clear conscience toward God and toward men we will endeuour the best we can according to that proportion and measure of skill wherewith the Lord hath endued vs plainely and familiarly to declare beseeching the eternall and blessed Spirite of God who was sent downe from heauen from the Father and the Sonne to teach vs all trueth so to direct our vnderstandinges and to further our endeuours that we may set downe nothing but that which shall be meete wholsome and profitable to instruct Christian consciences withall and moreouer so to moue and enflame the heartes and mindes of all such as shall reade these our dooings that as we simplie and with a desire to profite them haue taken this trauaile in hand so they with the like singlenes and meaning may reade the same and apply all thinges herein comprised to their godly furtheraunce and edification CHAP. 2 The examination and tryall of our owne selues must first beginne at the consideration of our owne corrupt nature WHosoeuer thou be that art inwardly touched with any care of thine owne saluation and doest inwardly groane with earnest desire to stande in the fauour of God and to bee at one with him first of all and before all other thinges I pray thee enter into thy selfe descende into thine owne conscience and make a true surueye of thine inwarde man and thou shalt quickly finde I warrant thee what a suttle craftie Foxe euer hauing recourse to his peeuish nature thou fosterest and keepest within that same fulsome stinking breast of thine The first step to get helpe and the chiefest way to recouer health is for a man to know himselfe In vaine is the medicin ministred where the disease is dissemblingly couered and kept vnknowen Wilt thou therfore that I shall plainly tell thee what maner of person thou art and what disease thou hast I saye thou art nothing else but sinne thou art euery whitte of thee a wretched sinner and guiltie of euerlasting damnation Neuer goe about to denie it seeke no shifts or euasions to gainesay it neither take any exception against it The very woorde of God himselfe doth conuince thee the prickes of thine owne conscience doe ouerthrow thee and daily experience doth detect thee For first the worde of God sayeth thus of thy nature being altogether corrupted and stained thorough the fall and transgression of our first Parentes and of thy sinne which by propagation thou hast from them By one man sinne entered into the world By the offence of one the fault came on all men to condemnation Againe Beholde in iniquitie was I borne and in sin hath my mother conceiued me Againe The imagination of mans heart is euill euen from his youth Againe Euerie man is a lyer Againe I knowe that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing And By nature we are the children of wrath And feelest thou not within thee manifest effectes of sinne to wit the lustes and affections of the flesh leading thee away from God and making thee both vnwilling and vnable to liue vnder his lawe Feelest thou not another lawe in thy members still rebelling against the lawe of thy minde Thou feelest thou feelest no doubt the cumbersome suggestions of sin dwelling in thee continually drawing thee away from doing good and still egging thee forwarde to commit euill Thou feelest I say the wofull effectes of originall sinne euen a minde voide of the feare of God Thou feelest thy selfe not to loue God with all thy hart with all thy soule with all thy strength as thou oughtest to doe and as thou art bound to doe Thou findest in thy selfe and proouest by experience that thou art besieged and besette with sorrowe griefe heauinesse and infinite other like vexations of thy soule Moreouer thou canst not but see these our bodies are subiect to innumerable miseries thou seest the number of diseases assaulting vs the extremitie of famine pinching vs the ramping rage of hunger afflicting vs the miserable plague of thirst distressing vs thou seest death with his gryping pawe daylie catching haling and making hauocke of vs. And all these are punishmentes appointed of God for sinne originall Through sinne death entred into the world To be short thou feelest and findest a iust punishment deserued plague euen in these outwarde thinges The earth bringeth forth thornes brambles thystles noisome weeds many hurtfull thinges besides It bringeth forth no good thing vnlesse it bee tilled manured with great labour Finallie what thinges soeuer for the maintenance and sustentation of this our fraile transitorie life are requisite and needefull the same are we of necessitie driuen to seeke procure with continual cares and troublesome toile All these discommodities and all other miseries whatsoeuer wee must knowe and wee ought to knowe to be sent vnto vs and inflicted vpon vs as a penaltie or amercement for originall sinne Cursed saith God to the first transgressour Adam he the earth for thy sake in sorrowe shalt thou eat of it all the daies of thy life thornes and thistles shall is bring forth to thee and thou shalt eate the herbe of the fielde in the sweate of thy face shalt thou eate thy bread Now therefore aswell by the authority of the word of God as by the sense and feeling of such calamities and miseries as euery man euidently seeth findeth in his mind in his body and in the outwarde thinges of the worlde I thinke thou art sufficiently perswaded yea too too plainely conuicted that thou canst not but wil thou nil thou thou must needes confesse thy selfe to be a sinner born that thou art guilty of euerlasting damnation euen in this respect for that thou art a mā issued descended from that first man Adam yea although thou thy self in al thy life haddest actually cōmitted none euill When all these thinges are well imprinted in thy mind and that thou art throughly resolued and perswaded that all this afore spoken is true the best and next way for thee to take that desirest and meanest to examine thy selfe is diligently to consider these pointes following First to bow the knees of thine hart before the tribunal seat of God to cōfesse thy faultes sins to submit cōmit thy selfe wholly vnder the mighty hand of God ready to abide his diuine pleasure if in the seuerity of his iustice rather than in his mercy he will deale with thee according to the tenour of that sentence of incurring eternall death which hee pronounced vnto man before his fall Whensoeuer sayth he you shall eate thereof ye shall die Then as often as thou feelest the effects of sinne and the punishments thereof such as wee haue alreadie saide continually to bee perceiued seene and felt in our mindes in our bodies and in all our thinges subiect to our outwarde senses so often call to remembrance that the same ought to serue thee as tokens and to put thee in
