Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	church_n	religion_n	true_a	7,548	5	5.1593	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A08305	A sinfull mans solace most sweete and comfortable, for the sicke and sorowful soule: contriued, into seuen seuerall daies conference, betweene Christ and a carelesse sinner. Wherin, euerie man, from the highest, to the lowest: from the richest, to the poorest: and aboue all, the sorowfull sinner: maye take such sweet repaste of resolution, to amendment of lyfe, and confirmation of fayth: that (in respect of the heauenlie solace, therin faithfully remembered:) all the pompes and pleasures of this wicked worlde, shall be plainely perceiued to be meere miserie. Writcen [sic], by Iohn Norden.	Norden, John, 1548-1625?	1585 (1585)	STC 18634; ESTC S110181	160,012	334

holy Ghost being y e third person of the Trinitie is a diuine person coessentiall and coeternall with my father me who proceedeth from mine heauenly father and mee It is the comforter and spirite of trueth the very pledge and earnest penye of thy saluation whereby thou art sanctified and assured in thy conscience that thou art the child of mine heauēly father and heire of eternall life and by it dwelleth mine heauenly father in thee It is the directiō to all goodnesse whatsoeuer whereby the Prophets haue prophesied mine Apostles preached all auncient Fathers written and al godly men tasted of the sweete and comfortable message which I haue brought into this worlde It is the water of life which by no meanes will flowe into the hearts of the wicked nor abide in the hearts of y e vnbeleuers but delighteth to rest in the hearts and to guide the soules of thē tha beleeue and cleaue vnto righteousnesse and thereby mayst thou answere the aduersaries of my worde and Gospel It is the holy Ghost that calleth men from darknesse to walke in light that procureth newnesse of life and that mortefieth the old man the world and the flesh and maketh thee strong against sinne death and Satan and that giueth knowledge of the trueth and power to imbrace it and which maketh my yoke easie and my burthen light that strengtheneth the weake hearts and feeble consciences to serue mine heauenly father whereby thou art conducted and guided the way that leadeth vnto the blisse that neuer shall cease It measureth all thy doings by the rule of my worde reformeth errors and reproueth the world of sinne of righteousnesse and of Iudgement and beareth witnesse in the hearts of all beleeuers that their sinnes are freely forgiuen thē in me It was the guyd whereby mine Apostles folowed me without the which no man can say that Iesus is the Lord. Thou must also faithfully beleeue in one Catholique Church vniuersall dispersed throughout the whole worlde being the whole companie of the faithfull beleeuers in mee who notwithstanding they are not of one vnite companie in bodily societie yet in respect of their mutuall and ioynt agreemēt of their faith of their life their Baptisme their holy Table and true Religion they are one Church and Cōgregation of those y t of the free grace and mercy of God mine heauenly father are chosen and predestinat to eternall life of which Church Congregatiō I am the head and whom the holy Ghost hath sanctified made holy and whome I commende vnto mine heauenly father to enioye that inheritaunce which I haue purchased with my blood who as long as they are conuersaunt in this miserable worlde and beare about them the heauy burthen of the flesh cannot do that which they should and therfore cannot be of such perfection nor be so purged from their originall corruption and infirmities which abideth in all flesh as is requisite vntill such time as I their head shall appeare whē they likewise shal appeare with me in glorie which Church godly Cōgregation y u must likewise beleeue to be so knit vnited together in the band of mutuall loue godly agreemēt that whatsoeuer good gift mine heauēly father bestoweth vpon them perticulerly they imploye it to the cōmon behoofe of all in generall And that as this Church and Congregation of al faithfull beleeuers in me is the true Catholique and apostolique Church so for them I haue purchased free forgiuenes of al their sinnes and that of y e mere loue of mine heauenly father and mine obedience vnto the death and nothing of their deserts in so much as there remaineth none other satisfaction or attonemēt to bee made with mine heauenly for the sinnes of y e world but my self only that none can obteine remission of their sinnes but such as bee made true mēbers of the same Church by me for besides the same Congregation there be none but such as work iniquities to whō I will say depart from me I know you not for whom there is a place of endles woe prouided Also thou must beleeue that although the corruptible bodies of mākinde must perish putrefie returne againe to dust of which it was first created