forâ—ed to cry with a lowde voyce My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Such were the cruel torments that I suffered for thee O sinfull man and for all mankinde as that by reason of the extreamitie thereof I thought my selfe euen forsaken of my father But so heauie was his displeasure against the sinne of all mankinde and all the punishment due for it layd onely vpon me that requisite it was that the stripes wherewith so great a disease should be healed should be grieuous and many And therefore thou must not thinke that I was forsaken of God though I were contemned of the world but highly in his fauour for it behoued that I should suffer and afterwardes enter into my Fathers glorie That I should fall into the handes of mortall men be crucified and made a Sacrifice for the sin of all mankinde that they might be made the righteousnes of mine heauenly Father in me who haue paid the rauÌ„some for all the posteritie of Adam and redeemed them out of the bondage of Sathan death and hell my death is to all beleeuers lyfe by my humilitie are they exalted by my contempt are thy made glorious by my pouertie are they made rich and by my miserie haue they eternall felicitie I descended also into hell to make man inheritor of heaueÌ„ So precious was my death and so glorious my conteÌ„pt that by death I haue not onely ouercome death but all men by me In my victorie consisteth thy victorie by my triumph all mankinde may iustly triumph I am the way the trueth and the life who so will goe to the Father must come through me who so will be saued must beleue in me and liue in me for to me hath mine heauenly Father giuen all power and aucthoritie both in heauen and earth that I might giue eternall lyfe to as many as he hath giuen me who as Ionas liued in the Whales belly three dayes and three nighces the third day was cast on land liuing So after my death being taken downe of the Crosse I was layd in the Sepulchre where I lay three dayes to accomplish the sayinges of the Prophets and to vereâ—ie that which was long before writen of me and that I rose againe the third day for the Iustification of all that beleeue shewing my selfe openly to my Disciples eating with them and talking with them and with a Clowd was taken vp into heauen and placed at the right hand of God mine heaueÌ„ly Father crowned with that glory honor and immortalitie wherewith I was indued before the fouÌ„ndation of the world who by my selfe haue purged thee from all thy sinnes and haue made free passage vnto mine heauenly Father for all theÌ„ that in a true faith followe me in life coÌ„uersation treading the steps of righteousnesse for whoÌ„ I remaine a continual intercessour Mediatour Aduocate vnto mine heauenly father for things necessary aswell for their bodies as their soules faithfully asking and praying for the same in my name yea y u maist not accept of any other meane or instrument to come vnto mine heaueÌ„ly father then my selfe for then doest thou greatly erre thou blasphemest mine heauenly father and dishonorest me for he wilbe serued honored praied vnto in mee and in the name of none other Thou must lay aside all prayers to Saincts and cast away all beleefe that there resteth in them any power to appease the wrath of mine heauenly father for thy sinnes or to procure thee helpe in thy necessities but must come in my name and then thou shalt be sure to be heard if thou beleeue yet not despising but faithfully imitating in good life and holy conuersation those blessed members of mine departed out of this life before thee As for all remission of sinnes al helpe and releefe thou must hoâ—e for and acknowledge to come froÌ„ mine heauenly father by my meanes onely and by none other Wherfore I say thou must beleeue in none other but in mee Iesus Christ crucified God and man sitting in heauen at the right hand of mine heauenly father and remayning a Mediatour betweene him and all those y t in faith come to mee Take hold of me therefore I say who am that Sonne of God and man that was borne of the Uâ—rgine Mary for the saluation of all mankinde who was conuersant here in this miserable worlde layde first in a Maunger most basely and wheÌ„ according to the course of other meÌ„ by sucking eating drinking I grew in stature I preached taught the will of my father glad tydinges vnto the world I was betraied and solde by Iudas I was bound and buffited I was rayled at and reuiled I was turned ouer from one to an other to Annas to Cayphas to Pylate to Herode to y e Hall held vp mine hande at Barre there falsly accused then scourged and caried to the place of Execution where I was most miserably tormented hanged on the Crosse then layd in the graue from whence I rose and now ascended aboue all heauens and al this for thy â—ake al this for no desert of mine but â—or the redemption of all mankinde â—rom the curse of the law for there is â—o coÌ„demnation to them that are in 〈◊〉 walking not after the flesh but â—fter the spirite The power of the â—pirite of life wich is in mee hath deâ—uered thee from the power of sinne â—nd death but he that hath not my â—pirite he is not mine but shall dye â—herefore must thou mortefie the â—edes of the flesh by the spirite that â—ou mayst liue Also thou must beâ—eue that as I ascended visibly into â—eauen with the very body wherein I suffered so must thou likewise beleeue that in the same body I shall come againe in great glory and magestie to iudge both the quicke and the dead at whose hands all meÌ„ shalâ— receiue rewarde according to their well and euill doing which Iudgement shalbe finall generall whereat all men shall appeare all men shalâ— giue accompt of their doinges yea 〈◊〉 euery idle worde and euill thought and that then shall those that hauâ— done good be set in peaceable possesâ—sion for euer of the vnspeakable ioyeâ— of heauen and they that be found iâ— the seruice of Sathan and caried 〈◊〉 way with y e cares of this worlde thâ— Couetouse persons the Drunkerds the Extortioners Lyers Usurers and al those that haue not obeyed thâ— worde of my heauenly father in 〈◊〉 but haue liued in sinne and haue 〈◊〉 truely repented such I say shall bâ— cast into vtter darknesse where shaâ— be coÌ„tinual sorrow no ioy al paineâ— and no pleasure all griefe no glaâ—â—nesse with such continuall and endles torments as the tongue of man cannot expresse with howling weeping gnashing of teeth where the worme of the conscience shall neuer dye Thou must also beleeue that the
mine heauenly father yea all they that came of y e stock of Adam are all become abominable and of none abilitie to doe good there is none that worketh righteousnes no not one my selfe excepted who according to y e promise of mine heaueÌ„ly father in the beginning made to Adam y t the seede of the woman should tread downe the Serpents head who was also promised to Abraham Isaak and Iacob where it was foretold that in their seede should all the kingdomes of the earth be blessed therefore must thou beleue that y e originall corruption which proceeded froÌ„ Adam remaineth yet in all flesh in generall whose reward is death But my father hath reserued vnto himselfe a certaine number knowne onely vnto himselfe which in my bloud he hath sanctified vnto eternall life whom by the holy Ghost he elected and chose out before the foundation of the world to be his childreÌ„ adopted and vnited into his fauour and mercie againe by me his onely sonne who in the time from the beginning of the world limited by the holy Prophets foreshewed came into the world in the very shape forme of a man and in all thinges lyke vnto a man sinne excepted conceiued in the wombe of a virgin whose name was Marie by the holy ghost and was incarnate and tooke substaunce of her bodie and borne into the world and growing in the fleshe according to the manner of sinfull men yet without sin according to the worde of the Prophetes And that I was y e Messias so long before promised who should bring ioy glad tidings vnto all the world and to set those at libertie that were in the boÌ„dage of Sathan sould vnder sinne and to giue light to them that sate in darknes and in the shadowe of death who haue bin from the beginning of the world begotten before all creatures and consecrated of mine heauenly Father to be the onely Hye Priest that should offer the Sacrifice that should appease his wrath for all the sinnes of the worlde to be the king to defend his people and the Prophet to shewe them his will and to guide their feete vnto the way of peace Who by offering vp my body in sacrifice once for all through the eternall spirite without spotte or sinne purged the consciences of men from dead workes to serue the liuing God mine heauenly Father and that for that purpose I lefte the heauenly Cittie the bosome of mine heauenly Father and being Lorde of all became a subiect and seruaunt to all laying aside all glorie and put on the base attire of mortall man being indued with two natures Deuine and Humaine without which the will of my Father could not haue bin executed according to his diuine prouidence for in my humanitie I