holy Ghost being y e third person of the Trinitie is a diuine person coessentiall and coeternall with my father me who proceedeth from mine heauenly father and mee It is the comforter and spirite of trueth the very pledge and earnest penye of thy saluation whereby thou art sanctified and assured in thy conscience that thou art the child of mine heauēly father and heire of eternall life and by it dwelleth mine heauenly father in thee It is the directiō to all goodnesse whatsoeuer whereby the Prophets haue prophesied mine Apostles preached all auncient Fathers written and al godly men tasted of the sweete and comfortable message which I haue brought into this worlde It is the water of life which by no meanes will flowe into the hearts of the wicked nor abide in the hearts of y e vnbeleuers but delighteth to rest in the hearts and to guide the soules of thē tha beleeue and cleaue vnto righteousnesse and thereby mayst thou answere the aduersaries of my worde and Gospel It is the holy Ghost that calleth men from darknesse to walke in light that procureth newnesse of life and that mortefieth the old man the world and the flesh and maketh thee strong against sinne death and Satan and that giueth knowledge of the trueth and power to imbrace it and which maketh my yoke easie and my burthen light that strengtheneth the weake hearts and feeble consciences to serue mine heauenly father whereby thou art conducted and guided the way that leadeth vnto the blisse that neuer shall cease It measureth all thy doings by the rule of my worde reformeth errors and reproueth the world of sinne of righteousnesse and of Iudgement and beareth witnesse in the hearts of all beleeuers that their sinnes are freely forgiuen thē in me It was the guyd whereby mine Apostles folowed me without the which no man can say that Iesus is the Lord. Thou must also faithfully beleeue in one Catholique Church vniuersall dispersed throughout the whole worlde being the whole companie of the faithfull beleeuers in mee who notwithstanding they are not of one vnite companie in bodily societie yet in respect of their mutuall and ioynt agreemēt of their faith of their life their Baptisme their holy Table and true Religion they are one Church and Cōgregation of those y t of the free grace and mercy of God mine heauenly father are chosen and predestinat to eternall life of which Church Congregatiō I am the head and whom the holy Ghost hath sanctified made holy and whome I commende vnto mine heauenly father to enioye that inheritaunce which I haue purchased with my blood who as long as they are conuersaunt in this miserable worlde and beare about them the heauy burthen of the flesh cannot do that which they should and therfore cannot be of such perfection nor be so purged from their originall corruption and infirmities which abideth in all flesh as is requisite vntill such time as I their head shall appeare whē they likewise shal appeare with me in glorie which Church godly Cōgregation y u must likewise beleeue to be so knit vnited together in the band of mutuall loue godly agreemēt that whatsoeuer good gift mine heauēly father bestoweth vpon them perticulerly they imploye it to the cōmon behoofe of all in generall And that as this Church and Congregation of al faithfull beleeuers in me is the true Catholique and apostolique Church so for them I haue purchased free forgiuenes of al their sinnes and that of y e mere loue of mine heauenly father and mine obedience vnto the death and nothing of their deserts in so much as there remaineth none other satisfaction or attonemēt to bee made with mine heauenly for the sinnes of y e world but my self only that none can obteine remission of their sinnes but such as bee made true mēbers of the same Church by me for besides the same Congregation there be none but such as work iniquities to whō I will say depart from me I know you not for whom there is a place of endles woe prouided Also thou must beleeue that although the corruptible bodies of mākinde must perish putrefie returne againe to dust of which it was first created yet that in the last day they shal rise again with the same bodies and couered with the same skinnes which now they haue and which thē shall be renewed and glorified they that are departed this life alreadie shall take againe their owne bodies which then shall bee of farre greater glorie then either in this life they were or that any heart can imagine And those that at my comming shall be founde liuing in this worlde shall suddainely bee chaunged and those that bee of this Congregation the true members of this Church shalbe placed in the vnspeakeable ioyes of eternall blisse but those that haue giuen them selues in this world to the fulfilling of the lustes and desires of the flesh liued in wantonnes chambering the Couetouse persons the Usurers Drunkardes Gluttons and vngodly persons shall not enioy the benefite of that sacrifice which with mine owne body I offered on the Crosse once for all but shalbe cast into vtter darkenesse where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth THese things must thou faithfully and vndoubtedly beleeue to be the very trueth and groūd of true religion which who so beleeueth not is no true member of that holy Catholique Church which is predestinate to be saued And therefore by a firme and constaunt faith thou must take holde of these things which I haue declared vnto thee being the ground of thy saluation freely promised in me of which faith the holy ghost is y e giuer who frameth the hearts of all men to beleeue the promises of my heauenly father touching their saluation in mee sealeth vp the sam◠promises in their hearts whereby they perswade themselues to be members of the same true Church and of the company of those that are predestinate to be saued which fayth bringeth forth the fruites of a godly life the beginning whereof as I sayde before is vnfeyned repentance grounded vpon this true and vndoubted fayth in which two Faith and repentance is conteined the whole summe of my Gospell wherefore as thou hast heard what this faith is howe it worketh and what it should bee exercised in So must thou reteine it and bring foorth the fruites thereof that it may appeare a liuely an effectuall and not not a dead fayth And forasmuch as the night is so neere I will for this day here make an ende And in the meane time woulde haue thee to meditate of my former wordes not forgetting them but diligently inclyning all thy studie will and whole heart effectually to followe that which may testifie in thy conscience that thou art
