our selues in thee all the daies of our life to bring forth the fruites to thy honour and glorie and to the comfort of our neighbours Let this faith bee a liuelie faith Galat. 5 6. a speaking faith that may call vppon the name of thy Sonne onelie a woorking faith through Charitie a faith pacient in aduersitie a faith ouercomming the worlde 1. Iohn 5. by the meane of thy inuincible strength and that thou hast a desire to be ours O Lorde this is thy commaundement that wee doe beleeue in the name of thy sonne Iesus Christ 1. Iohn 3. and that wee loue one another But alas we doe knowe that faith is not giuen to all men 2. Thes 3.2 how that it is an old complaint of the Prophets and also of the Apostles which say Esai 53.1 Lord who hath giuen credit or beliefe vnto our preaching Rom. 10. O God and Father there are of the other side so many false Prophets and deceiuers of the worlde that set forth their dreames wordes in steade of thy holie and vnfallible worde and that knowe in the meane time to transforme themselues into Angels of light 2. Cor. 11. so many are the assaultes of miseries and persecutions which make men wilde or fearce to be short so great is the vanitie and weakenesse of our nature that it suffereth vs to be easilie caried away if thou most mercifull Father and mightie GOD diddest not woorke in vs that which thou doest commaund vs Iohn 6. Ephes 3. and if thou thy selfe diddest not bring vs to thy Sonne we could not come vnto him Iohn 16. and vnlesse he did giue vs leaue to come vnto thy throne of grace Rom. 8. we could not approch thereunto if thy spirit did not guide vs into all trueth and yeeld vnto our heartes this witnesse how thou art our Father we could not crie Abba Father Therefore wilt thou graunt vnto vs O thou onelie true God three persons in one substance Actes 1◠God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost according vnto thy promises to purifie my heart through faith making thy abode in thy poore creature keepe my spirit from all temptation of error Iohn 14.23 my heart from delighting in anie other thing than in thy good pleasure and in thy woord and my will to desire none other than thy selfe that art the soueraigne goodnesse which art my all my portion and that hauing thee and louing thee I may despise this world and forsake all vanities to tast and to sauour the delightes of thy dwelling place louing nothing but thee and for the loue of thee 2. Cor. 5. to awaite the blessed houre when as I shall no more by faith Ephes 4. but by sight and that dailie so increasing in faith 2. Timot. 4. I may come vnto the measure and fulnesse of perfect stature one day to receiue the incorruptible crowne of glorie hauing fought the good fight of faith and in the beholding of thy face at thy right hand to feele the true fulnesse of ioy and gladnesse Psalme 16 So be it There is set downe vnto vs a goodlie example and pourtraict of Iacobs wrestling and of the faithfuls victorie in the 32. of Genesis Then there wrestled a man with Iacob vnto the breaking of the daie and when he sawe that he could not preuaile against him he touched therefore the holow of his thigh so that the holow of Iacobs thigh was loosed as he wrestled with him and he said Let me goe for the Morning appeareth who aunswered I will not let thee goe except thou blesse me Then said he vnto him what is thy name And he said Iacob Then said he thy name shall not be called Iacob anie more but Israel because thou hast had power with God thou shalt also preuaile with men A MEDITATION vpon the said text MAns life to be compared vnto the trueth is but a continuall combate vppon the earth and namelie the life of the faithful yea and whosoeuer dooth truelie beleeue ought to make his account that he must suffer manie assaults Now the temptations are not of one kinde wherewith it pleaseth this gratious God to stirre vp those with warfare to whome he hath bestowed anie of his graces Gene. 12. Abraham going forth out of his countrie was tryed and prooued by dearth and not long after through warres which he had vpon his arme or hand and then vnto the measure as he did warfare Gene. 14. he was yet further prooued with a stronger temptation when it was commaunded him to offer his onelie sonne Izaac in sacrifice Gene. 22. Iacob the good Patriarch had truelie his part of temptations with Laban and also of the behalfe of his brother Esau But the fight was verie rude and hard when as the Lord himselfe sought against him For it appeareth that the match was verie ill made when that the Euerlasting should wrestle against a creature which was not but like stubble or as dust in his presence But this was the fight that did get vnto him also the greatest honor and hath richlie beawtified him with this name Israel as if that he had beene the ruler of the Lord. Behold howe the greater that the assaultes are which doe ariue or come vnto the faithfull so much the more is the victorie glorious Therefore let vs not finde it strange neither be discouraged if men doe wrestle against vs at anie time for God himselfe also will so doe when as it seemeth that he will neither cōfort nor heare vs. So wrestled he with Dauid when as he said in the 77. Psalme My soule refused comfort I did thinke vppon God and was troubled I prayed Matth. 15. my soule was full of anguish So wrestled Iesus Christ with the womā of Cana and as it seemed to repulse her altogether But how had she the victorie Euen through faith and perseuerance in such sort as the Lord suffering himselfe to be ouercome said vnto her O woman great is thy faith be it to thee as thou desirest See howe the vnuincible Lord suffereth himselfe to be ouercome by our faith and also by our prayers For first of all hee doth not assaie and prooue all his strength against vs. Secondly he himselfe furnisheth vs with armour and weapon in such sort as wee be as S. Paule speaketh in the 6. to the Ephesians strengthened in the Lorde and in the power of his might force and clothed with all the armours from God Therefore it is not with out some checke mate and without also receiuing some litle wounde as Iacob had a certaine crush in his thigh For hee wil make vs truely feele how we be but men and that we should walke in humblenesse What braue souldier is he that would not haue his Thigh crushed in peeces or else receiue some other sore wounde so that hee might haue the victorie Are not these the markes of the valiant
this strange doctrine of the vbiquitie or the Alpresence of Christes bodie Of the vbiquitie attributing a bodie vnto Christ which is through all and inuisible that is to say which is not a bodie Nowe many seeing these diuisions would blame the doctrine of the Gospel and take an occasion to mistast the same But hath not the Lorde foretolde it Were there not also diuisions amongst the Apostles Ought this to keepe vs from going forwarde No for our faith is not builded vpon men and further when a man looketh neere thereunto it is easie to trie the spirites and we must praise the Doctors of the Church which haue in them those guiftes and likewise acknowledge their imperfections and reade them with iudgement As Luther himselfe A warning by M. Luther in the preface of his first Tome of his Latine workes besought that men would reade his workes with pitie iudgement and discretion and that men should remember him to bee an inraged Papist heretofore and a poore Moonke which could not see and perfectlie comprehend forthwith all the pointes of religion Also when one seeth the Church of God so assaulted within by diuisions and heresies without with so cruell persecutions it were enough to shake him if he be not wel setled to make him thinke whether it were possible that this companie which we call the Church being so contemptible and so subiect to great offences be the Church of GOD or no or at least whether it bee possible that God dooth loue it laying it open to so manie euils These are in deede the violent assaultes which the faithfull dailie doe proue in this wretched world wherein one may see so manie contentions and affections boyling with ambition and pride and so manie heartes more than frosen in matter of zeale and charitie Wherefore if there be anie sentence now at this day to be considered this is it that he which shall continue to the end shall be saued For as Iesus Christ speaketh in the 11. of S. Matthew Those that suffer once and continue in their zeale shall carie away the kingdome of heauen Therefore let vs not be fleeting children and caried hither and thither by euerie puffe of doctrine through mans deceite but followers of the trueth with charitie growing in Christ with loue and aboue all other thinges holding sure our Catechisme and the Articles of our Faith Suffering afflictions patientlie 2. Timo. 2. seeing this word is certaine that if we doe suffer with Christ we shall raigne with him considering also that this world waxeth olde as dooth a garment 2. Pet. 3. and that the Elementes shall melt with heate and the earth shall be dissolued let vs aspire vnto the kingdome which cannot be shaken holding grace fast by the which we may serue God in reuerence feare and assured hope awaiting the great day of Christs comming Other godlie places speaking of Faith The 3. of S. Iohn GOd hath so loued the world that hee hath giuen his onelie Sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life And he that beleeueth in him shall not bee condemned but he that beleeueth not in him is condemned alreadie because he beleeued not in the name of the onelie sonne of God The faithfull ought not to seeke but the glorie of God The 5. of S. Iohn the 44. ver How can yee beleeue which receaue honor one of an other and seeke not the honor that commeth of God alone Places taken out of the Epistles of S. Paul out of the 1. Chap. of the Epistle to the Ephesians ver 13. YEe are in Christ hauing heard the word of trueth euen the Gospell of your saluation wherein also after that ye beleeued yee were sealed with the holie spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance vntill the redemption of the possession purchased vnto the praise of his glorie Therefore also after that I heard of the faith which yee haue in the Lorde Iesus and loue towardes all the Saintes I cease not to giue thankes for you in my prayers The 1. of the Thessal 1. Chap. Wee giue GOD thankes alwayes for you all remembring your effectuall faith and diligent loue and of the patience of your hope in our Lord Iesus Christ in the sight of God our Father knowing beloued brethren that ye are elect of God For our Gospell was not vnto you in word onely but also in power and in the holy ghost and in much assurance The 2. to the Thessal 1. Chap. Wee pray alwayes for you that our God may make you woorthie of his calling and fulfill all the good pleasures of his goodnesse and the woorke of faith with power that the name of our Lord Iesus Christ may be glorified in you and ye to him according to the grace of our God and of our Lord Iesus Christ The 1. Epistle of S. Peter 1. Chap. You are kept by the power of GOD through faith vnto saluation which is prepared to be shewed in the last time wherein ye reioyce though now for a season if neede require ye are in heauinesse through manifold temptations that the triall of your faith being much more pretious than Gold that perisheth though it be tryed with fire might be found vnto your praise and honor and glorie at the appearing of Iesus Christ whome you haue not seene and yet loue him I beleeue in God Heere followe certaine Meditations and prayers of one onelie true God and of three persons in one substance or essence CONSIDERATION AS it is said in Athanasius Creede the generall faith is that wee worship one God in one Trinitie and one Trinitie in one vnitie Let vs not confound the persons nor diuide the substance For we must know God as he reuealeth himselfe otherwise we should but woorship a fantasie in place of knowing and woorshipping the true God Now the true God in whome we doe onelie beleeue Iohn 7. and that is mans soueraigne good for this is life eternall that we know him hath thus declared himselfe in his word and in his most excellent workes that is to say in that hee is one onelie true God in substance as it is said in the 6. Chap. of the 5. booke of Moses and in the 4. of the Ephesians but in this one substance wee do acknowledge three persons subsisting that is to say 1. Tim. 1. this onelie true God which is the king of worldes immortall inuisible wise onelie onelie good who manifesteth himselfe so as we doe see one God maker of heauen and earth And yet all this by his word which word is not a sound in the aire or a thing hauing beginning but was from the beginning with God and was God of whome is spoken in the 33. Psalme and also in the first Chap. of S. Iohn And afterward the holy spirit spread and mooued himselfe aboue the waters For the spirit cannot signifie in this place the aire or the winde that was not yet created but is taken for a person subsistent Afterwardes in the 1. Chap. of S. Marke we doe see the sonne which
teacheth you Hee would not simplie say that they haue no neede of instruction but that they being kindled by the holy spirite might not suffer themselues to bee deceiued by Antichrist a people altogether rude and ignorant A prayer out of the 51. Psalme Create in me a cleane heart O God and renue a right spirite within me Cast mee not away from thy presence and take not thine holy spirite from me Restore in me the ioie of thy saluation and stablish mee with thy free spirite I beleeue the holy Catholike Church A consideration vpon this Article AS there is but one onely true and verie God to wit these three persons the father the sonne and the holy Ghost euen so there is but one faith whereof it was spoken in the former Articles Wee doe therefore protest now that we do beleeue the Catholike Church for we say not as before time I beleeue in the Church but it is God in whom we do put all our whole trust it is he as wee doe reade in the first Chap. of the Apocalips that is α ω that is to say the beginning and the end And as it is written in the 43. Chap. of Esaiah Before mee there was no God that was the maker of the worlde neither shall there be after me I euen I am the eternall and beside me there is no sauiour What is it then to beleeue the Catholike Church First it is to beleeue that whatsoeuer corruptions ydolatries persecutions and disorders there haue beene in the worlde that this great God creator 1. Peter 2. redeemer and sanctifier hath gotten out his chosen people whom he hath called out of darkenes into his wonderful light Psal 147. vnto whom he is reueiled through his holy testimonies the he hath washed and sanctified 1. Tim. 3. and that is his Church and the house of the liuing God builded vppon the pillar of trueth Matth. 16. vpon this corner stone which is Christ so that the gates of hell shall not preuaile any thing against it because that all things helpe vnto the profite and wealth of the children of GOD Rom. 8. 2. Tim. 2. and that this foundation resteth sure howe God knoweth those which are his as in the times of Eliah he reserued to himselfe seuen thousande men 1. Kings 19. which hadde not bowed their knees vnto Baal Secondly we doe witnesse protest and beleeue by this article of our faith that we be members of this true Church Heb. 10. and doe ioyne our selues to it to be good faithful citizens therein Heb. 10. following the holy assemblies and making that profession and confession of the name of God that all true faithfull ought to doe Thirdly by this article we doe beleeue and also doe protest that wee doe not acknowledge all assemblies indifferently for the Church of God but that as it is declared in the symbole of Nice that which is Apostolike that is to say which doeth holde it selfe vnto the doctrine of the Apostoles and is not tyed vnto anie certaine place or citie but is vniuersall gathered together by the preaching of the Gospell and through the vse of the holy sacramentes Ephes 1. Colos 1. in all the partes of the worlde vnder this onely heade that is Iesus Christ 1. Colos 12. in whom is grounded this communion of the saintes which in him are made members of one and the selfe same bodie Actes 2. partakers of one and the selfe same spirite of the same Gospell of the same sacramentes howe so euer the outwarde ceremonies be not altogether alike yet are they knit by the same bonde of peace and ioyned through the true loue calling vppon one and the same sauiour and the awayting as brethren for one and the same heritage which is the blessed life For these be the offeringes that God maketh vnto his Church which he hath purchased for himselfe to wit the forgiuenesse of sinnes and the life euerlasting which a man can not finde out of the true Church Whereupon it is to be noted that the faithfull are called holy yea in earth not that they should be perfect and voide of sinne as some do imagine a perfection to be for so should they haue no more neede of the forgiuenesse of sinnes But they are called holy because they are sanctified because of their calling which is holy and to all holinesse whereunto they doe aspire without ceasing not that they haue alreadie apprehended all but because they doe followe after seeking to learne drawing towardes the marke in respect of that heauenly calling as S. Paule sayth in the 3. Chap. to the Philippians Figures of the Church Noes Arke In the 7. Chap. of Genesis By the floud euery thing in whose nostrels breathed life died Noah only remained and they that were with him in the Arke And S. Ierome writing vnto Damasus sayth that there is no saluation without the Churche and as there is but one Arke euen so there is but one Church and as he himselfe writeth vnto Euander we ought not to thinke that the Church of Rome is any other than that which is in other places of the worlde where that Iesus is worshipped be it in Fraunce or in Englande or else where There is the Church where it is bounde in Christ and knit together by the bande of loue But if we must speake of authoritie the autoritie of the worlde is greater than the autoritie of a citie the autoritie of Churches spread throughout the world greater than that which is in one place A Prayer O Lorde our God and father although that thy ordinance is Genes 8. that thou wilt not smite anie more the whole world with the floud of waters and that from hence forwarde the seede time and haruest and cold and heate and summer and winter and day and night shall not cease and that so long as the earth remaineth in confirmation whereof thou hast established the heauenly arke for a signe Notwithstanding O my God what is this poore life but a floud of euilles But in this my soule is comforted then when as namely in thy wrath thou diddest powre out the ouerflowinges of waters vpon the lande then at that time O God thou diddest powre out by thy fauour thy grace and protection vpon the Arke of Noah For why was it that he did not perish with the rest Did he see the same floude Was hee couered with the same waters Yes truely But in his Arke he had thy promise He had thy grace which did defende him in such sort as thousandes fell at his right hande and thousandes at his left hande hee was sure vnder thy wing So Lorde although that in this worlde a like floud of euilles doth fall both vpon the good and the euil Eccle. 3. and that both the one and the other dies yet we knowe that thou wilt saue those which are in the Arke of thy Church and