yet that in the last day they shal rise again with the same bodies and couered with the same skinnes which now they haue and which thē shall be renewed and glorified they that are departed this life alreadie shall take againe their owne bodies which then shall bee of farre greater glorie then either in this life they were or that any heart can imagine And those that at my comming shall be founde liuing in this worlde shall suddainely bee chaunged and those that bee of this Congregation the true members of this Church shalbe placed in the vnspeakeable ioyes of eternall blisse but those that haue giuen them selues in this world to the fulfilling of the lustes and desires of the flesh liued in wantonnes chambering the Couetouse persons the Usurers Drunkardes Gluttons and vngodly persons shall not enioy the benefite of that sacrifice which with mine owne body I offered on the Crosse once for all but shalbe cast into vtter darkenesse where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth THese things must thou faithfully and vndoubtedly beleeue to be the very trueth and groūd of true religion which who so beleeueth not is no true member of that holy Catholique Church which is predestinate to be saued And therefore by a firme and constaunt faith thou must take holde of these things which I haue declared vnto thee being the ground of thy saluation freely promised in me of which faith the holy ghost is y e giuer who frameth the hearts of all men to beleeue the promises of my heauenly father touching their saluation in mee sealeth vp the sam● promises in their hearts whereby they perswade themselues to be members of the same true Church and of the company of those that are predestinate to be saued which fayth bringeth forth the fruites of a godly life the beginning whereof as I sayde before is vnfeyned repentance grounded vpon this true and vndoubted fayth in which two Faith and repentance is conteined the whole summe of my Gospell wherefore as thou hast heard what this faith is howe it worketh and what it should bee exercised in So must thou reteine it and bring foorth the fruites thereof that it may appeare a liuely an effectuall and not not a dead fayth And forasmuch as the night is so neere I will for this day here make an ende And in the meane time woulde haue thee to meditate of my former wordes not forgetting them but diligently inclyning all thy studie will and whole heart effectually to followe that which may testifie in thy conscience that thou art

thou must praye for grace and assistance to doe that which in those two Tables is conteyned And what by reason of thine owne weakenes thou canst not performe thereof thou must beware that although I haue vndertaken to stand betweene thy selfe the curse due for the same thou thinke not thy selfe so discharged of performance thereof as farre as thou canst least by the careles c●sting of the burden thereof vppon mee thou runne headlong into those euils that Sathan shall pricke thee vnto perswading thy selfe that I haue vndertaken to release thee of that which heretofore was layde on thee to be performed and so thincke it needlesse to doe that which is commaunded thee Take heede I say take heede least that this conceite drawe thee into a negligent going forward to doe good and a promisse to doe euill But bring foorth the fruites of amendement of life work righteousnesse execute iudgement growing and proceeding from fayth to fayth ioyning thereunto a good conuersation with knowledge and much patience accompanied with brotherly kindnes and loue wherein thou must shewe thy selfe willing to doe good vnto all men to speake the trueth from thine heart to imagine no deceit against thy neighbour but to doe vnto him as thou wouldest others should doe vnto thee shewing thy selfe fruitfull in the knowledge of the trueth confirming thy free election in mee by the workes proceeding of the Spirit through a liuely and a woorking faythe wherein acknowledging thy true and earnest repentaunce by disclayming thine owne merits thou shalt in the ende receiue that swéet and endles solace which by my death I haue purchased whiche is the moste comfortable presence of my father in heuen life euerlasting without the· which there is nothyng but vtter dest●●ction The sinfull man Then Lorde of lords oh Solace sweet Oh louing Iesu deere Whose passing power by word of trueth created heauens cleere The Sea that surgeth too and fro the earth and Creatures all Thy wisdome is surpassyng high thy mercies great withall So that the workes which thou hast done doo all depend on thee And I among them all the woorst crye come Lorde come to mee Who am a Uessell fraught with wo whose dayes are past in sinne My nature proane to wickednesse reteines mee yet therin But thou that art the God of blisse extende thy mercie meere Let not the furious Feend preuaile against thy Creatures heere Thou canst attend before