A TREATISE of the right way froÌ„ Danger of Sinne vengeance in this wicked worlde vnto godly wealth and saluation in CHRISTE Made by Th. Leuer and now newly augmented Seene and allowed according to the order appointed clearly and sincerely preached and professed then and there is moste acceptable time and saluation and moste perillous time daunger and damnation moste acceptable tyme and saluation for them that vnderstande beleeue and professe the same truely and most perillous time daunger and damnation for them that neglecte refuse or abuse the same corruptly For the one sorte shall bee taken as children out of a Schoole too enioy their Fathers inheritance the other shall bee taken as beasts out of a pasture vntoo the day of slaughter Those that learne and folowe the will and wisedome of God in the worde of God shal be sure as Gods childreÌ„ to haue al things necessarie and comfortable by Gods prouidence and also to inherite Gods kingdome and those that feede their owne affections in fleshly lustes and in worldly vanities shall bee taken as beastes from the pasture vntoo slaughter from pleasure and pastime worldely vnto payne and perdition eternally Consider therfore how Gods children learne by Gods woorde written in holy Scripture for theire learning so as in reading or hearing of the same they seeke and finde comfort of conscience with suche meditation of the meaning thereof as doothe dayly mortifie their carnall affections All others do eyther vtterly refuse or corruptly abuse the woorde of God euer feeding their carnall affections I say suche as refuse Gods worde do feede their affections in worldely vanities and fleshely lustes and such as abuse Gods worde do feed also their affections in some ceremoniall superstitions or hypocriticall abuse of Gods woorde But Gods children bee all taught of God so too vse the hearing reading and meditation of Gods woorde written in holy Scriptures by inspiration of God taught also as the woorde of faith preached by ministers and preachers sent of God that thereby Gods spirite dothe put good lawes intoo their minds and write them in their heartes And then they feling their myndes illuminated with the truth and theirs hearts inflamed with the sincerity and simplicitie of Gods woorde may boldly and comfortably say that God of his owne good will hath begotten vs by the worde of truthe wee are nowe borne not of blood not of the will of fleshe nor of the will of man but of god VVee are nowe not in the fleshe but in the spirite bycause the spirite of God dwelleth in vs. So then wee are nowe detters not vntoo the fleshe too lyue after the fleshe but vntoo the spirite For if wee shoulde liue after the fleshe wee shoulde die but if wee mortifie the deedes of the bodye by the spirite wee shall lyue Therefore Gods children vse the hearing reading preaching and meditation of Gods woorde not to feede but to kill their carnall lustes All others whether that they doo vtterlye refuse or else accepte and vse the woorde of God yet they doo but feede carnall affections through diuelishe illusions eyther with worldely vanities and fleshely lustes euidently or else with some abuse of Gods woorde colourably and corruptly Of this matter did I wryte a little Booke beyng at Geneua in the time of Queene Maries raigne when I was there by diuerse Englishe men mooued and requested too cause it too bee printed and so then with a lyttle Preface I dyd sende many of those Bookes so printed intoo this Realme of Englande And nowe finding none of those Bookes too be solde in anie place but beeing of some desired too peruse one of them whiche was founde in a freendes hande and putte it too printing agayn with some admonition meete for this tyme I haue â—ritten this Epistle or Preface aduertising and desiring all suche as will reade it so to search the holie Scriptures and their owne consciences that they may see and take occasions to pittie and praye for them selues for all men and especially for the Queenes moste excellent Maiestie and all those that bee in aucthoritie vnder her that wee may liue a peaceable and quiet life with godlynesse and honestie And not too vse suche feeding of their owne affections as causeth suspecting enuying mysliking and mysreporting of others especially of such as be in authoritie for that of such thinges commonly commeth greate daunger and the vtter ouerthrowe of the Churche and Common wealth with all vngodlinesse and iniquitie And seeing that the grace of God that bringeth saluation to all men hath appeared teaching vs that wee forsaking vngodlinesse and worldly lustes shoulde liue soberly righteously and godlily in this presente worlde Therefore lette vs not in feeding our owne worldly and fleshly affections prouoke God vtterly too ouerthrowe but in learning and folowing the will and wisedome of God reuealed and taught in Gods woorde by Gods grace pray and desire God too preserue and prosper our Church and common wealth