beneath yet is he present with vs his members euen to the end of the world ini preseruing and gouerning vs with is effectuall power and grace who when all things are fulfilled which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his Prophetes since the world began will come in the same visible forme in the which he ascended with an vnspeakable matestie power and companie to separate the Lambes from the Goates the Elect from the reprobate So that none whether he be aliue then or dead before shall escape his iudgement Moreouer I beleeue and confesse the holy Ghost God equall with the Father and the Sonne who regenerateth and sanctifieth vs ruleth and guideth vs in all truth perswading most assuredly in our consciences that we be the Children of God Brethren to Iesus Christ and tellowe heires with him in life euerlasting Yet notwithstanding it is not sufficient to beleeue that God is omnipotent and mercifull that Christ hath made satisfaction or that the holy Ghost hath his power and effect except we doe applie the same benefites to our selues which are Gods Elect. I beleeue therefore and confesse one holy Church which as members of Iesus Christ the only head thereof consent in faith hope and charitie vsing the giftes of God whether they be temporall orspirituall to the profit and furtherance of the same Which church is not séene to mans eye but only known to God who of the lost Sons of Adam hath ordained some as bessels of wrath to damnation and hath chosen others as vessels of his mercy to be saued the which also in due time he calleth to integritie of life and godly conuersation to make them a glorious church to himselfe But that church which is visible and séene to the eye hath thrée tokens or marks wherby it may be discedice First the word of God contained in the old and new Testament which as it is aboue the authoritie of the same Church and only sufficient to instruct vs in all things concerning saluation so it is left for all degrees of men to reade and vnderstand For without this word neither Church counsel or decree can establish any poynt touching Saluation The second is the holy Sacraments to wit of Baptisme and the Lords Supper which Sacraments Christ hath left vnto vs as holy signes and seales of Gods promises for as by Baptisme once receiued is signified that we as well infants as others of age and discretion being strangers from God by originall sinne are receiued into his familie and congregation with full assurance that although this roote of sin lye hid in vs yet to the elect it shall not be impured So the Supper declareth that God as a most prouident Father doth not only feede our bodies but also spiritually nourisheth our Soules with the graces and benefites of Iesus Christ which the Scripture calleth eating of his flesh and drinking of his bloud neither must we in the administration of these Sacraments followe mans phantasie but as Christ himselfe hath ordained so must they be ministred and by such as by ordmarie vocation bee thereunto called Therefore whesoeuer reserueth or worshippeth these Sacraments or contrarywise contemneth them in time and place procureth to himselfe damnation The third marke of this Church is Ecclesiasticall discipline which standeth in admonition and correction of faults The finiall end whereof is excommunication by the consent of the Church determined if the offender be obstinate And besides this Ecclesiasticall censure I acknowledge to belong to this Church a politicall Magistrate who ministreth to euery man Iustice desending the good and punishing the euill to whom we must render honour and obedience in all things which are not contrary to the word of God And as Moses Ezechias Iosias and other godly rulers purged the Church of God from Superstition and Idolatrie so the defence of Christs Church apperteineth to the Christian Magistractes against al Idolaters and Heretikes wherein standeth only remission of sinnes purchased by Christs bloud to al them that beleeue whether they be Iewes or Gentiles and leades vs to vayne confidence in Creatures and trust in our own imaginations The punishment whereof although God oftentimes deferreth in this life yet after the general resurrection when our soules and bodies shall arise againe to immortalitie they shall be damned to vnqueachable sire and then we which haue forsaken all mans wisdome to cleaue vnto Christ shall heare that ioyfull voyce Come ye blessed of my Father inherice ye the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world and so shall goe triumphing with him in bodie and soule to remaine euerlastingly in glory where we shall see God face to face and shall no more need one to instruct another for we shall all know him from the highest to the lowest To whom with the Father the Sonne and holy Ghost be all praise honor and glorie now and for euer So be it The Commandements of God giuen by Moses and expounded by Christ The first Table THou shalt haue none other Gods bt me Exo. 20. Deut. 6. I am the Lord thy God which haue brought thee out of the land of AEgypt out of the house of bondage Christ Mat. 6. Heare Israel Our Lord God is one Lord and thou shalt loue thy Lord God with all thy heart and with all thy soule and with all thy mind and with all thy strength Matth. 