I crie support before I fall Thou canst relieue before I craue forgiue before I call Thy grace is of so great effect thy counsaile Lord so pure That whome thou wilt preserue and keepe remaineth most secure Thou art of grace the giuer true the God of mercie meere Who wouldest not that Sinners die but turne to thee in feare So that Oh Lord abounding so with loue and mercie store Thou didst vouchsafe to send a salue to cure my cruell sore Thy onely Sonne delight and ioy who came in humaine weede Into this vale of deepe annoy to kyll the Serpents seede Who did betray and bryng to woe our former Parentes twaine Whom thou hadst set in blessed state for aye there to remaine And I poore wretch the seede of sinne so subiect vnto yll Haue swerued from y e word of trueth and sore transgrest thy wyll Imbracing with great greedinesse my substance and my store Which I by couin and deceit haue gotten heretofore And in delight haue past my dayes as Sathan rulde my will I framde my ●●nfies all and some to thinges peruers and ill Haue mercie mercie Lord on mee whoe haue deserued thrall Refuse mee not though I be dust by nature proane to fall Blot out of thine accompting Booke what I haue done amisse Oh pardon my Offences all and place my soule in blisse Wash me from all vngodlinesse make soule and body cleene That not a spot of filthinesse in neither may be seene I doo confesse O Lord to thee I doo confesse my sinne And doo condempne my selfe of all that I haue liued in I am a frowarde Childe to thee prouokyng thee to Ire But Lord vouchsafe call mee againe I would full faine retire From wandring in such vanities to walke the wayes of light Extend thy loue Lorde let me liue from hence a life vpright I disobeyed thy Preceptes and did what Nature would I did not that that Uertue wyld and what of right I should Most wickedly I walked in the wayes that were vniust Esteeming filthy Carcase so as it had not ben dust Oh Lorde I stood no feare of thee nor reuerenst thy name But as a disobedient wretche haue lead my life in blame Thy Lawes I cast behinde my back and doo not them fulfyll I follow with all greedinesse mine owne corrupted wyll I haue most lewdly lead my life without remorce of minde Neglecting true repentance styll to wickednes inclinde I roue at randone too and fro from sinne to sinne I runne And therin wallow as the Sow in durtie soyle in Sunne The Solace whiche I should haue shund I sought with gredinesse And shund the Solace which I shuld haue held as happinesse Which thou O lord thou doost behold yea what I thinke or saye What I haue done and what I doo and how I gad astraye How I despised thy commaund and how I breake thy wyll How like a senceles man I run by rash conceit to yll Wherfore I neede to say no more my sinnes my soule annoy Mine heart doeth harbour such conflict that gone is all my ioy Solace Dispaire not man let sorrow passe take solace now of mee I am the God that neuer was nor wyll vnfaithfull bee My mercie is a thousand fould to him that doth repent Repent therfore saye on be bould the contrite is not shent What if thou be a sinfull man in hart repent therfore Be sure thou shalt haue pardon then but see thou sinne no more The Thiefe that hung on tree w t mee as he gaue vp the Ghost Did craue that he might saued bee whose praiers were not lost And Marie Magdaline that was a sinfull woman came To mee in heart repenting sinne and I forgaue the same By death I say I ouerthrew the Serpent and his trayne Mine heauenly fathers wyll I dyd obey without disdaine Upon the Crosse with euyll men my Corps were nayled fast Not as a Sinner but for thee when helpe of hope was past Proceede therfore confesse in haste what thou hast done amisse For Sinne I know remains in thee as in all men there is The sinfull man Then Lorde I see thou doest beholde with thy supernall eye The creaturs which in thraldome bee and hearest when they crie I sinfull soule distressed sore in plungyng pangues of woe Doo craue the crūmes of mercie store which from thy Table floe For Lorde I see that thou art prest to ease my sinfull sore Refuse me not vouchsafe mee rest in heart that call therfore Who by my sinfull lyfe haue lost thy loue and purchast