with the gouernours of the same in Christ Iesu. At London 1571. THOMAS LEVER VNTO Englande wisheth grace mercie and peace of God in Christ. WHEN as I did perceyue that my presence and preaching in Englande should not muche profit then did I take a long iourney or pilgremage vntoo holie places voyde of Images inhabited with good Sainctes nowe liuing whereas in prayer vntoo God studie of the scriptures and councelling with godly lerned men I did euer desire and seeke some way too helpe my natiue countrie And nowe truely if any man or woman belonging vntoo Englande and abyding there or elsewhere will reade this little Booke diligentely they shall see the way howe too please God too profit their countrie too discharge their duetie too comforte their consciences and too tourne all perillous Plagues intoo plentifull prouision of all thinges necessarie and commodious for their countrie beyng Christes Churche for themselues and for all theirs Therfore ô Englande I an Englishe man enuying or hating no person high or lowe riche or poore but of charitie afore God wishing to euery one as too my selfe haue made dedicate and sent this little booke vntoo thee as a token to witnesse my will and acknowledge my duetie towardes thee God graunt that suche thinges as bee well made and ment for thee may be well taken and vsed of thee vnto Gods glorie vntoo thy profit and vntoo the comfort of Christians in Christ. For I take God to witnes that I doo not mean or purpose to charge any maner of persons with any faultes or too threaten them with any plagues but such as their owne conscience shall force them to finde in the lawes and commaundementes of God nor also too flatter any person in forging fayned shifts and refuges but faithfully to teache euery man that plaine way of godly healthe and welthe whiche is conteyned in the common creede in that fayth whiche the holie catholike Churche of Christe doth professe Therfore all my laboure in studie and prayer for thee vntoo God
no holinesse nor nothing holie vnto any man For it is not only the holy ghost in the heart and minde of man that sanctifieth that maketh and kéepeth pure and holy The holy catholicke church I knowe and thinke assuredly that I and all Christians be one church one congregation in suche vnitie of liuely faithe whiche worketh by charitie as dothe euer kéepe vs togither as members of one bodie in Christe although wée be farre asunder by reason of diuers times and places in the worlde and by the holy spirite worde and sacraments of God in this church is such holinesse as doth euer striue and preuaile against vngodlines such holinesse as is the continual purging of men from their sins to furnishe and garnishe them with godly righteousnesse in christ This Church or congregatioÌ„ is so catholike so made one of many so made one mysticall bodie in Christ of many men in all places as is one mannes naturall body of diuers members euery one seuerally hauing their own places and proportions all together ioyned accordingly in one body of one person And so the communion of Sainctes The vnitie of them that be sanctified redemed and deliuered from the seruice of the Diuell the flesh and the worlde to glorifie God in holinesse and righteousnesse is by Christ and in Christ a common comfort and coÌ„moditie vnto al them of euery thing that is good or profitable vnto any of them which although many times they caÌ„not bée séene and perceyued of worldely men nor well knowne one to another yet being all of one faith be euer altogether afore god in one mind as members of one body to haue communion comfort and commodity euery one with al other in Christ their head And as it was sayde they haue Moses and the Prophets let them heare them so haue wée always in this holy catholike Church the foundatioÌ„ of the Prophets Apostels Christ being the beade corner stone albeit not their personsin bodily preseÌ„ce yet their examples of liuing and truthe of doctrine in their wrytings so that euer therein wée may sée and perceyue that face and fashion of the holie catholicke Churche which God hath ordayned to be so shewed as moste expedient and sufficient vnto all men at al times and all places The Remission of sinnes In this Church of Christ and companie of Saintes I knowe and receiue freely by fayth forgiuenesse of sins which be so great and gréeuous debts as do deserue death and damnation and as the least of them could neuer haue bene dyscharged but onely by the precious passion and oblation of Christ once for all The resurrection of the body I know and loke that our bodies by sin of man deseruiug death to decay in corruptioÌ„ shall by the might and merite of Christ be raised to receiue glory immortalitie And life euerlasting And finally that bodies and soules in ioy and glory shal liue for euer in the kingdome of god when as we shall receiue our inheritaunce with Christ in whom according vnto Gods promises and our fayth al these things be most