caytife as a treacherous recreant as a faithles promisebreaker as a false hearted wretch vnto God the father as a bloudy cutthrote haling drawing Christ vnto the Crosse anew as an enimy to the Holy Ghost as a mocker of the blessed Aungels as a Traytor to the whole Church as a shamefull runne-away from the holy congregation and finally as a cruell manqueller of thine owne selfe What canst thou now do What way wilt thou take What hope or trust caÌ„st thou haue What land what ground can patiently beare the burthen and weight of thy wretched Carcasse What heauen what sunne what planets what starres can quietly looke on thee or willingly giue shine vnto thee Or what eies rather canst thou or darest thou lift vp vnto heauen The time was when thou wast in excellent good state and wast adorned and endued with right excellent giftes but now through thine owne fault and wilfulnesse thou hast altered thy case and caused those thinges which of themselues were good holsome and to thee most profitable to turne all to thy harme and confusion Truely it had beene better for thee neuer to haue heard of the will and promise of God neuer to haue beene washed and cleansed by the bloude of Christ then after all these to forsake the holy commandements and like a filthy swine to returne to thy wallowing in the mier and as a dogge to lap vp his old vomit Beholde nowe wretched creature that thou art vnto what a dangerous staie thou hast brought thy selfe â— and with what maner of gaping gulf thou art euen ready to be swallowed If the Lord God vouchsafe not in time with mercy to releeue and succour thee it will come to passe that thee by wicked vncleane spirit which was once banished and cast out of the washing of thy newe birth and by the holy ghost will come and take vp his lodging againe in thee and not hee alone but hauing with him seuen other spirites worse then himselfe whereby thy case will be farre worse in the ende then it was in the beginning O wofull case O wretched plight O moste miserable estate Looke well to thy selfe therefore I beseech thee coÌ„sider what thou art acknowledge thy grieuous sinnes and manifolde offences remember the lamentable ende whereunto they will bring thee and therefore bethinke thy selfe night and day and in time seeke for remedy CAAP. 4. Th◠〈◊〉 not be any better way for the true triall and examining of our selues then the diligent and exact consideration of our dealings by the 2. tables of the laws of God commonly called the tenne Comâ—eundements IT is not ynough for thee to confesse thy self in a generality to haue grieuously offended to haue lewdly violated and broken the couenaunt and promise made with God to haue consented to the suggestions of the Deuill and thine own flesh but it is most expedient for thee if thy minde and purpose bee thoroughly and fully to trie and examine thy selfe to rip vp all thy actions and dealinges to the very quicke and precisely to examine and discusse all those sundry wayes and meanes whereby thou haste any way offended either God or thy neybour Heere be thou sure there will bee layd open before thee a large volume a big booke in the which thou shalt prefectly see all thy detestnble sinnes which bee infinite plainly set down clearely written and apparantly discoucred Heerein shalt thou see store of witnesses against thee and heereby beeing brought to thine aunswere and drawne to the barre of Triall thou shalt bee enforced and will thou nill thou driuen to yeelde accompts for euery seuerall fact in particularty And therefore so much as hytherto hitherto hath beene yet spoken may wel seeme small and of little account if wee well weigh and diligently compare the same to that which yet remaineth vntold and which now shalâ— be by Gods good grace particularly handled This tryall or examination cannot any way be so commodiouslie and orderly made as by exactly calling vnto our consideration the written lawe oâ— God with all and singular the members braunches and circumstaunceâ— thereof For the lawe of God otherwise called the Decalogue or tenne Commaundementes is as it were â— cleare and bright Glasse wherein we may by and by and at a blush perfectly beholde our spirituall deformitie And of this lawe the Scripture setteth downe vnto vs three speciall vses First as a most wise Guide of our life it teacheth vs what we are to do and what wee are to leaue vndone what wee are to desire and seeke and what we are to loath and forsake The lawe is giuen to the disobedient to the vngodly and sinners c. Teach mee O Lords the way of thy commaundements Secondly the lawe plainely setteth downe before our eies our manifolde sinnes and transgressions and worketh in vs a sorrowfull griefe and earnest repentaunce for the same By the lawe commeth the knowledge of sinne And againe I knewe not sinne but by the lawe For I had not knowen lust except the lawe had saide Thou shalt not lust And a little after O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from the body of this sinne And in the same Chapter When the commaundement came sinne reuiued but I dyed Thirdly the lawe conuincing vs of most manifest guiltinesse and malediction and no way able to satisfie and pacify the wrath of god for the breach of the same biddeth vs for succour to flee vnto our Mediatour Christ who onely and alone deliuereth vs from malediction and damnation and taketh the curse due vnto vs vpon himselfe And againe The lawe is our schoolemaister to bring vs to Christ LET vs nowe therefore in order run ouer the whole preceptes and commaundements of the lawe of God and let vs pause a while at each falling thee to thine answere for euerie particular Commandement how carefull thou haste beene to keepe them and howe truely thou hast discharged thy bounden duety in obseruing and performing them that when thou haste thus sundry wayes founde thine infirmities and throughly considered thy manifolde transgressions thou mayest certainly knowe that vnlesse the Mediator Iesus Christ vouchsafe to cloth thee with his righteousnesse and to impute vnto thee his obedience and performaunce of the Lawe there is no remedy but that thou must needes bee eternallie damned The first Commaundement therefore is this I am the Lorde thy God which brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt out of the house of bondage Thou shalt haue none other Gods before my face HEre first I wish thee well and throughly to consider what inward sinnes of minde and conscience lodging only within the secrete corners of thy heart be directly committed against this commaundement Then the outwarde sinnes such I mean as openly break out into action and engender many times great disorders and offences And last of al enter into diligent consideration of all such sinnes as seeme to proceede