was in this worlde parsonally dwelling among men eating and drinking among men and was verie man of the promised seed of Dauid and yet as touching my Godhead I was nothing inferiour to mine heauenly father but coequall with him and coeternall yet was I coÌ„tent to humble my selfe obey his will and to shewe his vnspeakeable loue and ardent desire he had of the redemption of mankinde wherein he gaue me his onely sonne to dye for the sinnes of the world who according to his determinate will did most willingly imbrace euen the death of the Crosse to redeeme them from death that were iustly condemned performing the message of mine heauenly father in all things doing nothing but what was decreed before the beginning of the world by the eternal counsaile I became poore to make thee rich and to be a meane to bring thee into the fauour of mine heauenly father againe I became bond to the will of mortall men to make thee free with the imortall God I became a straunger and a Pilgrim in earth to make thee a Citizen of heauen I became the sonne of mortall man to make thee the childe of the liuing GOD I suffered the paynes of Hell to purchaze thee heauen I was content to sufter the cruell death of the Crosse to procure thee lyfe eternal Thou must therefore faithfullie belieue that I am that Christ that true Messias that was promised to be the Sauiour of the world who was annoynted with the oyle of grace and was indued with all spirituall heauenly giftes here in earth aboue all others and that my flesh was so sanctified with my Diuinitie and Godhead that it could not suffer or see corruption Thou must belieue also that after I had preached the will of my father in Iudea and Galile in great humilitie where both by word and miracles I shewed my selfe to be the sonne of God as also by the preachings of the Prophets The Iewes by all meanes sought to take me but could not before my time was come and when the howre came when I should be deliuered into their hands according to the will of my Father I was vniustly accused of y e chief priests who consulting how they might haue me taken procured Iudas falsly to betray me promising him a bribe who although I could haue preuented him betrayed me with a kisse And then the chiefe Priestes bound me and brought me before Pylate and had prouided false witnes to accuse me wicked ministers to scourge me scoffers to deride me condemning me most vniustly to dye and to be hanged vpon the Crosse betweene two theeues as a principall malefactor and yet pure and altogether without spotte or sinne where most ignominiously and cruelly I was crowned with a Crowne of thornes in dispitefull and disdaynfull manner saluting me by the name of the king of the Iewes who being thirstie they gaue me most sharpe vinegar mingled with gall to drinke all which I most meekely and willingly suffered tooke all their torments patiently their raylings and reuilings mildlie their buffetings spittings at me meekelie longing for the redemption of mankinde to be baptized with that baptisme of so greeuous a death and to offer vp once for all the sacrifice of my bodie to reuiue them that were dead in sinne and to obtaine pardon for their transgressions euen the tender loue I had to the saluation of their poore soules by which oblation I haue purchased full satisfaction for the sinnes of the whole world that whoe so beleeueth in me should not pearish but should obtaine eternall lyfe Thou must verely beleeue also that I dyâ—d vppon the same Crosse and euen giuing vp the ghost into the handes of mine heauenly Father I indured such agonie due for the sinne of mankinde which aunswered the Iustice of mine heauenly Father in so heauy exceeding manner in respect of mine humanitie that the verie anguish and conflict of the flesh and spirit I sweat water and â—loud and was
vndone The sum and whole effect whereof is comprehended onely in loue namely in louing God aboue all thinges and thy neighboure as thy selfe and to hate all things that make againste the fulfilling of the same loue The sinfull man Uouchsafe good Solace to declare now more at large to mee These ten Precepts which doe set foorth the way to come to thee Solace THâ—â— attend thou diligently and first coÌ„sider that these precepts are not of so small moment as y t they should be accepted as the coÌ„maundements of man but to be esteemed as the verie word of myne heauenly father whoe to make the same of the greater credite and aucthoritie amonge men ioyned his owne person his glorious maiestie to the same his words and came visiblye downe in a flame of fire vpon mount Synaye to deliuer them after a farre more glorious and wounderfull manner then man could doe couplinge his owne glorye with the worde to the ende that the same should not be so little accompted of so slenderly regarded or the aucthoritye thereof reiected as a thinge of small effect as words coÌ„monly are estemed as a puffe of wind now hard and by and by forgotten But because it should be of an euerlasting and permanent continuance they were wrytten in tablâ— of stone such was the weightines of the matter that myne heauenly father thought not the wordes of a man no not of an Angel of sufficient aucthoritie or credyte to delyuer the same And therefore came he himselfe downe after such a wounderfull manner as that the mount Synaye at his presence smoaked as a fournace trembling and quakinge miraculouslye whereby thou mayste perceyue y t whoso dyspiseth his Prophets and the performance of his commaundements dispiseth his word and so contempneth god myne heauenly father him selfe for he that dyspiseth the one contempneth the other Therefore muste thou not so lightly waye these precepts the will of mine heauenly father but highly reuereÌ„ce them attentiuely heare them duely follow them and faythfully beleeue them which are perfect conuerting the soule The testimony of the Lord is pure and giueth wisdome vnto the simple and in performing them is their great reward which rewarde yet notwithstanding thou mayst not accompt thy selfe worthy of when thou hast done that which is in the law commaunded thee as farre as is possible for to fulfill the same in al points so exactly as is required thou canst not but when thou haste done all that thou canst thou mayst confesse thy selfe an vnprofitable seruante nay examine the former course of thy life with that which mine heauenly father hath commaunded thée in the lawe and thou shalt not onely finde thy selfe guilty of the breach of one but of all the commaundements for if thou breake and transgresse one thou arte guilty of all And as mine Appostle Paule sayth thou arte not of thy selfe able to thinke a good thought much lesse to fulfill the whole law for they that are in the flesh cannot please God but thou art called from the wisdome of the fleshe whiche is death to the wisdome of the spirite which is life wherby thou mayst be directed to fulfill that righteousnesse which the lawe requireth namely to loue mine heauenly father with all thine hearte with all thy minde with all thy strength thy neighboure as thy selfe wherein consisteth the perfecte righteousnes of the lawe Now to declare the same more at large and to reherse the same particulerly for thy better instruction know this that the first of the same tenne precepts is a prohibition or forbidding that thou shouldâ—st haue any other God or Gods but mine heauenlye father onelye who hath made thée the whole world and all things therein coÌ„tayned who as hée deliuered the people of Israell from their bondage and captiuitie wherein they were grieued by the tirannye of Pharaoh King of Egypte by the handes of Moses and Aaron so hath hee deliuered thee and all mankinde by the sacrifice of my body vppon the crosse from the bondage of sinne from the tyraunte of Sathan and from the feare of death and hell which if there were none other were such an especial benefit that it might 〈…〉 thee to suche an inwarde acknowledging of his inestimable loue that in respecte of that that when thou were following the vngodlie lustes and féeding the vnlawfull desires of thine vntamed fleshe runnynge rashly foorth in that broade way that leadeth vnto death he vouchsaued to send mee his onely sonne to call thée and to with-drawe thee from the same and to set thee in the way that leadeth vnto eternall life thou canste not but accompte him thy god and be mooued to the willyng seruice of him To which especiall benefit if thou ioyne and call to mind the residue of his aboundaunt mercyes wherin he voutchsafeth thee all thinges necessary and expedient to the mayntenaunce of this mortall life and suffereth thee not to wante the thing which maye relieue and comfort thée in all necessities and especially if in fayth thou fall vnto him in my name requiring the same thou mayest be assured to obtayne all thinges at his handes which are requisite for thée not onely I say for the bodye but which is most precious for the soule which could not but haue coÌ„tinued in a most miserable and most dampnable estate had not hee giuen me vnto the death for the redemption thereof