sure and certaine that is to say Amen So be it Now thus beleuing and comparing the kingdome of heauen with the pleasures of Paradise and the holinesse of regeneration with the purenesse of creation I finde and féele how that I do get more and better by faith in Christ than that which I did loose by sinne in Adam Yea I haue good vnderstanding and comfortable experience how that God hath concluded al men vnder sin to be mercyful vnto all how that the scripture truely describing declaring the righteousnesse of God and the sinfulnesse of man hath concluded all men vnder their owne sinnes that righteousnesse which coÌ„meth of the faith of Christ might be giuen vnto the beléeuers howe that through the righteousnesse of the lawe and infirmities of mannes flesh God doth make greate aboundance of sinne to appeare in all mens beedes and deseruings that more aboundaunce of grace might bée graunted and giuen by the merits of Christ vnto all that receyue and beleeue the Gospell O blessed be God for the gifte of this beléefe by the which he maketh the losse of the plesures of Paradise through maÌ„s sinne to serue vnto the inheritance of the kingdome of Heauen by gods grace And the sinfull sorowes in mans conscience to be coÌ„fortable signes and tokens of sauing health by Christes Phisicke and medicines And all dangers plagues and vengeance for sinne in the world to driue men to assurance of health and wealth by faith in the Lorde There can be nothing so sure certaine as this faith which commeth by hearing of Gods worde which is the worke of Gods spirite whiche is confirmed by the life doctrine and death of al that euer were Prophets Apostles Euangelists Martyres to teach and witnesse Gods truth For this faith is not only a knowledge of the grace mercy goodnesse of God but also an assurance of the same vnto mannes self by the word sprite of god So that it is the ground worke stay of al good hope the argument and euideÌ„ce of all such mysteries as be hid and couered from worldlings to be reserued and reueled only vnto Gods children Therefore any man may easely learne to speake these wordes but the goodnesse of God towards maÌ„ by these words signified is such as can not be knowne or perceiued of them which be of bloud or of the will of the Flesh or of the wil of man but only of them whiche be borne of God whiche be priuiledged by Christ to be the children of god For this beléef is not of the fréewill of man â—ut of the holy spirit of God not by keping customes or traditions of men but by hearing the word of God by hearing or reading the glad tidings of the Gospell in such sorte as can not be reueled but onely in Christ of the heauenly father by the holie ghost vnto Gods children The blind eyes of wittie worldlings in séeking for worldely wealth contemning Gods worde can sée and finde in déede nothing but the wrath and vengeance of God in al things and especially in sicknesse plagues wars and losse of any lands or goods but the cleare eyes of faythfull christians by the light of the Gospell seeking the kingdome of god and the righteousnesse therof in all things and especially in losse of anie góodes or suffering any paynes do euer sée the mercifull pitie and tender loue of their heauenly father alwayes keping them vnder the rodde of correction and the crosse of persecution â–ª as his most deare children All Iewish persons wil haue such a Messias as shall make them Princes and prelates in a worldely kingdome faythfull christians haue the sonne of god their Lord and sauior which hath bought and brought them from this world to bee a holie people and kingly priesthode vnto God in his heauenly Hierusalem The Crosse the passion death of Christ is an offence vnto all such
Christ by his comming and suffering hath abolished all figures and shadows of sacrifices and ceremonies ouercomming in déede sinne death and damnation and ascending bodily vp into heauen hath sent downe the holie ghost to beare witnesse and work with the preachers of his gospell vpon earth whiche as faithfull messangers of the Lorde earnestly exhorte and humbly beseech men in Christ that they woulde bée reconciled vnto god Wherfore now after sufficient experience and tryall of all things and vtter abolishement of such as nowe might bée euil or vnprofitable God the father of mercie and pitie through the merits meanes of Christ his son by the power and presence of the holie Ghost euer woorking and witnessing with the Ministers of the Gospell doth so mooue and dispose purifie and sanctifie the harts and mindes of men as teacheth and causeth them by fayth to flee dangers of dānation deserued by their owne déedes vnto assurance of saluation in Christes merites They be taught to beleue in God by the sonne the spirite the woorde and messangers of God. I do not meane that they be taught only to say I beléeue as the Church doth or only to say the summe of a good beléefe in an vnknowen language but that as God by the