therfor am worthi to fele thee a iudge w t refuse to fele thee a sauior Now y ◠cause of al these things is vnbeliefe the which though it be naturall by reason of the corruption of our nature pet I haue augmented the same maliciously in not laborīg there against and continuing in al synnes and wickednesse by reason whereof I deserue most iustelye thy anger therevpon euen reiection frō thy face for euer Longe hast thou mourned euen w t displeasure anger the incredulity of my heart calling me there from and offering me thy grace which I haue neglected and reiected and therfore am neuer worthi to haue it any more offered vnto me muche more then I am vnworthy to haue grace gyuen me to receiue thy mercy Alas what shall I doe shall I dispraier or as long as I can kepe me vnmindfull of my mysery o sauiour Christ Iesu wilt not thou be mercifull vnto me thou diddest die for me when I deserued it not and nowe is thy mercye shortned wilt not thou geue me thy grace and take frō my hart this horrible vnbeliefe Shall I neuer loue the shall I neuer hath sinne shall I neuer as w t my mouth I say I beleue in Iesus Christ so in hart say the same shall Sathan possesst me for euer o christe Iesus whiche hast led captiuitie captiue what wilt not thou helpe me thoughe I desyre it not as I shuld yet giue me to desyre whan thou wilt Thou diddest appeare to destroye the worke of the deuil thou seest his worke in me good christ destroy his worke but not thy worke saue me for thy great mercies sake Geue me to beleue in thee in thy death resurrection ascension pardone me my sinnes and mortifye now in me my corrupt affections reyse me vp and iustify me regenerat me daily more and more geue me faith of immortalitie resurrectiō of this body geue me faith to ascend into heauen and to be certaine that thou hast already taken possessiō for me there Geue me to loke for thy comming and to be ready in thy cōming to find mercy to euerlasting life c. I beleue in the holy ghost c. O Holy spirite the third person in trinity whiche diddest descend vpon Christ our sauiour in hys baptisme in the likenes of a doue thy children know that with the father and the sonne thou madest and rulest all creatures visible and inuisyble they know thee in their redemption to be no lesse willing louinge then the father and the sonne for y ◠diddest alwaies declare Christ to be the sonne of god gauest testimony in wardly in the harts of thy elect to beleue and embrace the same outwardely by miracles and wonders they know thee to be the comforter and gouernour whom Christe dyd promise in his corporal absēce shuld teach rule kepe comforte and gouerne his church and people Againe as in the former parte of their beleife they cōsider the works of creatyon and redemption so in thys parte they consyder the place where the same is moste effectuall taketh place euen thy holy churche which is catholick that is extēding it selfe to all times to all places to all kinds of people For in this church only they know that as all things were made so the worke of redemption was taken in hand that y ◠blessed trinitye mightest in this church be praysed magnified serued worshipped for euer This church is nothinge ells but a communion and societie of saintes that is not onelye a societye of all such as be haue been or shal be thy people but also a societye or partaking of Christe Iesus whiche is the head of the same yea by him of thee oh blessed father which art y ◠head of Christ and of thee oh holy ghost whiche nowe shadowest and sittest vpon the same to hatch and cherishe it as the hen her chekins by the extending of thy winges not onely to defende them frō their enemies but also to couer their sinnes and to remitte them in this life beginning also here the resurrection of the fleshe and euerlasting life the which thou wilt in the ende of the world consūmate so that they shall not nede to be couered for sinne for then shall they be pure and haue gtoriouse bodies immortall and spirituall the which shal haue the fruition of eternal ieye life euerlasting and glory suche as the eye hathe not sene the eare hath heard nor the hart of man can conceiue For then christ Iesus shall geue vp his kingedome to god the father that god may be al in all concerning the gouernaunce of it by the ministration of his word and other meanes wherby now he gouerneth it that it maye be his fathers kingdome we beig become like vnto him that is as to the manhod of Christ the godhead is vnited and is al in al without any other meanes euen so god shalbe in vs assuminge then not only in the person of christ the humaine nature but also al the humaine nature of his church which be members of Christ the wicked reprobate being separate then from this cōmunion cast into eternall perditiō with Sathan antichrist there to be in tormentes and horrour for euer By reason of this their faith they are thankfull to the o holye spirite whiche hast taught them this gyuen them to beleue it By reason of this faith they singularly praye loue helpe thy church here militāt labour to be holy 〈◊〉 By reason of this faith they cōfesse them selues sinners they desire and beleue pardone of their sinnes they are rysen and ryse daily concerning the inwards man and doe feele the life eternall begone in them more more laboringe praying wishings and desyringe for the same whollye and perfectly Where as oh lorde god and most graciouse holy spirit thou knowest that it is otherwise w t me I doe but bable w t my lippes in saying I beleue in the holy ghost for I am vnthankful for calling me into thy church I doe not liue holely I confesse not I lament not my sinnes I pray not for remission of them I stand in doubte thereof as I fele not my selfe rysen from a sinnefull life as I should be or as I fele not life begone in me as it is in thy deare children so doe I doubt herof whether I haue pardon of my sinnes whether I am regenerate whether I fele truly euerlasting life the which thinge doth most displease thee and yet w t my tonge I saye I beleue in the holye ghost Oh I besech thee good holy spirit for thy loue sake which moued the to agree and be willinge to patifye and open thy goodnes not only in the worke of creation for thou dyddest lye vpon the waters and as the benne her chickins dyddest as it were hatche the worke of creatiō but also in the worke of redemption and therefore diddest descend and abide not onely vpon Christ in his baptisme but
it are contained al the vertues aforenamed I. Breadford A meditation of the lordes praier Our father THou good lord which madest heauen earth the sea and all that is therin together with thy dearelye beloued sonne Iesus Chrysts and with thy holy spirite Thou the same god which openedst thy selfe to Adam by thy promise Thou the God of Abraham Isaac and Iacob Thou which broughtest thy people of Israell forth of Egipt w t a mightie hand and a stretched out power Thou which gauest thy lawe vpon mounte Sinai Thou which spakest by thy prophets last of all in these latter dayes by thy dearlye beloued sonne Iesus Christ whom y e woldest should be made a second Adam that as by y e first we are childrē of wrath carnall and full of concupiscence so by him we might be made children of grace and spiritual by communicating with him y e qualitie merites vertues and grace of hys fleshe throughe the operation of the holye spirite as he communicated with vs the substaunce of oure fleshe in the wombe of y e virgin Marie by the operation of the same holy spirit being that blessed sede which was promised to Adam Abraham Isaac Iacob Dauid which should brouse the Serpents heade which should bring the blessing on all nations whiche shuld raigne ouer thi house for euer and mightilye ouercome thine and our enemies as in dede he did by his incarnation natiuitie circumcisiō erile baptisme fastinge tentation doctrine dedes mracles workings agonies bloudy praier passiō death resurrection and ascension and yet he stil doth by his mediation and intercession for vs and at the length he will on al partes fully accōplishe by hys commynge to Iudgemente which wilbe sodenly in y e twinkring of an eye in the blast of a trompete and shoute of an Archangell when he shalbe sene wyth thousandes of Saintes innumerable thousandes of Angels all the whole worlde being on fire and all people that euer were are or shalbe then standing before his tribunall or iudgement seat to render an accompte of that they haue done in thys bodye be it good or bad Thou I say this god whiche art holye rightuouse trewe wyse pure chast mightie merciful good graciouse a hater of sinne an auenger of vnrightuousnes c woldeste that I which am borne in sinne and conceyued in iniquitie which by nature am a childe of wrathe for my hart is so vnsearcheably euell that out of it springeth corrupt concupissence so that the inclination thereof is prone to euell alwaies euen frō my youth vp as is my vnderstāding and mynde so darkened that I cannot perceyue those thinges that be of god of my selfe and all the wysedome whiche I receyue from Adam naturallye or other wyse attayne by labour or studye before regeneration I cānot thinke a good thought muche lesse wyshe it or consent vnto it and least of all doe it thou I saye yet wouldest that I being such a one in whom dwelleth continuall emnitie against thee that I whiche am nothinge but sinne and one that doeth euel alwaies before thee shuld call thee and beleue thee this god father of our lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christ to be in very dede my father that is thou wouldest I should be moste assured that thou of thyne owne good will whiche thou barest to me wardes before I was yea before the worlde was hast in Christe chosen me to be thy child through him art become my most louinge father from whō I should loke for all good thinges be most certainelye perswaded that loke howe muche thou art more then mā so much thy loue and fatherlye prouidence towards me passeth the loue prouidence of anye father towardes hys childe in louing me caring how to help me prouiding for me nourtering me helping me in al my nedes So certaine y e woldest haue me to be of this y t to doubt of it doth most displease thee dishonor thee as either y u were not true or not able to doe these thynges or els becamest not my father in respecte of thine owne goodnes ī christ only but also in respect of my worthynes and deserts And y t I should not wauer or doubte of thys that thou arte my deare father I thy childe for euer through Iesus Christe it is required in the first commaundement which sayth I am y e lord thy god thou shalt haue none other goddes but me agayne thy sonne doth here commaunde me to call thee by the name of father moreouer in the firste article of my belefe I professe the same in saying I beleue in god the father almighty besydes this their are manye other things to confirme me herin as the creation and gouernemente of the world generally and of euery creature particularly for al is made and kept for man and so for me to serue me for my commoditye necessitye admonition Againe the creation of me in that thou hast made me after thy Image hauīg a reasōable soule body shape c. where thou mightest haue made mea tode a Serpent a swine deformed frātike c. moreouer thy wōderful cōseruacion norishing and keping of me hitherto in my infancie childhode youth c. Al these I say should cōfirme my faith of thy fatherlie loue But of all things the opening of thy selfe by thy worde promise of grace made after mans fall first to Adam then to Abraham Isaac Iacob and so to other beyng published by the prophetes frō time to time and last of all accomplished by thy deare sonne Iesus Christ in whom thy promises are yea Amē The opening of thy self thus I say in and by Christ is the most chiefe sure certificat that thou arte my father for his sake I thy deare child although of my selfe I am most vnworthie For thou accordinge to thy promises hast not spared thy deare sonne Iesus Christ but giuen hym to y e death of y e crosse for my sinnes Thou woldest he shuld be made flesh of our fleshe and bloude of our bloud in the wombe of the virgine Marie by the operation of the holy Spirite that we by the working of the same spirite throughe the merites of hys fleshe bloud might be made fleshe of his fleshe and bloud of his bloud that is as he hath the substaunce of our fleshe bloud euen so we might haue and foreuer enioye in him and through him the qualities vertues and gifts of rightuousnes holines innocencie immortalitie and glory wherewith he hath endued our nature in his owne person for vs all that as now in faith hope we haue y e same so in his cōming we might fully enioye them in very dede for then shall oure bodies nowe vile be like to his glorious body Herein apereth thy loue not y t we loued thee but that y e louest vs hast giuen thy
how that thou art almightie present in all places and of most puritie to coÌ„firme therby my faith to be prouoked y e more to feare thee to reuerence thee c but also I am admonished to iudge of thy fatherly loue by heauenly benefites and not by corporall simply and alonely for often times the wicked prosper more in the worlde and haue more worldly benefites then thy children So that by this I see thou woldest pul vp my minde from earth and earthly things to heauen and heauenly thinges and that I should see further by corporall benefites thy heauenly prouidence for me For if y u place me thus on earth and thus blesse me as thou doest hitherto hast done from my youthe vp in that thou art nothing so careful for my body as for my soule how shuld I but thinke much of thy prouidence for it in thy home where is such glory as y t eie hath not sene c. of which thinges these corporall benefites of thine giuen me on earth should be as it were inductions and the taking of them away admonitions to be more mindefull of permanent thinges and lesse mindefull of transitorie thinges By reasoÌ„ hereof I haue great cause to lament and to reioyce To lameÌ„t because I am so earthly minded so litle desirous of my home so vnthaÌ„kfull for thy prouidence and fatherly correction here on earth To reioyce because of my home and the greate glory thereof because thou doest so prouide for me here because thou doest so correct and chasteÌ„ me c. but alas I am altogether a wretch earthlie vnthankful not onely for these corporall benefites health ryches frendes fame wisedome c for thy fatherly correction sicknes temptacion c but also for thy heauenly benefites for Christ Iesus for the promise of thy spirit for thy gospell c. Yea euen for heauen it selfe and thy whole glorye as the Israelits were for the land of Canaan therefore neuer enioyed it but perished in the wildernes I am proude in prosperitie and forget thee waxing secure careles c I am impacient in the crosse and to much consider worldly discommoditie Oh deare father forgiue me for thy Christes sake all mine vnthankfulnes loue of thys world contempt and obliuion of thy heauenly benefites and graunte me thi holy spirit to illuminate the eies of my minde with the light and liuely knowledge of thy presence power wisdom goodnes in thi creatures but specially in christ iesus thy soÌ„ne so by the same spirit enflame mine affections that I may desire nothing in earth but thee and to be present with thee that my conuersacioÌ„ may be in heauen coÌ„tinually FroÌ„ whence graunt me stil to loke for the lord Iesê° to make this my vile body like vnto his owne glorious and immortal bodye according to his owne power by whiche he is able to doe all things As y u hast giueÌ„ me to be thy childe so I praye the giue me these things which be y e properties of thy childreÌ„ giuen froÌ„ y â— in thy good time Halowed be thy name THy name is that wherby thou art knowen for names serue to discerne and knowe one thinge from an other Nowe thoughe thou art knowen by thy creatures yet in this our corrupt estate thei serue but to make vs excuseles Therfore properly most liuely and coÌ„fortably y u art knowen by thy holy worde and specially by thy promise of grace and freely pardoning and receiuinge vs into thy fauour for christ Iesê° sake For the which goodnes in Christ y u art praised magnified accordinge to thy name that is so much as meÌ„ know thee in Christ they magnifye thee praise thee which here thou callest halowing or sanctifieng not that thou arte the more holye in respect of thy self but in respect of meÌ„ who the more they knowe thee the more they cannot but sanctify thee that is they cannot but as â—n them selues by true faith loue feare and spiritual seruice honour thee so also in their outwarde behauour and wordes they cannot but liue in such sorte as other seing them maye in and by their holines godly conuersatioÌ„ be occasioned as to know thee so to sanctify thy name accordingly And therfore thou settest forth here vnto me what is the chiefe and principall wyshe and desyre of thy children and people namelye that thou in Christe mightest be truelye knowen and honored bothe of them selues and of others inwardlye and outwardly By reasoÌ„ wherof easely a man may perceiue by the coÌ„trary y â— the greatest sorow greife thy people haue is ignoraunce of thee false seruice or religion and wicked conuersation Against the whiche they pray and labour diligeÌ„tly after their vocations as they for the obtaining of the others both to others and to them selues doe take no smal payne in praier studie and godly exercise By reason hereof I se that I am far from this desyre and lamentation which is in thy children I see myne ignoraunce of the true knowledge of thee and thy name for ells it had not neded thee so by thy worde to haue reueled thy self I see also mine ignoraunce of the excellencie of the same For els woldst y â— not haue told me that the sanctifinge of thy name is the chiefest thing y u requirest of euery maÌ„ Again I se my great want of holines for els thou nedest not to teach me to seke pray for y â— I want not Moreouer I se my great peruersitie whiche woulde not seke at thy hands for sanctification although I se my nede therof For els y u woldest not haue coÌ„maunded me to pray for it if I seinge my want wolde haue praied vnto the therfore Last of al I see thy wonderfull goodnes whiche wilt vndoubtedly giue vnto me sanctification holynes for y u woldest not that I shuld aske for that thing that y u wilte not giue me So that I haue great cause to lament and reioyse To lament because I am so farre from this desire and lamentacion which thy chyldren haue also because of my ignoraunce pouertie peruersitie vnthankefulnes c. but most of all because thy holye name worde and religioÌ„ is so blasphemed both in doctrine and in liuing of many especially in thys Realme To reioyse I haue greate cause for thy exceding goodnes and merry which woldeste so disclose thy selfe by thy workes word gospel which woldest opeÌ„ these things thus vnto me and also giue vnto me others sanctification in thy sight by saithe in the sight of men by purenes of life godly conuersation But alas I doe hartely neither the one nor y â— other that is lameâ— or reioyce as y u father which serchest my hart doest righte well know Oh be merciful vnto me and forgiue me yea giue me of thin owne pitie thy holy spirit to reuele opeÌ„ to my mind
benefits giuen me in commaundinge men to care for me to praie for me to helpe me c. But alas how farre I am from true lamentacion and reioysing lorde thou knowest Oh be mercifull vnto me and help me forgeue me and graunte me thy holie spirit to reueale to me my nede ignoraunce great ingratitude contempt of thy mercies thy people and that in such sorte that I might hartely lament and bewaile my miserie and throughe thy goodnes be altered with thy people to mourne for the miseries of thy children as for mine owne Againe reueale to me thy goodnes dere father eueÌ„ in corporall things that I maye see thy mercy thy presence power wisedome and righteousnes in euery creature and corporall benefites and that in such sort that I maye be throughly affected truly to reuerence feare loue obey thee hange vpon thee to be thankfull to thee in all my nede to come vnto the not only when I haue ordinarie meanes by the which thou coÌ„monly workest but also when I haue none yea when al meanes and helpes are cleane against me Here remeÌ„ber the state of your children and familie also your parents neighbours kinse folkes also your frendes contrey and magistrates c as you shall haue tyme thereto and by goddes good Spirite shalbe prouoked ¶ Forgeue vs oure debtes as we forgeue them that are debtours vnto vs. BY oure Debtes are vnderstande not onely things we haue done â—ut the omissioÌ„ and leauing vndone of the good things we ought to doe By oure is not onely vnderstande the particular sinnes of one but also generally the sinnes of al and euery one of thy church By forgyuenes is vnderstande free pardon and remission of synnes by the merites and desertes of thy dere sonne Iesus Christe who gaue him self a raunsome for vs. By oure forgeuing of other mens offences to vs warde is vnderstand thy good wyll not onelye that it pleaseth thee that we shoulde liue in lone and amytye but also that thou wouldeste haue vs to be certayne of thy pardonynge vs of our synnes For as certayne as we are that we pardone them that offende vs so certayne shoulde we be that thou doeste pardone vs whereof the forgeuing our trespassers is as it were a sacrament vnto vs. So that by this petitioÌ„ I am taught to se that thy children althoughe by imputation they be pure from sinne yet they acknowledge sinne to be remaine in them and therefore doe they pray for the remissioÌ„ forgeuenes of the same Againe I am taught hereby to see how thy children doe consider take to hart not only the euells they doe but also the good thy leaue vndone And therfore they praye thee hartely for pardon Moreouer I am here taught to see that thy children are carefull for other meÌ„ and for their trespases and therefore praye that they mighte be pardoned in saing oure sinnes and not my synnes Besides this I am taught here to see how thy children not onely forgeue all that offende them but also pray for the pardoning of the offences of their enemies and such as offende them So farre are they from malicousnes pride reuengemeÌ„t c. Last of all I am taught to see howe mercifull thou art which wilt haue me to aske pardon wherof thou woldest that we shuld iÌ„ no point doubt but be most assured that for Christs sake thou herest vs and that not only for our selues but also for manie others for y â— doest not commaunde vs to aske for anye thinge thou wilt not geue vs. By reason whereof I haue greate cause to lament and reioyse To lameÌ„t because of my miserable estate which am so farre from these affections that are in thy children which am so ignoraunt careles of sinne not onely in leauing good vndone but also in doing euel and that dailie in thought worde and dede c. I speake not of my carelesnes for other folkes sinnes as of my pareÌ„ts children familie magestrats c neither of the sinnes of them to whom I haue geuen occasion to sinne To reioyse I haue great cause because of thy mercy in opening to me these things in coÌ„maundinge me to praye for pardon in promisinge me pardon and in coÌ„maundinge others to pray for me I ought surely to be perswaded of thy mercy though my sinnes be innumerable For I se not onely in this but in euerye petition howe that euery one of thy churche praieth for me yea christ thy sonne who sitteth on thy right haÌ„d praieth for me c. Oh deare father be mercifull vnto me and forgyue me al my sinnes and of thy goodnes geue me thy holy spirit to opeÌ„ mine eies that I may se sinne y â— better to know it y â— more truly to hate it most earnestly to striue agaist it that effectually both in my selfe and others Again graunt me the same thy holy spirit to reuele vnto me the remedie of sinne by christ only to worke in me faith to embrace the same thy Christ and mercies in him that I may henseforth be endued with thy holy spirite more more to beginne and obey thy good wil continually to encrease in the same for euer Here call to mind the special sinnes you haue committed heretofore Remember if you haue occasioned any to sinne to praye for them by name remeÌ„ber that gods lawe shuld be so dere vnto vs y â— the breaking thereof in others shoulde be an occasion to make vs to lament with teares c. Leade vs not into tentacion BEcause of our continuall great infirmities because of the greate diligence subtilties of our enemies and because y â— art wont to punishe sinne w t sinne which of all punishmeÌ„tes is y â— greatest most to be feared In this peticion y â— wouldest haue thy children to haue y â— same in remeÌ„beraunce for a remedy hereof y â— hast appointed praier So that y â— only cause why anie are ouercome led into tentation is for y â— they forget what they desire in y â— peticion going before this which shuld be neuer out of their memorie to prouoke theÌ„ to be more thaÌ„kful to thee more vigilant heedie herafter for falling into like perills For which to be auoided y â— doest most graciously set forth a remedy in coÌ„mauÌ„dinge vs to pray after pardon for oure sinnes past for thy grace to guide vs so that we be not ledde into tentacion but might be delyuered from euyll And because thou wouldeste haue all thy childreÌ„ to hange wholye vpon thee to feare thee onely and only to loue thee thou doest not teache them to praye suffer vs not to be ledde but leade vs not into tentation that I say they might onely feare thee certainly know that Sathan hathe no power ouer so much as a pigge but what soeuer thou geueste vnto him and of thy secret but most iuste iudgement doest appoint
