is intolerable The rich man also died Luk. 16.22 and was buried And in hell hee lift up his 23. eyes being in torments and seeth Abraham a farre off and Lazarus in his bosome 24. And he cryed and said Father Abraham have mercy on me and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water coole my tongue for I am tormented in this flame 25. But Abraham said Sonne remember that thou in thy life time receivedst thy good things and likewise Lazarus evill things but now hee is comforted and thou art tormented Gregor At the recompence of the last Judgement the wicked doe see the upright in peace that perceiving them in joy they may not onely bee tormented with their owne punishment but also with the others prosperity But the righteous doe alwaies see the wicked in torments that from hence their joy may increase because they see the paine which by GODS mercie they have escaped and doe give the greater thanks unto their Maker when they behold that in others which they might have suffered had they beene forsaken When the Sonne of Man shall come in his glory Mat. 25. and all the holy Angels with him then shall hee sit upon the throne of his glory And before him shall bee gathered all Nations Ibid. and he shall separate them one from another as a shepherd divideth his Sheepe from the Goats And he shall set the sheepe Mat. 25. on his right hand but the Goats on the left Ibidem Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand Come ye blessed of my father inherit the Kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world Ibid. Then shall he say unto them on the left hand Depart from me yee cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devill and his Angels Iude 24. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling to present you faultlesse before the presence of his glorie with exceeding joy 25. To the onely wise GOD our Saviour bee Glory and Majesty Dominion and power now and ever Amen FOURE HELPS to the amendment of Life 1. Prayer 2. Reading the holy Scriptures 3. Hearing Gods Word preached 4. Worthy receiving the Sacrament of the Body and Bloud of our Lord. 1 Prayer O LORD I know Ier. 10.23 that the way of man is not in himselfe it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps It is written in the Prophets Ioh. 6.45 And they shall be all taught of GOD Every man therefore that hath heard and hath learned of the father commeth unto me Iohn 15.5 I am the vine yee are the branches he that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit For without me yee can doe nothing 1 Tim. 2.8 I will therefore that men pray every where lifting up holy hands without wrath or doubting Iude 20. Building up your selves on your most holy faith praying in the holy Ghost Mat 6.7 But when ye pray use not vaine repetitions as the Heathen doe for they thinke that they shall be heard for their much speaking 8. Be not ye therefore like unto them for your heavenly father knoweth what things yee have need of before yee aske him What things soever ye desire when ye pray Mar. 11.24 beleeve that ye receive them and ye shall have them Let us lift up our heart Lam 3.41 with our hands unto God in the heavens It is not in man to direct his owne waies Vdall and therfore we must pray to God continually to guide us for his glory and our soules comfort Praier is a thing most necessary for all men at all times Hom. de orat and in all places It is the first thing wherwith a righteous life beginneth Hooker the last with which it doth end It is the turning of a godly humble minde to God Hugo supported by Faith Hope and Charity Isidor Neither is it a worke of the lips but of the heart GOD intendeth not the words but beholdeth the heart of him that prayeth It is better to pray with the heart in silence without the sound of the voyce than in words alone without the affection of the minde Iust Mart. We sacrifice unto GOD without ceasing the sacrifice of praise sincere prayer and the sweet savour of good works Perkins Our prayers are our sacrifices and Christ alone is the Altar whereon wee must offer them to GOD the Father Aug. Faith is the fountaine of prayer neither can the stream run if the head of the Spring bee dryed up When prayer is faithfull Bernard humble and fervent doubtlesse it entreth into Heaven from whence it cannot returne empty 2. Reading the Scripâ—â—â—â—â— EZra the Priest read in the Booke of the Law Nehemiah 8.3 from the morning untill the mid day before the men and the womeÌ„ those that could understand and the eares of all the people were attentive unto the Book of the Law The children of Israel read in the Booke of the Law 9.3 of the LORD their GOD one fourth part of the day and another fourth part they confessed and worshipped the Lord their God Acts 13.15 After the reading of the Law and the Prophets the Rulers of the Synagogue sent to Paul and Barnabas saying Ye men and brethren if yee have any word of exhortation for the people say on Chrysost The reading of the Scriptures is a great defence against sinne Hom. de legen Scrip. Whosoever is diligent to read this word in his heart to print that he readeth shall finde his affection diminished towards this world