this coÌ„meth often so to passe as by example we will shewe ¶ If thou haue corrupted anye wares or any other thing which thy neighbour is to buy and then sell theÌ„ vnto him for good first of all thou knowest that thou herein hast sinned against the ix CoÌ„mandement which forbiddeth thee to giue false witnesse But if thou diddest it with an intent and meaning to rake and scrape a priuate gaine vniustly to thy selfe with the losse and hinderance of an other thou art therein guiltie of the breach of the viii Commandement whereby is forbidden all theft If furthermore in this behalfe thou haue deceiued anie that is thy superiour or that is linked to thee in bloud as thy Father or thy Mother the Magistrate the Minister of the Church thy kinseman c. therein hast thou transgressed the fifth Commaundement of honouring Father and Mother To be short if this circumstance do also concurre that this craâ—tie practise were by thee doone on the Sabbaoth day then hast thou heerein incurred the displeasure of Almightie God for prophaning and not sanctifying the Sabbath day Last of all it may bee that in this bargayning and selling some such woordes might passe from thee as might make thee further guiltie For if thou swearest vainely and without cause with an intent meaning to auouch any thing that thou wouldest haue to be beleeued then art thou therein guiltie of the thirde commaundement Thou shalt not take the name of the Lorde thy God in vaine ¶ Thirdly we shall doe well in the examining and dicussing of thy actions to giue thee charge circumspectly to consider euerie particular circuÌ„stance to wit the time the place the person the cause the end the maner the instrument c. No man wil denie but that the offence is farre greater hainouser which is committed on the Sabbath daye or at such time as all men for some publike calamitie are in a generall heauines againe when it is committed in the sight and face of many honest and graue persons furthermore when it is doone by or against any man in high authoritie moreouer when no manner of alluring occasion went afore to drawe or mooue thee to that euill Therefore we may not slightly passe ouer howe much and how greatly these circumstances doe aggrauate and augment thy fault 4 Fourthly it standeth thee vpon moreouer often and many times to consider with thy selfe and plainely to confesse that thou canst neuer call to memorie all thy sinnes committed and againe that thou canst neuer exactly ynough iudge â—ow greeuous detestable those be which doe alreadie come to thy remembraunce For truely and diuinely hath the Prophet set downe who can vnderstand his faults O clense me from my secret faultes For so standeth thy case that euen where thou least thinkest thou there sinnest most greeuously And the thinges which thou thinkest well and iustlie done are in the sight of God and before the tribunall seate of the highe iudge vncleane vnrighteous and deâ—ectrue And therefore the Prophet Isaiah cryeth out thus We haue been all as an vncleane thing and al our righteousnesse is as a filthy clout Seeing therefore the case thus standeth it is thy part and dutie plainely to confesse that much ignoraunce remayneth in thee and that the same is in thee a great sinne for the which vnlesse God in mercy do pardon thee hee may hurle thee headlong into eternall damnation 5 Fiftly thou must consider that there is cause ynough to condemne and pronounce thee guiltie for that thou hast not done those good workes which in the lawe are commaunded For looke how many sinnes in euerie particular commaundement are forbidden so many good workes in euery commaundement are commaunded To euery sinne there ought to answere his contrarie and that is some good worke ¶ Now if thou throughly examine thy conscience thou shalt soone espy that thou hast not perfourmed no not the least part and portion of those thinges which the lawe of God requireth at thy handes yea if thou narrowly search euery corner of thy selfe thou shalt finde that either thou hast fulfilled and perfourmed nothing at all or if thou hast perfourmed anye thing yet shalt thou finde it to be vnperfect corrupt and with some manner of contagion infected For all our obedience is maymed lame and vnperfect Wherefore thou must say as Christ hath taught vs all Although we had done all those things that are commanded vs. yet we are vnprofitable seruauntes Againe The wisedome of the flesh is enimitie against God for it is not subiect to the lawe of God neyther in deede can bee Againe in the 7. Chapter I knowe that in mee that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing for to will is present with me but I finde no meanes to perfourme that which is good And I delight in the lawe of God concerning this inner man but I see an other lawe in my members rebelling against the lawe of my minde and leading me capâ—iâ—e vnto the lawe of sinne which is in my members 6 Sixtly thou must cast in thy mind to consider and record the paines and punishmentes which God threatneth and inflicteth vpon those that disobey and transgresse his commandements Of these paines punishmentes and plagues some be corporall and externall some spirituall and internall Of the first sort are barrainesse and sterilitiâ— of the earth hunger and dearth dissentions and warres diseases pestilence banishmentes shipwrackes inundations and ouerflowings stormes calamities burninges c. Of the latter sort are ignoraunce of the scriptures famine of the woorde of God blindnesse of the minde incredulitie and vnbeliefe induration or hardening of the heart deliuerie and giuing vp into a reprobate sense c. A great beadroll of plagues are reckoned vp in the 28. of Deuteronomie But when it pleaseth him the Lorde can and will send many mo than are there expressed For hee daily prepareth and maketh readie newe scourges whips for disobedient men eueâ— as they dayly commit newe sinnes and offences For alas what miserie doe wee nowe day by day tast and proue what daungers What diseases What other incommodities which as it is to bee thought were not so much as once knowen by the very bare names vnto men in the olde men nor so much as once by any meanes spoken of And withall thou shalt remember and call to minde the examples of such as by the iust iudgement of God are read reported of in the bookes of the sacred scriptures others also to haue been plagued with these punishments either bodily or spiritually and it shall also much further thee to adde hereunto such as thou of thine own knowledge within thy time and memorie hast knowen to haue felt the heauie hande of God 7 Seuenthly it shal be very behouefull for thee to consider that for thy sinnes and offences others linked vnto thee in consanguinitie and kinred are punished namely thy Parentes thy children thy brethren thy