preheminence saueth thee but Thy faith hath saued thee Wherefore was the Bible And behold wherefore all the Bible is written to wit that wee might beleeue howe Iesus Christ is the Sonne of God and that beleeuing therein we might haue euerlasting life O therefore howe much is the doctrine of the Gospell necessarie and fit for vs seeing that it is as Paule saieth in the 10. to the Romanes the woorde of Faith whereby the Lorde kindleth and maintaineth faith in our hearts O how great also is the vnspeakeable goodnes of this mightie God which giueth vs blessednes and euerlasting life for nothing and requireth no other thing of vs but that we put our trust in him and that we doe beleeue in his worde O blessed we for whose sake he hath so louinglie spoken yea sworne and made an othe that hee would be vnto vs a father and sauiour But woe more than accursed are those that beleeue not in the Lorde who hath confirmed and ratified so manie goodlie and solemne promises by oth yea by the precious bloud of our Sauiour What Faith is For Christian faith is not an opinion or light beleefe of all that a man might set before vs but it is the gift of God Ephes 3. and a worke of God Iohn 6. by which gift and woorke of the Lord wee are brought vnto a certeine knowledge of his will by the meanes of his holie promises made in his woorde as S. Peter in the sixt of S. Iohn saieth Wee haue beleeued and doe knowe that thou art Christ and S. Paule in the first of the second to Timothie He hath giuen vs a spirite of a sounde minde and wee knowe verie well in whome wee haue beleeued and wee are persuaded that hee is able to keepe that gage c. Rom. 4 2â— And therefore we giue glorie vnto God beleeuing in the promises of our God being certeine and fullie assured that that which hee hath promised vnto vs hee will and can doe it to wit to forgiue vs our sinnes The effects of Faith and euerlasting life through Iesus Christ who was deliuered to death for our sinnes and rose againe for our iustification by whom also wee haue peace with God and haue accesse through faith vnto his grace wherein we stand and reioice vnder the hope of the glorie of GOD to come calling also vpon his name in all our needes and necessities as it is said in the Psalme 116. I haue beleeued and therefore haue I spoken and in the tenth of the Rom. Let vs call on him in whom we doe beleeue Things contrarie vnto faith By this it appeareth that there are three things which cheeflie are contrarie vnto faith First the despising of Gods word and of the preaching of the Gospell seeing that the Lord inspireth our harts by this meane and giueth vs also faith not willing that our beliefe and saluation should bee builded vpon mans discourse or fleshlie wisedome but vpon him alone Secondlie the doubts distrusts are contrarie vnto faith if a man doe not resolue himselfe in GOD if a man walke in vncertaintie Double errours in the Papaltie in the maner of Faith if a man doe not assure himselfe of his saluation as it is seene in the Papistes howe they in this behalfe doe commit a double fault In the first place as it is to be seene in the sixt session of that goodlie councel of Trent 9. Chapter They taught how it was a vaine trust when as men did fullie assure themselues of Gods grace and that none could knowe an assurednesse by faith that he had the grace of God O how bare weake and vnable of power should our consolation bee against sinne the diuell and hell namelie in the article of death if this doctrine tooke place For that which they say howe man because of his infirmitie cannot so assure him in his God The aunswere is easie to wit that the certaintie of faith is of God and of his word and not of our strength and merites or deseruings and therefore it ouercommeth all our weakenesse For we be also saued not after the greatnesse and weakenesse of our beliefe but through the excellencie and mightinesse of him in whom we doe beleeue that is to wit Iesus Christ in such sort as weake faith leaueth not off to be a faith to saluation because it apprehendeth the euerlasting sonne of God The other errour of the Papists is that not fullie trusting in the Lord they cal vpon Saints of both kindes not considering how that we do beleeue in one onelie God and we must also call vpon God alone For we doe call vpon him in whom we doe beleeue and fully put our assurance Rom. 10. as also in the 44. Psalme The Church protesteth not to haue lifted vp hir handes to a strange God To be short there is nothing more contrarie vnto faith than the distrust of the goodnesse fauour and assistance of our God or to think that he hath not heard our praiers seeing that it is his propertie to heare them as Dauid saith in the 65. Psalme All creatures shall come vnto thee because thou hearest their prayers They sinne there also against the nature of faith which do not beleeue that which they doe see and so soone as they see no succour prosperitie and riches they are discouraged and leaue religion And as it is said in the eleuenth Chapter to the Hebrues there prooued by manie goodlie examples that faith is the rest or stay of the thing a man hopeth for a shew of things a man seeth not For S. Augustine saith Man beleeueth with the heart not by the hand vnto righteousnes so as diuers beleeue not that which they doe touch with the hand or doe see with the fleshlie eie Thirdlie this of all other is contrarie vnto faith to purpose or to set foorth or to establish anie other thing than Christ the sonne of God Rom. 10. vpon whom we ought to trust be they our works riches or men for establishing vs vpon our selues we doe ouerthrowe so much as lieth in vs the righteousnes of God And so we deceiue our selues because that there is none other name but the name of Iesus Acts. 4. by whom wee shall haue life prosperitie saluation and in summe all maner of blessings A Praier vnto God to obtaine true Faith and encrease therein OVR Lorde God Father of light from whom proceedeth euerie good and perfect gift S. Iames. 1.17 which hast promised to powre vpon thy seruaunts the spirite of grace and of prayer Zach. 12.10 we most humblie beseeche thee Ephes 1. that for the loue of thy sonne Iesus by whom it hath pleased thee to choose vs and to blesse vs in all spirituall blessing let it please thee also to giue vs a truenesse of faith by the which wee may comprehend this largenesse depth length and height of thy delight towards vs to trust and comfort
was hauing this honour to conduct the people into the promised lande Neither likewise Iehosuach the Sonne of Iosedec the high Priest of whome the Prophet Zacharie speaketh that were but simple men and haue doone nothing but through borrowed strength neither also were they other but the shadowes of this great Iosua and mightie Sauiour that is Iesus Christ the onelie true and euerlasting Sauiour so as there is none other name by the which a man may haue the grace of God Actes 4. or obtaine anie thing of him or to come to the most blessed life It is this name or rather this vertue and power before whome all knees ought to bowe that are in heauen and on the earth To be short this is he whome all tongues shall confesse to be the Lord Iesus Christ vnto the glorie of God Hee is the Lorde because that the father hath brought all thinges in subiection vnder him to this person I say Hebr. 2. which is verie God and verie man For hee is particularlie our Lord because that he hath purchased vs vnto him through his pretious bloudshedding so as we be not vnto our selues 1. Cor. 6. but vnto him that hath bought vs. Therefore he whome the Iewes haue crucified for enuie him hath God raised and lifted vp and hath made him Lord and Christ as it is said in the 2. Chap. of the Actes Psal 2. Col. 1. Let vs then reioyce of such a Lord who is the Lord and sauiour Let vs willinglie doe seruice vnto such a Maister who hath gotten vs by his pretious bloud and deliuered vs from the power of darknesse and euen so hath in deede made vs free In him Iohn 8. it is easie for vs to ouercome the world for he is greater than the world Iohn 4. Yea in him is Sathan trodden vnder our feete euen as S. Paul speaketh in the 16. of the Romans Wherefore let vs say with Esai in his 26. Chap. Howsoeuer it be O Lord that other Lords besides thee haue ruled vs yet wil we remember thee dailie and thy name For there is but one God and sauiour that is properlie Iesus Christ of whome is spoken in the 9. Chap. of Zacharie and 9. ver and in the 1. Chap. of the Epistle of S. Paul vnto Titus ver 3. and 4. O how happie are they that doe put their trust in him as it is said in the 2. Psalme and that doe imbrace the sonne which is Christ that is to say the annointed of the liuing God and doe not onelie acknowledge him with the mouth but doe likewise suffer him to raigne in them by his word and through his spirit and seeking none other oblation than the euerlasting oblation Heb. 10. which is of a perpetuall efficacie and strength which he hath offered vnto his father on the Crosse once for all as a perfect and euerlasting priest But alas whereto serueth this goodlie title of a Christian if vice doe raigne in thee if the flesh and the world maister thee if thy soule will not suffer it to bee commaunded by the annointed Christ and consecrated to raigne in vs here below by his grace vntill such time as hee shall bring vs vnto the kingdome of his glorie And whereto serueth it to sing to crie to roare out the Apostles Creed as was doone in the Papacie fince they seeke for other Maisters than Christ and other sacrifices than his persecuting with all extremitie those that doe hope and trust in him alone Iesuites But what shall we say of those which are ashamed at these daies to bee called Christians Actes 11. which is the auncient name of the disciples of Iesus Christ and are not thus contented to haue part in the Lordes annointing that he promised vnto vs by the holie spirit but will also bouldlie sease vpon that name 1. Iohn 2.20 that dooth belong to him onelie inasmuch as hee is the alone sauiour calling themselues Iesuites as though they would outface all the rest of Christendome A prayer to haue and to retaine the true knowledge of Iesus Christ O Lord our God and father Iohn 17. forsomuch as this is eternall life that wee doe know thee and to know thee we cannot but in thy ingraued Image and in thy sonne which was declared in the flesh may it please thee to leade vs by thy holy spirit vnto the true knowledge of thy sonne likewise giuing vnto vs such a resolution as that wee may esteeme all things as dung Philip. 3. in respect of the excellent knowledge of Iesus Christ First of all giue vs grace O God rightlie to feele and vnderstand our necessitie to wit that wee ought to haue such a soueraine high priest as should be holy Heb. 7. innocent without spot separated from sinner which was very God and true man Moreouer O heauenly father print liuely in our hearts the knowledge acknowledging of this thy woonderful charity yea a loue fauor so great which thou hast shewed vnto vs poore sinners Titus 2. Titus 3.5 making thy wholsome grace to appeare in thy sonne Iesus Christ and sauing vs not through the workes that we should haue done but by the onelie merit of the death passion of thy sonne Iesus Christ O Lord what grace O what fauour O what humblenesse is this that the eternal sonne of the liuing God hath taken the forme of a seruant hath humbled himselfe euen to die for vs miserable wretches Ephe 4.20 But aboue all giue vs grace to learn Christ aright and not to be like vnto thē that liue vnorderlie doe abuse through a fleshlie libertie this blessed wholsome knowledge which should rather drawe vs to follow his aime to witte that by the same we might be humbled so cōfounded in our selues in seeing how horrible and great our sinnes haue bin as it behoued vs to haue them bought againe by so great a price to the end wee should not esteeme and magnifie anie thing but thy bountie and that all our ioie and glorie might be in thee In summe that wee should cast our eyes vpon this good Iesus in all our aduersities and miseries aspiring vnto eternall saluatiō that he hath prepared for vs forsaking our selues to liue vnto the praise of him who hath redeemed vs. O God doe not suffer poore Christendome to bee brought backe againe into a bottomles pitte of darknes and to be depriued from so wholsome a knoweledge by this damnable sect of Arrians the which alas would spring vp a fresh in the world and who haue denyed the true diuinitie of Iesus or through this miserable heresie of the Martionites Eutichians and others blotting out and vtterly frustrating the proprieties of the humane nature of the same thy deare sonne as much as lieth in them shrowding them selues notwithstanding with the name of Euangelicall Doctors O Lorde for the loue of thy name and of our poore posterities maintaine the trueth
should not perish whom hee had created Therefore behold two natures but knit together in such sort as there is but one onelie Sauiour euen as the soule and the bodie are gathered together in one onely man in the meane time keeping their proprieties as it is knowne that some proprieties are of the bodie others of the soule but let a man marke thē put a differēce betweene those proprieties yet dooth hee not therefore separate the bodie from the soule The scriptures then and also the aunciēt Doctors speaking of Iesus Christ haue sometimes respect vnto the proprietie of the natures And then it is said that Christ knew not the hower of Iudgement when hee was wrapped vp in swadling bandes when hee did increase in all wisdome and had respect but vnto the humane nature Some-times that he is the Image and brightnesse of his father that hee will bee with vs euen vnto the end of the world 1. Cor. 2. hauing respect vnto his nature and diuine Maiestie And sometimes the scripture dooth consider these two natures of Christ knit together When it is said that the Lord of glorie was crucified Wherefore Because that Christ hath yet suffered in the flesh Yet so it is that hee who hath suffered was the Lord of glorie For this flesh is knit with the eternal word of the personall vnion So it is said that God hath redeemed vs by his bloud Actes 20. because that this bloud is the bloud of this bodie which is knitte with the sonne of God As wee doe say for the vnion of the bodie with the soule when a man is dead albeit that there is but the least part dead to witte the bodie the soule being as we know immortal From whence heresies doe proceede This is to be noted because the most part of heresies doe come forth in that whereas either a man confoundes the natures of Christ or that one sundereth the natures and they leaue not this ground or this foundation that wee haue in the scripture to wit that there is but one Christ And that this Christ is as mediatour knit vnto two natures and to acknowledge them it is necessarie that the proprieties do remain For how should we knowe the humane nature if it were inuisible and in all places as some dreame What God should Iesus be if he were created euen as Arritus did blaspheme The humane nature therefore of Christ hath reciued great prerogatiues Prerogatiues of Christs humane nature as to be sanctified from the beginning by the holy Ghost to be knit with the diuine nature and to abide in the same so as of this man it is sayde that he is the sonne of God as in hauing all fulnesse of grace all treasures of wisedome in the eternall worde which is declared and laide abroade in the humane nature and so farre forth as was needeful and might bring to him To be short we must holde that as the humane nature taken to the sonne of God hath not weakened the diuinitie So hath not the diuinitie swallowed vp the deity nor consumed the humanitie as the Schuencfeldians thought For our sauiour is true God and man and not a man deified Moreouer we must haue daily remembraunce of our religion which is faith whereunto all curiosities are contrarie These mysteries as this is the greatest of all and the true secret of God hauing ordeined that his euerlasting sonne should take vppon him humane nature that in our flesh he might make satisfaction for our sinnes These mysteries I say we doe beleeue them when as all humane reason all discourse and all the worlde woulde say or thinke to the contrarie And in thus beleeuing wee are not lead by opinion or ill grounded but assured of a most certaine knowledge that is more surer than all the sciences of the world because that it proceedeth from the shewe of the spirite of God Heere followe certaine goodly places of the conception and birth of Iesus Christ out of the 1. Chap. of S. Luke THe Angell sayde vnto Marie Lo thou shalt conceiue in thy wombe and beare a sonne and shalt call his name Iesus He shall be great and shal be called the sonne of the most high and the Lorde God shall giue vnto him the throne of his father Dauid And hee shall reigne ouer the house of Iacob for euer and of his kingdome shall be none ende Then sayd Marie vnto the Angell how shall this be seeing I know not man The Angell aunswered and sayde vnto her the holy Ghost shall come vpon thee and the power of the most high shal ouershadowe thee therefore also that holie thing which shall be borne of thee shal be called the sonne of God Therefore beholde three great prerogatiues in this childe that is giuen vnto vs. First this person is the sonne of God Secondly eternall king established for Messias and true restorer of the throne of Dauid and of the Church head and chiefe thereof that which a man cannot speake of anie creature Thirdly he is the holy as many times he is so called in the prophets and hath in such sort taken our nature as he hath made it holy frō his mothers wombe This conception therefore by the holy Ghost is not that the spirite had beene as the father or as if his body were of a spiritual substance But the Angell sayth that which seemed vnpossible that a virgin should conceiue shal be done by the vertue of Gods spirit to whome nothing is harde and the same spirite shall make the virgine not alonely to conceiue and beare a sonne but also to conceiue and beare him which shall be holy and making holy all mankinde making holy the natiuitie and conception of all those that are of his faithfull chosen Wherfore Christ was baptised For that that he was baptised and circumcised was not in the respect of him that he had neede of it he who washed and circumcised our heartes but because that he had brought himselfe vnder the lawe in our name and being made our pledge had charged vpon him our sinnes to make vs learne in what reuerence wee ought to haue the Sacramentes Out of the 1. of S. Iohn ver 14. This worde was made flesh and dwelt among vs and we sawe the glorie thereof I say the glorie as of the onely begotten sonne of the father full of grace and truth Out of the 1. Chap. of the Epistle of S. Paule to the Romanes God which had promised heeretofore the Gospell concerning his sonne which was made of the seede of Dauid according to the flesh and declared mightilie to be the sonne of God touching the spirite of sanctification and by the resurrection from the dead that is to say our sauiour Iesus Christ Out of the 16. Chap. of the Romanes To him nowe that is of power to establish you according to my Gospell and preaching of Iesus Christ by the reuelation of the mysterie which was kept secret since
