fantasie or dreame nor the holy papists formed faith nor the Athistes frozen faith nor yet any euill faith nor an hereticall fayth but a full and firme assuraunce of saluation grounded and founded vpon the promises made in the beloued mediator Iesus Christ The sonnes 11. Question Is there any that professeth any other fayth but this which you haue alreadye described I pray you good father let vs vnderstand who they be and what they are The fathers aunsvvere Yea there is an Historical faith which the deuils Athists Epicures and all belly Gods haue that is they doo beléeue that there is a God and that the Scriptures be true and also feare and tremble but they neuer practise to doo hys wyll neither yet loue they God nor hys holie worde but they loue theyr owne pleasure and bellyes more then God therefore they shall be saued with the deuils for theyr counterfaite hypocriticall holy and euill life will not ferue There is also the Scribes Pharises and Fryers and Papists formed frozen faith which teache men that by their merits cerimonies and holye seruice that they shall escape Purgatorye and deserue heauen And so they shall as soone as the Athist Epicure bellye Gods and deuils There is yet an other sort of people that perswade themselues they haue a great faith and think that they are highly in Gods fauoure because they can make great spéeche of scripture and vse great grauity so that Butter would not séeme to melt in theyr mouthes before such as are the principall Preachers and wyll inuite them home to theyr house to cloake theyr holy hypocrisy but let a poore professor méete any of these and salute them then they wyll looke so lofty with their eye leddes and speake so strangely as though they had neuer séene or knowne them and yet of theyr olde familiar acquaintance But let a poore man make hys mone vnto them of hys néede then are they dry and altogether without any sappe of Christian loue and charity which showeth theyr hypocriticall fayth and infidelity these carnall Protestants are all one with vsurers I wyll not say Vsurers I wyll not say Leasemongers Extorcioners and proude prophane myserable merciles worldlings There is yet a simple sort of Protestants which thinke they are very religious but they are such as S. Paule speaketh off which are euer learning and yet ignoraunt asses and as proude as Pecocks All these wyll runne as fast to heauen as the Athists Epicures Papists and deuils these haue faith but without repentaunce of life it is but presumption which will bréede in the end repentaunce without fayth which bréedeth desperation from which the Lorde kéepe vs. There is also the Annabaptist and the pestilent Famelists fayth from which horrible secte good Lord of hys mercy deliuer vs all The sonnes 12. Question How shoulde one attaine vnto a sure and constant faith because you say that no ciuill lyuing can please God wythout a sure and constant fayth The fathers aunswere There is no meanes or way to attaine vnto such a faith but by frée grace from God through Iesus Christ our Lord and that onely by daily and faithful praiers vnto God our father for his onely sonnes sake and also for his holy spirite to instruct and teach vs howe to pray by none other prayer but that prayer which Christ hath taught vs in his holy Gospell which prayer soundeth thus Our father which art in heauen c. The sonnes .13 Question I pray you sir is this prayer to be deuided into parts as you haue done the commaundements and the beléefe The fathers aunswere Yea for it is deuided into .6 petitions .2 partes and in the first part is thrée petitions in the second part i◠other thrée and the first thrée petitions excelleth the thrée last as much as the firste table excelleth the second for in the thrée first petitions we craue of God all thinges necessary for our soules in the thrée last petitions we aske of God al things néedefull for our bodyes quietnesse of minde and preseruation from Sathan c. But as touching that preamble which soundeth thus Our father which art c That is none of the petitions The sonnes 14. Question What meane you by this word preamble is it not one of the .6 petitions as the rest are The fathers aunswere No it is no more but a faythfull and reuerent presentation of our selues vnto God our father in which humble faythfull salutation we acknowledge God to be our father and to be in heauē but as touching the first petition which soundeth thus hallowed be thy name in this we craue pray our good father that we may reuerence and with all our power honor sanctifie and kéepe holye his name that is that we abuse not his name by swearing by it in vayne neyther prophane it in any seruice or seremonie for that is sorcerie although the ignorant think they do god good seruice And as touching the .2 petition whiche soundeth thus thy kingdome come In this petition we craue of our good father that his kingdome may dwell with vs and raigne with vs which kingdome is his holie word all his heauenly gyftes graces therunto belonging in which petition we also pray that God woulde giue vs his holy spirite and power to withstand Sathan all his wiles for euer And in the .3 petition we craue of our louing father that we may haue power and grace to do his holye will in all our actions affections and conuersations