but to this ende that we may beare witnesse of our sorrowfull repentaunce and humilitie which shall neuer be without forgiuenes of sinnes apprehending the promises of God who infallably will fulfill his workes beeing true and iust in all his promises Of Prayer THe great and wonderfull bountie of God is shewed when he vouchsafeth to open the heauens vnto vs poore wretched creatures of the earth making vs fit to enter into his glorious kingdome laying downe his eare to heare and vnderstand our desires and requestes and exalting the prayers which we make to him in our need at such tyme as we be most poore and miserable and in greatest daunger but the care he hath of vs and how much he loueth vs is seene in this that hee himselfe warneth and stirreth vs vp by teaching vs to pray with assurance that he will graūt vs our requests which he fulfilleth when wee truely require him of his grace goodnesse mercie wherof wee haue manifould testimonies in the word of GOD which we will set downe as worth the noting Psal 50. ver 15. Call vppon me in tyme of trouble and I will helpe thee and thou shalt honor me ALthough the time when in our soules we are afflicted by feeling our sinne or otherwise be in tribulation or payne or some perrill or daunger may threaten vs that our God is offended with vs and will destroye vs yet he promiseth vs by the Prophet Dauid to deliuer vs from all euill if so wee honor him and earnestly desire in our prayers to haue him our aide and refuge in our trouble Psal 145. ver 18. The Lord is neere to all that call vppon him yea to all that call vppon him in trueth he will fulfill the desire of those that feare him and will heare their crye and saue them ALbeit sometyme it may seeme that God should bee farre from vs in that he doth not so visibly appeare vnto vs as he is wont yet we may be sure that he is not farre of if with our whole heart and affection we pray vnto him if wee bee moued by the feare and reuerence of his name to obeye him if wee call vpon him in this sorte he will exalt vs and will deliuer vs from all our sinnes Psal 6. ver 1. O Lord rebuke me not in thine anger neither chasten me in thy heauie displeasure haue mercie vpon me for I am weake O Lorde heale me for my bones are brused my soule is sore troubled but Lorde how long wilt thou delay Returne O Lorde deliuer my soule saue me for thy mercie sake for in death there is no remembrance of thee and in the graue who shall praise thee FOr as much as Dauid sayth in the 34. Psalme that the eyes of the Lorde are vpon the iust and his eares are readie to heare their mone in harkening vnto them when they crye and deliuering them from al their tribulations and least some men might thinke that poore sinners are cast away frō God and he wil not vouchsafe to heare their requestes wee heare the Prophet Dauid praying vnto him not as a iust man but as one feeling himselfe greatly guiltie of his infirmities as it is plainly shewed in the 38. Psalm of the like sort also is it when he confesseth his iniquities to haue ouerwhelmed him which like a burthen is heauier then he is able to beare For all this yet he testifieth that although he were poore and miserable by reason of his sinnes yet God had accepted his prayers and taken pitie and compassion on him Psalm 86. ver 3. Be mercifull vnto me O Lord for J crye vnto thee continually reioyce the soule of thy seruant for vnto thee O Lord do I lift vp my head For thou O Lord art good mercifull and of great kindnesse to all them that call vpon thee DAuid beeing in calamitie desired of God to bee restored in his soule putting the assurance of his prayers vppon the naturall loue of God who is by nature gentle and mercifull according to his promise yea he is the very selfe same foundation vpon which the poore afflicted ought to comfort and reioyce themselues in heart and soule and by feruent prayer vnto God be deliuered from their iniquities Ioel Chap. 2. ver 32. Whosoeuer calleth vpon the name of the Lord shall be saued AS faith is neuer without repētance so it cannot bee without helpe goodnesse and soueraigne power of God by calling vpon him according to his promises to the ende wee may get his fauour and grace which is here promised vnto vs as a consolation and comforte in the greatest miserie and affliction that we haue whosoeuer then of what condition or estate he bee whether rich or poore great or small that doth acknowledge his omnipotent and infinite power if he humble himselfe before his Maiestie and heartely pray him for mercie let him assure himselfe that he shall bee exalted and that God will be fauourable vnto him Iohn Chap. 16. ver 23. Verely verely J say vnto you whatsoeuer you shall aske my father in my name he shall giue it you aske and you shall receiue that your ioye may be full THis is the Sonne of God our Sauiour Christ which speaketh and maketh vs certaine that our prayers are exalted not for our owne worthinesse but by his fauour not by the desert of any creature either in heauen or earth but in and for his sake onely who is our aduocate and redeemer Vpon this cōfidence he doth warne and teach vs to pray vnto his father with this promise that we shall neuer bee sent emptie away but after this mortalitie hath put on immortalitie this corruption shal put on incorruption we shall be receiued into ioy and consolation for euer Ion 1. Epist Chap. 5. ver 14. This is the assurance that
