Spirit adopted vs to be thine own children heirs apparent to the great crown O Lord opē our eies euery day more more to see consider of thy great and maruellous loue to vs in all these things that by the due consideration therof our hearts may be drawen yet neerer vnto thee euen more to loue thee feare thee and obey thee that as thou art enlarged towards vs in mercy so we may be enlarged towards thee in thankesgiuing and as thou doest abound towards vs in goodnes so we may abound towards thee in obedience and loue And sith deere Father thou art neuer weary of doing vs good notwithstanding al our vnworthines and naughtinesse therefore let the consideration of thy great mercy and fatherly kindnesse towards vs euen as it were force our hearts and compell vs to come into thy most glorious presence with new songs of thākesgiuing in our mouths We pray thee O most merciful God to forgiue vs all our vnthankefulnes vnkindnesse prophanenesse great abusing of thy mercies and specially our abuse and contempt of thy Gospel together with all other the sinnes of our life which we confesse are innumerable and moe than can be reckoned vp both in omission of good things and commission of euill We most humbly intreat thee to set them all ouer to the reckoning which thy son Christ hath made vp for thē vpon his crosse and neuer to lay any of them to our charge but freely forget all and forgiue all Naile downe all our sinnes and iniquities to the Crosse of Christ bury them in his death bathe them in his bloud hide them in his wounds let them neuer rise vp in iudgement against vs. Set vs free of the miseries that are vpon vs for sin and keep backe the iudgements to come both of soule body goods and good name Be reconciled vnto vs in thy deere Sonne concerning all matters past not once remembring or repeating vnto vs our old and abominable iniquities but accept vs as righteous in him imputing his righteousnesse to vs and our sinnes to him Let his righteousnesse satisfie thy iustice for all our vnrighteousnesse his obedience for our disobedience his perfection for our imperfection Moreouer we humbly beseech thy good maiesty to giue vs the true sight and feeling of our manifold sinnes that we may not be blinded in them through delight or hardened in thē through custome as the reprobates are but that wee may be euen weary of them and much grieued for them labouring and striuing by all possible meanes to get out of them Good Father touch our hearts with true repentance for all sinne Let vs not take any delight or pleasure in any sinne but howsoeuer we fall through frailty as wee fall often yet let vs neuer fall finally let vs neuer lie downe in sinne nor continue in sinne but let vs get vpon our feet againe and turne to thee with all our hearts and seeke thee whilest thou maiest be found and whilest thou dost offer grace mercy vnto vs. O Lord increase in vs that true and liuely faith whereby we may lay sure hold on thy Sonne Christ and rest vpon his merits altogether Giue vs faith assuredly to beleeue all the great and precious promises made in the Gospell and strengthen vs from aboue to walke and abound in all true sound fruits of faith Let vs walke not after the flesh but after the spirit Let vs feele the power of thy Sons death killing sinne in our mortall bodies and the power of his resurrection raising vs vp to newnesse of life Let vs grow daily in the sanctification of the spirit and the mortification of the flesh Let vs liue holily iustly and soberly in this present euill world shewing forth the vertues of thee in al our particular actions that we may adorne our most holy profession and shine as lights in the middest of a crooked and froward generation amongst whom we liue being gainfull to all by our liues and conuersations and offensiue to none To this end wee pray thee fill vs with thy spirit and al spiritual graces as loue wisedome patience contentment meekenesse humility temperancy chastity kindnesse and affability and stirre vs vp to vse praier and watchfulnesse reading and meditation in thy law and all other good meanes whereby wee may grow and abound in all heauenly vertues Blesse vs in the vse of the meanes from day to day make vs such as thou wouldest haue vs to bee and such as we desire to be working in vs both will and deed purpose and power For thou O Lord art all in all thou wilt haue mercy vpon whom thou wilt haue mercy whō thou wilt thou hardenest Haue mercy vpon vs therefore deere Father and neuer leaue vs to our selues nor to our owne wils lusts and desires but assist vs with thy good spirit that we may continue to the end in a righteous course that so at length we may be receiued into glory and be partatakers of that immortal crown which thou hast laid vp for all that loue thee and truely call vpon thee Further we entreat thee O heauenly father to giue vs all things necessary for this life as food raiment health peace liberty and such freedome from those manifold miseries which we lie open vnto euery day as thou seest meet Blesse vnto vs all the meanes which thou hast put into our hands for the sustenance of this fraile life Blesse our stocke store corne and cattell trades and occupations and all the workes of our hands for thy blessing onely maketh rich and it bringeth no sorrowes with it Giue vs therefore such a competency and sufficiency of these outward blessings as thou in thy heauēly wisdome seest most needfull for vs. Moreouer we humbly beseech thee most louing Father in great mercy to looke downe from heauen vpon thy whole Church and euery member of it Be fauourable vnto Sten and build vp the wals of Ierusalem Behold with the eie of