vncleannesse filth and sinne that hee may bring vs into all trueth and that hee may sanctifie and strengthen vs vnto the ende comforting vs in this Article of death praying Rom. 8. and sighing for vs with gronings that cannot be expressed Witnesses out of the holie Scripture concerning the Holie Ghost Out of the 12. of Zacharie verse 10. I will powre vppon the house of Dauid and vppon the inhabitantes of Ierusalem the spirit of grace and of compassion and they shal looke vpon me whom they haue pearced MEDITATION BY the first Adam alas wee become barraine and vnprofitable were shut out of the grace of God but the Lorde promising the establishmēt of his Church againe by Christ promised to poure out his giftes and graces in great abundance For although that in our fathers dayes God had wrought great fauour vnto the people yet so it is that this is proper vnto Christ to giue vnto vs the spirit of grace mercie and inuocation And this is the richest gift that GOD could impart vnto vs for so much as it is said in the 8. Chapter to the Romans That wee could not knowe how wee were Christes and the children of GOD without this spirit For hee was woonderfullie and extraordinarilie giuen in the day of Pentecost But yet dooth hee dailie ioyne together his woorking with the preaching of the Gospell and woorketh in vs that wee doe call vppon God with full assurance Oh that this spirit of grace is to bee desired 1. Sam. 18. It is not this euill spirit which was giuen vnto Saul that vexed and troubled him but it is the spirit of grace and of compassion This is the Lord that we must woorship in spirit and trueth Out of the 4. Chap. of the Euangelist S. Iohn Iesus said vnto the Samaritane Whosoeuer drinketh of this water shall thirst againe But the water that I shall giue him shall bee in him a well of water springing vp into euerlasting life A MEDITATION OH how hath Dauid truelie felt the vertues of these liuing waters when as he said in the 42. Psalme Like as the thirstie Hart runneth with swift course vnto the riuers of water euen so dooth my soule also long and pant after thy diuine grace For what is it likewise to inioie all the pleasures of the world since that they take not away his thirst neither yet quench this alteration but doe increase and make the people like vnto men filled with dropsies which the more they drinke the more thirstie they are But behold two thinges that this water dooth greatlie recommend vnto vs whereof Iesus Christ talked with the Samaritane It is that they which drinke thereof are no more tormented with thirst feeling in them a well of liuing water that springeth vp alwayes without ceasing and cannot be drawen drie Besides this water that man feeleth in his soule and that runneth about his heart dooth neuer forsake vs but quickeneth vs vnto euerlasting life Therefore blessed are they which doe feele in their soules such a running water which dooth not for a trueth spring out of the vaines of the earth but from the hiest heauens and out of the true heauenlie paradise Now as S. Chrysostome saith This water is the strength and woorking of the spirit of God working by the word of the Gospell For it behooueth that we take heede of the errour of the Massalians and Scuencfieldians Against the Massalians who doe separate the spirite from the worde and doe dreame in the reuelations of the spirite But S. Paule teacheth vs in the 3. to the Galathians That we receiue the spirite through the preaching of faith and in the second Chap. of the 2. Epistle to the Thessalonians hee ioyneth together the sanctification of the spirite and the faith of trueth Moreouer this spirite hath diuers effectes and is by this occasion some times called fire Matth. 3. because that it purifieth and consumeth our euill affections and kindleth in vs a zeale as in the disciples going to Emaus Luke 24. whose heartes burned within themselues hearing Iesus speake Nowe it is also called water thorough his working because that this holy spirite refresheth vs against the burning heat of temptations and also doeth wash and serue to quench the firie dartes of Sathan let it then neuer come to passe Ephes 6. for vs to doe as the ydolaters of whom God complaineth in the 2. Chap. of Ieremiah Who forsaking the fountaine of liuing water digged to themselues dead pittes and drie cesterns that can hold no water Out of the 7. Chap. of S. Iohn vers 38. Ioel. 2. He that beleeueth in me as sayeth the scripture out of his belly shall flowe riuers of water of life Nowe this spake he of the spirit which they that beleeued in him should receiue Out of the 15. of S. Iohn A witnesse of the spirite and of the preaching ioyned together When the comforter shal come whom I will sende vnto you from the father euen the spirite of trueth which proceedeth of the father hee shall testifie of me and yee shall witnesse also because ye haue beene with me from the beginning Out of the 16. of S. Iohn When he is come which is the spirit of trueth hee will leade you into all trueth for hee shall not speake of himselfe but whatsoeuer he shall heare shall he speake Out of the 8. Chap. of the Epistle to the Romanes For if you liue after the flesh yee shall die but if ye mortifie the deedes of the bodie by the spirite yee shall liue For as many as are lead by the spirit of God they are the sonnes of God S. Paule prayeth by the spirite Out of the 15. Chap. to the Romans vers 30. I beseech you for our Lorde Iesus Christs sake and for the loue of the spirite that ye would striue with me by praiers Out of the 3. Chapter of the 1. to the Corinth Knowe ye not that ye are the temple of God and that the spirite of God dwelleth in you Out of the 12. to the Corinth 1. Epistle There are diuersities of giftes but the same spirite and there are diuersities of administration but the same Lorde and there are diuersities of operation but God is the same which worketh all in all But the manifestation of the spirite is giuen to euery man to profite withall Out of the 13. Chap. of the 2. to the Corinth and 13. vers The grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ and the loue of God and the communion of the holy Ghost be with you all Out of the 4. Epistle to the Ephesians vers 30. Griue not the spirite of God by whom ye are sealed vnto the day of redemption Out of the 5. Chap. and the 1. to the Thes Quench not the spirite Despise not prophesying Out of the 1. of S. Iohn 2. Chap. The annointing which yee receiued of me dwelleth in you and ye neede not that any man teache you for the same annointing
our soules and hast left vnto vs amongest others the sacrament of the supper that we should be assured howe his life doeth flowe into vs. O what a refreshing is this to vs in this our pilgrimage yea to them that feele and laie holde of such like graces By the presse men doe drawe foorth out of the grapes the lyquor of wine And thou O Lorde thou hast put thy sonne vpon the presse of the crosse to make vs drinke of this holy lyquor But nowe O Lorde my God to the ende that I doe not vnworthily present my selfe vnto this holie table and foode which is marueled at and honoured by the Angelles purifie and cleanse my heart by thy holie spirite Powre foorth thy loue through all the partes of my soule that I may take increase in all vertue and holinesse and that I may so continue in this blessed fellowshippe of the bodie of thy sonne that I may drawe out of him strength and life as the branch out of the vine stocke and that beeing knitte with thy sonne Iesus I may be one with thee that I may liue to thee vntill the time I doe come euen vnto thee So be it A giuing of thankes after the supper O Lord I giue thee thankes for thy inestimable loue for that not onely I haue this benefitte of my beeing and mouing in thee but chiefly in that it hath pleased thee to make mee to liue for euer in thy kingdome redeeming mee from euerlasting damnation which I had deserued through my sinnes But good God I beseech thee that this precious bloud be not shedde in vaine for me but daily nourish my soule by the partaking of the flesh of thy sonne Quicken mee in his bloud that I may be of the number of thy children and a member of the bodie of thy Church that I be not so vnhappie to abuse these sacred meates which haue cost so deere a price of thy deere beloued sonne Iesus to prepare them for vs that I be not also like vnto the dogges which returne vnto their vomittes and swine that goe backe againe vnto their puddle Alas Lorde make me that I neuer forsake thy holie couenaunt for any thing in the worlde For whither is it that I shoulde goe but vnto thee that hast the wordes of euerlasting life Let it not be a daie onely that the remembrance of thy sonnes passion bee before my eies But that I may for euermore honour this good sauiour which hath left vnto vs so faire an heritage by his testament and hath giuen vs thereof so goodly an earnest in the supper Now to thee O God my creator to thee Christ my redeemer to thee holie Ghost my comforter who worketh this holie coniunction of men with GOD and of earth with heauen vnto thee one alone true God be honour and glorie I poore creature doe recommende my selfe vnto thee glorious God being well determined through thy grace to goe in peace and in ioy to death when the houre shall come since that Christ is my life Auaunt from me all delightes and earthly meates which doe turne into doung syth that I haue a foode which turneth me to immortalitie the bread of Angelles the breade which wee shall eate without signes and sacramentes when as we shall inioye that felicitie beeing in heauen Prayers for the Church A Prayer against the aduersaries of the Church ALmightie God since that thou seest thine aduersaries so proud yea with a diuelish rage to force against thy Church cause that wee may feele how thou art the verie same whome all thy faithful haue prooued in times past in all ages to wit that thou hast the care of the saluation of those that call vppon thee with a pure heart yea and seeke thee in extreme distresse and necessitie that although thou stretchest forth thy hand at this day and repressest this rage which thou seest to be kindeled against all thy seruauntes and children to the end that last of all the reprobates may feele and vnderstand and that to their destruction how they haue not vndertaken warres against a miserable people corrupted stripped and naked of all ayd but against thine vnestimable vertue that being confounded albeit they haue no shame rore out the more against thee and against thy power yet they may serue notwithstanding for an example and bee for a manifest instruction that thou art not onelie faithfull in all thy promises But also furnished and garnished with such vertue that thou canst execute and fulfill all that which thou hast promised for the safe keeping of thy Church vntill such time as thou hast fullie deliuered vs out of our enemies hand An other prayer vppon the same matter ALmightie GOD forasmuch as thou seest how wee be at this day compassed about on all sides with so manie enemies who practise continuallie our ouerthrowe and that we are so weake and feeble make vs learne to looke vnto thee and that our faith may so rest vppon thee that into whatsoeuer daungers wee be put and howsoeuer our flesh saith wee may neuer doubt but that thou art stored with a mightie power to make all our enemies afraid that amongest the daungers of this life wee may liue in rest of spirit and that wee cease not from calling vppon thee as thou hast promised to be a faithfull protector of those that call on thee in Iesus Christ his name So be it A prayer to perseuere in the doctrine of the Gospel ALmightie God seeing we be so much inclined vnto corruption that with great hardnesse wee doe enter into the listes so lightlie wee retire our selues from the course being well instructed yet we fall off and doe easilie degenerate graunt that being by thy spirit furnished with constancie we may perseuere to the end in that same right way that thou hast shewed vnto vs by thy word Furthermore though that manie are cast into diuers errors yet that wee maie take pleasure to call and to withdrawe them backe againe yea if wee doe not profite anie whit therein yet at the least that wee be not allured after them but that wee may remaine constant in faithfull obedience vntill such time as hauing atchieued all our Combates we may be gathered together to that blessed rest which is kept for vs by our captaine and sauiour Iesus Christ in the heauens A Prayer to bee constant in Religion against all lettes or withstandinges Almightie God sith that Satan setteth before vs at these dayes manie feares and dreades which might altogether cast vs downe and make vs lose courage as in deed wee bee but feeble and weake graunt that wee hauing our eies lifted vp to heauen wee may consider this inuincible power wherewith thou art furnished to make vs ouercome all lettes Besides although nothing doe appeare in this world but that which is contemptible which may confirme or maintaine our faith yet notwithstanding graunt that wee may pearce by the eyes of our faith into this secret vertue and so
beholde rather thy creature in thy louing kindenesse Thou hast bidden vs come vnto thee then whē as we sought thee not and thou hast saued vs when we were thine enemies Cast not therfore now away them which seeke thee and with all humblenesse call vpon thee For that that I make my selfe strong with thy clemencie is not through presumption but because of thy promises that doe assure vs of thee thou wilt not the death of sinners but their conuersion and life And to make them liue which were dead thou hast caused thy only begotten sonne to die and wouldest also that he should beare the name of a sauiour Wherefore shall I distrust then of grace Wherefore should my soule liue in sorrow syth that it findeth in thee so great a sweetenes O Lorde my God I remēber the poore Publican who humbling his eies to the ground groning vnder the burthen of his sins and requiring thy mercie went down into his house iustified I remember the poore thiefe who confessing his fault and acknowledging thy sonne Iesus vpon the crosse whereon he was hanged went to paradise I consider also the example of thine Apostle who hauing forsakē his maister three times was not put out of his fauour nor out of his Apostleship because the weeping bitterly he was cōuerted to thee But God grant me the Publicans hūblenes the confession of him that was hanged with Christ the repentance of thy Apostle the holding on the way which they haue held I may with them inioy thy fauour and enter into thy glorie A prayer vpon the same matter O Lorde what man is he that dare speake vnto God Howe dare we aske thee life seeing we haue deserued death Frō whēce commeth this boldnesse to haue our recourse vnto thee whom wee haue offended Is it not thy great mercie that is so noted throughout the worlde Was it not because that thou art slowe to anger and of great clemencie But if thou wouldest enter into iudgement with vs no man liuing could be iustified before thy face I pray and beseech thee therefore O Lorde that thou wouldest vnderstande my gronings and hearken vnto my praiers I was Alas conceiued and borne in sinne and my iniquities are so great in number that I can not knowe them by the one halfe so as O Lorde this burthen would ouerwhelme me if thy mercie did not comfort me But I pray thee chastise me not in thy wrath neither assay thy might against me otherwise I were vtterly vndoone and in the twinckling of an eie thou couldest destroy me in thine anger Chaunge rather my heart that I may be an organe of thy glorie and a vessel of honour in thy house Imprint in my soule all righteousnesse and godlinesse that I may serue and honour thy maiestie I haue wandered like a poore sheepe but bring me againe into thy fold and be thou my sheepheard for euer For Lorde when thou hast brought me to nothing and confounded me Alas I shal not any more blesse and praise thee But if thou be mercifull vnto me I shall render vnto thee thankes giuing I shall vowe my selfe to thy seruice and I will remaine in thy holy temple to worship thee A prayer to aske of God true repentance Almightie God seeing that our sinnes continually crie vnto heauen and when one of them is ouercome an other forthwith springeth vp so that ambition being ouercome couetousnesse doeth tempt vs and couetousnesse being vanquished presumption doth solicite vs or some other greedie desire graunt vs grace carefully to walke and to fight this good fight against our selues truely to examine and to sound our selues and so we cōdemning our selues may preuent thy iudgement stirring vp one another to true repentance and amendment of life to the ende that it bee not in vaine that thy healthfull grace may appeare vnto vs and that wee make not sad thy holy spirite and that so O God walking in thy feare we may be made true partakers of the forgiuenesse of sinnes that thy son hath purchased for vs by his bloud shedding that we might growe vp according to the new man and make the olde man to die vntill that we being vnclothed of this mortall bodie we might come vnto that perfection then O Lorde when as thou shalt be all in all and that beeing gathered together in thee wee shall beholde thy glorie in thy kingdome So be it I beleeue the rising againe of the bodie TErtullian an ancient Doctor verie well saith in the booke which he hath written of the resurrection that this article is proper to Christians and is their speciall comfort to beleeue that this flesh shal rise againe at the last day wherof the philosophers Sadduces did but make a mocke But hee who hath giuen vs these bodies can verie well bring to passe that they shal liue againe out of the dust as we do protest that we beleeue not heere giuing place to any thing but vnto faith no not to the speculations of reason Christ is also risen againe being made as it were the first fruites and the honorable head of all those which are risen or heereafter shall bee raised againe For this was through his only vertue This also is the reason that that body which did suffer so much should be likewise partaker of life glorie For Christ hath wholie redeemed mankinde and without this trust we should be miserable we which do suffer so many tormentes in our bodies for the name of Iesus Nowe to comfort and resolue vs more more in this article we must consider of these witnesses folowing Out of the 19. Chap. of Iob. I am sure that my redeemer liueth and he shall stande vp the last of the earth And though after my skinne wormes destroy this bodie yet shall I see God in my flesh whome I my selfe shall see and mine eies shall beholde Out of the 26. of Esaiah The dead shall liue euen with my bodie shall they rise Awake and sing ye that dwell in dust for thy deaw is as the deawe of hearbes and the earth shall cast out the dead Out of the 13. Chap. of the prophet Hosea I will redeeme them from the power of the graue I will deliuer them from death O death I will be thy death O graue I will be thy destruction A meditation of OEcolampadius The Lorde sheweth by this place that if the people had repented they should haue beene deliuered though they hadde bin as it were in the graue alreadie The Hebrewe word signifieth Hel or the graue and is often times taken in the scripture for some great and extreeme daunger as also by the worde of the plague is vnderstood a great destruction S. Paul in the 1.5 Chap. of the 1. Epistle to the Corinthians when he intreateth of the resurrection he alledgeth this place according to the greeke translation of the 70. interpreters rather than after the Hebrewe text and thus taketh it Where is thy sting As preparing himselfe against