goods together canst thou saie I haue gotten them with paine and trauaile of my bodie with the sweat of my face nay canst thou excuse thee if thou be charged to haue encroched by violence that that other poore men haue sweat for other haue trauailed for painfullie purchased with great dayly labour how I saie canst thou excuse thy self herein But to come nearer vnto thy curssed wretchednes admit thou can excuse thée of this as thou canst not it shallbe further demaunded of thee how thou hast bestowed those things that the Lord hath made thée Steward of here and what wilt thou answere wilt thou saie here is thine owne It will not discharge thee for he commauÌ„deth them that be rich in this world to be ready to giue and glad to distribute but thou art not onely not readie to giue but takest from other that which is not thine thou art not glad to distribute but greedie to lay vp where the rust and moth doth corrupt and euill disposed persons haue their mindes stirred vp to venter their liues and soules to rob thee of And in the mean time thou thy selfe robbest thy selfe of the freedome of a godly mind and tiest thy poore soule to the Gates of destruction with the cordes of pride and selfe loue not making any accompt how to auoyd thy casting into vtter darknes where shal be wéeping and gnashing of teeth as an vnprofitable seruant neither makest thou any accompt how to auoyd buâ—ning among the Tares as a weede of the world or to shun the company of the goates that shall be set at the left hand of the Lord in the last iudgment as matter for the fire that neuer shal be quenched as thou hast heard by the reward of the former Rich man in the 10. of Luke But to come againe to thy riches which thou so honorest and to thy stinâ—king carcas which thou so daintilie feedest and finely â—lâ—â—hest Remember that Iobe was rich with whose aboundaunce thou madest coÌ„parison before yet not with his integritie but marke how soone his prosperitie was changed into aduersitie his goods into griefe his wealth into wickednes his health into sicknes and all his glorie into vtter contempt of all his friendes so vaine and variable are riches and so subiect to sodaine change is your health of body that you care so much for Riches I say are casuall and rise and fall at the pleasure of the giuer yea were thy riches as much as Abrahams or Iobs Dauids or the greatest Kinges in the world yea were it as much as the world could contain and were it neuer so secreatly hidden or conueied vnder those curious Lockes and keies that thou saiest thou wilt prouide in Brazeâ— or Iron Chests neuer so strongly thou couldest not bring it without the compasse of Gods omnipotent power but that he is able to pluck it from thée to make it to melt away like waxe at the scorching fire what madnes therefore art thou in thou foolish man to saie to thy soule or body take ease or liue at rest for thou hast enough for thy life thinkest thou not that as God is the Aucthor to giue so to be in his power to take away as he exaltith so he can pluck downe as he maketh rich so he can make poore againe And therefore the most sure and certaine meane long to enioye these giftes of God is to acknowledge thy selfe to be but his Tenant at will of all that thou possessest therfore bound to dispose at his pleasure for feare of Fortune and not to repose thine happinesse in thine aboundance neither thine vnhappines in the want of transitorie wealth considering that as thou camest into this worlde naked so shalte thou naked returne from whence thou camest to earth of which thou were created and leaue the honour of thine house behinde thee for the pomp of thy wealth shal not follow thee But what thou hast carefully heaped vp others shall prodigally waste And therefore is the abouÌ„dance of wealth so farre from making men truely happie as it rather turneth to their vtter destruction and euen poyson vnto their soule Geizi vnder the name of Elizeus tooke reward of mony to make himselfe rich But it wrought with ill effect it poysoned him it caused him to fall into Leprosie as white as Snow Ananias and Saphira for kéeping backe parte of the price of their owne possessioÌ„s to their owne vse were rewarded with present death But call to minde the horrible ende of that notorious Arch-traytor Iudas who for monie betrayed his Maister and Lord the Sauiour of the world Iesus Christ. Whose corrupt conscience by reason of his briverie and treason so pricked him that in desperate madnes he hanged himselfe burst in sunder in the midst that all his bowels gusshed out An infinite number of such examples whereof couetousnes hath bin the aucthor thou mayst reade both in y e scripture as also in prophane histories coÌ„firmed to be odious in y e sight of God by his iust iudgmeÌ„ts following such couetous desires of men Wherfore looke thou vnto thy self search thine heart try thy thoughts examine thine affectioÌ„s cléere thée if thou can of this pernicious desire no thou canst not say thine handes are cléere of taking thy Chestes free froÌ„ whording that which was wrongfully gotten Wash theÌ„ thine hands clense thine heart and rid thy cofers of their ill gotten goods least God of his iustice come downe and finde thée thus polluted reward thee according to thy deserts he seeth it that will not suffer thée to escape scot-free Thou maist perchance saie y t thou must prouide for a deare yeare thou saist thou hast enough for many deare yeares many thowsands haue the lesse Let Simple thy Tennant for one be witnes did not Christ feede with flue barly loaues and two fishes fiue thowsand men beside women childreÌ„ with seuen loaues a few small fishes fed he not foure thowsaÌ„d wheÌ„ y e childreÌ„ of Israel wanted water in y e wildernes to kill their thirst was it not giuen theÌ„ out of an hard Rock did not God send vnto Eliah bread water in y e desert in his great wearisome iournie which sheweth the care tender mercie of y e good God towards them y t feare him And to shewe his Iustice lykewise vpon y e stubborne rebellious stifnecked what did he to Nabugodozer y e mightie king that estéemed himselfe rather a God then a mortall man did hée not pluck him froÌ„ his kingly throne froÌ„ his seate of glorie and set him amongst the wilde beastes of the field And in stead of his Pallace of admirable bewtie was he not forced to shrowd himselfe with the bushes in the wild field and for his daintie fare was faine to feede among the beastes of the land on grasse and greene hearbes contrarie to the course of man onely
enemies was bound in fetters but vpon his true repentance humbling himselfe in prayer obteyned not only deliueraunce but pardon for his offences The Isralites in their great daunger repented their sinnes fell prostrate vnto God in true repentaunce and were deliuered Mary Magdaline vpon the like repentaunce humbled her self and I forgaue her sinnes The Niniuites a rebellious and obstinate people at the comming of Ionas preaching repentaunce repented in Sackcloth and Ashes and were saued But the old world whose hearts would not relent nor turne from their wickednesse by the preaching of Noe were they not suddainely taken and drowned in the great Flood Noe with a small number of persons excepted The Sodomites and men of Gomorrha who would not repent at the message of my father were burnt with fire and Brimstone suddainly from heauen Such was the vnbeleefe and careles wretchednesse of those of Ierusalem whose dissobedience was great would not repent had the sentence of destruction seuen yeares before pronounced against them and yet runne on still in their wickednesse were besieged and entrenched with their enemies Tytus and Vespatian who battered their walles sackt their Citie burned their houses and themselues in such miserie that for meere famine were driuen to eate their owne children and things clene contrary to the nature of men such is the iust iudgement of mine heauenly father against such as wil not â—e warned at my worde the Gospell of trueth such as neglect and contemne my messengers and set at naught the preaching of my will Wherefore I say againe vnto thee and not to thee only but to al in general rent your hearts and not your garments and returne speedely vnto him whose hands of mercie are now extended ready to receiue them that truely turne to him and his vengeaunce and wrath ready to be powred out vpon the rebellious people vpoÌ„ the