are no vessels for Christ to dwell in Humilitie is a signe of worth but pride Bernard of emptinesse and vanity If the minde be constantly directed to GOD Greg moral whatsoever in this life is bitter unto us through patience wee account it pleasant Let a man looke into his heart Aug. and see if he have Charity and then let him say I am borne of GOD. Charity is a desire of the minde to love GOD for himselfe Idem and to love our neighbour for GOD. It is the stay of wisdome Idem the fruit of Faith the riches of the poore and the life of them that are dying Luther A Christian life consisteth in this that we deale with faith and with the heart in things apperteyning to GOD but use our life and works towards our neighbour Ephes 2. For wee are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordeined that we should walke in them Hom. de fid oper There is one work in which be all good works that is faith which worketh by charity If thou have it thou hast the ground of all good works Luther GOD will have works done freely not that wee may merit any thing therby but that we may doe them to the profit of our neighbours and witnes our sincere faith by them Aug. No man doth good works to receive grace by them but because he hath first received grace therefore consequently he doth good works Behold Iohn 5. thou art made whole sin no more lest a worse thing happen unto thee Which penance wee shall never be able to fulfill Hom. de poenit without the speciall grace of him that saith Ioh. 15.5 without me ye can doe nothing It is therfore our parts Hom de poenit if at least wee bee desirous of the health and salvation of our own soules most earnestly to pray to our heavenly father to assist us with his holy spirit that we may bee able to hearken to the voice of the true Shepheard and with due obedience to follow the same Let us heare the conclusion of the whole matter Eccl. 12. feare God and keepe his commandements for this is the whole duety of man His assurance of Salvation Iohn 3. HE that beleeveth on the Sonne hath everlasting life 1 Pet. 1. Whom having not seene ye love in whom though now yee see him not yet beleeving ye rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory Ibidem Receiving the end of your Faith even the salvation of your soules Bish Fisher If wee will enter into heaven we must not come with a double heart or wavering faith but with that which is altogether without doubting and most certain Hillar The LORD will have us hope for the Kingdome of Heaven without any doubting for otherwise there is no justification of faith if faith be uncertaine The just living by faith Fulgent saith confidently I beleeve to see the goodnesse of the LORD in the land of the living We have hope Heb. 6. as an Anchor of the soule both sure and stedfast and which entreth into that which is within the Vaile Because ye are sons Gal. 4. GOD hath sent forth the spirit of his son into your hearts crying Abba father Wherefore thou art no more a servant but a son Ibidem and if a son then an heire of God through Christ Wee leave not a sinner in Stapleton the middest of wavering doubtfulnesse but we place him in good and firme hope when once his conscience witnesseth with him that he hath truely repented Aug. There is a kind of glorying in thy conscience when thou knowest thy faith is sincere thy hope certain thy love without dissembling Altisiodor Wee may discerne we are in grace by our good desire comfort of minde and good works Bernard The spirit by faith revealeth to a man the eternall purpose of God concerning his future salvation which revelation is nothing else but the infusion of spirituall grace whereby the deeds of the flesh are mortified and the man prepared to the kingdome of heaven Gods truth and his power Vdall is the cause of our assurance of salvation his truth because we doe not doubt but he will keepe his promise his power because all things are possible to him Herein we looke not upon our own worthines Idem for then we must needs doubt but upon him that promised who will faithfully performe God hath promised to thee Aug. O man that thou shalt live for ever dost thou not beleeve it Beleeve it beleeve it for that which he hath already done for thee is a greater matter than that which he hath promised These things have I writâ—en unto you that beleeve on the name of the Sonne of God 1 Ioh. 5. that yee may know that yee have eternall life and that ye may beleeve on the name of the Son of GOD. Rom. 15 Now the GOD of hope fill you with all joy and hope in beleeving that yee may abound in hope through the power of the holy Ghost Gods mercy Lam. 3. IT is the LORDS mercy that we are not consumed because his compassions faile not Psal 103. Hee hath not dealt with us after our sinnes nor rewarded us according to our iniquities Lam. 3. But though hee send affliction yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies Psal 103. For as the heaven is high above the earth so great is his mercy towards them that feare him This is the glory of man Hieron that hee may know and understand that GOD is the LORD who giveth mercie and justice upon the earth The omnipotency of God excelleth two waies Hieron in granting mercy to the penitent and punishing such as continue in sin according to their desert Hee rejoyceth not of his owne gaine Chrysost but of our salvation hee is not grieved for his owne displeasure but for our destruction When hee punisheth Idem and taketh vengeance he doth it not with passionate anger but with all unspeakable clemency with the affection of an healer not of a destroyer How rich art thou O Lord GOD in mercy how great in justice how bountifull in grace Bernard Thou beholdest the humbie with favour the Innocent thou judgest righteously savest sinners mercifully Kempis dial inter Deum peccator de imitat Christi si 4. cap. 18. Although a sinner do abide still in the flesh yet doe I receive him into my favour so that he is not to feare the utter confusion for his sins coÌ„mitted but rather to thanke praise God that old things bee passed away and that all things are become new Ibid. So gracious and mercifull am I that alwaies I am more ready to forgive than thou art to begge forgivenesse at my hands more ready to
cup because all the Apostles did so our Lord saying unto them Drink ye all of this Wee have understood Gelas Pap. that some having onely received a portion of Christs body doe abstaine from the cup of his sacred bloud But sith they are moved by a fond superstition which I know not thus to abstaine either let them receive the whole Sacrament or bee put from all together for there can bee no division of this Sacrament and high mystery without great sacriledge Ignat. I exhort you to imbrace one faith one manner of preaching and use of the Sacrament of the LORDS Supper for the flesh of the LORD JESUS is one and his bloud one that was shed for us There is one bread also broken for all and one cup distributed unto all The Prayer before receiving the Communion ALmighty GOD Eccle. Angl. Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Maker of of all things Judge of all men we acknowledge and bewaile our manifold sinnes and wickednesse which wee from time to time most grievously have committed by thought word and deed against thy divine Majesty provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us We doe earnestly repent and be hartily sory for these our misdoings the remembrance of them is grievous unto us the burthen of them is intolerable Have mercy upon us have mercy upon us most mercifull Father for thy Sonne our Lord Jesus Christs sake forgive us all that is past And grant that we may ever hereafter serve and please thee in newnesse of life to the honour and glory of thy holy name through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen The Prayer after receiving the Communion O Lord Eccl. Angl. our heavenly father wee thy humble servants intirely desire thy fatherly goodnesse mercifully to accept this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving most humbly beseeching thee to grant that by the merits and death of thy Son Jesus Christ and through faith in his bloud wee and all thy whole Church may obtaine remission of our sinnes and all other benefits of his passion And here we offer and present unto thee O Lord our selves our soules and bodies to be a reasonable holy and lively sacrifice unto thee Humbly beseeching thee that all we which bee partakers of this holy Communion may bee fulfilled with thy grace and heavenly benediction And although wee bee unworthy through our manifold sins to offer unto thee any sacrifice yet we beseech thee to accept this our bounden duty and service not weighing our merits but pardoning our offences through Jesus Christ our Lord by whom and with whom in the unity of the holy Ghost all honor and glory be unto thee O father Almighty world without end Amen A Prayer before reading the holy Scriptures O Gracious GOD Grashop and most mercifull father which hast vouchsafed us the rich and pretious jewell of thy holy word Assist us with thy spirit that it may be written in our hearts to our everlasting comfort to reforme us to renew us according to thine owne image to build us up and edifie us into the perfect building of thy sonne Christ Jesus sanctifying and increasing in us all heavenly vertues Grant this O heavenly Father for Jesus Christ his sake Amen A Prayer for faith MOst mercifull and loving Father I beseech thee for Christ Jesus sake to strengthen and increase my faith that I may goe forward in all godlinesse And grant O Lord that my faith may bee builded upon the rock Christ Jesus that I be not carried away with every