minister of his worde and power of his spirit teacheth so their heartes and minds conceiue their mouthes confesse and the fruites of their charitable works bée agreable in such wise as euery one of them most truly and comfortable doth think and may say with the holie catholike Church I beleue in God the father almightie maker of heauen and earth I which was by nature a childe of wrath borne and liuing in sinne vnder Sathan in the kingdome of darkenesse nowe of grace through the holy ghost by the immortall séede of Gods worde being newe begotten and new borne vnto the kingdome of God Do beleeue as certainely as of moste sure ground and as throughly as of great triall and experience I do know and trust in god the father almightie that God which is all goodnesse in himselfe hath of his fatherly loue and almightie power made mée his good creature and deer child so that he will for euer be a gracious God and louing father vnto me which is the maker of heauen and earth which hath created and made doth rule and order al things in heauen and earth vnto his honour and glorie and vnto my comfort and cōmoditie For as hée being the Lord ouer all hath declared himself to bée a father vnto me by his promise so I am sure of the inheritance of all being his childe by faith And in Iesus Chryste hys onely sonne our Lorde I haue good knowledge by sure truste in Iesus the Sauioure of his people from their sinnes that I shall bée saued from my sinnes and from all euilles throughe Christ the annointed King priest and prophet that I shall bée a christian that I shal be annointed with grace of Christes spirit to be partaker of the kingly priesthode and godly wisedome of Christ that in such holinesse righteousnesse and godlinesse as is acceptable before him I may offer the sacrifice of my selfe in seruing him al the dayes of my life and haue the crowne of glory with him in his kingdome in the kingdom vnto the which he hath redéemed vs that is of nature and substance vnto God his only sonne making vs his brethren and Gods children by grace and adoption so that wée must take him to be our Lorde obeying the authoritie learning the doctrine and following the example of him as of our onely gouerner scholemaster and pastour VVhich vvas conceyued by the holie Ghost borne of the Virgin Mary Which in taking by the holy Ghost of a pure virgine our flesh vpon him hath purified vs from our sinnes to be sanctified in his righteousnesse VVhich suffered vnder Pontius Pilate Suffered vnder a Iudge the iudgement of death due for our sinnes to purchase for vs of god his father the reward of his righteousnesse to giue vs example and grace to followe his obedience He vvas crucified Bearing the curse of the lawe to get and giue vnto vs the blessing of grace hee Died and vvas buried So that nowe our bodies mindes with him should bée mortified and buried frō sin and not die and damned in sin for hee Descended into hell He suffered all extremitie not onely in bodie but also in soule that we should suffer no more than we might be able to bear and that no paynes or punishment for sinnes should be plagues of vengeance to destroy vs but rather corrections of fatherlie loue to amende vs. The thyrd day he rose againe from the dead The day and time appointed and afore prophecied with victorie ouer Hell Death and Damnation hée rising from the deade did make death a ready and spéedie passage for vs vnto life teaching and strengthning vs to ryse forth of sinne and walke in newnesse of life after him that Ascended into heauen and sitteth on the right hande of God the father almighty And like as the sunne at midday so he in bodily presence lifte vp from the earth into heauen there in glory of Gods maiestie abiding doth from thence shine and shewe his vertue and goodnesse by the power of his spyrite most presently and comfortably vnto all creatures in euery place vpon the earth and as hée ascended bodily into Heauen to replenishe all things euen so in the same bodie From thence he shal come to iudge the quick and dead From heauen whither as he did ascende in the sight of his disciples so from thence in the sighte of all men shall hée come not only in spirite and power as he is at all times in all places but also in his bodie glorified with maiestie as he is nowe in heauen and shall not come from thence vntill the last day when as all men both dead afore and liuing then shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye from mortalitie vnto suche state as shall euer continue either in hel or in heauen according vnto the righteous iudgement of Christe in the which hee shall declare and take all vs that be vnfayned Christians to be the blessed children and heires of God with him in that kingdome which could neuer by any works or merites of any man haue bene deserued or purchased but onely in Christe vnto Christians of the only gracious goodnesse of god hath for euer bene prepared I beleue in the holie Ghost I haue knowledge with sure hope in the holy spirit of God equall with the father and the sonne proceeding from the father and the sonne to sanctifie beautifie Christes Church that I shall be sanctified from all sinnes and endued with all good giftes of grace as God seeth is moste necessarie expediente for mée to edifie and not to destroy Yea I beléeue that by him all Gods creatures be sanctified and made holie vnto all godly men and that without him there can be