thrall Extende vnto mee wretched wight thy light and loue withall Oh Lorde my God forget mee not hyde not thy selfe from mee Although my flesh do striue to keepe my syllie soule from thee Showe not thyne anger as a foe let mercy be my staye It is no profite Lord for thee to cast my soule awaye Denie mee not a contrite heart a pensiue person poore An wofull wretch a sinfull soule that knocke here at thy doore Uouchsafe to turne thy face to mee forgiue my deedes amisse In feare I doo appeale to thee as one that guiltie is Deale not as my deserts doo craue but as of mercie thou Doost will and still delight to haue all sinfull heartes to bow Showe not thy force against thy foe that faine would come to thee And pardon my Offences all though Death be due to mee Oh plague mee not good Lord so sore I haue no force I fall I neuer wyll offende thee more if thou vouchsafe to call My soule from sinne and to affoord mee Solace sweete againe Loe here I doo against my selfe a sinfull wretch complaine Shame dooth beset mee round about my selfe consume in woe I am corrupt mine heart throughout I wander too and fro From sinne to sinne I run perforce I wander styll astraye Wherfore without thy due remorce I can not but decaye Since first I suckt my Mothersbrest yea since I sawe the daye The subtill Serpent hath not ceast to wrest mine heart astraye In sinne my mother did conceaue this cankred Corps of mine And Sathan seekes Lord to bereaue all that of right is thine He soweth 〈◊〉 and wicked seedes in mine vnstaid brest Wherof doo grow pernitious deedes which breede my soule vnrest Which I as yet cannot auoyde they fixe so fast one mee That frō my youth they haue auoid and keepe me Lord from thee So that I am full bought and sould betwene the Feend and synne And wickednes a thousand foulde myne heart doth lodge within The good I cannot which I would my nature proane to ill Withdraws myne harte frō what it should imbrace w t heauenly skil But Lord in sinne why should I dye syth thy good will is so To heare poor synners whē they crie and them redeeme from woe And giuest them repaste againe from heauens high aboue And to repentant hearts full faine thou showest thy selfe in loue Ye thou doest saue through mercie meere those that deserue to dye When they to thee returne in feare oh Lorde now so doe I A thousand times before this daie thy mercies from aboue Haue saued them that went astraie to showe thy zealous loue Our fathers who were longe agoe when they were in dystresse Fell prostrate on their harts and loe thou gauest them redresse Ye whē they were incompast round and no hope to auoyde Thy mercye Lord did so abounde that they were not destroyed Haue mercie therfore Lord on mee oh god on whome I call I wretched synner here to thee on prostrate heart doe fall Ease mee againe let mercie thine myne woefull hearte releeue And let not synne all goodnes mine through loosenes thus bereaue My soule alas in dolefull plight in hope of helpe doth crie Oh Lord extend thy louelie light that shines from heauen hye To guide my silly soule to blisse by shunnyng what is ill High time alas good Lord it is to frame mee to thy will Wherfore extend thy grace againe put foorth thy helpyng hand Let it reuiue what sinne hath slaine and loosen Sathans bande Lorde Iesus come oh come in haste Let Heauens Bowe come down That I a wretched wight at last maye ioye that passing Crowne Which y u by dreadful death hast won through plūging panges on tree In loue to giue the same to those that feare to fall from thee Come come I say thou Solace true and fill mine hart with ioye My sinfull soule with grace renue whom Sathan would destroye No daye no time no minute is deuoyde of wo to mee But oh alas the cause is this I hold mee not by thee If thou absent thy selfe my soule my bones my bodie dust Corrupt with carke of wicked will as Iron doeth with rust If thou absent thy selfe my soule runnes headlong into yll And staggerryng too and fro it reeles and kickes against thy wyll Yf thou absent thy selfe my soule like wretched wight opprest Fast ●ettred in the boultes of sinne lyes groaning voyde of rest Yf thou absent thy selfe my soule sinckes into darkesome thrall But Lord driue darknes far frō mee sende light and loue withall So sinne shal passe and vertue slow within my dolefull brest Oh Iesu come Oh come in haste to set my soule at rest And thus my soule I doo commende into thy bosome sweete On whome I doo in heart depende heere prostrate at thy feete Solace Take heed take heed Oh sinful man let heart and tongue agree Leaue off to sinne repent foorthwith and I wyll dwell with thee Cast of the Cloake that is the cause to hinder thine intent Thy sinne and then in deede I wyll to thy request consent The sinfull man How shuld mine heart toong agree what meanest thou therin I haue at large thou maist perceiue vnfoulded all my sinne Solace I T is not ynough to shew thy selfe onely by outward wordes to be a sinfull man but thou must likewise as I haue tould thée before reforme thy former frowarde and peruerse wayes that is as thou knowest and hast confessed thy selfe heretofore to haue walked in errour in darkenes rebellyng against mine heauenly father So wold I haue thée to cléeue vnto the trueth to follow the light and obey mine heauenly father in performing those things which are commaunded thée For there be some that can make a gay gloze and showe of holinesse by such outward protestation when in deede they are farre from that true inwarde sorrow which causeth repentaunce vnto saluation whose dissimulation and hypocrisie deserueth double punishment The sinfull man Show