Selected quad for the lemma: mercy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
mercy_n	great_a	sin_n	transgression_n	3,082	5	10.1157	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A01873	A true declaration of the happy conuersion, contrition, and Christian preparation of Francis Robinson, gentleman Who for counterfetting the great seale of England, was drawen, hang'd, and quartered at Charing-Crosse, on Friday last, being the thirteenth day of Nouember, 1618. Written by Henry Goodcole preacher of the Word of God, and his daily visiter, during his imprisonment in the gaole of Newgate.	Goodcole, Henry, 1586-1641.	1618 (1618)	STC 12013; ESTC S118282	12,965	26

without thy blessed ayde would suddainly come and quickly slide to vtter confusion didst not thou in thy great mercy and prouidence daily preuent the same Behold me I humbly pray thée the worke of thy own hands and looke vpon me with the eye of thy aboundant mercy that so thereby thy wrath and fury which iustly by my manifolde sinnes and transgressions I haue deserued may be appeased the remembrance of the multitudes whereof afflicteth me so sorely that I can finde no peace or rest at for they are a weight too heauie for me to beare I am ready to faint and fall vnder them O send me Lord Iesus power from aboue to helpe and support me that I faint not and finally fall vnder them Come vnto mee O my swéet Sauiour come quickly and powre in into this distressed soule of mine thy blessed baulme of thy mercy O stablish my vnconstant heart and wandring thoughts with the comforts of thy frée spirit for in my selfe O Lord my God I finde no comfort at all my conscience doth so accuse me and thy iudgements doe so affright me that without thou in thy aboundant mercy helpe O Lord I vtterly perish Haue mercy vpon me O Lord haue mercy vpon me and according to the multitude of thy mercies doe away mine offences wash mee and cleanse mee from all my sinnes make me a cleane heart I pray thée and renue a right spirit within me and now let my poore distressed soule with thy heauenly grace be comforted whose onely stay and refuge O Lord thou art for whom haue I in heauen O Lord but only thée and nothing here on earth doth my soule more desire or delight in then in thee and in thy sauing health Forsake mee not therefore who thus flyeth to thee for succour and comfort and vnder the shadow of thy wings to be defended O shelter me vnder the same for who shall worship thée in the pit or graue then let my soule liue and it shall for euer praise thee in the congregation of thy Saints in the land of the euer-liuing Certaine deuout inward comforts by him continually vttered and vsed GRant vnto me O God frée pardon of all my sinnes and remember not the sinnes of my youth as my Ignorance pride wantonnes and lustes of the flesh Grant vnto me Lord Iesus grace at no time to dispaire or distrust of thy fauour and mercy towards mée Grant vnto mée O my God and send into my sad and distressed soule a tast of thy swéete mercy Grant vnto me O swéete and gracious Iesus a willing minde and heart to loue thee onely and grace to pray to thée faithfully Grant vnto me Father of mercy thy gracious assistance inable me to withstand all the Deuils temptations Grant vnto mée O thou the wel-spring and fountaine of all good desires grace to put out of my minde all worldly and vaine cogitations which may now hinder me in thy seruice or in the meanes of my saluation Grant vnto me O blessed Bridegroome of my soule assurance heere that I shall be with thee this day in thy Kingdome of glory Grant vnto me now O thou the life of my soule that though now I am to dye ignomiously yet that I shall rise againe in the day of Resurrection most gloriously and beholde thée in thy perfect glory A Prayer wherein hee was exercised O Father of mercy and God of all consolation whether shall I flia from thée oh where shall my poore distressed and sinfull soule féeke for peace and comfort thus perplexed to come to thée the fountaine of all goodnes and comfort I dare not for I haue sinned against thee onely and committed many most grieuous offences in thy presence which maketh me detestable in thy sight and to flye the same if that I could for feare of thy heauy displeasure To approach thy courts O Lord to pray to thée for mercy or to praise thée O Lord I cannot tell how for I haue béene so accustomed to walke in all euill wayes that now to begin to walke in thy wayes I am not in the least manner able for my tongue is still tyed my heart is still obdurate and rebellious my thoughts are wandring whilest I am in this Tabernacle of my flesh after the vanities of this world Turne me O Lord my God vnto thée and I shall be turned conuert me vnto thée and I shall be conuerted call me home againe vnto thée and take me to thy mercy oh teach me thy statutes and I will kéepe them euen to the end vnty my tongue to praise thée mollifie my heart to loue and