as be delited and drouned in Iewishe ceremonies and superstition and a foolishnesse vnto such as glory in Gréekish learning and wisedome but for all faithfull Christians whiche beléeue the Gospell of the same crosse death and passion it is the power of God vnto their euerlasting rest and saluation Grosse idolaters do boldly and blindly imagine a presence of God in imagerie or vnder the forme of some maner of bodie to be kept and honored of them according vnto their fantasie but the cléere light of the Gospell doth euidentely vnto the faithfull shewe EMANVEL him which is God with vs so that they most comfortably sée by fayth Christ God and man so in his naturall bodie glorified in heauen that in power of his spirit with the ministers of hys worde and members of his mystical bodie vpon earth he is alwayes present amongst men bestowing suche giftes of his grace vpon them and receiuing suche honoure thankes seruice of them as may be most for his honor and glory and their comforte and commoditie Uoluptuous ▪ Epicures be alwayes wery of the time present and voide of all good hope of that which is to come but faithfull Christians chéerefully bestowe their time in honest godly study labors and exercise with most comfortable hope and desire of Christ to come in Maiestie to receiue them into his eternall ioy and glory Coniurers and Charmers doe imagine suche a vertue too be in their wordes and waters circles and crosses brethinges and blessinges as shoulde poure aboundance of holynesse into any thing as pleaseth them yea as coulde force the deuil from hell and God from heauen to appeare vnder some likenesse presently vnto them Faithefull Christians by Gods worde doe learne and knowe how that the holy Ghost by faithe in Christ doth purge mennes hartes from al vngodlynesse and replenishe them with such gratious goodnesse as sanctifieth them and all things as causeth them with all manner of Gods good creatures euer too serue God in holinesse and rightuousnesse without any presumption or desire to coniure either God or the deuill Superstitious hypocrites can sée no face of that Churche whiche they wil cleue vnto but in solemne shewe of Ceremonies and pompe of Prelates faithfull Christians do euidently sée in the holy Scriptures suche a foundation of the Prophets and Apostles ioyned vnto Christe the heade corner stone as is moste necessary commodious and sufficient for them in faith doctrine and conuersation to be framed ioyned and made members and partes agréeable vnto that head foundation They sée by faith that face of Christes church which god by his word hath shewed to the faithful Desperate persons can neuer trust nor desire of God forgeuenesse of sinnes resurrection of their bodies nor life euerlasting But faithfull Christians by glad tydinges of the Gospell be taught and encouraged to desire and beléeue that their sinnes shall be vtterly abolished their bodyes from corruption and deathe chaunged and raysed that they themselues vnto the image of God in Christ reformed may in life euerlasting with Christ be glorified For in the light of the gospel of Christ is the vncouered face of Christ the euidente example and doctrine of Christ so shewed to be séene as doth transforme the faithfull beleuers into the same image of godlinesse which is in Christes doctrine and conuersation as doth moue and make men to put of olde Adam that they may become newe creatures in christ So they be taughte of the father to know the sonne they be drawen of the father to come vnto the sonne they be transformed from the custome and trade of this world to be framed and fashioned like vnto the sonne of God as vnto the heade corner stone of a spirituall house of a holie temple to offer spirituall sacryfices acceptable vnto God to offer as Paule teacheth the Romaines their owne bodies a sacrifice holie liuely and acceptable vnto God and as Paul calleth the charitable bestowing of the Philippians goods odours of swéete sauour acceptable sacrifices plesaunt vnto god So that fayth which commeth by the Gospell maketh mens bodies and mindes landes and goods and al that they haue to be sanctified sacrificed and offered vnto god For the Gospell teacheth howe that God ordeyneth and gyueth all things vnto mannes comfort and commoditie and howe that men should do all thinges vnto Gods honour and glorie So by the Gospel al holinesse and godlinesse ▪ all gracious goodnesse all true treasures and riches be giuen abundantly vnto man and all honour and