which lift themselues vp like suddaine tempestes graunt that wee hauing our heartes directed vp to heauen may neuerthelesse repose our selues vppon thy secret prouidence and what so euer troubles there be in our senses wee may rest assured in this principall and holde it as certaine that is that thou art he that will be our father and gouerne vs by thy wisedome to the ende that in all our troubles we may alwaies acknowledge thy hande and thy counsel full of righteousnesse and of great and singular wisdome and iustice that we may call euermore vpon thee and saue our selues at this hauen that is to wit that although we be driuen and tossed hither and thither yet thou holdest vs vp by thy hande vntill we be receiued into thy rest A prayer to obtaine victorie by Iesus Christ Almightie God forasmuch as wee be filled full of so many desires which might defile the pure and holy giftes of the spirite graunt that we may receiue in good woorth the chastisementes which thou doest sende vnto vs to tame the saide desires and that acknowledging thee for our sheepeheard we may suffer our selues to be gouerned by the hooke of thy sheepeheardes staffe daily profiting vnder thy corrections and tasting thy goodnesse in thy displeasure we may not lose courage but as walking through blame dishonor yea in the middest of death for thy names sake we may reioyce in thee esteeming all thinges losse in cōparison of the knowledge of thy sonne Let therfore that same spirit which hath sanctified vs strengthen vs also that being partakers of this annointing of the holy Ghost we may be likewise partakers of the victorie of thy sonne Iesus Christ A prayer paciently to abide pouerty when God shall sende it Lorde God and father since it hath pleased thee to abase thy selfe euen to take care ouer vs namely for the respect of this life to promise vs daily bread granting vs wherwith to passe on our way here beneath graunt that we may learne to rest our selues peaceably vpon thee who art our God and of our children hast had care of vs when as we were nothing that so resting vs vpon thy blessing we may behaue our selues not onely from all theftes and vnlawfull meanes to plucke away other mens goods but also from all couetousnesse and impatience as we O Lord may content our selues vnder thy feare and that we may learne so to beare pouertie on the earth that being satisfied with the riches which thou hast offered vnto vs by thy Gospell and whereof we be alreadie partakers through faith we may cherefully bende to the fulnesse thereof and vnto this perfect coniunction with thy sonne Iesus Christ in his kingdome A prayer for the morning O Lorde God and father I poore creature which am naturally swathed in darknesse durst not lift vp my eies vnto thee that dwellest in a light not able to be come vnto were it not that thy deere sonne Iesus Christ which is the brightnesse of thy glorie hath made me way vnto the throne of thy grace through the shedding of his most precious bloud So nowe my God I doe acknowledge howe that it is a great benefit that I which am vnworthy to liue vpon the earth and that haue deserued through my sins to be cast into vtter darknesse for euer more I haue this blessing to see the light of the day of the sunne and to beholde the workes of thy handes with the inioying of the earthly riches that thou hast stored vs with all And for so much as O God that thy sunne shineth as well vpon the wicked as on the good and that this outwarde light is not but to guide our bodies graunt O God to shine vpon vs the brightnes of thy face in blessing me and in lightning my vnderstanding begetting and sanctifying me a new that I may walke in the way of thy commaundements and that I may behaue my selfe in my calling in such sort as all my thoughtes wordes and deedes may be to thy honour and glorie and the edifying of my neighbours Thou hast O Lord withdrawen me from the darkenesse of ydolatrie and ignoraunce and thou hast taken from before mine eies the bende of superstition Thou hast also in our time made shine or as it were lightened againe the faire lampe of the preaching of thy Gospell But suffer me not that hauing eies I see no whit inlighten O Lord all the parts of my soule and cause all that is in me to be employed to render vnto thee all honour and obedience and that in my calling thy feare be before mine eies And because thou esteemest not to bee beloued of vs vnlesse we loue our neighbours imprint in me a faith working by charitie in such sort as with hope I may haue a good conscience not dooing to any but that I would to be doone vnto my selfe that I may haue a mercifull hart and louing that my entrailes be not shut vp in the behalfe of the poore and needie To be short that seeing how the figure of this worlde passeth I may vse the worlde as passing thorow it remēbring my selfe alwaies that heauen is the place of my corporation Grant me peace amongst my familie giue blessing to my labour contentment to my spirite rest and comfort to the poore afflicted and full deliuerance to thy Church by thy sonne Iesus Christ So be it A praier for the Euening O Lord God thy people Israell did present to thee the morning and euening sacrifices in token of confessing thee how that thou keepest vs both euening and morning But what more liking sacrifice can we offer nowe than our sorowefull heartes and our tongues that doe praise and blesse thee Wherefore O Lorde I present my selfe in all humilitie and reuerence before thy face beseeching thee that thou wouldest not enter into an account neither into iudgement with me thy poore creature For be it that thou looke into the first or the seconde table of thy commandementes thou shalt finde that I haue offended thee many waies Notwithstanding like as the childe hath alwaies his recourse vnto his father euen so haue I my refuge and my retire to thee O Lorde that art not lightly angry but of great mercie beseeching thee that by thy goodnes thou couer my faultes euen as all thinges are couered by the darkenesse spread forth ouer the earth Alas my God I knowe that sathan goeth about as a roaring lyon and I doe knowe that he is the gouernour of darkenesse and prince of this worlde but if thou be for me who shall be against me It is thou that hast thousandes of Angels which are incamped about vs it is thou that hast created the hotte sonne and the shattering cold moone it is thou that gouernest the whole world and doest neuer slumber Grant me therefore grace to rest this night in peace and not to sleepe in earthly thinges but more and more to acknowledge thy goodnesse vntill thou call me vnto
this so desired a rest which thou hast prepared for vs. O how sweete louing shall this awaking be when as in our graues we shall heare the voice of thy son to raise vs vp againe in a glorious immortalitie Yet while wee doe awaite for this last comming we recommende our selues vnto thee O heauenly father the peace and preseruation of thy Church superiors magistrates all those which haue neede of thy succour beseeching thee that in this oldenesse of the worlde wherein all kingdoms of the worlde do shake that thou wouldest be the stay of thy poore people and in steede of so many sorowefull daies and yeares as we haue seene we may behold some rest in the middest of thy Church Raise vp daily O Lord some softer father and also some retiring place for thy children that no violent oppression ouerwhelme them and that for thy sonnes sake in whom I trust and vppon whom I rest my selfe So be it Heere followeth a litle Paraphrase and short exposition of the Lordes praier taken out of S. Cyprian almost worde by worde THe doctrine contained in the Gospell is no other thing than the ordinance of our maister God the grounde whereon to builde our hope and to strengthen our faith the foode wherewith to nourish our soule the pylates whereby to guide our shippe in this nauigation the helpes by whom we come to saluation in such sort as when the faithfull heart yeeldeth it selfe to be trainable heere in earth it is a meane to bring it vp vnto heauen It hath pleased God that many thinges were often spoken by the prophetes and heard by them But how much more excellent ought that to be reputed which the father hath sayd and pronounced by his sonne than that which he hath sayde by his seruantes For in them spake the spirite of Christ and he himselfe hath spoken in the later time in his owne voice He doth not now commaund that men prepare the way vnto him that commeth because that he himself is come and discouereth the true way that wee which goe wandering and groping in the darknesse of death may be by the light of his wisedome directed in the way of life Now amongest so many good lessons as he hath left vs for our saluation The forme of praier hee hath chieflie giuen vnto vs the right forme of prayer he that hath made vs to liue hath taught vs also to pray yea he hath done it after his grace goodnesse wherethrough he hath stored vs with all thinges and wrought it vnto the ende that his father might the more willinger heare vs when wee praie vnto him in that praier that his son hath taught vs. He did foretell howe that the houre should come wherein the true woorshippers should worshippe him in spirite and trueth He hath also fulfilled that which he had promised giuing vs his spirite to worshippe him The Lords praier What praier may be now more spirituall than that which hath bin giuen vnto vs by Iesus Christ by whome also the holy spirite hath beene sent vnto vs What praier shal be more true and perfect before God than that which cōmeth from the sonne who is the trueth of Gods owne mouth In manner as otherwise to pray concerning the substance then hee hath taught vs is not alonely an ignorance but also a blockish fault as he rebuketh the Iewes elsewhere how they did despise Gods commaundement to set vp their traditions Let vs therefore pray my brethren euen as hee which is both our God and maister hath taught vs. That prayer is agreeable vnto God when one praieth with a praier that is his and when we make the wordes of his sonne to mount vp vnto his eares The father doth acknowledge his sonnes language when wee doe pray let him that dwelleth in our heart be also in our voice vpon our tongue And seeing that the sonne is our aduocate as often as we doe demaund forgiuenesse for our sinnes let vs take in our mouthes the wordes of our aduocate For seeing that he sayth how all that we shall aske of the father in his name it shal be granted vnto vs whē shal our praiers haue greatest strēgth but then when we shall call vppon him by the peculiar praier which he hath made It behoueth those which pray to keepe a certaine forme in their speach with a staied manner and full of all reuerence humblenesse Let vs remember that it is before Gods face that we presēt our selues Let vs therefore seeke to please him as wel in the behauiour of our bodies as in the conueiance of our voice It is an ill fauored thing and a signe of impudencie to vse much crying out in praier and there is nothing that doeth set it out more than modestie To be short wee doe see that the Lorde doth allowe that praier which is made priuately in secret and in ones chamber a thing that well agreeth with our faith to the ende to make vs vnderstand that God is present throughout all that he heareth and seeth all and that the fulnesse of his maiestie pearceth into the most hidden secret places as the scripture speaketh I am thy God neere at hande and not afarre off If a man be hidden in a priuie or close place doe not I see him Doe not I fill both heauen and earth Then when wee shall come together with our brethren we must in good order solemnise the sacrifices of God not thinking to make our praiers to take place before the Lord with chaunting and crying out God vnderstandeth the heart not with the voice for it is not needeful to aduertise him by a lifting vp of a voice who seeth our thoughts This is it that he often sayth that he is the searcher of hearts hauing the knowledge of our most secret thoughtes We haue a goodly example in the good woman Anna mother of Samuel who prayed vnto the Lord not with a strong or lifted vp voice but secretly soberly and in her heart Her praier was secret but her faith was open shee spake not with the voice but with the heart knowing verie well that the Lorde our God so heareth his and in such sort she receiued in effect that which by faith she had required We haue another example of a praier right wel directed and verie modest in the person of the Publicane He went vp into the temple and made his praier not in a rude and presumptuous maner as the other without lifting vp his head or his forehead he only fell downe confessed with his mouth his sinne that hee felt shut vp in his heart in such sort as God heard the prayer of the humble that rested not vpon his owne innocencie For who is hee that is innocent His praier was humble and hee which aduaunceth and fauoreth the humble heard the poore Publican Thus much cōcerning the fashion and coūtenance that we ought to keepe in our praiers Let vs now consider how our maister
bee all afflictions pouertie and ruines which wee doe see fall out in the compasse of the whole worlde Men complaine enough of their losses of their sorrowes and pouerties but how fewe are there that frame their complaintes against their vices against their falshood infidelitie against their impatiēce against their couetousnesse against their ambition such like wickednesse To bee short all saith S. Augustine complaine of the miseries of this life and yet the most part set their heartes vppon it and are more affected to it than to the euerlasting and heauenlie life How would it bee then if this life were left vnto vs altogether quiet sweete and delectable Who would remember the kingdome of heauen Who would euer aspire vnto Christ and vnto the glorious and euerlasting life Go to then let vs acknowledge the vanitie of our thoughtes and in steede of vexing our selues and fainting let vs woonder at the diuine prouidence acknowledging that then his helpes are more neere at hand when it seemeth that GOD is farthest off from vs. As Philo the Iewe once answered his fellow citizens when as he had an ill answere of the Emperor Caius towards whom hee had bin sent to intreate for the Iewes Eusebius 2. booke 5. Chap. The obiection that hath beene a long time awaited It must needes be nowe sayth hee that the vnfallible succours of God bee verie neere syth that all succour from man faileth vs. Yea but some man will say with the Iewes in the 8. Chap. of Ieremie We haue looked for peace and we fare not the better The time of health and lo here is nothing but trouble Answere I answere to this That in awayting we must take heede that we giue God leaue to appoint the time for it is enough for vs that he will come and that he will come to the purpose and to the point euen then to helpe vs when he seeth it best for vs. But if we must speake of our goodly waiting Alas how do we waite or howe haue we waited for him Surely some for the most part looke rather to men to the helpes of men thā to the Lord God of Hostes of whom a man may say that which is spoken in the 4. of the lamentation of Ieremie the prophet that their eies are consumed with waiting for a vaine helpe for looking after an emptie hope for looking for a nation that neither would nor could saue thē But it is saide in the 3. of Sophonie I will cause a poore an afflicted people to remaine in the middest of thee and they shall trust in the name of the Lorde See him on whō we must looke with true faith amending so great corruptions that are in the midst of the Churches by feruent cōstant calling on his holy name Moreouer others in steede of awaiting on the Lorde and in place of taking aduersities as a warning from the diuine maiestie these were that alas in great nūber stronglie throwne downe into the puddle of Idolatrie with the Papistes Reuolt or turning backe throwen downe say I yea and rushed in euen as a furious horse rusheth into a battaile so that they carie there all the sway in whō there is founde greater eagernesse after Idolatrie and towardes all kinde of iniquitie than in those old Idolaters who all their life long haue beene nourished vp therein I speake it with teares in deepe sorrowe of heart to be most true for I did see those which were of the same troupe and band which did goe with vs vnto the holy assemblies to whom God had alreadie giuen fauour to ouercome manie assaultes nowe to bee so wandering and giuen ouer to a spirit of darke vnderstanding O what other thing then are all men liuing but vanitie O how true is this which is spoken in the 17. of Ieremie That the heart of man is false and full of deceite and as it is saide in the fifth Chap. of the same prophet O Lorde are not thy eies on the trueth Thou hast striken them and they haue not sorrowed Thou hast consumed them but they haue refused to receiue thy discipline They haue made their faces more harder than a stone and they haue refused to returne vnto thee Feare ye not me sayth the Lorde Or will ye not be afraid at my presence O howe much more happie were they which passed into the foure cornerd house and into other places as it were true golde through the fire constantlie calling vppon the Lorde than those which burned them quicke seeking after Idolatrie and the vanitie of the worlde taking the way to that fire that neuer shall be quenched But what As it is saide in the 8. Chapter of Ieremie Shall he which is fallen not rise againe Or hee which is turned awaie shall hee not turne againe Ah my brethren I hope yet there will manie be founde who will say What haue we doone And there shall be of those of whome S. Cyprian speaketh in his treatise cōcerning those which are fallen whose bodies were rather ouercome than their heart Although that this saying of Tertulliā is more true In his book de corona militis that is to say that in the matter of faith and religion this excuse of necessitie of force can haue no place as if of necessitie one might be compelled to do any thing against his religiō Nonecessitie to euill For no necessitie ought to be pretended to doe euill forasmuch as there is saieth he but one necessity that ought to cōmand vs which is simplie necessary to wit to obey our God If there be any thing therfore that should feare man or should lay any necessity by enforcemēt vpō him it is the greatnesse and terrour of that which is most great and terrible that is to say of the liuing and euerlasting God If there were any allurement pleasure or commoditie that ought to drawe a man it is the riuer of the Lords delight they be the promises of euerlasting treasures and of the life to come which if we tasted were it neuer so litle all the world with her delight should be nothing vnto vs. And so likewise a faithfull man is greater and more excellent than this worlde being the childe of God and an inheritour of him a coheire with Iesus Christ See wherfore such a one desireth nothing of the worlde but his whole life is a renouncing and forsaking of the world If the question be of punishments banishments or other penalties they are not miserable which dy or be in banishment for the name of Christ but they who howsoeuer they yet liue and are in their pallaces in the middest of all their delightes are iudged and condemned by the word of God and by the lawes thereof being guiltie and worthie of a thousand deathes of a thousand banishments as for example these murtherers ydolaters and other such like are who haue their handes embrued in the bloud of our
when my maister goeth into the house of Rimmon to worshippe there and leaneth on my hande and I bowe my selfe in the house of Rimmon the Lorde be mercifull vnto thy seruant in this point when I doe bowe downe my selfe in the house of Rimmon to whō he sayde Go in peace They haue this obiection in this text We aunswere that first this fauoreth no whit at al these Apostats and Time-seruers who do partake with ydolatrie against their conscience For the question is not of that which a good man ought to doe or may doe whether hee may in safe conscience bee partaker with the Idolaters But it is a demaunde of a particular that is onely founded vppon a seruice which hee pretendeth to owe vnto his king by the occasion of his charge for in the former verse hee protesteth no more to sacrifise vnto strange Gods but onely vnto the Lord. Secondly in asking forgiuenesse of the Prophet he without noyse confesseth a fault and that he found therein a burthen in his conscience Thirdly a particular example cannot be taken for a rule seeing that for a rule wee haue the commandementes of our Lord God wherein euerie one is bound to looke vnto Furthermore that the answere of Eliseus Go in peace may be as soone taken for a leaue that he gaue vnto him to goe away or a sending away of him then a counsell or any resolution wheron a man may make a ground-worke The 2. Chap. of Habacue ver 4. Beholde he that lifteth vp himselfe his minde is not vpright in him but the iust shall liue by his faith yea in deede the proude man is as hee that transgresseth by wine therefore shall he not endure A consideration of the excellencie of Faith If those thinges be recommended vnto vs either for their beginning or for their excellent subiect or for their great effects what thing is more recommendable than faith because it cōmeth from the Lorde which doeth inspire it by his holy spirite seeing that it is founded vpon the infallible euerlasting and most mightie worde of God Cor 4. which is mightie to saluation to all beleeuers Rom. 1. and that it maketh the soule to liue who through the perceiuing of her sinnes and the wrath of God would die a thousande times a day who also should be in continuall vnquietnesse hauing no peace neither yet rest if it were not assured and bounde to quiet faith who reposeth it selfe in God and suffereth him to doe his will being assured of his wisedome and goodnesse and that all miseries are but as cloudes passing away as the Hebrewes haue a worde greatly signifying which is in the 18. Psalme and 19. ver E D which signifieth Calamitie either a mist or a cloude As a good olde man sayde in the time of the great persecutor Iulian the Apostata That it was but as a cloude which would quickely vanish or passe away Therefore let vs holde fast the ancre of our hope Heb. 6. ca. 19 staying vs vpon the Lorde For as the Harcubuziers neuer shoote a good shot neither can well aime at their marke if they shake their Harcubuzes heere and there without stay or rest euen so likewise we doe nothing that is woorth neither at any time shoote at a true marke if we do not beholde God aright constantly awaiting of him the promise of deliuerance A consideration vpon the Temptations of the faithfull taken out of the 4. Chap. of S. Matthewe vpon the Temptations of Iesus Christ THe Lorde hath truely borne our miseries and was tempted in all things sinne excepted but in this sort as he ouercame the temptor And as we see the maisters of fence will play themselues and skirmish before their scholars to teach them the nimblenesse and readinesse in drawing their blowes euen so Christ was willing to be tempted in this worlde that we might consider by this temptation how we must ouercome Sathan and that being truly exercised we may not cower down or bend to temptations For there be many particularities that must bee noted vppon this deede Christ was tēpted a litle after Baptisme Euen so often shall those bee assaulted with many diuers temptations which shall receiue the guiftes of God or that shal be receiued into the Church First because that the graces which God giueth vs are to strengthen vs then after temptations are giuen vnto vs to holde ourselues in modestie that wee should not lift vp our selues aboue the guiftes of the Lorde 2. Cor. 12. Thirdly to make knowen how we haue truely forsaken Sathan that we be made strong through his diuine strength True it is that wee ought not to put vpon our selues temptations So was our Lorde lead by the spirite into the wildernesse Therefore when God bringeth vs thither then is it that wee should lay abroade our faith But I pray you let vs marke howe willingly the diuell tempteth the faith of man Temptation by the bellie by foode and by the bellie Euen so Eue was tempted For although it was through pride and presumption yet was the occasion taken by the sight of a delectable fruit Therefore this is a warning to vs to haue for suspect the counsels of the bellie and so not to be subiect to the foode or diet because that God will destroie both the meat and the bellie In like maner let vs consider 1. Cor. 6.13 how that the diuell awaiteth vpon vs with afflictions especially where neede is and then when hee presupposeth to flatter vs with manie thinges For sometimes it seemeth that the children of GOD doe lose their labour and paines in seruing of God as it is saide in Malachie Malac. 3. v. 14. representing heere this tēptation how that for great things the worlde giueth cleane contrarie But let vs remember that the worlde is as a smoke and all the goods of the earth as a shadowe and that onely God is our all and mans true wealth Then let vs not hunger after earthly goods neither worldly honors but let vs hunger and thirst after righteousnesse for so are we exhorted in the 5. of S. Matthew for it is that which is most necessarie for vs poore sinners Nowe this true righteousnesse is reueiled vnto vs in the gospell For what purpose serued those goods or riches vnto the euill rich man with his great prouision seeing that in the ende his want grewe greater for did not he esteeme much more a droppe of water if hee might haue got it to haue cooled his thirst Let vs acknowledge that our life our foode and that of our children dependeth not of the worlde but of the grace and fauour of God and to withstand the diuell and all his temptations The armour of Christians let vs daily arme vs with this true bucklar of Gods woorde as Iesus Christ did neither let vs goe into fight without armour Let vs exercise and stirre vp our selues in the scriptures that wee may be able to incounter
