of these articles of our faith Preserue and keepe the relieuers of thy Church and giue vnto thē victorie against all assaultes of enimies for this great sauiour Iesus Christ his sake So be it Certaine notable places concerning Iesus Christ drawen out of the scripture Out of the 3. Chap. of Genesis The Serpent After the fall of Adam and Eue the Lord spake vnto Sathan which is the auncient serpent leading or tempting the world as it is said in the 12. of the Apocalyps I will put enmitie betweene thee and the woman and betweene thy seede and her seede Hee shall breake thine head and thou shalt bruse his heele The Chaldie translatiō or rather Paraphrase in stead of seede putteth thy sonne and her sonne meaning by the sonne of the Serpent Antichrist and by the sonne of the woman the promised seede By the same were the fathers comforted and namelie S. Paul saith in the 3. to the Galat. that the promised seede was Christ Out of the 49. of Genesis The seed The scepter shal not depart from Iudah not a lawgiuer from betweene his feete vntill Shiloh come and the people shal be gathered vnto him Now the Chaldey Paraphrase and the Targum Ierosolomite doe not onelie expound it of the Messias but also the most learned of the Hebrewes are constrained so to doe And in the same Chap. and the 18. ver the good Patriarch Iacob saith O Lorde I haue waited for thy saluation Thereupon writeth the Targū of Ierusalem I doe not awaite for a saluation saith Iacob or a deliuerance from a Gedeon or from a Sampson whose deliueraunces were temporall But I doe awaite for that which the Messias shall bring Out of the 18. Chap. of Deuteronomie I wil raise vp vnto them saith the Lord vnto Moses a prophet from among their brethren like vnto thee and will put my wordes in his mouth and hee shall speake vnto them all that I shall commaund him This place cannot bee vnderstoode but of Christ as also it is said by this occasion in the 1. of S. Iohn and the 45. ver how Moses hath written of Christ And in the 3. of the Actes S. Peter dooth also in the 22. ver apply there this place vnto Iesus Christ For albeit that GOD hath raised vp manie Prophets Yet so it is as it is said in the last Chap. of Deuteronomie There arose not a Prophet in Israel like vnto Moses So as a man cannot vnderstād the said place but of Iesus Christ the leader of his people and true Prophet by whome God hath spoken vnto them in these last times as it is said in the 1. Chap. to the Hebrewes Out of the 19. Chap. of Iob. I knowe well that my redeemer liueth he shall stand the last on the earth Out of the 2. Psalme Why doe the Princes assemble together against the Lorde and against his Christ I haue ordained him king vppon Sion mine holie mountaine I wil declare the decree that is the Lord hath said vnto me Thou art my sonne this day haue I begotten thee Aske of me and I shall giue thee the nations for thine inheritance and the endes of the earth for thy possession Now that this Psalme is properlie referred vnto Christ a man may plainelie see it First because that he called him his euerlasting begotten sonne as it is expounded in the 1. of the Hebrewes secondlie in the 11. ver the same sonne is called Iehoua and the kinges of the earth are exhorted to reuerence and imbrace him Thirdlie that his kingdome spreadeth forth it selfe euen vnto the endes of the earth that which a man cannot vnderstand of the kingdome of Dauid Last of all it is said how they are blessed which haue their hope trust in him For as S. Paul speaketh in the 10. to the Romans such shall not bee confounded Therefore the Apostes had reason to apply in the 2. of the Actes this Psalme vnto Christ Out of the 8. Psalme What is man that thou art so mindeful of him the sonne of man that thou visitest him For thou hast made him a little lower than God hast crowned him with glorie honor Thou hast made him to haue dominion ouer the workes of thine handes Thou hast put all thinges vnder his feete Howsoeuer it be that this place setteth out the dignitie excellēcie of the first Adam yet we see by the 12. Chap. to the Hebrewes how this is applyed vnto the secōd Adam that is to say vnto Christ in whom our wretched nature that was fallen frō his first glory was restored againe to honor in such sort as God hath no lesse shewed his woonderfull goodnesse euen with aduantage in the restoring of man againe as hee hath doone in the first creation And as touching the Psalmes we haue verie manie goodlie testimonies of Iesus Christ as of his death and passion in the 22. and 69. the which are alledged in the 27. of S. Matthew and in the 1. of the Actes ver 20. of the resurrection in the 16. Psalme the which is alledged in the 2. of the Actes Of his Ascensiō in the 68. Psalme that is alledged in the 4. Chap. to the Ephes Of his Priesthood in the 110. which is alledged in the 22. of S. Matthew to prooue that hee is the sonne and Lorde of Dauid altogether and in the 5. Chap. to the Hebrewes Of the calling of the Gentiles by the preaching of the Gospell in the 19. Psal and 72. which are alledged in the 10. of the Romans Of the kingdome of Christ in the 2. and 67. Psalme Out of the Prophet Isaie who is by manie called the Euangelicall Prophet And therefore S. Ambrose did exhort S. Augustine before his conuersion to read him diligentlie thereby to giue vnto him taste of the grace of God like as S Augustine doeth witnesse in the 9 booke of his Confessions Out of the 7. of Isaiah The Lorde himselfe will giue you a signe beholde a virgine shall conceiue and beare a sonne and shee shall call his name Immanuell Of this it is spoken in the first of S. Matthew verse 23. Out of the 9. of Isaiah Vnto vs a childe is borne vnto vs a sonne is giuen and the gouernement vpon his shoulders and he shal call his name wonderfull counseller the mightie God the euerlasting father the prince of peace His gouernement shal be inlarged and peace shall haue none ende there he shall sit vpon the throne of Dauid and vpon his kingdome to order it Luke 1. and to stablish it with iudgement Thus is Iesus Christ described vnto vs the sonne of Dauid Rom. 1. according to the fleshe in the 11. of Isaiah and this is alledged in 13 of the Actes and the 23. verse There shall a twig come forth of the stocke of Iessay and a branche shall increase out from his roote and the spirite of the Lorde shall rest vpon him the spirite of wisedome and of vnderstanding the
Symbolo Insomuch as S. Augustine sayeth As it is a curiousnesse to aske how or in what sort Christ is in heauen so must we faithfullie beleeue that he is there But in the meane while he is not there simplie as Henoche who was lifted vppe or Helie that was ascended thither Gene 5. 2. Kinge 2. or as the other his faithfull members but he is there as Head and he is there as he that is set on the right hande of his father For Iesus Christ as the sonne of God hath had trulie alwayes all power in heauen and in earth And now this Iesus who hath taken humane nature this person that is true God and true man gouerneth all thinges and hath a glorie and empire aboue all creatures whereof it doth not followe as some railers thinke that this his humane nature is in al places and euerie where For although that the right hande of God and his mightinesse is infinite yet is it not said that he is made the right hande of God or that the bodie of Christ is become the right hande of God but that hee is set at his right hande Nowe to sit at the right hande of God is not to spreade his bodie throughout all but to gouerne all with the father And likewise that which is spoken of the whole person cannot be particularly and simplie vnderstoode of his humane nature which keepeth alwaies his properties Furthermore the scripture by this sitting at the right hande of God doth not conclude that the bodie of Christ is throughout all but that he is in heauen as it may appeare by the places following Out of the 26. of S. Matthew verse 64. Hereafter shal ye see the sonne of man sitting on the right hand of the power of God and come in the cloudes of heauen Out of the 16. of Marke Iesus was carried vp into heauen and sitteth on the right hand of God Out of the 2. Chap. of the Actes verse 33. To wit as Christ and by his might For hee was laid in the graue awaiting the resurrection How Christ sitteth at the right hand of God Since then that hee by the right hand of God hath bin exalted and hath receiued of his father the promise of the holie Ghost hee hath shewed forth this which ye now see and heare For Dauid is not ascended into heauen but hee saith the Lord said vnto my Lord sit at my right hand vntil I make thine enemies thy footstoole Therefore let all the house of Israel know for a suretie that God hath made him both Lord and Christ this Iesus I say whom yee haue crucified Out of the 5. of the Actes verse 30.31 The God of our Fathers hath raised vp Iesus whome yee slew and hanged on a tree Him hath God lifte vp with his right hand to bee a Prince and a Lorde to giue repentaunce to Israel forgiuenesse of sinnes Out of the 7. of the Actes and 55. verse S. Steuen being full of the holie ghost looked stedfastlie into heauen and sawe the glorie of God and Iesus standing at the right hand of God Out of the 8. Chap. to the Romans verse 34. Who shal condemne it is Christ which is dead yea or rather which is risen againe who is also at the right hand of God and maketh request also for vs. Out of the 1. Chap. to the Ephes verse 20. According to the woorking of his mighty power which is wrought in Christ when hee raised him vp from the dead set him at his right hand in the heauenlie places farre aboue all principalitie and power might and domination and euerie name that is named not in this world onelie but also in that that is to come And hath made all thinges subiect vnder his feete and hath appointed him ouer all thinges to be the head to the Church Out of the 3. Chap. to the Colos verse 1. Seeke those thinges which are aboue where Christ sitteth aâ— the right hand of God Out of the first Chap. and the 3. verse to the Hebrewes The sonne hath by himselfe purged our sinnes and sitteth at the right hand of the maiestie in the highest places In the 13. verse Vnto which also of the Angels said hee at anie time sit at my right hand til I make thine enemies thy footestoole Out of the 8. Chap. to the Hebrewes verse 1. Wee haue such an high priest that sitteth at the right hand of the throne of the maiestie in heauen and is a Minister of the sanctuarie and of the true Tabernacle Out of the 10. to the Hebrewes verse 12. This man after hee had offered one sacrifice for sinnes sitteth for euer on the right hand of God And from henceforth tarieth till his enemies be made his footestoole Out of the 12. to the Hebrewes ver 2. Looking vnto Iesus the Author finisher of our faith who for the ioy that was set before him endured the crosse and despised the shame and is set at the right hand of the Throne of God Out of the 3. Chap. and first Epistle of S. Peter verse 22. Christ is at the right hand of God gone into heauen to whome the Angels and powers and might are subiect A prayer O Lorde my God giue me grace neuer to be ashamed of the Crosse of Christ seeing that he is exalted at thy right hand and that hee is the Lord of all creatures And seeing that thou hast so much honored our nature let me despise all rebukes for thy name and patientlie awaite the hower in the which all thy enemies shall be made thy footestoole From thence shall he come to iudge the quicke and the dead MEDITATION OH the woonderfull counsell of God that hee who was wickedlie iudged vnder Ponce Pilate is established not onelie a mediatour and Sauiour but also iudge of the quicke and the dead O Iudge truelie to be feared of all vnbeleeuers Iohn 3. For hee that dooth not beleeue in thee is condemned and subiect alreadie to perdition Rom. 8. how proude and gallant soeuer he be But yet to bee desired and awaited of all the faithfull to whome there is no condemnation for so much as they are grafted in thee Oh that diuers and manie times do the faithfull lift vp their heades amongst these vniust and most tyrannous going forewardes of these wicked Iudges in so manie tormentes and persecutions dailie looking for such a Iudge who will iudge the causes of his little ones and those that the world treadeth vnder foote Psal 12. It is from heauen and not on the earth that wee must awaite for such a Iudge who shall bring the hidden thinges and shall doe this honor vnto his seruantes that they shall bee as his benchars counsellers and companions in iudgement as it is said in the 6. Chap. of the 1. vnto the Corinthians That the Saintes shall iudge the world and in the 19. of S. Matthew That the Apostles shall iudge the tribes of Israel insomuch
as their glorie shall bee the condemnation of the world who did oppresse them and persecute them O Lord come quicklie to iudgement that all eyes may see thee yea those who haue pearced thee Apoca. 1. and doe dailie make warres to thee in thy mēbers Witnesses out of the scripture concerning the iudgement In the 25. of S. Matthew verse 31. When the sonne of man commeth in his glorie and all the holie Angels with him then shall he sit vppon the throne of his glorie and before him shall be gathered all nations and hee shall separate them one from an other as a shepheard separateth the sheepe from the Goates And shall set the sheepe on his right hand and the Goates on the left Then shall the king say to them on his right hand Come ye blessed of my Father inherit yee the kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world And vnto those that shall bee on the left hand Depart from mee yee cursed into euerlasting fire which is prepared for the Diuell and his Angels Out of the 5. Chap. of S. Iohn verse 22. The Father iudgeth no man but hath committed all iudgement vnto the Sonne because that all men should honor the sonne as they honor the father As the Father hath life in himselfe so likewise hath hee giuen vnto his sonne to haue life in himselfe and hath giuen him power also to execute iudgement in that hee is the sonne of man As if hee should say although the father the sonne and the holie Ghost doe worke Iudge and gouerne together yet wil the Lord that wee should cast our eyes vppon the sonne of man by whom we are guided and through whome God hath declared himselfe Out of the 17. of the Actes verse 30. And the time of his ignorance God regarded not but now hee admonisheth all men euerie where to repent because hee hath appointed a day in the which he wil iudge the world in righteousnesse by that man whom he hath appointed whereof hee hath giuen an assurance to all men in that he hath raised him from the dead Out of the 5. Chap. 2. to the Corinth Wee couet that both dwelling at home and remouing from home wee may bee acceptable to him For wee must all appeare before the iudgemēt seate of Christ that euerie man may receaue the thinges which are doone in his bodie according vnto that hee hath doone whether it bee good or euill Out of the 4. Chap. and 1. Epistle to the Thessalonians For the Lorde himselfe shall descend from heauen with a shoute and with the voyce of the Archangell and with the Trumpet of God and the dead in Christ shall arise first then shall wee which liue and remaine bee caught vp with them also in the cloudes to meete the Lord in the Aire and so shall wee euer bee with the Lord. Wherefore comfort your selues one an other with these wordes Out of the 2. Epistle of S. Paul to the Thes the first Chapter For it is a righteous thing with God to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you to you which are troubled rest with vs when the Lord Iesus shal shew himselfe from heauen with his mightie Angels in flaming fire rendring vengeance vnto them that doe not know God and which obay not vnto the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ which shall bee punished with euerlasting perdition from the presence of the Lord and from the glorie of his power When hee shall come to bee glorified in his Saintes and to bee made maruelous in all them that beleeue c. Out of the 3. Chap. 2. Epistle of to S. Peter Against scorners or mockers There shal come in the last dayes mockers which will walke after their lustes and say Where is the promise of his comming For since the Fathers died all thinges continue alike from the beginning of the creation For this they willinglie know not that the heauens were of old and the earth that was of the water and by the water by the word of God But the day of the Lord will come as a theefe in the night c. I beleeue in the holie Ghost CONSIDERATION AS it was said frō the beginning the Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost are but one onelie true God and this onelie true God is in such sorte declared to the world that the Father is named maker the Sonne redeemer and the holie ghost our Doctor and sanctifier For albeit that this Trinitie worketh together yet notwithstanding for our great comfort it is in such manner manifested that we may acknowledge how all these three persons doe woorke together in all things that doe appertaine vnto our saluation Now as the sonne is euerlastinglie begotten of the Father so likewise dooth the holie Ghost proceede euerlastinglie from the Father and the Sonne So then beleeuing in the holie Ghost wee doe not beleeue that the holie Ghost is onelie some moouing or inspiration But chiefelie we doe beleeue against the Macedonians ancient Heritikes that he is verie true God of the same substance that the father and the sonne is see then wherefore we doe beleeue in him And wee bee also baptised in his name as of the father and of the sonne he is an eternall spirite as it is said in the 9. Chap. of the Hebrewes and from him also commeth grace and peace as it sayde in the 1. Chap. of the Hebrewes Beeing the temple of the holie Ghost it is sayde that we be the temple of God To be short the father the worde and the holy Ghost are all one as it is saide in the first Chapter of the first Epistle of S. Iohn Then doe we beleeue that for the loue and in the name of Iesus Christ the holy Ghost doth comfort wash and sanctifie vs and that by the inspiration of him the holie Prophetes and the Apostles haue spoken and it is called the gift of God and in the 2. of the Actes because that he who is but one in himselfe hath brought foorth diuerse operations in vs of the which it is spoken in the 12. Chap. of the 1. to the Corinthians And as S. Bernarde sayeth vppon the Canticles we were dead in sinne and as stinking creatures but Iesus did embawlme vs with his holie spirite and hath annointed vs therewith to the ende wee might knowe taste and feele his mercie This is the heate of the Sunne which warmeth vs. This is the goodly and faire water of the heauenly ryuers which doeth refresh and water vs. It is the Bawlme that embalmeth vs it is the Oyle which doeth strengthen and make vs glad Nowe what tongue is it that can expresse this goodnesse of God towardes vs of the Father that hath created vs vnto his image of the Worde who hath bought vs againe with his bloude of the Holie Ghost that hath sanctified vs by his power Therefore let vs giue place vnto this Holie Ghost Ephe. 4. and let vs not sorrowe for our
his graces and with his mercie hee doeth crowne vs making vs there to feele it mightilie And by the same doeth blesse and exalt vs in stead of destroying vs. The fifth is that hee dooth satisfie vs and giueth vs that that is sufficient a thing that is speciall vnto the children of God For God is not a niggard in his giftes But as concerning vs the most part are neuer contented So that contentation is one of the great blessinges of the Lord. The sixt benefit is this Renewing and this commeth vnto vs by Christ in whom wee bee made newe creatures and in whom we shall receaue a new and lasting life O how then hath the soule which feeleth such benefites good cause to blesse praise the Lord. A confession and prayer out of the 9. Chap. of the Prophet Daniel WE pray thee O Lord our God which art great and fearefull and keepest couenant mercie towardes thē that loue keepe thy cōmaundementes haue mercie on vs For we haue sinned haue cōmitted iniquitie haue done wickedlie yea we haue rebelled and haue departed frō thy preceptes frō thy iudgementes For wee would not obay thy seruants the Prophets which spake in thy name to our kings to our princes to our fathers to all the people of the land O Lord righteousnesse belongeth vnto thee vnto vs open shame as appeareth this day vnto the man of Iudah and to the inhabitantes of Ierusalem because of their offences that they haue committed against thee O Lord vnto vs appertaineth open shame to our kinges to our princes and to our fathers because wee haue sinned against thee Yet compassion and forgiuenesse is in the Lord our God albeit wee haue rebelled against him and haue not harkened vnto the voyce of the Lorde our GOD to walke in his lawes which hee had layd before vs by the ministerie of his seruauntes the Prophetes Yea all Israel haue transgressed thy lawe are turned backe that they might not heare thy voyce therefore the curse is powred vppon vs that is written in the booke of Moses the seruant of God Dan. 27. because wee haue sinned against him The Lorde hath made the plague to come vppon vs for the Lorde is righteous in all his workes which hee dooth But we would not obaie his voice And now O Lorde our GOD that hast brought thy people out of the land of Egypt with a mightie hand and hast gotten thee renoume as appeareth this day wee haue sinned wee haue doone wickedlie O Lord according to all thy righteousnes I beseech thee let thine anger and thy wrath bee turned away from thy citie Ierusalem Heare now O God the prayer of thy seruant and cause thy face to shine vppon thy sanctuarie that lyeth wast for the Lordes sake O my God incline thine eare and heare Open thine eyes and behold our desolations and the citie wherevppon thy name is called For wee doe not present our supplications before thee for our owne righteousnesse but for thy great tender mercies O Lorde heare O Lord forgiue vs O Lord consider and doe it deferre not for thine owne sake for thy name is called vppon thy citie and vpon thy people A Prophecie of the forgiuenesse of sinne which is giuen to the Church by Christ Out of the 13. Chap of Zacharie verse 1. In that day there shall bee a fountaine opened to the house of Dauid and to the inhabitantes of Ierusalem for sinne and for vncleanesse This is it that S. Paul speaketh of in the 3. Chap. to Titus Wee our selues also were in times past disobedient seruing to diuers desires but when the bountifulnesse and loue of God our sauiour towardes man appeared he saued vs. Not by the workes of righteousnesse which wee haue done but according to his mercie by the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the holie Ghost which hee shed on vs aboundantlie through Iesus that wee being iustified by his grace should bee heires according to the hope of eternall life That Iesus Christ hath power to forgiue sins Out of the 9. Chap. of S. Matthew IEsus said vnto the sicke of the palsie Sonne be of good comfort thy sinnes are forgiuen thee And that ye may know that the sonne of man hath authoritie in earth to forgiue sinnes then hee said vnto the sicke of the palsie arise take vp thy bed c. MEDITATION THe greatest aduersitie to the man sicke of the palsie was not his outward palsie for as Iesus Christ did heale the sicknesse of the bodie so would hee shew that it was hee which did take away the diseases from the soule which are the most daungerous howsoeuer men care not for thē so much as for the bodilie sicknesses Health is therefore nothing and it is nothing to be deliuered out of a sicknesse if we be lying vnder the wrath of God if sinne be not forgiuē which is the cause of death and of all tormentes Now when the question is of the forgiuenesse and healing of their sinnes men are ordinarilie much distract or when they doe not consider how necessarie it is or rather when they doe seeke such a benefit there where it is not But the Lord teacheth vs what is the true Purgatorie Purgatorie A materiall fire cannot purge the soule and nothing can make cleane sinne but God onelie which is the soueraigne cleanesse as Micheah in the 7. Chap. of his prophesie and Dauid in the 130. Psalme doe attribute that vnto God as his own to tread down sinne to yeeld grace mercie to poore sinners And to the end we should be assured thereof the sonne of God is come into the world by his bloud hath reconciled vs. Hee therefore hath power to forgiue sinnes for hee is verie God He hath also right to pardon vs for he hath satisfied for vs. Now if anie would charge vs againe for our sinnes We I say which doe beleeue in Iesus it behoueth vs to cleaue vnto him forasmuch as hee is our warrant Therefore there is neither Angell nor anie other creature which hath this power but hee which is God and who hath fullie paied for our sinnes O how rightlie is his doctrine called the Gospel that is to say glad tidinges Seeing that it giueth boldnesse and comfort vnto poore sinners for so much as it calleth vs his children and considering that it declareth vnto vs the forgiuenesse of our offences which would binde vs to eternal death and all through the bloud of the Lambe that taketh away the sinnes of the world not taking them away in such sort as there is no more sinne remaining but that it might not bee imputed Iohn 1.29 Sinne how it is taken away that it might not raigne and to bee short that it might bee forgiuen Let vs therefore take heede of the Diuels temptations which is an accuser that accuseth vs and without ceasing lyeth in waite for nothing more than to throw vs downe headlong into dispaire