I shoulde so consider them especially in praier that I shuld not doubt but that thou workest rulest gouernest all things euery where in all persons and creatures moste wysely iustelye and mercifully Thirdely that in praier all my peticions shuld tend to the setting forth of thy power of thy kingdome and of thy glorye Laste of all that in prayer I shoulde in no wyse doubte of beinge heard but be assured that thou which hast commaunded me to pray and hast promised to here me doest moste graciousely for thy mercyes sake and truthes sake heare my peticions according to thy good wil throughe Iesus Christe thy deare sonne our lord and onely sauiour By reason whereof I haue greate cause to lament and reioyce To lament because I consider not these thinges in praier in suche sorte as should moue me to admiracion and gratitude because I consider not thy power and wisedome generally in all things because I am so careles for thy kingdome and because I am so full of dubitacion and doubtinge of thy goodnes To reioyce I haue greate cause because thou reuelest these thinges vnto me on this sorte because of thy power kingdome and glory which maketh to the hearing of my praiers and helping of me be cause thou wilt vse me as thine instrument to set forth thy kingdome power glory and because it pleaseth thee to here my praiers and assuredly wilt saue me for euer But alas how farre am I froÌ„ these lamentacions and reioycinges by reason wherof I deserue damnacioÌ„ Oh be mercifull vnto me â–ª forgeue me and of thy 〈◊〉 graunte me thy holy spirit 〈◊〉 reueale to me my blindnes obliuion and contempt of thy kingdome power and glory w t the greatnes of my doubtings that I maye hartely as lament them so haue them pardoned and taken froÌ„ me throughe the merites of Iesus Christ thy sonne Againe geue me thy holy spirit to reueile to me in such sort thy kyngdome power glorye and eternitie that I maye alwaies haue the same before myne eies be moued wyth thadmiration therof labour effectually to set forth y â— same and finallye as to haue the sruicâ—on thereof after this life so encrease â—an assured certain and liuely expectacion of the same that I maye alwaies in all thynges reioyce in thee thorowe Christe and geue lauds thankes praises perpetually vnto thy moste holy name oh blessed father sonne and holye ghost thre persons one god to whom be all honour glory world without ende Here thinke that if the kingdome power glory and eternitie be gods which is our father what our dignitie is whiche be his chyldren yf the power be our fathers of whoÌ„ shuld we be affraies yf the deuell be subiect to the lords power kingdome as he is howe can the subiect haue power ouer vs which be sonnes and heires in that he hath not power ouer porketts w toute the prouidence and permission of god Therfore ful well shuld we pray lead vs not into temptation rather then let vs not be led into tentation For power is the lords and the deuell hath none but that he hathe of gods gifte No he were not of capacitie to receaue power yf god did not make hym of capacitie althoughe the execution of it is rather of gods permission ¶ Geue all thankes praise and glorye to god oure father throughe Christ oure lord and sauiour So be it A meditation vpon the twelue articles of the Christian faith I beleue in god the father c. THy people oh lord god the father of our sauiour Iesus Christe doe here in saieng this article I beleue in god the father almighty c by faith knowe that thou togither with Iesus Christ and the holy ghost diddest create all thinges that be in heauen and in earth for by heauen and earth are vnderstand all thinges therein And as they knowe thys so they by the same faith doe see thee the same god the father the sonne and the holy ghoste to gouerne all thinges after thy great wisedome power rightuousnes and mercy vsing euery creature they see as meanes to put theÌ„ in remembrance of fearing reueren cing trusting louing the for in euery creature they beholde thy presence power wisedome and mercy Againe by this worde Father they declare their beleife how that they are not onely thy creatures and all that euer they haue to be thy graciouse gyftes and blessinges but also how that they are thy childreÌ„ derely beloued cared for of thee through Iesus christ Where throughe notwithstanding theyr vnworthines as they conceyue a sure hope of thy goodnes and fatherly loue towards them in soule and bodye for euer so are they thankfull for their creation for that thou hast made theÌ„ thy excellet creatures lords of al. They are thankfull for the creation of all creatures vse the same w t thankefulnes as visible tokens of thy inuisible loue they are thankefull for thy conseruing and keping them for the gouerning them and all this world lamenting that they are nomore thankfull that they beleue no deper that reason hath so greate a swing with them in these matters But I moste gracious good lorde and father thoughe I say I beleue in thee my father almyghtye maker of heauen and earthe yet thou knoweste that I am full of muche doubtinge not onelye of this whether thou art my good almighty and moste louinge deare father in christ because I fele in my selfe suche a conscience of vnworthines so great want of those thinges which thou requirest of thy children and so transfer the cause of my being thy childe in part to myself where it is due onely and wholy alwaies to thy mercye and grace in Christe but also thou knowest my doubting of my creation and gouernaunce and of the creation and gouernaunce of al this world as I declare by my vnthankfulnes for my creation for mine adoption for my gubernation for thy prouidence for me or ells deare father I could not but hartely with thy childreÌ„ reioyce and praise thy holye name and that continually being hence forth carefull for nothinge but howe to please thee profit thy people that they might praise thy name in all things for ouermore desiringe the sanctification of thy name the comming of thy kingdome the doing of thy will vpon earth as it is in heauen Thou mightest haue made me a dogge but of thy goodnes hast made me a creature after thine Image y â— mightest haue made me a Turcke a Iewe a Sarracen but thou hast made me a christiaÌ„ a member of thy Churche thou after my birth mightest haue lefte me and in all nede haue made no prouidence for me as we sometimes see hath hapned vnto others but yet thou neuer diddest so with me and yet I am of all others most vnthankfull Thy creatures I thankefully vse not thy inuisible loue by thy manifolde visible tokens I consider not as nowe I shoulde by this apparell of
also on the apostles church in fyerye tonges visibly the fyfte daye after Christes resurrection as now thou doest inuisybly generally and particularly sitte vpon thy Church and children beinge the consolator the coÌ„forter the teacher and leader the guider and gouernour of vs all For this thy loues sake I saye I besech thee to be mercifull vnto me and forgeue me my doubting vnbeliefe ingratitude and horrible monstrous vncleanes and synne and vtterly take them from me Bring me vnto thy church which thou guidest that is guide me make me holy and by faith couple me to christ by charitie to thy people that is geue me the communion of saints w t thy saincts ouer shadowe my synnes reyse me vp to rightuousnes beginne in me euerlasting life and nowe more and more to expert and loke for all these great mercies and at length to possesse eternal felicity w t thee o blessed trenitie the father the sonne and the holy ghost thre persons and one almightie eternal most iuste wise and good god to whom be all glory power and dominion now and for euer A meditation vpon the ten commaundementes ¶ I am the lord thy god which brought thee oute of the land of Egipt c. O Good lord and deare father here y â— woldest I should knowe that thou which broughtest thy people of Israell out of Egypt with a mightie hand and a stretched out power whiche gauest thy lawe vpon mounte Sinai in great thundering lighting fier which spakest by the prophetes and diddest sende thy dearelye beloued sonne Iesus Christ coequall and consubstantiall with thee in power maiestie glory to take vpon him our nature by the operatioÌ„ of the holy ghost in the wombe of y â— virgin Marie of whose substaunce he was made and borne man but pure without synne that we by byrth children of wrath by hym myghte be made thy chyldren children of grace communicatinge with him rightuousnes bolines immortality by the working of the spirit as he communicated wyth vs fleshe and bloude but not infected w t synne as is ours by the working of the same holy spirit which spirit after his bitter death resurrectioÌ„ and ascension into the heauens he sent plentifully and by a visible signe vnto his Apostles and Disciples by whom he published the gospell thorowe out the whole worlde and so continually hathe done from age to age doth and will doe vnto the end of the worlde by the mynysterie of preaching Thou woldest I say that we shoulde knowe and beleue that thou this Almightye lord and god which on this sorte hast reueled and opened thy selfe art the one alone very true and eternall almighty god which madest and rulest heaueÌ„ and earth and all things visyble and inuisyble together with this thy dearly beloued sonne Iesus Christ and with the holy spirit consubstantiall and coeternall with thee deare father Not onelye this but also thou woldest that I shuld knowe and beleue that by the same thy dearly beloued sonne thou hast broughte me from the tirannie and captiuitie of Sathan this sinfull world wherof the captiuity of Egipt vnder pharao was a figure and in his blonde shedde vpon the crosse y â— hast made a couenaunt with me whiche thou wilt neuer forget that thou art and wilt be my lord and my god that is thou wilt forgeue me my sinnes and be wholy mine with all thy power wisedome rightuousnes treweth glory mercy Wherfore although I might coÌ„firme my faith by the innumerable mercies hither to powred vpon me moste aboundantly as thy children of Israel might haue done and did confirme their faith by the manifolde benefites powred vpon them in the desert yet specially the seale of thy couenaunt I meane thy holy Sacrament of baptisme wherin thy holye name was not in vaine called vpoÌ„ me O deare father swet sonne and sauiour Iesus Christ and most graciouse good holy gost shuld most assuredly confirme and euen on all sides seale vp my faith of this thy couenaunt that y â— art my lorde and my god euen as Abraham and thy people of Israell did by the Sacrament of Circumcision which as the Apostell calleth the seale or signacle of rightuousnes so doest thou call it being but the signe of thy couenaunt in dede yet thy very couenaunt because as thy word is moste true and caÌ„not lye as thy couenauÌ„t is a couenaunt of peare vnfallible and euerlasting euen so the Sacrament and seale of the same is a most true testimonial and witnes therof In consideracion therfore of this that thou the almighty god of thine owne goodnes hast vouched safe not onelye to make me a creature after shine owne Image likenes which mightest haue made me a beaste to geue vnto me a reasonable soule endewed with memorie iudgemeÌ„t c which mightest haue made me an â—â—fote without witte or discretioÌ„ c to endue me with a body be wetifyed with right shape limmes health c which mightest haue made me a ceeple lame blind c gratiously to enrich me concerning fortune frends liuinge name c whiche mightest haue made me a slaue destitute of al frendes and helpes for this life but also hast vouchedsafe that I being a a miser borne in sinne conceiued in iniquitie to whom nothing is dewe more then to a Turcke Iewe or Saracen but eternall damnation should be called into the number of thy people enroledde in thy boke now in thy couenaunt so that thou w t all that euer thou hast arte mine for which causes sake hitherto thou hast kepte me cherished defended spared fatherly chastised me and now graciously doest kepe me and care for me geuing me to liue be moue in thee expecting also waiting how thou mightest shewe mercy vpon me In consideration I say of this most iustely and reasonably thou requirest that as thou arte my lord god so I should be thy seruaunt and one of thy people As thou haste giuen thy self wholy vnto me to be mine with all thy power wisedome c For he that geueth him self geueth all he hath so shuld I be wholy thine and geue ouer my self vnto thee to be guided w t thy wisedome defended with thy power holpeÌ„ releiued and comforted by thy mercy First therfore to beginne with al thou commauÌ„dest that I shuld haue none other gods in thy sight that is to say as I should haue thee for my lord god to loke for all good thiÌ„gs moste assuredly at thy handes and therfore I should put all my trust in thee be thankefull vnto thee loue thee feare thee obey thee and call vpon thy holy name in al my nedes so shuld I geue this faith loue feare obedience thankfulnes and inuocation or praier to none other no not in my hart but onely to thee or for thee where thou commaundest All this to doe oh lorde god and that w t most ioieful hart I haue great cause For what a thing is it that thou Iehouah woldest uouchesalfe
to make me as thou haste doâ—â— to geue thy soÌ„ne for me and to become my â—ode Oh what am I that thou woldest I shoulde put my trust in thee Thys y â— doest that I mighte neuer be confounded but might be most happie What am I that y â— woldest I should feare thee Where the onely cause whye y â— requirest this of me is not onelye because thou haste power to cast both bodye soule into hell fier because they that feare thee not shal perishe but also that y â— mightest geue me thy wisdome that it might goe well with me in the euell daye that thou mightest reueale thy soÌ„ne to me and thy mercye might be vpon me from generacion to generacion Oh what am I that thou woldest haue me to obey thee not onely that I neuer perishe with the disobedieÌ„t but that thou mightest geue me thy holy spirit and rewards innumerable Oh what am I that y â— woldest I should loue thee y â— which thinge thou doest to this ende that I might fully and wholy enioye and possesse thee according to the nature of loue and therfore doest thou require my whole hart that I mighte dwel in thee and thou in me What am I that thou woldest I shuld call vpon thee verely because thou wilt geue me whatsoeuer I shall aske of thee in the name of thy deare childe Iesus Christ and euen so woldest y â— haue me thankfull that y â— mightest poure out vpon me yet more plentifully al good things So that great cause haue I to put my trust in thee to loue feare and obey thee to call vpon thee to be thankful vnto thee not only in respect of the hurt which els will ensew but also in respect of the commoditie that herby cometh vnto me but most of all yea alonely for thy owne sake for thy goodnes wisedome becutie strength power trueth and great mercies But alas deare father what shal I saye As in times paste horribly I haue broken this thy lawe in trusting in thy creatures calling vpon them louing fearing and obeying many thinges besydes thee and rather then thee eueÌ„ so at this present I am a most miserable wreth blinded I am through vnbeliefe mine owne wickednes so y â— I se not firmely thys thy power wisedome goodnes c but wauer and doubt of it I loue litle or nothing I feare lesse I obey least of al thankefulnes and praier are vtterly quenched in me by reason wherof I am worthy of eternall damnatioÌ„ If after thy iustice thou shalt deale with me simplie I am oh lord damned and loste for euer for I am verye wicked But yet in asmuch as thou bast geueÌ„ thy soÌ„ne Iesus Christ to be a slaine propitiatorie sacrifice for the sinnes of the whole world so that he which be leueth in him shall not perish but be saued for so thou hast promised thy trueth nowe requireth to saue me No wbeit here thou maiest say vnto me that I doe not beleue and therfore notwithstandinge thy trueth promise in that I beleue it not thou maiest most iustly after thy Iustice dampne me Oh lorde god to this I cannot otherwise answer my vnbeleife is so great but because thy mercye is aboue al thy workes and thy goodnes and loue is that which all creatures most highly commend and magnifie as the thing wherof thou arte called god because y â— art righte good and lone it selfe because of this thy mercye gracious god yf thou wilte loke thereon and couple thy trueth therewith then good lord I shalbe saued and praise thy name for euer more ¶ Thou shalte not make to thy selfe any grauen c. AS the fyrste commaundemente teacheth me as well that thou arte my god as what god thou art and therfore of equitie I shuld haue noone other goddes but thee that is I shoulde alonely hange on thee truste in thee loue thee serue thee call vpon thee obey thee be thankefull to thee so because y â— didst reueyle thy selfe visiblie that thou mightest visibly be worshipped this commaundement is concerning thy worshippe that in no point I shuld folowe in worshipping thee the deuise or intent of any man saint Angell or spirit but shuld take al such as Idolatrie Image seruice be it neuer so glorioê° And why for soth because y â— woldest I shoulde worshippe thee as thou hast appointed by thy word For if seruice be acceptable it must nedes be according to the will of him to whom it is done and not of him which doeth it But in asmuch as of man none knoweth the will and pleasure but his spirit except he reueale by worde or signe the same much more of thee o lord none doeth knowe thy will but thy spirite and they to whom thou doest reueale the same And therfore abominable eueÌ„ in thy sight are al those things which with men are in most force and estimatioÌ„ because they are not after thy word So that the meaninge of this precepte is that as in the firste I shoulde haue none other gods but thee so I shoulde haue no worshippe of thee but such as thou appoitest Herby therfore I se great cause of thankefulnes for this commaundement in that thou woldest haue mine outward seruice and that after thy appointment lest I should busye my braine howe best to serue thee Good lord thou nedest not my seruice perfecte thou wast before I was therefore it is for mine owne commoditie that thou commauÌ„dest me yea euen for mine owne wealth Thou mightest haue letteÌ„ me haue stand al day idle but such is thi loue that thou woldest I should goe into thy vineyarde that w t thy seruants I mighte receiue the hier of blessednes And how great a benefite is it to deliuer me of so greate a burden wherwith I should haue bene combred if I should haue serued thee in any point after my witte and reasoÌ„ But halas I not considering what a promotion thy seruice is nor what an easye seruice it is and simple for one maye well know what to doe when he pleaseth thee namely wheÌ„ he serueth thee as thou hast appointed as I am and alwaies haue been vnthankefull so I am and alwaies haue been a greuous transgressor of this thy lawe For as in times past when I dyd not knowe thys commauÌ„dement I was an Image worshipper of stocks stones c yea bread and wine so nowe I am a worshipper of myn affectioÌ„s offering to theÌ„ y e seruice due vnto thee though not therby to worship thee as I thought when I kneled to stocks and stones bread wine c yet with no lesse transgression of thy lawe for the which I haue deserued and doe deserue euerlasting damnatioÌ„ Of thy goodnes and great mercy deare father I beseche thee forgeue me for Christs sake whom thou didst geue to be the fulfylling of the lawe to al them that should beleue Oh father I beleue helpe mine vnbeliefe As thou haste