sinfull and wicked ones that without regard of his mercie or feare of his Iustice imbrace wickednesse lock vp vanitie in their chestes euen with gréedines for which cause the wrath of my heauenly father is inkindled wherein he deliuereth the offenders into the hands of their aduersaries that shall destroye theÌ„ And yet such is his mercie and his loue so vnspeakeable that at what time soeuer they shall vnfeinedly repent them of their sinnes when soeuer they shall in heart returne to him he shall receiue theÌ„ in mercie and with his merueilous louing kindnesse shal he defend them as with a shield Wherfore I say vnto thee not onely vnto thee but to all those that haue their affections set on the things of this world Mortefie your members which are on the earth fornication vncleannes the inordinate and vnbrideled affections of the heart euill concupiscence and couetousnesse which is Idolatrie which is now adaies most greedely imbraced But be assured and let no man neither thine owne peruerse imagination deceiue thee that neither Whoremonger neither vncleane person nor he that supposeth his safetie to consist in his riches an Idolater shal haue any parte of the inheritaunce of my Kingdome Among whom thou thy self hast walked and which things thou hast sometimes been defiled with fulfilling the desires of the corrupt flesh wherby the wrath of mine heauenly father was bent against thee But of my rich grace if thou repent and beleeue thou shalt be saued Wherfore beware thou harden not thine heart in euill returne without delay be warned runne not headlong into newe euilles as the corruption of thy peruerse nature prouoketh thee and whereby Sathan seeketh to drawe thee either into a careles going forward in euill or els into that false and damnable kinde of sorrow whereinto he drewe Caine Esau and Iudas whose sorrow was not to repentaunce vnto saluation as thou hast heard before but wherby they aggrauated and encreased the displeasure of God against them and into the same sorrowe he began to draw thee when thou were first touched with y e knowledge of thy sinnes of which kinde of sorrowe thou must beware and prepare thy heart to that sorrow of Dauids of Mary Magdalines and of the Theefe that was executed with me whose sorrow was vnto saluation not vnto death vnto amendement of life not vnto perseueraunce in wickednesse vnto righteousnesse not vnto sinne Thou must search thine owne conscience and roote out of thine heart al hypocrisie al vnbeleefe all hawtines and pride and in al humblenesse and lowlinesse of minde prostrate thy selfe before the tribunall seaâ—e of God the father making humble confession of thy former euill life and in an vnfeyned faith crye out that for my sake he will bee mercifull vnto thee that hee will forgiue thy sinnes and pardon thine iniquities who is readie in great mercie to returne to him that seeketh him by me with his whole heart who eschueth euil and doth the thing that is good that cleaueth vnto righteousnesse and auoydeth all occasions to doe euill And that with Dauid considering his waies turneth his feete vnto my testimonies and not to Couetousnesse chastizing himselfe with true mortification and casting away all impediments that may hinder or let the preceeding to the amendement of his sinfull life For he that will come vnto mee must bee contented to take in good parte to forgoe the pleasures of this world to bee of small reputation here to bee hated reuiled persecuted yea and to suffer death for my sake The sinfull man All this I can and will performe yea what thou wilt I shall I yeeld my self with wilâ—ing mind for thee to beare it all Solace ALas poore sillie man thou shewest thy selfe very valiaunt before the battaile and very coragious before the combat thou canst stande fast before thou be shaken as though thou were of thy self of power to doe what thou oughtest and to abstaine from doing that thou oughtest not to doe as though thou hadst no neede of my helpe nor waÌ„t of the aide of the holy Ghost or had such perfection alreadie as now there wanted no more in thee Beware of this presumption for it is a meane to queÌ„ch true zeale and a great hinderaunce vnto the worke of true repentance It is the dregges of Satans poyson that yet remaine in thy corrupted minde wherewith thine heart yet swelleth against instruction with a vaine conceipt of sufficient abilitie to doe good and to eschue euill and to beare the heauie burthen of death for my sake when in deede thou art not yet healed of thine olde sore but refusest as it were to receiue the medicine which for thine eternall health I minister vnto thee Sathan telleth thee that thou art able alreadie to worke miracles and to doe wonders and that thou knowest all thinges alreadie wanting nothing and why because he would keepe thee still in ignoraunce and from comming to knowledge It is his endeuour not in thee onely but he worketh to the same
the face of mine heauenly father saying we haue fasted and thou hast not seene it we haue pinched our Carcasses and thou hast not regarded it as though by the outward punishment of the flesh onely they shewed themselues sufficiently penitent when in deede they feede the olde man and mainteine their wonted wantonnesse with the crummes of a careles life and striking their fellowes with the fist of all kind of wickednesse and couetous desires Wilt thou now call this a fasting or a repentaunce acceptable to God Uerely such Hypocrites haue their rewarde But to fast truely thou must wash thee and make thee cleane thou must cast away and banish from thine heart all euill desires and lay al the works of wickednesse out of my sight thou must leaue to doe euill and learne to doe good seeke iudgement releeue the oppressed and defende the fatherlesse thou must giue thy bread to the hungrie harbour the poore and harborlesse clothe the naked and doe wrong or oppression to no man This is the fast most acceptable to which mine heauenly father hath promised many and great blessinges namely that thine infirmitie shall speedely bee healed thy soule comforted thy righteousnesse appeare before God and man and the mercies of mine heauenly father in mee imbrace thee on euery side and thou shalt want no maner of thing that is good of which fast proceedeth by meanes of a firme faith that sorrowe for the sinnes which proceede of the corruption of the olde man whereby the wrath of mine heauenly is incensed against thee causing repentaunce vnto saluation This fast this sorrowe and this repentaunce builded vppon the vnmoueable rocke of faith must bee the beginning of thy newe life The sinfull man But must I not sometimes abstaine my careles corpes from meate Or is it lawfull when I list all kindes of meate to eate Solace AS for meates thou needest not to put any difference betweene them for that God my heauenly father hath created and ordeined all thinges for the vse of man and those may euery one y t beleeueth lawfully receiue with thanksgiuing to the heauenly creator who hath made all thinges good and nothing to bee refused Wherrein notwithstanding is a godly abstinence and meane to bee vsed namely not to exceede in the greedie receiuing of those creatures as in Gluttonie in Drunkennesse and belly cheare whereby commeth not only sicknesse and daungerous deseases vnto the bodie but stirring vp the same to wātonnesse and many noysome desires procureth the wrath of my heauenly father It was one of the sinnes of Sodome whereby being puffed vp fell to wantonnesse