whereby the true Church of God is discerned from that false and bastard Church which wanteth both true faith Ephe. 3.14 true inuocatiō Now I bowe the knees of my soule to the Father of our Lorde Iesus Christ to the end that according to the riches of his glorie The Pastors of the Church of Orlians that were preserued M. Gallars M. Anton. Chanorrier M. Robert Mason M. Pet. Baron Daniel Toussain he will graunt vs that wee may be strengthened by his spirit that Christ may dwell in you through faith through the which you may be rooted and grounded in all true knowledge of his will And as it hath pleased him in the middest of so manie floudes miraculouslie to keepe the Pastors of your Church whom God be praised he employed alwayes to his seruice that it will please him to shewe you this fauour raysing vp your estate as from death to haue strength to reioyce againe and that quicklie to the end that we may altogether as it were created anew sing vnto him a newe song to his honor vnder the protectiō of the shadow of his winges Frō S. Lābert within the coūtie Palatine this 20. of Iuly 1578. Daniel Toussain THE FOVNDATION and spring of all holy prayers and christian meditatiōs ought to be faith Behold where fore we shall set heere in the entrie the articles of our faith which some call the symbole of the Apostles as in deede they conteine a summarie of the Apostles doctrin as is to be sene of that which is written in the 15. Chap. of the 1. vnto the Cor. vers 3. elswhere it is to be seene by the writings of the elders as by the cathechisme of Cyrill and the treatise of S. Ambrose of Cayne and Abell and in the 8. Chap. of S. Augustines booke named Enchiridion that is to say Manuel that these Articles of the faith were holden amongest them as the true beginninges and foundation of Christian religion I Beleeue in God the Father almightie maker of heauen and earth And in Iesus Christ his onelie sonne our Lord. Which was conceiued by the Holie Ghost borne of the virgine Marie Suffered vnder Ponce Pilate was crucified dead buried he descended into hell The thirde day he rose againe from the dead He ascended into heauen and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almightie From thence shall he come to iudge the quicke and the dead I beleeue in the Holie Ghost The holie Catholike Church The communion of Saints The forgiuenesse of sinnes The resurrection of the bodie And the life euerlasting Amen IN the yeare of our Lord 273. in the Synode of Antioch was condemned the heresie of Samosatenus who would not auowe Iesus Christ to be the worde subsisting but made thereof a sound or decree of God not a seconde person of his diuinity in such sort as against his errours was published a confession by George Neocoefariensis as is to be seene in the 3. booke of Eusebius IN the yeare of our Lord about 332. 1. Synode called vniuersall was vnder Constantine the Great assembled a Synode or Councel to the assisting whereof there were 328. Bishoppes at Nice a citie in Bythinia there where was chieflie condemned the heresie of Arrius who dinied the true sonne of God equall with the father and of the same substance In this Synode were made plaine and cleare against Arrius the Articles of faith which concerne Iesus Christ by a confession as followeth 1 I Beleeue in one God The Symbol of Nice the Father Almightie maker of heauen and earth and of all things visible and inuisible 2 And in one Lorde Iesu Christ the onely begotten sonne of God begotten of his Father before all worldes 3 God of God light of light verie God of verie God begotten not made beeing of one substance with the Father by whome all thinges were made 4 Who for vs men and for our saluation came downe from heauen 5 And was incarnate by the Holie Ghost of the virgin Marie and was made man 6 And was crucified also for vs vnder Poncius Pilate he suffered and was buried 7 And the thirde day he arose againe according to the Scriptures and ascended into heauen and sitteth at the right hand of the Father 8 And he shal come againe with glory to iudge both the quicke and the dead whose kingdome shall haue none ende 9 And I beleeue in the holie Ghost the Lorde and giuer of life who proceedeth from the Father and the Sonne who with the Father and the Sonne together is worshipped and glorified who spake by the Prophets 10 And I beleeue one Catholike and Apostolike Church 11 I acknowledge one Baptisme for the remission of sinnes 12 And I looke for the resurrection of the dead the life of the world to come Amen IN the yeare of our Lorde 386. Seconde Councell there assembled at Constantinople the second Synode called vniuersall which confirmed and ratified the confession made at Nice adding onely that which followeth against the heretike Macedonius who denied the true diuinitie of the holie Ghost We beleeue in the holy Ghost Lorde and giuer of life proceeding from the father and the sonne who with the father the sonne together is worshipped and glorified HEere followeth the Symbole or confession of Athanasius Bishoppe of Alexandria being chosen fiue monthes after the Councell held at Niece who hath abiden great combats for the pure doctrine of the sonne of God against the Arrians WHosoeuer will be saued before all things it is necessarie that he holde the Catholike faith Which faith except euerie one doe keepe holy and vndefiled without doubt hee shall perish euerlastingly And the Catholike faith is this that we worship one God in Trinitie and Trinitie in vnitie Neither confounding the persons nor diuiding the substance For there is one person of the Father another of the Sonne and another of the Holie Ghost But the Godhead of the Father of the Sonne and of the Holie Ghost is all one the glorie equall and the maiestie coeternall Such as the Father is such is the Sonne and such is the Holie Ghost The Father vncreate the Sonne vncreate and the Holie Ghost vncreate The Father incomprehensible the Sonne incomprehensible and the Holie Ghost incomprehensible The Father eternall the Sonne eternall and the Holie Ghost eternall And yet they are not three eternalles but one eternall As also there bee not three incomprehensibles nor three vncreated but one vncreated and one incomprehensible So likewise the Father is almightie the Sonne almightie and the holie Ghost almightie And yet they are not three almighties but one almightie So the Father is God the Sonne is God and the Holie Ghost is God And yet are they not three Gods but one God So likewise the Father is Lord the Sonne Lorde and the Holie Ghost Lorde And yet not three Lordes but one Lorde For like as wee be compelled by the Christian veritie to acknowledge
euerie person by him selfe to be God and Lorde So are wee forbidden by the Catholike religion to say there be three Gods or three Lords The Father is made of none neither created nor begotten The Sonne is of the Father alone not made nor created but begotten The Holie Ghost is of the Father and of the Sonne neither made nor created nor begotten but proceeding So there is one Father not three fathers one Sonne not three sonnes one Holie Ghost not three holy Ghostes And in this Trinitie none is afore or after other none is greater nor lesse than another But the whole three persons bee coeternall together and coequall So that in al things as is aforesaid the vnitie in Trinitie and the Trinitie in vnitie is to be worshipped He therefore that will bee saued must thus thinke of the Trinitie Furthermore it is necessarie to euerlasting saluation that hee also beleeue rightly in the incarnation of our Lord Iesu Christ For the right faith is that wee beleeue and confesse that our Lord Iesus Christ the sonne of God is God and man God of the substance of the father begotten before the worldes and man of the substance of his mother borne in the world Perfect God and perfect man of a reasonable soule and humane flesh subsisting Equall to the Father as touching his Godhead and inferiour to the father touching his manhoode Who although he be God man yet he is not two but one Christ One not by conuersion of the Godhead into flesh but by taking of the manhoode into God One altogether not by confusion of substance but by vnitie of person For as the reasonable soule flesh is one man so God and man is one Christ Who suffered for our saluation descended into hell rose againe the third day from the dead He ascended into heauen he sitteth on the right hande of the father God almightie From whence hee shall come to iudge the quicke the dead At whose comming all men shall rise againe with their bodies And shall giue account for their owne workes And they that haue done good shal goe into life euerlasting and they that haue done euil into euerlasting fire This is the Catholike faith which except a man beleeue faithfully hee cannot be saued IN the thirde generall Councell which was assembled at Ephesus vnder the Emperour Theodosius the younger about the yeare of our Lorde Iesus Christ 450. The third counsell was refuted and condemned the errour of the heretike Nestorius the which would not acknowledge with the Christian Church whē as the worde became flesh that the two naturs diuine humane were knit in one person or substance and that vnseparablie But did teach howe they were onely knit by an assistaunce or dwelling together whereof he would not auowe that the virgin hadde borne the sonne of God or that the sonne of God had suffered for vs. That which was to make nothing euen all the mysterie of our redemption if he which was borne of a virgin and hath suffered for vs had not beene true God hauing personally knit vnto himselfe our nature after the which hee was borne of the virgin and hath suffered on the crosse In the fourth generall Councell in which did the Emperour Martianus assist at Chalcedon was condemned the heresie of Eutiches the monke the which monke fell into another extreme errour contrarie vnto that of Nestorius in such sort knitting the two natures in Christ as hee confoundeth them and in place of a person he leaueth as it were but a nature Whereof the Fathers of the councell to make cleare this matter did set out the confession which followeth Wee confesse and acknowledge one onelie Iesus Christ our Lorde perfect in diuinitie and also in humanitie verie God and verie man of a reasonable bodie and soule equall to the Father as touching his Godhead and coequall with vs as touching his manhoode and like vnto vs in all thinges sinne excepted begotten of the Father before the worldes according to his Diuinitie and in the latter dayes begotten of the virgine Marie mother of the Lord for our sakes and for our saluation as concerning his humanitie One onelie and also Sauiour in two natures without confusion conuersion diuision and separation The differēce of natures be not takē away through the vnion but rather the propertie of both natures being kept concurring in one person or substance not to diuide them into two persons but to the end that hee alone might be our onelie Sauiour as the Prophetes haue prophesied thereof and he hath taught vs and the Symboles of the Fathers confesse him It is to bee noted that although the said Symbols and confessions are amongest the papistes yet notwithstanding they cease not to persecute to the vttermost those which with all their heartes beleeue the alone comprised Doctrine Wherein is to bee seene that they haue not those confessions but vpon the paper for they doe not beleeue in them and that instead to be the true Catholikes they persecute them For as wee see in the Code of Iustinian and in the 9. booke of his tripartite historie the 7. Chap. The Gretian Emperours Valentinian and Theodosius made an Edict and declaration that they would hold those for good Christians and good Catholikes which followed the Doctrine that was taught by S. Peter and did beleeue in the Trinitie and of Iesus Christ according as it is here before said Nowe men doe not hold them for Catholikes vnlesse one beleeue the blasphemies of the Pope and of his traine who sitteth in the Temple of God as a God making lawes at his pleasure and profaning the pure seruice of the Lorde Here follovveth the consideration of the first Article of our faith conteining manie goodlie Doctrines Of Faith Of the Trinitie Of the Creation Of the Prouidence Meditations and Praiers vpon the Articles of the Faith I beleeue in God Of Faith CONSIDERATION ALL and euerie Science hath his rule and their principles Ruffin vpon the Symbole but the true foundation of Christian religion is to beleeue For after that man by distrust The principle of Christian Religion and through curiousnesse had sinned and was fallen it was the counsell of God that by faith he should bee saued And willing as it were to be too ouer-wise Gen. 3. 1. Cor. 1 2◠and so to knowe good from euill hee straied out of the way that through the preaching of the crosse of Christ that is reputed for follie in the worlde he might be guided to saluation In the Booke of the prescriptiō of heretickes Let therefore saith Tertullian curiousnes now giue place vnto faith and let faith bee no more aucthorised by men or by the people But let all people and men be tryed and prooued by faith and then approoued onelie when they shall beleeue For it is also neuer spoken or said in the Scripture thy great skill or knowledge Matt. 9.22 Ioh. 20.31 thy great riches or thy great
preheminence saueth thee but Thy faith hath saued thee Wherefore was the Bible And behold wherefore all the Bible is written to wit that wee might beleeue howe Iesus Christ is the Sonne of God and that beleeuing therein we might haue euerlasting life O therefore howe much is the doctrine of the Gospell necessarie and fit for vs seeing that it is as Paule saieth in the 10. to the Romanes the woorde of Faith whereby the Lorde kindleth and maintaineth faith in our hearts O how great also is the vnspeakeable goodnes of this mightie God which giueth vs blessednes and euerlasting life for nothing and requireth no other thing of vs but that we put our trust in him and that we doe beleeue in his worde O blessed we for whose sake he hath so louinglie spoken yea sworne and made an othe that hee would be vnto vs a father and sauiour But woe more than accursed are those that beleeue not in the Lorde who hath confirmed and ratified so manie goodlie and solemne promises by oth yea by the precious bloud of our Sauiour What Faith is For Christian faith is not an opinion or light beleefe of all that a man might set before vs but it is the gift of God Ephes 3. and a worke of God Iohn 6. by which gift and woorke of the Lord wee are brought vnto a certeine knowledge of his will by the meanes of his holie promises made in his woorde as S. Peter in the sixt of S. Iohn saieth Wee haue beleeued and doe knowe that thou art Christ and S. Paule in the first of the second to Timothie He hath giuen vs a spirite of a sounde minde and wee knowe verie well in whome wee haue beleeued and wee are persuaded that hee is able to keepe that gage c. Rom. 4 2â— And therefore we giue glorie vnto God beleeuing in the promises of our God being certeine and fullie assured that that which hee hath promised vnto vs hee will and can doe it to wit to forgiue vs our sinnes The effects of Faith and euerlasting life through Iesus Christ who was deliuered to death for our sinnes and rose againe for our iustification by whom also wee haue peace with God and haue accesse through faith vnto his grace wherein we stand and reioice vnder the hope of the glorie of GOD to come calling also vpon his name in all our needes and necessities as it is said in the Psalme 116. I haue beleeued and therefore haue I spoken and in the tenth of the Rom. Let vs call on him in whom we doe beleeue Things contrarie vnto faith By this it appeareth that there are three things which cheeflie are contrarie vnto faith First the despising of Gods word and of the preaching of the Gospell seeing that the Lord inspireth our harts by this meane and giueth vs also faith not willing that our beliefe and saluation should bee builded vpon mans discourse or fleshlie wisedome but vpon him alone Secondlie the doubts distrusts are contrarie vnto faith if a man doe not resolue himselfe in GOD if a man walke in vncertaintie Double errours in the Papaltie in the maner of Faith if a man doe not assure himselfe of his saluation as it is seene in the Papistes howe they in this behalfe doe commit a double fault In the first place as it is to be seene in the sixt session of that goodlie councel of Trent 9. Chapter They taught how it was a vaine trust when as men did fullie assure themselues of Gods grace and that none could knowe an assurednesse by faith that he had the grace of God O how bare weake and vnable of power should our consolation bee against sinne the diuell and hell namelie in the article of death if this doctrine tooke place For that which they say howe man because of his infirmitie cannot so assure him in his God The aunswere is easie to wit that the certaintie of faith is of God and of his word and not of our strength and merites or deseruings and therefore it ouercommeth all our weakenesse For we be also saued not after the greatnesse and weakenesse of our beliefe but through the excellencie and mightinesse of him in whom we doe beleeue that is to wit Iesus Christ in such sort as weake faith leaueth not off to be a faith to saluation because it apprehendeth the euerlasting sonne of God The other errour of the Papists is that not fullie trusting in the Lord they cal vpon Saints of both kindes not considering how that we do beleeue in one onelie God and we must also call vpon God alone For we doe call vpon him in whom we doe beleeue and fully put our assurance Rom. 10. as also in the 44. Psalme The Church protesteth not to haue lifted vp hir handes to a strange God To be short there is nothing more contrarie vnto faith than the distrust of the goodnesse fauour and assistance of our God or to think that he hath not heard our praiers seeing that it is his propertie to heare them as Dauid saith in the 65. Psalme All creatures shall come vnto thee because thou hearest their prayers They sinne there also against the nature of faith which do not beleeue that which they doe see and so soone as they see no succour prosperitie and riches they are discouraged and leaue religion And as it is said in the eleuenth Chapter to the Hebrues there prooued by manie goodlie examples that faith is the rest or stay of the thing a man hopeth for a shew of things a man seeth not For S. Augustine saith Man beleeueth with the heart not by the hand vnto righteousnes so as diuers beleeue not that which they doe touch with the hand or doe see with the fleshlie eie Thirdlie this of all other is contrarie vnto faith to purpose or to set foorth or to establish anie other thing than Christ the sonne of God Rom. 10. vpon whom we ought to trust be they our works riches or men for establishing vs vpon our selues we doe ouerthrowe so much as lieth in vs the righteousnes of God And so we deceiue our selues because that there is none other name but the name of Iesus Acts. 4. by whom wee shall haue life prosperitie saluation and in summe all maner of blessings A Praier vnto God to obtaine true Faith and encrease therein OVR Lorde God Father of light from whom proceedeth euerie good and perfect gift S. Iames. 1.17 which hast promised to powre vpon thy seruaunts the spirite of grace and of prayer Zach. 12.10 we most humblie beseeche thee Ephes 1. that for the loue of thy sonne Iesus by whom it hath pleased thee to choose vs and to blesse vs in all spirituall blessing let it please thee also to giue vs a truenesse of faith by the which wee may comprehend this largenesse depth length and height of thy delight towards vs to trust and comfort