feare thée direct and enlighten my will memory and vnderstanding to delight and séeke thée and to loue nothing more then thée and in thy seruice to be busied Thy worke O Lord this onely is fréely thou giuest the same to whom thou pleasest Oh make me my Lord and God I pray thée in the aboundance of thy mercies partaker of the same whose multitude of sinnes makes me thereof vnworthy This Prayer he saide at the time of his Death His continuall prayer and hearty eiaculation O Lord haue mercy vpon me and saue mee for in thee doe I onely put my trust O Thou the Sauiour of all Mankinde and most mercifull Samaritane to thée I now flye in the holes of thy wounds to be sheltred and defended hearken I most humbly pray thée and incline thine eares vnto me and forsake me not euen for thy mercyes sake for my soule wholly trusteth in thée and thy sauing health Thy arrowes O Lord doe sticke fast in me and of thy terrible Iudgements I am sore affraid As thou camest into the world in the fulnes of time to be a Iesus to all Mankinde come now and be my IESUS for thy ayde I lacke as thou camest into the world to be an aduocate for all mankinde become mine now I pray thée Pleade thou my cause O Lord and let not my enemies triumph ouer me but ridde me and deliuer me out of the handes of my enemies euen for thy mercy sake Oh plead for my wickednes thy righteousnes pleade for my disobedience thy obedience pleade for my pardon thy meritorious Death and Passion plead for my blessednes thy accursednes pleade for my life thy death pleade for my weakenes thy all sufficiencie pleade for my wretchednes and misery to haue the long white Roabe of thy Innocency to couer me withall that I being therewith roabed may beholde the glory of thy Tabernacle and beauty of thy holy Temple without which I cannot nor shall not be able to stand but appeare most vile Thy former mercyes shewed to many of thy seruants O Lord imboldens me to approach vnto thee and to lye at thy gates of mercy expecting thy comfortable answer O come vnto me my Lord Iesus come quickly shew vnto me the light of thy countenance and then I shall be whole accept now of my teares and vnfained sorrow and contrition for that I haue offended so good and

A True Declaration of the happy Conuersion contrition and Christian preparation of FRANCIS ROBINSON Gentleman WHO FOR COVNTERFETting the Great Seale of England was drawen Hang'd and quartered at Charing Crosse on Friday last being the Thirteenth day of Nouember 1618. Written By HENRY GOODCOLE Preacher of the Word of God and his daily visiter during his imprisonment in the Gaole of Newgate LONDON Printed by Edw All-de dwelling neere Christ-church 1618. TO THE RIGHT HOnorable Sir Henry Mountague Lord Chiefe Iustice of England grace and Honour bee multiplyed here and by the mercies of Iesus Christ fruition of his glory and euerlasting Happinesse hereafter RIght Honourable I am in a great straite betwixt hope and dispaire standing your worthines and wisdome to trouble with such an vnworthy labour as this is for which my ambitious and bolde presumption I stand at the Barre of your learned Iudgement and deeme to bee arraigned conuicted and adiudged of the same But my hearty desire of the welfare of our now florishing Hierusalem and her Inhabitants which I pray God long it may so continue vnfained zeale thereunto is constrained thus to breake foorth thus to proclaime vnto all her dwellers therein your great mercy to distressed soules desiring to comfort them by all meanes possible to saue them aswel as your Iustice zeale to punish and cut of offenders both which to be conioyned together in your Noble heart of late are expressed In sending to a perplexed and distressed soule when time of neede did greatly require the same phisicke by that heauenly Phisition and Messenger of God Mr. Robert Pricket into whose Industrious labour and haruest I was bolde to intrude my selfe and thrust in my sickle And now further desirous to explaine vnto the world the good successe and blessing that God in his great mercy gaue to our willing labours Humbly crauing your Honours patronage and acceptance which if your Hon vouchsafe to graunt will incourage vs to be at your Hon command in the like seruice And being sheltred vnder your fauourable countenance and acceptance wil make both the cause help of our Ministrie respectiuely regarded and welcome to whome wee shall be called And this Labour now published conuayed my only ayme intent by dispersing of it is to vestigiate your Hon steps to wish endeauour the generall good of all particular hurt of none The Lord Almighty of his great goodnesse long continue your Hon amongst his people for their welfare to be as euer your Religious courses haue explained to be Noble charitable and Religious a defence to such as else would be oppressed and an incourager of the good and vertuous Your Honours in all readines and humilitie to be commaunded HENRY