sisters c. euen as thou also somewhile must smart for others sinnes For thus doe we miserable and wretched men draw one an other into daunger and one of vs is guide and companion vnto another in running headlong to the place of torment damnation This doeth God himselfe affirme when as in the beginning of his decalogue he sayth I am the Lorde thy God a ielous God visiting the iniquitie of the fathers vpon the children vpon the third and vpon the fourth generation of them that hauâ— me So for one sinne of king Dauid there were slame many thousandes of his people and for his adulterie committed with Vrias wife the child which she bore him dyed And againe For the sinnes of the people the Lord setteth ouer them cruell tyrauntes and rauening hypocrites Hely the Priest and all his posteritie was punished for the sinnes of his children Ah what a sea of mischiefes doth euen one sinne bring with it 8 Eightly there is yet one thing behinde to be considered which is most dreadfull and formidable By reason of thy sinnes thou art made guiltie of eternall damnation and after greeuous punishmentes sustayned here in this worlde there remayne yet behinde other tormentes to be suffered in an other and the same much more terrible bitter and lasting For there both bodie and soule together are subiected and adiudged to eternall tormentes and fire that neuer shall bee quenched which God from afore the beginning of the world hath prepared for the Diuell and all the contemners of his precepts and commaundements Now how horrible a thing it is and what an vnspeakable punishment it is euerlastingly to be depriued of the presence face of Almightie God and to burne in hell with vnquenchable fire that shal neuer be consumed there is no man that can so much as conceiue in mind or cogitation Goe to nowe therefore whosoeuer thou art and by this that we haue alreadie spoken of the law of the Lord learne to examine thy conscience and to make perfect tryall and suruey of thy selfe Doubtlesse when thou hast a little while continued and gone forward in this way and course which wee haue heere shewed and attentiuely considered such things as haue beene declared I doubt not but that thou wilt by and by and without delay euen wiâ—â— sighes and teares burst out into this confession O heauenly father J haue sinned against heauen and against thee I am not worthie to bee called thy Sonne I am not worthie to lifte vp mine eves towardes heauen Looke howe much I being once in Baptisme purged from my sinnes in the bloud of thy sonne and sanctified by receiuing the holy Ghost did in the same please thee somuch againe must I needes by reason of my manifolde sinnes since coÌ„mitted displease thee Nowe the sinnes which I haue committed if I should go about to number them they are infinite For there is not one of thy holy precepts commaundements against which I haue not committed many offences sundry transgressions Many be they which I haue committed in acte and deede and such as I haue not actually brought to passe and done yet through my corrupt cogitations and vncleane will I am as deepely guiltie of as if I in act had committed them To be briefe my sinnes surmount the sands of the Sea if I make diligent search and inquirie of the greuousnesse of my sinnes I truely find them haynouser greater than I am able to vtter What say I vtter Nay than I can in mind conceiue or in inwarde cogitation comprehende Certes so often as I looke into and behold with the eyes of my minde my frowarde heart cankered stomack peruerse disposition euer enclined to euil which thou Lord most cleerely throughly seest togither with my desire and delight to performe the same the verie remembrance of my great and greeuous maliciousnesse driueth mee into such perplexitie that I no wayes know whither to turne me Whither Lorde shall I go from thy spirit and whither shal J flee from thy presence Yea this further doth merueilously disquiet torment greeue mee for by my sinnes I haue giuen offence that is occasion of fall and ruine to a great sort of others being harmlesse honest persons Wilt thou Lord as a iust and vpright iudge require the bloud of them also at my hands What shal I further do seeing I haue burdened and spotted my conscience by assenting also to other mens sinnes in not disswading reclaiming them before they did euil in not reprouing and rebuking them after they had done euil Ah how much better had it beene that being a man I had neuer beene so familiar among men What miserie is this I am the cause of an other mans offending an other man likewise to me and thus doe wee all encumber and loade one another with sinnes and dragg pull hale drawe one another into the break-necke fall and lamentable gulfe of eternall damnation If thou Lorde wilt strictly looke what is amisse narrowly enquire of our iniquities O Lorde who shal be able to abide it Moreouer when I do somewhat further consider my sinnes I see a great heape yet behind many mo than now come to memorie manye lewde prankes heretofore by me most wickedly haue been don which I then thought had not been wicked neither can I at this present houre sufficieÌ„tly so iudge deeme of them which ignorance blindnesse and infirmitie of mine in this behalf I must needs confesse wil I nill to be imputable vnto me for a most greeuous and haynous sinne And herein I perceiue that although I had committed none euil at all afore yet to haue herein again deserued euerlasting tormentes I had almost sayed why Lord wouldst thou that this naughtie and corrupt ignorance should thus originally be bred in vs and thus still to cleaue vnto vs Alas I haue no sacrifice to offer vnto thee to satisfie for mine ignorance Nowe what shall I say of my negligence in not doing those good works which thou in thy law hast commanded and appointed Or if I haue done any at all yet was it not sincerely done but many wayes infected with hipocrisie and other vices For to omitte a good worke and to doc an ill worke are with thee accompted alike All these things therefore I coÌ„fesse do most vehemently good cause why disquiet and greeue inee For my sinnes are they for which O God thou iustly inflictest greeuous punishments and plagues aswell spirituall and internall as corporall and externall And whereas I dayly finde the same by experience true partly in my selfe partly in others yet such is my blindnesse hardnesse of heart that I am nothing at all as yet mooued thereby vnto any repentance or amendment To al these aforesaid euils there is to be added yet another heap of mischiefs vz that for these sinnes of mine a great many other innocents gyltles persons be ioyntly with me for