our selues in thee all the daies of our life to bring forth the fruites to thy honour and glorie and to the comfort of our neighbours Let this faith bee a liuelie faith Galat. 5 6. a speaking faith that may call vppon the name of thy Sonne onelie a woorking faith through Charitie a faith pacient in aduersitie a faith ouercomming the worlde 1. Iohn 5. by the meane of thy inuincible strength and that thou hast a desire to be ours O Lorde this is thy commaundement that wee doe beleeue in the name of thy sonne Iesus Christ 1. Iohn 3. and that wee loue one another But alas we doe knowe that faith is not giuen to all men 2. Thes 3.2 how that it is an old complaint of the Prophets and also of the Apostles which say Esai 53.1 Lord who hath giuen credit or beliefe vnto our preaching Rom. 10. O God and Father there are of the other side so many false Prophets and deceiuers of the worlde that set forth their dreames wordes in steade of thy holie and vnfallible worde and that knowe in the meane time to transforme themselues into Angels of light 2. Cor. 11. so many are the assaultes of miseries and persecutions which make men wilde or fearce to be short so great is the vanitie and weakenesse of our nature that it suffereth vs to be easilie caried away if thou most mercifull Father and mightie GOD diddest not woorke in vs that which thou doest commaund vs Iohn 6. Ephes 3. and if thou thy selfe diddest not bring vs to thy Sonne we could not come vnto him Iohn 16. and vnlesse he did giue vs leaue to come vnto thy throne of grace Rom. 8. we could not approch thereunto if thy spirit did not guide vs into all trueth and yeeld vnto our heartes this witnesse how thou art our Father we could not crie Abba Father Therefore wilt thou graunt vnto vs O thou onelie true God three persons in one substance Actes 1◠God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost according vnto thy promises to purifie my heart through faith making thy abode in thy poore creature keepe my spirit from all temptation of error Iohn 14.23 my heart from delighting in anie other thing than in thy good pleasure and in thy woord and my will to desire none other than thy selfe that art the soueraigne goodnesse which art my all my portion and that hauing thee and louing thee I may despise this world and forsake all vanities to tast and to sauour the delightes of thy dwelling place louing nothing but thee and for the loue of thee 2. Cor. 5. to awaite the blessed houre when as I shall no more by faith Ephes 4. but by sight and that dailie so increasing in faith 2. Timot. 4. I may come vnto the measure and fulnesse of perfect stature one day to receiue the incorruptible crowne of glorie hauing fought the good fight of faith and in the beholding of thy face at thy right hand to feele the true fulnesse of ioy and gladnesse Psalme 16 So be it There is set downe vnto vs a goodlie example and pourtraict of Iacobs wrestling and of the faithfuls victorie in the 32. of Genesis Then there wrestled a man with Iacob vnto the breaking of the daie and when he sawe that he could not preuaile against him he touched therefore the holow of his thigh so that the holow of Iacobs thigh was loosed as he wrestled with him and he said Let me goe for the Morning appeareth who aunswered I will not let thee goe except thou blesse me Then said he vnto him what is thy name And he said Iacob Then said he thy name shall not be called Iacob anie more but Israel because thou hast had power with God thou shalt also preuaile with men A MEDITATION vpon the said text MAns life to be compared vnto the trueth is but a continuall combate vppon the earth and namelie the life of the faithful yea and whosoeuer dooth truelie beleeue ought to make his account that he must suffer manie assaults Now the temptations are not of one kinde wherewith it pleaseth this gratious God to stirre vp those with warfare to whome he hath bestowed anie of his graces Gene. 12. Abraham going forth out of his countrie was tryed and prooued by dearth and not long after through warres which he had vpon his arme or hand and then vnto the measure as he did warfare Gene. 14. he was yet further prooued with a stronger temptation when it was commaunded him to offer his onelie sonne Izaac in sacrifice Gene. 22. Iacob the good Patriarch had truelie his part of temptations with Laban and also of the behalfe of his brother Esau But the fight was verie rude and hard when as the Lord himselfe sought against him For it appeareth that the match was verie ill made when that the Euerlasting should wrestle against a creature which was not but like stubble or as dust in his presence But this was the fight that did get vnto him also the greatest honor and hath richlie beawtified him with this name Israel as if that he had beene the ruler of the Lord. Behold howe the greater that the assaultes are which doe ariue or come vnto the faithfull so much the more is the victorie glorious Therefore let vs not finde it strange neither be discouraged if men doe wrestle against vs at anie time for God himselfe also will so doe when as it seemeth that he will neither cōfort nor heare vs. So wrestled he with Dauid when as he said in the 77. Psalme My soule refused comfort I did thinke vppon God and was troubled I prayed Matth. 15. my soule was full of anguish So wrestled Iesus Christ with the womā of Cana and as it seemed to repulse her altogether But how had she the victorie Euen through faith and perseuerance in such sort as the Lord suffering himselfe to be ouercome said vnto her O woman great is thy faith be it to thee as thou desirest See howe the vnuincible Lord suffereth himselfe to be ouercome by our faith and also by our prayers For first of all hee doth not assaie and prooue all his strength against vs. Secondly he himselfe furnisheth vs with armour and weapon in such sort as wee be as S. Paule speaketh in the 6. to the Ephesians strengthened in the Lorde and in the power of his might force and clothed with all the armours from God Therefore it is not with out some checke mate and without also receiuing some litle wounde as Iacob had a certaine crush in his thigh For hee wil make vs truely feele how we be but men and that we should walke in humblenesse What braue souldier is he that would not haue his Thigh crushed in peeces or else receiue some other sore wounde so that hee might haue the victorie Are not these the markes of the valiant
yet created but is taken for a person subsistent Afterwardes in the 1. Chap. of S. Marke we doe see the sonne which was baptised the father bearing witnesse of the sonne and the holy ghost comming downe vppon him As it is also commaunded in the 28. of S. Matthew to baptise in the name of the father the sonne and the holy ghost Now thinke it not to be a small thing to acknowledge three persons in one diuine Essence First of all the Christians faith is so discerned from that of the Turkes Iewes and Painims which doe not woorship the true God not acknowledging him as he hath manifested himselfe Secondlie this knowledge guideth vs in our prayer and serueth vs as a great direction because that we call vppon GOD by Iesus Christ in the partaking of the holy Ghost Thirdlie by this distinction of persons wee doe euidētlie see the principall benefites of our God beholding how the father the sonne and the holy ghost haue wrought in our creation and also how they doe worke in our redemption The father sendeth the sonne the sonne taketh humane nature the holy Ghost is he through whose operation he is conceaued in the wombe of the virgin This is he that is the comforter which inspireth and sealeth in our heartes the promises of God Wherefore although that all people doe vaunt of the knowledge of God yet so it is that there is not but the true Church that knoweth God truelie euen as hee manifested himselfe As it is said in the Psalme 147. He hath declared his wordes vnto Iacob and his statutes and iudgementes vnto Israel Hee hath not so dealt with all Nations neither hath he giuen vnto them to know his iudgementes A praier concerning the Trinitie drawen out of S. Augustine his Booke of the priuate Meditatiō of the soule with God 37. Chap. O Three Persons coequal coeternal one God and true God the father the sonne and the holy Ghost which dwellest a lone in eternitie and in the light not able to be come vnto which hast laide the earth by thy power and gouernest the worlde by thy wisedome Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Hostes terrible and strong iust and mercifull wonderfull and louing one onely GOD and three persons one substance and goodnesse open vnto mee crying the gates of righteousnesse that being entered therein I may praise thee O Lorde O houshould father great rich I poore begger doe knocke at thy gates open vnto him that knocketh thou that hast promised to open vnto those which will knocke For O most mercifull father the desires of my entrailes hungering after thy grace do knocke at thy gates All my desire is before thee and my groning is not hid from thee And thou O Lord turne not away thy face any more from me neither in thine anger drawe thy selfe backe from thy seruant Father of mercie heare the groning of thy pupill and stretch forth vnto me thy helping hande to plucke mee out of the deepe waters out of the lake of miserie and out of the stinking puddle and myer that I perish not in the sight of thy mercies and beholding the bowels of thy clemencie but that rather I may come euen vnto thee which art my God to see the riches of thy kingdome and to behold thy face and to sing praises of thy holy name vnto thee O God that doest woonders that from this time forwardes my heart may reioyce through the onely remembraunce of thee who lightnest my youth despise not also mine olde age but giue ioie vnto my bones to make my yeeres reuiue as those of an Aegle that I may praise thee for euermore A prayer vpon the same Argument Euerlasting God thou which with thy onely sonne the holy ghost art one only true GOD and onely Lorde seeing that it hath pleased thee to make knowen the secret of this glorious Trinitie vnto vs thy seruantes giue vs grace that alwaies acknowledging through one true and intire confession the propertie of the three persons the vnitie of the substaunce and the equalitie of the maiestie in one onely true God wee may for euer worship thee and that by this sure faith wee may be defended against all temptations And as the Angels praise thee the powers do worship thee and all the armies of heauen doe magnifie thee let vs thy poore creatures haue this honour to be able to ioyne our songes and our agreementes which this heauenly companie to be agreeable and pleasing vnto thee A prayer of S. Augustine out of the 32. Chap. of his Meditations O God hee that would liue it behooueth him to know thee and he that would rule he must first serue thee he who would haue gladnesse in his heart it behooueth him to praise thee Wherefore my Lorde I praise and worship thee with my lippes with my soule and with all the power that is within me I also thanke thy clemencie and bountie for all the goods that thou hast stored me withall Vnto thee Lorde that art the holie of holies do I sing songs of praise O Lorde I will call vppon thee which art in three persons but one onely and alone substance beseeching thee that it will please thee to come vnto me and to make me a temple of thy glorie I pray the father by the sonne I pray the sonne I pray the holy Ghost that all vices may be farre off from me and that all holy vertues may be planted in me O infinite God of whom and by whom all thinges are visible and inuisible that doest compasse thy workes without and fillest them within that couerest them from aboue and bearest them belowe keepe mee that am the worke of thy handes which trust in thee and haue none other confidence but in thy mercie Keepe me before and behinde heere and euerie where nowe and euer within and without aboue and beneath to be short on all sides that neither taken at vnwares nor by ambushment of my enemie I may be endamaged Thou art the almightie God the protector and defender of all those that trust in thee without whom nothing is sure neither free from daunger Thou art the true God and there is none other God but thou alone neither in heauen aboue neither in the earth belowe Thou doest wonders without number Therefore vnto thee doth appertaine praise honour and thankesgiuing The Angels praise thee the heauens also doe honour thee as the creature is bounde to honour his maker and the seruant his maister euen so ought all flesh and all soules to praise the holy and inseparable Trinitie A prayer of S. Augustine out of the 33. Chap. of his Meditations GEue me grace O Lorde so long as I shal be compassed about with this fraile bodie that my soule may praise thee that my tongue may blesse thee and that all my bones may agree to speake of thee Lorde who is like vnto thee Thou art the almightie God whom we doe worshippe in three persons and one diuine
substance the father that neuer was begotten the onely sonne of the father and the holy Ghost proceeding from both the holie inseparable trinitie one almightie God Thou Lorde hast made vs strong and mightie when as we were not and when wee were lost through our offence thou hast restored vs miraculously through thy goodnesse Therefore neuer suffer vs O Lorde that we shew our selues vnthankefull and to yeelde vs vnworthy of so many thy mercies graunt rather good GOD to increase in vs faith hope and charitie So by this thine accustomed grace make that we may be stedfast in faith apt to all good workes that by thee we may come vnto euerlasting life that one day Lord seeing thy glorie such as it is wee may worship thy maiestie singing vnto thee this song Glorie be to the father which hath created vs glorie bee to the sonne that hath redeemed vs glorie bee to the holy ghost that hath sanctified vs glorie be vnto the most high and inseparable Trinitie whose workes are inseparable and Empire euerlasting Here followeth to the Articles of the Faith The father almightie maker of heauen and earth Of Gods almightie power Of the making of all thinges and of his diuine prouidence Of Gods almightie power TO the end that the knowledge of our God bee not acknowledged in the aire and that we may see also that they are good tokens that wee should put our trust in him it is written in these Articles of our faith that in his word he is reuealed euen as well as by his workes that we might also so much the more discerne our selues from the people that doe not know him aright and truelie Thererefore this is the verie proper gift of the Church to know God such as he is to wit in substance and therewithall these three persons the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost And he who knoweth not the Father knoweth not the Sonne Iohn 14.11 and he that knoweth not the Sonne knoweth not the Father Now albeit that hee is also our Father as we doe call him in the Lordes prayer yet be wee not but the children of adoption receaued and adopted Psal ◠for the loue of his onelie sonne euerlasting and eternallie engendred of the Father in whome he taketh his good pleasure Behold how God is here called Father to shew vnto vs that our onelie faith is builded on God alone But this verie God whome the Church woorshippeth and in whome it beleeueth is the Father How God is manifested the sonne and the holie ghost the which God hath truelie shewed himselfe in the world by foure diuine workes most excellent aboue all by the creation by the redemption made of mankinde by the assemblie and conseruation of the Church and by the woonderfull giftes that God did partake vnto this Church giuing vnto her forgiuenesse of sinnes and euerlasting life in that she confessed the true God so as by the meanes of this knowledge Rom. 15. wee might say as S. Paul did in the 3. 1. Cor. 3. Chap. of the first Epistle to the Corinth that all thinges are ours because that we be vnto Christ as Christ is vnto God who is the father of our Lord Iesus Christ as S. Paul manie times calleth him Now is he called also Almightie and thus lifted vp aboue all creatures and aboue the Gods of the Gentiles and their Idols Psal 115. that haue handes and cannot touch Eyes and cannot see But our God that hath his throne in heauen dooth what him pleaseth And as concerning vs poore creatures we know not to make alas one slippe of grasse and there is none that with all his care industrie can adde one cubite vnto his stature or height Mat. 6. This is then for you to woorship and to feare the almightie that hath power ouer heauen ouer earth ouer bodies ouer soules goods children and ouer all that which is vnto vs Psal 149. ouer kinges ouer the prowdest princes yea to buind them in chaines when it shall please him to vse his iudgementes and to bring them to nothing Lift not vp your hornes on high saith Dauid in the 75. Psalme for it is GOD that is your Iudge who lifteth vp and setteth downe as it pleaseth him How was it that hee tamed Pharao How did he put downe Nabuchadonozer whome he made to feede with beastes for seuen yeeres space And this it is as Iob speaketh in the 21. Chap. Against the wicked shall griefe of minde and trouble be strengthened because hee hath stretched forth his hand against the Almightie Esai 33. And how should man helpe himselfe before his face that is as a consuming fire Who is he that would abide in continuall burninges See wee not the mountaines leape and tremble before him as it is said in the 19. of Exodus and in the 68. Psalme But what say I the mountaines Yea the verie diuels are constrained to tremble Iames. 2.19 knowing and feeling that there is a God Therefore what blockishnesse is this what hardnesse what mischiefe that man shall sometimes be so froward and presumptuous that hee as it were would spite the Lord Euen as men may see enough therein who despise his threatninges and doe sooner feare earthlie man that is with all his glorie but as a flower and grasse than the Almightie before whose face the fearce and foming Sea the hard rockes and the earth also doe quake and tremble as wee doe reade in the 114. Psalme Wherefore let vs remember euen all the daies of our life that which was spoken vnto Abraham in the 17. of Genesis I am the God almightie walke thou before mee And I pray you what better Maister could we finde than him who hath all abundance in himselfe and that may doe all that he will For his power is ioyned with trueth righteousnesse He can doe that which he will but hee will not anie thing sauing that which is agreeable to his trueth and righteousnesse Iohn 10. Wee ought to haue remembrance namelie in our afflictions of this Almightinesse of the Lord and that none can take away his hand frō vs When God nourisheth sustaineth and preserueth his not onelie by ordinarie meanes but also by woonderfull meanes when it pleaseth him as he shewed when he diuided the Sea to make his people to passe through conducting them with a clowdie Pillar yea a fierie Pillar giuing thē Manna and so manie other his woonderful benefites 1. Cor. 2. and singular woorkes as one may yet dailie marke Therefore blessed are we whose faith is not builded on the wisedome of man but on the power of GOD. But Owe thrise yea foure times vnhappie if wee doe not trust in the almighty but doubt in his promises For that which is harde before our eies shall it therefore bee harde before the eies of the euerlasting himselfe Like as he speaketh in the 8. Chap. of the prophet Zacharie and as it is