GOODCOLE To the Christian Reader LAmentable and perilous are these times and dayes wherein we now liue to see the abounding of sinne and iniquity and pure religion to the corrupt hearts and vnstable fantasies of men to be wrested as they list to finde diuersitie of Religions Sects and Schismes as the hearts qualities and manners of men differ thereunto they equiuolate their profession and religion the which instability wherein there should not in the least manner be any inconstancie breedes corrupt liues and vnrecouerable downfalls of many hopefull young Gentlemen worshipfully descended and carefully tutered the true meanes of preuenting such horrible wickednesse Of which duly considering and pondering in my minde it did in some measure perswade me to a periode of this by mee now published before I had put penne to paper to write being daily experienced that where one suckes honey another followeth and thence sucketh poyson for it is a thing most impossible to please the humours and fantasies of all men But when I remembred the cause I had to handle which was for the publique good of my Countrey to admonish them to take heede by other mens hurts and harmes and for feare it should slip out of their mindes This person Francis Robinson his haynous act most remarkeable and deplorable downefall becomes my subiect to write instigating mee thereunto and encouraging mee not to neglect my intended and good determination to a generality for feare of the barking and contradicting spirits of our age but to performe the cause and quarrell which I must write of against God and our enemies how by a rauening Wolfe a Romish Catholike as he was blinded became a blind guide to this poore Gentleman to make him fall into the same ditch as he did whereby like a silly simple innocent Lambe by his subtill slie seducings and inticings his destruction befell most suddaine and fearefull I leaue what I shall relate vnto thee to thy construction desiring if I may to haue a charitable censure of thee Concluding with my hearty affection to thee Christian admonition howsoeuer thine is to me-ward Stand fast in thy faith profession and religion and I pray God that other mens harmes may make thee and all others fearefull carefull and watchfull that you fall not in such manner as many before this day haue done the vndoubted preuention whereof is daily to inuocate Gods grace from aboue to ayde and assist thee that thou fall not into the same mischiefes who are as weake fraile and subiect to be tempted as others before thee were And thus with heartie prayers to God to assist thee to be a conquerour in the day of battell and constant in the time and day of triall I rest Thine in the Lord Iesus a labourer for thy welfare HENRY GOODCOLE A true Declaration of the happy conuertion contrition and godly preparition of Francis Robinson Gentleman DYing mens wordes are euer remarkable their last déeds memorable for succéeding posterities by them to be instructed what vertues or vices they followed and imbraced and by them to learne to imitate that which was good and to eschew euill But such is the depraued and corrupt nature of all Mankinde and Sathans subtilty mans mortall enemy that dayly goeth about and laboureth by all meanes possible he can to blindfolde vs stopping vs out of the way wherein God hath appointed vs to walke and the example of Gods children that haue trod out the way before vs. Oh how much do these our daies wherin we now liue shew vs the too true experience of the same that multitudes for company sake conioyne themselues in all maner of mischiefe and runne in heapes with delight to commit most abhominable sins presuming on Gods patience because he doth not presently punish saying in the pride of their hearts and glory of their wicked sinnes Doth the Lord sée marke or regard the déeds and actions of the sonnes of men No they say tush He regards them not And thus the Deuill by this meanes gets holde of multitudes and bringes them in the end to shame hell and destruction for the reward and wages of Sinne is death Let me now my worthy Country-men present vnto your view the experienced reward of sinfull delights

Progression VVHen there was warrant out for his apprehension he then was in Darby and hearing that there was waite laide for him posted thence some sixe miles but had not the power any further to trauell but returned to Darby to goe and Iustifie his foule fact which by the narrow looking into and examining of a Lawyer there inhabiting with whome he was at variance his designes were discouered When he was thus discouered and sent vp to London to the right Honourable the Lord Chauncellor of England by whom he was examined and vrged to confesse that his foule fact of high Treason stood stoutly in the deniall of the same But hée that sitteth in Heauen laughed him to scorne and most wonderfully disclosed the secret of his heart and his foule fact whereof he thought