blast of vain doctrine but through faith in thee I may be as an invincible fortresse to my enemy the Devill so that he may never prevaile against me Also Lord I pray thee let not my faith bee an idle faith but a working faith that daily proceedeth from one good work to another and in the end to life everlasting there to reigne with thee world without end Amen For Repentance MAke cleane my heart O most gracious God with the water of thy heavenly grace from all the staines and corruptions of sin wherby it appeareth most vile and loathsome in thy sight Sprinkle it with the hysop of unfained repentance and compunction that being washed in the most cleare fountaine of thy grace I may become whiter than snow and evermore serve thee in holinesse and purenesse of life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A short and effectuall Prayer I Most humbly beseech thee O most gracious God and loving Father to take from me the sway of mine owne affections Incline mine heart wholly to the obedience of thy heavenly will Suppresse and quench in me all desires whatsoever that may alienate and withdraw me to wander from the way of thy testimonies Grant unto mee evermore the assistance of thy holy Spirit to conduct and bring me to the inheritance of thy everlasting kingdome for the love of thy onely Son our Saviour Jesus CHRIST Amen The generall Confession ALmighty Eccl. Angl. in liturg and most mercifull Father I have erred and strayed from thy waies like a lost sheep I have followed too much the devices and desires of my owne heart I have offended against thy holy Lawes I have left undone those things which I ought to have done and have done those things which I ought not to have done And there is no health in me but thou O LORD have mercie upon me miserable offender Spare thou mee O GOD which confesse my faults restore thou mee that am penitent according to thy promises declared unto man-kind in Christ Jesu our Lord And grant O most mercifull father for his sake that I may hereafter live a godly righteous and a sober life to the glory of thy holy name Amen A Prayer for the Morning O Lord Eccles Ang. in Liturg. our heavenly father Almighty and everlasting GOD I most humbly thanke thee for thy great mercy and goodnesse in keeping and preserving me from all perils and dangers this night past and bringing me safely to the beginning of this day Defend me O Lord in the same with thy mighty power And grant that this day I fall into no sinne neither run into any kind of danger but that all my doings may bee ordered by thy governance to doe alwaies that which is righteous in thy sight through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Our father which art in heaven hallowed c. A Prayer for all times O Almightie Lord Eccles Ang. Ibid. and everliving God vouchsafe I beseech thee to direct sanctifie and governe both my heart and body in the waies of thy Laws and in the works of thy commandements That through thy most mighty protection both here and ever I may be preserved in body and soule through our LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ Amen A Prayer before going to bed O Eternall and ever-living GOD I render unto thy divine Majestie most humble and hearty thankes for thy mercifull preservation of mee this day from the hands of mine
no more helpe by fasting no more calling to penance no more exhibition of Almes Epiphan It is as the corne that swelleth not after it is reaped neither can bee spoiled with the wind The garners are sealed up the time is past Idem the combat is finished the lists are voided and the garlands are given Aug. Let us therefore bee at one with the word of God while we are in this life for when we are gone out of this world there shall bee no more compunction or satisfaction there remaineth no more but the Judge the Gaolour and the Prison When wee were enemies Rom. 5.10 we were reconciled unto God by the death of his Son Heb. 9.26 Once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himselfe Acts 10.43 To him give all the Prophets witnesse that through his name whosoever beleeveth in him shall receive remission of sinnes Bellar. Wee confesse that Christ hath truly yea most fully satisfied God the Father for us and for the whole world Aug. JESUS CHRIST taking upon him the punishment but not the fault hath therby blotted out both the fault and the punishment Let us hold fast the profession of our faith Heb. 10. without wavering for hee is faithfull that promised The rule of Catholike faith is certain known Bellar. There is nothing more knowne Idem nothing more certain than the holy Scriptures which are contained in the writings of the Prophets and Apostles They are Catholikes Aug. which be of sound Faith and good life Idem Hereticks doe violate faith by beleeving false things of God Tertul. Whatsoever favoureth