the North Brightnes the praise thereof is to God which is terrible The 22. Psalme It is thou that diddest drawe me out of the wombe and thou giuest me hope euen at my Mothers brestes I was cast vppon thee euen from the wombe thou art my God from my mothers bellie All the 107. Psalme is full of testimonies of his diuine prouidence where amongest all other thinges it is said Seamen And those that goe downe into the sea in shippes and occupie by the great waters they see the woorkes of the Lord his woonders in the deepe For he commaundeth and raiseth stormie winde and it lifteth vp the waues thereof Whē they crie vnto the Lord in their trouble he turneth the storme to calme so that the waues thereof be still When they are quieted they are glad and hee bringeth them vnto the hauen where they would be He turneth the floudes into a wildernesse Wildernesse and the springes of water into drienesse And a fruitfull land into barrennesse for the wickednesse of them that dwell therein Againe he turneth the wildernesse into pooles of water the drie land into water springes And there he placeth the hungrie and they build a citie to dwell in Fieldes Vines And sowe the fieldes and plant vineyardes which bring forth fruitful increase For he blesseth them and they multiplie exceedinglie and he diminisheth not their Cattell Cattel Againe men are diminished brought lowe by oppression euill and sorrowe He powreth contempt vppon princes Princes and causeth them to erre in desert places out of the way Yet he raiseth vp the poore out of miserie The poore and maketh them families like a flock of sheepe The righteous shall see it and reioyce and all iniquitie shall stop her mouth Who is wise that he may obserue these thinges For they shall vnderstand the louing kindenesse of the Lorde Out of the Psal 147. Great is our Lorde and great is his power his wisedome is infinite The Lord relieueth the meeke and abaseth the wicked to the ground Sing vnto the Lord with praise sing vppon the Harpe vnto our God which couereth the heauen with clowdes and prepareth raine for the earth and maketh the grasse to growe on the mountaines He giueth to beastes their foode The yong Rauens and to the yong Rauens that crie O Ierusalē praise the Lord praise thy God O Sion for hee hath made the barres of thy gates strong and hath blessed thy children within thee Peace He setteth peace in thy borders and satisfieth thee with the flower of wheate The 21. of the Prouerbes The heart of kinges The kings heart is in the hand of the Lord as the riuers of waters he turneth it whither soeuer it pleaseth him Euerie way of man is right in his owne eyes but the Lord pondereth the heartes The 45. of Esai God hath not alonely created but disposeth also Behold what the Lord saith that created heauen God himselfe that formed the earth and made it he that prepared it he created it not in vaine hee formed it to be inhabited I am the Lord and there is not other I am the Lord and there is none other I forme the light and create darknes I make peace and create euill I the Lord doe all these thinges Yee heauens send the dewe from aboue and let the clowdes droppe downe righteousnesse Let the earth open and let saluation and iustice growe forth Let it bring thē forth together I the Lord haue created them Wo be vnto him that striueth with his maker the Potsheard with the Potsherdes of the earth shall the clay say vnto him that fashioneth it What makest thou Or thy woorke hath no handes Wo vnto him that saith vnto his father What hast thou begotten Or to his Mother What hast thou brought forth Thus saith the Lorde GOD The holie one of Israell and his maker Aske me of thinges to come concerning my sonnes and concerning the woorkes of mine handes Commaund you me I haue made the earth and created man vppon it I whose handes haue spread out the heauens I haue euen commaunded all their armie The 54. of Esai Behold I haue created the Smith that bloweth the coles in the fire Wherfore the armies of the enimies are not to bee feared and him that bringeth forth an instrumēt for his worke I haue created the destroyer to destroy But all the weapons that are made against thee shall not prosper The 3. of Amos. A trumpet shall be blowen in the citie and the people shall not be afraid Aduersity O what euill shal be in the citie and the Lorde hath not doone it to visite their sinnes for aduersities are great paines to punish the euill and guiltie man and the faultes of men The 6. Chap. of S. Matthewe The fouls Beholde the foules of the heauen for they sowe not neither reape nor carie into barnes yet your heauenly father feedeth them Are ye not much better than they Which of you by taking care is able to ad one cubite vnto his stature And why care ye for rayment The lilies of the fields Learne howe the lilies of the fielde doe growe they labour not neither spinne Yet I say vnto you that euen Salomon in al his glorie was not arayed like one of these Wherefore if God so cloth the grasse of the fielde which is to day and to morowe is cast into the ouen shall hee not much more doe vnto you O yee of litle faith The 10. Chap. of S. Matthewe Sparowes Are not two Sparowes solde for a farthing and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your father Yea and all the hayres of your heades are numbred Feare ye not therfore ye are of more value than many Sparowes Our steps our going and comming The 4. Chap. of the Epistle of S. Iames. Go to nowe yee that say to day or to morowe we will goe into such a citie and continue there a yeare and buy and sell get gaine and yet you cannot tell what shal be to morowe For what is your life It is euen a vapour that appeareth for a litle time and afterwarde vanisheth away For that we ought to say if the Lord will and if we liue we will do this or that Certaine prayers taken out of the Scripture grounded vpon the doctrine of the prouidence of God taken out of the 93. Psalme and digested in forme and manner of a prayer OVr Lorde and God although it seemeth that the diuell ruleth at his pleasure in this wretched worlde and that the wicked and vngodly doe those thinges that vnto them seeme to bee good yet so it is that we doe acknowledge and confesse thee to be the true raygning God and king of all kinges who hast made fast the worlde by thy power and hast clothed it with an inuincible strength And so is it as easie for thee to appease and make calme the
the yeares of so manie generations and how his people are the portion of the Lord hee hath found them in the wildernesse and hath guided them he hath giuen them vnderstanding and hath kept them as the apple of his eye and as the Egle soaring ouer his little ones and beareth them The Lord alone hath led them and with him there was no strange God An other example of Gods prouidence in the historie of Manna that is written in the 16. Chap. of Exodus ANd the children of Israel said O that we had dyed by the hand of the Lord in the land of AEgypt when wee sate by the flesh pots whē we did eate bread our bellies full For ye haue brought vs out into this wildernesse to kill this whole cōpanie with Famine Then said the Lord vnto Moses Behold I will cause bread to raine from heauen to you and the people shall goe out and gather that that is sufficient for euerie day that I may prooue them whether they will walke in my wayes or no. But the sixt day they shall prepare that which they shal bring home and it shall bee twise as much as they gather dailie Also out of the 8. Chap. of Deuteronomie THe Lord humbled thee Wherefore Manna was giuen and made thee hungrie fed thee with Manna which thou knewest not neither did thy fathers know it that he might teach thee the man liueth not by bread onelie but by euerie word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord dooth a man liue Thy raiment waxed not olde vppon thee neither did thy foote swell these 40. yeares Know therefore in thine heart that as a man nurtureth his Sonne so the Lorde thy God nurtureth thee Beware that thou forget not the Lorde thy God not keeping his commaundementes and his lawes and his ordinances which I commaund thee this day Least when thou hast eaten and filled thy selfe and hast built goodlie houses and dwelt therein And thy beastes and thy sheepe are increased and thy siluer and thy gold is multiplied and all that thou hast is increased then thine heart bee lifted vp Beware thou say not in thy heart my power and the strength of mine owne hand hath prepared me this abundance But remember the Lord thy God For it is hee which giueth thee power to get substance c. A Meditation vppon the aforesaid places IF there bee anie thing that greeueth man in the worlde it is the care of those thinges which doe concerne the bellie which is the God of manie as S. Paul in the 3. to the Philip. dooth witnesse and notwithstanding wee doe see that it is Gods blessing which dooth nourish vs and not the bread Forasmuch as earth could not bring forth but thornes and thistles vnlesse that GOD did put thereunto his blessing And although the earth should bring forth and carie the best fruites of the world What is it if GOD did not giue thereunto his strength and his propertie to nourish vs As men doe see when that the Lord is angrie he breaketh the staffe of bread and causeth that a man is not satisfied yea although hee doe eate much Moreouer wee doe see that this almightie God is not tyed vnto mans meanes But that he can helpe his extraordinarilie and sustaine them against all meanes For God would surelie Second causes that man should bee holpen of the second causes but not that man should rest therein and wholie to depend of them Seeing then that we cannot tell what to doe therefore wee bee bound to lift vp our eyes vnto the Lord euen as did this good king Iosaphat as we doe reade in the 20. Chap. of the 2. booke of the Chronicles A PRAYER LOrd GOD and father because that our nourishment dependeth not of meates but of thy pure grace and especiall prouidence and that thou hast so manie woonderfull meanes to helpe vs Psal 24. Graunt vs grace that wee may rest our selues vppon thy prouidence and goodnesse Psal 23. of the which thou art the God vnto whome dooth appertaine the earth and the contentes thereof who art also our true shepheard that alone feedest the soule and the bodie in such wise as the great and mightie Lyons of the world being hungrie and thirstie as it is said in the 34. Psalme Thou giuest vnto thy children foode and fillest them As also those that gathered vp store of Manna had no more than they which gathered but little Nowe as they did the sixt day gather the double of Manna for the day of rest graunt vs grace in this last age which is as the fixt day to prepare our selues vnto this great and last day of rest that wee may gather vp a good quantitie of this spirituall Manna and that thou wouldest so furnish vs ◠Kinges 19 for the euerlasting life wherewith wee being sustained as Elias was in times past by the foode which was presented vnto him by the Angell wee may come vnto thy holy mountaine and vnto thy blessed rest A conclusion vppon the Article of the Creation A PRAYER O Lord euerlasting and almightie God that hast made mee when I was nothing and canst bring me againe to nothing when it pleaseth thee graunt vnto me thy poore creature grace truelie to acknowledge my maker and rightlie to vse those creatures whome thou hast subiected and giuen vnto men to reuerence thee as my Lorde and to depend vppon thy prouidence assure me in thy power Esai 45. And as thou hast taken vs from our Mothers wombe Rom. 8. so graunt to beare vs also in our old age and to maintaine vs Prouer. 3. Hebr. 12. being a father and sauiour vnto vs for euermore And furthermore O good God because that all thinges doe helpe to good to those that loue thee Psal 73. Psal 37. and whome thou doest cherish thou doost fatherlie correct giue me grace patientlie to beare thy corrections and voutsafe to giue me vnderstanding in the sanctuarie of thy holy word to comprehend and vnderstand the wretched issue that the wicked shall haue to the end I may neuer beare malice vnto them Graunt me therefore the patience and constancie that Dauid had when as Semei cursed him that I may acknowledge in summe that there happeneth neuer anie thing without thy ordinance and that which thou doost appoint is for the wealth and health of thy children Moreouer O Lord forsomuch as we are not fit and apt of our selues to thinke any good thing 2. Cor. 3. inspire me thy poore creature dailie direct and guide my steps my thoughtes speaches and dooinges and aboue all suffer not that I doe forget thee thou that art my creator Galen de vsu partium for as much as the heathens themselues onelie seeing acknowledging the wonderfull worke whereof our bodies are made and the vse of all the partes of the same yea the least whereof haue beene constrained to praise and magnifie thy mightie name
Therefore vnto thee O God bee eternall praise and glorie for euermore So be it Errors contrarie vnto this Article The Epicures and all those which thinke that this world is gouerned by aduenture The Manichees and others which doe establish more beginninges than one They which doe not acknowledge Gods prouidence in all thinges in the verie same thinges which seeme strange and little They which put their trust in anie other than in one onelie God They which thinke how GOD hath created some thing to ill purpose and thinke to make it more perfect than God They which abuse the creatures of God not vsing them to his glorie and with thankesgiuing And in Iesus Christ his onelie sonne our Lord. CONSIDERATION THe creation of the whole world together ioyned with a prouidence iustice and woonderfull wisdome is the first witnesse that the Articles of our beleefe doe set downe vnto vs of our GOD to the end to reuerence him and to trust in him Yet followeth there an other more wonderfull witnesse and that presenteth together vnto vs a passing goodnesse and infinite power that is to say the worke of our redemption For to redeeme and to quicken the creature that was lost and to buie him of such a price to wit with the pretious bloud of Gods euerlasting sonne and not to deliuer him onelie from bondage and death but also to communicate with him euerlasting life this is so great a woorke and so singular a benefite as no tongue can expresse nor heart can sufficientlie comprehend it Hence it is that God hath so loued the world that hee hath giuen his onelie sonne to the end that all those which beleeue in him shall not perish but haue euerlasting life Man was therefore created good perfect as it is said in the 7. Chap. of Ecclesiastes But he taried not in this happie estate But following his owne inuentions and discourses with the euill counsell of the Diuell hee was so turned from his GOD and by this meanes cast headlong into destruction as hee made himselfe and his posteritie guiltie of death and euerlasting perdition Rom. 6. For death and all the thinges belonging vnto death as are all kindes of aduersities be the reward of sinne Oseas 13. Euen so commeth our destruction of our selues For asmuch as man abusing his freewill yeelded himselfe a slaue vnto the diuell and by this meanes drew vppon him the iust vengeance of the euerlasting God O What a change and pitious alteration was this when as the Image of God was so defaced in man and that of so noble a creature hee was become vile miserable and full of sinne and filth For albeit that man was fashioned of the dust of the earth yet so was it that the spirit of God if hee had not sinned had swallowed vp that which was of the earth corruptible and had freed man of his weakenesse and putrefaction But hauing chased away from him Gods good spirit Gene. 6. hee remaineth a foule lumpe of flesh and is not now of his nature but dust and clay and his heart from his infancie altogether froward For although that there is but one GOD in whome wee doe beleeue Iesus Christ the matter that our faith onelie looketh on as S. Ierome verie well saith vppon the 4. of the Ephe. Yet so is it that the sonne which is the second person of the diuinitie who is one substance is the true obiect and foundation of our faith and not without cause Iohn 14.9 For first in beleeuing in him we doe beleeue in God because that hee is God blessed for euermore as S. Paul saith in the 9. of the Romans Secondlie hee it is of whome Moses the Prophetes and the Psalmes haue spoken and vnto whome they haue directed vs as it is also said in the 24. of S. Luke Thirdlie it is hee that the father likewise willeth that wee heare and that is the subsisting Image of the inuisible GOD Colos 1. Hebr. 1. the brightnesse of his glorie and the ingraued signe and marke of his person by whome also the father hath spoken and doone all thinges Lastlie this is the person that hath taken our nature and hee who is called Immanuel God with vs and GOD manifested in the flesh So that this is the cause why S. Paul saith that no man can lay anie other foundation than that which is laid to wit Iesus Christ and that hee woulde not know anie thing saue Christ Not that hee would not likewise know and vnderstand the Father and the holie Ghost but because that in him man knoweth all 1. Cor. 3. both the Father and the holie Ghost as it is said in the first Epistle to the Corinthians and second Chapter 1. Cor. â— And that without him wee can neither know the Father neither haue accesse vnto this light not able to bee come vnto vnlesse the Sonne giue vs both assurance and accesse Euen as Saint Paul teacheth vs in the 2. Encridion 5. Chap. Chap. to the Ephesians ver 18. And as Saint Augustine yet teacheth how manie heretiques doe speake of Iesus Christ vaunting them of his knowledge yet so it is that when a man dooth neerelie looke therein it is found that they haue onelie but the name and that they are but woordes without trueth and effect For where as they will neither speake neither yet vnderstand or teach as it behooueth concerning his Person or teach anie euill concerning his Office So is this a proper gift vnto the Christian Church to knowe with a wholesome knowledge the eternall and liuing GOD that is to say Iohn 17. to know him in Iesus Christ and to call vppon him through him holding Christ for verie God and verie man the onelie mediator betweene God and man That which thing neither the Turkes neither the Iewes neither Papistes nor manie heretickes doe as in deede the diuell dooth labour to raise vp false Prophetes in all times to darken and vtterlie to ouerthrowe the knowledge of Iesus Christ on the earth who is as a signe or a marke against which euerie man gainsayeth euen as Simeon did speake in the 2. of S. Luke But against such kinde of people wee must retaine these Maximes or rules Maximes First that such a mediatour and sauiour is necessarie for vs to haue which was verie God and verie man and who partaketh to the end to bee a meane with the natures of those that were at strife in such sort as hee might ouercome sinne death and the diuell and giue men accesse vnto the light not able to be come vnto Ephe. 1. It was necessarie that hee should bee stronger than all creatures to witte God and the welbeloued of the Father vnto whome wee might be fit and agreeable As of the other side it was meete that the same flesh which had bin ouercome Rom. 8. Esai 53. should haue the victorie and that the flesh which had sinned might beare the
paine the which also hee hath charged vppon him in short that to the end to haue pitie on vs Hebr. 2. he might partake with our flesh with our miseries to the end to make vs his brethren so to carrie into heauen our nature as the gage of our hope euen as hee hath giuen vnto vs a counterpledge that is to say the holie Ghost as Tertullian hath written verie well speaking of the resurrection and of the flesh of Christ When therefore we say that we doe beleeue in Iesus Christ it is not as if we had manie kindes of faith For there is but one God and one faith Ephe. 4. and the father and the sonne are one as it is said in 10. of S. Iohn To beleeue in Iesus Christ But this is that wee beleeue in God according as he hath shewed himselfe in the making of heauen and earth as also in his holie word that beareth record vnto vs how that the euerlasting Sonne of God Iesus Christ taking our nature in the fulnesse of time to bee the mediator of the couenant of our God the two natures diuine and humane being knitte together hee hath reconciled vs to God his father when by his merite and obedience and through his strength and incomprehensible goodnesse hee hath by his death and passion made satisfaction for our sinnes and by his resurrection ouercome death and hell and is ascended into heauē to make intercessiō for vs so as for the loue of him god loueth vs his righteousnes is imputed to vs as if it were our owne God holdeth vs for righteous so be we sure that neither the law hath power to condemne vs against which we doe set this perfect righteousnes of Iesus Christ neither death nor the diuel shall astonie vs for seeing the Christ for vs hath ouercome the world death all that which was feareful In summe we doe beleeue not onelie the historie of the birth passion death resurrection ascensiō of Iesus Christ But euerie faithful persō dooth apply all the benefits that he hath gotten for vs assuring comforting thēselues in his holie louelie promises doe lay hold vppon him as the true Iesus sauing blessing vs hauing prepared an euerlasting saluation and a most blessed life by his pretious blould For what we shall be dooth not yet appeare but we doe know that when he shal appeare V s e. 13. we shal be like vnto him shall see him as he is And whosoeuer hath this hope in him is purified as he is also pure This say I is the first Maxime first foundation that we doe set against the heretikes and others which know not Iesus Christ true God true man It is the wonderful coūsel of God which hath prouided for vs such a mediator and sauiour as did behooue vs to haue Secondlie we doe set against them the agreemēt of the old new Testamēt cōcerning Iesus Christ where wee see how that which the ceremonies of the law had figured was fulfilled in Christ as it is said in the Epistle to the Hebrewes 1. Iohn 3. for so dooth S. Paul witnesse proue how Christ was the end of the law Lastlie we doe set against thē the effects of this healthful knowledge which giueth peace rest of minde vnto the faithful So as manie haue suffered death with great ioy for the name of Iesus Now on the other part the issue of those who haue blasphemed as Cerinthus Manes Arrius and others were alwayes miserable And how soeuer it were that manie times the heresies of those which haue striuen either cōcerning the true diuine nature or cōcerning the veritie of Christs human nature were for a season maintained by violence impudēcie God in this giuing place vnto his iudgements prouing the constācie of his owne yet it is cleare by the Ecclesiasticall Histories how the Lord hath made his trueth dailie to triumph yea that manie times by weake Organes hath confounded the wise men of the world preseruing his trueth the Articles of our faith euen vnto our time whereof wee ought to thanke this good God without ceasing and to beseech him that he will likewise haue pitie also of our posteritie suffer them to inioy this wholesome treasure not suffering that for our vnthankfulnesse and by the damnable and ambitious contentions of certaine wicked members that at this day doe trouble the Churches the trueth should be darkened and this good Sauiour Iesus true GOD and true man should bee misknowne to the world Now to the end that euerie faithfull man might so much the better tast and learne what this sonne of God is and what foundation wee haue to beleeue in him and to hold him for our mediator the holie scripture dooth attribute two names chieflie vnto him Iesus Christ whereof the one is Iesus and the other is Christ to the end that wee may note and marke in the first what is the person of the sonne of God to witte that he is God the sauiour and the word of life manifested in the flesh In the second his Office because that Christ dooth signifie as much as Messias that is to say Annointed which was annointed for vs destined and ordained of the father and dwelling in him in all fulnesse that hee should bee our king our sacrificer and our Prophet and Doctor As concerning the first name which is Iesus it was giuen to the Lord not by aduenture but by a heauēlie Oracle declared by the Angel vnto Ioseph as wee doe reade in the 1. Chap. of S. Matthew Thou shalt call his name Iesus For hee shall saue his people from their sinnes The like was said vnto Marie euen as wee doe reade in the first Chap. of S. Luke Thou shalt beare a sonne and thou shalt call his name Iesus Hee shall be great and shall bee called the sonne of the most highest and the Lorde God shall giue vnto him the Throne of his father Dauid and the Angell speaking vnto the shepheardes in the 2. Chap. of S. Luke interpreting this word of Iesus said Behold I bring you tidings of great ioy that shall be to all the people That is that vnto you is borne this day in the Citie of Dauid a sauiour which is Christ the Lord. Moreouer Irenaeus a right auncient Doctor in the second booke against the heresies of Valentinus witnesseth that the Greekes called him Soter that which the scripture called Iesus that is to say Sauiour The which Iesus Christ was in deed straightway declared himselfe so to bee healing the sicke and raising vp the dead Especiallie by this euerlasting saluation and that saluation of the soules which hee hath gotten for vs who is the true saluation of whome we ought to make reckenning of 8. Pet. 1.5 as S. Peter saith that he should be fullie reuealed in the latter dayes Now such a Sauiour was not Iosua how braue a Captaine soeuer hee