and his desire of heavenly things increased Ibidem There is nothing that so much strengtheneth our faith that so much keepeth up the innocency purenesse of heart and of outward godlinesse and conversation as continuall reading and recording of Gods word Many times Kempis through our owne curiosity we profit little in reading while we stand to discusse things which ought simply to be beleeved If thou desirest to reap commodity Idem reade with all humility simplicity zeale and never covet to bee accounted learned Read it therefore with an humble and lowly heart Hom. de legen Scrip to the end you may glorifie GOD and not your selfe with the knowledge of it Pray daily to GOD that hee would direct your reading to good effect Hom. exhort to reade and know Script Unto a Christian man nothing can be more necessary or profitable than the knowledge of holy Scripture In which is conteyned GODS true Word setting forth his glory and mans duty Socrat. It was the custome of Theodosius the Emperour that together with his houshold he spent much time in reading the Scriptures and singing of Psalmes Hom. de leg Scriptur Wherefore as you have any zeale to the pure honouring
cup because all the Apostles did so our Lord saying unto them Drink ye all of this Wee have understood Gelas Pap. that some having onely received a portion of Christs body doe abstaine from the cup of his sacred bloud But sith they are moved by a fond superstition which I know not thus to abstaine either let them receive the whole Sacrament or bee put from all together for there can bee no division of this Sacrament and high mystery without great sacriledge Ignat. I exhort you to imbrace one faith one manner of preaching and use of the Sacrament of the LORDS Supper for the flesh of the LORD JESUS is one and his bloud one that was shed for us There is one bread also broken for all and one cup distributed unto all The Prayer before receiving the Communion ALmighty GOD Eccle. Angl. Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Maker of of all things Judge of all men we acknowledge and bewaile our manifold sinnes and wickednesse which wee from time to time most grievously have committed by thought word and deed against thy divine Majesty provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us We doe earnestly repent and be hartily sory for these our misdoings the remembrance of them is grievous unto us the burthen of them is intolerable Have mercy upon us have mercy upon us most mercifull Father for thy Sonne our Lord Jesus Christs sake forgive us all that is past And grant that we may ever hereafter serve and please thee in newnesse of life to the honour and glory of thy holy name through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen The Prayer after receiving the Communion O Lord Eccl. Angl. our heavenly father wee thy humble servants intirely desire thy fatherly goodnesse mercifully to accept this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving most humbly beseeching thee to grant that by the merits and death of thy Son Jesus Christ and through faith in his bloud wee and all thy whole Church may obtaine remission of our sinnes and all other benefits of his passion And here we offer and present unto thee O Lord our selves our soules and bodies to be a reasonable holy and lively sacrifice unto thee Humbly beseeching thee that all we which bee partakers of this holy Communion may bee fulfilled with thy grace and heavenly benediction And although wee bee unworthy through our manifold sins to offer unto thee any sacrifice yet we beseech thee to accept this our bounden duty and service not weighing our merits but pardoning our offences through Jesus Christ our Lord by whom and with whom in the unity of the holy Ghost all honor and glory be unto thee O father Almighty world without end Amen A Prayer before reading the holy Scriptures O Gracious GOD Grashop and most mercifull father which hast vouchsafed us the rich and pretious jewell of thy holy word Assist us with thy spirit that it may be written in our hearts to our everlasting comfort to reforme us to renew us according to thine owne image to build us up and edifie us into the perfect building of thy sonne Christ Jesus sanctifying and increasing in us all heavenly vertues Grant this O heavenly Father for Jesus Christ his sake Amen A Prayer for faith MOst mercifull and loving Father I beseech thee for Christ Jesus sake to strengthen and increase my faith that I may goe forward in all godlinesse And grant O Lord that my faith may bee builded upon the rock Christ Jesus that I be not carried away with every blast of vain doctrine but through faith in thee I may be as an invincible fortresse to my enemy the Devill so that he may never prevaile against me Also Lord I pray thee let not my faith bee an idle faith but a working faith that daily proceedeth from one good work to another and in the end to life everlasting there to reigne with thee world without end Amen For Repentance MAke cleane my heart O most gracious God with the water of thy heavenly grace from all the staines and corruptions of sin wherby it appeareth most vile and loathsome in thy