mee therfore what must I doe and what must I obeye Uoutchsaufe mee grace I doe repent my gaddyng longe astray Solace WEll then for asmuch as the daie is gone and that there is no time to declare it now I will deferre it vntill to morrow and then I will tell thée what thou most doe and what leaue vndone In the meane time forget not to prayse myne heauenly father who hath made thee mée whoe haue redemed thée and the holye Ghoast whoe haue sealed thée as one of the adopted Children that shal be saued The Ende of the Frydaye or Fyfth Dayes Conference An earnest confession of sinnes with a Prayer for the forgiuenes thereof OH miserable and most wretched creature am I prest down oh Lord with so many euils with such notorious sinnes geuous offences heynous crymes manifould iniquities That I confesse my selfe manie thousand waies to haue offended thee and to haue deserued more punishmente then I am able to beare Oh Lorde such is myne vntowardenes my cursed

wretchednes and senceles running headlong from vanitie to vanitie from euill to worse Insomuch as in steade of lighte I haue followed darkenes in steade of the trueth imbraced errors insteede of vertue loued vice and insteede of dooing good I haue followed iniquitie euen with greedynes The dregges oh Lord of Sathans transgression haue so ouercome mee and taken such deepe roote in mine hearte and taken such sure holde of my corrupt flesh that it bringeth continuallye foorth the fruites of an euill life mine owne conscience accuseth mee and standeth as many witnesses againste mee feeling my selfe euen pressed downe with manye sinnes with innumerable transgressions against thy maiestye the leaste whereof I acknoweledge to be able iustlye to condempne mee Oh Lorde my tongue my lippes and mine hearte haue rebelled against thee my thoughtes haue beene euill my wordes wicked and deedes abhominable beefore thee yea from mine heade to my foote there is no parte oh Lorde that can cleere it selfe of offending thee wherefore oh Lorde here doe I acknowledge not onelye with myne outwarde voyce but with an inward feeling of the hearte that I haue highly displeased thee and wrought that which in thine eyes is abhominable wherby I haue deserued thine heauy displeasure againste mee in somuch as thou mayest iustly turne mee away thou mayest cast mee off and forsake mee I am not worthy to be called thy sonne Oh Lorde I nowe feele mine owne wretchednes and the allurements of the flesh and Sathan I confesse to be altogether deceitfull and wicked which I haue esteemed and helde so deare and acknowledge all trueth all help comforre and consolation and the true solace to proceed from thee the fountayne of all happynesse Who in mans greatest wretchednes euen of meere loue and vnfayned zeale of their saluation haste sent a remedy to cure their curssednes thine owne Sonne Iesus Christ who hath taken away the punishment which I haue deserued for breaking of thy wil In whose nam and for whose sake haue compassion vpon mee laye not my sinnes vnto my charge whereby I haue deserued eternall damnation Oh Lorde vouchsafe that although I haue iustly deserued to dye by reason of my greeuous sinnes turne thy face in mercy not in iustice towardes mee Respecte not mine offences but looke vppon that sacrifice that oblation which was offered vpon the crosse for the reconciliation againe of those vnto thee which come vnto thee through him Through whome oh Lord I come vnto thee and for whose deserts I craue pardon disclayming altogether mine owne merrites Oh remember thy moste louing promise that thou wilte accept his death and his bitter passion as a full recompence for all mine offences and a sufficient ransome for all my former euils lette thine anger oh Lorde through him be appeased thine heauye displeasure qualified and loue renewed That from hence foorth in a true and vndoubted fayth I maye take holde of the remission of my sinnes through him and beleeue vnfaynedly that the obedience of him thy sonne Iesus Christ is made mine attonement with thee that by his death I am made aliue and by his resurrection I am made rightuous in thy sighte Let thine holy spirite oh blessed Lorde God assure me through the same fayth that I am indeede receiued into thy fauoure and loue againe That being thereby truelye comforted I may enioye the liberty of a free minde wherin I may serue thee wherin I may obey thee and whereby I maye growe into a godlye hatred of the olde man and into a true and vnfayned loue of rightuousnes So that from hencefoorth I maye in newnesse of life diligently imploye my selfe to the Execution and continuall woorkynge of those thinges that maye witnesse outwardly to the Example of other men what I beleeue inwardly casting away all dissimulation and Hipocrisie the Cloake of sinne spending the residue of my daies in a pure and sincere conuersation brynging foorth the fruits beelongynge to amendement of