who as I haue before assured thée haue aunswered that for thee for which thou remaynedst accurssed namely for not performing all things contained in the lawe That haue I done for thée obeying the will of mine heauenly father therin whose mercy so abounded that he hath accepted thee vnto his fauour agayne through mée without whome thou hadste neuer beene reclaimed but perished in thy sinne In which his so singuler benefites and superaboundant mercies he declareth himselfe to be thy very true and onely God and therefore forbiddeth thee to haue any other God but himself whome thou must worship obey serue trust vnto beleeue and call vpon giuing him aswell by outward profession as by inwarde loue and affection vnfayned prayse and honour imparting the same to none other Least as Dauid sayth thou forget the name of the Lord thy God holde vp thine handes to straunge Gods Worship thy Lord thy God therefore and see that him onely thou serue and truely obey and that with the same true worshippe whiche is commaunded thée in his worde as by prayers supplications and giuinge of thankes magnifying him in the greatnes of his mercy wherein he aydeth reléeueth comforteth and defendeth them that being distressed faithfully call vpon him not running vnto any Saint or Angell but vnto him onely in and by me who am the waye and meane to bringe them vnto him I am the mediator and aduocat by whoÌ„ onely and by none other thou mayst haue free passage vnto
faithfulnes how to flye him and to followe me to eternall saluation whereof if thou frame thee faithfully to my wordes I will assure thee Heare me The sinfull man Oh what should I poore sinner doe whose sinnes surpasse the sand In number which the surging seas and waues haue cast on land No wit no wisedome or good will doth rest within my brest Thy wordes are all in vaine to me I am bereft of rest And know not how to winne again thy fauour which is lost In dolefull plight I striue in vaine to yeeld vp guiltie ghost That earth might passe to earth againe of which it first begun My soule where it deserues to be an wofull ghost vndun Solace Wilt thou oh man continue still so hard of heart in woe Refusing so the fruites of grace that from my mercie floe Whereby thou mayst at libertie be set from force of foe Reclaimd from sinne and Sathans will to rest no more in woe Repent therefore I say repent turne thou to me in haste Giue eare vnto me once againe be yet reformde at last Thou shalt perceiue that I forgiue all sinners when they crye Not wishing any sinfull soule in such dispaire to dye ALL the Prophetes beare me witnesse tha◠through my name all that beleeue in me shall receiue remission of sinnes Iohn sayth 〈◊〉 any man haue sinned he hath an Aduocate wit◠the father Iesus Christ the Righteous he i◠the propitiation for our sins I am that Christ of whom Osee testifieth and sayth in that I haue conquered Sathan already O Death I wilbe thy death O Hell I wilbe thy destruction I haue as Dauid sayth lead captiuitie captiue when I ascended into heauen in ouercomming the Deuill Sinne Death and Hel enemies to the soule of man These that were long before me haue testified of me whose testimonie of me is true And my father in the beginning promised that the seede of the woman should tread downe the Serpents head I was that pure seede of the Uirgine of whom the Prophetes spake long before and I haue performed it vppon the Crosse and thus doth the spirite testifie in the hearts of all the Children of my father Now if these witnesses cannot moue thee to beleeue beleeue my father in heauen who testifieth of me saying This is my welbeloued Sonne heare him My father hath sent into the world eternall life and that is by me his Sonne Well then come vnto me al ye that labour are heauy laden with the burthen of sinne come vnto me I will ease you Art thou loden therefore poore man ye more then loden thou art prest downe not to the ground but to y e very gulfe of hel thou maist thanke thy master Sathan for it who being pittilesse presseth downe with the weightie burthen of all wickednesse such as yeeld him seruice He will promise at the first nothing but ease nothing but pleasure but in the ende he lodeth with labour and paieth your hire with paine thou that hast had the tryall of it excuse him if thou canst no thou canst not nor thy self Wherfore I say defie him and condemne thy self who hast gone astraie who hast wrought wickednesse euen with greedinesse And I see that he hath led thee into such a Laberinth into such a deepe Dungion of dispaire that it wilbe hard for thee to winde thee out againe But I will worke thee such a way as if thou bee aduised by me if thou followe my counsayle and walke the way that I will shewe thee thou shalt spite of his heart breake his fetters in peeces get out of his prison and defie him and all his wicked retinue euen to their faces The sinfull man Oh Solace doth thy mercy so abound to pardon me Although like stinking filthie cloath my life appeare to thee If Sathan held me not in band fast linckt in fetters fell Who roares like raging Lyon whē I doe determine well Full faine I would returne to thee whose mercy now I see And do perceiue that Satan seekes the meanes to murther me Solace YEa that is his occupation he hath nothing els to liue by nor to maintaine his kingdome withall He first allureth men to al kinde of vice he stirreth them vp to rebell against the will of mine heauenly father and as much as in him lyes reteineth them therein but when they be somewhat touched with the knowledge and feeling of their error when the spirite beginneth to groane vnder the heauie burthen of sinne and sommoneth them to the leading of a new life and they begin to fall from him then beginnes he to bestirre himself then he begins to cogge and to lye then he renues the Commissions of his officers and wicked ministers to lay a newe assault to their soules who with great diligence execute their masters will in perswading the poore sinner that he beginnes to take an ill course if he decline from his wicked way when he refuseth to doe ill and chooseth to doe good when he leaueth darknesse and betakes him to the light of trueth He tolde Iudas that he was not wise if he would followe me but if he would forsake me and betray me then did he well But when he had performed his commaundement and done as he was bid what did that master of his for him for sooth for feare least he should haue truely repented and haue vnfeynedly returned to me againe he put such a pricke into his conscience that he neuer left him till he had hanged himselfe Such conflictes maketh hee in the mindes of men that haue once yeelded vnto his pestilent motions and obeyed his wicked will without remorse of conscience feare of death or loue of mee and that will not be in time reclaymed from their wickednesse whome the wordes of my mouth will not mooue nor the feare of hell fire fraye from their filthinesse these I say when they heare the iudgements of my Father against them for their sinnes he to the ende he may hold them still in blindnes fearreth them with threates and ouercommeth their wittes with most horrible and blasphemous perswasions that there is no saluation or hope of helpe in me in so much as he laboreth by all meanes and vseth all his pollicies to bring them to destruction resisting them alwayes from doing any good as he stoode at the right hande of Iehoshua to let him when hee prayde vnto myne heauenly father for the state of the people So hee endeuoureth to take my worde out of thine heart least thou shouldest beleeue and be saued yea he desireth to winnow those that will come forwarde to godlines as Wheate as he sifted Peter myne Apostle who perswaded him selfe to be able to stand strongly but loe euen with the feare that Sathan stroke him with he denied me three times but he repented went out and wept bitterly And afterward resisted him manfully nay he was not