me wrapped in woes and subiected to miserie danger and inconuenience O Lord wilt thou thus in thy iustice destroy and make hauoke of thy iust for vs being wretched vniust and miserable caitises Last of all for these my great hainous and manifolde offences knowen and hidden priuie apert there is due yet vnto me after this life after this temporall death another death eternall continuing euerlastingly in neuer dying torments Is thy lawe O Lord being good righteous holy thus become to be vnto me death But I may not nor I ought not O God to ascribe and impute these most wretched miseries and extreeme Calamities vnto thy law but to mine owne peruerse froward and crooked affections and to my generally and entierly corrupted will To my selfe to my selfe I saye must all this miserie be ascribed my selfe only may I thanke for all this heauie plight and wretchednesse O wretch that I am who shall deliuer me from the body of this death Here nowe hast thou as it were a certaine Mirrour or glasse wherein thou maist behold thy self what a one thou art in the sight of God and in Iawe of God accusing thee before the tribunall seate of iudgement In this glasse of the lawe thou maiest behold thy spirituall deformitie and ouglinesse which thou must vnderstande so long to dwell remayne â—oiourne and cleaue vnto thee as thou continuest transgressing the lawe of God through thy greeuous and dayly offences Of Repentance and also of Contrition or Mortification CHAP. V. WHen thou hast nowe thus farre profited and reaped this benefit by the lawe that thou are therby brought to the acknowledgement of thy sinnes the next is with all thy minde and vttermost endeuour to betake thy selfe vnto an earnest and heartie repentance and to flee vnto Christe for succour pardon and forgiuenesse of all thy sinnes and offences Vnlesse wee acknowledge our sinnes earnestly repent vs for the same wee shall as Christ sayth perish And the Apostle Peter setting before the eyes of the lewes their cruell obstinate and wilfull sinnes when as he spake vnto theÌ„ saying This Jesus whom God hath made both Lorde and Christe haue ye crucified brought them vnto an acknowledgment of their sins And therfore anon after in the same place when as they by acknowledging their sinnes were marueilously troubled in minde and pricked in heart he replyed vnto theÌ„ and sayd Repent ye and amend your liues Therefore it is not sufficient to acknowledge our sinnes but there must followe also an earnest and effectuall Repentaunce with all his circumstances and partes Nowe Repentance is nothing else but an earnest conuersion turning to God of a sinner meekely and humbly acknowledging his sinnes and iniquities And it consisteth summarily in these two points Contrition and fayth as many places of the Scriptures doo plainely and cuidently declare Repent sayth Christ and beleeue the Gospell Where the first meÌ„ber signifieth Contrition the second Faith Againe Repâ—ntye of your former life for the kingdom of heaueÌ„ is at hande In which sentence there is likewise both Contrition and also Fayth included Hereunto also is to be referred that which is cyted and alleaged by the Apostle both in his Epistle to the Romanes and also to the Collossians touching mortification and also viuification Contrition therefore setteth before our eies the heauie wrath of God and the punishmentes due for sinne On the other side Faith setteth before vs the mercies of God free pardoÌ„ forgiuenesse and viuification or quickening againe The one laieth open and discouereth vnto God our wound and disease the other sheweth forth receiueth from God a suppling salue a mollifying plaster a soueraigne recuratiue medicine The one groaneth vnder the burden of sinne sorrowfully bewaileth his heauy plight the other bringeth easement affordeth refection Come vnto me sayth our Sauiour Christ all ye that labour and he heauie laden and I will refresh you To bee short the one throweth down to hell the other fetcheth from thence and lifteth vp to heauen To drawe therefore the effect of all the chiefest and especialest pointes to be considered of in this matter into small roume and briefe wordes Contrition is a most vehement affliction troublesome vexation and perplexed consternation of the mind yea of the whole man caused through remembraunce and acknowledgement of his sinnes also of a feare of Gods heauie iudgements and deserued punishmentes So that all this abashment vexation affliction perplexitie and consternation hath his residence and dwelling in the minde insomuch that although there appeare withall sometimes vpon the sodaine certaine outward tokens externall signes thereof as confession of the mouth teares sighing groaning abstinence from meate and drinke loathing renouncing or contempt of all worldly matters and externall dealings with such like yet because our question in this place is not of counterfeite cloaked dissembled and vnperfect but of true syncere perfect and effectual Contrition we must needes sounde the very depth of the heart and the very innermost and secretest corners of the Conscience And to this end are the wordes of the Prophet Dauid where hee sayth Thou desirest no sacrifice O God though I woulde giue it neyther delightest thou in burnt offering The sacrifices of God are a contrite spirite a contrite and broken hart O God thou wilt not despise And againe Heale mee O Lorde for my bones are sore vexed and my soule is sore troubled And a litle after in the same Psalme I sainted in my mourning I cause my bed euery night to swimme and water my couch with my teares So also Peter remembring and acknowledging howe greeuously he had sinned in denying Christ went out and wept bitterly Seeing therefore that true syncere and not hypocriticall Contrition is a thing meerely internall and spiritual there is no man but well vnderstandeth that it is a spirituall gifte and a singular benefite of almightie God who onely openeth the eyes of our mindes to see and confesse our sinnes and offences If then it bee the good gift of God it standeth euery one of vs vpon incessauntly to craue at the handes of our heauenly father to endue vs seely creatures and miserable forlorne wretches with his grace to vnderstand and bewaile our greeuous sinnes wickednes manifoldly committed For whosoeuer after his transgression fall hath not this contrite spirite this brused and broken heart as the Prophet tearmeth it and this spirituall mortification for his sinnes to such an one it may seeme that the way to all recouerie and amendment is shut vp and stopped For Contrition is as it were a keye that openeth and driueth backe the hidden bolt and openeth the doore which kept vs backe from comming againe to God Neither canst thou alleage for thine excuse that thou lackest time or that thou art not able to perfourine and fulfill so manie harde pointes and difficult workes whereby to testifie and declare thy
