so thy children I say which hartely loue thet in that they know thy wisdome and wil is best hawe can they but often talke with thes and desyre thee to 〈◊〉 that which they know is best which they knowe also thou woldest doe 〈◊〉 none shuld aske or praye for y â— same Thy children vse praier as a meane by which they se plainly thy power thy presence thy prouideÌ„ce mercy 〈◊〉 goodnes towardes them in granntinge their petitions and by praier they are confirmed of them all Yea thy children vse praier to admonishe them how that all things are in thy hands In praier they are as it were of thee put in mind of those thinges they haue done agaynst thee theyr good lord By reason wherof repentaunce ensueth and they conceyue a purpose to liue more purely euer afterwards and more hartelye to applye themselues to all innocencye goodnes Who now consideryng so manye greate commodities to come by reason of prayer would maruell why thy chyldren are much in praier and in labouring to prouoke others there vnto For as none that is a suter to any other wit vse any thing which might offend or hinder his sute so no man that vseth praier will flatter himself in any thinge that shoulde desplease thee to whom by praier he moueth sute whensoeuer he prayeth so that nothing is a more prouocacion to al kind of godlynes then praier is And therefore not wythout cause we may see thyne Apostles and seruauntes to laboure so dilygentlye and desyre that others myghte vse prayers for themselues and others As concerning outward thynges which thy childreÌ„ pray for although they know thy wil decree is not variable thy purpose must neds come to passe yet doe they receiue by their praier no small commoditie For either they obtaine their requestes or no. If they do obtain theÌ„ then proue they by experience that thou doeste the will of them that feare thee so they are more kindled to loue serue thee And in deed for this purpose 〈◊〉 art wont when thou wilt doe good to any to styrre vp their mindes to desire y â— same good of thee to thende that both thou and thy gifts may be so muche more magnisted and set by of them by how much they haue ben ernest suters and peticioners for the same For howe can it but enâ— a 〈◊〉 them with loue towards thee to per ceiue and fele thee so to care for theÌ„ heare them and loue them If they doe not obtaine that they praye for yet vndoubtedly they receiue greate comforte to see that the euyls which presse them and whereof they complaine stil doe not oppresse and ouer come them therfore they receyue strength to beare y â— same the better O good father help me that I might hartely loue thee complaine to thee in all my nedes and alwaies by prayer to power oute my heart before thee Amen AN OTHER paraphrase or meditation vpon the lords praser O Almighty eternal god of whoÌ„ all fatherhode in heauen and in earth is named whose seate is the heauen whose foote stoole is the earth which of thy great clemency vnspeakable loue hast not waighed nor considered our great vnkindnes and wilfull disobedience but according to the good pleasure of thy eternall purpose hast in thy welbeloued sonne Iesus Christ chosen vs out of the worlde and doest accept vs farre other wise then we be in dede to be called yea and to be in dede thyne adopted sonnes and doest vouchesafe oh louinge father that we as it were heauenly children shuld euery one of vs confesse declare and call thee oure heauenlye father graunt deare father that amonge vs thy poore children by purenes of mynds and couscience by singlenes of hart by vncorrupt and innocent life and example of vertue and godlines thy most holy name maye be sanctified and that so many of al other nations as thou hast ther vnto choseÌ„ and predestinate beholding our godlines vertuous dedes that thou workest in vs may be the more styrred to halow and gloryfy thy blessed name Oh faithfull father we beseech thee that the kingdome of thy holy spirit of grace and prayer of thy louinge kindnes and mercy and of all other thy holy vertues and of thy holye most blessed word may continually raygne in our heartes so that thou woldest vouchesafe therby to make vs worthye to be partakers of the realme kingdome of thy gloriouse and blessed presence Oh deare god and heauenly father we humblye desyre thy goodnes to bowe our hartes