to the hill of the Lord Isa 2.3 to the house of the GOD of Iacob and he will teach vs his wayes and wee shall walke in his pathes and let not obscuritie discourage vs. 〈…〉 The heads contained are these viz. A Preparation Fol. 2 God Fol. 5 The Scriptures Fol. 12 The Church Fol. 23 Traditions Fol. 28 Images Fol. 38 Inuocation Fol. 47 Adoration Fol. 53 Faith Fol. 61 Repentance Fol. 64 Confession Fol. 68 Faith and workes Fol. 73 Iustification Fol. 81 Fasting Fol. 90 Meates Fol. 98 Loue and Charity Fol. 105 Prayer Fol. 111 One Mediator Fol. 116 Our propitiation Purgatory and satisfaction Fol. 118 Sinnes Fol. 124. Will. Fol. 130 Hypocrisie Fol. 135 Riches Fol. 139 Patience Fol. 145 Humility Fol. 149 The holy Eucharist Fol. 155 The happinesse of Gods seruants Fol. 164 The vanitie of the world Fol. 167 The end of the world Fol. 171 The Iudgement Fol. 179 Psalmes Of Confession Fol. 200 Of contrition Fol. 203 For remission Fol. 206 For mercie and direction Fol. 209 For vnderstanding Fol. 212 In trouble Fol. 215. For deliuerance Fol. 217 Against our Enemies Fol. 220 Of Confidence in Gods mercie Fol. 225 Acknowledging Gods mercie Fol. 228 Magnifying Gods mercie and goodnesse Fol. 233 Of praise Fol. 236 Psalmes in Sicknesse 1 Psalme in sicknesse Fol. 242 2 Psalme Fol. 244 3 Psalme Fol. 246 4 Psalme Fol. 248 A Prayer Fol. 252 The soules Comfort Fol. 254 AN EPISTLE GENERALL Beloued 1. 1. Tim. 4. THe Spirit speaketh expressely that in the latter times some shall depart from the Faith giuing heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of diuels 2. Speaking lyes in hypocrisie hauing their conscience seared with a hot iron 3. Forbidding to marrie and commanding to abstaine from meats which God hath created to bee receiued with thankesgiuing of them which beleeue and know the truth 1. Tim 4. 4. For euery creature of God is good and nothing to be refused if it be receiued with thankesgiuing 5. For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer Tit. 1. 10. There are many vnruly and vaine-talkers and deceiuers 11. Whose mouthes must be stopped who subuert whole houses teaching things which they ought not for filthy lucres sake 14. Giue not heed to Iewish fables and commandements of men that turne from the truth 5. 1. Ioh. 4. They are of the world therefore speake they of the world and the world heareth them 6. We are of God hee that knoweth God heareth vs hee that is not of God heareth not vs hereby know wee the spirit of truth and the spirit of errour 8. Beware Col. 2. lest any man spoile you through phylosophie and vaine deceit after the tradition of men after the rudiments of the world not after Christ 9. For in him dwelleth all the fulnesse of the Godhead bodily 10. And wee are compleate in him which is the head of all principalitie power 2. Tim. 2. 14. Striue not about words to no profit but to the subuerting of the hearers 23. Foolish and vnlearned questions auoide knowing that they do gender strifes Phil. 1. 27. Stand fast in one spirit with one mind striuing together for the faith of the Gospell 28. And in nothing terrified by your aduersaries which is to them an euident token of perdition but to you of saluation that of God 29. For vnto you it is giuen in the behalfe of Christ not onely to beleeue on him but also to suffer for his sake 12. Col. 3. Put on therefore as the elect of God holy and beloued bowells of mercies kindnesse humblenesse of mind meekenesse long suffering 13. Forbearing one another and forgiuing one another if any man haue a quarrell against any euen as Christ forgaue you so also do ye 14. And aboue all things put on charitie which is the bond of perfectnesse 15. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts to the which also yee are called in one body and be ye thankfull 17. And whatsoeuer ye do in word or deed do all in the name of the Lord Iesus giuing thankes to God and the Father by him 6. Phil. 4. Bee carefull for nothing but in euery thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiuing let your requests bee made knowne vnto God 23. Col. 1. Continue in the faith grounded and setled and be not mooued away from the hope of the Gospell which ye haue heard and which was preached to euery creature which is vnder heauen 14 That ye henceforth bee no more children tossed too and fro Ephes 4. and carried about with euery wind of doctrine by the sleight of men and cunning craftinesse whereby they lye in wait to deceiue 15. But speaking the truth in loue may grow vp into him in al things which is the head euen Christ Phil. 1. 9. And this I pray that your loue may abound yet more and more in knowledge in all iudgement 10. That yee may approue things that are excellent that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ 11. Being filled with the fruites of righteousnesse which are by Iesus Christ vnto the glorie and praise of God Amen ORACLES AND PSALTERIES OF THE HOLY GHOST WHat Nation is there so great Deut. 4.8 that hath Statutes Iudgments so righteous as all this Law which I set before you this day This is the way Isa 30.21 walke ye in it when ye turne to the right hand and when ye turne to the left Deut. 12.34 Thou shalt not adde thereto nor diminish from it Preparation Amos 4. 