vp againe out of the water betokened thy resurrection and rysing againe to newnes and amendment of life And it did represent vnto thee that like as Christ died was buried and raised vp from the dead for thee so shouldest thou continually walke in righteousnes and true holinesse Call further to remembrance what great benefites thou hast receiued in Baptisme asivel in being thereby assured of the good promises of God there and then made vnto thee as also in being therby the more encouraged stirred vp to performe such thinges as thou for thy part there diddest promise and vndertake First thy sinnes all some both originall actuall and accessarie were there freely remitted and forgiuen thee Sinne ceased there to be imputed vnto thee and a newe righteousnes eueÌ„ the righteousnes of Iesus Christ was bestowed vpon thee The force and strength of that sinne which naturally dwelt in thee is broken vanquished that nowe it should not be able as afore to raigne any more in thy mortal bodie neither that thou shouldest obey the lusts thereof Our old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might bee destroyed that henceforth we should not serue sinne For indeed sinne is in Baptisme remitted done away but not so as that we should for euer after be cleare and voide of it but that it should not be any more laide to our charge or imputed vnto vs and that it shoulde not raigne in vs or beare soueraigne rule and domination ouer vs. As Augustine doth very well note in his Epistle to Julian and in his exposition of the 102. Psalme but most excellently and plainely is it sette out and explaned by the blessed Apostle Paule in his Epistle to the Romaines I delight in the lawe of God concerning the inner man but I see an other Law in my members rebelling against the Law of my mind leading me captiue vnto the Lawe of sinne which is in my members c. There is also the holy Ghost giuen vnto thee in Baptisme and that partly to bee as it were an earnest-peny of vndoubted assuraunce to thy conscience for all those good and speciall benefites which thou art to receiue specially after this life and partly to bee as it were a cooperator in their sanctification to assist vs in resisting all the euill suggestions of the wicked spirite of sin naturally bredde in vs. The spirite faith Paule helpeth our infirmities For it cannot otherwise be but that whosoeuer receiueth the Holy Ghost receiueth also many other most singular gifts and excellent blessings For as he is a gift himself so is he likewise a bountifull bestower a liberall disposer of gifts heauenly spirituall He strengthneth our faith he enkindleth in vs loue hee fostereth hope hee stirreth vs vp to shew forth the fruites of good works and to be short he sanctifieth and directeth the whole man These sixe most notable and excellent thinges were at the time when thou diddest receiue Baptisme fully concluded effectually professed and autentically sealed partly in thee and partly through and by thee and ought therefore of thee to bee borne in memory neuer to slide out of thy daily and hourely remembrance Now doth it stand thee vpon yea it is thy bounden duty and an especiall part of thy chiefest care diligently to consider in what case thou standest thou must I say now enter into thine owne Conscience and there make a true suruey of all thy dealinges howe thou art howe thou hast beene in life and actions answerable vnto the same and after what sort thou hast perfourmed thy promise and obserued these thy sealed couenants God for his part doth doubtlesse stand to his promise for hee is true and faithfull and neuer starteth from his worde nor changeth his purpose And therefore gaue he to thee then and from that time foorth his holy spirit as a pledge of his faithfull promise and assured good will towardes thee Now if thou on the other side wilt for thy part exactly sift out and search thy self how thou hast discharged thy vowed couenants performed these thy faithfull and solemne promises thou shalt without all doubt finde thy selfe many and sundrie waies guiltie Confesse the truth I pray thee and speake vnfainedly whether thou hast not since that time fallen into thine olde byas and turned backe to thine old crooked nature and corrupt manners Whether the lawe of thy members and the reliques of sinne naturally still cleauing vnto thee haue not manie times prouoked allured mooued yea enforced thee to attempt practise some thing against the lawe of God Whether thou haue not sometimes listened giuen eare and place vnto SathaÌ„ who alwaies lieth in waite to catch theee and hearkened to his wicked temptations allurementes counsells and suggestions Whether thou haue so intirely continued dead vnto sinne that thou hast hitherto liued onely vnto righteousnesse Alas it is too plaine and true that thine owne Conscience heerein accuseth thee and within thee with open crie testifieth against thee that thou hast most hainouslie manie times reuolted from thy bargaine falsified thy promise and careleslie run headlong into manifest iniquitie If this then bee true as alas it is most true there is no shift but thou needs must acknowledge coÌ„fesse thy selfe to be a creature most vile wicked miserable For first thou must needs yeeld that thou art a leaguebreaker a falsifier of promise a despiser open violatour of thy couenant made vnto God the father then which what can bee more horrible Thou hast frustrated the wholsome effects of the death resurrection of Iesus Christ wherein thou hast with no lesse contumelie reproched Christ then they which nailed him on the Crosse Thou hast greeued the holy Ghost displaced him who had made a choise of thee as of an house to dwell in The Angells of God whom afore by thy repentance mortification thou causedst to reioyce ouer tâ—ee now by thy new fall lewdnesse thou hast brought to sorrowe for thee The whole Church which reioiced and was glad when shee receiued thee for one of her dear new Citizens conceiued good hope of thy Christian towardnes thou hast now shamefully deceiued drawen into sorowful lamentation To be short thou hast despoiled and bereft thy selfe of those giftes which with the holy Ghost and by the holy Ghost were bountifully liberally bestowed vpon thee What shift or meane therefore remaineth if the Lorde being a iust and righteous iudge shoulde strictly deale with thee for thy misdeedes and narrowly looke into thy transgressions but that before his Tribunall seate in the heauenly consistorye God the father God the sonne and God the holy Ghost accompanied with infinite legions of blessed Angels in the sight of the whole Church behoâ—ding approuing it should pronounce thee for one that hast worthely deserued eternall death euerlasting punishment as a periured