transgressor of this lawe but also at this present doe so horriblye and hipocriticallye offende thee in takinge thy name in vaine that so many waies in praying and not praying in reading and not readinge in speakinge and not speaking not coÌ„fessig simply froÌ„ my hart thy doctrine trueth name but regardinge mine owne name farre aboue it Shall I file froÌ„ thee then vndoubtedly I am more gilty and more shall disobey this thy holy precept adding sinne to sinne where as y â— woldest I should call vpon thy holy name deare lord which hast geuen thy deare sonne Iesus Christ to be a mediatour for vs that thorowe him we might finde not onely grace for the pardone of our sinnes paste but also for the obtaining of thy holy spirit as well the better to vnder stande as also the better and more frankely to obey this thy holye precept for euer For his sake therfore dere god pardone my sinnes paste present wherof this law doth accuse me and graunt moste graciouse father that I may be endued with thy holy spirit to know and loue thy holy name word and trueth in Iesus Christ that I maie be zelouse wise and constaunt and that my tounge maye be sanctified henceforth guyded with thy holye spirite and grace to publishe confesse and teache after my vocation to others as occasion is offered thy trueth and gospel to call vpon thy name in al my nede to geue thankes vnto thee prayse thee magnifye thee and to sanctifie thy holy name as a vessel of thy mercy for euer and euer Remember that thou kepe holye the Saboth day c. AFter thou hast told me howe in the external seruice of thee graciouse lord thou wilte haue my tonge vsed so doest thou now teach me how thou wilt haue min eares all my whole body occupied namly in sanctificacion and holines that is in those thinges which thou pecularly hast appointed to be meanes immeditately to helpe to that ende As in hearing thy word preached vsing the ceremonies of thee appointed eueÌ„ as y â— hast commaunded For the which thinges to be exercised of thy people thou at the firste dyddest appoint a certaine daye namely the seuenth daye whiche therefore thou calledst thy Sabboth that thereby they with their childreÌ„ and family resting froÌ„ all exerior labour which hindreth the meditacioÌ„ of the mind might not onely be more able to goe on throughe with their trauell and labour for withoute some reste nothing can endure in respect whereof thou woldest the very beastes which in laboure were exercised shoulde haue the priuelege of this Saboth but also and muche rather that thy people might with their family and children be instructed and taught first by the miuistery of thy word in preaching and catecchising secondly by the vsyng of thy sacramentes appointed after thy commaundement and institution they might be assured of thy promises thirdly by praiyng they might be augmented in al godlines and last of all by their metting together exercisinge all these thy workes of sanctification they might increase in loue and charity one towards another as members of one body and fellowes of one inheretaunce and thus by meeting together praying and vsing thy sacramentes they might be instructed in thy lawe and of that Saboth wherinto thou thy selfe dyddest enter after thou hadst made the world ceasing from thy workes not of conseruation but of creatioÌ„ into the which as after this life and the workes of this time they should enter so now they beginne spiritually to enter in restinge from their owne workes whiche the olde man moueth thom vnto not that good lord thou woldest these workes appointed for the Saboth day should not be exersised at any other time but onely on the seuenth day but because y u dydst as wel ordaine theÌ„ for a pollicie to endure till the comming of Christ as also according to the reuelacion or thee in that time didst open thy self beginning then in figures and shadowes whose verifieÌ„s in thy tyme were to be opened therefore it pleased thee to appoint then the seuenth day which seuenth day although by reason of the policie being by thee be streied and by reason of Christ the veritie and body of all shadowes if be abrogate from vs yet standeth this commaundemeÌ„t in force aswell for the workes of santificacion that is for preaching thy word comming to heare it for praying vsynge thy sacramentes and coming together to that ende as also for those dayes which by commoÌ„ order and on good grounde are ordained and receyued howbeit with this libertie that necessitie of our faith and sanctificacioÌ„ and charitie may dispeÌ„se therwith occasion of wilfull and wittinge offence being aduoided c. So that hereby I perceyue thy will and pleasure to be that I shuld at al times as much as charite and necessitye wyll permytte geue ouer my self and cause all other ouer whoÌ„ I haue charge so to doe especially on the sondaies and other holye dayes being receyued and to that ende appointed to the resorting to the temple and places appointed to praier to here with meknes thy holy word and vse thy sacraments and ceremonies as thou hast commaunded and to exercise all thinges which might be to the confirmacion propogacion of thy holy religioÌ„ or make to the encrease of loue and charite as geuing to the pore reconciling such as be in variaunce visiting theficke eueÌ„ as it were beginning that â—abboth wherof Esay speaketh By reason whereof I haue greate cause to thanke thee most gracious father that thou woldst appoint me to be in this time wherin thou hast more plentifully reueiled thy selfe then thou dyddest not onelye before Christes comminge but also synce Christs assensioÌ„ Neuer synce England was England dyddest thou so manifestlye reueile thy trueth as y u hast done in these daies Great cause I haue to thanke thee that y u woldst institute the ministery of thy worde and sacramentes as meanes wherby thy holye spirite is effectuall to worke in oure hartes sanctification Great cause haue I to thanke thee that thou woldest kepe the bokes of the prophetes Apostells vntil this time Greate cause haue I to praise thee that thou woldst geue me such knowledge in them as y u hast done of thy greate mercye Greate cause haue I to thaÌ„ke thee for the good true ministers and preachers of thy worde which thou hast sent amongs vs and geneÌ„ me grace to here them Great cause haue I to thanke thee that in this religion thou hast geuen so longe quietnes and harboroughe to thy church Great cause haue I to thanke thee for that thou woldeste make me suche a man in whom thy holye spirite mighte worke Greate cause I haue to thanke thee whiche woldeste call me into thine eteruall Saboth and rest full of all ioye such as the eye hathe not sene the pare hath not harde Greate cause haue I to thanke thee that so manye dayes are
all the dayes of our life in suche holynes and righteousnes as is acceptable in thy sighte To thed therfore our deare father our creatour feader protectour gouernour and defendour and thy beloued sonne Iesus christ our only peace merciseate redemer iustister and aduacate and thy holy spirit our sanctificatoÌ„ our wisdome teacher instructer comforter be all dominion power and glory for euer and euer Amen A MEDITATION of the comming of Christ to Iudgement and of the rewarde bothe of the faythefull and vnfaithfull OH lorde Iesus Christ the soÌ„ne of the euerliuing god by whoÌ„ al thinges were made are ruled and gouerned as of thy loue for our redemption thou diddest not disdaine to be our mediatour and to take vppon thee oure nature in the wombe of a virgyn puerly and with out sinne by the operacion of the holy spirite that both thou mightest in thyne owne person wonderfullye beutifye and exalte oure nature and worke the same in vs also first abolishing the giltines of sinne by remissyon then synne it selfe by death and last of al death by reising vp againe these our bodies that they may be like vnto thine owne glorious immortall body according to the power wherwith thou art able to subiect all thinges vnto the As I say of thy loue for oure redemption thou becamest man and that moste poore and afflicted vpoÌ„ earth by the space of xxxiii yeares at the least in most humilitie and paidest the price of our raunsom by thy moste bytter death passion for the which I most hartely geue thankes to thee So of the same thy loue towards vs in thy good time thou wilte come againe in the cloudes of heauen with power and great glory with flaming fyer with thousandes of Sainctes with Angells of thy power w t a mightie crie shoute of an Archangell blast of a trompe suddenlye as the lightning which shineth from the east c when men thinke leaste euen as a thefe in y â— night wheÌ„ meÌ„ be a slepe y â— wilt so come I say thus suddenlye in the twinkling of an eye all men that euer haue bene be and shalbe with wemen children appearinge before thy tribunal IudgemeÌ„t seat to render an accompte of all things whiche they haue thought spoken 〈◊〉 done against thy lawe openlye and before all Angells saintes and deuilles and so to receiue the Iuste reward of thy vengeaunce if that they haue not repented and obeyed the gospell so to departe from thee to y â— deuil his angells al the wicked which euer haue bene be or shalbe into holâ—ster which is vnquenchable of paines intolerable easeles endles hopeles euen froÌ„ the face of thy glorious and mightie power but it they haue repented and beleued thy gospell if they be found watchynge with their lampes and oyle in their hands if they be founde ready appareled with the wedding garment of innocencie if they haue not hardened their hartes hourded vp their treasure of thy vengeauÌ„ce in y â— daye of wrathe to be reueyled but haue vsed y â— time of grace the acceptable time the tyme of saluatyon that is the tyme of this lyfe in the whyche thou stretchest oute thy hande and spreadest thyne armes callinge and cryinge vnto vs to come vnto thee which art meeke in harte and lowely for thou wilt ease all that labour and are heauy loden if they haue visyted the sycke prisoners comforted y â— coÌ„ferties fedde y â— hungry clothed y â— naked lodged y â— harbourles if they haue not loden theyr hartes w t glotteny and surfeting and carefulnes of this life yf they haue not digged hid their talent in the ground doing no good there with but haue bene faithfull to occupie thy gyftes to thy glory and heare washen their garments in thy bloude by hartie repentinge them Then shall thy Angells gather them together not as the wicked which shalbe collected as fagotts and cast into the fier but as y â— good wheat that is gathered into thy barne then shall they be caught vp to meete thee in the cloudes then shall their corruptible bodye put on incorruption then shall they be indued with immortalitie and glory then shall they be with thee and goe whether thou goest then shall they heare come blessed of my father possesse the kingdome prepared for you froÌ„ the beginning c then shal they be set on seates of maiesty iudgeing y â— whole world then shal they raign with theâ— for euer then shal god be al in al with them and to them then shal they enter enherete heauenly Ierusalem and the glorious reastful laÌ„d of CanaaÌ„ where is alwaies day and neuer night where is no maner of weping teares infirmity hunger cold sicknes enuy malice nor sinne but alwaies ioic w tout sorrow mirth without measure pleasure without paine heauenly harmonie most pleasant melodie saying singing holy holye holye lorde god of hoastes c Suma the â—le hath not sene the eare hath not heard neither hathe it entered into the hart of man that they shal then enherete most suerly enioye although here they be tormented prisoned burned sollicited of Sathan tempted of the fleshe and entangled with y â— world wherthrough they are enforced to crye thy kingdome come come lord Iesu c howe amiable are thy tabernacles Like as y â— hart desireth y â— water brokes c Now let thy seruaÌ„t depart in peace I desire to be dissolued to be with Christ we morne in our selues waiting for the deliueraÌ„ce of our bodies c. Oh gracious lorde when shall I find such mercy w t thee that I maye repente beleue hope and looke for this geare with the full fruition of these heaueÌ„ly ioyes which thou hast prepared for al them that feare thee and so rest with thee for euer more A MEDITATION CONCERning the sober vsage both of the bodye and pleasures in this life THYS our body which god hath made to be the tabernacle and mansioÌ„ of our soule for thys life if we coÌ„sidred accordingly we coulde not but vse it otherwise then we do that is we would vse it for the souls sake being the geste therof and not for the body it self and so shuld it be serued in things to helpe but not to hynder the soule A seruant it is and therfore it ought to obey to serue the soule that y e soule might serue god not as the body wil neyther as the soule it selfe wyll but as god wyll whose wil we shuld learne to know behaue oure selues therafter The which thig to obserue is hard for vs nowe by reason of sinne which hath gotten a mansyon house in oure bodies and dwelleth in vs as doth the soule to y â— which sinne I meane we ar altogether of our selues inclined because we naturally are synners borne in sinne by reason wherof we are ready as seruantes to synne and to vse oure bodies accordingly making the soule to sytte
sonne for vs herin doest y u coÌ„mende vnto vs thy loue y t when we were yet sinners Christe thy derâ—sonne died for vs so y t nothing shuld separate vs from thy loue in christ Iesê° nether death nor hunger c. For if when we were enemies we were recoÌ„ciled vnto thee by the death of thy soÌ„ne much more we being recoÌ„ciled shalbe saued by his life And y t I shuld not doubt herof but certeinly be per swaded all thys to pertayne to me where I mighte haue been borne of Turkes loe y u woldest I shoulde be borne of Christian parents brought into thy church by baptisme which is y e Sacrament of AdoptioÌ„ and requireth faith as wel of remission of my sinnes as of sanctification and holines to be wrought of thee in me by thy grace and holy spirit Where I mighte haue been borne in an ignorant time and region y u woldest I I shuld be borne in this time and region wherin is more knowlege reueled then euer was here or in many places is Where I mighte haue been of a corrupt iudgemente entangled with many errours loe y u of thy goodnes as thou hast reformed my Iudgement so doest thou keepe it and nowe for the same iudgementes sake doest vouchsalfe somewhat by the crosse to try me By al which thinges I shuld confirme my faythe of thys that thou alwayes haste been arte and wylte be for euer my deare father in respect wherof I should be as certaine of saluation of these aheritaunce of heauen for euer 〈◊〉 thankfull cast my whole care on thee trust on thee and call on thee with comforte and certaine hope for all thinges that I wants For in y t thou haÌ„st giuen to meÌ„ this benefite to be thy childe vndeserued vndeseced on my behalfe 〈◊〉 and onely in respect of thine owne goodnes and grace in Christ lest at anye time I should doubt of it how shuld I but hope certainlie that nothinge profitable to me can be denied in y t thi power is infinite For as thi good will is declared in adoptinge me so nothing can be finally wanting me which may make for my weale for y t shuld improue thy power to be almighty in y t thi wil is so bouÌ„teously already declared wheras my beâ—eâ—â—e requireth to beleue in thee y e father almightie in consideration whereof I shoulde in all thynges behaue my self as a child reioyse in thee praise thee truste in thee feare thee serue thee loue thee call vpon thee c. But alas how heauie harted am I How vnthankfull am I Howe full of vnbeleife doubtinge of this thy riche mercie Howe litle doe I loue thee feare thee call vpon thee c. Oh be mercifull vnto me forgyue me good father for thine owne sake and graunt me the spirit of thy children to reuele thy self vnto me and Iesus Christe thy deare sonne oure lord by whoÌ„ we are made thy children that I may truly knowe thee hartely loue thee faithefully hange vpon thee in al my nedes with good hope call vpon thee render faithfully this honour to thee that thou art my god father I thy deare childe through thy grace in Christ and so alwaies be endued with an assured hope of thy goodnes and a faithfull obedient hart in all things to thy holy will At thy hands and from thee as I must loke for al things so come I vnto thee and praye thee to gyue me these thinges whiche thy deare children haue and thou requirest of me that I might come aske them of thee as now I doe through Iesus Christ our lord As by this word father I am taught to glory of thee and in thee and all that euer thou hast for thou art wholy mine my lord my god my father so by this word Our I am taught to glory of all the good that al euery of thy seruants that euer were are or shalbe had haue and shall haue For now I am taught to beleue y t thou hast called me into the communion of thy churche people whom hereby I perceiue y u hast commaunded to be carefull for me as for theÌ„ selues and in all their praiers to be as mindful of me as of themselues Againe as by this word Father I am taught to remeÌ„ber render my duetie I owe to thee wards faith loue feare obedience c so by thy worde our I am taught my dutie towards thy people to be carefull for them to take their sorow pouerty affliction c as mine owne and therfore to labour to helpe them in hart and hand after my vocation habilitie vtterly abhorring all pride selfloue arrogancie contempt of any By reason wherof I haue great cause to lament to reioyse To lament because I am so farre froÌ„ coÌ„sideration much more froÌ„ doig my dutie to thy people in thoughts words or dedes To reioyse because I am called of thee placed iÌ„ the blessed societie of thy saints made a meÌ„ber citizen of the heauenly Ierusalem and because thou hast giueÌ„ in commauÌ„dement to all thy church to be as care full for me as for themselues But alas howe farre am I herefroÌ„ As I am giltie of vnthankfulnes for this thy calling me into the blessed coÌ„munion of thy deare soÌ„ne churche yea of thy selfe so am I giltie of selfloue vnmercifulnes pride arrogantie forgetfulnes coÌ„tempt of thy children for els I could not but be other wise affected otherwise labour then I do Oh be mercifull vnto me good father forgiue me grauÌ„t for christs sake that as my tonge souÌ„deth this word our so I may in hart fele the true loye of thy blessed communion and the true loue coÌ„passion whiche thy children haue and fele towards their brethen that I may reioyse in all trouble in respect of that ioyefull communion that I maye denye my selfe to honour thy children vpoÌ„ earth and endeuer my selfe to doe them good for thy sake through Iesê° christ our lord I come onely to thee to giue me that which I cannot nor muste not els where haue and thou requirest it of me y t therefore I shuld as thy childe come and craue it to thy glory Which art in heauen AS by these words Oure father I am taught to glorie and reioyse for the blessed coÌ„munion which I am called to w t thee deare father with thy Christ and with thy holye church so also am I heare taught by these words Which art in heauen to reioyse in respect of the place and blessed Ioyes whereunto at the length in thy good tyme I shall come For now I may perceiue that as heaueÌ„ is thy home so is it mine also being as I am thy child through Christ although heare for a time I am bodely on earth and in miserie Againe by these wordes which arte in heauen I am admonished not onely to discerne thee from earthly fathers and to knowe
effectually my miserable estate condicion my ignoraunce peruersitie my carelesnes for thy true honor dishonor in such sort y ◠I may hartely lament these euills haue them pardoned taken frō me through iesus christ our lord Againe good father giue me y ◠same thy holi spirit to reuele to me thy name word gospell y ◠I maye liuely knowe thee vnfainedly loue thee hartely obey thee and aboue all thinges desire and labour by all meanes lawfull that al godlines in doctrine and conuersation may be exercised both in me and in all others for whom y u woldest I shuld pray Heare thinke vpon the state of religion and the life of the professours of the gospell that you may lament some pray for some and giue thankes for some Let thy kingdome come THy kingdome is in .ii. sortes to be consydered vniuersally and particularly Uniuersally according to thy power wherewith thou gouernest all thinges euery where in earthe heauen hell deuilles Angells men beasts foules fishes all creatures animate inanimate sensible and insensible Of this kingdome spake Dauid when he sayde thy kingdome ruleth ouer al. Particularly thy kingdome is to be considered according to thy grace wherewith thou raignest only in thy churche and elect people ruling and gouerning al euery mēber of thy churche to thy glory their eternal comfort not that out of this church I exclude thy power for as therewyth thou defendest thy people so thou punishest thy enemies but because thy grace is specially cōsidered being as it were the verye keper that kepeth and guydeth thy people The tyme wilbe when this kingdome of grace and power now being as distincte shalbe vnited made one kingdome of glory which wilbe when Chryst shal giue vp his kīgdome into thyne handes that is in the resurrection whan deathe the last enemye shalbe subdued and thou shalt be all in all In the meane season this kingdome of grace is miraculously mightely propagated enlarged and gouerned by y ◠true ministery of thy word and Sacraments thorow the working of thy holy spirite And this is the meane and way wherby as thou didest firste plante so doest thou enlarge amplifie and preserue y ◠same This kingdome of grace begon continued enlarged by the true preaching of thy gospell and ministratiō of thy Sacramentes is the thynge which Christ teacheth here thy children to pray for that it might come that is to say that thy gospel might so mightely purely plentuouslye be preached maugre the head of all thyne enemies that the numbre of thine elect might be brought in and so the kingdome of thy glory myght appere So that as I see thy chidren desire pray labour y ◠thy gospell might be truely preached hard and liued in themselues in others so they lament the not preaching refusing the not liuing vnbeleuing thy gospel yea they lament the ling ring of the coming of thy christ for in his coming they know thei shalbe like vnto him and hauing this hope they purifie thēselnes as he is pure By reason hereof I see first that I am farre from this desire and lamenting which thy children haue I see my ignoraunce of thy kingdome and power euery wher of thy grace only in thy church of thy glorye when all the enemyes of thy grace shalbe cast downe thy glorye and power shall embrace eche other I se my ignoraūce how acceptable a seruice to thee is the true preaching the hearig of thy gospell for els y u hadst not neded to haue placed thys petition next to the petition of the sanctifiing of thy name Againe I see here my vnhablenes to enter into thy kyngdome and to attayne to it For ells what nede shuld I haue to praye for that to come from thee which other wise maye be archeiued Thirdly I se also my peruersitie contempt of thy kingdome grace For although I se my want yet I wold not desire thy kingdome to come if y u didest not commaunde me to praye so for yf I wold haue praied for it y u woldst not haue cōmaūded me Last of all I see thy goodnes which wilt bringe thy kingdome that as generally by sēding forth ministers to preach truli so particularly by regenerating me more and more and by geuing me as grace here so glorye els where for thou woldest not I shoulde praye for that whiche thou wylte denye So that I haue great cause to lamēt and reioyse To lament because of my miserable estate and condition because of my sinne ignoraunce rebellion peruersitie Satans power contempt of thy grace thy gospel ministerie here or ells where To reioyse because of thy goodnes and great mercy which hast brought me into thy church kepest me in it and wilte doe so still also because of the Ministerie of thy worde and Sacramentes by which the holye ghost is and wilbe effectuall and finally because of y ◠great glory whervnto y u hast called me now wilt giue vnto me asking the same But alas how vnthankfull I am sorowles lorde thou knowest for my hart is not hid from thee c. Oh be mercifull vnto me and forgiue me good father and graunte the Spirit of thy children to reueale vnto me my ignoraunce of thy kingedome my pouertie and peruersitie that I maye lament the same and daily labour for thy helpe and thy holy spirit to suppresse the kingdome of sinne in my self and in others Againe graūt me that same thy holy spirit to reueale to me thy kingdome of power grace and glory to kindle mine affections to regenerate me more more to raigne in me as in a pece of thy kingdome to giue to me to desire to pray and to labour for thy kingdome both to my selfe and to others effectually to thy glory to assure my conscience of thy goodnes that thou wylt giue me grace and glory c. Here cal to mind the state of the ministerie ministers the light and life of gospellers therrours heresies which mē be entangled withal Thy will be done AS thy power is infinite so is thy wisdome accordingly Wherby as we maye perceyue that nothinge is or can be done against thy power or otherwise then by it so is there not nor cannot be any thinge done against or otherwise then by thy omnipotent secret will which is alwaies as thou art good holie and iuste howe far so euer it seme otherwise to oure folishe reason and indgemēt And therfore here we are taught to pray that thy wil may be done here wythoute synne on mans behalfe as it is on the Angells behalfe in heauen Againe for asmuch as thou art incomprehensible of thy selfe as well concerning thy power as cōcerning thy wisdome we may not according therto search thee but rather adore and worshippe thy maiestie tremble at thy Iudgements and