and committed abomination before mine heauenly father for which they were destroyed This excesse is also an enemie to the studie of the holy Scriptures and especially to earnest and deuoute prayer for the fulnesse and ouercharging the stomacke quencheth the godly affection and stoppeth the zeale of the heart so that it cannot so effectually open it self to the comfort of the soule as in a moderate and competent diet it can and as is requisite it should doe to serue the liuing God Wherefore thou must beware of this excesse and imbrace not onely this kinde of abstinence but absteine also from Fornication and vncleannes from fleshly lustes which fight against the soule and keepe thy bodie from being defiled with euill concuviscence as a vessel of holinesse submitting thy selfe to all maner ordinaunce of man for my sake whether it bee vnto the King as vnto thy Superiour or vnto other Gouernours and Magistrates as vnto them that I haue sent for the punishment of them that doe euill and praise of them that doe well Take heed therefore of this leauen of the Pharasies which is hypocrisie whereby many seeme outwardly as Angels but inwardly are deuills Such a one was Iudas who vnder colour of a kisse which is a token of loue betrayed mee Such hypocrisie had Pharoah Saule and Achan and many others who had Honie in their lippes and Gall in their hearts such I say come nere mee with their mouthes and honour me with their lippes but their hearts are farre from me but they shall haue their rewarde their fayned fasting shall be turned into their vtter confusion their wisedome into mere foolishnesse and their vnderstanding shall perish Wherefore that thy repentaunce may both outwardly appeare to good example and inwardly to thine owne saluation thou must as it were reuenge thy selfe of thy sinnes that is thou must bridle thy corrupt flesh namely if thou haue offended in Gluttonie to chastice thy bodie with godly abstinence and fasting if in whoredome thou must bridle thine appetites with a continuall continencie and as thou hast imbraced Couetousnesse vsed Usurie and pilled the poore for lukers sake thou must not onely not hereafter vse it but thou must make penitent restitution which is a speciall fruite of repentaunce including a certaine due consideration of thine estate what it hath beene how it is and how thou hast behaued thee in the same and by what meanes thou hast made thy selfe so rich whether with thine owne or the sweate and labour of other men whereof thou canst not clere thee for me thinkes I heare the voyce not only of Simple thy Tenaunt but of many poore men more crying out and saying that thou hast vndone them Wherefore I say looke to thy selfe and discharge thy conscience for a guiltie conscience cannot stande in the last daye to pleade for his discharge but shall receiue his rewarde among the wicked in vtter darkenesse where shall bee weeping and gnasshing of teeth The sinfull man Alas must I restore againe the things I doe possesse Which I haue gotten heretofore or am remedilesse Then woe is mee I am vndone my state will then decay Good Solace pardon that and I will all things els obey Solace AH are you the man who ere while promised to beare all thinges for my sake And to be readie to performe whatsoeuer I willed thée towardes the obtayning of eternall lyfe and that for my sake thou wouldest be contented to suffer death I tould thee thou were valiant before the cumbat and wouldest stand fast before thou were shaken is this so sharpe a blast vnto thée that thou art forced through weakenes to runne vnder the defence of thine olde aduersarie who as I tould thée is so loth to let thée goe out of his captiuitie that he séeketh many meanes to kéepe thée in awe of him If this shake thée so sore what would my crosse doe What would death doe But now are my words of the scripture verified That it is hard for a rich man to enter into the kindome of heauen yea as impossible as for a Camell to goe through a néedles eye And why for that he putteth greater delight in his wealth then in my counsailes he hath greater pleasure in riches which endure but a while then in the ioyes of
sinned we haue dealt wickedly we haue most traiterously rebelled against thee These words came not faintly from y e tongue but with force and faith from the very roote of the heart And why because he had searched and tried yea he had a feeling an inward greefe for the sinnes of the people whose confession was accepted and whose prayer was heard The sinfull man Before I doe confesse to thee my sinne thou doest beholde The same at large what need I theÌ„ my sinnes thus to vnfolde Solace INdeede I doe beholde most plainely aswell the very intent of the heart the inner parte thereof as the outwarde actions the externall and visible corrupt conuersation there is no secrete thought no imagination that passeth vnreueiled by the light of my knowledge but whatsoeuer thou doest whatsoeuer thou speakest and whatsoeuer thou thinkest when and where I see and perceiue it altogether And yet notwithstanding it is requisite for thee for two causes to make confession of thine eniquities and that openly And why namely that mine heauenly father may bee knowne and acknowledged to be onely righteous only good yea and goodnesse it selfe a mercifull and pacient GOD and a most louing father and thy selfe to bee altogether vnrighteous fraught with euill in whom remaineth no goodnesse at all Thus must thou cast downe thy self condemne thy self and reprehende thine owne corruption and take holde onely of the goodnesse of GOD the Father in the merites of mee his Sonne by whose death thou art deliuered from death and deserued damnation which is an especiall cause to moue thee to this vnfeined and open confession of thine offences The seconde cause is to the ende that this thine open acknowledging of thy sinnes may bee to the edifying of other men As thou seest the confession of Dauid to bee profitable not onely vnto himselfe but to others not onely to them that were then present but euen to this day is hee to bee set before the eyes of sinners as a fitt patterne to measure their sorrowes by and to bewraye their owne wretchednesse in humble confession and to referre themselues onely to the mercies and louing promises of God mine heauenly father to bee releeued and comforted in their afflictions as Dauid was Yea the confessions which the faithfull haue made heretofore serue nowe to edefie other men at the consideration of whose humilitie and the good successe of their vnfeyned confession wherein they returned vnto mine heauenly father and were accepted againe into his fauour thou canst not but bee the more stirred vp to the like maner of humbling thy selfe acknowledging thy selfe a wretched sinner and to put thine whole trust and confidence in my death and bitter Passion and bee more and more stirred vp to serue and honour mine heauenly father in newnesse of life to the good and godly example of other men who seeing the mercie of GOD my father so plentifully shewed vnto thee shall in like maner make haste vnto the Throane of his grace in open confession of their sinnes that so one by the example of an other nay many at y e good example of one may bee edefied and glorifie God my father which is in heauen who deliuered mee ouer to suffer death for the redemption of them that truely turne to mee Wherefore I say acknowledge thy self sinfull and greatly indebted vnto mee in respect of thy many and wilfull transgressions