haue solde his clothes for fully wrought and throughly readie when they haue not been fully throughly workemanlike finished Whether he haue according to bargaine and promise faithfully paied his worke-folkes as Carders Spinners weauers Fullers and others of whom he can not but haue alwayes a great manie ¶ Vintener Tauerner VVhether he haue solde and retayled his wine or other his drinke whatsoeuer in such plight sort and none other than he receiued the same that is to say without anye mixture of water or other stuffe and againe whether in iust and true measure c. ¶ Butcher Whether he haue sold the flesh of a rotten and infected Beast in stead of sound and wholsome Againe whether by iust and true waight And againe whether he haue vttered and chopped away one kinde of fleshe insteede of an other as Goates flesh for Rammes Mutton c. ¶ Baker Whether he haue vsed any sleight or deuise to make his breade waigh heauie Whether he haue changed the good Meale fine flower that others haue brought vnto him putting worse in the place thereof Whether he haue put more stoare of branne into his meale than hee ought to doe ¶ Gamester Whether he haue accustomed to play for money at any vnlawefull and forbidden game as dycing c. Whether hee haue beene importunate to entice others to gaming Whether hee haue wonne other folkes money by cogging false play Whether he haue played wonne money of those that haue not anye thing of their owne or in their owne power to loose as Children seruants prentises c. Whether he haue retayned kept to his owne vse the money and other thinges that he hath gained wonne at vnlawfull games and haue not restored the same according to the very meaning of the lawe Whether any person whosoeuer he be hath wasted his goods and money at playing and gaming ¶ Stage-player Bawde c. Whatsoeuer is gotten by these naughtie practises and filthy trades are to be vnderstood and deemed as lewdly fraudulently gotten And therefore all such are chargeable and liable to this crime of thest and are bound in conscience to restitution ¶ Begger Whether being lustie and sounde of lymmes able to labour and get his owne lyuing he begge seeke almes abroad In which doing he doth robbe spoyle those which are poore indeede and feedeth himselfe with other mens labours ¶ Children Boyes and Gyrles Whether they haue giuen or accustomed themselues to â—ilch fruite meate or anie other thinges and if they haue chaunced to finde any thing whether they haue beene diligent willing to restore it to the owner For from small pickinges and filcheries by litle and little they will growe to greater To conclude Whether in coÌ„mitting any of the aboue remembred sins thou hast giuen occasion to others to commit the like that is to say whether by word or deed contrarie to the renor and effect of this commaundement thou hast beene an offence and stumblingblocke to others And againe whether seeing others to committe any of these aforesaide faultes thou haue secretly thereto assented not shewing any signe or token of thy great mislike thereof when as good time and opportunitie thereunto serued thee For not the actuall doers onely but the consenters eyther directly or vndirectly accessaries thereunto be also faultie and guiltie The 9. Commandement Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy neighbour Sinnes inward WHether thou haue at any time dissembled the truth or not vttered maintayned it when as often as coÌ„ueniently thou mightest and shouldest and whether slylie and secretly marking other folkes wordes and deedes thou haue wrested and construed them to the worst part Whether thou hast attributed and ascribed to thy selfe more dignity credite reputation and desert then there was any cause why and whether thou hast wished an other mans estimation and countenance to be empaired or disgraced Whether thou hast enuied maligned or spighted at any others good giftes whether they be of the minde of the body or or as wee commonly tearme it of fortune For hereunto belongeth all malicious swelling and enuious conceiptes of the minde for the welfare of others Whether thou hast sought anye meanes or wayes to discredite annoy or disparage the fame of any other and by thy sinister reporting of them hast gone about to bring their credite question and themselues into danger among persons of authoritie and high calling or any other whomsoeuer Sinnes outward WHether thou hast told any vntruth or lie wherby any matter hath gone awrie or some losse hath ensued or might haue ensued to any whether the same hath bin done in place of iudgement or else in the hearing and assembly of fewe or in any other place Whether by any craftie deuise or peeuish exposition thou hast in the hearing of others wraÌ„glingly wrested any mans wordes or deedes whatsoeuer to other sense and meaning then they were simplie spoken and intended Thinges amisse ought rather with lenitie to bee mitigated than with extremitie to be aggrauated and exasperated Whether thou haue of set purpose depraued the good speeches and orderly doings of others Whether thou hast prouoked any others to do the like or hast seemed to allow like wel and approue them that willingly and wittingly haue so done neither defended excused nor extenuated the matter when as notwithstanding thou well knewest that it was falsely maliciously and vndeseruedly practised Whether thou hast contumeliously and reprochfully taunted mocked or abused any person or as it were skoffingly gybingly and iestingly so flowted him that in the meane while thou both diddest and purposedst in thy minde couertly and poynantly to harme him Whether thou hast laide any fault to any mans charge or made report to others that hee hath committed some crime wherof he is cleere guiltlesse and ignorant Whether in reporting some offence or crime which another hath in deed committed thou haue odiously amplified and by thy wordes made the fame worse and greeuouser than it was either by adding diminishing or altering intending thereby to perswade the hearers to iudge deeme the worse of the partie Whether thou hast maliciously published discouered and made openly knowen any crime that was secret hidden Whether thou hast brought complaint of any crime being open and knowen to the higher power buâ— yet with a meaning and desire rather to hurt and vndo then to recure and amend the partie Whether being requested enioyned or commaunded thou hast at any time apeached or accused any whom there was no neede to be accused and specially least of all by thee Vnderstand this chiefely when as Tirants persecutours make inquirie search for good and godly men or at least for such as be no wayes harmefull to the Common wealth c. Whether for flatterie thou hast extenuated any mans faultes or extolled and highly amplified his actes and dealings being but meane and indifferently so so Whether by