pity the great ruines and desolations of thy Church Heale vp the wounds and make vp the breaches thereof in all Nations Regard it as thine owne flocke tender it as thine owne family dresse it as thine owne vinyeard loue it as thine owne spouse Thinke thoughts of peace to it and alwaies looke vpon it in deep compassion Blesse it with thy grace guide it with thy spirit and defend it alwaies with thy mightie power scatter the deuices cōfound the counsels ouerthrow the forces of all that fight against it Specially we intreat thee deere father to set thy self against that Antichrist of Rome that man of perdition which setteth himselfe against thee and against all thy people In thine appointed time we pray thee giue him a deadly downe fal Beat downe all his power and authority daily more and more giue free passage to thy Gospell in all kingdomes that Babylon may fall and neuer rise vp againe The more the fauourites adherents of Rome labour to
his Angels for euer And wee haue nothing to except against thy maiesty for so doing sith therin thou shouldest deale with vs but according to equity and our iust deserts Wherefore deere father we doe appeale from thy iustice to thy mercy most humbly intreating thee to haue mercy vpon vs and freely to forgiue vs all our sinnes past whatsoeuer both new and old secret and open knowen and vnknowen and that for Iesus Christs sake our onely Mediator And wee pray thee touch our hearts with true griefe and vnfained repentance for them that they may be a matter of continuall sorrow and heart-smart vnto vs so as nothing may greiue vs more then this that we haue offended thee being our speciall friend and father Giue vs therefore deere Father euery day more and more sight and feeling of our sinnes with true humiliation vnder the same Giue vs also that true and liuely faith wherby we may lay sure hold onthy Son Christ and all his merits aplying the same to our owne soules so as we may stand fully perswaded that whatsoeuer hee hath done vpon the crosse he hath done for vs particularly as well as for others Giue vs faith good Father cōstantly to beleeue al the sweet promises of the gospel touching remission of sinne and eternall life made in thy Sonne Christ O Lord increase our faith that we may altogether rest vpon thy promises which are all yea and Amen Yea that we may settle our selues and all that we haue wholly vpon them both our soules bodies goods name wiues children our whole estate knowing that all things depend vpon thy promises power and prouidence that thy word doth support beare vp the whole order of nature More ouer we intreat thee O Lord to strengthen vs from aboue to walke in euery good way and to bring forth the fruits of true faith in all our particular actions studying to please thee in all things and to be fruitfull in good workes that we may shew forth vnto all men by our good conuersation whose children wee are and that we may adorne and beautifie our most holy profession by walking in a Christian course and in all the sound fruits and practise of godlines and true religion To this end wee pray thee sanctifie our hearts by thy spirit yet more and more sanctifie our soules and bodies and all our corrupt naturall faculties as reason vnderstanding will and affections so as they may be fitted for thy worship and seruice taking a delight and pleasure therein Stirre vs vp to vse praier watchfulnesse reading and meditation in thy law and all other good meanes whereby we may profit in grace and goodnesse from day to day Blesse vs in the vse of the meanes that we may daily die to sin and liue to righteousnesse draw vs yet neerer vnto thee help vs against our monifold wants Amend our great imperfections renue vs inwardly more and more repaire the ruines of our hearts aide vs against the remnants of sin Enlarge our hearts to runne the way of thy Commandements direct all our steps in thy word let none iniquity haue dominion ouer vs. Assist vs against our special infirmities and master sinnes that wee may get the victory ouer them all to thy glory and the great peace and comfort of our owne consciences Strengthen vs good father by thy grace and holy spirit against the cōmon corruptions of the world as pride whoredome couetousnesse contempt of thy Gospell swearing lying dissembling and deceiuing O deere Father let vs not be ouer come of these filthy vices nor any other sinfull pleasures and fond delights wherwith thousands are caried headlong to destruction Arme our soules against all the temptations of this world the flesh and the Diuell that we may ouercome them all through thy help and keep on the right way to life that we may liue in thy feare and die in thy fauour that our last daies may be our best daies and that we may end in great peace of conscience Furthermore deere Father we intreat thee not onely for ourselues but for all our good brethren thy deere children scattered ouer the face of the whole earth most humbly beseeching thee to blesse them all to cheere them vp and glad them with the ioy of thy countenance both now and alwaies Guide them all in thy feare and keep them from euill that they may praise thy name In these dangerous daies and declining times we pray thee O Lord raise vp nursing fathers and nursing mothers vnto thy Church Raise vp also faithful Pastors that thy cause may be caried forward truth may preuaile Religion may prosper thy name onely may be set vp in the earth thy Sonnes kingdome aduanced and thy will accomplished Set thy selfe against all aduersary power especially that of Rome Antichrist Idolatry and Atheisme curse and crosse all their counsels frustrate their deuises scatter