in this life euen in earth as it is faythfully done in heauen In whiche .3 holy petitions we craue of our good God all thinges necessary for our soules As in the first table we are taught in the first foure preceptes And in the fourth petition which soundeth thus Giue vs this day our daylie bread In this petition we craue all thinges that is necessary for this life whatsoeuer In which also is concluded all thinges necessarye for this life both blessinges spirituall and blessinges temporall and that in any wise we abuse it not prodigally And in the fifth petition forgiue vs our offences as we do forgiue them that offende vs. In which prayer we aske vengance of God if we forgiue not one another therein also we showe our christian loue and chayity one towards an other yea our fayth and fidelitie And in the sixt and last petition whiche soundeth thus And leade vs not into temptation but delyuer vs from euyll In this Petition we craue of our Good Father that hee wyll not cast vs of from him to be tormented of the Diuell at his malicious will and so confounded for euer or giue vs ouer to our owne willes and pleasures but that we may by his mercifull protection be be preserued for euer In whiche thrée last petitions we craue all thinges necessary for our bodies and safetie fro◠sathan And as for the addition whiche soundeth thus For thine is the kingdome power
and glory for euer and euer In this is séene our sence and feling of God because we confesse that kingdome power and all glory for euer belongeth vnto god and so we take our leaue of God to his honour and glorye so that this prayer passeth all carnal capacitie and worldly wisedome The sonnes .25 Question Oh Lorde how doth many thousands pray at this day if it passe mans reason capacitie and wisedome goods father certifie vs. The fathers aunswere Many indéede there be that pray but their prayers are no better then the praier of a parrat because they haue neither sence nor feeling of the holy spirit of God without which spirit it is impossible to please God in prayer neyther yet to vnderstand what prayer is and therfore such prayer and praying turneth to great sinne prouoketh gods wrath And Christ calleth it lip-labour babling And saint Iames sayth that they aske and receiue not because they aske they knowe not what For the most part pray on this fashion Oh Lorde defend vs from all euill O Lord kéepe me from all mine enimies O Lorde sende that I want not O Lorde increase my wealth and not his fayth and graunt that I â—ay be able for to dwell in credite and countenaunce with my neighboures and that I may be able to beare office and aucthoritie among my neighbours and company O Lord blesse all my house goods that I coÌ„e not to misery bles al my freÌ„ds kinred But no sighing or sorrowing for sinnes no crauing for mercy nor groaning in the spirite No sobbing in repentance no intercession for heauenly benedictions and blessinges no thankes for our election creation saluation sanctification iustification and preseruation No prayer to God to honour his holy name no crauing that his kingdome might dwell among vs his holy woord No prayer that hiâ— holy will and our willes may be all one here in earth as it is in heauen but all for earthly thinges to haue our owne willes pleasures fulfilled no praying as christ hath taught vs as it is expressed in the .3 first petitions for our soules health And then for things necessary for this life No Salomons prayer for good wisedome and his holy spirit but all for worldly blessinges that he may maâ—e Iohn his sonne a Gentleman Ioane his daughter pennie white although the parents purchate Hell for his paynes This is the asheists Epicures belligooâ— and Carnall Protestantes forme and manner of prayer although they vse to say for order sake the thrée fiyst petitions First yet they practise them laste or neuer because they are worldly minded which cannot comprehende spirituall things And therefore if God doo fulfill their prayers it is in his wrath to their greater condemnation although they thinke them selues in great felicity and happines aboue others so dwel puffed vp with pride because of their great abundance and so come to aucthoritie and liue all their time in prosperity iollity without either pittie or coÌ„passion of poore neighbours or brethren except they repent they sodaynely slyp to hell And therefore to conclude as the Lords prayer is deuided in .6 petitions as soÌ„e say into .7 so I feare if that world were deuided into .6 or .7 parts I feare that .6 partes doth pray in vaine yea that are called christians Although we haue ben taught catechised more then .26 yéeres yea some more then .46 yéers therfore feare is come on me because the people set light thy lawe Psa 119. ver 53. The sonnes .16 Question How then is it possible to pray to haue our prayers perfect before God when we pray good sir certifie vs. The fathers aunswere By a firme constant and sure faith on in Iesus Christes merits with a true humble harty sorrowfull sobbing repeÌ„tance of our wicked life past prostrating our selues most humble reuerently before Gods mercy seat crauing mercy of god for all our sins past for christs sake then craue grace of our good and loouing father for his grace and holye spirite to frame in vs