works and therefore praye alwayes that we maye be content with thy wil and be borome thereto And for asmuch as thou hast reuealed to vs so muche of thy wyll in thy word writen as is necessarye for vs in thys life to know yea as we can attaine vnto and a lytle further we ought to take all thynges done there agaynste as synne and transgressyon althoughe thou canste vse the same synne to serue thy prouydence Of the which prouidence w◠can not nor maye not Iudge further then thou hast shalte open it vnto vs. So that this peticion Thy will be done is not simplie to be vnderstand concerninge thy omnipotent wil vn reueled against the which nothing is nor can be done but rather concerning thy will reueled in thy lawe gospel the which thou here teachest me that we shuld desire not only to know it but also to doe it and that in suche perfection willingnes as it is in heauen The which thinge I perceiue hereby that thy childrē doe desire daily in for themselues and others do lament the contrary in whōsoeuer it be so that often their eies gushe out with riuers of teares because men kepe not thy lawes By reason hereof I see that I am farre from the syghes and teares of thy people I see my ignoraunce of thy wyll yf thou hadeste not opened the same by thine owne mouth I see my ignoraūce how acceptable a seruyce obedyence to thy wil is and therfore doest y u place this peticion amonges the fyrst and continual desires of thy childrē Againe I se my pouertie in godly obediēce which had nede to be taught to pray for it therby to signifie vnto me my want and vnhabilitie to attayne it but by thy gift Thirdly I se my disobedience for els neuer woldst thou haue cōmaunded me to haue praied for the doing of thy will if I seinge my want wold haue prayed so Last of all I se thy goodnes whiche wilt giue to me and others to obey thy will that is to loue thee wyth al our harts to loue our neighbour as our selfes to die to our selues to liue to thee to take vp oure crosse and to followe thee to beleue to repent c for ells thou woldest neuer haue bidden vs to pray for a thinge which we shuld not loke for So that I haue great cause to lamēt and reioyce To lament because of my miserable state and condition because of my sinne ignoraunce pouertie and peruersitie also because thy will is euerye where either not knowen or contēned and Sathans will the wil of the world and of the fleshe readily obeyed To reioyse I haue great cause for that thou hast opened thy selfe and will vnto mankind for that also ▪ thou peculiarlye hast taught me these things and because also thou wilt graūt me grace to doe the same But alas howe vnthankfull I am and how hard harted thou Lorde doest knowe Oh be mercifull vnto me and forgyue me I pray thee graciouse god graūt me thy holy spirit to reueale to me my ignoraunce of thy will my pouertie and peruersitie that I may hartely bewayle it c and by thy helpe and working of the same spirit may suppresse the will of the fleshe Agayne graunt me thy holy spirit to reuele to me thy will declared in thy lawe and gospell that I may truly know the same and enflame so my affections that I maye will and loue the same in such sort that it may be my meate and drynke to doe thy wyll Here cal to minde the .x. cōmaūdementes of god particularly or generally what therin he requireth and praye for the same particularlye as you se your nede that not only for your self but also for other Praye for patience to suffer what crosse soeuer god shal laye vpō you pray for thē that be vnder y ◠crosse that they maye be pacient praye for spirituall wisedome in euery crosse peculiarlye or publikelye that you may see and loue gods will Geue vs this day our daily Bread BY Breade the foode of the bodye is vnderstande all thynges necessarye for thys corporall life as meate drinke health successe in vocatyon c. By this word Gyue we shoulde vnderstande that not onelye spyrytuall thynges but also corporall benefytes are goddes free gyftes and come not for our worthynes or traueyle taken aboute the same althoughe ours traueyls be often tymes meanes by the whiche god doth gyue corporall thinges By dailye is vnderstande the contented mindes of thy children wyth that which is sufficient for the present time as hauinge hope in thee y ◠they shal not want but daily shal receyue at thy handes plentie and enough of all thinges By this word our is as well vnderstande publike benefytes as peace in the common weall good Magistrats seasonable wether good lawes c as particular benefites as be children health name successe in the workes of our vocation c. And besides this by it we shuld se the care euē for corporal things which thy children haue for others aswel as for themselues So that here I may learne how far I am frō that I should be and I see thy children are come vnto I se my ignoraunce also how that as spirituall thinges do come from thee so doe temporall thinges and as they come from thee so are they conserued and kepte of thee And therefore thy chyldren are thankefull and looke for theym as thy meare gyftes notwythestandynge the meanes whiche they vse if they haue them How be it they vse them but as meanes for except y u worke therwith all is in vaine Againe here I am taught to be content with sufficient for the present time as thy children be which haue the shortnes of this life alwaies before their eyes and therefore they aske but for daily sustenaūce knowing this life to be cōpared to a day yea a watch a sounde a shadow c. Moreouer I may learne to se the cōpassion and brotherly care thy children haue one for an other Last of al here I may see thy goodnes which as thou wilt geue me all thinges necessarie for this life or els y u woldest not bid me aske c so thou commaundest all men to praye and care for me and that bodely much more then if they be able they are cōmaūded to help me both in bodie soule By reasō wherof I haue great cause to lament and reioyse To lament because I am not so affected as thy children be because of my ignoraūce my ingratitude my peruersitie and contempt of thy goodnes and of the necessitie of thy people whiche alas be in greate miserie some in exile some in prisō some in pouertie sicknes c. To reioyce I haue greate cause because of thy goodnes in teaching me these thinges in commaundinge me to aske what soeuer I wante in geuinge me so manye thinges vnasked in keping the
him to vse not as he will for then we were all loste but as thou wilt which canst wil nothing but that which is most iust As to geue them to the guidiÌ„g of Sathan which wil not be guided by thy grace as y â— diddst Saul c. Occasions to euell are in two sortes One by prosperitie successe another by aduersitie the crosse c. the euells coming of successe commoÌ„ly are vnthankfulnes prid securitie forgetting our selues forgetting of others forgetfulnes of god of our mortalitie c. The euells coÌ„ming of aduersytie commonly are impatiencie murmuring grutchiÌ„g dispayring contemning of god flattering of men stealing lieng c w t manye other euells wherto tentations will entise a man that is lefte to him selfe whereas to one that is guided with gods spirit tentacions are but trialls to the glorye of god comfort of the tempted and edifieng of thy church But as I saied yf a man be left alone tentacions entise euen to the deuyll hym selfe And therfore thy children pray to be deliuered from euill vnderstandinge thereby Sathan him self the sower and supporter of all euell And this thy children doe aswell for others as for them selues So that I maye learne hereout many good thyngs First to remember often our infirmitie and weakenes and the daungerous estate we stand in in the respect of our fleshe of the world which is full of euill of Sathan which seketh to sifte vs and as a roring lion to destroy vs of our sinnes which deserue all kindes of punishements and correction that I mighte with thy children feare thee watch pray and desire the daye of redemption from all euells Againe I may learne here that to auoide all dauÌ„gers euell is not in y â— power of maÌ„ but only thy worke By reason wherof I should consider thy great goodnes whiche hither to hast kept me froÌ„ so many euels both of soule body yea of name goods c as thou hast done in my infancy childhode youth middle age c. Thirdly I may learne here that I shuld be careful for others both that they might be deliuered froÌ„ their euells that they might be preserued froÌ„ tentatioÌ„ from being ouercome in the same and therefore y â— teachest me to pray not deliuer me froÌ„ euell simply but deliuer vs from euell Last of all I am taught hereby so see thy goodnes towards me which wilt deliuer me from euell and froÌ„ being ouercome in tentations For thou woldst not haue me to aske for that which I shoulde not loke for at thy handes certainely By reason wherof thou woldest haue me to be in a certaintie of saluatioÌ„ for euer For ells I cannot beleue my prayer to be heard if that finallye I should not be deliuered from euell And therefore thou ioynest hereto a geuinge of thankes whiche with thy Church I should saye For thine is the kingdome thine is the power thine is the glorye for euer By reason whereof I haue great cause to lament and to reioyce To lament because of my corruptioÌ„ infirmitie weaknes obliuion and carelesnes for thy people ingratitude c because of Sathans power vigilancie prudencie which hath ouercome most graue wise and holy men wherof some neuer recouered as Cain Cham Achitophel Saul â—udas c. To reioyse because of thy goodnes whiche teachest me this she west me the remedie commaundest all thy Church to praye for me 〈◊〉 wilt at length deliuer me from all â—uel and giue me glory But alas I â—m all together careles miserable Oh be mercifull vnto me dere father and for christs sake forgiue me al my â—innes Graunt me thy holy spirit to reuele to me mine infirmties weaknes perils dauÌ„gers c in such sort that as I may hartely lamente my miseries so I maye aske and obtaine thy grace to guyde me from all euill for euer more Againe graunt me the same thy holy spirite to reuele to me thy loue kindnes towards me and that in eternitie in such sort that I maye be throughlye perswaded of the same become thankfull vnto thee daily expecte and loke for the reuelacion of thy kingdome power and glory as one that foreuer shall haue the fruction of the same through thyne owne goodnes and mercy in Christ prepared for me before the beginniÌ„g and foundation of the worlde was layed Here cal to mind our securitie Sathans vigilancie oure negligence his diligence our infirmitie his habilitie oure ignoraunce his crafte and subtilitie c. Item call to mind how that he hath ouerthrowen for a time many of the deare Saintes of god to whom we are to be compared in nothinge aâ— Adam Eue Lot Iudas Thamer Moises Aaron Mirtan Sampson Gedeon Clie Dauid Salomon Ezechias Iosias Peter Thomas and innumerable moe Item call to minde the goodnes of god and of oure Shepeherd Christ whiche hathe kepte vs hitherto kepeth vs still teacheth vs here to know that he will kepe vs for euer For he wold not haue vs to aske for deliueraunce from euell if that he wold not we should certainely loke for the same If thou doubt of finall perseueraunce y â— dishonourest god Be certaine therfore rest in hope be stil in his word Se also how he hath commaunded his whole church and euery member thereof to praye for thee aswell as for them selues in these and all other thinges Now and then goe about to recken how manye and diuers kindes of euells there be that thereby as you may knowe you are deliuered from none but by gods greate goodnes so you may see that the number of euells that you haue are nothing to be compared to the multitude of euills wherwith yf your christ were not the deuil wold all to beraye and dawbe you But what are all the miseries and euels that can be to be compared to the least ioye prepared for vs in heauen Oh thinke of those ioyes and pray that when the tyde of death coÌ„meth we may hale forth of the hauen of this fleshe this world ioyefully In praieng this petitioÌ„ call to minde the euells you haue been in the euells you are in and the euells you may fall in if god shuld not preserue you that you might be stirred vp the more to thankfullnes to prayer to trust in god to modestie c. For thine is the kingdome thine is the power thine is the glory for euer AS in the beginniÌ„g of this praier by these words our father which art in heauen thy children are excited stirred vp to a ful confidence of obtaining the petitions folowing al things necessary So in y â— latter end y u hast added for the same purpose these wordes For thine is the kingdome thin is c Wherin I am taught these many things First that in prayer I shuld haue such consideration of thy kingdome power glory and eternitie that my mind shuld be striken w t an admiration of the same Secondly that
appointed for this ende that we shoulde meete together to here thy worde and receiue thy sacramentes Greate cause haue I to thanke thee for the institution of thy sacramentes which thou hast ordained as thy visible and palpable lordes to the obsignation and confirmacion of the faithe of all suche as vse the same after thy commaundementes But infinite are the causes for the which I ought to gene thee thankes for thys commaundement But alas I am not onely vnthankfull but also a most miserable transgressour of it I wil not now speake of my transgressions past coÌ„cerning this commaundemente presentlye they are so many that I cannot For y u knowest howe I doe not onelye at conuenient times on y e worke daies kepe my selfe awaye from common praiers in the congregacioÌ„ assemble of thy people and froÌ„ hearing of thy worde but also on the Sabboth dayes to ryde or goe aboute this or that worldely busynes I am verye prest to sitte down at this tauerne and to goe to that mans table I am readye at the first vydding but alas to resorte to the table of thy sonne receyue with thankfulnes the sacrament of his body and bloud for confirmation of my faithe that 〈◊〉 to learne spiritually to taste Christs body broken and his bloude shedde for the remission of my synnes so doe this oh how vnwillig am I To goe to masse and sacrynges with suche like Idolatrye I haue been a greate time more readie then now I am to heare thy word vse thy sacrameÌ„ts as I shuld doe thy ministers I pray not for thy church I am not careful for no not nowe good lorde when wicked doctrine most preuaileth Idolatrye supersticion and abominacion aboundeth the sacrament and sacrifice of thy deare sonne Iesê° Christ is blasphemiusly corrupted wheÌ„ for preaching there is nothing but massing for catechising sensinge for reading of the scriptures belleringing for syngynge of Psalmes and godly songes to our edificacion all is don in laten with such Notes Tunes ditties descantes that vtterly the mynde is pulled from the consideracion of the thinge if men did vnderstande it vnto the melody Al which my wickednes hath brought in my prophaning of this coÌ„maundement and my not praying Thy ministers are in prison dispersed in other contries spoiled burnt murdred many fal for feare of goods lyfe name c from the trueth they haue receyued vnto moste manifest Idolatrie false preachers abounde amongeste thy people thy people dearely bought euen with thy bloud are not fedde w t the breade of thy worde but with swyllings antichrist wholy preuailethe and yet for all this alas I am to carelesse nothing lamenting my sinnes which be the cause of al this O dear father forgeue me for christs sake and be mercifull vnto me and as of thy mercye thou dyddest geue me time to repent so geue me repentaunce Graunt me thy holy spirite to open to me this thy lawe so that I may knowe thy will in it loue it and alwaies obey it thy good spirit sanctifye me and worke in me a true taste of eternall life and pleasure in the meditation of it geue me gracious good father one litle mouthfull of the breade that y u feddest Helye w t all geue me that with him I maye come into mounte horeb Helpe thy church cherishe it and geue it harbo routh here and els where for christs sake purge thy ministery from corruptioÌ„ and false ministers send out preachers to fede thy people destroy antichrist all his kingdome geue to such as be faulleÌ„ from thy trueth repentaunce kepe others from falling and by their falling doe y u the more confirme vs confirme the ministers pore people in prisoÌ„ exile strengthen them in thy trueth deliuer them if it be thy good will geue them that with conscience they may so aunswere their aduersaries that thy seruantes maye reioyce and the aduersaries be confounded auengeÌ„ thou thy owne cause Oh thou god of hostes and helpe all thy people me especially because I haue moste nede Honour thy father and mother that thou mayst lyue longe c. AFter that thou haste tolde me good lord thy will concerning the seruice whiche thou requirest inwardly and outwardly to be geuen vnto the now doest thou begin to tel me what thy wil is that I shuld do leaue vndone for thy sake vnto man And first y u settest before min eies them whoÌ„ y u for ordres sake and the more commoditie of man in this life hast set in degre and authoritie aboue me coÌ„prehending them vnder the name of father mother that I might know y t as of thee thei are commaunded to beare towards me a faithfull loue and a motherly care in the very names of father and mother wherwith y u honorest them so am I coÌ„mauÌ„ded of thee to do that which is most equall iuste as the very brute beasts doe teach vs that with childly affection and duetye I shuld behaue my selfe towards theÌ„ that is I shuld honor theÌ„ which coÌ„prepheÌ„deth in it loue thankfulnes reuerence and obedience that not so much because they be my pareÌ„ts and in their offices are carefull for me for it maye be they will neglecte the doinge of theyr dueties towardes me but because thou commaundest me so to doe howe so euer they do So that by thys commaundement I perceiue that thou woldest I shuld consider them whoÌ„ thou hast placed in auctorite and superiour degre as pareÌ„ts maiestrats masters or such like and accordingly behaue my self toward them honour them that is to say loue them be thankfull vnto them reuerence them and obey them for thy sake so loÌ„g as they pass not their bounds that is so longe as they requyre not otherwise then y u hast geuen them commission or permission to doe And for as much as thou seest their care and offyce is greate and oure corruption to obey is very muche as wel to encorage them in their vocation to be diligent as to enflame me to humble obedience vnto them therthroughe to make them more willinge to sustaine cares for me y u addeste a promise that is longe lyfe which so farre as it is ablessing froÌ„ thee y u wilt endue vs w t all Wherby we may gather that a ciuel life doth much please thee and receiueth here rewards especially if we lead it for conscieunce to thy lawe And on the contrary part a disobedient lyfe to them that be in auctorite wil bring the soner thy wrath and vengeaunce in this life All whiche worketh muche to the commendation of the state of politike ciuell maiestrats By reason hereof deare father I se my self much boundeÌ„ to praise thee and hartelye to obey thys thy commaundement For in it by it y u declarest thy greate loue towarde vs which euen in this present life our pylgermage and passage to oure home woldst haue vs to enioye the benefite of peace and moste
semelye quietnes and order and by this order so couple vs that none shuld contemne or despise another but euen highe lowe to be and accompt thē selues as parentes children Particularly for my parte I cannot but say that I haue most cause to thank thee for my parētes scholemasters and others vnder whose tuitiō thou hast put me No pen is able to write y e particular benifites w c I haue her by receyued in my infancie childhod youth midle age and alwais hether to Oh how good a lord hast y u declared thy self to me which in them and by thē hast norrished fedde instructed corrected defended and most gratiously kept me I coulde recken innumerable behind me but fewe before me so much made of cared for as I haue bene hetherto No smalle token of thy loue to me warde is it that thou woldest engraue in theyr hartes and commaunde them vnder paine of damnation to be carefull ouer me to doe me good and prouide for me as they haue done or rather thou by thē publickly Also for the cōmen wealth suche as thou hast placed in aucthorie ouer me in bothe thy regeniētes if I considered them that haue bene and them that be I coulde not but praise thee good lord For no lesse praise worthy art thou for this chastening vs and admonishing vs now presētly by them that be in aucthoritie of our vngratitude and vnthankfulnes then by such as haue bene for all kyndes of good things But infinite are the causes of thankfulnes which this cōmaundement considered shoulde stirre vp in me But alas most mercifull father as I acknowlege my self most vnthankfull vnto thee for al thy benifites powred vpō me in this lyfe by my parents nources tutoures maysters magistrates bishoppes pastours and good frindes euen frō my cradell vnto this hower so vnto them haue I alwaies been am in not louing them as my coldenes in praiynge for them and to my power in helping them declareth and also my not reuerencing them my cōtemning them temerariousnes in my mistrusting or to narrowly to straightly loking at them their dewties showeth and not obeynge them as by my cōtumacy appereth not onely when anye thinge to me vnpleasant or vnprofitable but also profitable conuenient is required And yet I speake not of y e euel muttering reportes of y e offences ī trāsgressing y e politilie lawes for apparrel meates other no smalle offences which I haue cōmytted geuē Oh this is a sinne deare father that I alwaies haue ben a priuate more then a common weale mā alwaies I seke for myn owen cōmeditie cōtemning that whiche maketh to the conmmoditie of others As for my disobedience and wicked behauiour towards my owne parentes and all others whom thou hast set ouer me deare father no toūge can expresse it and therfore I am worthy of dāynation But gratious good lord and deare father I beseche thee for thy Christes sake to haue mercye vpon me pardon me as of thy goodnes it pleased the to pardone the patriarkes Thou hast geuen this commaundement as thy holy lawe to open to vs howe corrupte we are and howe much we swarue frō the patterne wherafter we were first made once agreed thereto before Adams fall that we might loth our selues and euen thereby be dryuen to seke and set by thy swete mercyes in Iesus Christ whom therfore thou diddest sende to fullfyll the lawe in hys fleshe that we myght borowe of him the same by trewe faithe whiche of thy goodnes worke in vs by thy holy spirit and open this lawe vnto vs that we maye more more increase in the knowledge loue obedience of it to thy glory and our saluation Amen Deare father be mercifull to our magestrats especially y e quenes highnes whose hart with the residue of her counsellers tourne into thy testimonies geue them thy wisdome and a zeale to the trueth according to knowledge that they maye vse the power they haue receyued of thee to the cherishing of thy church that w c vs here thy worde may haue free passage and thy true worshippe may be maintained and not onclye here but also euery where amonges those whom thou woldest we should pray for Be mercifull to my poore parentes gratious lorde with my bretheren systers wife childrē family seruantes kinsfolkes neighboures as thou knowest they haue all nede Geue vnto the hartes of all parentes magestrates and suche as be in aurtherite here or ells where that they maye accordinge to that y u hast put them in trust w tall be faithfull deligent carefull and happye Graunt vnto children seruauntes and subiectes that euerye one maye render loue obedience thankfulnes and reuerēce to al such as thou hast put in aucthorite ouer them blesse the church and send it peace and har borough here or els where blesse the common weale and sende vs peace blesse the diocesses and shieres and send them good bisshops and iustices blesse euery housholde and family that thy peace may be in the same cōtinually Fynally write this law all thy lawes in oure hartes we be sech thee y t we may kepe them Amē Thou shalte doe no murder c. AS in the commaundement goeinge nexte before thou settests before me the personages of all such as thou for the commodytie order and peace of mā in this life hast placed in aucthoritie accordingly of vs for thy sake to be estemed so dost thou in this commaundement set before vs to loke on the personages of all men generally high and lowe ouer whom thou geuest vs a charge that we shal not kil or murther thē In which word thou comprehendest all kind of hatred or malice in word thoughte or dede as thy dearely beloued sonne expoundinge this commaundement dothe teache Yea because thou woldest all men shuld be deare vnto vs beyng all of one substaunce of one similitude comming of the same parents Adam and Eue made of one God redemed of one Christ in whom we should be coupled as members of one body and liue to the aide succour and cōfort one of another because of this I say easlie we may see that not onely y u forbiddest here to beware of all kindes of displeasures but also thou commaūdest vs to beare and exercise al kinde of loue and fauoure in harte worde and dede and that for thy commaūdementes sake for els towards oure enemies our hartes wolde arise and be great in that they contemnynge their dueties towards vs seme to deserue the like at oure handes By reasō hereof I haue great cause to thanke thee dere father For here by I see how that thou doest muche loue my soule which arte so carefull ouer my body so that he which hurteth it displeaseth thee and he that doth it good pleaseth thee if so be he doe it for thy sake By this commaūdement now I se that it is thou that hast kept me frō doing many euels which els