seruice all thanks and prayse be rendred duely vnto god But vnto all manner of men lacking the lyghte of the Gospell all manner of things be vnprofitable yea al their owne dooings be abhominable afore God ▪ and damnable vnto thēselues For nothing can be good or profitable vnto man which doth offend and displease god Nothing can please God without faith in Christe and it is vnpossible to haue fayth in Christe and not to haue the Gospell of Christe Therfore it was verie necessarie and expedient that afore the cleare lyghte of the Gospell did fully shine vnto the world that the experience of other thinges shoulde be well tried and knowne in the world For suche is the good ordinance of God to vse all maner of meanes to bring mē frō vaine hope in any other thing vnto a sure faith in christ only which cōmes by hering of gods word according to Christes gospel For of all the good creatures of God and of the habilitie of fréewill man had sufficient experience in paradise afore there was any infirmitie and corruption of nature by reason of sinne And afterwardes the promisses made vnto the fathers the lawe giuen by Moyses with all Sacrifices and ceremonies in the Tabernacle and in the Temple dyd serue for a season to make men myndefull and desirous of the commyng and kingdome of Chryste whyche should performe the promisse and satisfye the Lawe beautifying his Churche with suche cleare lyght of the Gospel as shoulde vtterly abolishe all shadowes and figures of Sacrifices and Ceremonies with the Tabernacle and the Temple And Christ himselfe did in bodie depart from the earth to be glorified in Heauen so as by sending from thence the holie Ghoste was most expedient for men to haue Christe in spirite alwayes present with them vppon earthe So therfore after all other good thinges as the last and the best God hath thus in the ende of the worlde set vp the kingdom of Christ with the clere lighte of the Gospell and comfortable presence of his spirite Seeing therefore that man in Paradyse amongest all Goddes creatures hauing a pure nature did not then by the habilitie of his Fréewill nor by the goodnesse of other creatures continue and stande in vprightnesse he should not imagine that now in the vanities of this worlde and infirmities of his fleshe being drowned in sinne he can finde any thing able to rayse him vp vnto rightuousnesse Also it is a cruel thing by the heauie
the immortall séed of the woorde of the liuing god Naturall séede is ordeined of God to continue succession vnto men vppon earth and the séede of Gods woorde to serue in regeneration of Gods children vnto Gods kyngdome And what good fruite can spring of suche good séede amongest them that condemne and forsweare godly matrimonie and that wilfully spill by Massing suche séede as should be well sowen in preaching Aaron in wildernesse of the golde that was brought out of Egypte made a Calfe so to bée honoured as caused God to bée offended and the people plagued The Priestes in Hierusalem of the law that was giuen by Moses to lead men vnto Chryst did set vp such an Idol in mens hearts at Hierusalem as caused men to kil Chryste And nowe priests of the supper at the Lords table wheras Christe should be remembred make a Masse at their altare there to haue him daylie sacrificed Ieroboam knowing that God had ordayned for his glory that al Israel should yearly appeare afore his face only in Hierusalem yet to drawe and keepe the ten tribes from God vnder his dominion did set vp two golden calues the one in Dan and the other in Bethel saying this is my GOD which brought thée out of Egipt to Israell The chéefe priestes and the elders being certified by the Souldiers whiche watched the sepulchre that Chryst was risen with maiestie and glorie yet to keep themselues in estimation and authoritie did giue mony to set forth not a figure of a golden calfe but a diuelish face of a forged lie And now when as the holie Ghost with preachers of the Gospell witnesseth that Christcs body is glorified in heauē in forme of man yet to drawe and kéepe mens mindes from heauen and to continue a pretenced priesthoode in estimation vppon earth they haue pretended a presence and sacrifice of Christes bodie voyd of all glory vnder the forme of bread and wine Christes bodie was once for all sacrificed and then for euer so glorified that as he was once in forme of man seen and conuersant amongst men vpon earth so is hee nowe taken from amongst men and glorified in Heauen Wherefore he can not bée cloked or shewed heere or there vnder anie forme of fishe or soule man or beast bread or wine or of any bodily creature vntill he appeare in maiesty and glorie as the lightning most clearely shining from the Easte vnto the Weast openly vnto all men Euen so comming as he was séene ascending and departing that is euen in the same forme of man glorified in the which he suffered and died He did not die in the forme of man to be sacrificed offered vnder the forme