wherby my gâ—ace may the more appeare in thee disclaime all desertes and merites of thine owne and cast thy selfe downe in thine owne conceipt as one not worthie of any comforte at all at mine handes appealing altogether to my merites in such sorte as by thine example other men may learne to confesse their iniquities and condemne them selues to bee guiltie and to haue deserued to bee punished and whereby they may be taken from them selues namely from the proude opinions of their owne good worke for in the sight of mine heauenly father can no man by his owne merites be accepted righteous but through me are they acceptable and iust in his sight And therefore saith Iob what if I should flatter my selfe and stand in mine owne coÌ„ceipt righteous and iust when my deedes shall be layd open when they shall be manifested I cannot answere one of a thousande thinges layd to my charge Therefore sayth he I will make my praiers and supplication vnto the Iudge If therefore thou be desirous to be iustified before mine heauenly father thou must sâ—y away all desertes of thine owne and confesse that there is nothing in thee but meere wickednesse horrible confusion vtter dispaire of thine owne goodnesse yeelding thy self guiltie of many euills For if thou seeke perfect righteousnesse thou must not stand vpoÌ„ thine owne abilitie to fulfill the law for so makest thou my death to be 〈◊〉 vain which through faith is that true vndoubted righteousnesse which iustifieth thee before mine heauenly father makest thee heire of eternall life Thorowe me is preached the forgiuenesse of sinnes and hee that beleeueth is iustified from those things from which he could not haue bin by the lawe that is by his owne workes Wherefore thou must coÌ„fesse me with thy mouth beleeue in thine heart that mine heauenly father raysed me from the dead to iustifie thee for with thine heart must thou beleeue vnto righteousnes and confesse with thy mouth vnto saluation By my grace I say art thou saued through faith and not by thine owne workes be they neuer so glorious in the sight of the world The sinfull man TheÌ„ what auaile good works are they of none effect in deede And bootes it not to keepe the lawes that Moses first decreede Solace THou must vnderstand that although in respect of thy good workes be they neuer so many and faire in the vewe of the worlde thou mayest not presume vpon the same so farre as to chalenge for the same the reward of eternall life and that thou must confesse when thou hast done all that thou canst thou art an vnprofitable seruant it behoueth thee with all diligence and godly care to endeuour to doe all that is commaunded thee in â—â—ese lawes of mine heauenly father writteÌ„ by the inspiration of y e holy ghost by Moyses in the two Tables wherein consisteth the whole summe of that which is required of euery man to be done in respect of the outward action and inward working which is in doing good to man whom thou seest and to loue God mine heauenly father whom thou seest not but by the eye of that true faith which taketh his light of the Gospel of trueth whereby thou art directed to the meane which worketh that perfection for thee which of thy selfe thou art not able to reache vnto namely my selfe without whose perfection thou must needes continue imperfect and vnable to doe any thing that is good by whome to whome
thrall Extende vnto mee wretched wight thy light and loue withall Oh Lorde my God forget mee not hyde not thy selfe from mee Although my flesh do striue to keepe my syllie soule from thee Showe not thyne anger as a foe let mercy be my staye It is no profite Lord for thee to cast my soule awaye Denie mee not a contrite heart a pensiue person poore An wofull wretch a sinfull soule that knocke here at thy doore Uouchsafe to turne thy face to mee forgiue my deedes amisse In feare I doo appeale to thee as one that guiltie is Deale not as my deserts doo craue but as of mercie thou Doost will and still delight to haue all sinfull heartes to bow Showe not thy force against thy foe that faine would come to thee And pardon my Offences all though Death be due to mee Oh plague mee not good Lord so sore I haue no force I fall I neuer wyll offende thee more if thou vouchsafe to call My soule from sinne and to affoord mee Solace sweete againe Loe here I doo against my selfe a sinfull wretch complaine Shame dooth beset mee round about my selfe consume in woe I am corrupt mine heart throughout I wander too and fro From sinne to sinne I run perforce I wander styll astraye Wherfore without thy due remorce I can not but decaye Since first I suckt my Mothersbrest yea since I sawe the daye The subtill Serpent hath not ceast to wrest mine heart astraye In sinne my mother did conceaue this cankred Corps of mine And Sathan seekes Lord to bereaue all that of right is thine He soweth 〈◊〉 and wicked seedes in mine vnstaid brest Wherof doo grow pernitious deedes which breede my soule vnrest Which I as yet cannot auoyde they fixe so fast one mee That froÌ„ my youth they haue auoid and keepe me Lord from thee So that I am full bought and sould betwene the Feend and synne And wickednes a thousand foulde myne heart doth lodge within The good I cannot which I would my nature proane to ill Withdraws myne harte froÌ„ what it should imbrace w t heauenly skil But Lord in sinne why should I dye syth thy good will is so To heare poor synners wheÌ„ they crie and them redeeme from woe And giuest them repaste againe from heauens high aboue And to repentant hearts full faine thou showest thy selfe in loue Ye thou doest saue through mercie meere those that deserue to dye When they to thee returne in feare oh Lorde now so doe I A thousand times before this daie thy mercies from aboue Haue saued them that went astraie to showe thy zealous loue Our fathers who were longe agoe when they were in dystresse Fell prostrate on their harts and loe thou gauest them redresse Ye wheÌ„ they were incompast round and no hope to auoyde Thy mercye Lord did so abounde that they were not destroyed Haue mercie therfore Lord on mee oh god on whome I call I wretched synner here to thee on prostrate heart doe fall Ease mee againe let mercie thine myne woefull hearte releeue And let not synne all goodnes mine through loosenes thus bereaue My soule alas in dolefull plight in hope of helpe doth crie Oh Lord extend thy louelie light that shines from heauen hye To guide my silly soule to blisse by shunnyng what is ill High time alas good Lord it is to frame mee to thy will Wherfore extend thy grace againe put foorth thy helpyng hand Let it reuiue what sinne hath slaine and loosen Sathans bande Lorde Iesus come oh come in haste Let Heauens Bowe come down That I a wretched wight at last maye ioye that passing Crowne Which y u by dreadful death hast won through pluÌ„ging panges on tree In loue to giue the same to those that feare to fall from thee Come come I say thou Solace true and fill mine hart with ioye My sinfull soule with grace renue whom Sathan would destroye No daye no time no minute is deuoyde of wo to mee But oh alas the cause is this I hold mee not by thee If thou absent thy selfe my soule my bones my bodie dust Corrupt with carke of wicked will as Iron doeth with rust If thou absent thy selfe my soule runnes headlong into yll And staggerryng too and fro it reeles and kickes against thy wyll Yf thou absent thy selfe my soule like wretched wight opprest Fast â—ettred in the boultes of sinne lyes groaning voyde of rest