I shuld haue outragiously done hast stirred me vp to do good to my brethrē if at any time I haue done any euen as thou hast also kept and dost kepe presently others from doing me hurt hast and dost stirre vp those that do me good to do so vn to me Oh how great is y e multitud of thy benifits good lord wherwith thou hast ouerwhelmed me and the which through this cōmaundement I perceaue my self to haue receiued presently do receiue so longe as I liue am like to receiue for thou commaundest al men euery where to do me good loue me defend me cherishe me suche is thy loue to me in this present life that for my body oh how great is thy loue then to me in euerlasting life y t for my soule If in a straūg cōtrey so great is thy protection how great is it at home But alas dere lord how vnthākful haue I ben am yet stil for these thy fatherli benifits oh min ingratitud yea lord horribly haue I trāsgressed still doe transgresse this thy gracious precept in pride enuie disdaine malice hardnes of hart vnmercifulnes contēnīg thy childrē saints seruāts Self loue all together raigneth in me and desire of praise rule fame I am so farre frō loue mercy in hart good lord that no man cā here it in my tonge nor see it in my works but rather cleane contrary and y t generally and to thē to whom I am most bound perticularly By reason wherof I haue deserued euer lastinge damnnation and to be cast awaye from thy presence for euer Oh moste gratious father forgeue me for Chrystes sake I beseche the. For to this ende diddest thou geue this commaundement that I seyng my corruptiō and deprauate nature by synne might come to thy mercye deserued by christ and through faith in him might finde not onelye pardone of that which is paste but also thy grace and holy spirit to beginne in me the obedience to this and al other thi holy precepts for euer more so be it For this thy Christes sake deare father I besech thee therfore to take from me and all other for whom thou woldest that we should praye all enupe pryde arrogancye dysdaine hatred and all suspitiousnes and graunt vnto vs bowells of mercy humilitie pacience mekenes longe sufferinge gentillnes peace charitie and al kinde of brotherly loue cōfort the feble releue the poore help the fatherlesse heale the sycke blesse the afflicted shewe thy great mercy vpō all poore prisoners deliuer thē in thy good time remember thy pitye toward straungers captiues wydowes and suche as be oppressed ¶ Thou shalte not commytte adulterye HEre good lord thou gost about to commaunde vnto me as loue in the other so purenes and chastite in this and therfore thou saiest I shoulde not commite adultrye in the which word thy sonne oure sauiour Iesus Christ doth comprehende al vncleannes yea the very concupiscence and abusing of the hart in lusting after any mans wife or otherwise vnchastly By the which in that thou woldest haue vs to loue in our selues and others purite cleanes that we might be holy as thou oure god art holy and our bodies beynge temples of thy holy spirit mighte be kept pure and accordinglye easelye we maye see that as thou forbiddest all vncleane dedes wordes lokes and thoughtes so doest thou commaunde vs to loue and exercyse all puritie chastitie cleannes sobryety temperancye c. By reason whereof I haue greate cause to be thankefull vnto thee which not onely for the helpe commoditie of man but also for remedie of mans infirmitie hast made womā kind and ordained the state of matrimony which in thy sight is so holye and pure that thou accomptest the bedde and acte of generaciō betwene man and wife in this state of matrimonye to be an vndefyled thynge and such care thou hast ouer the personages marryed and their condition that vnto damnation they sinne which not onely goe about to defyle that bed but within there harts doe wishe or desire it yea which doe not indeuer thēselues w t thought word and dede to helpe that purite cleanes betwene married folks be kept But the greate causes thou geuest vs to thanke thee for this state and ordinaunce and for thy defendynge vs by thys commaundemente are innumerable Full wel I see that it is thou whiche by thys commaundemente not onely refraynest me but also kepest my wyfe from impurytye whyche ells we might bothe commyte Greate is thy lous Oh good lord and more then I am able to cōsider whych declarest thy selfe to be thus carefull ouer me concernynge the benefyttes whyche come vnto me bothe for the mynde bodye and goodes by sobryetye and tem perauncie whyche here thou requirest Onely thys I cannot but see that I haue greate cause to thanke thee whiche arte so carefull ouer me as by thys commaundemente I well see But alas good lorde what shall I saye whiche am and haue bene so farre from thankefullnesse that I am to be accompted amongest the most vnthankfull yea y u knowest it good lorde Fylthely haue I broken thys lawe caused other so to doe of whose repentaunce I am vncertain as also my tonge alas hath oftē ben to shamfully exercised mynetes my thoughts to wickedly abused All this geare I haue encreased by myne intemperauncye in catynge drinkinge cherishingemy bodye c. I haue also hurt my bodyly health minished that whiche I and others should lyue on and horribly hindred all good prayers and meditations wherin though I haue time place yet alas I nothing exercise my selfe as I should doe By reason whereof I haue deserued euerlasting damnatiō Oh good lorde and gratious father doe thou for thy names sake and in Christes bloud pardon me and forgeue me I besech thee as thou hast most mercifully hitherto spared me so of thy mercy put awaye my trespasses the transgressions of those whom I haue caused to synne let that loue which moued thee to pardon Iudas with Thamar Dauid Berthsabe and the greate synner of whom we reade in S. Luke moue thee to pardone and forgeue me also Thou gauest this commaundemente to thys ende that I might knowe my sinne and sinnefull nature and so thereby be driuen to thy Christ crucified for whose sake I aske mercy also that thy good spirit maye be geuen vnto me to purifie me and worke so in me and with me that I may trewelye know hartly loue faithfully obey this thy holy precept inwardly and outwardly now and for euer Amen Gracious good lord graunt to me my wife that we may dwel together accordinge to knowledge and maye kepe our vessells in holines graunt Oh lord that we may be pure and vndestled and graunt the same to al that be married and to them which be vnmarried graunt that they may liue a pure chast and vndefyled life and if they haue not the
gifte of singlenes of life graunt them such makes with whom they may liue holyly to thy praise Deare father geue me the gifte of Sobrietie and Temperauncy and graunt the same to al them whom thou woldest I shoulde praye for As in times paste I haue vsed my tounge and other members euell so nowe good lorde graunt that I maye vse them well chastly and godlye This I prays thee graunt through Iesus Chryst and finally Oh lorde bothe in soule and body sanctifie me and as in thy temple dwell in me nowe and foreuer more Amen Thou shalt not steale NOwe that thou hast taught me the seruice required of thee for me to obserue towards the personages of all men and women of euery conditioÌ„ thou beginnest to tell me what thou woldest I shoulde doe concerninge their goodes and as in the nexte commaundemente before this thou dyddest coÌ„mauÌ„de vnto me sobrietie purenes so doest thou in this Iustice and rightuousnes forbydding me to steale Under the whiche word y u comprehendest al kindes of desceite The which thing y u doest because y u woldest that I shuld geue my selfe wholy to the studie and exercise of Iustice as in the precepts next going before y u woldest I shuld geue ouer my selfe wholy to the keping of sobrietie purenes So that I see thy good pleasure herein is not that I sheuld alonely abstaine from al thefte but also from al fraude and craft in word or dede yea y t I should earnestly folow and exercise all equitie trueth and Iustice By reason whereof I see my selfe much bound to praise thee which art so carful ouer mi goods substauÌ„ce that if any man should goe about to steale from me or to defraud me in any thig yea whosoeuer goeth not about to kepe care for that I haue as he woulde doe for his owne the same displeaseth the. Oh lord if thou hast such care for my goodes cattell and such pelfe how greate is thy care for my soule If this one commauÌ„dement were not I perceaue as I for my owne parte shuld haue done and doe much worse then I haue done so much worse had bene done to me and mine then hath ben It is y u good lorde I perceaue that hast both geueÌ„ me al y t I haue and also still conseruest and keepest the same and not my owne polycye wysedome and industrye for in vaine were al this excepte y u diddest vouchsafe to vse take it as a meane to worke by There is nothing therfore that I haue but when soeuer I loke vpon it by this commaundement I learne thy goodnes strength and power for as thou geuest it of thy mercy so it speaketh to me that presently y u still doest kepe it for me so that exceding great cause haue I to thanke thee for this precept dere god and most gracious lord But alas I am so farre from thankfulnes as alwaies I haue bene for all thy care for me and for all that euer thou haste geuen vnto me that as I haue vsed subtelty and crafte yea some times thefte and briberye so nowe good lorde I still when occasioÌ„ is offered do exercise the same I liue also voluptuously of y t y u hast geuen lent me nothing consider what equitie requireth and what or how great the necessitie of the poore is whom I doe thus defraude by excesse and prodigalitie That whiche I borowe I with vnwillingnes doe repaye I vse it more negligentlye then I wold do myn owne Lacke of excommunicatioÌ„ of Iustice y e great vsery robberie oppression and such like wickednes as is exercised amonges vs I lament not labour not after my vocation for the redresse of the same I pray not to thee thereabout but neglecte altogether Yea euen those things wherewith I am put in trust or am hirid to do those I say I doe with great negligence so that great is my sinne here in and worthy I am of damnation But mercifull god I besech thee for Christes sake to haue mercye vpon me and to pardon me my vnthankfulnes theftes fraudes deceytes auarice neglegences great carelesnes for y e lacke of Iustice for y e moÌ„struouse oppression vseries excesse riot the which be horribly exercised in y e commoÌ„ weale For thy mercies sake in Christ Iesus o lord whom y u haste geuen to fullfyll the lawe for them that doe beleue geue me trew faith and thy holy spirite to worke in me the knowledge loue and perpetuall obedience of this thy holye precept and all other thy commaundements for euer Deare lord geue vnto me and to all whom y u woldest I shoulde pray for the hatred of al craft and loue of all Iustice graunt to the oppressed thy comfort to wrongers repentaunce to theues and deceiuers y t they may make restitutioÌ„ to iustices of peace land lords the rich of the world y t thei may haue thee before their eies loue their poore tenants brethren to laborers artificers y t they maye be diligent in their worke labourâ— that wherw t they are put in trust Thou shalte not beare false witnes against thy neighbour NOw doest y u most gratioê° lord instruct me in this commaundement how I shuld vse my tonâ— towards my neighbor behaue my self concerning his name forbidding me to beare false witnes in y e which y u forbiddest me all kinds of slaundering lying hipocricy vntrueth And why because as members of one bodie thou woldeste we shoulde speakâ— trueth one to another and be careful euery one to couer others infirmity and w t oure touÌ„ge defend the names of others eueÌ„ as we wold that other should defend ours So that in thys commaundement as y u forbiddest me all kind of euell parelous calumnious and vntrewe speaking so doest thou commaunde to me all kinde of godlye honeste and trewe reporte and talke By reason whereof I haue greate cause to praise thee in that I se thee to be so carefull ouer my name that all men are by thee commaunded to defend y e same O pretioê° god great is thy care ouer my soule I nowe perceiue If this commaundemente were not I se as I shuld haue done doe much worse with my touÌ„ge to others then is hapened so shoulde I haue felte of others towards me Besydes this no small commoditie is it to me that thou wouldeste all men shoulde vse treweth in all thire wordes to me Oh howe greate a good thynge is this vnto me If we consider y e hurt y e coÌ„meth by vntrueth by wordes where through many are deceiued easly may wese a wonderful benifit and care of thee for vs in this commaundement But gracious lorde like as I acknowledge my vnthankfullnes to be monstrouse and great alwaies hathe bene hetherto Euen so yet continue I in wonderfull hipocrisie in all my conuersation often lying and speaking as vainely so offensiuely fleshly subtelly caluÌ„niously geuig my
eares to here such things as be slauÌ„derously spokeÌ„ not repugninge or admonishing other as the slaunderer to doe as he wold be done by to tel his tale where he shuld tel it neither admonishing the partys slaundered of y t whiche is reported of him thereby to take better heede but rather I augment it By reason whereof I haue deserued eternall damnation But thou good lord be mercyfull vnto me I beseche thee for Christes sake whom y u hast ordained to be the ende of the lawe to all them that doe beleue as well for pardone of that which is past as for not imputinge the imperfection that remaineth In his name therfore good lorde I besech thee to pardon me and geue me thy holye spirite to open to me this lawe and all other thy preceptes so to vnderstand them that I may hartely loue them faithfully geue my self to the obedieÌ„ce of them for euer Graunt me thy good spirit to sanctifie my tonge that it may be kept froÌ„lying slaundering al such vices that it maye be continually vsed in thy seruice and speakinge that which may be to edifie to thy glory and praise through Iesus Christ oure lorde Amen ¶ Through vnperfectnes of copies his doinge vpon the tenth commaundement is not yet come to light Therefore take this in good part till god send the rest A meditation concerninge praier with a breife paraphrase vpon the petitions of the lords prayer THe mind of man hath so large roumthe to receyue good things that nothinge in dede can fully fyll it but onely god whoÌ„ then thy mynde fully possesseth when it fully knowethe him it fully loueth him and in all things is framed after his wil. They therfore dere lord god that are thy children and haue tasted somewhat of thy goodnes do perpetually sighe y t is do pray vntil they come thereto and in y t they loue thee also aboue all thynges it wonderfully wouÌ„deth them that other men do not so that is loue thee seke for thee with them Wherof it commeth to passe that they are inflamed with continnall praiers and desires that thy kingedome mighte come euery where and thy goodnes might be both knoweÌ„ and in life expressed of euery man And because there are innumerable many things whiche as well in them selues as in others be against thy glory they are kindled with continuall praier and desire sighing vn speakably in thy sight for y e encrease of thy spirit some times wheÌ„ they see thy glory more put back then it was wonte to be either in themselues or in anye other then are they much more disquieted vexed But because they know that y u doest rule all thinges after thy good will and y t none other can helpe them in their neede they often times do go asideall businesses laid a part and geue them selues to godlye cogitations and talke with thee complaininge to thee as to theyr father of those thynges that greue them beggyng thereto and that most earnestly thy helpe not onely for themselues but also for others especiallye for those whom singularlye they embrace in thee and often do repete and remeÌ„ber thy gracious benifites both to others and to themselues also wherthrough they are prouoked to reÌ„â—er to thee harty thankes therby being enflamed aswell assuredlye to hope well of thy good will towards them and paciently to beare al euills as also to study and labour to mortifye the affections of the fleshe and to order all their whole life to the seruice of their brethren and to the settinge forth of thy glory This they know is that praier thy sonne Iesus Christ oure lorde commaunded to be made to thee in the chamber y e dore being shut In this kind of praier he himselfe did watch often euen al the whole night herin was Paule frequent as all thy saintes be This kind of prayer is y e true liffting vp of y e mind vnto thee this standeth in thaffections in the hart not in wordes in the mouth As thy children be endued with thy spirit so frequent they this talke w t thee the more thy spirit is in them the more are they iÌ„ talke with thee Oh geue me plentifully thy spyrite which thou hast promised to powre out vpon all fleshe that thus I may with thy saintes talke w t thee night and day for thy only beloued soÌ„nes sake Iesus Christ our lord Amen Moreouer thy saintes to prouoke them to this kinde of praier doe vse first their necessitie which they consider in thre sortes inwardly concerning their soules outwardly concerning their bodies and finally concerning their names and fame wherto they adde the necessitie of those that be committed to them the necessitie of thy church and of the common weale Secondly they vse thy commaundements which require them vnder paine of sinne to praye to thee in all their nede Thirdly they vse the consideration of thy goodnes which art naturally merciful to yonge rauens calling vpon thee much more then to them for whom rauens all thinges ellswere made for whom thou hast not spared thy dere son but geueÌ„ him c. Fourthly they vse thy most swete and free promises made to heare and helpe all them that call vpon thee in Christes name Fiftly they vse examples how that y u which art the god of al and rich vnto all them y t cal vpon thee in christs name hast heard holpen others calling vpon thee Sixtly they vse the benefites geueÌ„ them before they asked thereby not only prouoking them to aske more but also certifieng their faith that if thou waste so good to graunt them many thinges vnasked nowe thou wilt not denye them any thing they aske to thy glory and their weale Last of al they vse the reading and wayinge of psalmes and other good praiers because they know thereby peculiarly besides y e other scripture there is no smal helpe as may apere by paul Ephes 5. Col 3. where be wil â—eth the congregacioÌ„ to vse psalmes hymmes and spiritual songes but so that in y e hart we shuld singe and say them not that thy children do not vse their tonges words in praying to thee for they do vse their tonges speche words to styrre vp their in ward desire feruency of the mino full wel knowing that els it were a plaine mocking of thee to pray with lipps tounges only Oh y t I might fele now thy spirite so to affecte me that both with harte and mouthe I might hartely and in faith praye vn to thee Nowe concernynge the thynges that are to be praied for thy children know that the prayer taught by thy sonne moste lyuelye and playnelye dothe contayne the same And therefore they often vse it fyrste askynge of thee their heauenlye father throughe Chryste that thy name myghte euerye where be had in holynesse and prayse then that thy kingdome by regeneration the ministery of the gospel might come And so