of bread he is not glorified God and man in heauē to be consecrated or coniured vnder the form of bread wine vpō earth CHAP. VIII All good things bee giuen of God vnto man in Christ seene by the light of the Gospell and receyued by Fayth CHriste by his owne perfecte obedience oblatiō sacrifice once for all hath purchased of God vnto them that beléeue truly in him suche forgiuenes of sins such bearing with infirmities such gracious goodnesse that they shall not bée charged for not fulfilling the lawe beyng a yoke to heauie to be borne of mans infirmitie but they shal be commēded and rewarded as kéepers of Gods commaundement by reason of Faith that woorketh by charitie he hathe so abolisht sacrifices ceremonies that now vnto the Faithfull there remaineth no darknesse vnder shadowes and figures but great abundance of most comfortable light in spirit and truthe For whē as he had put awaye and abolished figures and shadows fully and clerely performing the truth in bodily presence then did hée in body ascende from the earth to bée glorified in heauen so as all Faithfull in euery place vppon earth might haue a more comfortable and commodious presence of Chryste with them in spirite than coulde haue continued vnto some men in any one place in body So nowe the mercifull goodnesse of God is in many things by many meanes so signified as after a sort it might bée spied and perceiued but in Christe only so promysed and perfourmed and by preaching of the Gospell through power of the spirite so reuealed offered as vnto saluation it may be receyued and enioyed Seing therfore that it hath pleased God to graunt giue vnto man in Christe after suche sorte all treasures man can haue no néede nor shuld not haue any will or desire to take any thing either of any other persō or els after any other sort or fashion For it is an abhominable contempt of God to disdain any thing fréely offred of him to seke or desire the same or a worse to be gotten and purchased of any other It is a spitefull mocking of Christe to say that any thing may be graunted and gotten by some other meane which Christ did purchase and buy with his precious bloud as though Christe had not so well and wisely bestowed hys bloodsheding as some other might haue bestowed some meaner thing Some men imagin that they néed not for euery thing to call vpon Christ and that they shoulde not themselues presume to pray vnto God but rather humble them selues in praying to saincts to be mediators for them vnto god These mens presumptuous arrogancie is abhominable afore the face of God for that they wil not know themselues to be so vile and sinfull that none other can bée able or méete to bring them vnto God or by anie meane to purchase vnto them any thing of GOD but onely Christe by his precious bloud They doe imagine after a worldelie fashion GOD to be like a proud Prince whiche woulde haue suters to speake vnto his seruants and so in iudging of God contrary vnto al examples doctrine in Gods word they dare not take the way in at the dore by the which all faithful be called and receiued as Gods fréendes but in bold and blinde presumption to climbe ouer otherwayes deserue to bée repulsed and throwē downe as despisers of Gods grace breakers of his ordinances and traytours vnto his maiesty For god is robbed of his honor due to his maiesty by such as presume contrary to the truth of his holie word to iudge him like vnto proud princes of this wicked worlde And saincts departing from hence be not put in office and placed afore God to bee hearers and offerers of men and their prayers For onely Christe whiche is the dore of grace euer standing open vnto all faythfull is sufficient to bée mediatour between God and mā in this matter of prayer to bring present men and their prayers afore the face of god And so Paul 1. Timoth. 2. witnesseth whereas hée speaking of prayer sayeth There is one God and one mediator betwixt God and man euen the man Christe Iesus Nothing that is good can be giuen of any but of God onely God gyueth nothing by force but by fauour Nothing can
of Chryst your earnest zeles be reproued for that ye do not well knowe your owne minde and spirite but lamentably looking vpon the scattered flocke crie and cal vnto the father of mercie and pitie that as the Lorde of the haruest he woulde send forth labourers faithful pastors godlie preachers to gather kéepe and féede the electe people lambes and children of God in the holie Churche kingdome and inheritaunce of Christ. A meditation vppon the Lordes prayer OVr Father which art in heauen We gloriously formed vnto the Image of thy diuine Maiestie created by thy gracious goodnes vnto highest honour howe be it by our owne sinfulnesse dysfigured with vilenesse deseruing damnacion and yet by Christes death redeemed and restored vnto grace to be citizens with saincts of the familie of God Nowe altogether in christen vnitie as members of one bodie we pray desire and trust to obtayne