and make head against the diuel for he himselfe doth alleage the scripture and therfore if we be not well seene or exercised therein he will trouble and ouercome vs. Let vs also pray this good God that he will giue vs his holy spirite which is the true teacher and expounder of the scripture the which the deuill in not being able to haue hath nothing but the barcke of the scripture and is easie to be vanquished and ouercome by those which are caried by the spirite of God Of prayer which is one of the effectes of Faith 7. Chap. of S. Matthewe Aske and it shal be giuen you seeke and you shall finde knocke and it shall be opened PRAYER O Lorde GOD seeing that thou thy selfe doest offer thy selfe vnto vs with so great kindenesse and sweetenes suffer vs not that we be negligent in calling vpon thee neither permit that we become restiffe in asking when as thou art readie to giue And to this effect graunt vs grace to feele howe much thy helpe is necessarie for vs euen for vs poore creatures which haue not neither possesse we any thing but of thy fauour and grace and yet neither that which we haue can prosper without thy blessing We therefore namely do acknowledge the great wantes and defectes which are in vs in respect of those heauenly things For neither faith hope nor charitie can be in vs vnlesse thou doe store vs with thy light S. Iames. 1. and helpe our infirmities For all good guiftes doe come from aboue from thee thou father of light Wherefore should we not then call vpon thee hauing thy promises Or wherfore shold wee goe elsewhere synce that in thee is all aboundance and sufficiencie Giue vs grace O good God not onely to pray to thee but also to knocke at thy gate It seemeth that it is somtimes shut against vs and that thou hast no care ouer vs as in verie deede the gates of grace were shut vp against vs because of sinne But we haue our mediator Iesus Christ at thy right hande who hath promised to open it vnto vs. Open therefore vnto thy children that knocke thou which hast giuen thy deere sonne for vs giue vs faith that may bring vs vnto thee and also hope which may entertaine vs in faith and giue vs in summe that which thou knowest farre better than we to be necessarie for vs for thy sonne Iesus Christes sake A notable sentence to hold the faithfull in a true confession of Gods name taken out of the 10. Chap. of S. Matthew FEare ye not them which kil the bodie but are not able to kill the soule But rather feare him which is able to destroy both the Soule and bodie in hell Whosoeuer therefore shall confesse me before men him will I confesse also before my father which is in heauen But whosoeuer shal denie me before men I will denie him before my father which is in heauen MEDITATION THe feare of death is the thing that dooth most turne away men from our Lorde The feare of death and from the imbracing of his worde For Iesus Christ sheweth what the follie of man is in this we feare death for feare of losing life But man cannot take away life wherefore are they then afraid For life is in the hand of God who hath giuen it But if it be a question of sorrowes and tormentes then death is no more it that we feare Iob. 5. for they are the sorrowes wherein we be borne as the bird to flie and those which we ought patientlie to beare euen as a valiant souldier beareth certaine woundes to be after crowned As concerning the bodie that is put in the graue we doe not thinke it lost because that nothing is lost but the infection and corruption the which wee doe desire to loose And our bodies shall rise againe glorious bodies For it is euē as when a man melteth a great masse or lumpe of Copper to make a faire Image of Truelie then is not the copper lost but fined and set in honour Moreouer as a good martyr named Simeon said of whome is spoken in the Ecclesiasticall historie of Sozomene in his second booke and 10. Chap. Seeing that of nature we be alreadie mortall wherefore should we not account this for a great honor when we die for Iesus Christ But our Lord dooth yet vse an other Argument If we feare death then wee must feare the great danger that is euerlasting And that is wherein God may cast those downe headlong that offend him This is the secōd death whereof is spoken in the Apocalyps in the 21. Chap. ver 8. Blessed are they that feare God more than men Alas he asketh no great thing of vs to be short he requireth but that we trust in him and that we confesse his name The Elementes Psal 16. the earth the trees and the riuers doe declare his glorie Psal 148. so doe the byrdes on the braunches Wherefore is it that man which is created vnto his likenesse will not praise the Lord And when we doe confesse him it dooth serue him but for little marrie it dooth bring much vnto vs that he confesseth vs in his glorie and that hee acknowledgeth vs to bee his Now what pitie is it when so manie men shew themselues so slacke and vnfaithfull vnto the Lord some forsaking him and openlie blaspheming him other some being ashamed of him hauing the knowledge of the trueth hidden and shut vp in them Moreouer Titus 1.16 how manie be there which confesse him by their tongues and denie him in their heartes and wicked life O Lord therefore open our lippes and make cleane our heartes so as wee may beleeue with the heart and confesse with the mouth that we be not confounded in this great comming of thy sonne Iesus Christ but rather that we may haue his honor to be reknowledged and also declared thy children and heires of thy kingdome That through faith we goe vnto Christ and what the yoke of the faithful is 11. Chap. of S. Matthew COme vnto me all ye that are wearie laden and I will ease you Take my yoke vppon you and learne of me that I am meeke and lowlie in heart and yee shall finde rest vnto your soules for my yoke is easie and my burthen is light A consideration vppon the said text BLessed are those saith Dauid in the 119. Psalme that are vpright in their way and walke in the lawe of the Lord. But what Where is the man that walketh vprightlie For they are all gone out of the way taking damnable pathes as it is said in the 14. Psalme and in such sort through infidelitie and disobedience are men turned away from the Lord and walke after vanitie they are turned againe into their course saith Ieremie in the 8. Chap. as the horse that rusheth into the battell Now see the sonne of God who so gratiouslie dooth call you againe and bid you to come againe vnto him
For so is there none other meane to finde saluation life Or whither shall we goe elswhere He hath the wordes of euerlasting life as S. Peter saith in the 6. Chap. of S. Iohn But it is not with the feete of the bodie that we goe to him it is the soule that ought to march forwardes and to drawe neere to him by faith who dooth approch so neere vnto him that it ioyneth and buindeth vs with him yea it dooth graft vs in him euen as the branches are grafted in a vine stock Iohn 15.2 that in him wee might haue good consciences bring forth fruites agreeable or pleasing vnto God So might we then well say O Lord thou which doost call vs Peter drawe vs if it please thee vnto thee drawe turne our spirites willes vnto thee Be thou thy selfe the Adamāt Rom. 9. which drawest our heartes more harder than iron Rom. 9. For alas it is not in him that willeth nor in him that runneth but in thee O God that shewest mercie And because thou pitiest not the proud high-minded that feele not the charge of their sinnes Zacha. 3. which are more heauie than a great lumpe of lead but shewest mercie to the broken contrite and sorowfull soule and beholdest all those that doe grone vnder the burthen of their sorowfull sinnes giue vs grace to humble our selues that we may be exalted and to feele our death that thou maist quicken and make vs a liue that O Lord wee doe not despise or refuse thy yoke seeing that it is an easie yoke when as by thy spirit thou wilt guide vs and by thy word gouern vs giuing vs a daughterly spirit which is the spirit of adoption seeing also that to serue thee is to raigne to obay thee is to rule and so to triumph ouer the diuell sinne This is not the fearefull yoke of the law that threatened condemnation to all those which did not fulfill it This is not the damnable yoke wherewithall the sinners are wrapped in whereof is spoken in the 1. Chap. of Ieremies Lament The yoke of my transgressions is bound vppon my hand they are wrapped and come vp vppon my necke But Lord who would refuse thy yoke which is so easie seeing it giueth rest vnto the soule seeing it vnbindeth and riddeth vs out of the diuels yoke and from the oppression as it is said in thy Prophet Esai 9. Chap. Therefore receaue againe vnto thee thy poore creatures and bring vs O Lord and gather vs together as the poore straying sheepe vnto that great shepheard Iesus Christ Of the continuaunce which is required in the Christians taken out of the 24. of S. Matthewe IEsus aunswered and sayde vnto them Take heede that no man deceiue you for many shal come in my name saying I am Christ shall deceiue manie And ye shal heare of wars rumors of wars see that you be not troubled for all these thinges must come to passe but the end is not yet For Nation shal rise against Nation Realme against Realme there shal be pestilēce famin earthquakes in diuers places and all these are but the beginninges of sorrowes Then shall they deliuer you vp to be afflicted and shall kill you and ye shal be hated of all nations for my name sake And then shal many be offended and shall betraie one another Furthermore manie false prophetes shal arise and shall deceiue many and because iniquitie shall be increased the loue of many shall wax colde but he that endureth to the ende hee shall be saued A MEDITATION vpon the same Text or place The verie same we doe see in worldly affaires that it is nothing to beginne except a man guide his enterprise vnto the full And when a man freeth himselfe of one leape he looketh not vnto the difficulties but he resolueth to passe further So sayth S. Cyprian in the 5. Epistle of his first booke Faith saueth vs not Ad Furiam to be receiued only once but to be kept For as S. Ierome writeth Men seeke not the beginning of Christians but the ende S. Paule had ill begunne but he ended well Contrariwise Iudas had a good beginning but his ende was verie euill Therefore it is a speciall gift of God to be able to holde out and in such sort to runne in this race 1. Cor. 9. as wee may be able to get the wager For heere wee must beware of presumption and in all humblenesse to aske of God that he will make vs strong Men doe see how S. Peter did make himselfe resolute yet did the voyce of a chamber mayde astonie him Beholde what our weakenesse is Besides that it offereth vnto vs fightings without and feares within as S. Paul declareth in the 7. Chap. of the 2. to the Corinthians in such sort as there is no occasion to thinke well of ourselues Philip. 4. and to resolue vs against such difficulties distrusting of ourselues Rom. 16.20 vnlesse wee take courage and boldenesse in him by whom wee may doe all and that will also treade downe Sathan vnder our feete Nowe to the ende that all may bee prepared to fight the good fight and that to a holy perseueraunce Iesus Christ hath foretolde vnto vs the Allarmes that wee shall haue namely in the later daies wherin the backeslidinges reuoltinges and most daungerous temptations shall be seene Hee foretelleth of the one side that there shall be seducers that shall haue faire outwarde shewe but will shewe themselues in the end robbers of the Church pretending reformation as is seene howe the Anabaptistes and Schwencfeldiens lamented the corruptions Anabaptistes maners and offences which were in the Church and of the misusing of those which did abuse the Gospell and therewith did not onely hatch vp in them an intollerable pride presumption but also strong errours ouerthrowing the foundations of faith and all policie All this ought to make vs practise that which is sayde in the 4. Chap. of the 1. Epistle of S. Iohn Deerely beloued beleeue not euerie spirit but trie the spirites whether they are of God for many false prophets are gone out into the worlde Moreouer good heede must bee taken therein because that besides the manifest ydolaters as the Papistes are besides open heretikes and blasphemers as the Arrians be denying the true diuinitie of the sonne of God and other like that are founde in the middest of the Church which daily shall make diuisions and will preferre their discourses as Oracles willing that men should beleeue them as Gods word and will defend frowardly obstinately their goodlie interpretations that rather than they will yeelde they would set before the olde heresies euen as it is to be seene in many who stubbornely willing to defende the opinion of Luther in the point of the supper which is altogether builded vpon the doctrine of Pope Nicolas as Luther confesseth it in his great confession haue inuented
was baptised the father bearing witnesse of the sonne and the holy ghost comming downe vppon him As it is also commaunded in the 28. of S. Matthew to baptise in the name of the father the sonne and the holy ghost Now thinke it not to be a small thing to acknowledge three persons in one diuine Essence First of all the Christians faith is so discerned from that of the Turkes Iewes and Painims which doe not woorship the true God not acknowledging him as he hath manifested himselfe Secondlie this knowledge guideth vs in our prayer and serueth vs as a great direction because that we call vppon GOD by Iesus Christ in the partaking of the holy Ghost Thirdlie by this distinction of persons wee doe euidētlie see the principall benefites of our God beholding how the father the sonne and the holy ghost haue wrought in our creation and also how they doe worke in our redemption The father sendeth the sonne the sonne taketh humane nature the holy Ghost is he through whose operation he is conceaued in the wombe of the virgin This is he that is the comforter which inspireth and sealeth in our heartes the promises of God Wherefore although that all people doe vaunt of the knowledge of God yet so it is that there is not but the true Church that knoweth God truelie euen as hee manifested himselfe As it is said in the Psalme 147. He hath declared his wordes vnto Iacob and his statutes and iudgementes vnto Israel Hee hath not so dealt with all Nations neither hath he giuen vnto them to know his iudgementes A praier concerning the Trinitie drawen out of S. Augustine his Booke of the priuate Meditatiō of the soule with God 37. Chap. O Three Persons coequal coeternal one God and true God the father the sonne and the holy Ghost which dwellest a lone in eternitie and in the light not able to be come vnto which hast laide the earth by thy power and gouernest the worlde by thy wisedome Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Hostes terrible and strong iust and mercifull wonderfull and louing one onely GOD and three persons one substance and goodnesse open vnto mee crying the gates of righteousnesse that being entered therein I may praise thee O Lorde O houshould father great rich I poore begger doe knocke at thy gates open vnto him that knocketh thou that hast promised to open vnto those which will knocke For O most mercifull father the desires of my entrailes hungering after thy grace do knocke at thy gates All my desire is before thee and my groning is not hid from thee And thou O Lord turne not away thy face any more from me neither in thine anger drawe thy selfe backe from thy seruant Father of mercie heare the groning of thy pupill and stretch forth vnto me thy helping hande to plucke mee out of the deepe waters out of the lake of miserie and out of the stinking puddle and myer that I perish not in the sight of thy mercies and beholding the bowels of thy clemencie but that rather I may come euen vnto thee which art my God to see the riches of thy kingdome and to behold thy face and to sing praises of thy holy name vnto thee O God that doest woonders that from this time forwardes my heart may reioyce through the onely remembraunce of thee who lightnest my youth despise not also mine olde age but giue ioie vnto my bones to make my yeeres reuiue as those of an Aegle that I may praise thee for euermore A prayer vpon the same Argument Euerlasting God thou which with thy onely sonne the holy ghost art one only true GOD and onely Lorde seeing that it hath pleased thee to make knowen the secret of this glorious Trinitie vnto vs thy seruantes giue vs grace that alwaies acknowledging through one true and intire confession the propertie of the three persons the vnitie of the substaunce and the equalitie of the maiestie in one onely true God wee may for euer worship thee and that by this sure faith wee may be defended against all temptations And as the Angels praise thee the powers do worship thee and all the armies of heauen doe magnifie thee let vs thy poore creatures haue this honour to be able to ioyne our songes and our agreementes which this heauenly companie to be agreeable and pleasing vnto thee A prayer of S. Augustine out of the 32. Chap. of his Meditations O God hee that would liue it behooueth him to know thee and he that would rule he must first serue thee he who would haue gladnesse in his heart it behooueth him to praise thee Wherefore my Lorde I praise and worship thee with my lippes with my soule and with all the power that is within me I also thanke thy clemencie and bountie for all the goods that thou hast stored me withall Vnto thee Lorde that art the holie of holies do I sing songs of praise O Lorde I will call vppon thee which art in three persons but one onely and alone substance beseeching thee that it will please thee to come vnto me and to make me a temple of thy glorie I pray the father by the sonne I pray the sonne I pray the holy Ghost that all vices may be farre off from me and that all holy vertues may be planted in me O infinite God of whom and by whom all thinges are visible and inuisible that doest compasse thy workes without and fillest them within that couerest them from aboue and bearest them belowe keepe mee that am the worke of thy handes which trust in thee and haue none other confidence but in thy mercie Keepe me before and behinde heere and euerie where nowe and euer within and without aboue and beneath to be short on all sides that neither taken at vnwares nor by ambushment of my enemie I may be endamaged Thou art the almightie God the protector and defender of all those that trust in thee without whom nothing is sure neither free from daunger Thou art the true God and there is none other God but thou alone neither in heauen aboue neither in the earth belowe Thou doest wonders without number Therefore vnto thee doth appertaine praise honour and thankesgiuing The Angels praise thee the heauens also doe honour thee as the creature is bounde to honour his maker and the seruant his maister euen so ought all flesh and all soules to praise the holy and inseparable Trinitie A prayer of S. Augustine out of the 33. Chap. of his Meditations GEue me grace O Lorde so long as I shal be compassed about with this fraile bodie that my soule may praise thee that my tongue may blesse thee and that all my bones may agree to speake of thee Lorde who is like vnto thee Thou art the almightie God whom we doe worshippe in three persons and one diuine