sight Sprinkle it with the hysop of unfained repentance and compunction that being washed in the most cleare fountaine of thy grace I may become whiter than snow and evermore serve thee in holinesse and purenesse of life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A short and effectuall Prayer I Most humbly beseech thee O most gracious God and loving Father to take from me the sway of mine owne affections Incline mine heart wholly to the obedience of thy heavenly will Suppresse and quench in me all desires whatsoever that may alienate and withdraw me to wander from the way of thy testimonies Grant unto mee evermore the assistance of thy holy Spirit to conduct and bring me to the inheritance of thy everlasting kingdome for the love of thy onely Son our Saviour Jesus CHRIST Amen The generall Confession ALmighty Eccl. Angl. in liturg and most mercifull Father I have erred and strayed from thy waies like a lost sheep I have followed too much the devices and desires of my owne heart I have offended against thy holy Lawes I have left undone those things which I ought to have done and have done those things which I ought not to have done And there is no health in me but thou O LORD have mercie upon me miserable offender Spare thou mee O GOD which confesse my faults restore thou mee that am penitent according to thy promises declared unto man-kind in Christ Jesu our Lord And grant O most mercifull father for his sake that I may hereafter live a godly righteous and a sober life to the glory of thy holy name Amen A Prayer for the Morning O Lord Eccles Ang. in Liturg. our heavenly father Almighty and everlasting GOD I most humbly thanke thee for thy great mercy and goodnesse in keeping and preserving me from all perils and dangers this night past and bringing me safely to the beginning of this day Defend me O Lord in the same with thy mighty power And grant that this day I fall into no sinne neither run into any kind of danger but that all my doings may bee ordered by thy governance to doe alwaies that which is righteous in thy sight through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Our father which art in heaven hallowed c. A Prayer for all times O Almightie Lord Eccles Ang. Ibid. and everliving God vouchsafe I beseech thee to direct sanctifie and governe both my heart and body in the waies of thy Laws and in the works of thy commandements That through thy most mighty protection both here and ever I may be preserved in body and soule through our LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ Amen A Prayer before going to bed O Eternall and ever-living GOD I render unto thy divine Majestie most humble and hearty thankes for thy mercifull preservation of mee this day from the hands of mine
Bradford God hath given thee a penitent and beleeving heart that is an heart which desireth to repent and beleeve for such an one is taken of him for a penitent and beleeving heart he accepting the will for the deed 2 Cor. 8. For if there bee first a willing mind it is accepted according to that a man hath and not according to that a man hath not Kâ—mnit When I have a good desire though it doth scarcely shew it self in some little slender sigh I must be assured that the Spirit of God is present and worketh his good worke He will fulfill the desire of them that feare him Psal 145. he will also heare their cry and save them His comming unto God HEe that commeth unto God Hebr. 11. must beleeve that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seeke him Let us draw neere with a true heart 10. in full assurance of faith In Christ we have boldnes Ephes 3. and accesse with confidence by the faith of him The first comming to God Hom. de fiâ— is through faith whereby we be justified before him For the faith of the Catholike Religion Chrysost is the light of the soule the doore of life the foundation of eternall salvation Aug. Without it no man can come neere the number of the sons of God without it all the endevour of man is void Gal. 3. For ye are all the children of God by Faith in Christ Jesus Beda It commeth not from the wisdome of eloquent words but from the gift of the heavenly calling Phil. 1. For unto you it is given in the behalfe of CHRIST not onely to beleeve on him but also to suffer for his sake Mark 1â— When the Scribe said that to love GOD with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the soule and with all the strength And to love his neighbour as himselfe is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices Jesus said unto him Ibid. thou art not farre from the Kingdome of heaven If thy heart can onely sobbe unto GOD despaire not Knox. thou art not destitute of Faith for that onely sobbe is an acceptable Sacrifice unto GOD. The Faith which the Scripture commendss is nothing else but Ferus To trust in the free mercy of GOD. Come unto mee all yee that labour Mat. 11. and are heavie laden and I will give you rest Incline your eare Isa 55. and come unto mee heare and your soule shall live and I will make an everlasting covenant with you even the sure mercies of David His Repentance 2 Pet. 3. THe Lord is long suffering to us ward