an assurance of the remission of sinnes with the most notable promises of GOD conteyned in the holy Scripture as well in the old as new Testament briefly expounded and applied vnto the same IF hee to whome the forgiuenes of sinne is giuen froÌ„ whome sinne is put away bee happie as it is sayd in the xxxij Psalme Happie is the maÌ„ to whom God imputeth no sinne He needeth not to doubt but on the contrary parte he is vnhappie which is tyed and bound in sinne he must looke for none other thing but for his coÌ„demnation and ruyne onely Be it for a time he liues in ease takes his pleasure and altogether giues himselfe to delight though he be increased with honor and euery bodie doe loue and cheare him yet he is neuerthelesse vnhappie if he be not set at libertie by grace and forgiuenesse of his iniquities for sinne is a burthen so hard heauie that no man is able to beare it pulling downe euery one that is laden with it from whence it appeareth that some do bowe vnder it and falles into ruine and brings them selues into dispayre as it happened to Iudas Other being oppressed in such sort that they cannot scant receiue any comfort and rest I haue seene a man which hauing committed as himselfe doth confesse some great and notorious faults was so abated troubled in his spirite by the memorie of them that he did resemble a poore man which was indepted and condemned to a greeuous sufferance and shamefull death he did alwaies grone and sigh with the trouble and paine of his Soule feeling himselfe so guiltie and doubting of the mercies of God for the inormitie of his sinnes in such sort that he made not any account to eate any meate and refused to take any nourishment if hee had not beene carefully mooued thereunto by those which did keepe him companie his heart being so oppressed with dolor that sometimes he wished that his bodie might bee punished with Iustice and that hee might suffer some greeuous paine to make his torment lesse which hee thought hee had deserued in his soule Sometimes in his anguish he did require to bee comforted and receiued into the Church by publicke pennance but he was a straunger and did but passe away I haue seene an other which hauing a long time abused the true knowledge of God yet at the last had such remorse of conscience which did gnawe his heart so that he was constrayned to lye as sicke and out of breath See therefore how horrible heauie sinne is of it selfe from which whosoeuer is lightned though he bee neuer so poore miserable and dispised of the world or otherwise afflicted he is neuerthelesse an happie man The blinde man of this world doth not esteeme nor iudge of these things otherwise then by apparance of deceiptfull vanities and not in trueth as it appeareth daylie but the spirite of GOD doth teach the godly otherwise as it is afore sayd That man is then very happy that feeleth the grace of God to be such as to haue his sinne forgiuen him for then his coÌ„science is in peace and rest and he feareth not to perish neither hath he the iudgements of God in horror but assureth himselfe of his fauour and bountifulnesse which God is to be esteemed the greatest that a man can receiue in this mortall world Among the Sarasines those which haue not considered of thinges very narrowlie haue yet well knowne that it was a precious treasure not to bee troubled by any committed forfeite of which the most wittie and sufficient among them haue made a treatise which he calleth the quietnesse of the Soule but altogether ignorant of this poynt of the free forgiuenes of sinne as all other Philosophers not esteming any other rest of conscience but in vertue and integritie of life which is but an imagination of no value before God for this man is like vnto him which buildeth without foundatioÌ„ and would make a shew of that thing which is not For to come then vnto such blessednesse and to inioye so happie felicitie wee must knowe that GOD to whom we must giue an accompt is gentle and mercifull to whom wee ought to haue all our refuge being certaine that he will be quiet and mercifull towards vs neither imputing our iniquities but will forgiue vs them freely Then as the mâ—st sicke and lingering deseased haue more neede of remedies for to be helped and eased of their griefe and paine likewise also the most troubled soules which are tormented with sorrowe and anguish by feeling and acknowledging their greate sinnes dreading the anger and most feareful iudgement of God haue more neede of consolation and greater assurances of the mercie of God wherevpon their hope should be totally founded and rooted Who although some times they be debased by diuers temptations yet by the mercies of their God they neuer fall into any dissolation or confusion by dispaire although it happen that the most forwarde in Religion and in the feare of God haue to susteine many temptations of Sathan who doth often giue them hotte skirmishes and shooteth against them his poysoned and mortall arrowes for to abate their faith and to cast them into euerlasting distruction if it were possible for them so to fall and if they some times seeme to doubt being trobled by distrust and fearefulnes yet it neuer happeneth that they can fall vtterly from the trust which they once conceiued of the mercies of God Dauid was not without some anguish and perturbation of spirit when he cried My soule why art thou vexed and why art thou so disquieted within me But when he addeth by exhortation that it should hope still in God he declareth the stedfastnes and constancie of his faith wherein hee saith that he was shut vp from the sight of the Lorde it seemed that by the great aduersitie which hapned to him that God had cast him of and quite forsaken him yet he did not for all this leaue to call and to hope in him so that in the ende he was highly exalted And thus it happeneth oftentimes to the children of God finding them selues intangled with a gulfe of euils their hope seemeth to bee swallowed vp and drowned although in the end it freshly appeareth and lifteth vp the head and comming vnto it selfe againe wholy trusteth in GOD and resteth vnremoueable vpon his greate bountie and mercie in which onely they glade and comfort themselues and not by any vertue or desert which is in them aluding to that which is in the 9. Chap of Ieremie that he which glorieth may glorie in the Lorde that is in his blessednes and in his mercie In this point then consisteth our trust by the which wee must needes see what the foundation is and how farre it reacheth if so bee it bee firme and sure and because wee ought to bee certaine and resolued thereof for this cause wee will bring foorth the holy Scripture as wel of the Old