was hauing this honour to conduct the people into the promised lande Neither likewise Iehosuach the Sonne of Iosedec the high Priest of whome the Prophet Zacharie speaketh that were but simple men and haue doone nothing but through borrowed strength neither also were they other but the shadowes of this great Iosua and mightie Sauiour that is Iesus Christ the onelie true and euerlasting Sauiour so as there is none other name by the which a man may haue the grace of God Actes 4. or obtaine anie thing of him or to come to the most blessed life It is this name or rather this vertue and power before whome all knees ought to bowe that are in heauen and on the earth To be short this is he whome all tongues shall confesse to be the Lord Iesus Christ vnto the glorie of God Hee is the Lorde because that the father hath brought all thinges in subiection vnder him to this person I say Hebr. 2. which is verie God and verie man For hee is particularlie our Lord because that he hath purchased vs vnto him through his pretious bloudshedding so as we be not vnto our selues 1. Cor. 6. but vnto him that hath bought vs. Therefore he whome the Iewes haue crucified for enuie him hath God raised and lifted vp and hath made him Lord and Christ as it is said in the 2. Chap. of the Actes Psal 2. Col. 1. Let vs then reioyce of such a Lord who is the Lord and sauiour Let vs willinglie doe seruice vnto such a Maister who hath gotten vs by his pretious bloud and deliuered vs from the power of darknesse and euen so hath in deede made vs free In him Iohn 8. it is easie for vs to ouercome the world for he is greater than the world Iohn 4. Yea in him is Sathan trodden vnder our feete euen as S. Paul speaketh in the 16. of the Romans Wherefore let vs say with Esai in his 26. Chap. Howsoeuer it be O Lord that other Lords besides thee haue ruled vs yet wil we remember thee dailie and thy name For there is but one God and sauiour that is properlie Iesus Christ of whome is spoken in the 9. Chap. of Zacharie and 9. ver and in the 1. Chap. of the Epistle of S. Paul vnto Titus ver 3. and 4. O how happie are they that doe put their trust in him as it is said in the 2. Psalme and that doe imbrace the sonne which is Christ that is to say the annointed of the liuing God and doe not onelie acknowledge him with the mouth but doe likewise suffer him to raigne in them by his word and through his spirit and seeking none other oblation than the euerlasting oblation Heb. 10. which is of a perpetuall efficacie and strength which he hath offered vnto his father on the Crosse once for all as a perfect and euerlasting priest But alas whereto serueth this goodlie title of a Christian if vice doe raigne in thee if the flesh and the world maister thee if thy soule will not suffer it to bee commaunded by the annointed Christ and consecrated to raigne in vs here below by his grace vntill such time as hee shall bring vs vnto the kingdome of his glorie And whereto serueth it to sing to crie to roare out the Apostles Creed as was doone in the Papacie fince they seeke for other Maisters than Christ and other sacrifices than his persecuting with all extremitie those that doe hope and trust in him alone Iesuites But what shall we say of those which are ashamed at these daies to bee called Christians Actes 11. which is the auncient name of the disciples of Iesus Christ and are not thus contented to haue part in the Lordes annointing that he promised vnto vs by the holie spirit but will also bouldlie sease vpon that name 1. Iohn 2.20 that dooth belong to him onelie inasmuch as hee is the alone sauiour calling themselues Iesuites as though they would outface all the rest of Christendome A prayer to haue and to retaine the true knowledge of Iesus Christ O Lord our God and father Iohn 17. forsomuch as this is eternall life that wee doe know thee and to know thee we cannot but in thy ingraued Image and in thy sonne which was declared in the flesh may it please thee to leade vs by thy holy spirit vnto the true knowledge of thy sonne likewise giuing vnto vs such a resolution as that wee may esteeme all things as dung Philip. 3. in respect of the excellent knowledge of Iesus Christ First of all giue vs grace O God rightlie to feele and vnderstand our necessitie to wit that wee ought to haue such a soueraine high priest as should be holy Heb. 7. innocent without spot separated from sinner which was very God and true man Moreouer O heauenly father print liuely in our hearts the knowledge acknowledging of this thy woonderful charity yea a loue fauor so great which thou hast shewed vnto vs poore sinners Titus 2. Titus 3.5 making thy wholsome grace to appeare in thy sonne Iesus Christ and sauing vs not through the workes that we should haue done but by the onelie merit of the death passion of thy sonne Iesus Christ O Lord what grace O what fauour O what humblenesse is this that the eternal sonne of the liuing God hath taken the forme of a seruant hath humbled himselfe euen to die for vs miserable wretches Ephe 4.20 But aboue all giue vs grace to learn Christ aright and not to be like vnto thē that liue vnorderlie doe abuse through a fleshlie libertie this blessed wholsome knowledge which should rather drawe vs to follow his aime to witte that by the same we might be humbled so cōfounded in our selues in seeing how horrible and great our sinnes haue bin as it behoued vs to haue them bought againe by so great a price to the end wee should not esteeme and magnifie anie thing but thy bountie and that all our ioie and glorie might be in thee In summe that wee should cast our eyes vpon this good Iesus in all our aduersities and miseries aspiring vnto eternall saluatiō that he hath prepared for vs forsaking our selues to liue vnto the praise of him who hath redeemed vs. O God doe not suffer poore Christendome to bee brought backe againe into a bottomles pitte of darknes and to be depriued from so wholsome a knoweledge by this damnable sect of Arrians the which alas would spring vp a fresh in the world and who haue denyed the true diuinitie of Iesus or through this miserable heresie of the Martionites Eutichians and others blotting out and vtterly frustrating the proprieties of the humane nature of the same thy deare sonne as much as lieth in them shrowding them selues notwithstanding with the name of Euangelicall Doctors O Lorde for the loue of thy name and of our poore posterities maintaine the trueth
doe hide their faces before him And man vnlesse that hee died could neuer see his maiestie yea man such as he is on the earth a sinner and mortall But oh happie and blessed shall that daie be 1. Iohn 3. and this houre ought to be desired of vs when as wee shall see this great God such as he is with a soul altogether cleane and a glorified bodie The knowledge of God from hencefoorth is vnto vs as Nazianzen saith in respect of the spirit as the sunne is vnto the bodie This is a light well liking vnto vs but happie is the soule that shall see him face to face and in seeing him shall liue for euermore In the meane-while let vs put our trust in the sonne who speaketh in his Gospell of that which hee hath seene and hath partaken his secretes vnto vs Iohn 15. as vnto his friendes and louers Vppon the 3. Chap. of S. Iohn God so loued the world that hee hath giuen his onely begotten sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life MEDITATION S. Paul oftentimes saith how he would not boast but in Iesus and the same crucified And in deede if man would consider these thinges at leasure which are contained in this sentence of S. Iohn hee would easilie agree with that which S. Paul speaketh and should finde that there is no knowledge in the world that giueth so much contentation as the knowledge of Gods loue through Iesus Christ in such sort as this sentence of S. Iohn ought to be as a pretious owel which a man dailie weareth about his necke euen so ought wee to imprint in our heartes this excellent witnesse of Gods loue For what are men that GOD loueth them What cause hath the immortall to loue the poore woormes of the earth The righteous to loue sinners The Maister the ingrate and vnfaithfull seruauntes Are wee not of nature the children of wrath Ought hee not without ceasing rather to represent vnto vs the hatred and the iust anger of this mightie God and that because of our corruption And moreouer if GOD had beene affectioned to some iust or excellent men yet say I this should bee greatlie to debase him But O diuine loue Oh woonderfull diuinitie Thou hast loued the world without considering anie certaine world anie Sexe anie Qualitie yea all the creatures which are come of the earth since Adam and Eue men and women great and little poore and rich fooles wisemen And all the cause and occasion that thou hast had to fauour them was not for their beautifull eyes but it was euen thy great and extreme bountie All their righteousnesse is as an vncleane cloth before him Esaiah 64. And their excellencie is but as a flower Esaiah 40. which withereth and fadeth from day to day Therefore it hath pleased thee O God to loue man But what say I to loue What tongue shall not iudge himselfe vnsufficient yea what heart shall not bee vnable to deduct or comprehend this so great a loue which hath brought thee to giue one onelie and innocent sonne to death and that to giue life vnto those creatures that are so vnthankfull and so corrupted Where is it that one shall finde a man in this world that will pledge himselfe euen to suffer death for an other were hee his friend and an honest man Truelie it is verie rare But what O Lord thou hast doone truelie more For thou hast not giuen an Angell or an Archangell but thou hast giuen thy onelie sonne vnto a sorrowfull and most shamefull death for to redeeme thy enemies that were reuolted from thee but alas wherefore is not this friendship alike Wherefore doe wee not loue thee with a burning desire as thou hast loued vs Wherefore complaine wee of a little earth lost in thy Seruice and thou hast not cōplayned at all of the death of thy welbeloued sonne of thy delight when the question was of our redemption When a prince dooth not giue vs his good countenance and fauour then we are sore troubled and greeued and yet in respect thereof we make ah alas but small reckenning of thy loue which art the king of kinges and the eternall God Therefore that which wee doe want is that we doe not sufficientlie tast how much the Lord is good and sweete Seeing now O Lord that thy loue is endlesse graunt vs heartes that may comprehend his infinite goodnesse and that wee may forthwith feele therein an endlesse comfort which may swallow vp all the sorrowes of this wretched life So be it Out of the 6. of S. Iohn Simon Peter answered Iesus Maister to whome shall we goe Thou hast the wordes of eternall life And wee beleeue and know that thou art the Christ the sonne of the liuing God Out of the 3. Chap. of the first to Timothie Without all gainsaying great is the mysterie of godlinesse to witte that God is manifested in the flesh iustified in the spirit seene of Angels preached vnto the Gentiles beleeued on in the world and ascended vp in glorie Out of the 4. Chap. of the first Epistle of S. Iohn Hereby know yee the spirit of God Euerie spirit that confesseth that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God And euerie spirit which confesseth not that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God but this is the spirit of Antichrist of whome you haue heard how that hee should come and now alreadie he is in the world And wee haue seene and doe testifie that the father sent the sonne to bee the Sauiour of the world Whosoeuer confesseth that Iesus is the sonne of God in him dwelleth God and he in God And wee haue knowen and beleeued the loue that GOD hath in vs. Here followeth VVhich vvas conceiued by the holie Ghost borne of the virgin Marie CONSIDERATION THis is not vnto vs as saith S. Basyl in a Sermon which hee made of Iesus Christes humane nature neither for vs much to inquire how Christ is come downe here below And wherefore God is serued with such a meane rather than with anie other For thou man saith hee thou wast lost and so recoiledst backe from the face of thy God that thou couldest not come neere thereunto Sith now that he is so humbled and brought low to come vnto thee wouldest thou dispute much thereuppon Rather acknowledge in all humblenesse this blessing of the sonne of God yea and with as great affection as thou canst or maist who is according to the euerlasting diuine nature ingendred by the Father not made nor created as it is said in Athanasius Creede both without Mother and without beginning but is according to the humane nature a like vnto vs sinne excepted begotten of a woman and the sonne of Dauid In such manner as Sedulius saith in a Hymme The creator of the world hath taken shape of a seruant to the end that hee might redeeme our flesh through his flesh and that those
should not perish whom hee had created Therefore behold two natures but knit together in such sort as there is but one onelie Sauiour euen as the soule and the bodie are gathered together in one onely man in the meane time keeping their proprieties as it is knowne that some proprieties are of the bodie others of the soule but let a man marke thē put a differēce betweene those proprieties yet dooth hee not therefore separate the bodie from the soule The scriptures then and also the aunciēt Doctors speaking of Iesus Christ haue sometimes respect vnto the proprietie of the natures And then it is said that Christ knew not the hower of Iudgement when hee was wrapped vp in swadling bandes when hee did increase in all wisdome and had respect but vnto the humane nature Some-times that he is the Image and brightnesse of his father that hee will bee with vs euen vnto the end of the world 1. Cor. 2. hauing respect vnto his nature and diuine Maiestie And sometimes the scripture dooth consider these two natures of Christ knit together When it is said that the Lord of glorie was crucified Wherefore Because that Christ hath yet suffered in the flesh Yet so it is that hee who hath suffered was the Lord of glorie For this flesh is knit with the eternal word of the personall vnion So it is said that God hath redeemed vs by his bloud Actes 20. because that this bloud is the bloud of this bodie which is knitte with the sonne of God As wee doe say for the vnion of the bodie with the soule when a man is dead albeit that there is but the least part dead to witte the bodie the soule being as we know immortal From whence heresies doe proceede This is to be noted because the most part of heresies doe come forth in that whereas either a man confoundes the natures of Christ or that one sundereth the natures and they leaue not this ground or this foundation that wee haue in the scripture to wit that there is but one Christ And that this Christ is as mediatour knit vnto two natures and to acknowledge them it is necessarie that the proprieties do remain For how should we knowe the humane nature if it were inuisible and in all places as some dreame What God should Iesus be if he were created euen as Arritus did blaspheme The humane nature therefore of Christ hath reciued great prerogatiues Prerogatiues of Christs humane nature as to be sanctified from the beginning by the holy Ghost to be knit with the diuine nature and to abide in the same so as of this man it is sayde that he is the sonne of God as in hauing all fulnesse of grace all treasures of wisedome in the eternall worde which is declared and laide abroade in the humane nature and so farre forth as was needeful and might bring to him To be short we must holde that as the humane nature taken to the sonne of God hath not weakened the diuinitie So hath not the diuinitie swallowed vp the deity nor consumed the humanitie as the Schuencfeldians thought For our sauiour is true God and man and not a man deified Moreouer we must haue daily remembraunce of our religion which is faith whereunto all curiosities are contrarie These mysteries as this is the greatest of all and the true secret of God hauing ordeined that his euerlasting sonne should take vppon him humane nature that in our flesh he might make satisfaction for our sinnes These mysteries I say we doe beleeue them when as all humane reason all discourse and all the worlde woulde say or thinke to the contrarie And in thus beleeuing wee are not lead by opinion or ill grounded but assured of a most certaine knowledge that is more surer than all the sciences of the world because that it proceedeth from the shewe of the spirite of God Heere followe certaine goodly places of the conception and birth of Iesus Christ out of the 1. Chap. of S. Luke THe Angell sayde vnto Marie Lo thou shalt conceiue in thy wombe and beare a sonne and shalt call his name Iesus He shall be great and shal be called the sonne of the most high and the Lorde God shall giue vnto him the throne of his father Dauid And hee shall reigne ouer the house of Iacob for euer and of his kingdome shall be none ende Then sayd Marie vnto the Angell how shall this be seeing I know not man The Angell aunswered and sayde vnto her the holy Ghost shall come vpon thee and the power of the most high shal ouershadowe thee therefore also that holie thing which shall be borne of thee shal be called the sonne of God Therefore beholde three great prerogatiues in this childe that is giuen vnto vs. First this person is the sonne of God Secondly eternall king established for Messias and true restorer of the throne of Dauid and of the Church head and chiefe thereof that which a man cannot speake of anie creature Thirdly he is the holy as many times he is so called in the prophets and hath in such sort taken our nature as he hath made it holy frō his mothers wombe This conception therefore by the holy Ghost is not that the spirite had beene as the father or as if his body were of a spiritual substance But the Angell sayth that which seemed vnpossible that a virgin should conceiue shal be done by the vertue of Gods spirit to whome nothing is harde and the same spirite shall make the virgine not alonely to conceiue and beare a sonne but also to conceiue and beare him which shall be holy and making holy all mankinde making holy the natiuitie and conception of all those that are of his faithfull chosen Wherfore Christ was baptised For that that he was baptised and circumcised was not in the respect of him that he had neede of it he who washed and circumcised our heartes but because that he had brought himselfe vnder the lawe in our name and being made our pledge had charged vpon him our sinnes to make vs learne in what reuerence wee ought to haue the Sacramentes Out of the 1. of S. Iohn ver 14. This worde was made flesh and dwelt among vs and we sawe the glorie thereof I say the glorie as of the onely begotten sonne of the father full of grace and truth Out of the 1. Chap. of the Epistle of S. Paule to the Romanes God which had promised heeretofore the Gospell concerning his sonne which was made of the seede of Dauid according to the flesh and declared mightilie to be the sonne of God touching the spirite of sanctification and by the resurrection from the dead that is to say our sauiour Iesus Christ Out of the 16. Chap. of the Romanes To him nowe that is of power to establish you according to my Gospell and preaching of Iesus Christ by the reuelation of the mysterie which was kept secret since
the worlde beganne But nowe is opened and published among all nations by the scriptures of the prophets at the commandement of the euerlasting God for the obedience of faith To God I say only wise be praise for euer Out of the 4. Chap. of the Epistle to the Galathians When the fulnesse of time was come God sent foorth his sonne made of a woman and made vnder the Lawe that hee might redeeme them which were vnder the lawe that we might receiue the adoption of the sonnes Out of the 2. Chap. of the Epistle to the Philippians Let the same minde be in you that was euen in Christ Iesus who beeing in the forme of God thought it no robberie to be equall with God But he made himselfe of no reputation and tooke on him the forme of a seruaunt and was made like vnto man and was found in shape as a man He humbled himselfe and became obedient vnto the death euen the death of the crosse Out of the seconde Chap. of the Epistle to the Hebrewes For as much then as the children were partakers of flesh and bloud he also him selfe likewise tooke part with them that he might destroy through death him that had the power of death that is the diuell And that he might deliuer all them which for feare of death were all their life time subiect to bondage For he in no sort tooke the Angels but he tooke the seede of Abraham Wherefore in all things it became him to be made like vnto his brethren that hee might bee mercifull a faithfull high priest in things cōcerning God to the end he might make reconciliation for the sinnes of the people Borne of the virgin Marie The historie of the Lordes Natiuitie we haue it with all the circumstances thereof in the 2. Chap. of S. Luke Howe hee was borne vnder Octauian Augustus the Emperour Borne in Beth-lehem the citie of Dauid was wrapped in swadling clothes and layde in a cratch for he became poore to make vs rich 2. Cor. 8. Chap. This birth was by the Angels declared to the sheepeheardes Moreouer the wise men of the East were guided by a starre vnto Beth-lehem 2. of S. Matthew A MEDITATION vpon the conception and birth of Iesus Christ after the flesh WHo is he that would not desire to beholde with all reuerence and with great wonder this mightie mysterie of our God concerning the incarnation of Iesus Christ and our redemption seeing that the verie Angels desire to looke thereon as S. Peter speaketh in his 1. Chap. 1. Epistle For it is the Gospel that doeth declare and reueile this hidden secret Rom. 16. at all times figured through diuers ceremonies and trulie fulfilled in the latter dayes O that so many kings patriarks prophets haue desired to see him but now men make litle account of this so great a secret O how beautifull are the feete of them that do declare vnto vs this Gospel of peace O and how much are the heretikes to be abhorred that would turne away from vs the knowledge of this Christ true God and man who hath not doone this honour vnto the Angelles to take vpon him their nature to redeeme them which were fallen but hath shewed this fauour vnto vs poor◠wormes of the earth Psal 51. as to take on him our nature Wee alas are conceiued in sinne and in iniquitie But the holy of the Lorde which was conceiued by the working of the holy spirite is come into the worlde to sanctifie saue vs. Ephes 2. We are borne the childrē of wrath But the welbeloued of the heauenly father was giuen for vs and now is our nature in honour and grace because that the euerlasting word was made flesh not leauing that which it was but taking vnto him that that he was not that is to say our nature ◠Iohn 1. O what an excellent word considering that is spoken of it that it was and did alwaies rest with God as the seconde person of the diuinitie but if a man haue respect vnto his essence it was and is God as S. Iohn sayth in the same place And that it is so all thinges haue beene made by it the life the light and all fulnesse is in it By it hath the Lorde spoken and reueiled the secrets of Paradise But what is it that this hath taken knit with him this word Our flesh And what is our flesh Flesh When as the scripture would speake of our poorenesse it calleth vs flesh as in the 78. Psalme And the Lord remembred that they were but flesh Howsoeuer that Iesus had taken vpon him all our nature that is to say the bodie and the soule as he is the redeemer of all mankinde yet so it is that we be but flesh and rottennesse He hath not therefore taken this flesh which was sinfull or the affection and passions of the flesh but the substance the weakenesses and the alterations that are in the flesh here withall did he charge himselfe He was not then ashamed of vs as the Schuencfeldians thinke that it should be to debase him too much if it were sayd that he had bin made flesh For the scripture sayth the same that he was made flesh that is yet a more vile word than the worde creature But as S. Bernarde sayth The more that thou considerest the humilitie of Christ so much the more seest thou thy glorie and the honour that God hath doone vnto thee how also God hath exalted thee and hath giuen thee a name aboue all names in such sort as they that forsake and despise thee shal one day feele that they shall haue to doe not with anie poore creature but with the king of kings and with the iudge of this worlde A praier of S. Ierome concerning the incarnation of Iesus Christ. O Lorde Iesus thou art my God and my sauiour that hast suffered for mee And although thou wert true God before all ages begotten euerlastingly of the father of an vnserchable generatiō yet wouldst thou to bee conceiued in the wombe of a virgin and to be made man like vnto me and in such manner as thou art true God and true man For thou hast in such sort taken humane nature in the virgins wombe as thou art God and man so as the diuinity is not the humanitie neither the humanity the diuinitie Thy two natures are not confounded and yet doe they make one the selfe same person O eternall worde that was made flesh to become our brother Thou hast had hunger and thirst Thou hast taken our weakenesse vppon thee sinne excepted which did neuer enter in thee as we bare it euen from our mothers wombe Nowe in thee O Lorde dwelleth bodily all fulnesse of grace and diuinitie Thou art made lesse than the father if a man doe respect thy humanitie And if one doe consider thy diuinitie thou art equall vnto him and now that thou hast debased thy selfe he doeth acknowledge thee for