vnto thee to make vs humble of mind to make vs low in our owne fight and obedient that like as thy deare sonne our only sauiour Iesê° Christ couÌ„ted his meate workes prayse and life to be onely in obeyng to thy most blessed wyl where in for our sakes he became obedient to the death of the crosse so we may eueÌ„ vnto the very death in lowlines in mekenes pacience and thankefulnes ohey vnto thy holye wil and not to murmur and grudge norrefuse whatsoeuer thy fatherlye pietie shal thinke good to lay on vs be it pouertie hunger nakednes slcknes slaunders oppressions verations persequutions yea or deathe it self for well doing but in all thinges seke and laboure to make these our earthly bodies seruiseable to do thy wil and to refuse that thou wilt not neuer to stryue nor wrastell against thy holye will but with thy heauenly citizens and houshold bull ded vpon the foundation of thy holy prophetes and apostelles thy sonne Iesus Christ being the heade corner stone all selfwill and controuersye in opinious secluded the lustes desieres affections of the fleshe mortified the flatering assaultes of the vaine world y â— cruel and subtyl layings a waite of y â— deuil ouercome agreing together quietly and vnited in spirit we may frely obey vnto thy most blessed will therein to walke all the daies of oure life Oh deare god geue vnto our nedefull bodies necessatie sustenaunce take from vs all loue of worldelye things all carefulnes and couetousnes that we may the more frely worshippe serue thee Oh mercyful father we besech thee to geue vnto vs that heaueÌ„ly bread to strenghteÌ„ our harts I meane y â— bodye of thy deare soÌ„ne Iesê° christ y â— very foode health of our soules that we may alwaies w t thankfulnes firmely feede on him by faith vtterly forsake abhorre al false doctrine perswasioÌ„s of meÌ„ and all lying spirites that shall perswade vs any other wise of him then thy holy word doth teache assure vs satisfie our hungrie soules deare father with y â— mary fatnes of thy riche mercy promised to vs in y â— same thy sonne and of our eternall election redcmption iustificatioÌ„ glorification in him Make vs Oh gratious god to contempne and despise this world with the vaine thinges and pleasures therof and inwardly to hunger for thy blessed kingdome and presence
therfore to thee dere father I come through thy sonne our lord mediatour and aduocate Iesus christ who sitteth on thy right hand making intercession for me praye thee of thy great goodnes mercye in christ to be merciful vnto me that I may feele in dede thy swete mercy as thy childe The time oh deare father I appoint not but I pray thee that I may w t hope stil expect loke for thy help I hope that as for a litle while y u hast left me thou wilt come and visite me and that in thy great mercie whereof I haue nede by reason of my great miserie Thou arte wont for a litle season in thine anger to hyde thy face from them whom thou louest but suerly oâ— redemer in eternal mercies y u wilt shewe thy compassions For when thou leauest vs oh lord y u doest not leaue vs very long neither doest y u leaue vs to our losse but to our lucre aduantage eueÌ„ that thy holy spirit with bigger porcion of thy power vertue maye lighten and cheare vs that y â— want of feeling to our sorow maye be recompenced plentifully with the liuely sense of hauiÌ„g thee to our eternal Ioy and therfore thou swarest that in thine euerlastiÌ„g mercy thou wilt haue coÌ„passioÌ„ on vs. Of which thiÌ„g to thende we might be most assured thin oâ—he is to be marked for y u saist as I haue sworne y â— I will not bring any more the waters to drowne the world so haue I sworne y â— I wil neuer more be angry with thee nor reproue thee The mouÌ„tains shal remoue y â— hils shal fal downe but my louing kindnes shall not moue y â— bond of my peace shal not faile thee thus saiest y u y â— lord our merciful redemer Dere father therfor I pray thee remeÌ„ber eueÌ„ for thine owne trueth mercies sake this promise euerlasting couenaÌ„t w t in thy good time I thee to write in my hart that I may know thee to be the only true god and Iesus Christe whom thou haste sent that I maye loue thee with all my harte for euer y t I may loue thy people for thy sake that I may be holy in thi sight through Christ that I may always not only striue