thirdly that willingly perfectly perpetually they might study to do yea do in dede thy wil with thy holy heaueÌ„ly angels spirits These thinges they seke pray for namely thy kingedome thy rightuousnes before any worldly benefite After which petitioÌ„s because al things yea euen y e benifits of this present life do come from thee they doe godlye desire the same vnder the name of daily bread being instructed of thy wisedome that after smal benefites to aske corporall is not vnsemely to thy children which know both spirituall and corporal to come from thy mercy In the other peticions they pray for thinges to be takeÌ„ from them beginnig w t forgeuenes of sinnes which were impudentlye praied for if y e their hartes were not so brokeÌ„ that they could forgeue all things to al meÌ„ for their part They adde their profession y â— is charitie wherby they professe that they haue forgeuen all offences done to them Howbeit because it is not ynough to haue pardon of y â— whiche is past except thei be preserued froÌ„ new offiÌ„ces they pray thee not to lead theÌ„ in 〈◊〉 teÌ„ptations by permitting them to the peruerse suggestioÌ„ of SathaÌ„ but rather to deliuer them from hys importunitie and power by euel vnderstaÌ„dinge Sathan the authour of all euell Oh deare god that y â— woldest endue me w t thy spirite of grace and praier with thy children accordingly to make this praier alwayes whensoeuer I doe pray As for outward euills so longe as they doe not as it were inforce thy people to sinne in that christen professioÌ„ doth accompte them amongst thy benefites thy sonne hathe not taught thy church to pray for the taking away of theÌ„ in this praier for here he hath coÌ„tained but those thinges for y e which al Christians generally and particularly may of faith pray at all times It often commeth to passe that exteriour euilles because they be not euells in dede that is they are not against goddes grace in vs therefore they cannot of faith be praied for to be taken away for thy childreÌ„ y â— haue faith do alwaies preferre thy Iudgement before their owne the which Iudgement wâ—en thei know by that which hapneth to them they submite themselues ther to wholly although the spirit make his vnspeakable gronings to helpe their infirmities by prayer not to haue them taken awaye but y â— they might haue strenght and pacience to beare the burtheÌ„ accordingly which burden if it be to heauy in the better sense and feling therof they in their praiers doe complaine some thyng rather then pray to haue it taken away as oure sauiour did in the garden wheÌ„ he added to his complainte not my will but thy wil be done So do thi people in al their complaints adde not as we wil but as y u wilte for they are taught by thy spirite no otherwise to praye for the takynge away of corporall euelles either froÌ„ them selues or from others onlesse they by the same spirite doe certainly se the same to make to thy glory as dyd thine Apostles and seruantes when absolutly without condition they dyd aske health or miracle for any wheÌ„ they healed or raised the deade by prayer for they know nothinge can be better than when it is according to thy wil. Oh that I might alwaies know thy wil in al things and for euer applye me self therto Hereof it commeth that thy saynts and deare children which loue their neighbours as theÌ„selues do yet notwithstaÌ„ding in their praiers aske vengeaunce of some as we may reade in the psalmes of Dauid because in prayinge talking with thee they se by thy holy spirit for w tout it is no true praier sometimes thy Iudgements vpon some whiche they perceiue to sinne to death and therfore ought not to be praied for but rather to be praied against because thy glory caÌ„not be set forth as it shuld be without their destructioÌ„ thy will is alwayes best the thing wherto they frame all their desires Therefore when they perceiue it decreed with thee suche and suche by theyr destructyon to set fourthe more myghtelye thy glorye howe should they but desire and praye for the same write it as Dauid hathe done that the godly in readinge and waying such praiers might receiue comfort and the vngodly be afraied ells when that they perceiue not so manifestlye the determened Iudgement of god they in their praiers do most hartely praye for them as Samuell did for Saule Moyses for the Israelites Abraham for the Sodomites Oh good faher for thy mercyes sake geue me the trews loue of mankinde but yet so y t I maye loue maÌ„ for thee and in thee and alwaies preferre thy glory aboue al thinges through Christ our lord Now though thy children do know that thy wil cannot but be done and nothinge can be done but that thou of thyne owne will hast determined to do although no man shuld desire the same yet are they earnest and frequent in praier fyrst to render obedience to thee whiche requyreste praier as a spirituall seruice to thee secondly because thou hast ordained praier to be as an instrumente and meane by the which thou workeste thinges with thee already decreed determined Thy children doe vse prayer to offer thee their seruice if it shall please the to vse the same As they doe eate and drincke whiche is a meane ordayned of thee for the coÌ„seruation of their life not lookynge hereby to lengtheÌ„ their daies aboue their bouÌ„ds which already thou hast appotnted but as becometh them to vse thy meanes which thou hast ordained to serue thy prouidence So do they herein as men not curiouse to knowe thy prouidence further then thou reuaiâ—est it vse praier as a meane by y â— which thou art accustomed to worke many of thy chidrens â—eâ—re that according to thy good wil thou maiest vse the same they doe not thinke a mutabilitie in thee for y â— art god arte not chauÌ„ged wyth thee there is no variablenesse and therfore they pray not as meÌ„ which would haue thy determinations and ordenaunces which are in most wisdome and mercy to be altered but rather that they might submitte their willes to shine make them more able to beare thy will and pleasure They knowe thou haste promysed to helpe them callinge vpon thee wherfore thei doubt not but thou so wilt doe and therefore praie accordingly They loue thee hartely and therfore thei cannot but desire much â—s talke with thee that is to praye euen as a wel manered and lauinge wife will not take vpon her to aske anye thinge of her husbande at all but that she hopeth he wolde take in good parte and doe of his owne fres wyll althoughe she had spoken nothing therof When she knoweth what her housbands will is in thinges she gladely talketh with hym thereof and accordingly as she seeth he is purposed to doe she will often desire him to doe it euen
so thy children I say which hartely loue thet in that they know thy wisdome and wil is best hawe can they but often talke with thes and desyre thee to 〈◊〉 that which they know is best which they knowe also thou woldest doe 〈◊〉 none shuld aske or praye for y â— same Thy children vse praier as a meane by which they se plainly thy power thy presence thy prouideÌ„ce mercy 〈◊〉 goodnes towardes them in granntinge their petitions and by praier they are confirmed of them all Yea thy children vse praier to admonishe them how that all things are in thy hands In praier they are as it were of thee put in mind of those thinges they haue done agaynst thee theyr good lord By reason wherof repentaunce ensueth and they conceyue a purpose to liue more purely euer afterwards and more hartelye to applye themselues to all innocencye goodnes Who now consideryng so manye greate commodities to come by reason of prayer would maruell why thy chyldren are much in praier and in labouring to prouoke others there vnto For as none that is a suter to any other wit vse any thing which might offend or hinder his sute so no man that vseth praier will flatter himself in any thinge that shoulde desplease thee to whom by praier he moueth sute whensoeuer he prayeth so that nothing is a more prouocacion to al kind of godlynes then praier is And therefore not wythout cause we may see thyne Apostles and seruauntes to laboure so dilygentlye and desyre that others myghte vse prayers for themselues and others As concerning outward thynges which thy childreÌ„ pray for although they know thy wil decree is not variable thy purpose must neds come to passe yet doe they receiue by their praier no small commoditie For either they obtaine their requestes or no. If they do obtain theÌ„ then proue they by experience that thou doeste the will of them that feare thee so they are more kindled to loue serue thee And in deed for this purpose 〈◊〉 art wont when thou wilt doe good to any to styrre vp their mindes to desire y â— same good of thee to thende that both thou and thy gifts may be so muche more magnisted and set by of them by how much they haue ben ernest suters and peticioners for the same For howe can it but enâ— a 〈◊〉 them with loue towards thee to per ceiue and fele thee so to care for theÌ„ heare them and loue them If they doe not obtaine that they praye for yet vndoubtedly they receiue greate comforte to see that the euyls which presse them and whereof they complaine stil doe not oppresse and ouer come them therfore they receyue strength to beare y â— same the better O good father help me that I might hartely loue thee complaine to thee in all my nedes and alwaies by prayer to power oute my heart before thee Amen AN OTHER paraphrase or meditation vpon the lords praser O Almighty eternal god of whoÌ„ all fatherhode in heauen and in earth is named whose seate is the heauen whose foote stoole is the earth which of thy great clemency vnspeakable loue hast not waighed nor considered our great vnkindnes and wilfull disobedience but according to the good pleasure of thy eternall purpose hast in thy welbeloued sonne Iesus Christ chosen vs out of the worlde and doest accept vs farre other wise then we be in dede to be called yea and to be in dede thyne adopted sonnes and doest vouchesafe oh louinge father that we as it were heauenly children shuld euery one of vs confesse declare and call thee oure heauenlye father graunt deare father that amonge vs thy poore children by purenes of mynds and couscience by singlenes of hart by vncorrupt and innocent life and example of vertue and godlines thy most holy name maye be sanctified and that so many of al other nations as thou hast ther vnto choseÌ„ and predestinate beholding our godlines vertuous dedes that thou workest in vs may be the more styrred to halow and gloryfy thy blessed name Oh faithfull father we beseech thee that the kingdome of thy holy spirit of grace and prayer of thy louinge kindnes and mercy and of all other thy holy vertues and of thy holye most blessed word may continually raygne in our heartes so that thou woldest vouchesafe therby to make vs worthye to be partakers of the realme kingdome of thy gloriouse and blessed presence Oh deare god and heauenly father we humblye desyre thy goodnes to bowe our hartes vnto thee to make vs humble of mind to make vs low in our owne fight and obedient that like as thy deare sonne our only sauiour Iesê° Christ couÌ„ted his meate workes prayse and life to be onely in obeyng to thy most blessed wyl where in for our sakes he became obedient to the death of the crosse so we may eueÌ„ vnto the very death in lowlines in mekenes pacience and thankefulnes ohey vnto thy holye wil and not to murmur and grudge norrefuse whatsoeuer thy fatherlye pietie shal thinke good to lay on vs be it pouertie hunger nakednes slcknes slaunders oppressions verations persequutions yea or deathe it self for well doing but in all thinges seke and laboure to make these our earthly bodies seruiseable to do thy wil and to refuse that thou wilt not neuer to stryue nor wrastell against thy holye will but with thy heauenly citizens and houshold bull ded vpon the foundation of thy holy prophetes and apostelles thy sonne Iesus Christ being the heade corner stone all selfwill and controuersye in opinious secluded the lustes desieres affections of the fleshe mortified the flatering assaultes of the vaine world y â— cruel and subtyl layings a waite of y â— deuil ouercome agreing together quietly and vnited in spirit we may frely obey vnto thy most blessed will therein to walke all the daies of oure life Oh deare god geue vnto our nedefull bodies necessatie sustenaunce take from vs all loue of worldelye things all carefulnes and couetousnes that we may the more frely worshippe serue thee Oh mercyful father we besech thee to geue vnto vs that heaueÌ„ly bread to strenghteÌ„ our harts I meane y â— bodye of thy deare soÌ„ne Iesê° christ y â— very foode health of our soules that we may alwaies w t thankfulnes firmely feede on him by faith vtterly forsake abhorre al false doctrine perswasioÌ„s of meÌ„ and all lying spirites that shall perswade vs any other wise of him then thy holy word doth teache assure vs satisfie our hungrie soules deare father with y â— mary fatnes of thy riche mercy promised to vs in y â— same thy sonne and of our eternall election redcmption iustificatioÌ„ glorification in him Make vs Oh gratious god to contempne and despise this world with the vaine thinges and pleasures therof and inwardly to hunger for thy blessed kingdome and presence
which doe thou satisfie good god in thy good time accordiÌ„g to thy good will and pleasure Oh most louing god geue vs the bread of thi diuine precepts and make our hartes perfect that we may trulye frely walke and liue in them all the daies of our life Oh deare and mercifull father we besech thee geue vs the bread of thy liuely and heauenly word the true vnderstanding therof which is the light of our pathes the foode strong towre and sure defence of our saules that we beinge wel sensed with this munitioÌ„ fedde and filled with this foode maye be worthy geastes at thy celestial feast and wedding where we shall neuer hunger nor want Oh moste righteous and mercifull god father and gouernor of our life we confesse that we haue greuously sinned against thee from our youth vp vntill now in ingratitude in vnthankfulnes wilfulnes disobedience presumption innumerable our negligences sinnes whiche we froÌ„time to time most hainously haue coÌ„mitted whereby we haue deserued not only sore ad greuouse plagues but euen eternal dampnation were it not that thou art y â— lord of mercy and hast power to shewe mercye on whom y u wilt wherin thou art riche and plentifull to al them that cal by on thee faithfully wherfore dere father we seing our manyfold and greuouse sinnes which we haue commytted against thee also thy great mercy louing kindnes pacience and long suffering towards vs are compelled not only to beare paciently and suffer our enemies wheÌ„ they raile on vs slaunder vs oppresse vs vexe vs or trouble vs curse persequute kyll vs but also to speake well of them to enstructe them to pray for them to doe them good to blisse them to cloth them feede theÌ„ so heapyng coales of thy charity and loue vppon them and mercyfullye to forgeue them euen as thou deare father for thy beloued Chrystes sake haste forgyuen vs. Thus hast thou taughte vs good father not as the hipocrites to loke narowlye on oure neighboures faultes but diligently to examine oure owne consciences wherein we haue offended thee also what occasion of offence or falling we haue geuen to our brethren in eating drinking going apparell speaking disolute or vncomely laghter in barganing or by anye meanes and with all speede seke to reconcile our selues to them to forgeue vnto other from the bottome of our harts whatsoeuer they haue offended vs and to doe none other wise then we wishe and desire in our hartes that other should doe to vs y â— so we may fynde thee o lorde in forgeuing vs our trespasses mylde mer cifull which spedily doe thou shewe thy self vnto vs for thy deare Christes sake Oh lord thou god of the righteous we feele the frailtis of our nature to be so peruerse and apte to sinne that when thou by the giftes of thy holy spirit doest moue vs and as it were cal vs yea rather draw vs vnto thee then are we drawen away tempted of our owne coÌ„cupiscence lust beside the greate and daungerous assaultes of the world and deuill therfore faithful father we thy pore children beseche thee to take from vs al those euills and accasions that may drawe vs from thee Oh deare god protecte defend and strengthen vs against all the suggestions assaultes of our enemyes the worlde the fleshe and the deuill that neither in prosperite we were haute or hyghe minded to say vnthankefully what felow is the lord nor yet in the abondaunce of temptations anguishe vexation tribulation or persequution to be oppressed with feare nor deceiued by flaterie nor yet to fall in dispaire and so vtterlye perishe but in all daungers and perilles of temptacions and in the myddeste of the stormy tempests of tribulacion ders father make vs thy poore children to feels the coÌ„solacion of the certaintie of our eternall election in Chryst Iesus our lorde and to perceyue thy fatherly succoure ready to helpe vs least that we beyng ouercome with the wicked sleightes and veceitfull inuasions of the enemyes should as without thy grace and merciful protection we shall be drawne into an obstinate mind so shut vp the cundite y â— shuld lead thy gracioê° gifts benifits vnto vs to our coÌ„moditye comfort that thou mightest lead vs forth with the euill doers barden our harts Therfore Oh good god giue vs these thi good giftes namely streÌ„gth pacieÌ„ce ioyfulnes of hart to reioyce in temptacyoÌ„ assure vs that it is the triall of our faith that faithe in vs maye haue her perfecte worke that when we be well approuyd and purged with the fire of teÌ„ptations we may fynishe oure life in in vyctory and euer more liue w t thee in thy heaueÌ„ly kingdome where no temptacion shal doe vs hurt Finally most merciful father we humbly besech thee to deliuer vs froÌ„ this present euill world from all humaine wordly feare from al infirmities of the fleshe mind froÌ„ false prophetes and teachers from false brethren from traitours tyrantes c and if it be thy good pleasure and may make most to the glorye of thy name deliuer vs from the handes of our enemies from all other euylls present and to come both of bodye soule that we beyng by the greate mercy defended from al hurtful thinges may alwaies vse those thinges that be profitable for vs deuoutiye geueÌ„ to serue thee in good workes that y â— yoke of our enemies and the bandes of sinne being shaken of we may possesse the inheritaunce of thy heauenly kingdome which thy dere sonne Iesus Chryst hath wyth hys precious bloud purchased for thyne elect froÌ„ the begynning of the world for thyne is the kyngdome thou onlye haste the mayestye thou onelye arte the god aboue all goddes kyng of all kynges and lorde of al lords thou onelye haste the powre and authorytye to set vp kynges and to putte them downe thou liftest the poore once of the duste and makesste hym to sytte amonge the princes of thy people thou onelye makeste warres to cease and geuist victory to whom thou wilt Oh dere god there is neither maiestie rule nor power honour nor worshyppe dignitie nor office riches nor pouertie helth nor sicknes plenty nor scarâ—â—tie presycritie nor aduersitie war nor peace life nor death nor anye other thing but it is all thine thou both hast the power also wilt geue it to whoÌ„ it pleaseth thee in thy time and ceason that all glorye maye be geuen to the alone for thou arte worthye O dere father to thee we come therfore for helpe and succour for wythout thee there is no helpe at al. Oh good father deliuer vs froÌ„ al that is euil in thy sight for thy owne name sake and for thy deare Christs sake that we beynge armes with thy holy armour and weapened wyth thy blessed worde and instructed by thy holy spirit may according to thy holy promise serue thee without 〈◊〉 are
at rewarde pampering vp the seruaunt to oure shame Oh therfore good lord that it wold please thee to opeÌ„ this geare vnto me and to geue me eyes to consider effectually this my bodie what it is namely a seruant lent for the soule to soiorne in serue thee iÌ„ this life yea it is by reasoÌ„ of sinne y â— hath his dwelling there become nowe to the soule nothing els but a prison that most straite vile stinking fylthy and therfore in daunger of miseries to many in al ages tymes places till deathe hathe turned it to duste whereof it came and whether it shall returne that the soule maye returne to thee from whence it came vntil the day of Iudgement come in the whiche y u wilte reise vp that body that then it may be partaker with the soule the soule with it inseparably of weale or woe according to that is done in by the same body here nowe in earth Oh that I could consyder often and hartely these thinges then shoulde I not pamper vp thys body to obey it but brydle it that it might obey y â— soule then should I flye the paine it putteth my soule vnto by reason of synne and prouocation to al euyl continually desyre the dissolution of it w t Paul y â— deliuerance froÌ„ it as much as euer dyd prisoner his delyueraunce out of prison for alonelyr by it the deuyl hath a dore to tempt and so to hurte me in it I am kepte froÌ„ thy presence and thou from being so conuersant with me as els y u wouldeste be by it I am restrained from the sense and feeling of all the ioyes and coÌ„fortes in maner which are to be taken as ioyes and comfortes in dede If it were dissolued and I oute of it then coulde Sathan no more hurt me then wouldest thou speake w t me face to face then the conflicting time were at an end then sorow would cease and ioye woldencrease and I shuld enter into inestimable reste Oh that I considered this accordingly AN OTHER mediation to the same effecte THE begynning of al euyl in our kind of lyuinge springeth oute of the deprauatyon and corruptnes of our Iudgement because our wil alwaies foloweth-that whiche reason Iudgeth to be folowed Now that which euery man taketh to be frendly and agreing to his nature the same doth he Iudge necessarely to be good for him and to be desyred This is meate drinke apparell riches fauour dignitye rule knowledge and suche like because they are thought good and agreing either to the body or to the minde or to both for they helpe either to the coÌ„seruatioÌ„ or to the pleasure of maÌ„ accompted of euerye one amongest good thinges How beit suche is the weaknes of our witte on y â— one part the blindnes and to muche rage of our lustes on the other part that we being left to oure selues cannot but in the desire of thinges which we iudge good and agreinge to oure nature by the Iudgement of our senses and reasoÌ„ we cannot I say but ouer passe the boundes wherby they might be profitable vnto vs and so we make theÌ„ hurtful to vs whiche of the themselues are ordained for our health What is more necessarye then meate and drinke or more agreing to nature but yet how fewe be there which de not hurt theÌ„selues by them In like maner it goeth w t riches estimatioÌ„ frendes lerning c. Yea althoughe we be iÌ„ these most teÌ„perate yet wheÌ„ there wanteth y â— spirit our regeneratour we are so drouned in theÌ„ 〈◊〉 we vtterly neglect to lift vp our miÌ„ds to the good pleasure of god to the ends we mighte imitate and folowe god our maker by yelding our selnes oiuer dulye to vse his giftes to y â— common priuate vtility of oure neighbours But now goÌ„d only is life cternity cannot but demaund of vs his handiworke y â— we should render â—ure selues al we haue to the ende wherfore we were made y â— is to resemble for our portion his goodnes as those which be nothinge els but witnesses instrumeÌ„ts of his mâ—â—â—y So y â— when we wholly do naturally â—â—riue agaiÌ„st y â— kind of life wherto he hath creat vs by seking alwaies ourselues what other thing ought to ensue but y â— he shuld again destroy vs take away his notable gifts wher w t be endued vs y â— by al kind of wel doing we shuld resemble his image yea what other this may ensue but that he shuld leaue vs y â— eternally y â— we might fele by experieÌ„ce proue how bitter a thing it is to leaue y â— lord 〈◊〉 whoÌ„ is al goodnes Oh y â— therfore I might finde such fauour in thy sight dere father y â— y u woldest worke in â—â—e by thy holy spirit a true knowledge of al good thinges and harty loue to the same through Christ Iesus our lord and only sauiour Amen A MEDITATION FOR THE exercyse of true mortification HE that wilbe readye in weightie matters to denie his owne wâ— to be obedient to the wyl of God the same had nede to accustome him selfe to deny his desyres in matters of iesse weyght and to exercyse mortification of his owne wil in trisles For if that 〈◊〉 affectioÌ„s by this daily custome be not as it were half slaine surely surely when they lunge shal come we shal fynd the more to doe If we cannot watch with christ one howre as he saieth to Peter we vndoubtedly can muche lesse goe to death with him Wherefore that in great temptacions we may be ready to say with Christ not my wyll but thine be done in that this commoÌ„ly commeth not to passe but where the rotes of our lustes by thy grace dere father are almost rotten and rooted out by a daily deniall of that they desire I humbly besech thee for christs sake to help me herein First pardon me my cherishing as it were watering of mine affections obeyinge them in theyr deuyses and superfluous desyres wherthroughe in that they haue taken depe roote and are to liuely in me I secondly do besech thee to pul them vp by the rotes out of my hart and so henceforth to order me that I may coÌ„tinually accustome my self to weaken the principal rote that the byrotes braunthes may lose al their power GrauÌ„t me I besech thee y â— thy grace maye daily mortifie my coÌ„cupisceÌ„ce of pleasant things y â— is of wealth riches glory libertie fauour of meÌ„ meats drinks apparel ease yea life it self y â— the horror and impaciencie of more greuous things may he weakened and I made more pacient in aduersytie Whervnto I further desire pray thy goodnes deare father that thou wilt adde this namely that I may for euer become obedient ready to thy good wil in al things hartely willingly to serue thee doe whatsoeuer mai please the. For doutles