contrition For seeing that it is wholly resident in the heart and there onely consisteth it is brought to passe and perfourmed in verie short space of time yea in a verie moment and further euen with the onely affections of the minde Moreouer which will make thee more to marueile that which thou once in this sort faithfully humbly atchiuest remaineth firme acceptable and ratified of God for euer after so that thou haue a stedfast an hartie purpose neuer againe to returne to thy former wickednesse For in contrition thou must wholly and altogether die vnto thy sinnes that is thou must so renounce them as though thou neuer intedest any more to haue any dealing therwith And such doutlesse was the Contrition of the Publicane whose wordes were verie briefe and fewe God bee mercifull vnto me a sinner Such Contrition was also in the Theefe which was crucified with Christe saying Lorde remember mee when thou commest into thy kingdome He therefore that will earnestly repent and come into the fauour of God againe must bee touched with such an incomparable grief for his sinnes committed that he must resolutely and directly confesse himselfe to haue thereby iustly deserued al those plagues which God by Moses and the Prophetes hath threatned and thundered out vpon all the despisers of his worde and contemners of his Maiestie and that if God being by nature most mercifull should not vouchsafe to haue mercie and compassion on him he must needes and that presently incurre the greeuous daunger and feele intollerable smart thereof Wee were purposed hereunto to haue annexed some briefe and compendious fourme of confession and therein to haue made a plaine discouerie and and anatomie of all the affections of a corrupt heart and also to haue brought in the sorrowfull sinner confessing himselfe to haue iustly deserued all plagues and punishmentes aswell of this life present as of the life to come and aswell corporall as spirituall and further also to haue described him vtterly denying and renouncing himselfe and so humbly standing before the tribunall of the Lorde his God and iudge submitting himselfe wholly vnto his diuine pleasure and blessed will wayting for that sentence and doome which shall best please him But because partly in the Chapter last afore we haue alreadie in some sort deliuered such a confession and partly for that in the sacred scriptures many good godly praiers are to be found set forth by the auncient fathers and holy men of God euery godly zealous and well disposed man may therin vertuously exercise himselfe and thence take out for his godly comfort plentifull examples of Christian meditation Of this sort there bee prayers for sinnes in Exodus in the booke of Nūbers in Deuteronomie Bookes of Salomon Daniel Ezra Ieremie c. In the Psalmes also there are many fitly agreeing to this present purpose namely these the 32. 36. 30. 50. 51. 56. 58. 62. 71. 73. 88. 92. 102. Of Faith and how sinners are againe iustified through faith in Iesus Christ CHAP. VI. AFter thou hast thus some space like a giltie suppliant suter prostrated thy selfe at the feet of thy iust and righteous iudge and art driuen vnto such a straite and narrowe issue that thou canst not any manner of wayes denie but that thou hast deserued and art most woorthie of all terrible and eternall punishmentes and with the feare of this iudgement art verie sore a mazed terrified and perplexed yea altogether mortified brought to deathes brinke the next waye and remedie for thee nowe is by fayth in the mercies of God to rayse vppe thy selfe againe meekely and humbly crauing pardon of thy sinnes and misdeedes Vnto this humble prostrating of thy selfe thou wast both profitably and necessarily driuen through humble confession of thy sinnes and meeke contrition of thy heart But nowe thou must take heede and beware that by consideration of the seueritie of Gods iudgements thou bee not vtterly discouraged dashed out of countenance and thereby enter into any dispaire diffidence or distrust of the goodnesse of God It shall be very requisite therefore for thy comfor and as a soueraigne salue and cordiall medicine against this inconuenience to lay downe before thee some holesome and health some doctrine howe thou shalt haue ful remission and foregiuenesse of al thy sins through faith in Iesus Christ Cain acknowledged confessed his sinne and being therefore in minde marueilously troubled graunted it to be most greeuous and haynous Iudas likewise openly condemneth himselfe for his great guilt and treacherous crime in betraying his maister publiquely testifying and pronouncing Christ to bee iust and innocent and further restoreth backe the money which hee had receiued What will ye saye lacked in him here to be done more And yet neyther of them both obtayned pardon of their sinnes why forsooth because this free franke confession of their sinnes was not accompanied with a liuely fayth and vndoubted trust in the mercies of God for pardon and forgiuenes thereof Contrariwise Peter bewayled and wept bitterly for his sinne but yet so that in the meane while he shrūke not frō his firme faith And therefore within a while after he receiued a singular comfort and speciall consolation from the mouth of Christe himselfe after his resurrection Therefore it is out of all doubt that faith is altogether and necessarily behoouefull to all true penitent sinners wherewith they may raise vp thē selues againe being throwen downe with the burden of their offences And nowe howe truely sorrowfull and repentant sinners may by fayth againe be raysed vp we will plainely and euidently declare Faith is a sure and stedfast trust whereby we assure our selues that god will performe vnto vs all those things that he hath promised chiefely and specially spirituall benefites and in them remission of our sinnes and righteousnesse in Christ for Christ Which is confirmed by the authour of the Epist to the Heb in these wordes Faith is the grounde of thinges which are hoped for and the euidence of thinges which are not scene The interpretation and exposition of which description so farre as concerneth the vse and practise thereof who so is desirous to know may see set down in the 4. chap. of the Epist to the Rom. Wherein after the Apostle had sayde that Abraham was iustified by faith and that the inheritaunce of the worlde was giuen to him through fayth he afterwarde addeth that this reuerend and blessed Patriarch had respect vnto the goodnesse and power of God whereby hee quickeneth the dead calleth those things which bee not as though they were And therefore that aboue hope that he should be the father of many Nations according to that which was spoken to him So shall thy seede be And be not weake in this fayth considered not his owne bodie which was now dead being almost an hundreth yeares old neither the deadnesse of