Yf thou absent thy selfe my soule sinckes into darkesome thrall But Lord driue darknes far froÌ„ mee sende light and loue withall So sinne shal passe and vertue slow within my dolefull brest Oh Iesu come Oh come in haste to set my soule at rest And thus my soule I doo commende into thy bosome sweete On whome I doo in heart depende heere prostrate at thy feete Solace Take heed take heed Oh sinful man let heart and tongue agree Leaue off to sinne repent foorthwith and I wyll dwell with thee Cast of the Cloake that is the cause to hinder thine intent Thy sinne and then in deede I wyll to thy request consent The sinfull man How shuld mine heart toong agree what meanest thou therin I haue at large thou maist perceiue vnfoulded all my sinne Solace I T is not ynough to shew thy selfe onely by outward wordes to be a sinfull man but thou must likewise as I haue tould thée before reforme thy former frowarde and peruerse wayes that is as thou knowest and hast confessed thy selfe heretofore to haue walked in errour in darkenes rebellyng against mine heauenly father So wold I haue thée to cléeue vnto the trueth to follow the light and obey mine heauenly father in performing those things which are commaunded thée For there be some that can make a gay gloze and showe of holinesse by such outward protestation when in deede they are farre from that true inwarde sorrow which causeth repentaunce vnto saluation whose dissimulation and hypocrisie deserueth double punishment The sinfull man Show mee therfore what must I doe and what must I obeye Uoutchsaufe mee grace I doe repent my gaddyng longe astray Solace WEll then for asmuch as the daie is gone and that there is no time to declare it now I will deferre it vntill to morrow and then I will tell thée what thou most doe and what leaue vndone In the meane time forget not to prayse myne heauenly father who hath made thee mée whoe haue redemed thée and the holye Ghoast whoe haue sealed thée as one of the adopted Children that shal be saued The Ende of the Frydaye or Fyfth Dayes Conference An earnest confession of sinnes with a Prayer for the forgiuenes thereof OH miserable and most wretched creature am I prest down oh Lord with so many euils with such notorious sinnes geuous offences heynous crymes manifould iniquities That I confesse my selfe manie thousand waies to haue offended thee and to haue deserued more punishmente then I am able to beare Oh Lorde such is myne vntowardenes my cursed
myne heauenly father aswell for heauenly as earthly blessinges which if thou seeke at his handes by any other meanes then only by mee thou deceiuest thy selfe for I haue taken vpon me to obteyne it freely for all them that faithfully aske it of him through mee alone not ioyning any other in their prayers for any parte of their welfare bodily or ghostly with mee for that it doth so shadowe and darken my mercies free obteyning thinges necessary for them that I cannot bee seene in the fulnesse of my grace by reason of such imparting my office to other whose helpe cannot auayle thee in thy distresse There is none other God I say but myne heauenly father who is a iust God a mercifull God and a Sauiour looke vpon him in me who am the brightnesse of his glory the ingraued forme of his person equall with him as thou hast heard before wherfore faithfully repayre thou in all thy necessities to him through me and thou shalt be saued euery knee shall bowe vnto him and euery tongue shall sweare by him in whome is all righteousnesse and strength and all that prouoke him shalbe ashamed Remember these things therefore and bee reformed cast away al trust in any besides him who hath put away thy transgressiōs like a Clowde and thy sinnes as a Mist turne vnto him through mee who haue redeemed thee worship him serue him and pray vnto him onely in and by me and by none other neither Sainct or Angell Beware of that auncient blindnesse wherein men haue falne downe to worship not only Saincts and Angels but very stockes and stones paynted pictures and such like wherein consisteth no helpe Myne Euangelist Iohn professeth that he fell downe to worship the Angel and that the Angel said vnto him see thou doe it not for I am thy fellowe seruaunt and the fellowe seruaunt of thy brethren the Prophets and of them that keepe the wordes of this Booke worship God wherby thou mayst perceiue that worship and seruice belongeth vnto myne heauenly father only to none other And therfore doth he forbid thee to make vnto thy self any grauē Image or y e likenesse of any thing in heauen aboue or in the earth beneath or waters vnder the earth to fall downe therunto to giue it honor or reuerēce as a God or intending to worship my heauēly father in it no he cānot abide to be worshipped praised or prayed vnto in any visible Image but in me his sōne only because hee himself is inuisible incōprehensible whose eares are open and attentiue vnto the Praiers made in my name and stopped that he will not only not here thē that are made in the name of another but pronounceth them accursed confounded that fal downe to grauen Images to serue them and that glorie in their Idolles And therfore sayth the Wiseman Let not the inuētiōs of mē deceiue thee nor the vnprofitable labour of the Caruers or Paynters miscarie thee nor the Images which they make who haue eyes see not eares and heare not mouthes and speake not and which are set foorth with diuers goodly goldē colours moue thee to bow vnto thē But some haue said why we bow not to the Idole we serue not the Image but our intent is to serue God and to be the oftner put in mind therof by the Image and therfore y e intēt not onely not to be misliked but very necessarie good But be thou assured y t for this deuice there is no warrāt in the word of mine Heauenly father But as y e Wiseman saith the sight therof stirreth vp y e ignorāt to fal down before y e dead image which hath no life wherby thei turn the glory of y e incorrubtible god to y e similitude of a corruptible mā of beasts birds and such like prouoking mine heauenly father to such high indignation for turning his trueth vnto a lye for worshipping and seruing the creature forsaking the Creator who is blessed for euer and euer that hee smiteth their hearts with such blindnesse that they cannot glorifie him as they ought but runne headlong according to the imagination of their owne hearts professing themselues to be most wise when in deede they are very fooles Which foolishnesse of theirs mine heauenly father hath by his word brought to light signifying that such naturall deuices and foolish conceiptes of men preuaile not with him But that the hearing of his worde and doing thereof is the onely worship that pleaseth him without the which he accepteth no seruice beare it neuer so fayre a shewe in the eyes of mortall men Therefore thou must vnderstand that in prohibiting thee to worship such grauē moulten or painted Images he forbiddeth thee all other worshipping of him inuented by man And therefore is hee called a ielous God who cannot abide that thou shouldest haue any other God or to ioyne with him any other in thy prayers for thy welfare for that he of himself as he is of power to doe all thinges so is he willing and ready for my sake freely to doe al thinges which belong vnto thy safetie Hee hath a most louing and a most tēder affection towards all such as come in that true worship vnto the Throane of his mercie not reposing the hope of their helpe in any besides him alone because that