12. PRepare to meet thy God ô Israel 1. Sam. 12. 23. I will teach you the good and the right way 24. Only feare the Lord and serue him in truth with all your heart Mat. 6. 33. Seeke yee first the kingdome of God and his righteousnesse and all things shall be added vnto you Psal 37. 4. Delight thy selfe also in the Lord and he shall giue thee the desires of thine heart 5. Pro. 3. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and leane not vnto thine owne vnderstanding 6. In all thy wayes acknowledge him and hee shall direct thy paths 4. Psal 91. He shall couer thee with his feathers and vnder his wing shalt thou trust his truth shall be thy shield and buckler 8. 34. O tast and see that the Lord is good blessed is the man that trusteth in him 5. 146. Happy is he that hath the God of Iacob for his helpe whose hope is in the Lord his God Psal 27. 14. Waite on the Lord be of good courage and he shall strengthen thine heart Waite I say on the Lord. 125. 1. They that trust in the Lord shall bee as Mount Sion which cannot bee remoued but abideth for euer 2. As the mountaines are round about Ierusalem so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth euen for euer God 8. HEare ô my
THE TRVE CATHOLIKE Collected out of the Oracles and Psalteries of the holy Ghost for Instruction and Deuotion 1 TIM 2.4 God will haue all men to be saued and to come to the knowledge of the truth IOH. 14.17 The world cannot receiue the spirit of truth because it seeth him not neither knoweth him 1 COR. 2.10 The spirit searcheth all things yea the deepe things of God EPHES. 5.9 For the fruit of the spirit is in all goodnesse and righteousnesse and truth LONDON Printed for E. BLACKMORE 1628. THE PREFACE OF DOCTOR FRA. RIBERA 〈◊〉 In Coment in Amos Prophet touching the Excellency Dignity profit of finding the holy Scriptures THAT there is no studie either more Excellent more profitable or more worthy of Man then the studie of the holy Scriptures hee shall best know and iudge that applyeth himselfe wholy thereunto and shal perceiue that man to bee worthily called blessed Which meditateth in the law of God day and night Psal 1 2. I doe verily confesse that all the sacred bookes especially those of the Prophets are wrapped and incumbred with many difficulties by which as it were by certaine strict keepers of a most stately Temple The holy Ghost hath straitly prohibited the accesse and misteries vnto prophane and proud men and that it is rightly spoken of them which Socrates is reported to haue said when he hapned vpon Heraclitus bookes of nature That those things which hee vnderstood seemed excellent vnto him and that hee thought so also of them which hee vnderstood not but that it was needfull to haue an Interpreter to them No where can you see more euidently no where can it more appeare which is spoken in the old Greeke prouerbe Those things which are excellent are difficult Or that saying which passeth far neare from Hesiodus concerning vertue That it is scituate in a steepe and high place and that it hath a passage in the beginning hard and full of paine and labour But doubtlesse although the labour be great and continuall it doth sufficiently recompence with profit the paine with ease the earnest endeauour of the minde with rest For although they seeme to haue much hardnesse yet without doubt they haue farre more of true and perfect delight For how great a matter is it to bee led by a King into a wine-Cellar Cant. 2.4 For Charity to be rightly ordered How great a matter is it to sucke those brests better then wine sauoring sweetly with the best oyntments Cant. 1.2 To hold wisedome as the Apostle speaketh among those that bee perfect 1. Cor. 2.6 Yet not the wisedome of this world nor of the Princes of this world which come to nought but the wisedome of God in a misterie which none of the Princes of this world knew 7. 8. To be present at the distribution of heauenly treasures To behold the glory of God with open face Certainely the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the future glory which when wee well vnderstand the sacred bookes shall be reuealed in vs. But the men of our time are quicke and ready to other studies vnto these for the most part they are slow and do imagine that these are to bee left to idle men and such as tarrie at home or else vnto Preachers Whereby it happens that such as are vnfit for sermons though they haue leasure enough doe rather bestow their labour and endeauour in any other matter How much the holy Scriptures doe profit preachers I haue often said and how greatly they stand in neede of them which are excercised in Schoole disputations I could say and perchance will hereafter shew Now this I auouch that albeit these Scriptures bee most profitable to helpe others they iudge very ill who thinke they are to bee studied onely for other mens sakes For if we reade with great profit the bookes of the holy fathers and of other