a better lyfe without which spirite it is vnpossible for God to heare vs and then be thankfull vnto God for all his benefites both spirituall and corporall bestowed vpon vs all our life time vnto this present hower but especially for our election creation saluation iustification sanctification and preseruation vnto this present day and hower that is to say first because God hath elected and chosen vs to saluation before that the world was made or created and secondly for that he hath created vs men and women not beastes but made vs christians and not infidels or Pagans And thirdely that he hath so loued vs that he hâ—th giuen vs his onely sonne to be our onelye and alone sauiour redéemer mediator and aduocate betweene God and vs continually be thankefull vnto God for that he hath giuen vnto vs his holye word to be peaceably preached amongst vs and that we are borne in such a mercifull Princes time And first also let vs continually pray vnto the almightie for the preseruation of her Maiesties longe prosperous raygne for all her Counsell Cleargie Nobilitie and for al Magistrates Citties Corporations Companies and fraternities and for all men kinredes Countries and Nations but especially for his Church dispersed dispised of all the world and wicked worlings and for the continuance of his holy word decrease of our fayth loue holy spirite wisedome grace and zealous preachers amongst vs for euer and to conuert or confounde all Amaziases Zedochiazes and passurs all Dombe Dogges Idle shepheards hippocrites Hirelinges Traytors Papistes Atheistes Epicures Bellie gods and all proud and prophane persons merciles miserable wise worldly wysardes and to bring into the way of truth all suche as doo erre and are deceiued And to be mercifull vnto all suche as are in anye neede miserie pouertie prison or extremitie but especially to pray for christes Churche prisoned persecuted tormented and tortered and for all such as are perplexed in mind or body in the bedds of their sickenesse or in the perrill of death and that it would please God to forgiue vs all our sinnes negligences ignorances and to amend â—â—r liues according to his holy word that we may liue in holinesse and righteousnesse before him all the dayes of our liues and then after all these prayers meditatations and thankes We must aske boldly of our good God althings necessary for this life if it be his will for Christes sake with a sure and constant fayth and beléefe to obtayne all our petitions and prayers at gods hande for Iesus christes sake In whose name we must alwayes conclude all our prayers with the same prayers that Christe hath taught vs to pray Our father c. The conclusion or glasse Thus ye sée as it were in a glasse how ye ought to pray and in what maner and sort and agayne ye haue hardâ— before how sencelesse and daungerous
wel it doth me good that you aske such questions for it commeth not from fleshe and blood These holye scriptures are both very true As for the first wordes in the 14. Psalme That there is none good no not one God by the holy prophet speaketh it to the wicked worldlinges the sencelesse Athistes and vnregenerated men That man that sayth in his hart there is no God As. S. Paul affirmeth in the .3 Chapter of his Epistle to the Rom. the .10.11.12.13 verses In whiche he describeth the qualities of the wicked Read that Chapter but in respecte to compare with God there is indéede none good but God his onely sonne Iesus Christ our Lorde who is both God and man For to compare with God there is none good no not one But to affirme the wordes of the holy Ghoste in the .37 Psalme Doubtlesse there is on the earth both good men euyll iust and vniust righteous and wicked the elect and reprobate saintes and deuilles incarnate for God him selfe doth iustifie Iobe to be a iust man and yet he was but a man and the holy ghost describeth a iust man by Iob saying that suche as feareth God escheweth euyll and doth good but in the .37 Psalme The holie Ghost describeth at large a iust man and also a wicked for the thirtie verse of this Psalme hath these wordes the iust man sayth he his mouth doth euer speake of matters wise and high and his tongue doth talke to edifie but contrary the wicked man blasphemeth the Lord and séeketh howe to slay the righteous Also in the â—1 ver before is sayde that the wicked borroweth muche and neuer payeth agayne of the abundance which God hath lent him but the iuste is liberall and lendeth also in the 35. 36. verse of this Psalme The prophet sayth I haue béen young and nowe am olde yet did I neuer sée the righteous forsaken nor his séede begging their breade in diuers and many places in the holy scriptures For in the 33. Psal the Prophet sayth reioyce ye righteous for it becommeth vpright men to be thankefull Also in the Prouerbs of Salomon the .10 Chapter and the .3 verse sayth that the Lord will not famish the soule of the righteous but he casteth away the substance of the wicked and in Ecclesiastes the preacher sayth in his 3. Chapter and 17. ver I thought in mine hart that God woulde iudge the iust and the wicked for there is a time for all workes Also the Euangelist S. Mathew in his first Chap and 9. verse Pronounceth Ioseph the husband of Mary a iust man Also S. Peter termeth Lot a iust man