against sinne but also ouercome the same daily more and more as thy children doe aboue all thinges desiringe the sanctification of thy name the comming of thy kingdome the doyng of thy will here on earth as it is in heauen c through Iesus Christ our redemer mediatour aduocate Amen AN OTHER PRAIER FOR remission of sinnes O Gracious god which sekest all meanes possible how to bring thy children into the feeling and sure sense of thy mercy therfore wheÌ„ prosperitie will not serue then sendeste thou aduersitie graciouslye correcting them here whoÌ„ y â— wilt shal with thee ells where lyue for euer we poore misers geue humble praises and thankes vnto thee deare father that thou hast vouched vs worthy of thy correction at this present hereby to worke that whiche we in prosperity liberty did neglect For the which neglecting and manye other our greuous sinnes wherof we nowe accuse oure selues before thee most mercifull lorde thou mightest most iustely haue geuen vs ouer and destroied vs bothe in soules and bodies But suche is thy goodnes towardes vs in Christe that thou semest to forget all our offences and as though we were farre otherwise then we be in deed thou wilte that we shuld suffer this crosse now laied vpon vs for thy trueth and gospelles sake and so be thy witnesses wyth the prophets apostles martyrs and confessours yea with thy dearly beloued sonne Iesus Christe to whoÌ„ thou doest now here beginne to fashion vs like that in his glorye we may be like him also Oh good god what are we on whoÌ„ thou shouldest she we this great mercy Oh louing lorde forgiue vs oure vnthankfullnes sinnes Oh faithfull father geue vs thyne holy spirit now to crie in our harts Abba dere father to assure vs of our eternal elections in Christ to reueile more more thi trueth vnto vs to coÌ„firme strengthen and stablishe vs so in the same that we may liue and die in it as vessells of thy mercy to thy glory and to the comoditie of thy churche Indue vs with the spirit of thy wisdome that with good conscience we maye alwaies so answere y â— enemies in thy cause as maye turne to their conuersion or confusion and our vnspeakable consolatioÌ„ in Iesê° christ for whose sake we besech thee hence forth to kepe vs to geue vs pacieÌ„ce and to will none otherwise for delyneraunce or mitigation of our miserye then maye stande alwaye wyth thy good pleasure and mercyful wil towardes vs. Graunt this deare father not onely to vs in this place but also to all other ells where afflicted for thy names sake through the death and merites of Iesus Christ our lord AmeÌ„ A PRAIER FOR DELIVERANCE from sinne and to be restored to goddes grace and fauour againé OH almightie and euer lasting lord god which hast made heauen earth c oh incoÌ„prebensible vnitie oh alwaies to be worshipped most blessed Trinitie I humbly beseth thee and pray thee by the assumption crucifyed humanitie of our lord Iesus Christe that thou wouldest enclyne and bowe downe the great depth of thy deitie to the botomeles pitte of my vilitie driue froÌ„ me al kynde of vice wickednes and synne and make in me a newe and cleane harte and renewe in me a right spirit for thy holy names sake Oh lord Iesu I besech thy goodnes for y â— excedig great loue which drew thee out of thy fathers bosome into the wombe of the holye virgin and for the assumptioÌ„ of maÌ„nes nature wherin it pleased thee to saue me to deliuer me from eternall death I besech thee I say that thou woldest drawe me out of my selfe into thee my lorde god and graunte this thy loue maye recouer againe to me thy grace to increase and make perfecte in me that which is wantinge to raise vp in me that which is fallen to restore to me that whiche I haue lost to quicken in me that whiche is dead shuld liue that so I may be come conformable vnto thee in all my life and conuersation thou dwelling in me and I in thee my hart being soupled with thy grace settled in thy faith for euer Oh y u my god lose set at libertie my spirit from al inferriour things gouerne my soule so worke that both in soule and body I may be holy and lyue to thy glory world with out ende Amen A PRAIER FOR THE OBTAIning of faith O Mercifull god and dere father of our lord sauiour Iesus christ In whom as thou art wel pleased so hast thou commaunded vs to heare him for as muche as he often biddeth vs to aske of thee and therto promiseth that thou wilt