although we accustome oure selues in y â— pleasant things of this life to a mortificatioÌ„ denyal of our selues yet we shal find enough to doe when more bitter weighty crosses come For if thy sonne oure sauiour euer woÌ„t to obey thy good wil praied so hartely ofteÌ„ not my wil but thy wil be don whereby he declareth himself to be veri maÌ„ how caÌ„ it be but we whose nature is corrupt not only in natiuity but in y â— rest of oure whole life also shal find both our haÌ„ds ful iÌ„ great greuoê° teÌ„ptations wholy to resigne our selues vnto thee GrauÌ„t therfore dere father for thy Christs sake to me a most miserable wretch thi grace holy spirit to be effectual in me y â— daily I maye accustome my self to deny my wil in more easye pleasant things of this life y â— when nede shal be I may come w t christ to thee w t a resigned wil alwaies stedfastly expecting thy mercye in the meane season continually obeyng thee with readines and willingnes doyng what so euer may most please thee through christ our lord whiche liueth with thee c. A GODLYE MEDITATION and instruction of the prouidence of god towards mankind THis ought to be vnto vs moste certaine y â— nothing is done without thi prouidence oh lord that is that not nothynge is done be it good or bad swete or sower but by thy knowledge that is by thy wyl wisedome and ordinaÌ„ce for al these knowledge doth comprehend in it as by thy holy word we are taught in many places that eueÌ„ the life of a sparow is not w tout thy wil nor any liberty or power vpon a porket haue all the deuils in hell but by thy appointment wil w t wil we alwaies muste beleue moste assuredlye to be al iust good how soeuer otherwise it seme vnto vs. For y u art merueloê° not comprehensyble in thy wayes and holy in all thy workes But herevnto it is necessarie also for vs to knowe no lesse certainely that thoughe al thynges be done by thy prouidence yet the same prouidence hath manye diuers meanes to worke by which meanes beinge coÌ„temned thy prouidence is contemned also As for example meate is a meane to serue thy prouidence for y â— preseruation of health and life here so that he which contemneth to eate because thy prouidence is certaine vnfallible the same contemneth thy prouidence In deede if y â— it were so y â— meate could not be had then shuld we not tye thy prouidence to thys meane but make it free as y u art free that is that withoute meate y u canst help and geue health and life for it is not of any nede that thou vsest anye instrumente or meane to serue thy prouidence thy power and wisedome is infinite and therfore should we hangon thy prouidence euen when all is cleane agaist vs. But for our erudition and infirmities sake it hath pleased thee by meanes to worke and deale with vs here to ex exercise vs in obedieÌ„ce because we cannot els so great is our corruption sustaine thy naked and bare presence Graunt me therfore deare father I humbly besech thee for Christs sake y â— as I somthing now know these thigs so I may vse this know ledge to my comfort commodity in thee y â— is grauÌ„t y t in what state so euer I be I may not dout but y â— same doth come to me by thy most iust ordinaÌ„ce yea by thy merciful ordinaÌ„ce for as y u art iust so art y u merciful yea thy mercie is aboue al thy workes And by this knowledge grauÌ„t me that I may humble my selfe to obey thee and loke for thy helpe in tyme conuenient not onely when I haue meanes by which thou maist worke art so accustomed to doe but also when I haue no meanes but am destitute ryea when that al meanes be directly cleane against me graunt I saye yet that I maye still hange vpon the and thy prouidence not doubtinge of a fatherly ende in thy good time Againe lest I shuld contempne thy prouidence or presume vpon it by vncouplinge those thinges whiche thou hast coupled together preserue me from negleating thy ordinarye lawefull meanes in al my nedes yt so be I may haue them and w t good conscience vse theÌ„ although I know thy prouidence be not tyed to them further then pleaseth thee but grauÌ„t that I may with diligeÌ„ce reuerence and thankfulnes vse them and ther to my diligence wisedome and industrie in all thinges lawful to serue therby thy prouidence if it so please thee howbeit so that I hange in no part on y â— meanes or on my diligence wisdome industry but only on thy prouidence which more more perswade me to be altogether father ly and good how farre so euer other wise it appeare seme yea is feltâ— of me By this I being preserued froÌ„ negligence on my behalf and dispair or murmuring towards thee shal be come diligent and pacient through thy mere and alone grace whiche geue and encrease in me to prayse thy holy name for euer through Iesus Christ oure lorde and onelye sauiour Amen A MEDITATION of the presence of god THERE is nothinge that maketh more to trewe godlynes of life then the persuasion of thy presence deare father that nothinge is hid from thee but all to thee is open naked eueÌ„ y â— very thoughtes which one daie thou wilt reuele and open either to our praise or punishement in this life As thou didst Dauids faultes which he did secretly 2 Reg 12. or in y t life to come Mat 25 For nothing is so hid that shall not be reueiled Therfore doth the prophet saye woe to them that kepe secret their thoughts to hide their couÌ„sell from the lord doe their works in darkenes sayinge who seeth vs graunt to me therfore dere god mercy for al my sinnes especially my hid close sinnes enter not into iudgemeÌ„t with me I humbly besech the geue me to beleue truly in thy christ that I neuer come into Iudgement for them that with Dauid I mighte so reueile them and coÌ„fesse them vnto thee that y u woldest couer them And graunt further that hence forth I alwaies thinke my self continually conuersant before thee so that yf I do wel I passe not of the publishig of it as hipocrites doe yf I doe or thinke any euell I maye forth with know that y â— same shall not alwaies be hidde from meÌ„ Graunt me that I may alwaies haue in mind that day wherin hid workes of darknes shalbe illumined also y â— senteÌ„ce of thy sonne that nothinge is so secrete which shal not be reueiled So iÌ„ trouble and wrong I shal find comfort and otherwise be kept throughe thy grace from euil which doe y u worke I humblye beseche thee for Christes sake Amen A
small crosses vnto thee Iudas was admonished of thee to beware but when he toke no heed but wilfully went out to finishe his worke conteÌ„ning thy admonition counsel he could not but vere thy most louing hart After supper there was contention amongs thy disciples who shuld be greatest after thee yet dreaming carnally of thee and thy kingdome hauing this affection of pride ambition busy amongs them notwithstanding thy diligence in reprouing and teaching them After thy admonicioÌ„ to them of the crosse y â— wold come therby to make them more vigilant so grosse were they y â— they thought they could with their .ii. swerds put away al pertis which was no litle greife vnto thee After thy comiÌ„g to Gethsemane heuines oppressed thee therfore thou woldest thy disciples to pray y u didst tel to peter and his felows that thy hart was heauy to death y u didst wil them to pray being careful for them also least they shuld fal into tentation After this y u wentest a stones cast froÌ„ them didst pray thy self falling flat groueliÌ„g vpoÌ„ y e earth but alas y â— feltst no coÌ„fort therfore y u camest to thy disciples whiche of all others wer most swete dere vnto thee but lo to thy further discomforte they passe nether of thy perils nor of their owne therfore slepe a pace After y â— hadst awaked them y u goest again to pray but y u fouÌ„dest no coÌ„fort at al therfore didst returne again for some coÌ„fort at thy derest freÌ„ds haÌ„ds But yet again alas they are fast a slepe whervpoÌ„ y u art inforced to goe again to thy heaueÌ„ly father for some sparcle of coÌ„fort in these thy wonderfull crosses agonies Now here y u wast so discouraged so coÌ„fortlesse that eueÌ„ streames of bloud came running froÌ„ thine eies cares other partes of thy body But who is able to expresse y e infinitnes of thy crosses eueÌ„ at thy being in y â— garden al which y â— sufferdest for my sake aswell to satisfy thi fathers wrath for my sines as also to sanctifie all my sufferings the more gladelye to bee sustayned of me After thy bloudye praier thou camest and yet agayne foundeste thy disciples a sleepe and before y u canst wel awake theÌ„ loâ— Iudas cometh w t a great band of meÌ„ to appreheÌ„d thee a these so doth leading thee away bound to the high Bysshopps house Annas and so froÌ„ him to Caiaphas Here now to augment this thy myserie beholde thy Disciples fle from thee false witnesses be broughte against thee thou art accused and condemned of blasphemie Peter eueÌ„ in thy sight forswereth thee thou arte vniustly stricken for answering lawfully thou art blindfelde stricken buffeted all the whole nighte in the Bysshoppe Caiaphas house of their cruell seruants In the morning by times thou art condempned againe of the prestes of blasphemie and therfore they bring thee before y â— secular power to Pilate by whoÌ„ y u art openly arrayned as other theues and malefauoures were when he sawe that thou wast accused of malice yet he did not desmysse thee but dyd sende thee to Herode where thou was derided shamefully in comminge and goeinge to and from hym all the waye wonderfully especially after Herod had apparelled thee as a foole Afore pilate againe therfore thou wast brought and accused falsly no man did take thy parte or speake a good worde for thee Pilate caused thee to be whipped scourged and to be handeled most pitifully to see if any pitie might appeare with the prelates but no maÌ„at al pitied thee Barrabas was preferred before thee al the people head taile was against thee cried hange thee vp vniustly to death wast thou iudged y u wast crowned with thornes that pearced thi braines thou wast made a mocking stocke thou wast reuiled reâ—aited beaten and most miserably handled Thou wentest through Ierusalem to the place of execution euen the mount of Caluarie A great crosse to bange thee on was laid vpon thy backe to beare and drawe as longe as thou wast able Thy bodye was racked to be nayled to the tree thy hands were bored thorow thy fete also nailes were put thorow them to fasten thee ther on thou wast hanged betwene heauen and earth as one spewed out of heauen vomited oute of the earth vnworthy of any place y â— high priest laughed thee to sckorne the elders blasphemed thee and saied god hath no care for thee the common people laught and cried out vpoÌ„ thee thrist oppressed thee but vinegre onelye and gal was giueÌ„ to thee to drinke heauen shined not on thee the sonne gaue thee no light the earth was afraied to beare thee Sathan tempted thee and thine owne senses caused thee to crie out my god my god why hast thou forsakeÌ„ me Oh wonderful passions which y u sufferedst In them y u teachest me in theÌ„ thou comfortest me for by them god is my father my sinnes are forgeuen by theÌ„ I shuld learne to feare god to loue god to hope iÌ„ god to hate sinne to be patient to cal vpon god neuer to leaue him for any tentatioÌ„s but with thee stil to crye father in to thy hands I coÌ„mende my spirit A CONFESSION OF SINNES and praier for the mitigation of goddes wrath and punishment for the same O Almightie god king of al kings gouerner of all things whose power no creature is able to resiste to whom it belongeth iustly to to punishe sinners and to be merciful vnto them that truly repent we confesse that thou doest most iustely punishe vs for we haue greuouslye sinned against thee and we acknowledge that in punishinge vs y u doest declare thy selfe to be our most mercifull father aswell because y u doeste not punishe vs in any thinge as we haue deserued as also because by punishing vs thou doest call vs and as it were drawe vs to increase in repentance in faith in praier in contemning of the world and in hartie desiring for euerlasting life and thy blessed presence Graunt vs therfore gratious lord thankfully to acknowledge thy great mercye which haste thus fauorably dealt with vs in punishing vs not to our confusion but to our amendment And seing thou hast sworne that y u wilt not the death of a sinner but that he turne lyue haue mercie vppon vs and turne vs vnto thee for thi derely beloued soÌ„ne Iesus christs sake whoÌ„ thou wouldest should be made a slaine sacrifice for our sinnes therby declaring thy great and vnspeakable anger agaist sinne thine infinite mercy to wardes vs sinfull wretches And for as muche as the dulnes of our harts blindnes and corruption is such that we are not able to arise vp vnto thee by faithful harty praier acording to our great necessity without thy singuler grace and assistance grauÌ„t vnto vs gratious lord thy holye and sanctifâ—inge spirite to worke in vs
this good worke with a pure and cleane mynde wyth an humble and lowelye harte wyth grace to waie and consyder the nede and greatnes of that we doe desyre and wyth an assured fayth and trust that thou wilte graunte vs oure requestes because thou arte good and gracious euen to yonge rauens catling vppon thee muche more then to vs for whom thou haste made all thinges yea hast not spared thyne owne dere sonne because thou hast commaunded vs to call vpon thee because thy throne wherevnto we come is a throne of grace mercye because thou hast geuen vs a mediatour Christ to bringe vs vnto thee being the waye by whom we come being the dore by whom we enter and being our head on whoÌ„ we hang and hope that oure poore petitions shal not be in vaine through and for his names sake We besech thee therfore of thy rich mercy wherin thou art plentiful to all them that call vpon thee to forgeue vs our synnes namelye oure vnthankefullnes vnbeleife selfe loue neglect of thy word securitye hipocrisie contempt of thy long suffringe omissyon of prayer doubting of thy power presence mercy and good will towardes vs vnsensyblenes of thy grace impaciencye c and to thys thy benefytte of corrcaynge vs adde these thy gratious gifts repentaÌ„ce faith the spirit of prayer y â— contempte of thys world and harty desiring for euerlastinge lyfe indue vs wyth thy holie spirit according to thy couenant and mercy aswell to assure vs of pardon and that thou doest accepte vs into thy fauour as thy deare children in Christ and for his sake as to write thy law in our hartes so to worke in vs that we maye now begyn and goe forwardes in beleuing liuing fearing obeyng praying hoping seruinge thee as thou doest requyre most fatherly and most iustly of vs acceptinge vs as perfecte throughe Christ and by imputation And moreoner when it shal be thy good pleasure most to thy glorye deliner vs we besech thee out of y â— handes of thine aduersaries by such meanes be it death or life as maye make to our comfort most in Christ In the meane season and for euer saue vs and gouerne vs with thy holy spiryte and hys eternall consolation And concerning thine aduersaries whiche for thy sake are become ours aduersaries so many of them as are to be conuerted we beseche thee to shewe thy mercye vpon them and to conuerte theÌ„ but those that are not to be conuerted whiche thou onelye doest knowe most mightye god and terrible lord confounde and get thy name a glory ouer them abate their pride aswage their malice bring to naught their deuelishe deuises and graunt that we and al thine afflicted children may be armes with thy defence weaponed with thy wisdome and gyded with thy grace and holye spirite to be preserued for euer from all geuing of offences to thy people and from all perilles to glorifie thee whiche art the onely geuer of al victorie through the merits of thy onelye sonne Iesus Christe oure lorde Amen AN OTHER CONFESSION of sinnes AS Dauid seing thyne angell with his sword readye drawen moste righteous lorde to plague IerusaleÌ„ cried out vnto thee it is I lord that haue sinned I that haue done wickedly thyne hand lorde be on me and not on thy poore sheepe wherthrough thou waste moued to mercy and baddest thine Angel put vp his sword thou haddest taken punishment enough Euen so we gratious lord seyng thy fearfull sword of vengeaunce readye drawen and presentlye strikynge againste thys common weale and thy Churche in the same we I saye are occasyoned euerye man nowe to caste of oure eyes from beholdinge and narrowly spieng out other mennes faltes and to set oure owne onely in fight that with the same Dauide thy seruant and with Ionas in the shippe we may crie it is we o lord which haue synned and procured this thy greuous wrath And this we nowe gathered together in Christs name doe acknowledge confessing oure selues giltye of horrible ingratitude for our good king for thy gospell and pure religion and for the peace of thy church quietnes of the coÌ„moÌ„ weale besides our negligences many other oure greuous sinnes where throughe we haue deserued not onelye these but much more greuous plages if that euen presentlye thou diddest not as thou art wonte remember thy mercye Herevpon that thou in thine angre remembreste thy mercye before we seeke sue for it we take bouldnes as thou commaundeste vs to doe in oure trouble to come and call vppon thee to be mercyefull vnto vs and of thy goodnes nowe we humblie in Christes name pray thee to holde thy hande and ceasse thy wrath or at y â— least so to mitigate it that this realme may be quietly gouerned and the same eftesâ—nes to be a harborowe for thy church and true religion which do thou restore to vs againe accordinge to thy greate power and mercye and we shall prayse thy name for euer throughe Iesus Christ our onely mediatour and sauiour Amen A PRAIER FOR THE REMISsion of finnes OH lord god and deare father what shall I say that feele al thinges to be in maner with me as in y â— wicked blynde is my minde croked is my wyll and peruerse concupiscence is in me as a spring or stinking puddle Oh howe fainte is faithe in me howe litle is loue to thee or thi people how great is self loue how hard is my hart c. By the reason whereof I am moued to doubte of thy goodnes towardes me whether thou arte my father or noe and whether I be thy childe or noe In dede worthely might I dout yf that the hauing of these were the causes and not the fruites rather of thy children The cause why thou art my father is thi mercy goodnes grace and trueth in christ Iesus the which cannot but remayne for euer In respecte whereof thou hast borne me thys good wil to accept me into the number of thy children that I might be holy faithful obedient innocent c. And therfore thou woldst not onely make me a creature after thy Image enduing me with ryght limmes shape forme memorie wisdome c where thou mightest haue made me a beast a maimed creature lame blind fraÌ„tike c but also thou wouldest that I shoulde be borne of Christen parentes brought into thy Church by baptisme and called dyuers times by the ministerye of thy worde into thy kingdome besydes the innumerable other benefites alwaies hither to powred vpon me Al whiche thou haste done of thys thy good wil that y u of thyne owne mercy barest to me in Christ for Christ before the worlde was made The which thinge as y u requirest straitly that I shuld beleue w tout doubting so in all my nedes that I shuld come vnto thee as to a father make my mone w tout mistrust of being hard in thy good time as most shal make to my coÌ„sort Loe