life That after this life ended I may through the merittes of that thy Sonne our onely Sauiour and Aduocate Ihesus Christ for euermore possesse the Ioyes of eternall life Amen ¶ Oh Lorde increase our Fayth The Saturdaye or sixth Dayes Conference betweene Solace and the Sinfull man Wherin Solace sheweth him what is to bee done and what left vndone to attaine to the perfection of Christianytie The Sinfull man GOOD Solace loe here I attende as one that longes to heare What I must doo and leaue vndone I giue attentiue eare Solace IF thou dilligently attend this Day and reteine in memorie those thinges that I haue heeretofore declared vnto thee thou shalt perceiue the Summe of thy Duetie towardes mine heauenly father as also thy duty towards other men whereby y u maiest liue an vpright and a godly life to the seruyce and honour of God profitte of thy neighbour and saluation of thine owne soule to the vanquishing of Sathan dispising of the world and to the mortifying of thine owne flesh So that the Deuill shall not fray thee the worlde deceiue thee nor thy flesh annoye thée The sinfull man Good Solace then proceede in hast true comforte now appeares This comforte doth abandon woe and wipe off all my teares Solace IN deede so it will if thou attentiuely heare it faithfully beleeue it and truely followe it But thou hast heard before that it is not enough for thee to say with the mouth thou wilt or confesse with thy lippes that thou hast offended but thou must performe in deede and reforme thy conuersation yea thou must haue thyne heart fraughted with such godly cogitations and vertuous desires as maye bring foorth the fruites of that sorrowe which as before is sayd causeth repentaunce vnto saluation that thine actions outwardly and thine affections inwardly may appeare to bee grounded vpon that true faith which is the fountaine of all good works whatsoeuer without y e which thy workes are not only vnprofitable but meere abominable By which faith thou must beleeue the promises touching thy saluation to vee wholy accomplished and performed through my death and passion onely and not in respect of thyne owne good workes be they neuer so many And yet art thou bounde by all meanes possible to endeuour thy selfe to doe good vnto all men and to decline from euill And for that purpose haue I called thee from that error wherein thou walkest deceiuing thy selfe with vaine and transitorie pleasure of this worlde to bring thee vnto the light of trueth to drawe thee from thine Idolatrie wherein thou gauest worship as it were vnto thy greate aboundance esteemyng thy golde as thy GOD to serue myne heauenly father thy liuing GOD and louing Creatour to followe that which is god and to eschue and auoide that which is euill onely to worke the will of myne heauenlye father which is sette downe and declared in the two Tables containing tenne precepts wherin as in a glasse thou mayest beholde what thou oughtest to doe and what to leaue

say thou haue no sinne thou deceiuest thy selfe and there is no trueth in thee but if thou confesse and acknowledge thy sinnes I am faithfull and righteous remayning an Aduocate for thee vnto mine heauenly father to obteine thee forgiuenesse and to cleanse thee from all thine iniquitie Now whensoeuer thou approachest vnto mine heauenly father in my name for remission of sinnes call to minde that to the promise of forgiuenesse is annexed this condition that thou forgiue al others that haue trespassed against thee wherein it behoueth thee to be circumspect and carefull to weede out all malice all hatred dissention and hypocrisie out of thine heart together with al other impediments that may let thy free comming vnto mine heauenly father namely all sinne and iniquitie truely repenting thee thereof that thy conscience being made cleane condemne thee not but that thou mayst come boldly and freely vnto the Throane of grace and in my name receiue whatsoeuer thou shalt aske And for that that Sathan the Prince of this world is so vigilant and diligent to drawe men into many noysome attempts whereby they may decline from myne heauenly Father and followe him whereby vice may bee imbraced and vertue forsaken iniquitie set vp and iustice and equitie suppressed euill regarded goodnes defaced It behooueth thee in all thy prayers to make mention of thy frailtie with humble request vnto myne heauenly Father in my name that he will strengthen thee against all assaultes of wicked Sathan who seeketh by al meanes to ouerthrowe thee whereof thou hast had sufficient experience of late and in whose conflictes thou hast bene vtterly ouercome had not I assisted thee not only in the couetous desires and inordinate cares of this world wherwith he infecteth many but in his most dangerous assault wherein he sought to drowne thee in vtter dispayre his pollicies are verie deceitfull his hatred to wards godlines so great and his assaults so