the same inwardly which thou desirest to seeme outwardly And in the morning when thou comest againe I will proceede to direct thee to that repentance wherein thou must exercise thy selfe towardes the amendement of thy former life The sinfull man Would GOD the night were not so neere thy talke delighteth mee Encrease my fayth to morrowe I will waite againe on thee The ende of the VVednesdaye or third dayes Conference A PRAYER FOR the encrease of faith and for the direction of the holy spirite to frame our liues according to the rule which God the father in his sonne Christ hath prescribed vnto vs. OH God my God giuer of al good things and the sure defence and succour of all them that faithfully beleeue in thee Loe I thy silly creature the worke of thine owne handes who in my great darkenes and ignorance humbly craue of thee the light that shineth from on high that faith sweete Lord without the which no maÌ„ can please thee which proceedeth from the holy Ghost the most wholsome water of life whereof oh Lorde giue mee some taste some sparcle whereby I may come vnto thee wherby I may frame my life according to thy blessed and heauenly will and whereby I may truely serue thee and doe worship to thine holy name Vouchsafe oh Lorde vouchsafe in Iesus Christ thine onely and welbeloued sonnes name and for his sake to be mercifull vnto my wretchednes to forgiue my wickednes to strengthen my weakenes to pardon my dulnes and more and more to encrease my fayth and to vouchsafe mee perfect knowledge of goodnes and ablenes by thine holy spirit to follow thee to frame myne heart vnfaynedly to loue thee my will to seeke al my powers to doe their dueties to praise thee Lord increase my faith which is the principall meane whereby we take hold of thy most louing and most comfortable promises in Christ our Sauiour thyne only and welbeloued Sonne whome thou of meere loue of our saluation sentest into this miserable world here to suffer the opprobrious death of the Ctosse to appease thy wrath for our sinnes and to risâ— agayne for our iustification The worlâ—â—hereof sweete IeIesus thou hast not onely most willingly as an obedient sonne performed according to thy fathers will but hast reueyled and manifested the mystery thereof to all the worlde and trayned out the way that wee should walke in to come to that vnspeable happy habitation the endlesse blessings and passing ioyes whereof no tong can expresse Thou hast by thy death sweete Iesus purchased agayne for vs that which before we had lost in Adam Thou hast redeemed vs again out of the hands of death and raunsomed vs from the cruell bondage of Sathan that enemy of al mankind whose head although thou haue troden downe and payd the vttermost which could be demaunded for our redemption spoyled him of all his power and vnarmed him of all his weapons gotten the victorie ouer death and hell Yet such is our weakenes our corruption and the hardnesse of our beliefe in thee that he remayneth yet tyrannous diligently attending watching and seeking whom he may deuour whom he may leade with blindnesse into error and false religion into the wayes of wickednesse to destruction both of body and soule And we most wretched sinners prone to doe that which is contrary to thy will haue of our selues no power to â—â—thstand him no ablenes to auoyde his tyranny Wherefore most louing Iesus I the most wretched and sinfull the most ignorant and blind creature most humbly pray thyne ayde thyne assistance and gracious protection not onely to defend mee from the clawes of Sathan and his ministers the World and lustes of the corrupt flesh but also grace to guyde my life in fayth vnfeyned perfect loue and true feare of thee myne onely Sauiour and Redeemer hauing none other hold none other helpe strength defence or hope to be defended saufely conducted in a godly life and conuersation but thy selfe sweet Iesus thou inuincible captaine thou lambe of God who takest vpon thee the sinnes of the world whose will is that we should bee saued and be preserued from the hands of that cruell Aduersary the Deuill But alas good Iesus so blynded are we that we can not see the way to thee so deafe that we refuse to heare thee and so disobedient that we come not willingly vnto thee we haue not attended when thou hast taught vs but haue refused to bee instructed when thou hast directed vs. But most louing Iesus the cause is the want of that most excellent gift of thyne a true fayth which thou hast offered and I neglected and therefore haue I not hethertoo bene perfectly assured nor certeynly perswaded in heart of the performance of those most comfortable blessings which are promised in thee Oh sweete Iesus haue thou remorse of this my dulnesse plucke out of myne heart the Beame of vnbeleefe and voutsafe mee now the right vse of that most singuler meane of following thee the eye of a perfect and true faith and let naturall reason the Mother of error no longer deceyue mee or drawe mee into conceites contrary to thy most blessed will but being indued with thy gift of vnfeyned faith I may truely repent mee of all my former euils and so euermore hereafter euen to my liues end cleaue stedfastly to pure religion the true seruice of thee Oh Lord giue me one sparcle of this true fayth wherby I may be able to comprehend rightly to vnderstand what thy diuine will and pleasure is in all things That I may frame mine outward desires to the fulfilling therof and by thine holy spirit continually keepe downe the prowde attempts vnlawlawfull desires and carnall lustes of the flesh withstand the deuill in all his assaultes and manfully ouercome the vayne pleasures of this wicked world Oh giue mee the shielde of a true fayth and the brestplate of vnfeyned repentance to fight that good fight that happy fight whereby I may be crowned with the glorious crowne of victorie and whereby I may bee accepted into the number and societie of that holy congregation and fellowship of the faithfull the Catholique Church wherof sweete Iesus thou art the head and onely defence in whome whosoeuer ouercommeth thou hast ordeyned the Diademe of al true happines wherwith thou hast promised to crowne them and to set the title of triumph vpon their heads to place them in that heauenly countrie that celestial inheritance wherein there shalbe no more feare no more cares no more vanities or affliction of spirit but continuall peace vnfained loue vnspeakable ioyes and endles felicitie for euermore Wherefore sweete Iesu vouchsafe mee that spirituall weapon the shield of a true fayth that fighting therewith against all the assaults of sinne vnder the Banner of thy protection I may in the ende be crowned with the Crowne of Eternall life among the rest of thy chosen children sweete Iesu Amen Oh Lord increase my fayth And euermore
honest conuersation and good life whose sinceretie conference and godly example shall not onely direct but delight and prosper the way and by whose example also thou shalt sée and perceiue that riches health beutie honour dignitie preferment other transitory pleasures of this world are not onely not helpes but méere lettes and pouertye sicknesse contempt and worldlye afflictions not onelye not lettes but great helpes and furtherances to true and vnfayned repentance which is the entrance and setting foorth of this so precious and profitable a voiage wherin I will direct and guide thée vnto the end Comforte thy selfe therefore in this that God mine heauenlye father hath stretched foorth his mercifull hande by mée to bring thee out of all thy perplexities and troubles and accept this suddaine chaunge of thine to be a good and necessarie Spurre to prick thée forward to a more dutifull obedience to his blessed will and in thy want to seek vnto him to be releued to be holpen and defended by him whose power is infinite his loue incomprehensible and wisdome so great as he worketh not according to the corrupt desires of flesh and blood which are alwayes euill and séeke nothing but what is enmity to the spirite which is willing the flesh too weake to walk the way that leadeth vnto life The sinfullman Alas my poore estate is such I am so sore decayde No man can blame mine heauines if mine ill hap were wayde Solace IN déede if thou dydste well waie thine yll happe it might iustlie dryue thine hearte to powre foorth teares of bloud not in respecte of the alteration of thine estate from worldly wealth to the wante of thy wunted Pleasures but in respecte that thy corruption hath tyde thine affections to the pernicious poastes of Sathans subtyle allurements with the cursed cords of his flattering falshoode in such sorte as thy bandes can not yet bee broken of by the force of the invincible word of eternall trueth such is thine vntowardenes that where yesterdaie thou seemedst to be in a manner frée thou hast wound thy selfe againe since into the snares of his subtyle slightes like the flesh taken fresh out of the Market being vnsalted waxeth soone vnsauerie so I see that thy rawnesse being as yet vnsaulted with the bryne of temptations waxeth vnsauerye yea full of the wormes that increase of Sathans poyson but I see thy dulnes must be stirred vp with a more sharpe sauce thy stomacke is not yet come to thee too digeste the bitter physicke of afflictions but alas this sauce is as it were seasoned with sugar which if it seeme sharpe vnto thée beinge but the perbrakings of thine owne too full stomack surfeting w t the goods of other men how wil the pilles of bitter extremitie work w t thée that is if thou take this change this Restitution of other mēs goods so heauily what wilt thou saye and how wilt thou take the physicke which was ministred vnto Iob a righteous Rich man who as for a Preparatiue to Patience was not onely bereft and vtterlye spoyled of all that he hadde of great aboundance of richesse one iote wherof no mā could charge him to haue wrongfully gotten but was also striken with moste horrible loathsomnesse of bodie in suche sorte as he was not onely forsaken of all his friendes but in stead of a House moste daintie was layde on a Dunghyll moste loathsome where he was glad of a Potsheard to scrape away the filthe of his owne flesh Notwithstandynge his moste miserable estate fell not into such dispaier but most mildly