doe hide their faces before him And man vnlesse that hee died could neuer see his maiestie yea man such as he is on the earth a sinner and mortall But oh happie and blessed shall that daie be 1. Iohn 3. and this houre ought to be desired of vs when as wee shall see this great God such as he is with a soul altogether cleane and a glorified bodie The knowledge of God from hencefoorth is vnto vs as Nazianzen saith in respect of the spirit as the sunne is vnto the bodie This is a light well liking vnto vs but happie is the soule that shall see him face to face and in seeing him shall liue for euermore In the meane-while let vs put our trust in the sonne who speaketh in his Gospell of that which hee hath seene and hath partaken his secretes vnto vs Iohn 15. as vnto his friendes and louers Vppon the 3. Chap. of S. Iohn God so loued the world that hee hath giuen his onely begotten sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life MEDITATION S. Paul oftentimes saith how he would not boast but in Iesus and the same crucified And in deede if man would consider these thinges at leasure which are contained in this sentence of S. Iohn hee would easilie agree with that which S. Paul speaketh and should finde that there is no knowledge in the world that giueth so much contentation as the knowledge of Gods loue through Iesus Christ in such sort as this sentence of S. Iohn ought to be as a pretious owel which a man dailie weareth about his necke euen so ought wee to imprint in our heartes this excellent witnesse of Gods loue For what are men that GOD loueth them What cause hath the immortall to loue the poore woormes of the earth The righteous to loue sinners The Maister the ingrate and vnfaithfull seruauntes Are wee not of nature the children of wrath Ought hee not without ceasing rather to represent vnto vs the hatred and the iust anger of this mightie God and that because of our corruption And moreouer if GOD had beene affectioned to some iust or excellent men yet say I this should bee greatlie to debase him But O diuine loue Oh woonderfull diuinitie Thou hast loued the world without considering anie certaine world anie Sexe anie Qualitie yea all the creatures which are come of the earth since Adam and Eue men and women great and little poore and rich fooles wisemen And all the cause and occasion that thou hast had to fauour them was not for their beautifull eyes but it was euen thy great and extreme bountie All their righteousnesse is as an vncleane cloth before him Esaiah 64. And their excellencie is but as a flower Esaiah 40. which withereth and fadeth from day to day Therefore it hath pleased thee O God to loue man But what say I to loue What tongue shall not iudge himselfe vnsufficient yea what heart shall not bee vnable to deduct or comprehend this so great a loue which hath brought thee to giue one onelie and innocent sonne to death and that to giue life vnto those creatures that are so vnthankfull and so corrupted Where is it that one shall finde a man in this world that will pledge himselfe euen to suffer death for an other were hee his friend and an honest man Truelie it is verie rare But what O Lord thou hast doone truelie more For thou hast not giuen an Angell or an Archangell but thou hast giuen thy onelie sonne vnto a sorrowfull and most shamefull death for to redeeme thy enemies that were reuolted from thee but alas wherefore is not this friendship alike Wherefore doe wee not loue thee with a burning desire as thou hast loued vs Wherefore complaine wee of a little earth lost in thy Seruice and thou hast not cōplayned at all of the death of thy welbeloued sonne of thy delight when the question was of our redemption When a prince dooth not giue vs his good countenance and fauour then we are sore troubled and greeued and yet in respect thereof we make ah alas but small reckenning of thy loue which art the king of kinges and the eternall God Therefore that which wee doe want is that we doe not sufficientlie tast how much the Lord is good and sweete Seeing now O Lord that thy loue is endlesse graunt vs heartes that may comprehend his infinite goodnesse and that wee may forthwith feele therein an endlesse comfort which may swallow vp all the sorrowes of this wretched life So be it Out of the 6. of S. Iohn Simon Peter answered Iesus Maister to whome shall we goe Thou hast the wordes of eternall life And wee beleeue and know that thou art the Christ the sonne of the liuing God Out of the 3. Chap. of the first to Timothie Without all gainsaying great is the mysterie of godlinesse to witte that God is manifested in the flesh iustified in the spirit seene of Angels preached vnto the Gentiles beleeued on in the world and ascended vp in glorie Out of the 4. Chap. of the first Epistle of S. Iohn Hereby know yee the spirit of God Euerie spirit that confesseth that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God And euerie spirit which confesseth not that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God but this is the spirit of Antichrist of whome you haue heard how that hee should come and now alreadie he is in the world And wee haue seene and doe testifie that the father sent the sonne to bee the Sauiour of the world Whosoeuer confesseth that Iesus is the sonne of God in him dwelleth God and he in God And wee haue knowen and beleeued the loue that GOD hath in vs. Here followeth VVhich vvas conceiued by the holie Ghost borne of the virgin Marie CONSIDERATION THis is not vnto vs as saith S. Basyl in a Sermon which hee made of Iesus Christes humane nature neither for vs much to inquire how Christ is come downe here below And wherefore God is serued with such a meane rather than with anie other For thou man saith hee thou wast lost and so recoiledst backe from the face of thy God that thou couldest not come neere thereunto Sith now that he is so humbled and brought low to come vnto thee wouldest thou dispute much thereuppon Rather acknowledge in all humblenesse this blessing of the sonne of God yea and with as great affection as thou canst or maist who is according to the euerlasting diuine nature ingendred by the Father not made nor created as it is said in Athanasius Creede both without Mother and without beginning but is according to the humane nature a like vnto vs sinne excepted begotten of a woman and the sonne of Dauid In such manner as Sedulius saith in a Hymme The creator of the world hath taken shape of a seruant to the end that hee might redeeme our flesh through his flesh and that those
the worlde beganne But nowe is opened and published among all nations by the scriptures of the prophets at the commandement of the euerlasting God for the obedience of faith To God I say only wise be praise for euer Out of the 4. Chap. of the Epistle to the Galathians When the fulnesse of time was come God sent foorth his sonne made of a woman and made vnder the Lawe that hee might redeeme them which were vnder the lawe that we might receiue the adoption of the sonnes Out of the 2. Chap. of the Epistle to the Philippians Let the same minde be in you that was euen in Christ Iesus who beeing in the forme of God thought it no robberie to be equall with God But he made himselfe of no reputation and tooke on him the forme of a seruaunt and was made like vnto man and was found in shape as a man He humbled himselfe and became obedient vnto the death euen the death of the crosse Out of the seconde Chap. of the Epistle to the Hebrewes For as much then as the children were partakers of flesh and bloud he also him selfe likewise tooke part with them that he might destroy through death him that had the power of death that is the diuell And that he might deliuer all them which for feare of death were all their life time subiect to bondage For he in no sort tooke the Angels but he tooke the seede of Abraham Wherefore in all things it became him to be made like vnto his brethren that hee might bee mercifull a faithfull high priest in things cōcerning God to the end he might make reconciliation for the sinnes of the people Borne of the virgin Marie The historie of the Lordes Natiuitie we haue it with all the circumstances thereof in the 2. Chap. of S. Luke Howe hee was borne vnder Octauian Augustus the Emperour Borne in Beth-lehem the citie of Dauid was wrapped in swadling clothes and layde in a cratch for he became poore to make vs rich 2. Cor. 8. Chap. This birth was by the Angels declared to the sheepeheardes Moreouer the wise men of the East were guided by a starre vnto Beth-lehem 2. of S. Matthew A MEDITATION vpon the conception and birth of Iesus Christ after the flesh WHo is he that would not desire to beholde with all reuerence and with great wonder this mightie mysterie of our God concerning the incarnation of Iesus Christ and our redemption seeing that the verie Angels desire to looke thereon as S. Peter speaketh in his 1. Chap. 1. Epistle For it is the Gospel that doeth declare and reueile this hidden secret Rom. 16. at all times figured through diuers ceremonies and trulie fulfilled in the latter dayes O that so many kings patriarks prophets haue desired to see him but now men make litle account of this so great a secret O how beautifull are the feete of them that do declare vnto vs this Gospel of peace O and how much are the heretikes to be abhorred that would turne away from vs the knowledge of this Christ true God and man who hath not doone this honour vnto the Angelles to take vpon him their nature to redeeme them which were fallen but hath shewed this fauour vnto vs poor◠wormes of the earth Psal 51. as to take on him our nature Wee alas are conceiued in sinne and in iniquitie But the holy of the Lorde which was conceiued by the working of the holy spirite is come into the worlde to sanctifie saue vs. Ephes 2. We are borne the childrē of wrath But the welbeloued of the heauenly father was giuen for vs and now is our nature in honour and grace because that the euerlasting word was made flesh not leauing that which it was but taking vnto him that that he was not that is to say our nature ◠Iohn 1. O what an excellent word considering that is spoken of it that it was and did alwaies rest with God as the seconde person of the diuinitie but if a man haue respect vnto his essence it was and is God as S. Iohn sayth in the same place And that it is so all thinges haue beene made by it the life the light and all fulnesse is in it By it hath the Lorde spoken and reueiled the secrets of Paradise But what is it that this hath taken knit with him this word Our flesh And what is our flesh Flesh When as the scripture would speake of our poorenesse it calleth vs flesh as in the 78. Psalme And the Lord remembred that they were but flesh Howsoeuer that Iesus had taken vpon him all our nature that is to say the bodie and the soule as he is the redeemer of all mankinde yet so it is that we be but flesh and rottennesse He hath not therefore taken this flesh which was sinfull or the affection and passions of the flesh but the substance the weakenesses and the alterations that are in the flesh here withall did he charge himselfe He was not then ashamed of vs as the Schuencfeldians thinke that it should be to debase him too much if it were sayd that he had bin made flesh For the scripture sayth the same that he was made flesh that is yet a more vile word than the worde creature But as S. Bernarde sayth The more that thou considerest the humilitie of Christ so much the more seest thou thy glorie and the honour that God hath doone vnto thee how also God hath exalted thee and hath giuen thee a name aboue all names in such sort as they that forsake and despise thee shal one day feele that they shall haue to doe not with anie poore creature but with the king of kings and with the iudge of this worlde A praier of S. Ierome concerning the incarnation of Iesus Christ. O Lorde Iesus thou art my God and my sauiour that hast suffered for mee And although thou wert true God before all ages begotten euerlastingly of the father of an vnserchable generatiō yet wouldst thou to bee conceiued in the wombe of a virgin and to be made man like vnto me and in such manner as thou art true God and true man For thou hast in such sort taken humane nature in the virgins wombe as thou art God and man so as the diuinity is not the humanitie neither the humanity the diuinitie Thy two natures are not confounded and yet doe they make one the selfe same person O eternall worde that was made flesh to become our brother Thou hast had hunger and thirst Thou hast taken our weakenesse vppon thee sinne excepted which did neuer enter in thee as we bare it euen from our mothers wombe Nowe in thee O Lorde dwelleth bodily all fulnesse of grace and diuinitie Thou art made lesse than the father if a man doe respect thy humanitie And if one doe consider thy diuinitie thou art equall vnto him and now that thou hast debased thy selfe he doeth acknowledge thee for
likewise the enuie of the Scribes and Pharisies as it is written in the 27. Chap. of S. Matthew and 18. verse There is the crueltie of the Iewes and the treason of Iudas as S. Steeuen reprocheth them in the 7. Chap. of the Actes that they were traitors and murtherers of the iust Notwithstanding these were our sinnes that caused this death as it is said in the 4. Chap. to the Romans For our sinnes was he deliuered to the death The fruites and effectes of the death and passion of Iesus Christ Out of the 12. Chap. of S. Iohn Iesus aunswered them saying the houre is come that the sonne of man must be glorified Verilie verilie I say vnto you except the wheate corne fall into the ground and die it bideth alone but if it die it bringeth forth much fruite Out of the 3. Chap. to the Romans The righteousnesse of GOD is made manifest by the faith of Iesus Christ vnto all and vppon all that doe beleeue For there is no difference for all haue sinned and are depriued of the glorie of God Iustification in the bloud of Iesus And are iustified freelie by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Iesus Whom God hath set forth to be a reconciliation through faith in his bloud Out of the 6. Chap. to the Romans If we be grafted with him to the similitude of his death euen so shall wee be to the similitude of his resurrection knowing this that our olde man is crucified with him To die vnto sinne that the bodie of sinne might be destroyed that henceforth wee should not serue sinne For he that is dead is freed from sinne wherefore if wee be dead with Christ wee beleeue that wee shall liue also with him Out of the 8. Chap. to the Romans What shal we then say to these things if God be on our side who can bee against vs Who spared not his owne sonne but gaue him for vs all to death How shall he not with him giue vs all thinges also Out of the first to the Corinthians 6. Chap. Yee are bought for a price therefore glorifie God in your bodie and in your spirit for they are Gods Out of the 2. to the Corinthians 5. Chap. God was in Christ and reconciled the world to himselfe not imputing their sinnes vnto them and hath committed to vs the word of reconciliation And he hath made him to bee sinne for vs which knew no sinne to witte because that our sinnes were imputed vnto him and for them was made a sacrifice that we should bee made the righteousnesse of God in him that which came also by imputation Out of the 2 Chap. of the Epistle to the Galathians For I through the lawe am dead to the lawe and that I might liue vnto GOD I am crucified with Iesus Christ Thus I liue yet not I now but Christ liueth in me And in that that I now liue in the flesh I liue in the faith by the sonne of God who hath loued mee and giuen himselfe for me Out of the 5. Chap. to the Galat. They that are Christes haue crucified the flesh with the affections the lustes Out of the 6. Chap. of the Galathians The crosse of Christ God forbid that I should reioyce but in the crosse of our Lorde Iesus Christ whereby the world is crucified vnto me Out of the 5. Chap. to the Ephesians Walke in loue euen as Christ hath loued vs and hath giuen himselfe for vs to bee an offering and a sacrifice of a sweete smelling sauour to God Out of the 5. Chap. to the Ephesians verse 25. Christ loued the Church and gaue himselfe for it that hee might sanctifie it and cleanse it by the washing of water through the word that hee might make it to himselfe a glorious Church c. Out of the first Chap. of the Epistle to the Colos verse 19. It pleased the Father that in him should all fulnesse dwell And by him to reconcile all thinges vnto himselfe and to set at peace through the bloud of his Crosse both the thinges in earth and the thinges in heauen And you which were in times past strangers enemies because your mindes were set on euill workes he hath now also reconciled in the bodie of his flesh through death to make you holie and vnblameable without fault in his sight if ye continue grounded and stablished in the faith Out of the 2. Chap. to the Colossians Hee hath quickened you together with him forgiuing you all your trespasses in putting out the handwriting of ordinances that were against vs hee euen tooke it out of the way and fastened it vppon the crosse Wherefore if yee bee dead with Christ from the ordinances of the world why as though yee liued in the world are ye burdened with traditions As touch not taste not handle not Out of the first Epistle to the Thessalonians 2. Chap. Yee are become followers of the Churches of God which in Iudea are in Christ Iesus because ye haue also suffered the same thinges of your owne countriemen euen as they haue of the Iewes who haue likewise killed the Lord Iesus Out of the first of Timothie 6. Chap. I charge thee in the sight of God who quickeneth all thinges and before Iesus Christ which vnder Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession that thou keepe this commaundement without spot and vnrebukeable vntill the appearing of our Lord Iesus Christ Out of the second of Timothie 2. Chap. This saying is true if wee bee dead with him we also shall liue with him If wee suffer we shall also reigne with him if we denie him hee also will denie vs. Out of the 9. Chap. of the Epistle to the Hebrewes Christ being come a high Priest of good thinges to come by a greater and more perfect Tabernacle not made with handes that is not of this building neither by the bloud of Goates and Calues But by his owne bloud entered he in once vnto the holy place and obtained eternall redemption for vs. For if the bloud of Bulles of Goates and the ashes of an Heifer sprinckeling them that are vncleane sanctifieth as touching the purifying of the flesh how much more shall the bloud of Christ which through the eternall spirit offered himselfe without spot vnto God purge your consciences from dead woorkes to serue the liuing God And for this cause is he the mediatour of the new Testament that through death which was for the redemption of the transgressions that were in the former Testament they which were called might receiue the promise of eternall inheritance And in the 24. verse Iesus is not entered into the holie places that are made with handes which are similitudes of the true sanctuarie But is entered into verie heauen to appeare now in the sight of God for vs not that hee should offer himselfe often as the high Priest entered into the holie place euerie yeare with other bloud for then must he haue often