learned men which are called and are spirituall and by reading them doe finde our selues much bettered shall there bee any book so spirituall which may bee compared with those which the spirit of God it selfe by the choycest and wisest men hath deliuered vnto vs If the small brookes doe helpe and as it were satisfie what shall that great Riuer doe which Ezechiell saw Ezec. 47.1 issuing forth vnder the threshold of the Lords house which he could not goe through because the waters of that deepe riuer were risen so that they could not bee passed ouer And when I had returned 5. said he behold at the bank of the riuer were very many trees on either side 7. what are those many trees on either side the banke of the riuer but the ancient writers ioyned to the Law and the Prophets and the new writers who sitting together by the streames of the Euangelists and Apostles doe alwayes waxe greene as most beautifull trees and abound with pleasant fruite the riuer is the same because it is the same author of the Scriptures and the scope the same but the ages and times diuers which are resembled by both the bankes Of these trees and of these waters it is said and he shall be like a tree planted by the riuers of waters that bringeth forth his fruite in his season Psal 1.3 his leafe also shall not fall away and whatsoeuer be doth it shall prosper I was wont to maruaile with my selfe as often as I did reade in Saint Ierome that the study of the Scriptures had wonderfull power to change the minde of man to quench the desires of the flesh to procure the contempt of the world and briefly to gaine all kinde of vertue vntill I perceiued hee spake those things whereof hee had made triall in himselfe and that it is a wrong not to belieue him that hath experience Hee that beleeueth not let him first reade the Scripture not as though hee would interpret it to others but to be turned wholy to his owne profit let him meditate therein day and night he shall feele a stony heart to bee mollified a cold heart to be inflamed with heauenly fire for the words of the Lord are like fire â—er 23.29 and as a hammer that breaketh the rocke in peeces He shall perceiue the loue of the world to vanish away the desire of eternall good things to bee stirred vp in himselfe his minde filled with a certaine incredible delight which he that felt it cried out how sweete are thy words vnto my taste Psal 119.103 yea sweeter then hony to my mouth O wisdome guide of the heauenly life teacher of vertues bane of vices fountaine of light expeller of darkenesse what should wee nay what should the whole life of man be without thee Thou art the companion in labour thou art the comforter in aduersitie the ouerseere and guide in prosperitie the instructer of youth the foundation of manhood the most sweet rest of old age Come therefore let vs ascend vp
people Psal 8 1. and I will testifie vnto thee ô Israel if thou wilt hearken vnto me 9. There shall no strange God bee in thee neither shalt thou worship any strange God 3. Isa 43. For I am the Lord thy God the holy One of Israel thy Sauiour 10. Before mee there was no God formed neither shal there be after me 11. I euen I am the Lord and besides me there is no Sauiour 44. 6. I am the first and I am the last and besides me there is no God 24. Thus saith the Lord thy Redeemer and he that formed thee from 〈◊〉 wombe I am the Lord that maketh all things that stretcheth foorth the heauens alone that spreadeth abroad the earth by my selfe 48. 12. Hearken vnto me O Iacob and Israel my called I am he I am the first and I am the last Act. 7. 49. Heauen is my Throne and earth is my footestoole Isa 45. 22. Looke vnto me and be ye saued all the ends of the earth for I am God and there is none else 6. 1. Cor. 8. To vs there is but one God the Father of whom are all things and we in him and one Lord Iesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him 6. Ephe. 4. There is one God Father of all who is aboue all and through all and in you all 28. In him we liue Act 17. and moue and haue our being for we are all his of spring 29. Forasmuch then as wee are the of-spring of God wee ought not to thinke that the Godhead is like vnto gold or siluer or stone grauen by 〈◊〉 and mans deuice 30. And the times of this ignorance God winked at but now commandeth all men euery where to repent 31. Because he hath appointed a day in the which he will iudge the world in righteousnesse by that man whom he hath ordained whereof hee hath giuen assurance vnto all men in that he hath raised him from the dead Reuel 4. 11. Thou art worthy O Lord to receiue glory and honour and power for thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created 3. This is eternall life Ioh. 17. that we might know thee the onely true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent 27. Psal 73. They that are farre from thee shal perish thou hast destroyed all them that goe a whoring from thee 4. 16. Their sorrowes shall be multiplyed that hasten after another God 5. 