4. Thou shalt worship thy Lord God and him onely shalt thou serue ij Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any grauen image nor the likenesse of any thing that is in heauen aboue or in the earth beneath nor in the water vnder the earth thou shalt not bowe downe to them nor worship them For I the Lord thy God am a ielous God and visit the sinnes of the Father vpon the children vnto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me and shewe mercie vnto thousands in t hem that loue me and keepe my commandements Iohn 1. No man hath séene God at any time The only begotten Sonne which is in the bosome of the Father hath declared him Christ Iohn 4. God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth Acts 18. For as much as we are the generation of God wee ought not to thinke that the Godhead is like vnto Gold Siluer or Stone grauen by craft or imagination of man 1. Iob. 5. Babes kéepe you from Images Sap. 14. Cursed is the I dol that is made with hands yea both it and he that made it because it was called God whereas it is but a fraile thing For the vngodly and his vngodlines are both like abhominable vnto God iij. Thon shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine For the Lord will not hold him guiltles that taketh his name in vaine Christ Mattth 5. Ye haue heard how it was sayd vnto them of olde tyme Thou shalt not forsweare thy selfe but shalt perfourme thyne othes to the Lord. But I
which are in Heauen haue mercie vpon me and be thou my mercifull mediator for me vnto thy Father that I may be saued O holy Ghost God conqual with the father the sonne haue mercie vpon me worke thy diume power in me thorow thy gracious mipiration Drame me vnto Iesus Christ that I may finde fanour and be saued Amen The second part As concerning my bodie that I bequeathe vnto the earth from whence it came My Consission I Knowledge and confese with all my heart that I am a sinner yea such a sinner as hath neede of the grace mercie and fauour of God My faith ioyned with hope I beleeue that the Lord will haue mercie vpon me for he hath first made me and if it shall please him he may saue me This I beleeue whether I liue or dye I am the Lords My hope I Hope that I shall find both grace and mercie for my sinnes of God the Father euen for Iesus Christes sake in him I beleeue he is my redeemer he liueth for euer and euer He maketh intercession for sinnes So this I know that now I am a corruptible body but I hope through Christ to rise an vncorruptible body Now a mortall bodie but through Christ and his merites I hope to haue though now an earthly bodie then an heauenly bodie For as many as shall be saued shall shine in the kingdome of God as bright as the Sunne This my faith and hope I lay vp in my minde the mind of my Soule trusting onely to be saued thorowe the merites of Iesus Christ God and man which is in Heauen From whence we looke againe the which shall change our vile bodie and make it like his owne most glorious bodie whereby he is ablel to subdue all things vnto himselfe O Christ haue mercie vpon mee thou hast redeemed mee O Christ saue me A Prayer for the Sicke OH how sicke am I My weakenesse increaseth more and more Lord be mercifull vnto me and giue mee grace pacientlie and thankefullie to beare the crosse and in the middest of this my sickenesse alwaies to say Thy will O heauenly Father bee done and not mine Another Prayer for the Sicke O Lorde Iesus Christ which art the onely health of all men liuing and the euerlasting life of them which dye in thy faith I wretched sinner giue submic my selfe wholy to thy most blessed will And I being sure that the thing cannot perish which is committed vnto thy mercie most humbly beseech thee O Lord to giue me grace that I may now willinglie leaue this fraile wicked flesh in hope of the resurrection which in better wise shall restore it to me againe I beseech thee O most mercifull Iesu Christ that thou wilt by thy grace make strong my soule against all temptations and that thou wilt couer and defend my with the Buckler of thy mercie against all the assaults of the Diuell I see and acknowledge that there is in my selfe no helpe of life and fasuation 〈◊〉 my considence hope and trust i◠in thy most mercifull goodnesse I haue no merites 〈◊〉 good workes which I may alleage before thée Of sinnes and euill works alas I see a grace heape but through thy mercie I trust to be of the number of them to whom thou wilt not impute their sinnes but take and accept me for righteous and iust and to be the inheritour of euerlasting glorie Thou O most mercifull Lord waste borne for my sake Thou