not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance Act. 3. Repent ye therfore and be converted that your sinnes may be blotted out Glos ord Repentance is a bewayling of our former sins and a care not to commit the like againe Chrysost God never despiseth repentance if it bee offered unto him intirely and simply Hieron For the Lord respecteth not the length of time but considereth the upright affection of him that repenteth When we feele the burthen of our sins Vdall and be grieved in heart for them it is the worke of the holy Ghost and in time will bring forth fruit worthy of repentance There are foure parts of true repentance Hom. de poenit Contrition which is an unfained sorrow conceived in the heart for our sinnes committed Confession which is an humble and unfained acknowledging of our sins unto God Faith whereby we stedfastly beleeve that God for his Sonne Christ Jesus sake will forgive us all our iniquities Amendment of life which is to become new creatures and to bring forth fruits worthy of repentance Aug. Neither is it sufficient to repentance to change our manners into better and to depart from our evill waies unlesse GOD be satisfied for our sins past by the sorrow of repentance by the groane of humility by the sacrifice of a contrite heart Almes deeds accompanying Chrysost Not to bee grieved for thy sins doth more displease God and provoke his anger than the sinne which before thou diddest commit Ioel 2. Therfore now also saith the Lord Turne ye even to me with all your heart and with fasting and with weeping and with mourning Ibidem And rent your heart and not your garments and turne unto the LORD your GOD for he is gratious and mercifull slow to anger and of great kindnesse When thou so repentest Aug. that thy soule hath a bitter taste of that which before was pleasant in thy life and what before was delightfull to the body the same tormenteth thee in thine heart even now dost thou lament and mourne before GOD. If a man be never so great a sinner Latimer yet if he have true repentance with faith and hope in GODS mercy he shall be forgiven GODS mercy hath no limits at all Chrysost if any doe call for helpe there is one that will heare readily If any doe repent there is one that will shew mercy Lyra moral As the Palme tree which is rugged in the stocke and hath pleasant fruit in the top even so a righteous man beginneth in the roughnesse of repentance and endeth in the sweetnesse of heavenly comfort Hom de poenit Let us therefore repent for straying from so good a Lord let us confesse our unworthinesse before him but yet let us trust in Gods free mercy for Christ Jesus sake for the pardon of our sins Gregor For Gods mercy doth helpe those who repent in this world but in that which is to come we doe not repent but give account of our works Rom. 2. Despisest thou the riches of his goodnesse and forbearance and long suffering not knowing that the goodnesse of God leadeth thee to repentance His Confession HE that covereth his sins Prov. 28. shall not prosper but who so confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercie Confesse thy sinnes before God Chrysost and declare thine offences with prayer to the true Judge not with thy tongue but with remembrance of thy conscience That confession delivereth from death Ambr. which is made by repentance David said unto the Lord 2 Sam. 24. I have sinned greatly in that I have done And now I beseech thee O Lord take away the iniquity of thy servant for I have done foolishly Basil I doe not confesse with my lips that I may manifest my selfe to many but inwardly in my very heart shutting mine eyes to thee alone that seest the things that are in secret do I shew my groanes roaring within my selfe for the groanes of mine heart and the lamentations sent to thee my God from the depth of my soule suffice for a confession Hom. de poenit This is the chiefest and most principall Confession
that in the Scriptures and Word of God wee are bidden to make and without the which we shall never obtaine pardon and forgivenesse of our sins Bernard Without this Confession the righteous man is judged unthankfull and the sinner reputed a dead man Therâ—fâ—re Conf ssion is the way of the sinner and neverthelesse becommeth the righteous Lord be mercifull unto me Psal 41. heale my soule for I have sinned against thee If any say I have sinned Iob 33. and perverted that which was right and it profited mee not He will deliver his soule from going into the pit Ibidem and his life shall see the light If we will with a sorrowfull Hom. de poenit and contrite heart make an unfeined confession of our sins unto God he will freely forgive them and put all our wickednesse out of his remembrance Ibid. I doe not say but that if any do finde themselves troubled in conscience they may repaire to their learned Curat or Pastor or to some other godly learned man and shew the trouble doubt of their conscience to him that they may receive at his hand the comfortable salve of Gods word Hom. de poenit But it is against the true Christian liberty that any man should be bound to the numbering of his sinnes as hath beene used heretofore in the time of blindnesse and ignorance