his welbeloued sonne O good sauiour haue mercie on thy brethren come vnto them and dwell in them A prayer concerning Iesus Christ for to know him rightly O Lord my God seeing thou hast prouided for vs so precious a gift giuing vnto vs thy sonne Iesus fill my soule with the feeling of his bountie kindle in me a true desire of thy deere sonne and of his grace quench in me all euill affections neither suffer that my soule be vexed by worldlie cares but lift it vppe O Lorde and drawe it vnto a perpetuall meditating of thy sonne my redeemer Let his name be in my mouth let his mercie be shed in my heart to run through all my bones marowe and that I may neuer tast any other thing than this good sauiour that is dead for me Grant me also grace to correct my manners and take away from mee that which displeaseth thee for to giue me that which is agreeable and pleasing vnto thee Alas who shall make man cleane that is conceiued in vncleannesse if he be not washed and made righteous by thy sonne Iesus My health lyeth in thee good GOD and my weakenesse is before thee Heale this and by thy grace graunt vnto me the other For it is thou that healest the infirmities and keepest them that are healed and all through thy mercie An other prayer on the same matter O Lorde if our eyes be so tender and weake that they bee not able to beare the light of the sunne howe can we alas beholde thee if thou haddest not declared thy selfe in thy sonne which is the eternall worde and brightnesse of thy glorie O woonderfull secret that is not vnderstoode by mans wisedome the which is come out of the heauenly closet This is it that GOD was made man the euerlasting is made mortall hee that was not subiecte to suffer was made subiect to suffer the maister to abide the death for his seruauntes and he which ought nothing hath payed the debt to set vs poore sinners free O the great goodnesse of our sauiour to abide and suffer so much for vs O great power of our Lord Iesus Christ to ouercome death Hell had thought to haue swallowed him vp but it is hee that hath ouercome hell And in such manner it is come to passe therein as vnto fishes the which are taken when they thinke to take the baite euen so death taking our redeemer was himselfe taken And nowe Lorde who is he that will not trust in thee seeing that thy sonne is risen againe on the thirde daie so gloriously and tryumphauntly seeing that hee is ascended aboue all the highest heauens and hath deliuered man from his captiuitie to make him way euen vnto the heauenlie dwelling place It is there where hee sitteth on thy right hande and where wee doe worshippe him with thee the father and with the holie Ghost the comforter of the afflicted This is thy sonne our Lorde who is our life and our resurrection This is the hope and trust of the afflicted this is our light in our darkenesse this is the dewe of our thirstie soules This is he that doeth strengthen vs in our weakenesses and that healeth our woundes Wee are sinners but our sinne is not so great and mightie as is his mercie We be wanderers in this worlde but he is our shephearde and we doe awaite vpon him with a most earnest desire that our bodies may be alike vnto his glorious bodie and that wee may O mightie God beholde thy face A prayer and meditation vppon the birth of Iesus Christ taken out of the 15. Chap. of the Meditations of S. Augustine O Exceeding goodnesse O inestimable loue of thee my God who hast giuen thy sonne to redeeme thy seruaunt God was made man that man being lost should be redeemed out of the diuels pawes It must be O Lorde true that thy sonne Iesus hath right tenderly loued mankinde seeing that he hath not alonely brought him selfe so lowe to bee willing to become man and to bee borne of a virgine but did willingly yeelde himselfe vnto the punishment of the crosse and that for our saluation The good sauiour is come vnto vs he by his goodnesse is come to seeke out that which was lost hee hath sought out the lost sheepe and hauing founde him he hath taken him vppon his shoulders to carie him vnto the sheepe folde O good Lorde O true shephearde O woonderfull charitie And who is he that may heare these thinges without beeing astonied from the bowelles of this mercie Who will not marueile thereat or rather reioyce therein in that thou hast so much loued vs Lorde thou hast sent thy sonne in the likenesse of a sinnefull man that he who was without sinne might ouercome sinne and that we might of thy righteousnesse reioyce in him For hee it is that is the true Lambe without spotte and that hath taken away the sinnes of the worlde and that in dying hath destroyed death and in rysing againe hath brought life But alas O Lorde what shall I yeelde vnto thee for these so excellent benefites What prayses what thankesgiuing shall I giue vnto thee O Lorde Although wee shoulde be indewed with the knowledge of Angelles yea though all our members shoulde bee turned into tongues yet shoulde we be vnsufficient and vnwoorthy to praise so great a louing kindenesse for thy inestimable charitie that thou hast shewed vnto vs poore and vnworthie creatures dooth ouercome all knowledge Because that thy sonne hath not taken the seede of Angelles but of Abraham beeing made like vnto vs sinne excepted Therefore hauing taken humane nature and glorifying it and through his resurrection decking it with immortalitie he hath lifted vp him selfe aboue all heauens and hath placed him at thy right hande where hee is hee that is thy sonne worshipped and feared of Angelles Nowe beholde my comfort and my hope and wee all haue a portion in his flesh And since that he that hath taken our flesh raigneth with it I doe beleeue that I shall raigne because that my flesh is glorified in the person of Christ we shal be also glorified Albeit that my sinnes may let mee therein yet will this coniunction that I haue with Christ take away the lettes My God is not so rigorous and seuere to despise man seeing hee hath carried man and the humane nature vp on high How should hee forget that that hee hath with him Truelie this good Lorde is gentle and louing and loueth his flesh And if the Father loue his sonne as in deede hee loueth him hee also loueth all the which dooth appertaine vnto him so that from henceforth we be as raised vp in Christ Wee be alreadie seated in the kingdome of God since that the humane nature is gone vp thither with Christ No man hath euer hated his owne flesh We be bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh Oh that this is a great secrete saith the Apostle this of Christ and of his Church O
teacheth you Hee would not simplie say that they haue no neede of instruction but that they being kindled by the holy spirite might not suffer themselues to bee deceiued by Antichrist a people altogether rude and ignorant A prayer out of the 51. Psalme Create in me a cleane heart O God and renue a right spirite within me Cast mee not away from thy presence and take not thine holy spirite from me Restore in me the ioie of thy saluation and stablish mee with thy free spirite I beleeue the holy Catholike Church A consideration vpon this Article AS there is but one onely true and verie God to wit these three persons the father the sonne and the holy Ghost euen so there is but one faith whereof it was spoken in the former Articles Wee doe therefore protest now that we do beleeue the Catholike Church for we say not as before time I beleeue in the Church but it is God in whom we do put all our whole trust it is he as wee doe reade in the first Chap. of the Apocalips that is α ω that is to say the beginning and the end And as it is written in the 43. Chap. of Esaiah Before mee there was no God that was the maker of the worlde neither shall there be after me I euen I am the eternall and beside me there is no sauiour What is it then to beleeue the Catholike Church First it is to beleeue that whatsoeuer corruptions ydolatries persecutions and disorders there haue beene in the worlde that this great God creator 1. Peter 2. redeemer and sanctifier hath gotten out his chosen people whom he hath called out of darkenes into his wonderful light Psal 147. vnto whom he is reueiled through his holy testimonies the he hath washed and sanctified 1. Tim. 3. and that is his Church and the house of the liuing God builded vppon the pillar of trueth Matth. 16. vpon this corner stone which is Christ so that the gates of hell shall not preuaile any thing against it because that all things helpe vnto the profite and wealth of the children of GOD Rom. 8. 2. Tim. 2. and that this foundation resteth sure howe God knoweth those which are his as in the times of Eliah he reserued to himselfe seuen thousande men 1. Kings 19. which hadde not bowed their knees vnto Baal Secondly we doe witnesse protest and beleeue by this article of our faith that we be members of this true Church Heb. 10. and doe ioyne our selues to it to be good faithful citizens therein Heb. 10. following the holy assemblies and making that profession and confession of the name of God that all true faithfull ought to doe Thirdly by this article we doe beleeue and also doe protest that wee doe not acknowledge all assemblies indifferently for the Church of God but that as it is declared in the symbole of Nice that which is Apostolike that is to say which doeth holde it selfe vnto the doctrine of the Apostoles and is not tyed vnto anie certaine place or citie but is vniuersall gathered together by the preaching of the Gospell and through the vse of the holy sacramentes Ephes 1. Colos 1. in all the partes of the worlde vnder this onely heade that is Iesus Christ 1. Colos 12. in whom is grounded this communion of the saintes which in him are made members of one and the selfe same bodie Actes 2. partakers of one and the selfe same spirite of the same Gospell of the same sacramentes howe so euer the outwarde ceremonies be not altogether alike yet are they knit by the same bonde of peace and ioyned through the true loue calling vppon one and the same sauiour and the awayting as brethren for one and the same heritage which is the blessed life For these be the offeringes that God maketh vnto his Church which he hath purchased for himselfe to wit the forgiuenesse of sinnes and the life euerlasting which a man can not finde out of the true Church Whereupon it is to be noted that the faithfull are called holy yea in earth not that they should be perfect and voide of sinne as some do imagine a perfection to be for so should they haue no more neede of the forgiuenesse of sinnes But they are called holy because they are sanctified because of their calling which is holy and to all holinesse whereunto they doe aspire without ceasing not that they haue alreadie apprehended all but because they doe followe after seeking to learne drawing towardes the marke in respect of that heauenly calling as S. Paule sayth in the 3. Chap. to the Philippians Figures of the Church Noes Arke In the 7. Chap. of Genesis By the floud euery thing in whose nostrels breathed life died Noah only remained and they that were with him in the Arke And S. Ierome writing vnto Damasus sayth that there is no saluation without the Churche and as there is but one Arke euen so there is but one Church and as he himselfe writeth vnto Euander we ought not to thinke that the Church of Rome is any other than that which is in other places of the worlde where that Iesus is worshipped be it in Fraunce or in Englande or else where There is the Church where it is bounde in Christ and knit together by the bande of loue But if we must speake of authoritie the autoritie of the worlde is greater than the autoritie of a citie the autoritie of Churches spread throughout the world greater than that which is in one place A Prayer O Lorde our God and father although that thy ordinance is Genes 8. that thou wilt not smite anie more the whole world with the floud of waters and that from hence forwarde the seede time and haruest and cold and heate and summer and winter and day and night shall not cease and that so long as the earth remaineth in confirmation whereof thou hast established the heauenly arke for a signe Notwithstanding O my God what is this poore life but a floud of euilles But in this my soule is comforted then when as namely in thy wrath thou diddest powre out the ouerflowinges of waters vpon the lande then at that time O God thou diddest powre out by thy fauour thy grace and protection vpon the Arke of Noah For why was it that he did not perish with the rest Did he see the same floude Was hee couered with the same waters Yes truely But in his Arke he had thy promise He had thy grace which did defende him in such sort as thousandes fell at his right hande and thousandes at his left hande hee was sure vnder thy wing So Lorde although that in this worlde a like floud of euilles doth fall both vpon the good and the euil Eccle. 3. and that both the one and the other dies yet we knowe that thou wilt saue those which are in the Arke of thy Church and
experience and amongest manie temptations learned the deceites of the Diuell oftentimes said that one day he would put hand to penne to write a great volume against Satan to discouer his wiles and craftes and all the kindes of temptations wherewith hee was accustomed to fight against vs. Besides this hee did dailie aduertise the people both priuatelie and openlie that it was not a thing so light as men thought it to haue dailie Satan at our heeles and an enemie so craftie that spied out but the occasion to sift vs and to destroy vs. Now on a time Luther being requested by a good man who suffered manie tēptations and other vnquietnesse for some comfort Hee wrote this vnto him that followeth in a booke brieflie expounding this sentence of S. Iohn set downe before Satan from the beginning of the world was a lyar and through lyes hath a desire to tempt mankinde Behold how Adam and Eue our first parentes were ouertaken and caught which were created vnto the Image of God For hauing beguiled them through lies hee was therein also a murtherer in that that of the immortall they became mortall Not long after hee set Caine against his Brother Abel and did thrust forward the brother to imbrue his handes with the bloud of his brother And this is the manner and guise of all Satans kingdome Hee began through lying to seduce men afterward hee ceaseth not to stirre vp persecutions against the true faithfull which would not cleaue vnto his lies In the meane while hee bringeth his maintainers to dispaire as it is to be seene of Caine Iudas and others Therefore it is for vs to beware of so cruell and craftie an enemie Let vs also beware and take good heede of his false and dreaming doctrines which commeth forth out of his shoppe the end whereof is vtter destruction To be short let vs take heede of lying and crueltie seeing both the one and the other commeth of the Diuell Moreouer let vs marke that our comfort is that Iesus Christ was giuen vnto vs who appeared to ouerthrow and destroy the workes of the diuell And in deede hee was found the stronger that did buind his enemie Satan and draue away the Prince of the world Against his leinges he hath armed vs with the trueth of his Gospell Against death hee gaue vs life giuing himselfe to bee our Emanuel that is to say God with vs. What greater comfort should wee know to desire For if a man would say yea but Christ is in heauen Behold that which Iesus saith If anie man keepe my word hee shall not perish The doctrine of the lawe accuseth vs and setteth downe before vs our condemnation But the Gospell is the word of life and power of GOD to saluation O miserable and wretched world that forsaketh this pretious word The auncient Fathers haue woondred at a hearbe called Panacea which as some say healed all maner of diseases And seeing manie times we doe see that men esteeme more of some little experience of Phisicke that they shall haue against anie sicknes Why then doe they not commend and praise aboue all the doctrine of the Gospell which healeth vs against death Is it because that the world is so earthlie and lustfull which is not otherwise guided but by fleshlie considerations and neither trusteth in God nor in his promises But wee must feare the iudgementes of God For as they which doe keepe this word shall not feare death So contrariwise they that keepe it not shall see the first and the second death And howsoeuer it seeme vnto men that they passe away with eies closed vp vnto death yet neuerthelesse they doe see death whē the bitternesse thereof and the wrath of God present themselues before their eyes Now concerning the children of GOD they see them dailie dying and themselues also doe die But because their soules learne the word of GOD they see not death For hee teacheth them euen as those that doe goe into darke places by the light who see not the darknesse which is ouercome by the light So a faithfull man which possesseth Gods grace doeth not behold death in his nature and as Gods iudgement but as a sweete sleepe whereby wee doe passe into heauenlie rest and how much the more wee beleeue so much the more are wee assured and certaine against death But the more wee be negligent to heare the word of God so much the more wee lie open to terrours and feares O how strong is therefore the faithfull man who is a member of the Church which staieth himselfe vppon the word of God The great warriers Alexander Iulius Caesar and others hauing braued in the world haue beene famous for their onlie prowes they are dead and those commonlie are the most astonied when death commeth as it is read of Adrian the Emperour The Sorrowes of Adrian the Emperour who at the point of death made such like mournings O poore soule naked and a vacabond into what place goest thou now to yeelde thy selfe Alas what shall become of thee thou companion and ghest of my bodie Thou from hence forewardes shalt haue no more pastime Loe this is the vnquietnesse and vnsetlednesse of the people of this world Let vs pray therefore as in the 90 Psalme that God will giue vs grace to consider the shortnesse of our dayes to the ende we may applie our heartes vnto wisedome A prayer vpon this place Out of the 14. of S. Iohn If any man loue me he will keepe my worde and my father will loue him and we will come vnto him and will dwell with him O Lord who is he which will not loue thee syth that thou hast so loued vs to haue giuen thy sonne for vs Nowe because that thou discernest those which do loue thee in deede from hypocrites when as they loue and keepe thy worde giue me grace yea vnto mee that naturally loue but vice and vanitie to loue thy word vnto me that can doe nothing but in thee and by thee to keepe thy worde and to yeelde obedience vnto thee For what a benefite is it to haue thy companie yea this sweete companie of thee and of thy sonne Iesus and of thy holie spirite which thou hast promised to them that wil yeeld themselues affectionated vnto thy worde What greater mischiefe could happen than to be thrust backe and depriued of such a companie For whosoeuer is not with thee it behoueth that hee be with Sathan that is to say with all euill Because that in as much as thou giuest peace felicitie and life vnto them with whome thou dwellest euen so also is sathan the authour of all euill and of all mischiefe Therefore O Lorde giue me grace to abide in thee as the braunch in the vine to bring foorth the fruites of thy glorie to liue in thee and vnto thee to feele thee daily with all the comfortes that thou giuest vnto thine Let thy good spirite succour mee in my weakenesse Rom. 8.