in great patience referryng his cause to mine Heauenly Father sayinge The Lorde hath giuen and the Lorde hath taken awaye as it pleaseth him so doeth hee Blessed bee his most gloryous name for euermore Lo héere was the plot of perfect Patience set him as a Patterne before thine eyes by whose example thou maist with lyke patience take thine affliction which is but one drop in respect of his great and raging sea of troubles but one fillip in respect of his manie thowsāds buffets wherwith he was stricken not in restoring that which he had wrongfully gathered but euen to try his constancie to prooue his patience whereof he shall remaine an example for all mankinde for euermore The sinfull man Oh how could he with patience these cruell crosses beare It can not be but that he did in griefe himselfe beteare Solace YEs yes be sure he bare all these crosses and miseries with patience which patience in déede was accompanied with sorrow not with a desperate sorrowe but with a moste godlye sorrowe which as before I sayd causeth repentaunce vnto saluation by reason of which his patience was all his perplexitie turned into prosperitie his sorrow into ioy his mourning into myrth and his want into a greater wealth then he had before So néere was mine heauenly Father vnto his patience that in the midst of his anger in his extreme punishment he retuned with a most louing and fatherly affection vnto him againe and why because that in these affections of his in these déepe and daungerous conflictes he yéelded not nor gaue as it were ground vnto his weakenes but taking hould by the anckor of fayth he not only sorrowed in such vnmeasurable heauynes but rather tryumphed reioyced and euen imbraced his miserie affliction So neare is mine heauenly father to as many as put their trust in him patiētly waiting for his stretched out arme to reléeue their necessities So neare was he to Ioseph who although he were hated of his brethren and by them as a bondslaue sould into a straunge countrie mine heauenly father turned it to his profite and made him gouernour of the whole land of Egypt he is néere vnto all them that put their trust in him and patiently waite for his stretched out arme to remoue their afflictions in which afflictions and miseries thou must not indent with him for the time for the manner or meane but refer it vnto his wisdome to his leasure and to his most blessed will to be reléeued who because hée will be knowen to be the God of all power the omnipotent and almightie helper he spareth his hand and withhouldeth his helpe vntill the matter be euen oute of the power and Iudgemente of manne to bee relieued saued or defended Who could haue thoughte anye Defence any rescue or anye power able too haue defended the Children of Israell from the handes of Pharoah And yet their Estate beinge in deepest daunger and their liues in greateste perill hee made the Sea at his Commaundement too auoyde and stande bye too giue rowme and to giue a directe Pathe for the Isralytes to passe in plaine ground and shutte the Sea againe vppon their ennemyes and deuoured them So néere was hee vnto them in their vttermoste dystresse So néere was he vnto Daniell who beinge in the Lyons Den in the Iudgement of
reformatioÌ„ of thy life to the glory of his name and to the end that other men seeing such successe in thy seruing of God may bee the better allured to the like and that all men may learne to acknowledge themselues releeued maynteined defended and saued by mee and by none other without whome no man coÌ„meth to mine heauenly father and without whose mediation and intercession praiers by whome to whom when wherefore and howsoeuer they be made are not onely not auaileable but mere abominable But hee that prayeth faithfully in my name shall haue the experience and triall that myne heauenly father regardeth the same and that by comforting and duely releeuing them whensoeuer they shall open their griefes and wants vnto him who although hee vnderstand before what thou needest and coulde releeue thee without asking his will is that thou shouldest approache vnto his throne of grace in faithfull and zealous prayer that when thou art releeued and hast obteined the things thou desiredst thou shouldest acknowledge his goodnes towards thee and be the more assured and rest in the more liuely and constant hope of the continuance of his louing fauour and mercies towards thee and for the same to bee the more stirred vp to be thankfull But thou saiest thou knowest not howe to pray or what to desire the spirite shall then direct thee namely the holy ghost shall teach thee hee shall healpe thine infirmitie he shall make request for thee and that with inward gronings and sighes of heart in such wise as the tongue can not expresse The flesh is weake and often keepeth downe that zealous and earnest outward shewe which shal be a testimonie of a deuout and godly mind but the spirit groning inwardly lifteth vp the heart in such sort as the verie sighes thereof are accepted with mine heauenly father and knowne according to the desire thereof although it bee not vttered in open words And therefore thou must vnderstand that it is not sufficient to the discharging of this duetie of zealous prayer to vtter many wordes or to vse long and tedious circumstances in outwarde speach vnlesse the heart being guided and directed by the spirit inwardly groane accompanying the tongue in the outward word that so the heart and tongue being linked together by vndoubted fayth present thy necessities before myne heauenly father in my name and so make the same acceptable for the tongue is but the instrumentall meane or witnesse of the minde whereby to set forth the goodnes of mine heauenly father towards thee So that vnlesse the heart which is the guide of the tongue bee truely affected the tongue must needes either verie coldly or cleane contrarie to Christian duetie in that behalfe or in outward shewe glorious as an hypocrite or els vtter nothing at all so that the true worship the faithfull seruice and the acceptable sacrifice of prayer consisteth in the vnfeined zeale of the hearte and not in the outward worde For hee that searcheth the heart vnderstandeth the verie sighes of the spirit and graunteth thy desires such as are measured and limited by the word of trueth proceeding from the same spirit and not those that proceede of the corrupt flesh which longeth alwayes contrarie to the spirit and which seeketh to tye the will of mine heauenly father to the vaine motions thereof namely in prefixing and setting downe meanes the maner and time of help and reliefe as did the Priest who had limited mine heauenly father a time for their deliuery whom that godly woman Iudith rebuked as appeareth in the Historie for his so tempting God Thou must therefore waite his heauenly pleasure in pacience not limiting or apointiâ—g â—im the meane the way the time or season when or how to defend thee to releeue thee to saue thee but to commit thee wholy vnto his wil and prouideÌ„ce looking faithfully vpoÌ„ him in patience with continuall praiers that he for my sake will grauÌ„t such successe vnto thy desires as seemeth conuenient in y e eyes of his wisdome commend I say thy waies vnto his wisdom and trust in him he wil bring it to passe for thy best looke vpoÌ„ the poore children of Israel who being inuironed with daunger rounde about the Sea was before theÌ„ the Mountaines on each side of them and Pharoah with an huge host pursuing and following them in so much as there was nothing but meere dispayre of their deliuerie their daunger was such that all mans deuises were vaine policie was to no purpose no counsayle could auaile them but see the wonderfull power and mercies of myne heauenly father who beholding their imminent daunger at the prayers of Moses made a way for them to escape in which his prayers he prefixed not the maner the time nor meane to be holpen but encouraging the people to trust in God mine heauenly fathers right hande and neither to murmure to feare or dispayre but to referre themselues in faith vnto his will who parted the red Sea in sunder and led the people of Israell through and deuoured their enemies with the same Loe thou seest that he helpeth when the helpe of a man is vayne and when all hope of helpe in respect of men is past then is his power greatest and his helpe neerest Let this therefore learne thee that whether the present daunger of enemies dismay thee pouertie oppresse thée or any other necessitie or greefe anoy thee dispayre not of helpe betake thee vnto my heauenly father in my name coÌ„fesse thy sinnes and shew him thy troubles open thy necessities and declare thy cause vnto him in most faithfull praier not coldly or weakely from thy lippes but zealously and effectually from the heart lifting vp thy minde vnto the heauens not suffering thy thoughtes to roue abroade after other helpes but fixed onely with the eye of a true faith vpon mine heauenly fathers alone ayde for my sake and assure thy selfe that in a tyme most conuenient and most acceptable he shall defende thee hee shall releeue thee and hee shall helpe thee as thou shalt say that the right hand of y e Lord hath wrought it for thee Thou must therefore waite his â—easure and with patience abide his good time in all humilitie and duetiful obedience As Dauid did who being expulsed his Kingdome by his owne Sonne in obedience offered his prayers vnto mine heauenly father saying If I shall finde fauour in thy sight oh Lord thou wilt establish me againe in my Kingdome But if thou shalt say vnto me Thou doest not please me I am ready to obeye thee doe with mee what thou wilt See his humilitie which notwithstanding the heauie burthen of the rebellion of his owne Sonne he shewed in great patience which ingendred that hope that at the last at the will of myne heauenly father was answered with the thing it desired Such humilitie and obedience had Iob who when all his children were taken away his