their forces ouerthrow their armies When they are most wise let them be most foolish when they are most strong let them be most weake Let thē know that there is no wisdom nor coūsel power nor policy against thee the Lord of Hosts Let thē know that Israel hath a God that thou which art called Iehouah art the onely ruler ouer all the world Arise therefore O most mightie God and maintaine thine owne cause against all thine enemies smite thorow all their loines and bow downe their backes yea let them all be confounded and turned backward that beare ill will vnto Sion Let the patient abiding of the righteous be ioy and let the wicked be disappointed of their hope But of all fauour we intreate thee O Lord to shew special mercy to thy Church in this Land wherein we liue Continue thy Gospell amongst vs yet with greater successe purge thy house daily more more take away all things that offend Let this Nation still bee a place where thy name may bee called vpon and an harbour for thy Saints Shew mercy to our posterity deare Father and haue care of them that thy Gospell may bee left vnto them as a most holy inheritance Defend vs against forrē inuasiō keep out Idolatry and Popery from amongst vs. Turne frō vs those plagues which our sins cry for For the sins of this Land are exceeding great horrible and outragious giue thee iust cause to make vs spectacles of thy vengeance to all Natiōs that by how much the more thou hast lifted vs vp in great mercy and long peace by so much the more thou shouldest presse vs downe in great wrath long war Therfore deere Father we most humbly intreat thee for thy great names sake and for thy infinit mercies sake that thou wouldest bee reconciled to this land and discharge it of all the horrible sins thereof Drowne them O Lord in thy infinit mercy through Christ as it were in a bottomelesse gulfe that they may neuer rise vp in iudgement against vs. For although our sinnes bee exceeding many and feareful yet thy mercy is far greater For thou art infinite in mercy but we cannot be infinite in sinning Giue vs not ouer into the hands of the Idolaters lest they should blaspheme thy name and say Where is their God in whom they trusted But rather deere father take vs into thine owne hands and correct vs according to thy wisedome for with thee is mercy deep compassion Moreouer wee most heartily beseech thy good Maiesty to blesse our most gratious King Iames and to shew much mercy to him in all things Guide him in thy feare and keep him in all his waies working in his soule vnfeined sorrow for sinne true faith in the promises a great care to please thee in all things and to discharge the duty of his high place in all zeale of thy glory and faithfulnesse towards thy Maiesty that as thou hast crowned him heere in earth so hee spending his daies heere below in thy feare may after this life be crowned of thee for euer in the Heauens We beseech thee also to blesse his Maiesties most honorable priuie Counsellors Counsell them from aboue let them take aduice of thee in all things that they may both consult and resolue of such courses as may be most for thy glory the good of the Church the peace of this our Commonwealth Blesse the Nobility and all the Magistrates in the Land giuing them all grace to execute iudgement and iustice and to maintaine truth and equity Blesse all the faithfull Ministers of the Gospell increase the number of them inincrease thy gifts in them and so blesse all their labours in their seuerall places and congregations that they all may bee instruments of thy hand to inlarge thy Sonnes kingdome and to winne many vnto thee Comfort the comfortlesse with all needfull comforts Forget none of thine that are in trouble but as their afflictions are so let the ioyes and comforts of thy spirit bee vnto them and so sanctifie vnto all thine their afflictions and troubles that they may tend to thy glory and their owne good Giue vs thankefull hearts for all thy mercies both spirituall and corporall for thou art very mercifull vnto vs in the things of this life and infinitely more mercifull in the things of a better life Let vs deeply ponder and waigh all thy particular fauoures towards vs that by the due consideration thereof our hearts may bee gained yet neerer vnto thee and that therefore wee may both loue and obey thee because thou art so kind and louing vnto vs that euen thy loue towards vs may draw our loue towards thee and that because mercy is with thee thou maiest bee feared Grant these things good Father and all other needfull graces for our soules or bodies or any of thine thorow out the whole world for Iesus Christs sake in whose name we further call vpon thee as he hath taught vs in his Gospel saying Our Father which art in Heauen c. FINIS
Goliah so that the cause then of both being not much vnlike the answere that followeth shall not vnfitly be applied though not in the same measure of grace wisedome and modesty yet in the same nature of zeale truth and sincerity answer with him in the 29. verse Graue Fathers masters and superiors what haue I done is there not cause But if this Apology seeme vnsufficient obserue with me breefly the benefit that commeth hereby and the fault considered will easily be wiped away In the first place then it bringeth a comfort to the Church of God when they shall see the prophesies fulfilled and those promises performed which long since was declared to fall out in the latter age of the world Esay 11.9 that the earth shall bee filled with the knowledge of the Lord Ioel. 8. as the sea is couered with with waters Againe Your daughters shall prophesie your old meÌ„ shal dreame dreames your yong