diddest suffer both hunger and thirst for my sake Thou diddest preach and teach thou diddest pray and fast for my sake Thou didest all good woorkes and deedes for my sake Thou sufferedst most greeuous paynes and torments for my sake And finally thou gauest thy most precious body to dye and thy most blessed blood to be shed on the Crosse for my sake Now most mercifull Sauiour let all these things profite me which thou freely hast giuen me which hast giuen thy selfe for me let thy blood cleanse and wash away the spottes and foulenesse of my sinnes Let thy righteousnes hide and couer my vnrighteousnesse Let the merites of thy passion and blood be the satisfaction for my sinnes Giue me Lord thy grace that my faith and perswasion in thy blood wauer not in me but euer be firme and constant that the hope of thy mercie and life euerlasting neuer decay in me that Charitie waxe not colde in me finally that the weakenesse of my flesh be not ouercome with the feare of death Graunt me also O most mercifull Sauiour that when death hath shut vp the eyes of my bodie yet the eyes of my Soule may still behold and looke vnon thee and that when death hath taken away the vse of my tongue and speech yet that my heart may crye and say vnto thee O Lord into thy hands I giue and commit my soule Lord Iesu take my Spirit A thankes giuing to God for the departure of the faithfull out of this vvorld O How can we most louing Father render vnto thee sufficient thankes for thine inestimable goodnesse toward thy faithfull seruants Whom thou calling out of this wetched world vouchsafe to place in thy heauenly Ringdome among the glorious companie of thy holy Angels and blessed Saints O full precious is the death of the faithfull in thy sight Blessed are the dead that dye in the Lord. For they are at rest from their painfull trauels and labour The soules of the righteous are in thy hand O God and the paine of death shall not touch them In the sight of the vnwise they appeare to dye but they are in peace They shine as the sparkes that runne through the red bush They glister as the shyning heauen They are as the starres world without end They are as the Angels of God They are clad with white garments and haue golden Crownes vpon their heads Tey doe seruice day and night before the glorious Throne of thy Diuine Maiestie They neither hunger nor thirst any more neither doth the Sunne or any heate fall vpon them for the Lambe which is in the middest of the Throne gouerneth them and leadeth them vnto the liuing fountaine of waters They followe the Lambe whithersoeuer he goeth They haue such ioyes as eye hath not seene nor eare hath heard neither is there any heart able to thinke them infinite and vnspeakeable are thy treasures O Lord which thou hast layde vp for them that depart in thy faith For these thy fatherly benefites toward the soule of the faithfull and for that it hath pleased thee to call this our Christian brother from this vale of miserie vnto thy heauenly kingdome we giue vnto thee most heartie thankes humbly beseeching thee that thou wilt take like care for vs and so gouerne vs with thy holy Spirit both in sicknesse and in health that we may liue a good and godly life in this present world and whensoeuer it shall be thy good pleasure to call vs hence we may with strong faith
then shall come vnto vs no sickenesse no neede no payne no kinde of euill to soule or bodie but whatsoeuer good we can wish that shall we haue and whatsoeuer we loath shall be farre from vs. O deare Father that we had faith to behold these things accordingly Oh that our hearts were perswaded thereof and our affections inflamed with the desire of them Then should we liue in longing for that which now we must lothe O helpe vs and graunt that we being ignorant of things to come and of the time of our death which to thee is certaine may so liue and finish our iourney here that we may be readie and then depart when our departing may make most to thy glorie and our comfort through Christ What is this life but a smoke a vapor a shadow a warfare a bubble of water a word grasse a flower That thou shalt dye it is most certaine but the time no man can tell when The longer in this life thou doest remaine the more thou sinnest which will turne to thy more paine By cogitation of death our mynds be often in a manner oppressed with darkenesse because we doe but remember the light of the bodie forgetting the light of the minde and for thy resurrection Hereto remember the good things that after this life shall ensue without wauering in certeintie of faith and so shall the passage of death be more desired It is like a sayling ouer the Sea to thy home and countrie It is like a medicine or purgation to the health of soule and bodie it is the best Phisition it is like to a womans trauaile For as the childe being deliuered commeth into a more large place then the wombe wherein it did lye before so mysoule being deliuered out of the