he would haue them to attribute the whole meane of their releefe and comforte vnto him and to accompt them selues as in deede they are most bound and beholden vnto him and depend wholy vpō his goodnesse and to acknowledge him the onely author and worker of their happinesse which they cannot do if they repose a quantitie of their trust in any other or thinke that their deuised worship hath been the meane of their releefe and their benefites receiued for that as they haue imparted their confidence in the helpe of others so can they not but imparte the thankes vnto them whom they worship together with mine heauenly father and so take they away the due praises from him to whom al honor praise and worship of right belongeth And therefore in this Commaundement hee threatneth vengeaunce vnto all such as prostitute and lay open their faith vnto others which is due onely vnto him and that he will punish them to the third and fourth generation that shall be found guiltie therein And therefore he pronounceth them haters of him that cast their loue vpon any other then himselfe and I will haue no pittie vpon their children but with the fire of my ielousie will I burne vpon such as hate me saith he euen vnto the third and fourth generation and promiseth to be mercifull vnto thousandes of them which loue him and keepe his Commaundements whereby it appeareth that the cheefest worship wherewith he is pleased is loue not that loue which is deuided and giuen parte vnto him and parte vnto an other but that
giue ouer the opiniō of thine own good works and cleaue vnto the mercies of mine heauenly father in me and so much the more by howe much nowe thou maiest see thine vtter decaye without me But thou maist beware that thou in respect of thy saluation promised in mee neglect not these dueties enioyned thee towards mine heauenly father and thy neighbor as hath bene tolde thee before but so much the more endeuour thy selfe to performe thē that louingly and faithfully not in the outwarde shewe onely but with the inward affection of the heart imbracing that with a godly desire which thou art commaunded and hatefully eschewing that which thou art forbidden to doe assuring thy self by a liuely and working faith that thou art sealed with the holy Spirite proceeding from my father and mee freely by my merrits without any deseruings at all of thine owne to eternall saluation The sinfull man Now doth that Solace sweet appeare which thou hast promist mee And that mine owne deserts are not the meane to come to thee Thy merites are mine onely stay thy mercie meere extende Let faith in thee direct my life my words and thoughts amend The darkesome night is come I see there is no longer stay Tell mee good Solace neede I not come yet an other day Solace THou seest that I haue spent these sixe daies in calling thee from thine error and instructing thee what thou oughtest to doe to reforme thy wicked life yet remaineth there some thing els for thee to be exercised in to mayntaine that fauour of mine heauenly father towardes thee which I haue purchased for thee And therefore although to morrowe bee the Sabboth day which as thou hast learned it behoueth thee to sanctifie with ceasing from all worldly labors and to giue thee to deuine exercises yet for asmuch as all mine endeuour tendeth to the safetie of thy soule I would haue thee to repaire hyther againe to morrowe when I will declare vnto thee the residue breefly that belongeth vnto thee and that behoueth thee to learne to the finishing of all the course of thy life that after this life ended through my merites thou mayst enioye eternall saluation The sinfull man With willing minde I will attende mine heart doth long to see Those heauenly ioyes wherein I trust at last to liue with thee The ende of the Saterdaies Conference betweene Solace and the sinfull man A PRAYER TO God the Father for pardon in Iesus Christ for transgressing his Commaundements for grace to bee directed to the true fulfilling of the same OH God my God oh fountaine welspring of al mercy louing kindnes vouchsafe fauourably to looke down vpon my corruptiō and wickednesse and set before the eyes of thy Iustice the merites of thy Sonne Iesus Christ for whose desertes and due obedience sake leaue to be angrie and turne to me in loue take away the curse which is due for my transgressions and wilfull disobedience Alas what should become of mee if I should receiue according to my desertes for which there is nothing due but the iust reward of death For merciful Lord God when I compare the whole course of my life past with the righteousnesse of thy deuine institutiōs and most sacred Commaundements I find my selfe a very Traytour a most monstrous Rebell against thee the God of my welfare Oh Lorde when the Iustice and iust iudgements of thy deuine Maiestie shew themselues vnto my deserts wherby my conscience accuseth mee to haue deserued eternall death I cannot but fall into vtter dispayre of being acquitted before thee Only herein a◠I comforted sweete Lord that I haue pardon promised in the death and merites of thy deare Sonne mine onely Sauiour and Redemer Iesus Christ in whose name I here present and prostrate my self vnto thee and for his sake most humbly pray thee to forgiue my transgressions and to pardon al my sinnes vouchsaueing me grace from henceforth faithfully and truely to frame all my desires vnto the fulfilling of all thy most godly Commaundements and that in vnfeyned loue of thee aboue all things and to shew the same outwardly to the performāce of my duety to my neighbours whom thou hast cōmaunded me to loue succour helpe releeue and doe vnto as I would that other men should doe vnto me Graunt me sweet Lorde for Iesus Christes sake grace to doe that which I am commaunden in thy lawes and carefully to shunne and auoyde that which I am herein forbidden that I may keepe not onely mine handes but all mine actions and doinges yea mine heart and thoughtes free from displeasing thee And for asmuch as my corruptiō keepeth doune mine vnderstanding and will so that I am not able to performe that which I ought but am ready to do that which I ought not vouchsafe to accept the merits of thy Sonne Iesus Christ as a sufficient discharge for that which I cannot do and for his sake to forgiue mine insufficiencie to performe thy will Sweete God Amen THE SVNDAYE and last dayes Conference betweene Solace and the sinfull Man VVherein Solace directeth him in prayer which is the principall and last work belonging to the attainement of eternall life by faith in Christ. Solace WHat art thou so earely here this morning oh man thou shewest thy selfe now to bee very desirous of my solace as it seemes by thy diligent attendaunce this morning The sinfull man Ye Solace loe I looke for thee mine only comfort deare Whose comfort now I find in deed proceede from heauens cleare And therefore I attend on thee mine only guide and stay Whom thou doest call I see cannot gad like a wretch astray Mine heart is set to secke the way through thee y t guides to blisse Whereby I shall at last possesse the ioye that perfect is Which I in heart by faith doe feele though in this vale of woe Where Sathās forces fell abound and sinnes by custome growe Which vale I long to leaue in haste to take my rest with thee In heauens hye where only ioye and nothing els can bee Solace THou doest well to bee wearied and greeued at the vewe of those abuses and daylie offences which thou perceiuest in the world to moue mine heauenly father to displeasure which in deede are many and greate and to haue a longing desire to leaue them and to giue them ouer to the end thou mayst the more freely come vnto me But thou must beware thou kicke not nor murmur against mine heauenly father in respect of any miserie temptation or trouble to befall thee here in this world and to be discharged or vnburdened thereof to wish for death but referring thy cause vnto his omnipotent and mercifull prouidence in heartie and faithfull prayers through me Waite his good pleasure arming thy self manfully to fight against Satan and his wicked ministers assuring thy self through an vndoubted faith that whatsoeuer thou shalt aske my heauēly father in my name he shall giue it thee I am thy