none should haue knowne for being re-examined by the right Hon Sir Henry Mountague Knight Lord chiefe Iustice of England to him as formerly he did denyed his foule fact but behold héere how the hand of God laide holde on him and how the eye of God was watching ouer him and disclosed him by deliuering a Key to Humphrey Smith to goe to a Truncke wherein his counterfeit Commission was and diuers other writings It pleased Almighty God who teacheth all mens hearts wisdome that the right Hon the Lord Chiefe Iustice thus bethought himselfe to know the truth séeing as yet he could get no knowledge he set spies to watch those that had accesse vnto him to finde out by them this foule fact which most miraculously by the carefull examination of Humphrey Smith by that graue Iudge Sir Heury Mountague came soone to light thereof who tolde his Hon of a Truncke of writings which so strangely discouered Robinson thereat was greatly amazed thinking it a thing impossible to be knowne at all to any who when that he saw he was discouered betooke himselfe of an obstinate denyer to become an humble contrite and sorrowfull confessor of what he had done and implored mercy and fauour at honourable persons hands of whome he little deserued the same But he out of his most Noble disposition denyed not any the least of his requests and humble suites but buryed all his former vndeseruings in the bowels of pitty and compassion grieuing to sée what a most wretched course he had runne that the Iustice of the King and his Lawes did iustly challenge his deserued deoth Nay further note and consider I pray you for these were the wordes procéeding out of his owne mouth how God did make his owne wisdome to be foolishnesse therewith to laugh himselfe to scorne that presuming he had some sound iudgement and true knowledge in the Law vpon which hée too much built and relyed for his knowledge therein was but the flash of pride presumption for when the right Worshipfull graue wise and learned in the Law Sir Henry Yeluerton his Maiesties Atturney Generall heard said that his intention made the Law to take holde on him he thereat was silenced and confessed his blindnes and ignorance and that his eyes were shut and heart infatuated euen vnto the day of his tryall in which it pleased God to reueale to him his grosse mistaking of the Law and guilt in this his foule fact which when he well and plainely perceiued he then remembred that portion of Scripture which he formerly had read in the 3. Chap. of Ieremy which stroake remorse of conscience in him and that the whole world might take notice that the Iudgements of God had ouertaken him aduisedly coated the place recited for memory that men should feare to offend in the like case least they come to haue in the end the like reward for their paines Lastly he confessed the person and first occasion that drew him to commit his foule fact which was Couetousnes the foundation of all mischiefe And lodging at the Swan at Charing Crosse there he grew acquainted with one Morgan a Romish Catholicke whom he tolde of his thirsting after money who then shewed the fruites of his Religion to bring by his wicked deuice the body of this Gentleman to his destruction and had not God in his great mercy preuented the same destroyed his soule also for he went the right way thereunto by crafty seducing of him to become a Papist And thus he leauing and for saking his God and Religion his sodaine downefall afterwards happened the which he heartily prayed to Almighty God might teach warne and terrifie others from the like attempt and thus spake that morning a little before hée receiued the most holy and blessed Sacrament of the Supper of our Lord Iesus Christ said that Morgan did seduce him first from his Religion and after that his heart was inclinable to receiue what Morgans poysoned tongue of mischiefe would speake of which kinde of people and their Religion hée desired all people to beware and to flye their Doctrine it tending onely to mischiefe and destruction His great desire of giuing satisfaction so farre as he could to those whom he had greatly offended HIs God and Creator hée acknowledged most highly by his foule fact to haue offended and for attonement he fully relyed on the meritorious death and passion of Iesus Christ. The Kings most excellent Maiestie in a most high nature he had offended for which he was heartily sorrie and craued pardon willing to render vp his life acknowledging his death to be deserued and further saying that if he were neuer so much to be tortured he deserued the same and contentedly embraced the same that so his Maiesties iust wrath might be appeased Of all the people in generall he heartily craued pardon that he had beene a Runnagate from their blessed Societie heartily desiring their prayers vnto Almighty God for him And those from whom he had by his deceitfull meanes and guiles gotten away any mony he to his power of my