small crosses vnto thee Iudas was admonished of thee to beware but when he toke no heed but wilfully went out to finishe his worke conteÌ„ning thy admonition counsel he could not but vere thy most louing hart After supper there was contention amongs thy disciples who shuld be greatest after thee yet dreaming carnally of thee and thy kingdome hauing this affection of pride ambition busy amongs them notwithstanding thy diligence in reprouing and teaching them After thy admonicioÌ„ to them of the crosse y â— wold come therby to make them more vigilant so grosse were they y â— they thought they could with their .ii. swerds put away al pertis which was no litle greife vnto thee After thy comiÌ„g to Gethsemane heuines oppressed thee therfore thou woldest thy disciples to pray y u didst tel to peter and his felows that thy hart was heauy to death y u didst wil them to pray being careful for them also least they shuld fal into tentation After this y u wentest a stones cast froÌ„ them didst pray thy self falling flat groueliÌ„g vpoÌ„ y e earth but alas y â— feltst no coÌ„fort therfore y u camest to thy disciples whiche of all others wer most swete dere vnto thee but lo to thy further discomforte they passe nether of thy perils nor of their owne therfore slepe a pace After y â— hadst awaked them y u goest again to pray but y u fouÌ„dest no coÌ„fort at al therfore didst returne again for some coÌ„fort at thy derest freÌ„ds haÌ„ds But yet again alas they are fast a slepe whervpoÌ„ y u art inforced to goe again to thy heaueÌ„ly father for some sparcle of coÌ„fort in these thy wonderfull crosses agonies Now here y u wast so discouraged so coÌ„fortlesse that eueÌ„ streames of bloud came running froÌ„ thine eies cares other partes of thy body But who is able to expresse y e infinitnes of thy crosses eueÌ„ at thy being in y â— garden al which y â— sufferdest for my sake aswell to satisfy thi fathers wrath for my sines as also to sanctifie all my sufferings the more gladelye to bee sustayned of me After thy bloudye praier thou camest and yet agayne foundeste thy disciples a sleepe and before y u canst wel awake theÌ„ loâ— Iudas cometh w t a great band of meÌ„ to appreheÌ„d thee a these so doth leading thee away bound to the high Bysshopps house Annas and so froÌ„ him to Caiaphas Here now to augment this thy myserie beholde thy Disciples fle from thee false witnesses be broughte against thee thou art accused and condemned of blasphemie Peter eueÌ„ in thy sight forswereth thee thou arte vniustly stricken for answering lawfully thou art blindfelde stricken buffeted all the whole nighte in the Bysshoppe Caiaphas house of their cruell seruants In the morning by times thou art condempned againe of the prestes of blasphemie and therfore they bring thee before y â— secular power to Pilate by whoÌ„ y u art openly arrayned as other theues and malefauoures were when he sawe that thou wast accused of malice yet he did not desmysse thee but dyd sende thee to Herode where thou was derided shamefully in comminge and goeinge to and from hym all the waye wonderfully especially after Herod had apparelled thee as a foole Afore pilate againe therfore thou wast brought and accused falsly no man did take thy parte or speake a good worde for thee Pilate caused thee to be whipped scourged and to be handeled most pitifully to see if any pitie might appeare with the prelates but no maÌ„at al pitied thee Barrabas was preferred before thee al the people head taile was against thee cried hange thee vp vniustly to death wast thou iudged y u wast crowned with thornes that pearced thi braines thou wast made a mocking stocke thou wast reuiled reâ—aited beaten and most miserably handled Thou wentest through Ierusalem to the place of execution euen the mount of Caluarie A great crosse to bange thee on was laid vpon thy backe to beare and drawe as longe as thou wast able Thy bodye was racked to be nayled to the tree thy hands were bored thorow thy fete also nailes were put thorow them to fasten thee ther on thou wast hanged betwene heauen and earth as one spewed out of heauen vomited oute of the earth vnworthy of any place y â— high priest laughed thee to sckorne the elders blasphemed thee and saied