done all that thou canst thou art an vnprofitable seruant He that breaketh one commaundement is guilty of all 2 Cor 3 5. Rom 8.8 The first coÌ„maundement Gen 1·1 Act. 14.15 Gen 56 2.4 Exod 12.2 Rom 6.20 Heb 2.14 By the death of Christe are we deliâ—ered from the bondage of Sathan Christ hath answered that discharged vs of that we remaine accursed for Mat. 4.10 Act. 2·20 21 Heb. 11.6 Luk. 4.8 Psal. 44.20.21 Mat. 4.10 We must worship God as we are coÌ„maunded in his worde In all our sutes we must flie vnto god through Christ. It darkneth the mercies of Christ to ioyne anye with him in prayer Esa. 45.21 Heb 1.3 Esa. 44.21 Reuel 22.9 The 2 commaundemeÌ„t Deut. 4.15 We muste make vs no graueÌ„ Image Psal. 97.7 Wis. 15.4 A foolysh obiection Sap. 11.5 Rom. 1.23 The naturall deuises and foolish conceites of men preuayle not with God Luke 8.12 The true worship of God is hearing and doing his word God is a ielous God Hos. 2.4 God is merciful vnto thousands of theÌ„ that loue him and keepe his commaundements The word of God is the onely rule whereby wee must direct the worshiping of him Rom. 8.15.10 Gal. 5.4 Iohn 14.23 2. Cor. 3 The lawe the ministrie of death The third coÌ„maundement Not onely periured persons but all those that vnaduisedly vse the name of God are guiltie of the taking of his holy name in vaine The tongue bewrayeth the affeâ—â—ion of the heart The Lord wil not hold him 〈…〉 abuseth his name A lamentable thinâ— that one man will not beleeue another without swearing In things that we are allowed to sweare we must sweare by none other then by God himsel And why Mat. 5.34 Heb. 6.16 Iohn 1.1 1. King 8.31.32 Proueb 13.13 The 4. Commandement Gen. 2.2.3 What wee ought to doe vpon the Saboth day Esa. 56.2 Esa. 5 8.13.14 The chiefe hallowing of the Sabboth day is ceasing from sinne Housholders are bound to see their families vpon the Saboth day to serue God and to auoyde euill The vntowardnesse of children and seruaÌ„ts doth argue the fathers and masters coldnes in the seruice of Cod. we must serue God not onely on the Saboth day but euery day howe Gal. 5 24. Col 3.5 We may accompt the Saboth onely ordeined to take our bodily rest in The Saboth day abused We haue free passage to God through Christ. It is the free mercie of God in Christ that iustifieth vs. The seruice of God that is not ioyned with the loue of our neighbour is not acceptable 1. Io. 5.2 A testimonie who are the children of Cod. 1. Ioh. 3.15 The fifth coÌ„maundemenâ— Mat. 15.4 Mar. 7.10 Disobedient children God will punish Rom. 13. â— Whome we ought to reuerence The office of a Magistrate most necessarie being duely execucuted The benefite that the Magâ—strate bringeth vnto the common-wealth by executing his authoritie Rom. 13.4 1 Tim. 5.17 〈◊〉 ministers of the word of Gâ—d worthy double honour Preachers the 〈◊〉 of our soules The father ought to haue a care to the bringing vp of his Children and seruanrs Magistrates ought to haue a care to execute their dueties The Ministers Preachers ought to shewe the wil of God not only by word but in life The negligence of Parents dangerous Magistrates ought to haue a care to their dueties Sparing of Iustice dangerous Three things lets vnto iustice Ministers 〈◊〉 Preachers ought to regard their calling Mat. 21.19 Mar. 11.13.14 Preachers must beware least they showe themselues as trees that beare onely leaues and no fruite The 6. Commaundement We must not kill the mâ—aning thereof We must releeue our brethren wherin we are able Hardnesse of heart an argument of little christianitie Ier. 22.13 we ought not to withhold the workemaÌ„s hire An error in the wealthy We must auoyde this crueltie to theit brethreÌ„ This now a dayes not accompted crueltie â—hat can be cloaked with some cuÌ„ning deuise A vaine imagination 1 Ioh 3 2â— Mat 5.20 A notable example of coÌ„passioÌ„ in Iob. Iob. 19.12 mat 25.41 The 7. Commaundement 1. Cor. 10.8 Adulterie an henous offence against God Iob. 31.11.12 Pro. 6.31 1. Thes. 4.3 1. Cor. 6.9 A vaine and wicked excuse The excuse of the frailtie of our flesh a vaine excuse 1. Cor. 6.15 The principal meanes that drawe vs to lust That which we little suspect soonest ouercoÌ„meth vs. Math. 5.28 Euil thoughts forbidden Mariage a meane to auoyde fornication· 1. Cor. 7.36 Chaste wedlocke pleaseth God Idlenes must be auoyded The companie of the wicked to be auoyded The shameles slaues of Sathan Their examples pernicious They that caÌ„ roll out an howres talke of his filthy behauiour are nowe reckoned merrie and pleasant conceated fellowes and more esteemed then the ciuill men 1. Cor. 15.33 Mar. 7.21 Ephe. 5.6 The eight coÌ„maundemeÌ„t whereby we are forbiden to steale What is ment by stealing We may vse no meane to enrich our selues to the losse of another man Our owne vnwiâ—lingnes to be ill dealt withall shuld guyde vs to deale well with other Our priuate gaine hangs in our light that we can not see when we do wrong to other men 〈◊〉 were good 〈◊〉 euery rich 〈◊〉 would consider this The couetous man robbeth many Loue the beâ—â— rule to measure our doing with other men Men of occupation must looke vnto their dealingâ— Vsurie cannot excuse it selfe Pro. 28.8 Psal. 15.5 Mat. 6.34 The ninth CommaundemeÌ„t wherin we are forbidden to beare false witnesse Mat. 19.18 We may not hurt the credite or good fame of our neighbour Deut. 19.18.19 A punishmeÌ„t prouided for such as did hurt their neighbour in goods or good name The tongue an vnruly euill The Iudge must be circumspect in giuing iudgement Things to be auoyded of a iudge A great offence before God yea a most execrable offence to gâ—â—e iudgement against the trueth Pro. 14.23 wresting meÌ„s words and writings to a coÌ„traâ—ie meaning is to be auoyded Mat. 26.61.62 The wordes of Christ wrested to a wrong sence A pernicious practise A foolish and mod wicked deuise to ouâ—â—throwe a mans owne deede when his conscieÌ„ce can accuse his meaning to be so Many spend great summes of money in Law to proue them selues to swerue froÌ„ their true meaning The tenth coÌ„maundement wherein we are forbidden to couet any thing that is our neighbours Luke 10.27 We may not suffer our thoughts to wander after vaine desires Although thoughts are free God will one day take accompt of them Our thoughts although thei be not accompanied with a resolute intent to doe the thing is to be auoyded in euill 1. Cor. 5.6 Loue thinketh not euil Thought bringeth foâ—â—h desire and the desire neuer leaueth vntill the purpose be brought to passe By the lawe is our corruption reueiled The righteousnesse of Christ reputed ours By the lawe we see that without Christ we can not be saued We may not grudge or murmure when we are in any trouble we must arme our selues to fight against Sathan his wicked