knowledge laboured to giue satisfaction sorrowing that hee altogether was disabled to doe what his hearts desire was Thus deare Country-men I finding a wandring shéepe and distressed soule wanting cure and care séeking and earnestly destring to be brought home againe from whence he had strayed I set vnto him my helping hand and now publish vnto thée how in the sweet Pastures of Gods word this wandring shéepe was directed fed and comforted by praying sometimes and meditating at other times on these sequent portions of Scripture out of which I thanke God he receiued great comfort and we Gods Labourers richly rewarded for the same That we confidently beléeue our labour was not in vaine with him but wee haue brought home againe the lost Shéepe to Gods Church here on earth and to his triumphant Church in Heauen The prayers wherein he was exercised day and night O Lord my God in thee doe I put my trust let me neuer be confounded Amen OOmnipotent and most mercifuil God and Creator great is thy mercy in mans creation for thy mercie excéedeth all thy workes in the mercifull preseruing of man who

gracious a God abandon and put out of my minde loue of the world and feare of death and fixe my heart and thoughts onely on thée and thy sauing health swéeten this bitter cup of death vnto me to make it acceptable and welcome not fearing or dispairing thereof to taste but willingly to drinke it vp O swéeten it with assurance now to my soule when this momentary life of mine is fled away to inioy thy euerlasting glory which thou hast prepared for me in Iesus Christ thy alone Sonne and my onely Sauiour O giue me now and sound into my eares and assure my heart of the Théeues paradice of Stephens vision which is to see thy onely Sonne my Sauiour sitting at thy right hand in glory And now to thée O Lord of all Spirits as is most deue and to thée alone belongeth I am prepared ioyfully and willingly to giue and render vnto thée this body and soule of mine which are thy due and which of thy blessed mercy I receiued from thy blessed hands Lord Iesu receiue them come Lord Iesus hast thée vnto me come O my God and make no long tarrying but méete me I expect thy comming Lord Iesu receiue me in mercy Amen And these thy mercyes I craue in the mediation of my Sauiour now faithfully praying and repeating his forme of prayer Our Father which art in Heauen c. The portions of Scriptures whereon hee continually meditated after these Prayers were ended The 8. Chap. to the Rom. in that he much delighted to read in the 5. Chap. 2. Epistle Cor in the 4. Chap. first generall Epistle of Iohn in the 4. Chap. Hebrewes 18 Chap. St Luke the Parable of the poore and humble Publicane Plalme 6. 25. 26. 27. 28. 31. 32. 34. 35. 38. 40. 42. 43. 51. 55. 56. 86. Who so is pleased to peruse these coated Scriptures I hope as they did yeelde comfort to the dead they shall no lesse bee thought worthy of the meditation of the liuing I Must pay two Legacies which I promised vnto him I would one to the right Honourable Sir Henry Mountague Knight Lord chiefe Iustice of England his humble thankes and hearty prayers to God to requite and redouble his blessings here and hereafter for his Christian and religious care of his distressed soule to séeke and send meanes to comfort and saue the same praysing and attributing to God the glory who by the weake meanes of our Ministry hath called and taken home now againe to his most blessed fould his wandring shéepe which Honourable care and christian Industry of his shall remaine memorable in this world and vndoubtedly rewarded by God in his Kingdoms of glory Another Legacy bequeathed to the right worthy learned graue and Worshipfull Sir Henry Yeluerton his Maiesties Atturney Generall to whome Mr. Francis Robinson acknowledged himselfe very much bounden in instructing and inlightning his vnderstanding in the letter of the Law wherein he presumed of his owne wit and vnderstanding to make euasion but by his grauety and wisdome he so confuted him that hée to the glory of God being so manifestly conuinced and shewed what a haynous fact he had done praysed God for the same and prayed most heartily vnto God to continue and to increase such happy Guardians to his Maiesties peace and weale publike of this whole Realme His owne relation of the beginning and proceeding in his foule fact spoken the same morning a little before he went to his execution NOt long had hee béene acquainted with the fashions or Citie of London for he had not béene in London aboue foure times before that time he did put in practise his detestable fact his suites places and persons were not of meane degrée such was his ambition But to the Kings most excellent Maiestie and his Royall Court hee wholy adressed himselfe and by petition and helpe of others his Maiesties attendants moued his Maiestie for a Commission and protection vnder his Maiesties hand and great Seale of England concerning the reforming