therfore to thee dere father I come through thy sonne our lord mediatour and aduocate Iesus christ who sitteth on thy right hand making intercession for me praye thee of thy great goodnes mercye in christ to be merciful vnto me that I may feele in dede thy swete mercy as thy childe The time oh deare father I appoint not but I pray thee that I may w t hope stil expect loke for thy help I hope that as for a litle while y u hast left me thou wilt come and visite me and that in thy great mercie whereof I haue nede by reason of my great miserie Thou arte wont for a litle season in thine anger to hyde thy face from them whom thou louest but suerly oâ— redemer in eternal mercies y u wilt shewe thy compassions For when thou leauest vs oh lord y u doest not leaue vs very long neither doest y u leaue vs to our losse but to our lucre aduantage eueÌ„ that thy holy spirit with bigger porcion of thy power vertue maye lighten and cheare vs that y â— want of feeling to our sorow maye be recompenced plentifully with the liuely sense of hauiÌ„g thee to our eternal Ioy and therfore thou swarest that in thine euerlastiÌ„g mercy thou wilt haue coÌ„passioÌ„ on vs. Of which thiÌ„g to thende we might be most assured thin oâ—he is to be marked for y u saist as I haue sworne y â— I will not bring any more the waters to drowne the world so haue I sworne y â— I wil neuer more be angry with thee nor reproue thee The mouÌ„tains shal remoue y â— hils shal fal downe but my louing kindnes shall not moue y â— bond of my peace shal not faile thee thus saiest y u y â— lord our merciful redemer Dere father therfor I pray thee remeÌ„ber eueÌ„ for thine owne trueth mercies sake this promise euerlasting couenaÌ„t w t in thy good time I thee to write in my hart that I may know thee to be the only true god and Iesus Christe whom thou haste sent that I maye loue thee with all my harte for euer y t I may loue thy people for thy sake that I may be holy in thi sight through Christ that I may always not only striue against sinne but also ouercome the same daily more and more as thy children doe aboue all thinges desiringe the sanctification of thy name the comming of thy kingdome the doyng of thy will here on earth as it is in heauen c through Iesus Christ our redemer mediatour aduocate Amen AN OTHER PRAIER FOR remission of sinnes O Gracious god which sekest all meanes possible how to bring thy children into the feeling and sure sense of thy mercy therfore wheÌ„ prosperitie will not serue then sendeste thou aduersitie graciouslye correcting them here whoÌ„ y â— wilt shal with thee ells where lyue for euer we poore misers geue humble praises and thankes vnto thee deare father that thou hast vouched vs worthy of thy correction at this present hereby to worke that whiche we in prosperity liberty did neglect For the which neglecting and manye other our greuous sinnes wherof we nowe accuse oure selues before thee most mercifull lorde thou mightest most iustely haue geuen vs ouer and destroied vs bothe in soules and bodies But suche is thy goodnes towardes vs in Christe that thou semest to forget all our offences and as though we were farre otherwise then we be in deed thou wilte that we shuld suffer this crosse now laied vpon vs for thy trueth and gospelles sake and so be thy witnesses wyth the prophets apostles martyrs and confessours yea with thy dearly beloued sonne Iesus Christe to whoÌ„ thou doest now here beginne to fashion vs like that in his glorye we may be like him also Oh good god what are we on whoÌ„ thou shouldest she we this great mercy Oh louing lorde forgiue vs oure vnthankfullnes sinnes Oh faithfull father geue vs thyne holy spirit now to crie in our harts Abba dere father to assure vs of our eternal elections in Christ to reueile more more thi trueth vnto vs to coÌ„firme strengthen and stablishe vs so in the same that we may liue and die in it as vessells of thy mercy to thy glory and to the comoditie of thy churche Indue vs with the spirit of thy wisdome that with good conscience we maye alwaies so answere y â— enemies in thy cause as maye turne to their conuersion or confusion and our vnspeakable consolatioÌ„ in Iesê° christ for whose sake we besech thee hence forth to kepe vs to geue vs pacieÌ„ce and to will none otherwise for delyneraunce or mitigation of our miserye then maye stande alwaye wyth thy good pleasure and mercyful wil towardes vs. Graunt this deare father not onely to vs in this place but also to all other ells where afflicted for thy names sake through the death and merites of Iesus Christ our lord AmeÌ„ A PRAIER FOR DELIVERANCE from sinne and to be restored to goddes grace and fauour againé OH almightie and euer lasting lord god which hast made heauen earth c oh incoÌ„prebensible vnitie oh alwaies to be worshipped most blessed Trinitie I humbly beseth thee and pray thee by the assumption crucifyed humanitie of our lord Iesus Christe that thou wouldest enclyne and bowe downe the great depth of thy deitie to the botomeles pitte of my vilitie driue froÌ„ me al kynde of vice wickednes and synne and make in me a newe and cleane harte and renewe in me a right spirit for thy holy names sake Oh lord Iesu I besech thy goodnes for y â— excedig great loue which drew thee out of thy fathers bosome into the wombe of the holye virgin and for the assumptioÌ„ of maÌ„nes nature wherin it pleased thee to saue me to deliuer me from eternall death I besech thee I say that thou woldest drawe me out of my selfe into thee my lorde god and graunte this thy loue maye recouer againe to me thy grace to increase and make perfecte in me that which is wantinge to raise vp in me that which is fallen to restore to me that whiche I haue lost to quicken in me that whiche is dead shuld liue that so I may be come conformable vnto thee in all my life and conuersation thou dwelling in me and I in thee my hart being soupled with thy grace settled in thy faith for euer Oh y u my god lose set at libertie my spirit from al inferriour things gouerne my soule so worke that both in soule and body I may be holy and lyue to thy glory world with out ende Amen A PRAIER FOR THE OBTAIning of faith O Mercifull god and dere father of our lord sauiour Iesus christ In whom as thou art wel pleased so hast thou commaunded vs to heare him for as muche as he often biddeth vs to aske of thee and therto promiseth that thou wilt
heare vs and graunte vs that whiche in hys name we shall aske of thee loe gratious father I am bolde to begge of thy mercy through thy sonne Iesus Christ one sparcle of true faith and certaine perswasion of thy goodnes and loue towardes me in Christe wherthrough I being assured of the pardone of all my sinnes by the mercyes of Christe thy sonne maye be thankfull to thee loue thee and serue thee in holynes and righteousnes all the daies of my life Amen A PRAIER FOR REPENTANCE MOst gratious god and merciful father of oure sauiour Iesus Christ because I haue synned and done wickedly and through thy goodnes haue receiued a desire of repentance wherto this longe suffering doth drawe my hard harte I besech thee for thy great mercies sake in Christ to worke the same repentance in me and by thy spirite power and grace to humble mortifye and feare my conscience for my sinnes to saluation that in thy good time thou maist comfort and quickē me through Iesus Christ thy derely beloued senne So be it A DIALOGE OR COMMVNIcation betvvene Sathan and our conscience Sathan THOU hast synned agaynst god therefore thou must dye Conscience Why then died Christ Sa. For sinners but how knowst thou he died for thee Con. Because I am a sinner and he is bothe able and willinge to forgeue me Sa. I graunt that he is able to forgeue thee but how knoweste thou he will Con. He wold not surely haue dyed if he wold not forgeue Sa. But howe knowest thou that he will forgeue thee Con. Because I wold sayne be forgeuen Sa. So would Iudas as wel as y ◠and preuayled not Con. The scriptures wente vppon Iudas facte which must nedes be fulfylled they neuer went vpon myne Agayne Iudas bare a fygure of the people of thee Iewes whiche trybe onelye fell from Christ when all other eleuen tribes of the world dyd styeke faste vnto him I am a poore sinner of the gentils of whom it is written I wilbe eraited in the gentiles Sa. If thou be a sinner of the gentiles yet thou muste consyder thy synne is great Con. I graunt but Christes passion is greater Sa. Oh but y ◠hast sinned very oftē Con. Tell me not Sathan what I haue done but what I wil do Sa. Why what wilt thou doe Con. By goddes grace my full purpose is here after to take better hede and to amend my former life Sa. Is that enough thinkst thou Con. What lacketh Sa. The fauour of God whiche hath cleane forsaken thee Con. So God fauoured loued the world that he gaue his owne dere sonne that whosoeuer seeth him as the Israelites did the brasen serpent they shall not perysh but haue lyfe euerlastinge A short and pithie defence of the doctrine of the holy election and predestination of God gathered out of the first Chapter of S. Paules Epistle to the Ephesians By I. bradford THere is neyther vertue nor vice to be consydered accordinge to any outwarde action nor accordinge to the will and wisedome of man but accordynge to the wyll of god Whatsoeuer is conformable therto the same is vertue and the action that springeth thereof is laudable good howsoeuer it appaere otherwise to the eyes and reason of man as was the lifting vp of Abrahams hand to haue staine his sonne Whatsoeuer is not conformable to the will of god that same is vice the action springing thereof is to be disalowed taken for euell that so much the more and greater euell by howe much it is not consonaunt and agreeing to gods wil although it seme faire otherwise to mans wisdome as was Peters wishe of makinge three tabernacles and the request of some which wold haue had fyer to haue come downe from heauen vpon a zeale to god c. Nowe the wyll of God is not so knowen as in his worde Therfore accordinge to it muste vice and vertue good and euell be iudged and not accordinge to the Iudgemente wysedome reason and collection of anye man or of all the whole world if all the Angelles in heauen shuld take their part But thys worde of god whiche is writen in the canonicall bookes of the byble dothe playnelye set surth vnto vs that god hath of his owne mercye and good will and to the prayse 〈◊〉 hys grace and glorye in Chryste elected some and not all whome he hathe predestinate vnto euerlastyng lyfe in the same Christ and in hys tyme calleth them iustifyeth them and gloryfyeth them so that they shall neuer perishe and erre to dampnation finally Therefore to affyrme teach and preache thys doctrine hath in it no hurte no vice no euell muche lesse then hathe it anye enormityes as some doe affyrme to the eyes and spyryte of them whiche are guyded and wylbe by the worde of god That god the eternall father of mercyes before the begynnynge of the worlde hathe of hys owne mercye and good wyll and to the praise of hys grace and glorye elected in Christe some and not all of the posterytye of Adam whom he hathe predestynate vnto eternall life and callethe them in hys tyme iustyfyeth them and gloryfyeth them so that they shall neuer peryshe or erre to dampnatiou fynallye that thys proposytyon is trewe and accordinge to goddes plaine and manifeste worde by the helpe of hys holye spyryte whyche in the name of Iesus Chryst I humbly beseche hys mercy plenteously to geue to me at this present and for euer to the sanc tification of his holye name by the helpe I say of his holy spirit I trust so euidently to declare that no man of god shalbe able b◠the word of god euer to impugne it muche lesse to confute it In the first chapter of the epistle to the Ephesians y ◠apostle saith thus Blessed be God the father of our Lorde Iesus Christ whiche hath blessed vs with all maner of blessinges in heauenlye thinges by Christ according as he hath elect or chosen vs in him before the foundation of the worlde was layed that we shoulde be holye and without blame before him through loue hath predestinat vs or ordeyned vs thorough Iesus Christ to be heires vnto him self accordynge to the good pleasure of hys wyll to the praise of the glorye of his grace where with he hathe made vs accepted in the beloued by whome we haue receyued redemption thoroughe his blood and the forgeuenes of our synnes accordyng to the ryches of his grace which grace he hath shed on vs abundauntly in al wysedom vnderstāding and hath opened vnto vs the mysterie of his wil according to his good pleasure whiche he purposed in him selfe to haue it declared when the tyme was full come that he might gather together all thinges by or in Christ as well the things that be in heauen as the thynges that be in earth euen in or by hym by or in whome we are made heyres being thereto predestinat according to
the purpose of hym whyche worketh al things according to the decree or counsaile of his owne wyll that we whiche hoped before you in Christ shoulde be vnto the prayse of his glorye in whom ye also hoped after that ye heard the worde of trueth the gospell of your saluation wherein ye also beleuing were sealed with the holy spirite of promise whiche is the earnest of our inheritaunce vntill the redemption or full fruition of the purchased possession vnto the praise of hys glorye These be y â— words of Paull which I haue faithefully translated according to the very texte in the greeke as by the iudgement of all y â— be learned I desire herein to be tried oute of the which words of Paul we may well perceyue euery thing affirmed in my proposition as I will geue occasion plainly to them that will to see it First that y â— cause of gods election is of his good will the Apostle sheweth in sayig that it is through his loue wherby we are holy and without blame also according to y â— good pleasure of his wil according to his good pleasure purposed in him selfe according to his purpose which worketh all things after the counsell of his owne will Secondly that electioÌ„ was before the beginning of the world the apostle plainly sheweth in saying that we were chosen before the foundatios the worlde was layed and afterwards in calling it the misterye of his will purposed wyth him self in time to be declared Thridly that election is in christ the Apostle dothe so flatly and plainly set it fourth that I nede not here to repete it We sayeth he are chosen in hym we are heyres by hym we are accepted by hym we are gathered together in him c. Fourthelye that electyon is of some of Adams posterytye and not of all we maye playnelye see it yf we consyder that he makethe the trewe demonstratyon of it beleuinge hopinge and hauynge the earneste of the spyryte In whom yea hoped sayeth he after ye hard the worde c in whom ye beleued were sealed vp c. Agayne in attrybutynge to the electe forgeuenesse of synnes holynesse blamelesse lyuynge beinge in Christ c. That we shoulde bee holye saieth he c we haue receyued forgeuenesse of synnes c. Whoe seeth not that these are not common to all men All menne haue not saythe sayeth Paulle elles where None beleued sayeth â—ake but suche as were ordayned to eiernail lyfe None beleue but suche as be borne of god None beleue treewlye but suche as haue good heartes and keepe gooddes seede to brynge forth frutes by patience So that it is plaine faith being a demonstration of goddes election to them that be of yeres of distretion that all men are not elect because all meÌ„ beleue not For he that beleueth in the lord shalbe as mounte Sion that is he shall neuer be remoued For if he be remoued that is finally perishe suerly he neuer truely beleued But what goe I about to lighten a candel in the cleare soÌ„ne light when our sauiour plainly saith y â— all be not chosen but fewe Many be called saith he but fewe be chosen And in the second chapter to the eph the Apostle plainly saith that the great riches of gods mercy through his exceding greate loue hath saued them before their parentes manye other gentils which were excluded from Christ and straungers from the promise hoples godles c. Whertherough we may be occasioned to crie Oh the depth of the Iudgements of god which is iuste in al his doinges and holy in all his workes exteÌ„ding his mercy after his good pleasure will aboue al his workes Fyftly that god hath predeffinate these thus elect vnto euerlasting life in Christ the apostle doth also in the words before writen declare in saying hath predestinate vs through Iesus Christ to be heires vnto hym selfe Againe by him saith he ye are made heires and predestinate to the praise of his glorye So saith the Apostle els where whom he hath predestinate them he hath predestinate to be like fashioned vnto the shape of his sonne And Christe therefore saithe reioyce in this y â— your names are writen in heauen Sirtly that the ende of election is to the prayse of goddes glorye and grace the Apostle sheweth here in saing we are predestinate to be holy and without blame before god c in saying we are predestinate to y â— glorye of his grace and in saying also vnto the praise of his glorye so that nothing can be more manifest Seuenthly that predestination is not without vocation in gods time and iustification the Apostle here doth teach in bringing vs to the consideration of hearinge the worde of truth beleuing and receiuing the holy spirite remission of sinnes c. In whom saith he ye haue hoped after that ye heard the word of trueth c. Againe by whom ye haue redemytion that is remission of sinnes thorough the sheeding of his bloude c Also he hathe in his full time declared the misterie of his will c. Unto the Rom. the apostle shewth it most manifestly in saying whom he hath predestinate them he calleth whom he calleth theÌ„ he iustifieth Wherby we may se that predestination or election is not vniuersalle of all for all be not iustified Eyghtly and laste of al that election is so certaine that the elect and predestinate to eternall life shall neuer finally perishe or erre to damnation the apostle doth here also very playnely shewe in saying that they are predestinate to the praise of goddes grace he saith not to the prayse of has Iustice to the prayse of hys wysedome to the prayse of his power although he might most truely saye so but he saith to the praise of his grace whiche were not grace yf there were any respect at all of workes on oure behalfe for then were grace not grace If there shoulde be any condemnation of the electe and predestinate to eternall life it must nedes be because of their sinnes but where were the praise of gods grace then which is the ende of gods election Shall we not by this meanes make gods electioÌ„ without an ende and so without a heade and so no election at all as some would haue further then they elect themselues Let suche feare they shall not fynde the benyfyte of gods electioÌ„ because they seke it as the Israelites did and not as the elect whiche not onelye find it but also obtaine it The other are blinded as it is writen god hath geueÌ„ them the spirit of vnquietnes eyes that they shoulde not see and eares that they should not heare eeuen to thys daye c. Agayne he shewethe the certayntye of saluation to them that be elected in saying that they be accepted iÌ„ the beloued once accepted and beloued in Christ and euer beloued for whom he loueth he loueth
and therfore he fel so foule as he did For y e second mans state I meane before his fal his state nowe thus let vs think namely y t god made maÌ„ after his Image y t is endewed man w t a soule immortal wise rightuoê° holy for y â— Image of god is not coÌ„cerning the body which man hathe coÌ„men with the beastes of the earth but it is from abone and of goddes brething So y t Adam transgressing gods precept did not according as he should and might haue done but according as he should not haue done and mighte haue auoided if that he had not receiued the persuasion and counsel of the Serpente Which god permitted him to doe thereby to declare that perfect Iustice wisedome and holines is not nor cannot be in any creature which is not god also and therefore Christ being god was made man that in man there might be this perfection and iustice which is in Christ oure lord and in Adam we could neuer haue had Which wisedome of god we shall Ioyefully one day behold yf we will nowe restraine our busye braine and curiositie from serching further then we should doe But to returne ageine Adam I say being made after gods Image which he receiued for vs al to haue deriued the same vnto vs all by naturall propagation by transgressing the commaundements lost and mangled so the same Image of god in himself and in vs all that for mortalitie came death for wysdome came folishenes for rightuousnes came vnrightuousnes for holynes came corruption concerning goddes Iudgement and in goddes sight although there remained in him concerninge mans Iudgement and the sight of the worlde life wisedome rightuousnes and holynes y t which all we by propagation doe from our mothers wombe receiue so that we may well see our state now to be far from the state we had before Adams fal and therfore gods law requireth nothinge of vs but that which was in our nature before the fall whiche we se is impossible for vs to paye accordingly and yet god not vniust in that he asketh of vs nothing therby but the selfe same thinge whiche he gaue vs in our creation The lawe then and the preceptes of god were geuen after the fal of man not that man should thereby get life and the thinge whiche was loste by synne for the blessed Seede was promised for the recouerig hereof and to him that partained but that man by it might know sinne and what he had lost therby to desire more deeply the promised seede by whome as we be receaued so our euills be not imputed and that we being renued by his holy spirit and newe seede shuld as newe borne babes desire and by will beginne to do the lawe of god which after our deliuerance fourth of thys corrupte bodie and man of synne by death we shall without all let fully accomplishe at the length receiue the bodye to be spirituall as Paull saieth and holye ready to obey and serue the spirit as an helper rather then an hynderer Oh happye daye when wilt thou appeare By this whyche I haue alreadye spoken I thinke the diligent reader may se how that there is election of gods children how that gods prouidence stretcheth it selfe to al thinges so that al things in respect ther of come of necessitie but yet nothing therby to be done by constraint and enforcement wherthroughe god is sene to be the authour of al things yet of no euil or sinne The state of man before his fall after with the cause of gods lawe precepts geuen to man I haue breifly touched Nowe it resteth that I should speake some thing of frewil what it is and howe farre we maye graunte that man hath free wyll That this may be vnderstand as I would haue the ende wherefore god gaue his law to be coÌ„sidered namely not for maÌ„ to get therby eternall life which apperteined to y â— promised sede but to shewe maÌ„ what sinne is what by syn he lost that he might by his vnhabilitie be driuen to desier of very necessity y â— promised Mesias and so by him to receyue the spirit wherethrough being regenerate he might learne to loue the lawe to take it as a directorie rule to liue by and to hedge in his old man froÌ„ controlinge this geare I saye as I would haue it considered yf we wil vnderstand mans frewill so would I haue this marked namely the difference betwixte the life whiche we loste had in our first creation and now haue by byrth before regeneration In our firste creation we had a life not only w t the creatures but also with god whiche life vtterly AdaÌ„ lost as he declareth by the runnyng awaye to hyde him selfe from god And this he lost for vs also aswel as for him selfe in respect whereof the scripture calleth vs deade Concerning this life therefore that is with god we haue no wil at al much lesse any frewil For how can a dead man haue any wil The will therfore we haue is onely for this life and with men that is it is not good and free but in respect of men and in this life in respecte of god and life with him all our will is as we are euen dead yea and the wil we haue for this presente life if a man will consider the god of this world and howe we are his slaues by birth and continually tyll we be regenerate and how ready our affections are to serue his purpose I thinke none will saye otherwise but that mans will vnregenerate is none otherwise fre then pleaseth his maister who muste needes serue spite of his head our god and therefore all to be done by gods prouidence as I saied before withoute any imputation of euill to our good and most holy father Yea but saith one what frewill hath man that is regenerat This wil I briefly shew when that I haue spoken of Iustification y â— which precedeth regeneration from whom we may discerne it but not deuide it no more then heat from the fyre Iustification in scripture is taken for the forgeuenes of oure sinnes consisteth in the forgeuenes of oure sinnes This is onely gods worke we nothing els but patientes not agentes After this worke in respect of vs and our sense commeth regeneration which altogether is goddes worke also For as to our first byrth we bring nothinge bring quoth I yes we bring to let it many things but to further it nothing at al so do we bring nothing that can helpe to our iustificatioÌ„ as S. Austen ful wel saithe he that made thee withoute thee shall he not iustifie thee wythoute thee whiche the papistes haue peruerted reading it affirmatiuely without interregation as thoughâ— we brought some thing to our iustifying where as it I meane iustifycation is a muche more excellente worke then y â— worke of our creatioÌ„ and therefore to arrogant are they whiche will not