in his .2 Chap. and .7 verse Throughout the whole scriptures the holy Ghost iustifieth that there is both iust and wicked men But it is a corsie to a cankered Atheist to heare a man speake of a good man then he will storme and frette and qualifie you with this .14 Psalme saying there is not one good or iust man no not one and we are all sinners c. But they speake it because they woulde haue all men like them and they bring in Saint Paules wordes saying that God hath lapped all men vnder sinne because he will haue mercy on all men and he wil not the death of a sinner and therefore we hope all shal be saued But yet the wicked shall all goe quicke to hell An other question of the sonne 28. Father because that S. Paul sayth that God will haue all men to be saued come to the knowledge of the truth and also as you haue saide defore that Saint Paul saith that God hath lapped al men vnder sinne that he wil haue mercy vpon all This scripture is plaine and I thinke that god wil saue al men we pray you giue vs the true sence and meaning thereof The fathers aunswere My sonne indéed the wordes are plaine but many do erre because they knowe not the scriptures nor the true spiritual sence thereof and the cause of their errour is because they pray not for the holy spirit of God to teache them neyther yet giue faithful eare vnto the preachers of gods word For. S. Paul meaneth by this word all men all manner of men that is God will saue some of all sortes and degrées of all countries and kinreds that is of all sortes of kinges and Princes Nobles Maiestrats MarchaÌ„tes Artificers laborers poore men slaues bondmeÌ„ Iewes Turkes Infidels Papists pagans yea Atheists Epicures Iesuits and familistes also all sorts of people if they repent be conuerted vnto Christ of all sorts he will cal some for God hath no respect of persons for he would not the death of a sinner but the he should coÌ„uert liue this is the meaning of the holy ghost by S. Pauls words The sonnes .29 Question Father can a man shorten these daies which God hath appoynted hym to liue on earth before his time because the prophet Dauid sayth in his .55 Psal and the last verse thereof That the wicked shall not liue out halfe their dayes hath not God saith the prophet appoynted euery man how long he shall liue the which he shall not passe and shall mans wickednesse preuent God for he hath numbred mans dayes howe long he shall liue good father resolue vs in this The fathers aunswere If God were not almightie then man might preuent him but surely God hath numbred the dayes of man which he shall not passe no not one hower or minute therefore mans wickednesse cannot preuent God neyther yet shorten the time and houre that God hath sette downe and yet the worldly couetous bloodthirstie and dispitefull man shall not liue out halfe his dayes as the holye Ghost affirmeth in the .55 Psalme and last verse But the prophet Dauid nor the holy ghost neaneth not by these wordes any of those dayes which God hath appoynted him to liue no not to shorten any one hower of those dayes although he should kil hang or drowne him selfe yea murder or steale and by the lawe be cut offe yet can he not preuent God for he séeth and suffereth him vntill his hower appointed of God who in mercy did suffer him to liue repent but this is the meaning of these words halfe his dayes the holy Ghost by the mouth of the Prophet speaketh vnto the couetous wicked worldlinges whiche scrape so for the cromes that fall from gods childreÌ„ I meane the wealth pelfe and pleasures of this present worlde being so in loue with it more then God that they sell both their bodies soules to the diuell to possesse it and so poynt them felues their dayes to liue for say they If I can get and scrape to be able to liue with the best of my neighbours and then liue to beare the offices in the Citie and in countenaunce and credit in the worlde also to liue yet longer to be in aucthoritie then I will serue God and be mercifull But beholde or these his appoynted
his owne children that feare him as the wordes of the thrée men or Angels affirmeth when they vsed these words vnto Abraham Shall God say they hyde any thing from Abraham because he and all his house feare him Also Iosua or Iesus the Captaine that conducted the children of Israell after Moses vsed these words vnto them Deo you sayth he what you wyll but I and all my house wil serue and feare the Lord. Also the holy Prophet Dauid hath these warrants throughout all his Psalmes to feare God as first in the 2. Psalme verse 11. Commaunding saith sée that yée serue the Lorde in trembling and in feare Also in the 25. Psalme verse 3. They that feare the Lorde shall knowe his secrets And in the 34. Psalme vet 9.10 Feare the Lord hys holy ones for they that feare him shall lacke no good blessing And againe Come néers my children and I shall teach you howe to feare the Lord. And in the 128. Psa The holy ghost pronounceth thē blessed that feare the Lord. Also in the first Chapter of Salomons Prouerbs verse .7 The holy Ghost sayth That the feare of the Lord is the beginning of wisedome And Eccl. in his 4. Chap. ver 13. saith that a poore child which feareth God is better then a king that doteth Thus you proued by warrants of scripture the way to feare God Yet