against the truth is an heresie be it never so ancienta custome Aug. And schismatiks though they beleeve the same things with us yet doe fly from brotherly Charitie by their wicked divisions Idem Wherefore neither doth the Heretick belong to the Catholike Church because hee loveth not God Nor the Schismatike Idem because he loveth not his neighbour Pure Religion Ja. 1.27 and undefiled before GOD and the Father is this To visit the fatherlesse and the widowes in their affliction and to keepe himselfe unspotted from the world If true charity Casarius and humility be wanting we ought not to presume and trust to the habit only of Religion Let us search Lam. 3.40 and try our waies and turne againe unto the Lord. 25. The Lord is good to them that wait for him to the soule that seeketh him 30. For hee doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the Children of Men. 1 PET. 2.17 Feare God Honor the King The contents are these viz. THe Sinners conversion Pa. 1 His godly desire 4 His comming unto God 7 His Repentance 10 His Confession 15 His Absolution 19 His amendment of life 23 His assurance of Salvation 30 Gods mercy 34 Death 40 The last Iudgement 44 4. Helps to the amendment of life 1. Prayer 51 2. Reading the Scriptures 55 3. Hearing the Word preached 59 4. Sacraments 62 The holy Eucharist or Sacrament of the Body and Bloud of our Lord. 64 A remembrance of the death and passion of our Saviour Christ 68 Worthy Receivers 70 Vnworthy Receivers 74 Transubstantiation 76 To be received in both kinds 80 The Prayer before receiving the Communion 83 The Prayer after receiving the Communion 85 A Prayer before reading the holy Scriptures 87 A Prayer for faith 88 For Repentance 89 A short and effectuall Prayer 90 The generall Confession 91 A Prayer for the Morning 93 A Prayer for all times 95 A Prayer before going to bed 96 A Psalme of contrition and confession 98 A Psalme for remission 100 A Psalme for mercy and direction 102 A Psalme of confidence in Gods mercie 104 A Psalme of praise 106 THE SINNERS Conversion O Israel Hos 14.1 returne unto the Lord thy God for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity Returne unto mee Malac. 3.7 and I will returne unto you saith the Lord of Hosts Our conversion will alwaies finde him prepared August Humble your selves therefore under the mighty hand of God Iam. 4.10 that hee may exalt you in due time Lyra in Eph. Humility is the foundation of the spirituall building Iam. 4.8 Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you Greg. Naz. O the readinesse of Gods gratious love O the easinesse of his exorable reconcilement Perkins A man beginning to bee converted is at that instant the childe of God Idem Inward motions and inclinations of Gods Spirit are the materiall beginning of a Sinners conversion Phil. 3.13 For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to doe of his good pleasure Luke 15. The prodigall son when he came to himselfe said I will arise and goe to my father and will say unto him Father I have sinned against Heaven and before thee And am no more worthy to be called thy sonne Ibidem make me as one of thy hired servants And he arose Ibidem and came to his father But when he was yet a great way off his father saw him and had compassion and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him Though a man come to the height of vice Chrysost and yet be willing to returne into the way of vertue God receiveth and embraceth him willingly None ought therefore to despaire of pardon Greg. if about the end of their life they turne to repentance And although our conversion be good in our last sicknesse yet is that better Idem which is performed long before our death that wee may with more security passe out of this world Hieron God grant the sinner may be as soone turned to repentance as the Lord is ready to change his determined judgement Ezech. 33. Turne yee turne ye from your evill waies for why will ye dye O house of Israel Lam. 15. Turne thou us unto thee O Lord and wee shall bee turned His godly desire Psal 42. AS the Hart panteth after the water brookes so panteth my soule after thee O God 84. My soule longeth yea even fainteth for the Courts of the Lord My heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God The more earnestly God is desired of us Gregor the more sweetly is hee delighted in us Our desires doe sound more powerfully in the secretest eares of God Idem than our words Hee that searcheth the heart Rom. 8. knoweth what is the mind of the spirit because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God God hath annexed a promise of blessednesse Perkins and life everlasting to the desire of grace Blessed are they which doe hunger Mat 5. and thirst after righteousnesse for they shall be filled August The whole life of a good Christian is an holy will and desire