yet in nature coosen Iermaines workes of mischiefe Voluntarie dispaire Faire wordes is franckest when the game is fairest Dissimulation is not daintie in the ambitious man Dotage in doubte· He will cut his throat first and lay a plaister afterwardes A small demaund He promiseth honie and giues gall Qui ante non cauet post do lebit The poore mans griefe a pastime to the rich The promise of honie performed with gall Bagges of golde and siluer are the egges whereon Sathan fits abroode to breede young Diuils to torment theÌ„ that put their confidence therein Wealth and a gay house foolish and vnperfect felicitie God sendeth men knowledge of their error onely of loue to win them to saluation The trueth is straunge to the woldly ones whose wits are occupied about transitorie and vaine causes The riche measure other mens wisdome and honestie by their owne wealth The greatest wealth is coÌ„tentation Mans blindnes can not see the miserie of this world nor vnderstand the perfect happines of heauen Monie accepted as a God to redresse manie miseries Where there are all things at will to content the flesh there is seldome any thing to quicken the spirit Many may but few haue reliefe of the wealthie Many sing when they should sigh and laugh when they should weep Many build lâ—oft for the body but thinke not of the pore â—oule where it shall dwell in the ende the duÌ„gion of hell HarkeÌ„ to god defie the deuill Riches in respecte of the vncertentie of them are not to be accompted a mans owne· Worldlinges doe perswade theÌ„ selues to liue for euer that there is noe God to take againe what he hath giuen them· But make Fortune the Author of happynes It is the fashioÌ„ of fickle Fortune to fauour to day and to frown to morrow But the surest hold of happines is to trust in God It is a rare matter to finde a man willing to forgoe his wealth or to take the losse of his aboundâ—nâ—e with pâ—tience To shun the inconuenience that Riches bringeth is to repose no further trust in them then as vrgeÌ„t necessitie forceth Psal. 62 10. Iam. 1.10 11. The rich and their riches compared to the flower of the field 〈…〉 in this world to to be found Worldlie promotions no sparke of true happines There be too manie that thinke that there is neither heauen nor hell but the pleasure and paines of this world Lyke Epicures who shall finde it contrarie to their endles destruction The glorie of this world a pricke of euill The arrogant man is â—oth to be reâ—oued but if he feele himselfe manifestly touched with his fault he wil put on a stout â—ace and couer his wickednes with audaciâ—â—e The sweetest Solace for an offender is â—â—â—don for 〈◊〉 crime· The word of God is not to draw men to but to withdraw men froÌ„ sinne Nothing too deare for the fleshe but euerie trifle accompted too deare for the Soule Heauenly comfort reuealed to none that haue their whol delight to fulfill the will of the fâ—esh· This solace is contrary to the rich mans â—xpectation He that perswadeth a worldling from his inordinat cares of the world he accepteth him as his vtter enimy Too much affiance in a ches is enmitie to God Riches can not saue a mans life He that loueth not God heareth not his word In the 12. of Luke Though God be vnknoweÌ„ to man yet he seeth the secrets of the heart of man and iudgeth accordinglie God is iust to punish the ofenders and to turne their pleasures into paine God Punisheth with the want of that that we here abouÌ„de withall Gods iudgemeÌ„t is without redemption Luk. 16. Dogges cruel by kinde yet here more curteous then men Pouertie and Sores no bar to keepe the Soule from blisse If mony could saue the soule the deuill had lost his share The rich mans griefe encreaseth to see the poore man in blisse To denie helpe to the needy is sinne before God Many are redie to rifle But few to relieue the poore A hard Sentence to a miserable maÌ„ to giue al that they haue to the poore Pro. 19.17 He leÌ„deth to the Lord that hath pity on the poore â—ob 4.8 9. A foundation laid vpon the pleasures of this world is the grounde work of distruction Luk. 12.20 Hard for the rich man but impossible for the wicked rich man to enter into heauen Iosu. 7.10 Achan stoned to death for stealing Ahabs wicked desire of Naboths vinyarde The wickednes of Iesabell A iust reward Pardon vpon repentance God seeth the wickednes of man â—rueth vnpleasaunt to the wicked Abraham Iob and Dauid rich Gen. 15. â—9 Iob. 1.3 1. King 15.4 The abuse of riches to be auoyded The Rich should esteeme of themselues as hauing nothing Riches withdraweth the heartes of men from the trueth Luke 16. Riches not auaileable without the grace of God to guide the same We must be coÌ„tent withour estate be it high or lowe· We must giue account of our Tallent It is a harde thing for a rich man to discharge him selfe of all ill means to get his goods Mat. 19.20 Occasion the minister of much mischief The rich rob themselues of the freedom of a good minde through vnsaciable couetousnes It is the least care in this world to a uoid the paynes of the world to come· The vncertaâ—ntie of riches by the example of Iob. All riches are in the handes of god he is able to take awaye what he hath giuen Mans foly to promise him selfe ease in respect of his riches Man is but tenaunt at will of his worldly substance Happines is not in the aboundance nor vnhappines in the want of wealth Iob. 17 13. Euill gotten soone spent 2. King 5.22 The rewarde of Bribers Act. 5.3.4 Mat. 27.5 The reward of Iudas for betraying Christ. Coueitousnes odious in the sight of God Mat. 14.20 Io· 6.11 Mat. 15.33 Water giuen out of the hard rock 1 King 19.6 Eliah fed in the wildernes Dani. 4.22 The fall of Nabugodonozer for his pride and rebellion against god No respect of persons with god Luk. 1.2 Osee. 13. God euen with the breth of his mouth can shake our foolish buildings to peeces 1. Tim. 6.17 Libertie sold for a pound of flatterie The plot and grouÌ„d-work of a notable bâ—lding The sea side of Sathan Quick-sands Priuie conspiracie The stamp of a good concience The stones of a mans life hewen with the hammer of gods word The leuel of a true faith The holy ghost the work man We muste breake promise with the body A work-mâ— of a contrarie building Sathan Sathan the workeman of all mischief Esay 5.8 Abac. 2.6 Esa 2.12 An inordinate care of riches a worme to the conscience Pro. 27.20 Couetousnes setteth the end of al sacietie in things wished for· The couetous man enimie to all mâ—n 〈◊〉 and chiefly to himselfe 1. Io. 2.15 Of concupiscence springeth all euil ConcupisceÌ„ce of the flesh CoÌ„cupisceÌ„ce of the eies Pride of life
beleue consisteth in the trinitie Luk. 3 21.22 2. Io. 5.7 2. Cor. 13.13 Gen. 1.1.16 Mat. 3.16.17 Mat. 28.19 Reue 1.8 Gen. 1. Esa. 6.1 45.12 Psal. 33.6 God the creatour of all things· 1 The 1.9 Heb. 2.15 Luk. 1.74 Mat. 4.10 Luk. 4.8 Gen. 1.31 1. Ioh. 1.5 1 Io. 2·29 Gen. 2.26 Ecle 17.3 Wis. 2.23 Rom. 5.12 Gen 3 8. After the fall of Adam sin entred there is none that doeth good 1 Cor. 2·8 Gall. 5 17. 1 Io. 3.8 Dewt. 28.47 Rom. 5·12 wiâ— 13.1 Rom. 3.10 Gen. 3.15 wis 13.1 Ier· 31.30 Ro. 31·33 Ephe. 1.4.5 Gall. 4.4 Mat 1 18 Ier 31 22 Ioh â— 14 Luk 2 7 Esa 61 2 Luk 2 32 Io 12 46 Col 1 15. Psal 45 7. Io 18 37. Act 7 37. 1. Io 3 8. Ioh 5 15. Io 1 14. Christ had two natureâ— deuine and humaine Mar 11 12 13. 2 Sam 7.16 Esa 7 10. Mat 1 23. Mat. 1.23 Christe dyed for the sinnes of the world Ioh. 8.26.40 Mat. 8.20 Luk. 9.58 See the vnspeake able benefite of Christs death Christ the true messias Luk. 2.32 Mat. 26.63 Ioh. 1.14 Luk. 4.15 Mat. 4.15 8.4 Io. 21. Mat. 11 29· Io. 5.18 7.29 Ioh. 7.30 5.32 Mat. 26.34 Mar. 14.1 Luk. 22·2· Mat. 26·53 Mat. 26. Mar· 14· Luk 22. Ma. 27 30.31· Ioh. 18. Mar 15. Luk 23. Ioh. 19. Mat 27.34 Ioh 10.15 Luk. 12.50 Rom. 4 25. Ioh 3 15. Tit. 2.11 Psal 69·6 Mat 27 34. Luk. 22.44 Mat. 27.46 Psal. â—â— â— Mar. 15.34 So heauy was the iust iudgment of god against sinne that Christ through his tormentes in respect of his manhood had thought his faâ—â—er had forsakeÌ„ him Esa. 53. Luk. 24·4 Luk. 24.7 2 Coâ— 5.21 Christ hath payd the ransome for the sins of Adam All men in Christ ouercome death Christ is the way the truth the life Mat 28 18. Io 17 2. Iona 1 17. Mat 27.50 Mar 15 37. Mat 12.40 Ioh. 2 19. Mat. 28 6· Ioh 20.5 Mar 16.19 Luk. 24.51 Collo 20. 