god hath no care for thee the common people laught and cried out vpoÌ„ thee thrist oppressed thee but vinegre onelye and gal was giueÌ„ to thee to drinke heauen shined not on thee the sonne gaue thee no light the earth was afraied to beare thee Sathan tempted thee and thine owne senses caused thee to crie out my god my god why hast thou forsakeÌ„ me Oh wonderful passions which y u sufferedst In them y u teachest me in theÌ„ thou comfortest me for by them god is my father my sinnes are forgeuen by theÌ„ I shuld learne to feare god to loue god to hope iÌ„ god to hate sinne to be patient to cal vpon god neuer to leaue him for any tentatioÌ„s but with thee stil to crye father in to thy hands I coÌ„mende my spirit A CONFESSION OF SINNES and praier for the mitigation of goddes wrath and punishment for the same O Almightie god king of al kings gouerner of all things whose power no creature is able to resiste to whom it belongeth iustly to to punishe sinners and to be merciful vnto them that truly repent we confesse that thou doest most iustely punishe vs for we haue greuouslye sinned against thee and we acknowledge that in punishinge vs y u doest declare thy selfe to be our most mercifull father aswell because y u doeste not punishe vs in any thinge as we haue deserued as also because by punishing vs thou doest call vs and as it were drawe vs to increase in repentance in faith in praier in contemning of the world and in hartie desiring for euerlasting life and thy blessed presence Graunt vs therfore gratious lord thankfully to acknowledge thy great mercye which haste thus fauorably dealt with vs in punishing vs not to our confusion but to our amendment And seing thou hast sworne that y u wilt not the death of a sinner but that he turne lyue haue mercie vppon vs and turne vs vnto thee for thi derely beloued soÌ„ne Iesus christs sake whoÌ„ thou wouldest should be made a slaine sacrifice for our sinnes therby declaring thy great and vnspeakable anger agaist sinne thine infinite mercy to wardes vs sinfull wretches And for as muche as the dulnes of our harts blindnes and corruption is such that we are not able to arise vp vnto thee by faithful harty praier acording to our great necessity without thy singuler grace and assistance grauÌ„t vnto vs gratious lord thy holye and sanctifâ—inge spirite to worke in vs
my bodye by this corporall helth by this light by this my hearinge seinge feelinge memorye vnderstandinge time place companye creatures and benefites aswell in keping innumerable euils from me bothe in soule and bodye which ells could not but come to me as also in gyuinge to me presently so manye thinges as w tout thy especiall grace working I neuer could haue had or presently could kepe them In thy creatures I see not thy power for I feare the not I see not thy presence for I reuerence thee not I see not thy wisdome for I adore the not I see not thy mercy for I loue the not I praise the not but in lipps tonge and therfore in that al thy creatures doe teache me crie out vpon me to be thankefull to the to loue feare serue thee and trust in the and that coÌ„tinually in that I doe not so they cannot but crie out vpon me and against me in thy sight in the day of Iudgement wyll weapon themselues against me Oh that I did nowe consider this Oh that my blinde eyes my deafe eares were opened oh that my miserable and folyshe harte were made wyse and conuerted This onelye thou canste doe whyche haste all mennes heartes in thy handes to bowe â–ª them as pleaseth the bowe my hearte good Lorde into thy testymonyes open my eyes make me to here for thi mercies sake that I maye beleue and so loue the be thankefull to thee amende in all things and serue the though not as thy deare seruantes doe yet at the least as other brute creatures doe that is to obey the and to be profitable to others Now for asmuch as my sinnes let this and all good thinges from me I besech the pardon me al my sinnes accordinge to thy gracious promyse for our lord Iesus Christ sake AmeÌ„ I beleue in Iesus Christe hys onelye sonne c. THy seruantes O Christe Iesu and people doe know by faith that as thou art almighty and god wyth the father by whom all things were made and are ruled for thou art god eternall coequall and consubstanciall with the father and the holy ghost so