thy brethren as we doe read in the 15. of S. Iohn I will say no more seruantes for the seruaunt knoweth not what his maister doeth But I haue called you friendes for all thinges that I haue heard of my father haue I made knowen to you And in the 20. of S. Iohn where it is sayde vnto Marie Magdalene Go vnto my brethren and tell them that I am gone vp vnto my father and vnto your father vnto my God and vnto your GOD. O Lord who shall comprehende sufficiently praise thy goodnesse For that truly which thou hast prepared to thine are thinges that the eie hath not seene 1. Corinth neither eare hath heard neither came into mans heart Giue therefore vnto vs thy holy spirit the which soundeth all thinges to the ende that we may vnderstande and knowe those thinges that thou hast giuen vs and that in knowing them wee may account thereof to forsake the earth and aspire vnto heauen where our head is and where there is true fulnesse of ioie and comfort So be it The historie of Iesus Christ his ascending is described vnto vs in the 16. Chap. of S. Marke and 19. vers After that the Lorde had spoken vnto them hee was receiued into heauen and sate on the right hande of God In the 24. of S. Luke the 50. vers After he lead them out into Bethania and lift vp his hande and blessed them And it came to passe that as hee blessed them he departed from them and was caried vp into heauen And they worshipped him and returned to Ierusalem with great ioie In the first Chap. of the Acts ver 9. And when he had spoken these things while they behelde he was taken vp for a cloud tooke him vp out of their sight And while they looked stedfastly towarde heauen as he went beholde two men stoode by them in white apparel which also said Yee men of Galile why stande ye gasing into heauen This Iesus which is taken vp from you into heauen so shall come as you haue seene him goe into heauen Out of the 3. of the Acts ver 21. Whom the heauen must containe vntill the time that all thinges must be restored which God had spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophetes Out of the 10. to the Romanes ver 6. That righteousnesse which is by faith speaketh thus Say not in thy heart who shal ascende into heauen that is to bring Christ from aboue or who shall descende into the deepe that is to bring Christ againe from the dead But what sayeth it The worde is neere thee euen in thy mouth and in thine heart this is the worde of faith which wee preach As if he sayde that all doubts are taken away by faith and that the faithfull are assured by Iesus Christ to goe vp into heauen and to enter into euerlasting life Out of the 4. Chap. to the Ephesians ver 7. Vnto euerie one of vs is giuen grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ wherefore he sayth when he ascended vp on high he lead captiuitie captiue and gaue giftes vnto men Nowe in that he is ascended what is it but that he had also descended first into the lowest parts of the earth He that descended is euen the same that ascended farre aboue all heauens that he might fill all thinges A Meditation vpon the saide Text. And although the benefites of our sauiour Iesus Christ shall truely be felt euen now againe in the life to come Yet so it is that from henceforth wee be alreadie quickened by faith and are as it were sette with him in heauenly places as it is saide in the 2. Chapter to the Ephesians vers 8. Moreouer I pray you howe great is this consolation that wee haue not onely our pleadge alreadie in heauen but also our high priest that maketh intercession without ceasing for vs euen as it is written in the 7. Chapter to the Hebrewes Furthermore S. Paule in this text out of the 4. Chap. to the Ephesians where in wee bee greatly comforted when he sayth that our enimies the worlde the flesh and the deuill were lead away in tryumphe when as Christ ascended vp into heauen Wherfore should we then feare them And this tryumph was figured by the tryumphes and victories wherofare spoken in the 68. Psalme But yet that we may not be depriued from the presence of our sauiour and that he is not retyred from vs in such sort as we should no more reioyce in him S. Paule declareth vnto vs howe it was expedient according as Christ had sayde in the 16. of S. Iohn that I goe away and no more bodilie to bee conuersant in the world Because he had obtained for vs manie graces wherof he storeth and decketh his Churches and is present with vs as it is declared afterwards by the ministers of his word Howe Christ is present with vs. both the vertue and efficacie that he therein giueth to be short he is present with vs according as his spirituall kingdom beareth him he being our head he doth gouerne and guide vs by his holy spirite drawing vs vnto him that wee forsaking more and more the worlde and the earth we may be made citizens in the kingdome of heauen where he is frō whence we do awaite for him to be our ful deliuerance S. Augustin therfore sayth very well in the 50. treatise o◠S. Iohn in the booke of faith vnto Peter the 2. Chapter If anie man aske howe I shall holde Christ now which is absent Sende vnto him saieth he thy faith and thou shalt holde him For our predecessours which were in his time haue seene him and layde holde of him in the flesh holde thou him in thine heart He truely hath set his bodie in heauen but he hath not withdrawen his maiestie from the worlde And hee woulde as touching his bodie be absent from vs to the ende that our faith might be edified which could not be truely faith if it did bodily see and holde Christ heere A prayer O Lorde our God vouchsafe through thy goodnesse and mercie to fill vs heere full of thy graces and ioyne vs together through faith with thy sonne Iesus vntill that we be partakers of the fulnesse of thy glory 1. Thes 4. when we shal be gathered together to be daily with the Lorde And sitteth on the right hande of God the Father almightie CONSIDERATION IN these Articles of our faith there is nothing superfluous For the article going before doth shewe vnto vs that hee was truely receiued into heauen which is the throne of God Matth. 5. and the abode of the blessed so that to ascende into heauen is not a vanishing away or as some doe interprete it by a figure to ascende into honour and high degree but Christ is in heauen from whence he shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead and there where the place is for all the elect Lib. de fide
as their glorie shall bee the condemnation of the world who did oppresse them and persecute them O Lord come quicklie to iudgement that all eyes may see thee yea those who haue pearced thee Apoca. 1. and doe dailie make warres to thee in thy mēbers Witnesses out of the scripture concerning the iudgement In the 25. of S. Matthew verse 31. When the sonne of man commeth in his glorie and all the holie Angels with him then shall he sit vppon the throne of his glorie and before him shall be gathered all nations and hee shall separate them one from an other as a shepheard separateth the sheepe from the Goates And shall set the sheepe on his right hand and the Goates on the left Then shall the king say to them on his right hand Come ye blessed of my Father inherit yee the kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world And vnto those that shall bee on the left hand Depart from mee yee cursed into euerlasting fire which is prepared for the Diuell and his Angels Out of the 5. Chap. of S. Iohn verse 22. The Father iudgeth no man but hath committed all iudgement vnto the Sonne because that all men should honor the sonne as they honor the father As the Father hath life in himselfe so likewise hath hee giuen vnto his sonne to haue life in himselfe and hath giuen him power also to execute iudgement in that hee is the sonne of man As if hee should say although the father the sonne and the holie Ghost doe worke Iudge and gouerne together yet wil the Lord that wee should cast our eyes vppon the sonne of man by whom we are guided and through whome God hath declared himselfe Out of the 17. of the Actes verse 30. And the time of his ignorance God regarded not but now hee admonisheth all men euerie where to repent because hee hath appointed a day in the which he wil iudge the world in righteousnesse by that man whom he hath appointed whereof hee hath giuen an assurance to all men in that he hath raised him from the dead Out of the 5. Chap. 2. to the Corinth Wee couet that both dwelling at home and remouing from home wee may bee acceptable to him For wee must all appeare before the iudgemēt seate of Christ that euerie man may receaue the thinges which are doone in his bodie according vnto that hee hath doone whether it bee good or euill Out of the 4. Chap. and 1. Epistle to the Thessalonians For the Lorde himselfe shall descend from heauen with a shoute and with the voyce of the Archangell and with the Trumpet of God and the dead in Christ shall arise first then shall wee which liue and remaine bee caught vp with them also in the cloudes to meete the Lord in the Aire and so shall wee euer bee with the Lord. Wherefore comfort your selues one an other with these wordes Out of the 2. Epistle of S. Paul to the Thes the first Chapter For it is a righteous thing with God to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you to you which are troubled rest with vs when the Lord Iesus shal shew himselfe from heauen with his mightie Angels in flaming fire rendring vengeance vnto them that doe not know God and which obay not vnto the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ which shall bee punished with euerlasting perdition from the presence of the Lord and from the glorie of his power When hee shall come to bee glorified in his Saintes and to bee made maruelous in all them that beleeue c. Out of the 3. Chap. 2. Epistle of to S. Peter Against scorners or mockers There shal come in the last dayes mockers which will walke after their lustes and say Where is the promise of his comming For since the Fathers died all thinges continue alike from the beginning of the creation For this they willinglie know not that the heauens were of old and the earth that was of the water and by the water by the word of God But the day of the Lord will come as a theefe in the night c. I beleeue in the holie Ghost CONSIDERATION AS it was said frō the beginning the Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost are but one onelie true God and this onelie true God is in such sorte declared to the world that the Father is named maker the Sonne redeemer and the holie ghost our Doctor and sanctifier For albeit that this Trinitie worketh together yet notwithstanding for our great comfort it is in such manner manifested that we may acknowledge how all these three persons doe woorke together in all things that doe appertaine vnto our saluation Now as the sonne is euerlastinglie begotten of the Father so likewise dooth the holie Ghost proceede euerlastinglie from the Father and the Sonne So then beleeuing in the holie Ghost wee doe not beleeue that the holie Ghost is onelie some moouing or inspiration But chiefelie we doe beleeue against the Macedonians ancient Heritikes that he is verie true God of the same substance that the father and the sonne is see then wherefore we doe beleeue in him And wee bee also baptised in his name as of the father and of the sonne he is an eternall spirite as it is said in the 9. Chap. of the Hebrewes and from him also commeth grace and peace as it sayde in the 1. Chap. of the Hebrewes Beeing the temple of the holie Ghost it is sayde that we be the temple of God To be short the father the worde and the holy Ghost are all one as it is saide in the first Chapter of the first Epistle of S. Iohn Then doe we beleeue that for the loue and in the name of Iesus Christ the holy Ghost doth comfort wash and sanctifie vs and that by the inspiration of him the holie Prophetes and the Apostles haue spoken and it is called the gift of God and in the 2. of the Actes because that he who is but one in himselfe hath brought foorth diuerse operations in vs of the which it is spoken in the 12. Chap. of the 1. to the Corinthians And as S. Bernarde sayeth vppon the Canticles we were dead in sinne and as stinking creatures but Iesus did embawlme vs with his holie spirite and hath annointed vs therewith to the ende wee might knowe taste and feele his mercie This is the heate of the Sunne which warmeth vs. This is the goodly and faire water of the heauenly ryuers which doeth refresh and water vs. It is the Bawlme that embalmeth vs it is the Oyle which doeth strengthen and make vs glad Nowe what tongue is it that can expresse this goodnesse of God towardes vs of the Father that hath created vs vnto his image of the Worde who hath bought vs againe with his bloude of the Holie Ghost that hath sanctified vs by his power Therefore let vs giue place vnto this Holie Ghost Ephe. 4. and let vs not sorrowe for our
experience and amongest manie temptations learned the deceites of the Diuell oftentimes said that one day he would put hand to penne to write a great volume against Satan to discouer his wiles and craftes and all the kindes of temptations wherewith hee was accustomed to fight against vs. Besides this hee did dailie aduertise the people both priuatelie and openlie that it was not a thing so light as men thought it to haue dailie Satan at our heeles and an enemie so craftie that spied out but the occasion to sift vs and to destroy vs. Now on a time Luther being requested by a good man who suffered manie tēptations and other vnquietnesse for some comfort Hee wrote this vnto him that followeth in a booke brieflie expounding this sentence of S. Iohn set downe before Satan from the beginning of the world was a lyar and through lyes hath a desire to tempt mankinde Behold how Adam and Eue our first parentes were ouertaken and caught which were created vnto the Image of God For hauing beguiled them through lies hee was therein also a murtherer in that that of the immortall they became mortall Not long after hee set Caine against his Brother Abel and did thrust forward the brother to imbrue his handes with the bloud of his brother And this is the manner and guise of all Satans kingdome Hee began through lying to seduce men afterward hee ceaseth not to stirre vp persecutions against the true faithfull which would not cleaue vnto his lies In the meane while hee bringeth his maintainers to dispaire as it is to be seene of Caine Iudas and others Therefore it is for vs to beware of so cruell and craftie an enemie Let vs also beware and take good heede of his false and dreaming doctrines which commeth forth out of his shoppe the end whereof is vtter destruction To be short let vs take heede of lying and crueltie seeing both the one and the other commeth of the Diuell Moreouer let vs marke that our comfort is that Iesus Christ was giuen vnto vs who appeared to ouerthrow and destroy the workes of the diuell And in deede hee was found the stronger that did buind his enemie Satan and draue away the Prince of the world Against his leinges he hath armed vs with the trueth of his Gospell Against death hee gaue vs life giuing himselfe to bee our Emanuel that is to say God with vs. What greater comfort should wee know to desire For if a man would say yea but Christ is in heauen Behold that which Iesus saith If anie man keepe my word hee shall not perish The doctrine of the lawe accuseth vs and setteth downe before vs our condemnation But the Gospell is the word of life and power of GOD to saluation O miserable and wretched world that forsaketh this pretious word The auncient Fathers haue woondred at a hearbe called Panacea which as some say healed all maner of diseases And seeing manie times we doe see that men esteeme more of some little experience of Phisicke that they shall haue against anie sicknes Why then doe they not commend and praise aboue all the doctrine of the Gospell which healeth vs against death Is it because that the world is so earthlie and lustfull which is not otherwise guided but by fleshlie considerations and neither trusteth in God nor in his promises But wee must feare the iudgementes of God For as they which doe keepe this word shall not feare death So contrariwise they that keepe it not shall see the first and the second death And howsoeuer it seeme vnto men that they passe away with eies closed vp vnto death yet neuerthelesse they doe see death whē the bitternesse thereof and the wrath of God present themselues before their eyes Now concerning the children of GOD they see them dailie dying and themselues also doe die But because their soules learne the word of GOD they see not death For hee teacheth them euen as those that doe goe into darke places by the light who see not the darknesse which is ouercome by the light So a faithfull man which possesseth Gods grace doeth not behold death in his nature and as Gods iudgement but as a sweete sleepe whereby wee doe passe into heauenlie rest and how much the more wee beleeue so much the more are wee assured and certaine against death But the more wee be negligent to heare the word of God so much the more wee lie open to terrours and feares O how strong is therefore the faithfull man who is a member of the Church which staieth himselfe vppon the word of God The great warriers Alexander Iulius Caesar and others hauing braued in the world haue beene famous for their onlie prowes they are dead and those commonlie are the most astonied when death commeth as it is read of Adrian the Emperour The Sorrowes of Adrian the Emperour who at the point of death made such like mournings O poore soule naked and a vacabond into what place goest thou now to yeelde thy selfe Alas what shall become of thee thou companion and ghest of my bodie Thou from hence forewardes shalt haue no more pastime Loe this is the vnquietnesse and vnsetlednesse of the people of this world Let vs pray therefore as in the 90 Psalme that God will giue vs grace to consider the shortnesse of our dayes to the ende we may applie our heartes vnto wisedome A prayer vpon this place Out of the 14. of S. Iohn If any man loue me he will keepe my worde and my father will loue him and we will come vnto him and will dwell with him O Lord who is he which will not loue thee syth that thou hast so loued vs to haue giuen thy sonne for vs Nowe because that thou discernest those which do loue thee in deede from hypocrites when as they loue and keepe thy worde giue me grace yea vnto mee that naturally loue but vice and vanitie to loue thy word vnto me that can doe nothing but in thee and by thee to keepe thy worde and to yeelde obedience vnto thee For what a benefite is it to haue thy companie yea this sweete companie of thee and of thy sonne Iesus and of thy holie spirite which thou hast promised to them that wil yeeld themselues affectionated vnto thy worde What greater mischiefe could happen than to be thrust backe and depriued of such a companie For whosoeuer is not with thee it behoueth that hee be with Sathan that is to say with all euill Because that in as much as thou giuest peace felicitie and life vnto them with whome thou dwellest euen so also is sathan the authour of all euill and of all mischiefe Therefore O Lorde giue me grace to abide in thee as the braunch in the vine to bring foorth the fruites of thy glorie to liue in thee and vnto thee to feele thee daily with all the comfortes that thou giuest vnto thine Let thy good spirite succour mee in my weakenesse Rom. 8.