1. Pet. 2.21 1. Ioh. 2.1.2 Rom. 8.34 Lu. 3.22 Io. 10.1.2.3 Christ is the onely way meane to bring vs to God Heb. 12.24 Mat. 1 2â— Christ God man sitting at the right haÌ„d of the father making continual mediation for vs. we must mortifie the deedes of the flesh by the spirit Act. 10.42 Rom. 14.9.10 â—3 Io. 5.27 Christ will come againe to iudge both the quicke and the dead and giue to euery man according to their workes Ephe. 5.5 â— Cor. 6.9.10 Ephe. 5.4 2. Cor. 13.14 1. Ioh. 5.7 Mat. 3.16.17 Ioh. 14.16 1. Pet. 1.2 Rom. 8.15.16 1. Ioh. 3.24 Lu. 16.7 2.25 2. Pet. 1.2 Ioh. 4.10 7.38 Gal. 3.2 Mat 13 58. Maâ— 6.5.6 Mat. 10 19.20 Eph. 5 8. Ioh· 13.6 Mat 11.29.30 Iob. 9.19 Lu 1 7.4·75 Io 14.6 Mat. 25.34 1. Ioh. 4.6 Io. 16.8 Luke 24.49 Luke 3.29 Luke 10.20 Ioh. 13 1â— Mat. 15 13. Rom. 12.5 Mat. 13.58 Mar. 6.5.6 Rom. 7.14.15 1. Ioh. 1.4.8 Mat. 26.41 Luke 22.46 Mat. 6.12 Mat. 18.19.20 Ioh 17.21 Rom. 12.5 1. Cor. 1.9 Mat. 6.11 1. king 8.50.51 Luk. 1.77 Ioh. 20.23 Lu. 1.78 Rom. 11.30 1. Pet. 3.20.21 Ioh. 20.21 Mat. 7.23.26 Iob. 19.26.27 Mat. 27.52.53 Mat. 13.30.43 Iohn 5.29 1. Cor. 6 9.10 Ephe. 5.51 Vnbeleeuers are not members of the true Church Act 5.31 11.18 26.8 Tim. 1 2â— Faâ—th and repentance the summe of the Gospell We must bring foorth the fruites of faith We must bee the same inwardly which we would seeme outwardly Beleefe in the holy ghost Heb. 11.32 The operatioÌ„ of faith is wonderfull Faith the foundation of all other vertues Faith must be accompanied with repentance The flesh is fraile AmendemeÌ„t of life the chiefest remedie for the sicknesse of the soule A good caueat Those that are lulled a sleepe thorowe the allurements of Sathan in the pleasures of this world thinke none other happinesse but worldly felicitie The sicknes of the soule much more to be respected then the disease of the body we must haue regard least the doore of our affectioÌ„s open to entertaine the intisements of Sathan We must amend our liues sinne no more The difinitition of true repentance Mat. 3 2. Iohn Baptist baptised none but such as repeÌ„ted their sinnes Psal. 51.4 Dauid repented at the warning of the Prophet Nathan True confession 2. Cor. 7.10 Godly sorrowe Iob. 1.20 Gen. 4.13 Mat 27.5 The sorrowe of Esawe Iudas Cains Euell Act. 1.18 That sorrow which is not of faith causeth not repentance vnto saluation What true repentance is 2. Pet. 3.9 Iet 3.1 Hos. 14.2 Ier. 3.14 18.11 We must speedily repent least we dye in our sinnes Deut. 4.29 2. Cron. 12.12 Roboam repented 2. Cron. 33.12.13 The repentance of Manasses Iudith 4.9.10 The children of Israell repented Marie Magdaline The niniuites Men of the old world not repenting at the preaching of Noe wee drowned The Sodomites and meÌ„ of Gomorra burned with fire brimstone Ierusalem destroyed The iudgemenâ—s of God great against such as neglect his word God is readie to receiue them that truely turne to him Iud. 2â— 14 Col 3.5.6 We must mortifie our euill affections Ephe. 55. Ephe. 2.3 If we repent and beleeue we shal be saued The sorrowe of Esau Cain and Iudas damnable A godly sorrowe God is redy in great mercie to imbrace them that truely turne to him He that will come vnto God must forsake the 〈…〉 of the world We may not presume of our selues to doe any gâ—oâ— thing We can stand fast before we be shaken Presumption is a meane to quench true zeale Sathans deuices to detaine vs from hearing the word of God Some come to heare the word for cauelations sake The beginning of scismes is the misconstruction of the Scripture The Church of God cals them the chapple of Antichrist Mat. 7.13.14 We must cast our selues downe in our owne conceites The death of Christ tooke these ceremonies away The outward showe of repentance is not alwayes accompanied with inward contrition Dissimulation odious before God The maner of sturdie beggers hypocrisie DissimulatioÌ„ deserueth double punishment Ioel. 2.13 Mat. 6.17 The outward showe of repentance meere hipocrysie without inwarde punction In the old world the outward ceremonies were helpes to repentance Dan. 9.3.4.5 The external shewe without faith more abominable True fasting Esa. 18.5 The true fast consisteth not altogether in the abstineÌ„ce from meates Mat. 6. â—6 What true fasting is Psa. 1.16.17 Esa. 58.7 many blessings promised to true fasting Rom. 14.1.3.14 All meates to be taken with thankesgiuing Luke 16.19 1. Pet. 4.3.4 Excesse to be auoyded Ezek â—6 4â— Gluttonie one of the sinnes of Sodomâ— Excesse in eating an enemie to studie and prayer 1. Thes. 4.34 â— Pet. 2.11.12 We must obey those ordinances of man that tend to the glory of God Luke 12.1 Hypocrysie the leuen of the Pharysies Mat. 2.27.3 Exod. 8.8 1. Sam. 15.13 Ioh. 7.20 Esa. 29.13 We must reuenge our selues of our sinnes To make restitution of our goods ill gotten is
amendment of their liues Death contrarie to their expectation hath summoned them to depart by and by whose long flattering themselues in their follie hath bin the cause of their sodaine destruction as to the Sodomites and men of Gomorra to those of Ierusalem and them that perished in the flood and so diuers others whose harmes may be a sufficient spectacle to see and plainely to behold the end of all senceles securitie But thou wilt pechaunce say why I haue séene many that for their wicked liues were euen markes for other men to poynt at with their fingers and they haue made godly ends and haue departed the world very deuoutly by which showe of repentance thou thinkest their sins forgiuen them but I say vnto thée that whoso goeth on still in his wickednes presuming to haue time enough in the end to cry for mercy he may cry and not be heard make no tarrying therefore to turne vnto the Lord let true repentance be thy dayly and continuall exercise examine thine own conscience search and see whether Sathan haue not thruste into thine heart this presumption if so cast it out speedely and follow not the greater number to doo euill accustome not thy selfe to sinne trusting in thine aboundance but imbrace my former counsaile stande not in a foolishe hope to repent at last be not deceiued let not Sathan hinder thée with his subtle deuices but resist them all manfully for I know thou canst not saye mine hearte is cleare from them canst thou speake thy conscience The sinfull man Alas my conscience dooth accuse me guiltie of them all I must confesse my carelesse life hath well deserued thrall But loe in hope I hold by thee my sinnes I will declare To thee who dooth already see that they corrupted are Wherein I liued long secure bewrapt in wealth at will I runne a race that now I rue and lingred long in ill Uouchsafe that I with heart hand may now restore againe The things which I by fraud haue had of any man for gaine And shewe what further dooth belong to traine me to thy blisse Uouchsafe to shew that I may come where all true Solace is Solace SEing then that thou doest confesse that thou hast bene hindred by these deuices and lets of Sathan and hast nowe a feling of thy corruptiō former wicked life beware thou giue not place herafter to his wiles but by a firme faith and confidence in mee withstand him and his ministers the world and the flesh for as the wickednes of the wicked shal not hurt him whensoeuer he truely vnfaynedly repenteth so shall not the righteousnes of the righteous auaile him whensoeuer he offendeth Repente thée therefore of thine offences past and from henceforth kéepe thee vpright in all thy dooings that there maye be ioye in heauen for thy repentaunce And for as much as the daye is so farre spent and the nighte so néere and that thou haste promised to make restitution of the things which thou hast wrongfully gathered go thy wayes performe it accordingly and beware of kéeping backe any thing leaste thou be taken in thine hipocrisie and rewarded with Annanias and Saphira who for kéeping back some of the price of their owne field were striken with present death how much more then shall mine heauenly father punish thée if thou keepe any thing backe that is none of thine owne In the morning I will be here againe in the meane time be carefull of thy promise finish it faythfully and too morrow will I further direct thée in the residue of thy course to eternall life The sinfull man Then will I hasten me away to finish it in haste And in the morning hasten me againe to thee as fast The end of the Thursday or fourth dayes conference ¶ A prayer for true repentance OH Lord my god father of meruailous louing kindnes who in my greate slumber and sleepe of sinfull securitye hast awakned me and by thy sweete and welbeloued Sonne Iesus Christ called me out of darknes to light out of errour to the trueth and haste opened the eyes of mine hearte to see mine owne corruption vouchsafe oh Lord for that thy sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christes sake that as hee hath called me to the ende I should giue ouer the wayes of wickednes to walke in thy wayes and lawes to for sake sinne cleaue vnto righteousnes slye Sathan follow thee I moste