thou art man and haste taken oure nature vpon thee by the operation of the holy ghost in the wombe of the virgin mary and arte become the blessed sede whiche hast brused y â— serpeÌ„ts head the blessed sede in whoÌ„ all nations are blessed the prophet whom Moises dyde prophecpe of the samplare he sawe in the mount the truth and body of al the types figures and shadowes of the olde lawe the Messias Christ and sauiour of thy people the aduocat and redemer the pacifier of gods wrath for sinnes the opener of heanen and geuer of euerlasting life This they knowe thou broughtest to passe in thy humane nature by thy incarnation and natiuitye by thy beinge here on earth by thy lyning teaching fastinge praieng especially by thy suffering vnder Pontius Pilate by thy death buriall resurrection ascension vnto the heauens and raygning on the righte hand of the father from whence thou shalte come to iudge bothe the quicke the dead and as they knowe this so by faithe they applye it also to themselues that for their sake thou waste made man didest praye faste wast tempted didest die rosest againe diddest ascend into heauen and there art set their aduocate bishoppe and high prieste alwaies appearinge in gods sighte for them from whence they looke for thee knowige that 〈◊〉 wilt not enter into iudgement with them to damne them which wouldest damne thy selfe for them By this faith they felt these affections in them selues namely the batred of sinne the feare of god the loue of god trust in thee and loue to thy church The hatred of sinne thei felt because it is so foule a thiÌ„g as wold not be washed away with any other thing then with thy preciouse bloud shedinge the feare of god because his anger is so greate against sinne that no lesse pryce coulde pacifie his wrath then thy most painful death the loue of god because he hathe so loued them that he would not spare thee his deare sonne for them euer whaÌ„ they were his enemyes trust in thee because thou haddest no respect to thy selfe but most willingly didest geue thy self wholly to be our sauiour and seruant loue to thy people and church because generally particularly in euery meÌ„ber of the same they see howe deare they are to thee and therefore they can not but be so to them Oh howe doe they imitate and folowe thy foote steppes how doe they reioyce when they are in anye thinge by afflection made lyke to thee Oh howe doe they lament their sinnes ingratitude vnbeliefe loue thee and wholly yelde themselues vnto thee where as I o graciouse god deare sauiour Iesus Christ though I saie I beleue in thee which was conceyued by the holy ghost yet alas I doe but bable this for nothinge is ells in me but vnbeliefe Of thy power loue of thine anger mercy I haue but an opinion as my insensiblenes and vnthankfulnes doth declare If a man should shewe me frendship but in a trifle or suffer anye thinge at all for me I could not but be thaÌ„full and thou besides my creation hast redemed me and brought me into the number of gods childreÌ„ then which thinge nothinge is greater and loe I am vnthankfull Thou hast suffred much for me froÌ„ heauen thou cammest into earthe to fetch me into heauen but I regarde it not Thou barest my sinnes on thy back suffering a most bitter death but I am so farre from thankefulnes that I stil more and more loth the. Thou woldest enter into a coÌ„munioÌ„ w t me taking my nature vnto thee coÌ„cerning the substance thereof that I might enter into a coÌ„mnuioÌ„ with thee coÌ„cerning the qualities wher â–ª in thy self thou hast endued it but I consider it not Thou diddest die to delyuer me from death but I still more and more geuâ— thee cause to die so ingrate ful am I. Thou diddest arise to iustifye me but I with the Iewes wold stil kept thee down because I wold not leaue my wickednes Thou ascendedst to heauen to take possession for me there to be alwaies in the syght of thy father for me to send me downe giftes to praye for me but I daielye am pullinge theâ— downe againe as muche as in me â—ieth I am altogether earthly I hide my self out of thy sight by forgettiÌ„g thee I reiecte and abuse thy gifts I neglecte praier Thou art nowe in a redynesse to come to iudge hoth quick and dead but I tremble not at this geare nor beseche thee before thou come to be merciful vnto me not to enter into iudgement with me yea I thinke nothing at al of thy comming maliâ—oÌ„ cogitant iudicium the wicked consyder not the ende they thinke not on thy iudgement Thou woldst bring me to thy father y â— I might find grace but I put this of