of thée our heauenly father according vnto thy gracious goodnesse mightie power and faythfull promise vnto vs that aske abundance of thy grace That thy name may be halovved That thy diuine power and glorious maiestie may bée certainely knowen and reuerently honoured That the heartes of vs men by thy worde and prayer may bee sanctified from al sinne and vanitie so that wée with all that wée haue seruing thee in holinesse and righteousnesse may so shine afore men vppon earthe that they thereby may be occasion to honour thee our father which arte in heauen Thy kingdome come Thy worde bée so fruitfully preached amongst vs thy people that we may be thorowly instructed and taughte to bridle our sensuall appetites by naturall reason and to submit our wits and reasons vnto a good godlie spirit and to trie our spirites by the true Scriptures So that within vs may raigne the kingdome of God which is neyther meate nor drink whiche is neither superstitious ceremonies voluptuous pleasures nor vayne glorie but righteousnesse peace and comforte in the holie ghoste by the which we nowe tasting of thy heauenly ioyes may be made from henceforth wearie of all worldly vanities continually looking and praying for the appearance and comming of thy eternall and euerlasting kingdome Thy vvill bee done in earth as it is in heauen In heauen the Angels of reuerent loue do thy will and commaundement with cōfortable courage and ioyfull pleasure In hell the wicked spirits through malice and enuie repining and grudging doe torment and vexe them selues whatsoeuer they bée doing And vppon earth men being subiecte vnto sinne do think it a labour and payne to be occupied in any thing that is good and godlie Wherefore we pray that the grace of thy heauenly spirit may so worke in our earthly bodies that wée beyng deliuered from sinne and vanitie may fréely delight and take pleasure to doo thy will and commandement beyng declared by thy worde to vs men vpon earth as thy glorious Angels do which be in heauen Giue vs this day our dayly bread We hauing great néede not able of our sclues to deserue any thing beséeche thée of thy fatherly goodnesse to giue fréely vnto all vs in generall So that none bée hurt nor hindered seuerally this day when as wee crie constreyned by present néede not craftily crauing for vaine care against to morrowe our dayly bread our dayly and necessary foode and reléefe both bodily and ghostly And especially so that the spirituall foode of Christes fleshe and his bloude by dayly preaching of the Gospell and administration of the Sacramentes may replenishe our hearts and mindes with continuall remembrance of Christes death and his passion dayly to bée vsed for necessary and spirituall consolation Forgiue vs our rrespasses as vve forgiue them that trespasse against vs. Giue vnto vs that féeling our owne sinfulnesse to néede and desire thy merciful forgiuenesse of our faultes and trespasses which we haue committed against thée so that we fréely forgiuing all other that haue offended vs in any thing whatsoeuer it be may bée sure that mercy springing in thée hath procéeded vnto vs and being graciously offered of thée hath bene thankfully receyued of vs and being charitably vsed of vs towardes other shall most certainly bée cōfrmed and enlarged of thée towards vs So that by frée mercie springing and proceeding from thée all faultes may bée fréely forgiuen euen as those which other haue committed agaynste vs so likewyse those which we haue done againste thée And lead vs not into temptation Suffer not the diuell by the abuse of thy benefites to leade vs captiues into deceytfull and damnable temptation drawing vs by daintie meats vnto gréedy gluttony ▪ by money and richesse vnto vnsatiable couetousnesse and by welth and prosperitie vnto pride and vaine glory and by all thy godly gracious giftes vnto euery diuelishe abhominable sinne But deliuer vs from euill Deliuer our goodes from abuse our bodies from corruption our soules from dānation deliuer vs by Christ Iesu from the bondage of sinne vnto the liberty of the Gospell so that from all daunger of diuelishe temptation trayning and entycing men towardes damnation we may be deliuered to serue thee in holinesse and righteousnesse al the dais of our life with most certaine and sure hope of euerlasting saluation through Christ Iesu in whome our hope and thy promis is most certayne that is to say Amen Youre tyme is shorte your daungers bee greate you are vvell vvarned by Gods vvord vvritten Mark. xiij Take heede watche and praye Take heede that your hearts and myndes bee not made heauie harde and dull vvith meates and drinkes vaine pleasures or worldly cares VVatch with diligence to doo youre owne duties in destrous looking for Christes comming Pray that yee may escape all dangers and stande in grace and fauour afore the face of Christ at his comming APOCAL. 22. Behold I come soone Printed by Henrie Bynneman for George Byshop 1575.