bodie commeth into a much more larger and fayrer place euen into heauen A deuout prayer to be said daylie O Almightie and eternal God which vouchsafest that we as it were heaueuly Children should euery one of vs call thee our heauenly Father Graunt that among vs be purenesse and example of innocent life thy most holy name may be sanctified that all other Nations beholding our goodnesse and vertuous deedes that thou workest in vs may be stirred to hallowe and glorifie thee Graunt O Lord that the kingdome of thy grace and mercie may reigne continually in our hearts so that we may be worthie to be partakers of the Realme of glorie and maiestie Graunt that vnto the very death we refuse not to followe thy diuine will and that we according to the example of the celestiall Citizens agreeing together quietly vnited in spirite all controuersie in opinions layd apart the lustes of the flesh being subdued and the flattering assaultes of the world and the Deuill ouercome neuer wrastle against thy most holy will but obey it in al things Graunt O Lord for our bodie needefull sustenaunce that we may the more freely serue thee Giue vs we beseech thee O mercifull Father that Hearuenly bread the bodie of thy Sonne Iesus Christ the very foode and health of our soules giue vs the bread of thy diuine precepts that we may truely walke and liue after them Giue vs the bread of thy heauenly word which is the strong fortresse and sure defence of our Soules that we being well fed and silled with this foode may worthily runne to the celestiall feast where as is no hunger Graunt O Lord that we paciently beare and susfer our enemies and such as hurt vs and willingly to forgiue the offences committed against vs that so we may finde the Lord in forgiuing vs our trespasses milde and mercifull Graunt O Lord that we be not vtterly led into temptation that there by we should be lost But in all perilles of temptation and in the middest of the stormie tempests and tribulations let vs thy children perceiue and feele thy fatherly succour readie to helpe vs least that we be ouercome with the naughtie craftes and deceites of the tempter should be drawne into euerlasting destruction but when we be well assayed approoued and purged with the fire of temptation then let vs finish our course and so well and valiantly fight that we may for euermore liue with thee in that heauenly Citie where and against the which no manner temptation canpreuaile Finally graunt most mercifull Father that we through thy benigne goodnesse may be deliuered from all euils present and to come both in bodie and soule and that at the last that yoke of that foule feend being shaken off we may possesse the heritage of the heauenly kingdome which thy Sonne with his precious blood bought for vs thy children and there fore euer to haue the fruition of celestiall delectations accompanied with Angels and blessed Saints through the helpe benignitie and grace of our Sauiour Iesus Christ to whom and to thee our father and to the holy Ghost be all glorie and honour now and euer Amen Another Prayer O Heauenly father God almightie I pray and beseech thy mercie beningly to behold me thy vnworthy seruant that I may by thy gift of thy holy Spirit feruently desire thy kingdome that I may knowne thy will and worke thereafter Giue me O Lord wisdome Make me constant patient and strong in thee Keepe me Lord from the sleightie inuasion of the olde wilie Serpent Defend me from the counsailes and cursings of euill tongues let thy mightie arme be my shield against all the malignitie of the wicked world Remember not O Lord myne offences instruct prepare me to repent and to be sorie for my sinnes Make me to loue iustice and hate wrong to doe good and abstaine from all euils that I may be worthie to be called thy child To thee be honour and glorie for euer and euer Amen A deuout Prayer LORD hearken to my wordes consider the thought of my heart Behold how lowde I crye vnto thee let my iust prayer enter into thy cares which vnfeignedly commeth from my heart Heare me Lord for I am poore and destitute of mans helpe Take care for my Soule saue me thy Seruant which wholy trust in thee haue mercie vpon me O Lord for I will neuer cease crying to thee for helpe For thou art milde and more mercifull then any tongue can expresse as often as aduersitie assayleth me I will crye and call for helpe vnto thee I will call vpon thee in the day time and in the night my cry shall not be hid from thee O thou God of the heauens and maker of the waters and Lord of all creatures heare me a poore sinner calling vpon thee and putting my whole trust in thy mercie Haue mercie vpon me for thy manifold mercies sake forgiue me al myne offences Amen The Letanie O God the father of heauen haue mercie vpon vs miserable sinners O God the father c. O God the sonne redeemer of the world haue mercie vpō vs miserable sinners O God the sonne c. spare vs good Lord spare thy people whom thou hast