men shal see visioÌ„s Psalm 8. And also vpon the seruants will I powre out my spirit Againe Out of the mouth of Babes hast thou ordained strength because of their enemies Notwithstanding these prophesies I grant chiefly fulfilled at the comming of Christ yet in respect of the perpetuity of it it is to remaine vntill the number of the elect be accomplished yea and wee that are now liuing haue seene the extraordinary power and operation of it if wee consider since the time of Luther how the Angell flying from the middest of heauen Reuel 14.6 hauing an euerlasting Gospell in his mouth to preach to the nations that dwell vpon the earth saying with a loud voice Feare GOD giue glory to him an vnspeakeable and peculiar fauour of GOD as our Sauiour Christ sayeth Blessed are the eies that see those things which you see and the eares that heare those things which you heare being the onely meanes to bring vs into the fauour of God and men that it may bee sayed of vs Cant. 6.9 as it was of his owne spouse Who is this that loeketh forth as the morning faire as the Moone pure as the Sunne terrible as an armie with banners Yea then we shall bee pretious to the Lord who so toucheth vs toucheth the apple of his eie and hee will say to our enemies Cant. 3.5 I charge you O you daughters of Ierusalem by the Roe by the Hindes of the field that you stirre not vp nor waken my beloued vntill shee please Yea then shall wee be set as a seale vpon his heart and as a signet vpon his arme for loue is stronger then death Ielosie is cruell as the graue the coales thereof are fiery coles and a vehement flame much water cannot quenâ—r loue neither can the flouds drowne it If a man would giue al the substaÌ„ce of his house for loue the world would greatly contemne it Cant. 8.1 Secondly it much aduanceth declareth and setteth forth the power of the Gospell when men are made of Lions Lambs their natures being changed that they come willingly in the day of assembly the loue of God constraining them and the blessing of God vpon them causing their sonnes to bee as the plants growing vp in their youthes their daughters as the corner stones grauen aft r the manner of Apelles c. So that other nations being our Iudges are forced to say of vs Psal 144.7 Happy are the people that are in such a case yea blessed are the people whose God is the Lord Iehoua Thirdly it is exceeding comfortable and no lesse honorable to the graue fathers and faithfull learned preachers of our age when they shall see the blessing of God vpon their labours their children which they haue begotten into the faith by the word of truth Psalm 127 like arrowes in the hand of the strong man and are not ashamed to speake before their enemies in the gate So that they haue no neede of the approbation of men or letters of recommendations their Epistles being written not with inke paper but in the hearts of their children and shineth in the world to the praise and glory of God Lastly a notable motiue prouocation to incite and stir vp the minds of those that are too slacke and negligent in this kinde and may also be vsed as a whetstone to sharpen and set an edge vpon finer wits that so all the members of Christ both learned and vnlearned may meet and ioine foot to foot and shoulder to shoulder opposing themselues against their great common aduersary and being directed by one spirit may vtter their voices both by praier by preaching that we may cause the kingdome of Antichrist to fall downe like the walles of Iericho that so if it be the Lords will we that are now liuing may see that with the eies of our bodies which Saint Iohn saw so long since with the eies of his spirit and so with holy reioycing and gladnesse of heart we may say with blessed Saint Iohn It is fallen it is fallen great Babylon and is become a cage of vncleane birds Now if any shall aske of me who are you and what is your name whose iudgement the reader should so much reuerence In this behalfe I answere If I were one of learning and estimation perhaps I might cary thee away not vsing any great reason or demonstration On the contrary if of no note and quality thou wouldest hardly be brought to embrace it though I bring strong and forceable arguments and reasons I refer thee therefore to the booke it selfe which is able to commend it selfe to the conscience of any indifferent reader whose eares being sanctified trieth words as the mouth tasteth meat Onely this I will say with the Aapostle Iames Iob. 34.3 Haue not the faith in respect of persons and then I dare assure my selfe the Lord shall haue glory and his chiÌ„ldren comfort The which vpon the knees of my soule I craue of his goodnes and that he will increase in the hearts of his Saints sauing faith and with faith vertue and with vertue knowledge and with knowledge temperance and with temperance patience and with patience godlinesse and with godlinesse brotherlie kindnesse and with brotherlie kindnesse loue that you may make your calling and election sure so that you may neuer fall By him that praieth daily for the peace of Sion and longeth to see Ierusalem in her pefect beautie T. R. The contents of the Chapters following in this Booke CHAP. 1. Of Gods graces and benefits in free mercy bestowed vpon man that thereby hee may be moued to serue his diuine maiesty fol. 1. 2. 3. CHAP. 2. Of the infinit and vnspeakable benefit of Christs death mâ—ns great ingratitude notwithstanding which all things whatsoeuer in their kinde condemne fol. 4.5.6 CHAP. 3. Of the most miserable estate of the Reprobate both in this world and in the world to come as also of the most blessed happy condition heere and hence of those