sharpe as it behooueth thee to haue thy weapons prepared for defence that he batter not the walles of thy Soule with the shot of sinne and temptations to sinne but that thou maist be able to withstand him to keepe him from entring into thy soule and that is by no other meane then by a true and an vndoubted faith in mee who haue already vanquished him whereby thou shalt also resist him but for asmuch as thine owne strength is mere weakenesse thy force very frailtie apt rather to yeeld then able to withstande him thou art willed to come for strength against his temptation vnto mine heauenly father by faithfull prayer in my name that those temptations wherewith he endeuoureth to draw thee into destruction namely the thinges that may offende mine heauenly father as contempt of his worde Idolatrie Couetousnesse Drunkennesse Malice Enuie Theft dispaire in trouble and to vse sinister and vnlawfull meanes in pouertie or any kinde of vice ouercome thee not but to bee preserued frō all thinges that are vngodly daungerous to thy soule for which also thou art willed to pray namely for deliueraunce from euill in which word is comprehended whatsoeuer may bee displeasaunt and offensiue vnto myne heauenly father from the tyrannie of Sathan and from all miseries both bodily and gho●i●y not onely priuate appertayning only vnto thy self but for the whole Church that she being deliuered from all calamities thou mayst be partaker of the blessinges powred vpon the same in this life namely the true knowledge of my Gospell and fruition thereof and after this life inherite the Kingdome prepared for the ●●ect of mine heauenly father from the beginning Nowe hast thou heard what things thou must pray for namely things eternall which are tending to the honouring of mine heauenly fathers name who hath bene before all worlds for spirituall things which are those things that tend to the saluation of thy soule and for corporall things which tend to the maintenāce of this present life The consideration of which things ought to stirre thee vp to continuall and faithfull praier wherein as before is saide it behooueth thee to waigh vnto whome thou praiest and by whose meanes thy prayers are acceptable and thy petitions graunted Thou praiest vnto God myne heauenly father who made and created thee and all the worlde thou hast accesse vnto him through mee his Sonne for whose sake by whose mediation thy praiers are heard those prayers that are made by the spirit and vnderstanding not vnaduisedly or at aduenture but in faith and trueth And to the end that thou maist bee assured that it is mine heauenly father onely that both heareth thee and wil helpe thee thou must reteine in thy continuall remembrance how and in what maner he hath declared himself to be the only and true God and that not only in making thee and all creatures els whom by his mightie power hee likewise preserueth but especially in sending mee his onely Sonne into the worlde to take humaine nature vpon me to be familiarlie conuersaunt with man on earth to shewe myne heauenly fathers will the Gospell of eternall trueth his liuely and very perfect Image vnto men to the ●●de that they should pray only vnto him who hath reueiled himself by me as appeareth by many and euident testimonies wherby thou maist and oughtest daily and diligently to exercise thy faith and therein without wauering to addresse thy self vnto the Throane of his grace in my name of whom he gaue testimonie to bee his onely Sonne and for whose sake hee hath promised to giue thee all thinges both corporall and spiritual which thou shalt faithfully pray for in my name and bee assured to receiue the fruite of thy faithfull praier But now thou must beware least as before is sayd thou bee founde vnthanckfull after the receiuing of the blessinges of my heauenly father of what kinde soeuer they bee For thanksgiuing is an acceptable worship vnto him for that thereby he is acknowledged the giuer and disposer of those thinges that tend to thy benefite and he that giueth him praise glorifieth him And this belongeth vnto the righteous and godly ones onely as the Prophet witnesseth saying The voyce of ioye and deliueraunce shall bee in the tabernacles of the righteous saying the right hande of the Lorde hath done valiauntly Thus must thou at all tims for all thinges and aboue al things giue thankes not only for the comforte of the present benefite which thou receiuest at the handes of mine heauenly father but also for that thou hast receiued an assured token of his fauour wherein thou mayst peaceablie passe the whole course of thy life in ful assurance that for my sake thou art at peace with him For if thou omit and neglect this due worship of thanksgiuing when thou hast receiued any singuler benefite or deliuerie frō any kind of daunger or riddaunce from any calamitie thou deemest mine heauenly father to bee the aucthor thereof and attribute