that that which is an offence vnto the worlde 1. Cor. 1. to wit the Gospell of the crosse may bee my comfort and my treasure that I may feele the vertue power and strength of this thy woorde euen in all the partes of my soule from this time foorth and for euer more So be it Of the vse of the holie Scripture Out of the 3. Chap. of the 2. Epistle of S. Paul vnto Timothee The whole scripture is geuen by the inspiration of God and is profitable to teach to correct and to instruct in righteousnesse that the man of God may be absolute being made perfect vnto all good workes The first vse of the scripture is to teach vs for where is it that a man shall finde in other bookes the secretes that the scripture teacheth vs It learneth vs on the earth a science which shall remaine in heauen as S. Ierome sayth it teacheth vs to knowe Christ and in him the life euerlasting The Angelles doe woonder at this same doctrine as it is sayde in the 1. Chap. of the 1. Epistle of S. Peter We ought therefore to bring our children vnto this schoole and the eldest also haue to learne in this science all the daies of their liues The scripture is also giuen to confute the gaine sayers to ouercome heretiks to correct vices and to hew them downe as it is sayde in Hosea Hoseah 6. for in teaching that which is good it turneth vs from euill It is also fitte to instruct vs and to giue manie aduertisementes for the gouernement of our liues towardes magistrates fathers of houshouldes and vnto other particular persons A meditation vpon the holy supper whereby we do grow in the Church and doe strengthen our faith drawen for the most part out of S. Cyprian WHen as this good sauiour went to take the cuppe and drinke so bitter of his death and passion his pleasure was to ordaine and offer vnto vs the sweete wholesome lyquor of his bloud with the partaking of his body He raised vp Lazarus going to death and appointed the supper to make our soules to liue Hee then that gaue life vnto others could he not well defende himselfe against death could it haue beene any other than a willing obedience whereby hee would so fulfill our redemption O howe great was the prouidence of this good sauiour which hath giuen vnto vs the partaking of his body before his death to shewe vnto vs that by death hee should not be destroyed and that he would neuer leaue his Church But how What banquet is this heere to eate the flesh of the Lorde and to drinke his bloud Truely it is a woonderfull thing as we doe see in the 6. Chap. of S. Iohn that the Capernaits coulde not comprehende But beholde the secret Iesus Christ spake of his flesh notwithstanding he did not speake fleshlie he spake to eate but it was not for our teeth neither for our bellies concerning the substance of this sacrament his wordes are spirite and life So as these sacred meates be of none other tast nor of any other sauour vnto a carnall and sensuall man But whereas humane sense cannot pearce through there can faith enter and the maner of speaking which seemeth harde vnto vs at the first sight we shall finde them fitly applyed if wee doe vnderstande the language of the scripture Therefore the worde of God sometimees calleth this sacrament bread and sometimes bodie and flesh that by the helpe of these knowen thinges and visible we may comprehende the thinges that are inuisible and spirituall For as the bread nourisheth the bodie euen so doth Christ nourish the soule As the flesh is a substance so is it not by imagination that our soules are nourished but the sonne of GOD incarnate is the cause of this so substantiall a foode of our soules because that he was crucified for vs. As the life is in the bloud so Christ also by his bloud hath giuen vnto vs life and is our life our fleshe our bloud and our life was of a wretched condition but by Christ all the partes of our life are restored But from whence commeth this newe commaundement to partake with the bloud of Christ Was it not forbidden in the lawe to eate the bloud of any beast because that the life was in the bloud Beholde also the vndefiled Lambe The bloud of beastes did shewe vnto vs that our life ought not to be brutish or that we should be giuen to crueltie And the bloud of Christ which wee are commaunded to drinke teacheth vs howe our liues ought to be Christian like and pure that wee might say with S. Paul in the 2. Chap. to the Galathians It is not I that liue but Christ liueth in me Therefore this communion is not a consubstantiation with the Trinitie for there is but the father the sonne and the holy Ghost which are consubstantiall It is not a confusion of persons in Christ but it is an vnion of the heade with the members it is an vnion of affections and of willes a partaking together of the euerlasting riches and in the life of Christ This is a warning to be short that we must not liue vnto our selues but vnto God And as they that haue eaten some excellent meate that hath in it some good sauour doe feele there in a good nourishment and sweetenesse of breath euen so must it be that they which are sedde with this sacred meate and wherein Christ dwelleth that in all their wordes and deedes a man may feele a good smell and that may increase to edification and that all that which they doe may bee vnto the glorie of this great GOD. And so we doe see that it is not the teeth which wee doe sharpen comming vnto this holy banquet but that we do bring hither faith to distinguish the sacramēt from the thing of the sacrament the earthly element from that which is diuine and heauenly and so to consider in one onely Christ the vnion of two natures diuine and humane For altogether like as in the person of Christ Note this comparison of S. Cyprian the humane nature was seene here belowe and the diuinitie was not seene yet did it not leaue to worke great thinges without the chaunging of one nature into another so in the supper we doe see bread and wine but the bodie of Christ we doe not see yet doth it not leaue to worke in vs nowe that he is ascended into heauen And as the bodie of the light which is on high is intire in himselfe howe so euer it be spreade abroade heare beneath So is Christ intire there on high and yet leaueth hee not to partake himselfe fully to euery one of vs without lessening himselfe when as hee giueth himselfe vnto vs which be weake without being inclosed in the bread whē as he is notwithstanding receiued by vs without darkening his maiestie when hee entereth into our small tabernacle and when he will that
our heartes bee as his temple O right blessed are they that thus doe eate the flesh of the Lorde hauing a desire to remaine with him and to obey him The bodie of Christ set foorth in his worde is our foode The meane and way to eate him is faith that doth stay vpon his promises and is ioyned vnto him On earth we do communicate with Christ by the helpe of his worde and sacramentes but on hie in heauen we shal eate this heauenly bread without anie outwarde helpe and shall drinke this holy drinke feeling effectually his presence the ioie of that glorious life O happy time so much desired in the which we shall eate with the holy Angels at the table of the Lorde in his kingdome O we now very happie blessed from hence forth seeing we sauour already the sweetenesse of the life to come in Christ O howe easily may we despise the rich mens tables and their iounket and delicate meates to partake the bloude of Christ in the Church of God Yea this bloud yea this is our victorie and glorie this is it that we ought to take chearefully in the supper and so to beare with Christ all afflictions in this life although the banket of the crosse seeme verie thinne and troublesome vnto the beastly ignorant worlde But they which do possesse Christ care not to possesse the world and they that haue drunke of the Lordes cup care not they are at a point to powre out their bloud for the name of Christ for their liues are most assured in their sauiour Reioyce thou thē flocke of the Lorde seeing thou hast so liberall a sheepeheard which feedeth thee with his bloud that thou maiest liue by his life For they that liue not but of the infected bloud of Adam and of the carnall and sensuall life are more wretched than the beastes To this feast are not onely bidden the sacrificers and priestes of Leui but all the Church But aboue all let vs take heede that this gift of God be vnto vs a wholesome gift and that we partake not therein to our condemnation Let vs therfore take on the wedding garment and make cleane our vessels to receiue so excellent a gift Let vs also beware of hauing therein any profanation in steede of deuotion Let vs keepe our selues from communicating in darkenesse when we doe come neere vnto this light And as S. Ierome sayeth writing vnto Theophilus When we drawe neere to Christ let vs not giue him a Iudas kisse Let vs knowe that these are the poore in spirite that shall finde comfort in that banquet These are not the worldlinges nor the high in degree neither the ouerweening and brablesome persons For if Christ declare that euerie oblation displeaseth GOD without reconciliation howe should he make an offering vnto vs of a thing so singular if wee haue not peaceable heartes And if we be not knit together with our brethren howe would we that he shoulde knit himselfe with vs A prayer concerning the holy supper O Lorde God the heauen of heauens cannot comprehende thee and yet thou doest vnto vs this honour to haue fellowshippe with vs. Alas who are wee that thou shouldest take pleasure to bee with vs yea in vs Neuerthelesse wee doe thanke thee in that through thy mercie thou makest vs able to receiue thy graces whereof Psalm 36. of our owne corrupt nature we were altogether vnwoorthie For in trueth they onely are blessed that doe not depart from thee and they that doe partake with the bodie of thy sonne on earth beginne alreadie to liue in heauen The Israelites haue eaten manna in the desert but the most part in the meane while are dead in the wildernesse without seeing the lande of promise But they that eate of this sacred foode are assured to come to the euerlasting heritage O what comfort is this vnto vs in this vale of miserie to bee refreshed with such a pasture O woonderfull pasture which seemeth to bee eaten with teeth in so much as the signes doe beare his name and yet in the meane space is neuer consumed but nourisheth the soule with great vertue That which Adam and Eue did eate in the earthly gardein by the temptation of Sathan caused them to die But O Lorde this meate that we do eate by thy appointment bringeth vnto vs life Now Lorde seeing it hath pleased thee to ioine the earthly with the heauenly by this sacrament the humane creatures with the celestiall graunt vs grace truely to consider these so hie mysteries and to vse them withal innocencie and reuerence For Lord Iob. 14. who is he that shall make cleane that which is vncleane O father who hast redeemed vs by the bloude of thy sonne thou canst only wash and sanctifie vs by thy spirite And as the fulnesse of ioie and gladnesse is to see thy face and to feele thy presence So let our soules feele effectually the sweetenesse of thy son Iesus let vs feele the increase of strength and of faith by the meanes of this holie sacrament and suffer vs not to followe the example of Esau who for a messe of pottage lost his birthright but rather that wee doe not forsake thee for any worldlie thing But that all our consolation may rest in thee Graunt vs O Lorde that thou keepe that assurance which thou hast promised likewise as thou wilt that wee keepe a remembraunce of thy sonne and of his death so haue thou daily remēbrance of vs and as he was giuen for vs so let vs yeelde ourselues louing vnto our neighbours through christian loue and that aboue all our heartes may be lifted vp where our head Iesus Christ is in thy glorie Further more for so much O Lord as we doe eate at thy table as thy children and familie of thy house let vs also walke in all goodnesse as it is becomming those which doe belong vnto such a Lorde And for so much O God as this sacred meate beseemeth not an irkesome and full stomacke Graunt vs grace that we may haue a true and a right hunger yea and a holie appetite vnto these graces that we may sauourly tast these meats of thine and well degest thē tasting how gratious sweete thou art also how bitter all the delights of the worlde are in comparison of the sweetenesse of Iesus Christ So be it Another prayer concerning the supper What tongue O Lorde can expresse and what heart can comprehend thy wonderfull loue towardes vs for that to redeeme a wretched creature thou wouldst that thy sonne should suffer so many labours and sorrowes euen to bee sacrificed on the crosse And howsoeuer it be that thou doest not content thy selfe with all these things that are alreadie done but to the end that the remembrance of thy loue should not be blotted-out of our heartes or that our faith should flite or be shaken syth that thy sonne is ascended vp to thy right hande thou leauest not yet to nourish
bee founde a watching faithfull seruaunt And as the prince of this worlde comming towardes thy sonne Iesus Iohn 14. founde nothing what to bite vpon him so also the same enemie may not haue any thing against me seeing that I doe belong to thy sonne Iesus By faith O Lorde haue our fathers ouercome kingdomes and closed the mouthes of the Lyons Therefore O Lorde graunt me grace that I may also ouercome by faith all tentations vntill that this faith being ended I may enter into thy euerlasting â—est A prayer against the sorrowes of Death O Lorde GOD my father who weart willing that thy sonne Iesus should yeelde vppe his spirite to saue me graunt mee grace that I may beare in my heart the remembrance of his bitter sorrowes and passion and that I may forthwith remember the sweete tender affection that thou bearest vnto vs poore sinners sauing them with so pretious a price that of one part I may with a true sorrowe die vnto sinne and forsake all mine iniquities and of the other part the remembrance of thy grace may make my soule liue let thy mercie O good God be vnto me a lampe and light to lighten me in the darkenesse of death vntill that I come vnto thee O Lorde if thou weart vnto me so good a father in life be also the same vnto me in death Leaue me not then when as my strengthes shall faile me And euen then namely when my mouth shal be no more able to speake leaue not off Lord to heare my desires vnto the last breath of my life Comfort againe thy weake creature and receiue my soule into thy glorie who yeeldeth vp to thee Thou O Lorde hast saued mee into thy handes I recommende my spirit Grant me the last words of thy sonne Iesus in his voice vppon his crosse that they may be my last wordes in this life Behold the earthly abode of this bodie which dissolueth it to yeelde my selfe ioiful of this tabernacle most blessed which is not made with mans hands This great prophet Elias when hee was taken vp into heauen let fall his cloke so willingly would I also leaue this garment both earthly and corruptible to bee clothed with immortalitie Heeretofore I was a wayfarer nowe am I come into my true countrey Euen vntill this time was I in fight now go I to triumph with our head Iesus Christ I begin to see alreadie this hauen which I haue so long desired hulling amongst the tempests of the world To be short I ioyfullie passe out of darknesse into light from daungers of this world to a place of assurance out of a lamentable case into a blessed state from battaile to victorie from an earthlie to an euerlasting life Here am I blind and there shall I receiue light In this place was I hacked with manie woundes and there shall I receaue healing O wretched life O fraile and life vncertaine in this world howe deceitfull and yrksome art thou The more thou thinkest or beleeuest the more thou distrustest and misbeleeuest The more one goeth in this world the more is hee charged with faintnesse and miseries Blessed is hee which knoweth the vanitie of this world yet more blessed that dooth not set his affection therein and most blessed which is withdrawen from thence to bee with thee Oh my God and my sauiour A prayer vppon the same Argument Alas when shall I come before the face of my God and when shall I haue my abiding in his house How long shall I bee in this exile whereunto for sinne we were banished But how shall a sinner stand before this great God How shall this poore flesh get vp into euerlasting paradise But praised bee my God who hath giuen vnto vs so good an assurance in his holie word Blessed bee GOD which hath ordained for vs this good ladder by the which wee ascend vp into heauen to wit Iesus Christ so that which was vnto vs impossible is possible to the beleeuer Therefore looke not O Lord into the manifold sinnes that are within me But rather remember that I am thy creature and the worke of thy handes I am vnworthie to bee called thy childe but it hath pleased thee to bee my father Thy will was that thy sonne Iesus should come downe here below to vs to make vs ascend vp to thee I feare not then death seeing I haue life with me Thy son hath destroyed death for all those which doe beleeue in him And albeit that this bodie be gnawen with wormes yet the soul goeth forthwith into rest the body awaiteth the resurrection I do desire therfore to die to beholde thy face and willinglie leaue this life to be with Christ Oh my God if the simple sound of thy worde which I heare on earth doth cause my soule to liue alreadie what life what countenance shall I haue there on high wheÌ„ as I shall receiue it in my heart seeing thy glorie being in so blessed a companie Open vnto me then O Lorde the gate of thy kingdome Make mee to heare this sweete voice which was prepared for the poore thiefe on the crosse To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Alas Lorde I am vnworthy thereof yet thy mercie giueth me assurance Grant me also O father streÌ„gth to perseuere giue me daily this desire of the life to come for if we be so much affectioned to this earthly life that is but for a day ful of miseries with what wish ought I to desire that glorious life which thy sonne Iesus hath purchased for vs Other short praiers for certaine necessities of the Churches To demand perseuerance Almightie God seeing we be knit together by the guide and counsell of thy sonne to this bodie of the Church which was so often scatered and dispersed graunt that we may abide in this vnitie of faith and that wee may constantly fight against all temptation of this worlde and that wee may not turne away from a true and right intent though it come to passe that troubles vppon troubles doe happen offences vpon offences seeing our faith is not builded vpon the holinesse of man or vpon their persons but vppon thee O true and almightie God And whatsoeuer euilles or deathes that shal be offered vnto vs we may not be possessed with such feare as may plucke away our hope out of our heartes but that we may rather learne to lift vp our eies yea our vnderstanding all our wittes vnto this thy power by the which thou quicknest the dead raisest vp that which was of nothing that our spirites may alwaies aspire vnto euerlasting rest albeit it behooued vs daily to die vntill at the last thou shalt shewe how thou art the true fountaine of life granting vnto vs the immortalitie through thy sonne Iesus Christ A prayer to haue stedfastnesse and constancie EVerlasting and almightie God al good and mercifull seeing we be heere subiect to so great aduersities and of so many sortes