96. All the Gods of the Nations are Idols but the Lord made the heauens 6. Honour and Maiesty are before him strength and beauty are in his Sanctuary 89. 6. For who in the heauen can be compared vnto the Lord who among the sonnes of the mightie can be likened vnto the Lord 95. 7. He is our God and wee are the people of his pasture and the sheepe of his hands Iosh 2◠16. God forbid that we should forsake the Lord to serue other gods 23. Put away the strange gods which are among you incline your hearts vnto the Lord God of Israel 24. The Lord our God will we serue and his voice will we obey 18. Isa 30. The Lord is a God of iudgement blessed are they that waite for him 10. Psal 34. They that seeke the Lord shall not want any good thing 13. For he is gracious Ioel 2. and mercifull slow to anger and of great kindnesse 50. Luke 1. And his mercy is on them that feare him from generation to generation 12. Psal 33. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord and the people whom hee hath chosen for his owne inheritance Rom. 11. 36. For of him and through him and to him are all things To whom be glory for euer Amen The holy Scriptures Mat. 22. 29. YE doe erre not knowing the Scripture nor the power of God Ier. 23. 29. Is not my word like as a fire saith the Lord like a hammer that breaketh the rocke in peeces Ioh. 5. 39. Search the Scriptures for in them ye think yee haue eternall life and they are they which testifie of me 〈◊〉 Receiue with meeknesse the ingrafted word which is able to saue your soules 31. These are written Ioh. 20. that ye might beleeue that Iesus is the Christ the Son of God and that beleeuing yee might haue life through his name 4. Rom. 15. For whatsoeuer things were written aforetime were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might haue hope 3. 1. Tim. 6. If any man teach otherwise and consent not to wholsome words euen the words of our Lord Iesus Christ and to the doctrine which is according to godlinesse 4. He is proud knowing nothing but doting about questions and strifes of words whereof commeth enuie strife raylings euill surmises 5. Peruerse disputings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth supposing that gaine is godlinesse from such withdraw thy selfe Ioh. 8. 31. If ye continue in my word then are yee my disciples indeed 32. And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free 8. Pro. 8. All the words of my mouth are in righteousnesse there is nothing froward or peruerse in them 9. They are all plaine to him that vnderstandeth and right to them that find knowledge 47. He that is of God Ioh. 8. heareth Gods words 9. 2. Ioh. 1. Whosoeuer transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God he that abideth in the doctrine of Christ hee hath both the Father and the Sonne 10. If there come any vnto you and bring not this doctrine receiue him not into your house neither bid him God speed 2 Chron. 17. 9. The Leuites and the Priests sent by Iehosaphat taught in Iuda had the booke of the Law of the Lord with them and went about throughout all the Cities of Iuda and taught the people 34. 31. Iosiah made a couenant before the Lord to walke after the Lord and to keepe his commandements his testimonies and his Statutes with all his heart and with all his soule to performe the words of the couenant which are written in this booke 32. And hee caused all that were present in Ierusalem Beniamin to stand to it And the Inhabitants of Ierusalem did according to the couenant of God the God of their fathers 35. Act. 15. Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch teaching and preaching the word of the Lord with many others also 11. 17. The Iewes of Berea were more noble then those in Thessalonica in that they receiued the word with all readinesse of minde and searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so 12. Therefore many of them belieued also of honourable women which were Greekes and of men not a fewe Acts. 17. 1. When Paul and Silas had passed throrough Amphipolis
buy wine and milke without money and without price Wherefore doe ye spend monie for that which is not bread and your labour for that which satisfieth not Hearken diligently vnto the vndoubted testimonies of our God and eate ye that which is good and let your soule delight it selfe in fatnesse Incline your eare and come vnto him heare and your soule shall liue and he will make an euerlasting couenant with you euen the sure mercies of DAVID PSALTERIES OF THE HOLY GHOST A Psalme of Confession VERSE Psal 25. 1. VNto thee O LORD doe I lift vp my soule 19. 14. Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight O Lord my strength and my redeemer Psal 5. 2. Hearken vnto the voice of my crye my King and my God for vnto thee will I pray 4. Psal 5. For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickednesse neither shall euill dwell with thee 3. 130. If thou Lord shouldest marke iniquities O Lord who shall stand 4. But there is forgiuenesse with thee that thou mayst be feared 5. 86. For thou Lord art good and readie to forgiue and plenteous in mercy vnto all them that call vpon thee 5. 