humbly beseech thee to accept mee againe for his sake into thy fauour who long haue erred and gone astray to forgiue mee who haue offended thee and who am moste ignoraunt how truely to return to the and to repent my former corrupt and most sinfull life But vnto thee most mercifull Lord god in the name of Iesus Christe thy deare Sonne I prostrate my selfe in all humblenesse of heart bewayling my filthines and lamenting the frowardnes and corruption of my former life humbly appealing vnto thy mercies as one who haue rebelled moste traiterously against thee and most wickedly and wilfully transgressed thine holy precepts and will And yet suche is thine vnspeakeable mercy that thou hast most louingly warned mee to forsake mine euill and peruerse wayes and vntoward imaginations which I haue heretofore accompted most right and deare And which now by the light of thy counsailes I vnderstand to be altogether wicked altogether frowarde foolishe and meere vanitie it selfe I now feele mine owne corruption swete Iesu mine owne blindnes and error and perceiue thy wisdome which is infinite thy mercies vnspeakeable and loue aboue measure whereby sweet Iesu I am striken with a desire to be vnburdened of the weight of this mine obstinat errour which by the illusion of mine aduersarie Sathan I haue followed with such greedines that without thy meere mercies I haue no hope of saluatiō Extēd therfore o father of mercy for Iesus Christes sake thy fauour vnto mee againe and deale not in iustice as my deedes haue deserued but giue me that godly sorrow that true and vnfayned sorrow for my sins which may mooue in me repentance vnto saluation which may kill and speedely mortefy all euill desires all the corrupt affections and vngodly motions of the world and flesh the deceites of subtle Sathan whoe goeth about lyke a Lyon seeking whome he may keepe back from that most acceptable worke of true repentaunce And thou good Iesu knowest what and how manie and great are the letts and wiles which he vseth in laying stumbling blockes before the feete of those that endeuour thēselues to returne to thee And my wil which is peruers ready to yeeld vnto him slacke in comming vnto thee pulleth me often-times backward and suffereth me not to doe that which I should but thrusteth me forward to doe that which I should not to followe darknes and to forsake the light so louingly profered Oh good Iesu consider these conflictes of mine Looke vppon the want which I haue of thine holy spirit without the
ayde whereof I can not truely turne to thee Assist me therefore sweete Iesu that I may now as I haue promised forsake sinne and cleaue vnto righteousnes mortesie the old man and be renued â—nto thee forsake Sathan and follow thee that vnto my liues ende I maye flye and eschue whatsoeuer worketh to true repentance that as thou hast sayde there may be more ioye in heauen for mee faythfully rereturning vnto thee then for many that neede no repentance And in the ende I may enioy that heauenly inheritaunce which by thy blood-shedding thou hast purchased for all such as in a true fayth follow thee Graunt this oh God mine heauenly father for Iesus Christes sake AMEN Oh Lord increase my Fayth The Fryday or fifth dayes coÌ„fereÌ„ce between Solace and the sinful man That where the sinful man being yesterday perswaded to redeliuer those things vnto Simple his Tenaunt which he had by flatterye threatning gotteÌ„ of him As also to make restitution of all his wrongful gotten goods to other men hee did it accordingly And wheâ— been had giuen euerye Birde his Feather hee became so naked and his estate so bare that for his suddayne chaunge he cryeth out in great heauines on this wise Solace comforting him and willeth him to beare the matter with patience and to confesse his sinnes c. The sinfull man ALas the life that late I did in precious price imbrace Is past and gone and poore estate hath taken riches place My Peacocks plumes are pluct full loe that flickred erst so hie Mine hautie harte in heauie chere doth wonted ioyes deny Where riches did ere while abound and bagges of golde were store Now want hath wonne the field again wo worth me wretch therfore Solace What is the matter oh sinfull man that this morning thou beginnest thus as a man bestraughted shewing thy self yet subiect to frailty which thou yesterday diddest promise manfully to withstanay The sinfull man Oh Solace helpe I am vndone now past are pleasant daies What thou didst will is done nowe my stately state decaies My substance all alas is gone now Simple and the rest Haue had their shares of all my store my share alas is least I am vndone I know not how to maintaine mee and mine I doubt I shall be sore opprest with poore estate in fine And that my Children shall be forste for want to begge their bread Why should we liue in this distresse wold they and I were dead This hard estate of mine I know would break an hearte of stone For that in my distresse I haue no wher to make my mone For those that did before acquaint themselues as friends to be Will now disdaine my poore estate and looke awry on mee Unles it be for my reproch to say loe this is hee That was aloâ—t but now is lowe what shall mine answere bee Solace AS for thine answere what it muste be to such as shall dyspise thee in respect of thy decaied estate take thou no greate care thou shalt hereafter vnderstand by the examples of such as haue bene aflicted with farre greater extremeties then thou arte how they haue borne the burden both of pouertie and other myseries and the contempt of men with pacience but first thou must aunswere to another question and that is where thou cryest out in such heauinesse and takest on as one ouer-flowne with the streame of vtter dispaire beinge out of all hope of helpe fluttering like a foolysh flie in the Cobwebs of Sathan from whence I deliuered thée ere while why hast thou so soone intangled thy selfe againe in his most venimous snare reteyning such a desperate sorrow for restoryng that which thou canst not denie but thou hadst wrongfullie gotten of other men wherby thou madest thy selfe rich and them not able to liue thy selfe to be of estimation and them to be contempned And now as thou saiest euery Bird hauing his feather y u art left halfe naked thy state decaied wherby it appereth that thou madest thy selfe a proud peacockâ— with the plumes of other Birds But this kind of Bird is not rare there are so many péeuish Buzzardes now a dayes that are deckt vp w e Peacocks feathers But weare their fethers restored froÌ„ whence thei were sinisterly and wrongfully taken their gallant shewes would be turned into simple attire their flagrant hue into adurtie dunghill and themselues in another likenesse as may appéere now in thy selfe who feelinge the want of that that before thou didste wrongfully possesse thou appearest in thy likenesse that is where thou madest a show to bée a profitable Bée to gather Honnye for y e CoÌ„mon-wealth thou appearest a very Droan deuouring that y e other meÌ„ gather yea a verie Catterpiller eating vp y e fructs of y e sweat of other mens labors But such Peacocks such Droans such Catterpillers and such hipocrites shal haue their reward And though they appeare not for a publike example as y u doost but passe their dayes in iollytie liue in worldly estymation great credit I say vnto thée y â— vnles they repent they shal perish be cast off in y e last day to receiue their reward among y e wicked But this sodain change froÌ„ welth to waÌ„t I perceiue is not a litle gréeuous to thee it hath giueÌ„ thée such a knock in the head y t it hath almost astonished thee yet y e blow thou gauest poore Simple thy tenant such like thou feltest not no such knocks aswere for thy benefit thou thoughtst to be swéet smoothings louing strikings y e other men delited to haue at thine hands thou were sure y t Simple wold not refuse to plesure thée to forgo al y t he had that wer y e coÌ„teÌ„t to take but his want was not thine wo it was thy welth his sorow was thy ioy his sighs wer â—allets in thy dish peÌ„ce in thy purs whilst y u were in the sunside there was no shadow whilst y u wer warm ther was no cold thou being ful faring daintily thoughtst not of huÌ„ger no y u thoughtst neither of heauen nor hell runnyng headlong as it were arme in arme with Sathan the prince of this world who prouided for thée also such pleasaunt companions to keepe thee companie with their pleasaunt conceites to egge thée forward to vtter destruction as thou were almost past all recouerie thy iornie was so pleasaunt to thy worldly eyes that thou were loth to returne But being now sumwhat reclaimed thou must turne a cleane contrarie way into another countrie heauenly Ierusalem in which iornie it behoueth thée to procéede without looking backe and to refuse and auoyde the companie of thy woonted companies as drunckerds gluttons coueitous men Idolators extortioners vserers and coueitous persons who are the subiects of Sathan prince of darknes and now must frequent and desire the familiaritie and society of the godly sober zealus deuout and men of