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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
MEDITATION OF GODES power beutie goodnes c. BEcause thou lord woldst haue vs to loue thee not only doest thou will entice allure and prouoke vs but also doest commaunde vs so to do promising thy self vnto such as loue thee and threaning vs w t damp nation if we do otherwise whereby we may se both our great corruptioÌ„ noughtines also thine exceding great mercy towards vs. First concerning oure corruption and noughtines what a thing is it that power riches authoritie beutye goodnes liberalitie truth Iustice which all thou art good lorde cannot moue vs to loue thee whatsoeuer thinges we see faier good wise mighty are but eueÌ„ sparkles of that power beutie goodnes wisedome which y u art For to the end y u mightest declare thy riches beutye power wisdome goodnes c y u hast not only made but stil dost coserue al creatures to be as Dauid saith of y e beauens declarers setters forth of thy glory and as a booke to teache vs to knowe thee How faier thou art the beutie of the sonne mone starres light flowers riuers fieldes hilles byrdes beastes men al creatures yea the goodly shape forme of the whole world doth declare How mightye y u art we are taught by the creation of this world euen of nought by gouerning the same by punishinge the wicked mightie gyaunts therof by ouerthrowing their deuises by repressinge the rages of the sea within her boundes by stormes by tempests by fiers these such like declare vnto vs thine inuisible almightie and terrible power wherby thou subduest all things vnto thee Howe riche thou arte thys world thy great infinite treasure house doth wel declare What plentie is there not only of things but also of euery kinde of thinges Yea how doest thou yearely daily multiply these kindes How many seeds dost thou make of one sede yea what greate increase doest thou bringe it vnto These cannot but put vs in remembrance of the exceding riches that thou haste For if to thine enemies which loue thee not as y â— most parte in this worlde be yf to them thou geuest so plentifully thy riches here what shal we thinke that with thy selfe thou haste laide vp for thy frendes How good thou art al creatures generally and perticulerly do teache What creature is there in y â— world which thou hast not made for our commoditie I will not say how that y u mightest haue made vs creatures without sense or reasoÌ„ if thou haddest wold But amongest al thinges none doth teach vs so thy great loue towards vs as doth the death of thy most derely beloued soÌ„ne who suffered the paines â—errours therof yea of bell it self for our sakes If this thy loue had bene but a smalle loue it would neuer haue lasted so long nor Christ should neuer haue died A MEDITATION OF DEATH and the commodities it bringeth WHat other thing do we daily in this preseÌ„t life then heau sinne to sinne hourd vp trespasse vpon trespasse so y â— this day is worse alwaies then yesterdaye by encreasing as dais so sinnes therfore thy indignatioÌ„ good lord agaist vs but wheÌ„ we shalbe let go out of the priseÌ„ of y t body so taken into thy blessed coÌ„pany then shal we be in most safe tie of immortality saluation then shal come vnto vs no sicknes no nede no paine no kind of euil to soule or body but whatsoeuer good we can wishe y â— shall we haue what so euer we loth shalbe far froÌ„ vs. O dere father y â— we had faith to be hold these things accordingly Oh y â— our harts were persuaded therof eure affections enflamed w c the desyre of them Then shuld we lyue in longing for y â— which now we most loth Oh help vs graunt y â— we being ignorant of things to come of y â— time of oure death which to thee is certain may so liue finishe our iorney here y â— we may be ready and then depart whtÌ„ our departiÌ„g may make most to thy glory our coÌ„fort through christ What is this life but a smoke a vapour a shadow a warfar a bubble of water a word grasse a flower Thou shalt die is most certaine but of the time no man caÌ„ tel wheÌ„ The longer in this life y u doest remaine the more y u sinnest which will turne to thy more paine By cogitation of death our minds be often in maner oppressed w t darknes because we do but remeÌ„ber the night of y e body forgetting y e light of the mind of the resurrectioÌ„ Therto remeÌ„ber y e good thiÌ„gs that after this life shal ensue withoute wauering in certainty of faith so shal y e passage of death be more desired It is like a sailing ouer y e sea to thy home couÌ„try it is like a medicine or purgatioÌ„ to y e helth of soule body It is y e best phicisioÌ„ It is like to a womaÌ„s trauaile for as y e child being deliuered cometh into a more large place then the wombe wherin it did lie before so thy soule being deliuered out of the body commeth into a muche more large and faier place euen into heauen A GODLYE MEDITATION vpon the passion of our sauour Iesus Christ OH lord Iesus Christ the sonue of the euerliuing and almightye god by whom al thinges were made and be ruled and gouerned thou the liuely Image of y e substance of the father the eternal wisedome of god the brightnesse of hys glory god of god light of light coequall coeternall and consubstantial with the father thou of y â— loue thou haddest to mankinde that when he was fallen from the felowshippe of god into the societie of Sathan and all euill didst vouchsalfe for our redemption to become a mediatour betwene god and man takinge to the godhead our nature as concerninge the substaunce of it and so becamest man also the heire of all and moste mercifull Messias which by the power of thy godhead and merites of thy manhode haste made purgation of oure sinnes euen by thyne owne selfe whilest thou wast here on earth being now set on the right hande of thy father for vs euen concerning our nature in maiestie glory power infinite I besech and humblye pray thy mercy to graunt me at this present to reherse some of thy passions and sufferinges for me the laste night y u wast here before thy death that thy good spirit might therby be effecttuall to worke in me faith as well of the pardone of my sinnes by them as mortification of mine affections comfort in my crosses and pacience in afflictions Amen In the middeste of thy laste supper with thy deare Apostles these things cold not but be before thee namely that they all wold leaue thee the most earnest would for swere thee one of the xii shuld most traitorously betraye thee which were noe
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
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