69. O God thou knowest my foolishnesse and my sinnes are not hid from thee Psal 119. 176. I haue gone astray like a lost sheepe seeke thy seruant for I doe not forget thy commandements 51. 3. I acknowledge my transgressions and my sin is euer before me 4. Against thee thee onely haue I sinned and done this euil in thy sight 38. 3. There is no soundnesse in my flesh because of thine anger neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sinne 4. For mine iniquities are gone ouer mine head as an heauie burthen they are two heauie for me 5. My wounds stinke and are corrupt because of my foolishnesse 12. Psal 40. Innumerable euils haue compassed me mine iniquities haue taken hold vpon me so that I am not able to looke vp They are more then the haires of mine head therefore mine heart faileth me Of Contrition 1. Psal 38. O Lord rebuke me not in thy wrath neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure 2. For thine arrowes sticke fast in me and thy hand presseth me sore Psal 38. 6. I am troubled I am bowed downe greatly I go mourning all the day long 22. 14. I am powred out like water and all my bones are out of ioynt my heart is like waxe it is melted in the middest of my bowels 31. 12. I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind I am like a broken vessell 41. 4. Lord bee mercifull vnto me heale my soule for I haue sinned against thee 38. 9. All my desire is before thee and my groaning is not hid from thee 18. Psal 38. For I will declare mine iniquitie I will bee sorie for my sinne 17. 51. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit A broken a contrite heart ô God thou wilt not despise 8. 51. Make me to heare ioy and gladnesse that the bones which thou hast broken may reioyce 10. Create in mee a cleane heart and renew a right spirit within me 11. Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy spirit from me Psal 51. 12. Restore to me the ioy of thy saluation and vphold me with thy free spirit For Remission Psal 51. 1. HAue mercie vpon me O God according to thy louing kindenesse according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions 2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquitie and cleanse me from my sinne 7. Purge mee with Hisop and I shall be cleane wash mee and I shall bee whiter then snow 11. Psal 25. For thy names sake O Lord pardon mine iniquitie for it is great 7. Remember not the sinnes of my youth nor my transgressions according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodnesse sake ô Lord. 16. Turne thee vnto me and haue mercy vpon me for I am desolate and afflicted 18 Looke vpon mine affliction and my paine and forgiue all my sinnes 20. O keepe my soule and deliuer me let me not bee ashamed for I put my trust in thee Psal 39. 8. Deliuer me from all my transgressions make me not the reproch of the foolish 31. 16. Make thy face to shine vpon thy seruant saue mee for thy mercies sake 51. 9. Hide thy face from my sinnes and blot out all mine iniquities 141. 8. Mine eyes are vnto thee ô Lord God in thee is my trust leaue not my soule destitute For mercy and direction 16. HEare me ô Lord Psal 69. for thy louing kindnesse is good Turne vnto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies 6. 25. Remember ô Lord thy tender mercies and thy louing kindnesse for they haue beene euer of old 9. 27. Hide not thy face from mee put not thy seruant away in anger thou hast beene my helpe leaue me not neither forsake me O God of my saluation â—sal 86. 3. Bee mercifull vnto me O Lord for I crie vnto thee dayly 25. 4. Shew me thy waies O Lord teach mee thy pathes 5. Leade mee in thy truth and teach mee for thou art the God of my saluation on thee doe I waite all the day 43. 2. For thou art the God of my strength why doest thou cast me off why goe I mourning because of the oppression of the enemie 43. 3. O send out thy light and thy truth let them leade mee let them bring me vnto thy holy hill and thy tabernacles 8. Psal 143. Cause me to heare thy louing kindnesse in the morning for in thee doe I trust Cause mee to know the way wherein I should walke for I lift vp my soule vnto thee 10. Teach mee to doe thy will for thou art my God thy spirit is good leade mee into the land of vprightnesse 11. 40. Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from mee O Lord Let thy louing kindnesse and thy truth continually preserue me â—sal 119. 133. Order my steps in thy Word and let not any iniquitie haue dominion ouer me 86. 11. Teach me thy way O Lord I will walke in thy truth vnite my heart to feare thy name 39. 4. Lord make mee to know mine end and the measure of my dayes what it is that I may know how fraile I am For vnderstanding 119. 169. LEt my crie come neere before thee O Lord giue me vnderstanding according to thy Word 26. Psal 119 I haue declared my wayes and thou heardest me teach me thy statutes 27. Make me to vnderstand the way of thy precepts so shall I talke of thy woundrous workes 18. Open thou mine eyes that I may behold the wounderous things out of thy Law 73. Thy hands haue made mee and fashioned me giue me vnderstanding