this wretch forgeth other places out of the scripture like the deuill for his purpose As out of the 8 Chap to Ro. 25. ver in these words yee haue not rescued that spirit of bondage that ye sholde feare any more but the villaine abuseth the text corruptly for the Apostle meaneth no such thing but that we shoulde not feare condemnation nor wauer or dispayre as the Papists teacheth vs to make vs dwell in bondage and feare of our saluation in Christes merits onely but to be euer in doubt dispayre which pestilent doctrine maketh thousandes to feare God and not loue him Feare not him that can kyl the body but feare him which can kill both soule and body The sonnes fourth Question Good father who are those that feare God and not loue him are there any such I pray you discribe who they be The fathers aunswere All they are those which binde themselues to the obseruation of Gods lawes and the popish ceremonies and thinke except they obserue and kéepe them they are damned for euer And when they sée that they are not able to kéepe them thē they liue in seruile feare of God and his Lawes wyshing that there were neyther God lawes nor precept These I say are those that feare God not loue him for they haue receiued the spirite of bondage that S. Paule speaketh of in his 8. Chap. to the Rom. which carnall spirit maketh them dwell euer in feare of hell and damnation and yet toyle and moyle themselues to obscure the lawe of God by their own righteousnes merits and by theyr hipocriticall ceremonies of ciuil life These I say feare God as the wicked feare the magistrates lawes of this land for they rather cursse them thē loue thē such a seruile feare haue the ignorant Athists the meritmongers the papists the double harted protestants for they feare Gods law his iudgemēt for feare of damnatiō but they loue him not Euen as the wicked feare the Prince her laws for feare of Tiborn but they loue her and her lawes as well as they loue Tyborne and all this is because the haue neither true faith true loue nor true feare of God or Prince And therefore are they neuer able to vnderstande or make any true destinctiō either of Gods lawe beléefe gospell sacrament or praier to satisfy them selues or any other in affliction but desperately voyde of all swéete ioies of heauenly comfort and consolation for euer without regeneration The sonnes 5. Question Father you sayde that no man is able to keepe and fulfill Gods commaundements VVhy should God Giue such a lawe that no man is able to keepe and yet you say if that wee doo not fulfill and keepe them we shall all be damned for euer The fathers ansvvere My sonne marke what I say God that made the law made it as he is him selfe that is iust righteous and holy and so made he man also at his first creation iust righteous and holy And so made God Adam like himselfe and then able to kéepe and performe the whole lawe Therefore man must of force séeke and practise all the meanes and wayes possible how to fulfill and kéepe the same lawe in euery poynt and title which we may by his grace working in vs bee made able to doo in some measure but yet not so perfectly by the entring in iudgement with vs he may iustly condemne vs but he will not haue any to-be saued otherwise then by mercy offered in his sonne Christ and obtayned by faith in him The sonnes 6. question or obiection Howe is it possible because you say that no man is able to keepe and fulfill it much lesse in euery poynt and title The fathers aunswer That which man is not able to doo by reason of hys fall God hath so loued vs before Adams fall that he did prouide for vs in his mercy and grace A man euen God and man Iesus Christe his onely sonne who came downe from heauen from God his father and disdayned not to be inclosed in that Virgins wombe and there was made man by the power of the holy ghost in all points as we are onely sinne excepted and in our flesh and nature suffered his passion on the Crosse for vs and on it suffered the very paines and torments of hell vnto bitter death and was buried by which death and passion he hath fully accomplished our saluation and also fulfilled the whole lawe in euery point and title and also appeased Gods wrath and vanquished the deuill hell and damnation and set open the gates of heauen for al faithful beléeuers and brought vs into fauour againe with God his and our faithfull father and is ascended into heauen where hee sitteth and hath all power bothe in heauen and earth and there is our daily mediatour vnto God his and our father for vs vntill he shall come againe to be our ioyfull Iudge but yet we must striue and practise daily to fulfill to the vttermost of our power Gods holy will and commandements The sonnes 7. Question or obiection How is it possible except you can describe vs some meanes or way to practise it good deere father direct vs. The fathers aunswere By these fiue steppes or degrées which if you can keepe vnto the ende you shal kéepe Gods commandements to please him although not fulfilled it for that Christ hath doone already Which steppes are these first to heare the word of God diligently reuerently and louingly Secondly to learne it simply faithfully obediently Thirdly to vnderstand it humbly spiritually and truely Fourthly to practise it holily constantly and