of the diuers abuses of Uictualers Maulsters and Usurers hauing not long before heard a Petition was preferred for reformation of some such abuses He thereupon conceiued presently that this was a fitting subiect for him to worke on to get thereby money to supply his wants and to satisfie his greedy minde though he bought it in the end at a most deare price and rate For the better contriuing and effecting of his determina tion and purpose he got an accomplice by name Morgan with whom he got first acquainted at the Swan at Charing-Crosse and from thence both of them remoued to the signe of the Mayden-head at Saint Giles in the Fields where hee tolde Morgan his Companion his Designes were plotted and resolued of what should be by him afterward put in execution which truly so it happened And presuming too much vpon that small vnderstanding and knowledge he had in the Law of himselfe drew the forme of a Commission and thereinto inserted to make it beare the more validity the names of diuers worthy Attendants about his Maiesties Court and most Royall person to them from his Maiestie directed in his Maiesties name to aske cease leuie and receiue in foure seuerall Shieres in this Kingdome certaine seuerall summes of money according to the tenure of their Commission to them from his Maiestie directed This forged Commission being by him alone inuented and trecherously deuised brought it to a Scriuener in London where hee had the same ingrossed and without the knowledge or priuity of any did put thereunto a counterfait great Seale for the true great Seale of England and so by vertue thereof though none at all there was did aske leuie and receiue at seuerall sittings in Commission though no lawfull authority he had thereunto the summe of twenty eight pounds and fiue pence deceitfully of the Kings liege people And this he did for the space of a moneth continue and procéede not thinking of the all séeing eye of Almighty God that would discouer him and suddainly confound him and his most wicked deuice whereof when he least imagined or suspected euen then bewrayed his treacherous heart and detestable fact After the time of his apprehension for this most detestable and foule fact behold how stedfastly he stoode in the Iustification of the same and vsed the name of a worthy Knight Sir Robert Maxwell to say he had his priuity and help therin of which he in the least manner was not acquainted and for which his most false and vniust aspersion on him at the time of his death on his knées and salt teares fast trickling downe most humbly and heartily craued his frée pardoning of him for the same and said it was the Diuels inticing of him to doe what he did namely that foule and filthy treacherous déede of his and that which did much afflict and terrifie his soule more then Death it selfe whose grim countenance he did behold so to accuse an innocent guiltlesse worshipfull and worthy Gentleman that thereby himselfe who onely was guilty of that foule fact might be fréed whereof God in his Iustice would not approue nor be so deluded but brought him the plotter contriuer and actor of villany to receiue his iust reward for the same that the mischiefe by him pretended to light on others did at the last fall on his owne pate And the net and snare which hee had priuily layd and secretly spread abroade to intrap another therein himselfe was ensnared And thus he concluded Let all take héede and beware of couetousnes content themselues with that they haue labour honestly with their hands for their owne liuing for the honest and industrious Labourer God will for euer blesse but they that doe trust in lying vanities to get wealth by deceitfull meanes and wiles let them know said hee that though God for a while forbeare them yet his Iustice requires to render vengeance to them as iustly on me now he hath done Like a Lambe going to the slaughter so went he vnto his death prepared before to suffer the same willingly patiently and ioyfully and our confidence is such of him that he is receiued into the Fold of that most blessed heauenly Flocke whereof Iesus Christ the great Shéepheard of vs all is the keeper and defender and into which number the Lord Almighty in his aboundant mercy giue grace to all daily so to prepare themselues that in the end they may be found worthy thereof Amen The conclusion THus deare Country-men haue I exercised your patience and boldly presumed to incurre your censures for the zeale that I beare to the soules of men destring and daily hartily praying to Almighty God that his downefall may make all others wary and carefull to flye sinne the reward whereof and to the delighters therein you haue heard And although God in his mercy deferres to punish expecting mens conuersion which if they doe not in his expected time hee payes home in the end such their neglect of him with most fearefull and vnrecouerable downefalls FINIS Note this Note this Note this