which lift themselues vp like suddaine tempestes graunt that wee hauing our heartes directed vp to heauen may neuerthelesse repose our selues vppon thy secret prouidence and what so euer troubles there be in our senses wee may rest assured in this principall and holde it as certaine that is that thou art he that will be our father and gouerne vs by thy wisedome to the ende that in all our troubles we may alwaies acknowledge thy hande and thy counsel full of righteousnesse and of great and singular wisdome and iustice that we may call euermore vpon thee and saue our selues at this hauen that is to wit that although we be driuen and tossed hither and thither yet thou holdest vs vp by thy hande vntill we be receiued into thy rest A prayer to obtaine victorie by Iesus Christ Almightie God forasmuch as wee be filled full of so many desires which might defile the pure and holy giftes of the spirite graunt that we may receiue in good woorth the chastisementes which thou doest sende vnto vs to tame the saide desires and that acknowledging thee for our sheepeheard we may suffer our selues to be gouerned by the hooke of thy sheepeheardes staffe daily profiting vnder thy corrections and tasting thy goodnesse in thy displeasure we may not lose courage but as walking through blame dishonor yea in the middest of death for thy names sake we may reioyce in thee esteeming all thinges losse in cōparison of the knowledge of thy sonne Let therfore that same spirit which hath sanctified vs strengthen vs also that being partakers of this annointing of the holy Ghost we may be likewise partakers of the victorie of thy sonne Iesus Christ A prayer paciently to abide pouerty when God shall sende it Lorde God and father since it hath pleased thee to abase thy selfe euen to take care ouer vs namely for the respect of this life to promise vs daily bread granting vs wherwith to passe on our way here beneath graunt that we may learne to rest our selues peaceably vpon thee who art our God and of our children hast had care of vs when as we were nothing that so resting vs vpon thy blessing we may behaue our selues not onely from all theftes and vnlawfull meanes to plucke away other mens goods but also from all couetousnesse and impatience as we O Lord may content our selues vnder thy feare and that we may learne so to beare pouertie on the earth that being satisfied with the riches which thou hast offered vnto vs by thy Gospell and whereof we be alreadie partakers through faith we may cherefully bende to the fulnesse thereof and vnto this perfect coniunction with thy sonne Iesus Christ in his kingdome A prayer for the morning O Lorde God and father I poore creature which am naturally swathed in darknesse durst not lift vp my eies vnto thee that dwellest in a light not able to be come vnto were it not that thy deere sonne Iesus Christ which is the brightnesse of thy glorie hath made me way vnto the throne of thy grace through the shedding of his most precious bloud So nowe my God I doe acknowledge howe that it is a great benefit that I which am vnworthy to liue vpon the earth and that haue deserued through my sins to be cast into vtter darknesse for euer more I haue this blessing to see the light of the day of the sunne and to beholde the workes of thy handes with the inioying of the earthly riches that thou hast stored vs with all And for so much as O God that thy sunne shineth as well vpon the wicked as on the good and that this outwarde light is not but to guide our bodies graunt O God to shine vpon vs the brightnes of thy face in blessing me and in lightning my vnderstanding begetting and sanctifying me a new that I may walke in the way of thy commaundements and that I may behaue my selfe in my calling in such sort as all my thoughtes wordes and deedes may be to thy honour and glorie and the edifying of my neighbours Thou hast O Lord withdrawen me from the darkenesse of ydolatrie and ignoraunce and thou hast taken from before mine eies the bende of superstition Thou hast also in our time made shine or as it were lightened againe the faire lampe of the preaching of thy Gospell But suffer me not that hauing eies I see no whit inlighten O Lord all the parts of my soule and cause all that is in me to be employed to render vnto thee all honour and obedience and that in my calling thy feare be before mine eies And because thou esteemest not to bee beloued of vs vnlesse we loue our neighbours imprint in me a faith working by charitie in such sort as with hope I may haue a good conscience not dooing to any but that I would to be doone vnto my selfe that I may haue a mercifull hart and louing that my entrailes be not shut vp in the behalfe of the poore and needie To be short that seeing how the figure of this worlde passeth I may vse the worlde as passing thorow it remēbring my selfe alwaies that heauen is the place of my corporation Grant me peace amongst my familie giue blessing to my labour contentment to my spirite rest and comfort to the poore afflicted and full deliuerance to thy Church by thy sonne Iesus Christ So be it A praier for the Euening O Lord God thy people Israell did present to thee the morning and euening sacrifices in token of confessing thee how that thou keepest vs both euening and morning But what more liking sacrifice can we offer nowe than our sorowefull heartes and our tongues that doe praise and blesse thee Wherefore O Lorde I present my selfe in all humilitie and reuerence before thy face beseeching thee that thou wouldest not enter into an account neither into iudgement with me thy poore creature For be it that thou looke into the first or the seconde table of thy commandementes thou shalt finde that I haue offended thee many waies Notwithstanding like as the childe hath alwaies his recourse vnto his father euen so haue I my refuge and my retire to thee O Lorde that art not lightly angry but of great mercie beseeching thee that by thy goodnes thou couer my faultes euen as all thinges are couered by the darkenesse spread forth ouer the earth Alas my God I knowe that sathan goeth about as a roaring lyon and I doe knowe that he is the gouernour of darkenesse and prince of this worlde but if thou be for me who shall be against me It is thou that hast thousandes of Angels which are incamped about vs it is thou that hast created the hotte sonne and the shattering cold moone it is thou that gouernest the whole world and doest neuer slumber Grant me therefore grace to rest this night in peace and not to sleepe in earthly thinges but more and more to acknowledge thy goodnesse vntill thou call me vnto
this so desired a rest which thou hast prepared for vs. O how sweete louing shall this awaking be when as in our graues we shall heare the voice of thy son to raise vs vp againe in a glorious immortalitie Yet while wee doe awaite for this last comming we recommende our selues vnto thee O heauenly father the peace and preseruation of thy Church superiors magistrates all those which haue neede of thy succour beseeching thee that in this oldenesse of the worlde wherein all kingdoms of the worlde do shake that thou wouldest be the stay of thy poore people and in steede of so many sorowefull daies and yeares as we haue seene we may behold some rest in the middest of thy Church Raise vp daily O Lord some softer father and also some retiring place for thy children that no violent oppression ouerwhelme them and that for thy sonnes sake in whom I trust and vppon whom I rest my selfe So be it Heere followeth a litle Paraphrase and short exposition of the Lordes praier taken out of S. Cyprian almost worde by worde THe doctrine contained in the Gospell is no other thing than the ordinance of our maister God the grounde whereon to builde our hope and to strengthen our faith the foode wherewith to nourish our soule the pylates whereby to guide our shippe in this nauigation the helpes by whom we come to saluation in such sort as when the faithfull heart yeeldeth it selfe to be trainable heere in earth it is a meane to bring it vp vnto heauen It hath pleased God that many thinges were often spoken by the prophetes and heard by them But how much more excellent ought that to be reputed which the father hath sayd and pronounced by his sonne than that which he hath sayde by his seruantes For in them spake the spirite of Christ and he himselfe hath spoken in the later time in his owne voice He doth not now commaund that men prepare the way vnto him that commeth because that he himself is come and discouereth the true way that wee which goe wandering and groping in the darknesse of death may be by the light of his wisedome directed in the way of life Now amongest so many good lessons as he hath left vs for our saluation The forme of praier hee hath chieflie giuen vnto vs the right forme of prayer he that hath made vs to liue hath taught vs also to pray yea he hath done it after his grace goodnesse wherethrough he hath stored vs with all thinges and wrought it vnto the ende that his father might the more willinger heare vs when wee praie vnto him in that praier that his son hath taught vs. He did foretell howe that the houre should come wherein the true woorshippers should worshippe him in spirite and trueth He hath also fulfilled that which he had promised giuing vs his spirite to worshippe him The Lords praier What praier may be now more spirituall than that which hath bin giuen vnto vs by Iesus Christ by whome also the holy spirite hath beene sent vnto vs What praier shal be more true and perfect before God than that which cōmeth from the sonne who is the trueth of Gods owne mouth In manner as otherwise to pray concerning the substance then hee hath taught vs is not alonely an ignorance but also a blockish fault as he rebuketh the Iewes elsewhere how they did despise Gods commaundement to set vp their traditions Let vs therefore pray my brethren euen as hee which is both our God and maister hath taught vs. That prayer is agreeable vnto God when one praieth with a praier that is his and when we make the wordes of his sonne to mount vp vnto his eares The father doth acknowledge his sonnes language when wee doe pray let him that dwelleth in our heart be also in our voice vpon our tongue And seeing that the sonne is our aduocate as often as we doe demaund forgiuenesse for our sinnes let vs take in our mouthes the wordes of our aduocate For seeing that he sayth how all that we shall aske of the father in his name it shal be granted vnto vs whē shal our praiers haue greatest strēgth but then when we shall call vppon him by the peculiar praier which he hath made It behoueth those which pray to keepe a certaine forme in their speach with a staied manner and full of all reuerence humblenesse Let vs remember that it is before Gods face that we presēt our selues Let vs therefore seeke to please him as wel in the behauiour of our bodies as in the conueiance of our voice It is an ill fauored thing and a signe of impudencie to vse much crying out in praier and there is nothing that doeth set it out more than modestie To be short wee doe see that the Lorde doth allowe that praier which is made priuately in secret and in ones chamber a thing that well agreeth with our faith to the ende to make vs vnderstand that God is present throughout all that he heareth and seeth all and that the fulnesse of his maiestie pearceth into the most hidden secret places as the scripture speaketh I am thy God neere at hande and not afarre off If a man be hidden in a priuie or close place doe not I see him Doe not I fill both heauen and earth Then when wee shall come together with our brethren we must in good order solemnise the sacrifices of God not thinking to make our praiers to take place before the Lord with chaunting and crying out God vnderstandeth the heart not with the voice for it is not needeful to aduertise him by a lifting vp of a voice who seeth our thoughts This is it that he often sayth that he is the searcher of hearts hauing the knowledge of our most secret thoughtes We haue a goodly example in the good woman Anna mother of Samuel who prayed vnto the Lord not with a strong or lifted vp voice but secretly soberly and in her heart Her praier was secret but her faith was open shee spake not with the voice but with the heart knowing verie well that the Lorde our God so heareth his and in such sort she receiued in effect that which by faith she had required We haue another example of a praier right wel directed and verie modest in the person of the Publicane He went vp into the temple and made his praier not in a rude and presumptuous maner as the other without lifting vp his head or his forehead he only fell downe confessed with his mouth his sinne that hee felt shut vp in his heart in such sort as God heard the prayer of the humble that rested not vpon his owne innocencie For who is hee that is innocent His praier was humble and hee which aduaunceth and fauoreth the humble heard the poore Publican Thus much cōcerning the fashion and coūtenance that we ought to keepe in our praiers Let vs now consider how our maister
hath taught vs to pray When you pray sayth he say thus Our Father vvhich art in heauen halowed bee thy name thy kingdome come thy vvill be done in earth as it is in heauen giue vs this day our daily bread and forgiue vs our trespasses as vve forgiue them that trespasse against vs leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euil For thine is the kingdome the povver and the glorie for euer and euer Amen THe first thing which wee learne in the entrie of this prayer An exposition of the Lords prayer is that the Doctor of peace and the Maister of all true vnion and concord would not that our prayer should be particular for one alone See wherefore we doe not say My father which art in heauen giue me my dailie bread c. Thus it appeareth how this prayer is publike and common and wee pray not for one alone but for all because in deede all Gods people is but one bodie God would that one onelie making his prayer should pay for all the other euen as one onelie man hath saued manie and through one onelie spirit he gouerneth all his childrens heartes And to this doeth agree that which wee doe read of the Apostles Actes 1. who continued together in holie prayers so as there was but one heart amongest them all and of their holie companie Now my brethren it is an incredible thing how manie great secretes there bee here in this prayer of the Lorde that is so well trussed vp and short in wordes but of most great strength and right well furnished of all demaundes that are needefull and necessarie for vs. Yee shall say then Our Father Our Father which art c. Oh the happie and louing beginning of our prayer For marke yee howe the new regenerate man that is reconciled vnto God such a one calleth vppon God his father because that hee hath alreadie begunne to bee the childe of God To all those that haue receiued him Iohn 1. hee hath giuen vnto thē this priuiledge to bee made the children of God vnto those I say that doe beleeue in him In such sort as the beleeuing man to make an acknowledgement vnto the Lord of such a fauour Deut. 33.9 Not that he ought to despise his father but God ought to goe before and those places are not simply to this purpose both to strengthen his faith also to make witnesse to whome hee doeth belong ought to call vpon God as his father before all things to recken him for such In the 33. of Deut. he saith of his Father Mother I haue not knowen nor seene him such a one is praysed because he stayeth himselfe to keepe the statutes couenants of the Lord. To this hath our Lord respect in the 23. of S. Matthew saying Let vs not name the Father on the earth Mat. 23.9 because that we haue a father that is on high in heauen Matth. 8.22 And in S. Matthew he said vnto a yong man Leaue off from burying thy father which is dead which was to the ende that hee might studie to doe rather his duetie towardes the liuing and heauenlie Father Go to then behold God which is in heauen but see the consolation of Christians how he is ours and we are his in as much as he hath chosen and sanctified vs. The Iewes The wretched Iewes that haue mistooke Iesus Christ and cruelly haue put him to death cannot call God their father For as the sauiour reprooueth them to their great confusion Iohn 8. the deuill is your father seeing that you fulfill his desires God did then this honor to communicate himselfe with them But he saith by Esai Esay 1.2 I haue nourished and chosen children and they haue mistaken and disdained me that which the Oxe and the Asse haue not done who know the stable and crib of those which owe them Therefore my brethren let vs consider how God by the meane of our faith beginneth to be our father and for the Iewes vnbeliefe ceaseth to bee theirs are wee then giuen ouer to sinnne Wee bee no more children but seruauntes according vnto that our Lorde saith Whosoeuer sinneth is a seruant to sinne The sonne remaineth alwayes in his fathers house that which the seruant doeth not Let vs therefore my louing brethren acknowledge acknowledge againe what fauor it is for vs to dare be able to presēt our selues before God in the qualitie of Gods childrē Who durst haue beene so bold as to haue giuen himselfe such a title to haue vndertaken it if the true onelie euerlasting sonne of God had not giuen vs leaue and commaundement It is for vs to haue remembraunce that hauing God for our Father wee must behaue our selues according as it is becomming for the children of such a Lorde And if wee be well contented of such a father let vs also doe in like manner that hee may of his owne part in like case haue iust occasion not to bee mislyking of vs. Let vs not become bastardes but let vs become spirituall and giuen to all holie and praise woorthie thinges after the example of our father and that it may appeare how wee bee the children and temple of this great God Now what is the first demaund that we doe aske of our Father How the name of God is made holie Hallowed bee thy name Not that our prayers doe make the name of God holie but wee pray that his name may be made holie in vs. What is hee will some say that shall sanctifie the name of God Is it not hee which sanctifieth all thinges Wee are admonished in the 20. of Leuiticus Be ye holie as I am holie Therefore let vs pray him that hee will graunt vs grace to enter into the holinesse whereof we are aduertised in our baptisme to continue therein And so be we who aske to bee sanctified yea alwayes for so much as our sinnes doe dailie defile vs in such sort as the name of God his word are not made holie honored by vs vnlesse wee our selues be also sanctified Afterwardes hee saith Thy kingdome come Gods kingdome is euerlasting and was before that euer wee were But it is in the respect of vs that wee doe aske Let thy kingdome come That wee which haue serued in the world and to Sathan may haue from henceforward Christ raigning in vs. This kingdome is gotten vnto vs by the bloud of our Sauiour and shall bee truelie fulfilled when wee shall heare this sweete saying Come yee blessed of my father into the kingdome which is prepared for you c. Now wee doe well to require the kingdome of heauen For there is also an earthlie kingdome But hee that hath tasted the least thing in the world what the heauenlie things are doth despise the earthlie And it is a thing vnto the which wee ought diligentlie to watch with Prayers and supplications least that we be