our heartes bee as his temple O right blessed are they that thus doe eate the flesh of the Lorde hauing a desire to remaine with him and to obey him The bodie of Christ set foorth in his worde is our foode The meane and way to eate him is faith that doth stay vpon his promises and is ioyned vnto him On earth we do communicate with Christ by the helpe of his worde and sacramentes but on hie in heauen we shal eate this heauenly bread without anie outwarde helpe and shall drinke this holy drinke feeling effectually his presence the ioie of that glorious life O happy time so much desired in the which we shall eate with the holy Angels at the table of the Lorde in his kingdome O we now very happie blessed from hence forth seeing we sauour already the sweetenesse of the life to come in Christ O howe easily may we despise the rich mens tables and their iounket and delicate meates to partake the bloude of Christ in the Church of God Yea this bloud yea this is our victorie and glorie this is it that we ought to take chearefully in the supper and so to beare with Christ all afflictions in this life although the banket of the crosse seeme verie thinne and troublesome vnto the beastly ignorant worlde But they which do possesse Christ care not to possesse the world and they that haue drunke of the Lordes cup care not they are at a point to powre out their bloud for the name of Christ for their liues are most assured in their sauiour Reioyce thou thē flocke of the Lorde seeing thou hast so liberall a sheepeheard which feedeth thee with his bloud that thou maiest liue by his life For they that liue not but of the infected bloud of Adam and of the carnall and sensuall life are more wretched than the beastes To this feast are not onely bidden the sacrificers and priestes of Leui but all the Church But aboue all let vs take heede that this gift of God be vnto vs a wholesome gift and that we partake not therein to our condemnation Let vs therfore take on the wedding garment and make cleane our vessels to receiue so excellent a gift Let vs also beware of hauing therein any profanation in steede of deuotion Let vs keepe our selues from communicating in darkenesse when we doe come neere vnto this light And as S. Ierome sayeth writing vnto Theophilus When we drawe neere to Christ let vs not giue him a Iudas kisse Let vs knowe that these are the poore in spirite that shall finde comfort in that banquet These are not the worldlinges nor the high in degree neither the ouerweening and brablesome persons For if Christ declare that euerie oblation displeaseth GOD without reconciliation howe should he make an offering vnto vs of a thing so singular if wee haue not peaceable heartes And if we be not knit together with our brethren howe would we that he shoulde knit himselfe with vs A prayer concerning the holy supper O Lorde God the heauen of heauens cannot comprehende thee and yet thou doest vnto vs this honour to haue fellowshippe with vs. Alas who are wee that thou shouldest take pleasure to bee with vs yea in vs Neuerthelesse wee doe thanke thee in that through thy mercie thou makest vs able to receiue thy graces whereof Psalm 36. of our owne corrupt nature we were altogether vnwoorthie For in trueth they onely are blessed that doe not depart from thee and they that doe partake with the bodie of thy sonne on earth beginne alreadie to liue in heauen The Israelites haue eaten manna in the desert but the most part in the meane while are dead in the wildernesse without seeing the lande of promise But they that eate of this sacred foode are assured to come to the euerlasting heritage O what comfort is this vnto vs in this vale of miserie to bee refreshed with such a pasture O woonderfull pasture which seemeth to bee eaten with teeth in so much as the signes doe beare his name and yet in the meane space is neuer consumed but nourisheth the soule with great vertue That which Adam and Eue did eate in the earthly gardein by the temptation of Sathan caused them to die But O Lorde this meate that we do eate by thy appointment bringeth vnto vs life Now Lorde seeing it hath pleased thee to ioine the earthly with the heauenly by this sacrament the humane creatures with the celestiall graunt vs grace truely to consider these so hie mysteries and to vse them withal innocencie and reuerence For Lord Iob. 14. who is he that shall make cleane that which is vncleane O father who hast redeemed vs by the bloude of thy sonne thou canst only wash and sanctifie vs by thy spirite And as the fulnesse of ioie and gladnesse is to see thy face and to feele thy presence So let our soules feele effectually the sweetenesse of thy son Iesus let vs feele the increase of strength and of faith by the meanes of this holie sacrament and suffer vs not to followe the example of Esau who for a messe of pottage lost his birthright but rather that wee doe not forsake thee for any worldlie thing But that all our consolation may rest in thee Graunt vs O Lorde that thou keepe that assurance which thou hast promised likewise as thou wilt that wee keepe a remembraunce of thy sonne and of his death so haue thou daily remēbrance of vs and as he was giuen for vs so let vs yeelde ourselues louing vnto our neighbours through christian loue and that aboue all our heartes may be lifted vp where our head Iesus Christ is in thy glorie Further more for so much O Lord as we doe eate at thy table as thy children and familie of thy house let vs also walke in all goodnesse as it is becomming those which doe belong vnto such a Lorde And for so much O God as this sacred meate beseemeth not an irkesome and full stomacke Graunt vs grace that we may haue a true and a right hunger yea and a holie appetite vnto these graces that we may sauourly tast these meats of thine and well degest thē tasting how gratious sweete thou art also how bitter all the delights of the worlde are in comparison of the sweetenesse of Iesus Christ So be it Another prayer concerning the supper What tongue O Lorde can expresse and what heart can comprehend thy wonderfull loue towardes vs for that to redeeme a wretched creature thou wouldst that thy sonne should suffer so many labours and sorrowes euen to bee sacrificed on the crosse And howsoeuer it be that thou doest not content thy selfe with all these things that are alreadie done but to the end that the remembrance of thy loue should not be blotted-out of our heartes or that our faith should flite or be shaken syth that thy sonne is ascended vp to thy right hande thou leauest not yet to nourish
wee may not doubt but that thou in the end wilt worke that which the world thinketh otherwise at this day to bee impossible and therefore doe mock thereat And that wee may constantlie continue in this trust that euerie one of vs doe bestow our labours of thee and studie to the end and that wee lose no courage to aduaunce the spirituall building vntill wee bee gathered together with the Angels when thy sonne shall appeare to bee wonderfull to his chosen placing vs with him in his euerlasting glorie I beleeue the forgiuenesse of sinnes THe Church then was neuer in this world so cleane but that it had and hath occasion to demaund of God Lord forgiue vs our sinnes For wee doe protest in this Article that wee doe beleeue by the word of God who doeth witnes it that our sinnes are freelie forgiuen vs for Iesus Christes sake Thus this Article The confession of our sinnes first representeth before our eyes our sinnes the which are such as there is no humane satisfaction that can absolue vs therein But we must humble our selues and bowing downe our head throw our selues at the feete of Iesus Christ as Dauid saith in the 32. Psalme I acknowledged my sinne vnto thee neither hid I mine iniquitie I thought I will confesse against my selfe my wickednesse vnto the Lord and thou forgauest the punishment of my sinne Therefore shall euerie one that is godlie make his prayer vnto thee And S. Iohn in the 1. Chap. of his first Epistle If wee say wee haue no sinne we deceaue ourselues and there is no trueth in vs. But if wee acknowledge our sinnes hee is faithfull and iust to forgiue vs our sinnes and to cleanse vs from all vnrighteousnesse If wee say wee haue not sinned wee make him a lyer and his word is not in vs. Now insomuch as it is against God that wee sinne as it is said in the 51. Psal It is also vnto him that wee doe confesse our sinnes wee must note that wee doe not buy neither doe we deserue the forgiuenesse of our sinnes but wee doe beleeue it that is to say wee doe hold it of the pure grace of God Simon the Magician was reproued in the 8. Chap. of the Actes who thought that the gift of God might bee bought for monie Let vs come then without siluer and haue recourse vnto the throne of grace where wee shall finde forgiuenesse not of one sinne but of all For there is nothing condemnable to the children of God And as all sinnes are deadlie vnto the reprobate euen so are all sinnes venial vnto the faithfull for Iesus Christes sake who is the aduocate for all our sinnes as S. Iohn saith in the 2. Chap. of his first Epistle And for this cause hath he established in the world the Ministerie of reconciliation to the end that in his name there might bee preached vnto vs the forgiuenesse of sinnes 2. Cor. 5.19 Chap. O horrible Idolatrie and Simonie of the Papistes that make trafique of pardons and cause that to bee sought for in the bowels of the Pope which the sonne of God hath purchased for vs by his pretious bloud For it is hee that hath declared vnto vs the true Iubile and yeare of redemption and grace bringing vnto vs good newes Esaiah 61.1 graunting to the captiues deliuerance and healing the heartes of the desolate This is hee of whome Ieremie speaketh in the 31. Chap. who ought to set his law in our heartes forgiuing vs our sinnes without hauing anie more remembrance thereof A confession out of the Psal 51.4 AGainst thee against thee onelie haue I sinned and done euill in thy sight that thou maist be knowen iust when thou speakest and pure when thou iudgest Behold I was borne in iniquitie and in sinne hath my mother conceaued me Thou shalt purge my sinnes with Hisop and I shall bee cleane Make me to vnderstand ioy and gladnes Create in mee a cleane heart and renue a right spirit within mee c. A prayer O Lord our God forsomuch as thou are not merciful but vnto those that feele their sinnes and acknowledge them beholding with thy merciful eye the sorrowfull and broken heartes I doe fall downe before thy face confessing and acknowledging that I haue offended thee not onlie in this that I am conceaued in sinne and a poore child of Adams but also through so manie vaine thoughtes distrustes so manie euill mouinges and desires that fight against thy word and holie will so that if all the men in the world would absolue mee I know that I haue to doe with thee because it is thou that triest the heartes it is also against thy lawe that wee poore creatures sinne Thou therefore art alwayes iust and I am vniust Thou art pure and vncleane and I am defiled frō my mothers wombe and my sinne maketh mee abominable But cleanse me Lord thou that art the God and none the like which onelie art God the sauiour farre passing aboue our sinnes and purging it with this sweete Hisop of the bloud of thy sonne Iesus Christ Now for somuch Lorde as the totall summe lyeth in the feeling as it is fit graunt mee grace to feele in good earnest not onelie my wretchednesse and to bee touched therein to the quick to humble my selfe before thee But also giue me feeling and true assurance of thy grace and of the forgiuenesse of my sinnes by thy holie spirit that my sorrowfull soule may reioyce in thee that this free and sonnelike spirit may driue away from me the seruile feare and horror of thy iudgementes and that thus being comforted I may declare thy blessinges and prayse thy mercies for euer A thankesgiuing for the remission of sinnes Out of the 103. Psalme My soule praise thou the Lord and forget not all his benefites which forgiueth all thine iniquities and healeth all thine infirmities which redeemeth thy life from the graue and crowneth thee with mercie and compassions Which satisfieth thy mouth with good thinges And thy youth is renued like the Eagles MEDITATION THe Prophet reciteth here sixe great blessinges of God for the which all Christians are truelie bound to praise thsi good God with all their heartes The first benefit is that all our sinnes are forgiuen vs through his diuine clemencie That commeth to passe because that Christ charging vppon him our miseries by the oblation of his verie pretious selfe hath reconciled vs and is our true mediator and sacrificer The second benefit is that the infirmities which remaine in vs namelie since this reconciliation be it of bodie or of spirit are healed because that our sinnes are not imputed vnto vs And that in our infirmities God sheweth his strength and power in sustaining vs. The third is hee redeemeth vs dailie from manie mischifes dangers of death For this nature is so fraile as wee should fall euerie moment into the graue if God did not hold vs vp The fourth is that hee doeth couer vs with
bee founde a watching faithfull seruaunt And as the prince of this worlde comming towardes thy sonne Iesus Iohn 14. founde nothing what to bite vpon him so also the same enemie may not haue any thing against me seeing that I doe belong to thy sonne Iesus By faith O Lorde haue our fathers ouercome kingdomes and closed the mouthes of the Lyons Therefore O Lorde graunt me grace that I may also ouercome by faith all tentations vntill that this faith being ended I may enter into thy euerlasting â—est A prayer against the sorrowes of Death O Lorde GOD my father who weart willing that thy sonne Iesus should yeelde vppe his spirite to saue me graunt mee grace that I may beare in my heart the remembrance of his bitter sorrowes and passion and that I may forthwith remember the sweete tender affection that thou bearest vnto vs poore sinners sauing them with so pretious a price that of one part I may with a true sorrowe die vnto sinne and forsake all mine iniquities and of the other part the remembrance of thy grace may make my soule liue let thy mercie O good God be vnto me a lampe and light to lighten me in the darkenesse of death vntill that I come vnto thee O Lorde if thou weart vnto me so good a father in life be also the same vnto me in death Leaue me not then when as my strengthes shall faile me And euen then namely when my mouth shal be no more able to speake leaue not off Lord to heare my desires vnto the last breath of my life Comfort againe thy weake creature and receiue my soule into thy glorie who yeeldeth vp to thee Thou O Lorde hast saued mee into thy handes I recommende my spirit Grant me the last words of thy sonne Iesus in his voice vppon his crosse that they may be my last wordes in this life Behold the earthly abode of this bodie which dissolueth it to yeelde my selfe ioiful of this tabernacle most blessed which is not made with mans hands This great prophet Elias when hee was taken vp into heauen let fall his cloke so willingly would I also leaue this garment both earthly and corruptible to bee clothed with immortalitie Heeretofore I was a wayfarer nowe am I come into my true countrey Euen vntill this time was I in fight now go I to triumph with our head Iesus Christ I begin to see alreadie this hauen which I haue so long desired hulling amongst the tempests of the world To be short I ioyfullie passe out of darknesse into light from daungers of this world to a place of assurance out of a lamentable case into a blessed state from battaile to victorie from an earthlie to an euerlasting life Here am I blind and there shall I receiue light In this place was I hacked with manie woundes and there shall I receaue healing O wretched life O fraile and life vncertaine in this world howe deceitfull and yrksome art thou The more thou thinkest or beleeuest the more thou distrustest and misbeleeuest The more one goeth in this world the more is hee charged with faintnesse and miseries Blessed is hee which knoweth the vanitie of this world yet more blessed that dooth not set his affection therein and most blessed which is withdrawen from thence to bee with thee Oh my God and my sauiour A prayer vppon the same Argument Alas when shall I come before the face of my God and when shall I haue my abiding in his house How long shall I bee in this exile whereunto for sinne we were banished But how shall a sinner stand before this great God How shall this poore flesh get vp into euerlasting paradise But praised bee my God who hath giuen vnto vs so good an assurance in his holie word Blessed bee GOD which hath ordained for vs this good ladder by the which wee ascend vp into heauen to wit Iesus Christ so that which was vnto vs impossible is possible to the beleeuer Therefore looke not O Lord into the manifold sinnes that are within me But rather remember that I am thy creature and the worke of thy handes I am vnworthie to bee called thy childe but it hath pleased thee to bee my father Thy will was that thy sonne Iesus should come downe here below to vs to make vs ascend vp to thee I feare not then death seeing I haue life with me Thy son hath destroyed death for all those which doe beleeue in him And albeit that this bodie be gnawen with wormes yet the soul goeth forthwith into rest the body awaiteth the resurrection I do desire therfore to die to beholde thy face and willinglie leaue this life to be with Christ Oh my God if the simple sound of thy worde which I heare on earth doth cause my soule to liue alreadie what life what countenance shall I haue there on high wheÌ„ as I shall receiue it in my heart seeing thy glorie being in so blessed a companie Open vnto me then O Lorde the gate of thy kingdome Make mee to heare this sweete voice which was prepared for the poore thiefe on the crosse To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Alas Lorde I am vnworthy thereof yet thy mercie giueth me assurance Grant me also O father streÌ„gth to perseuere giue me daily this desire of the life to come for if we be so much affectioned to this earthly life that is but for a day ful of miseries with what wish ought I to desire that glorious life which thy sonne Iesus hath purchased for vs Other short praiers for certaine necessities of the Churches To demand perseuerance Almightie God seeing we be knit together by the guide and counsell of thy sonne to this bodie of the Church which was so often scatered and dispersed graunt that we may abide in this vnitie of faith and that wee may constantly fight against all temptation of this worlde and that wee may not turne away from a true and right intent though it come to passe that troubles vppon troubles doe happen offences vpon offences seeing our faith is not builded vpon the holinesse of man or vpon their persons but vppon thee O true and almightie God And whatsoeuer euilles or deathes that shal be offered vnto vs we may not be possessed with such feare as may plucke away our hope out of our heartes but that we may rather learne to lift vp our eies yea our vnderstanding all our wittes vnto this thy power by the which thou quicknest the dead raisest vp that which was of nothing that our spirites may alwaies aspire vnto euerlasting rest albeit it behooued vs daily to die vntill at the last thou shalt shewe how thou art the true fountaine of life granting vnto vs the immortalitie through thy sonne Iesus Christ A prayer to haue stedfastnesse and constancie EVerlasting and almightie God al good and mercifull seeing we be heere subiect to so great aduersities and of so many sortes