Bellar. Calvin admitteth of private confession unto the Pastor when any is afflicted in his conscience and shall need anothers helpe Yet with this moderation that this confession bee free and not exacted and not injoyning a rehearsall of all particular sins Let us with a true and contrite heart Hom de â—oenit use that kind of confession which God hath commanded in his word If we confesse our sins 1 Ioh. 1. he is faithfull and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousnesse His Absolution WHo can forgive sins Mark 2.7 but God onely The Son of Man hath power upon earth to forgive sins 10. He will purge your conscience from dead workes Heb. 9.14 to serve the living God For this is not an humane Ambros worke neither is the holy Ghost given by man but beâ—ng called upon by the Priest is bestowed by God wherin the gift is Gods the ministery is the Priests Pet. Lumb God onely doth remit and reteine sins and yet he hath given unto the Church power of binding and loosing But God bindeth and looseth otherwise than the Church doth for he by himselfe only remitteth sins because hee purgeth the soule inwardly from the spot of sin freeth it from the depth of eternall death which the Church cannot do but hath power of binding and loosing that is of declaring what sinners are either loosed or bound Chemnit In absolution God himself by the ministery of the Gospell doth remit sins unto all beleevers The vertue and effect of remission is not in the Disciples Cajetan but in God who pardoneth We account of them Ambros as the Ministers of Christ Stewards of the Mysteries Sins are not loosed or reteined at the pleasure of men Aug. but according to the will of God praiers of the Church To the Lord our God belong mercies Daniel 9.9 and forgivenesses though we have rebelled against him Delivering fom sin Chrysost he ingrafteth righteousnes yea he extinguisheth sin and suffereth it not to be O Lord God Almighty Ordo Rom. antiq de Offic divin pag. 18. edi Rom. 1591. be mercifull to me a sinner that I may worthily give thankes unto thee who hast made me an unworthy one for thy mercies sake a Minister of the Priestly Office and hast appointed mee a poore and humble Mediatour to pray and make intercession unto our Lord Jesus Christ for sinners that returne unto repentance And therefore O Lord the Ruler who wouldest have all men to bee saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth who dost not desire the death of a sinner but that he may bee reconciled and live Receive my prayer which I powre forth before the face of thy mercy for thy servants and handmaids who have fled to repentance and thy mercie Nehemiah 9.17 Thou art a God ready to pardon gracious and mercifull slow to anger and of great kindnesse Behold Ambros that by the holy Ghost sins are forgiven but men to the remission of sins bring their Ministery They exercise not the authority of any power Therefore in all the servants there is no dominion Optat. but a Ministery Almighty God give unto thee absolution Tho. Aquin. and remission His amendment of life YOu were sometimes darknesse Ephes 5. but now are yee light in the Lord walke as children of light Set your affection on Colos 3. things above not on things on the earth Ephes 4. Put ye off concerning the former conversation the old man which is corrupt after the deceitfull lusts Ibidem And put yee on the new man which after GOD is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse Playfer That which is borne of the old man which is the flesh must dayly decrease in us and grow downwards Idem But that which is borne of the new man which is the Spirit must daily increase in us and grow upward Latymer Repentance and amendment of life are a sure remedy that our sins shall not bee our shame and confusion Vdall Bee carefull to live in godlinesse reforming your affection inwardly and your conversation outwardly according to the prescript rule of God word They that from the bottome of their heart doe acknowledge their sins Hom. de â—oenit and are unfeinedly sory for their offences will cast off all hypocrisie and put on true humilitie and lowlinesse of heart And as they did before give themselves to uncleannes of life Ibidem so will they henceforth with all diligence give themselves to innocency purenesse of life and true godlinesse The graces of God Oecumen as the flowers of a garden must not only be kept but also dressed that they may have not only a being but also an abounding Coloss 3. Put yee on therefore as the elect of GOD holy and beloved bowels of mercies kindnesse humblenesse of minde meeknesse long suffering Forbearing one another and forgiving one another 4 if any have a quarrell against any even as Christ forgave you so also doe ye Ibidem And above all things put on Charity which is the bond of perfectnesse Raban Mercy consisteth in giving almes cheerfully in suffering wrong patiently in reforming the rude lovingly Chrysost It is the safety of salvation the ornamâ—nt of faith and propitiation for sins Lyra. Let Christs humility also bee inwardly in your hearts and not outwardly as it is with hypocrites For unlesse wee bee beaten downe in humility â—â—all we