which doe thou satisfie good god in thy good time accordiÌ„g to thy good will and pleasure Oh most louing god geue vs the bread of thi diuine precepts and make our hartes perfect that we may trulye frely walke and liue in them all the daies of our life Oh deare and mercifull father we besech thee geue vs the bread of thy liuely and heauenly word the true vnderstanding therof which is the light of our pathes the foode strong towre and sure defence of our saules that we beinge wel sensed with this munitioÌ„ fedde and filled with this foode maye be worthy geastes at thy celestial feast and wedding where we shall neuer hunger nor want Oh moste righteous and mercifull god father and gouernor of our life we confesse that we haue greuously sinned against thee from our youth vp vntill now in ingratitude in vnthankfulnes wilfulnes disobedience presumption innumerable our negligences sinnes whiche we froÌ„time to time most hainously haue coÌ„mitted whereby we haue deserued not only sore ad greuouse plagues but euen eternal dampnation were it not that thou art y â— lord of mercy and hast power to shewe mercye on whom y u wilt wherin thou art riche and plentifull to al them that cal by on thee faithfully wherfore dere father we seing our manyfold and greuouse sinnes which we haue commytted against thee also thy great mercy louing kindnes pacience and long suffering towards vs are compelled not only to beare paciently and suffer our enemies wheÌ„ they raile on vs slaunder vs oppresse vs vexe vs or trouble vs curse persequute kyll vs but also to speake well of them to enstructe them to pray for them to doe them good to blisse them to cloth them feede theÌ„ so heapyng coales of thy charity and loue vppon them and mercyfullye to forgeue them euen as thou deare father for thy beloued Chrystes sake haste forgyuen vs. Thus hast thou taughte vs good father not as the hipocrites to loke narowlye on oure neighboures faultes but diligently to examine oure owne consciences wherein we haue offended thee also what occasion of offence or falling we haue geuen to our brethren in eating drinking going apparell speaking disolute or vncomely laghter in barganing or by anye meanes and with all speede seke to reconcile our selues to them to forgeue vnto other from the bottome of our harts whatsoeuer they haue offended vs and to doe none other wise then we wishe and desire in our hartes that other should doe to vs y â— so we may fynde thee o lorde in forgeuing vs our trespasses mylde mer cifull which spedily doe thou shewe thy self vnto vs for thy deare Christes sake Oh lord thou god of the righteous we feele the frailtis of our nature to be so peruerse and apte to sinne that when thou by the giftes of thy holy spirit doest moue vs and as it were cal vs yea rather draw vs vnto thee then are we drawen away tempted of our owne coÌ„cupiscence lust beside the greate and daungerous assaultes of the world and deuill therfore faithful father we thy pore children beseche thee to take from vs al those euills and accasions that may drawe vs from thee Oh deare god protecte defend and strengthen vs against all the suggestions assaultes of our enemyes the worlde the fleshe and the deuill that neither in prosperite we were haute or hyghe minded to say vnthankefully what felow is the lord nor yet in the abondaunce of temptations anguishe vexation tribulation or persequution to be oppressed with feare nor deceiued by flaterie nor yet to fall in dispaire and so vtterlye perishe but in all daungers and perilles of temptacions and in the myddeste of the stormy tempests of tribulacion ders father make vs thy poore children to feels the coÌ„solacion of the certaintie of our eternall election in Chryst Iesus our lorde and to perceyue thy fatherly succoure ready to helpe vs least that we beyng ouercome with the wicked sleightes and veceitfull inuasions of the enemyes should as without thy grace and merciful protection we shall be drawne into an obstinate mind so shut vp the cundite y â— shuld lead thy gracioê° gifts benifits vnto vs to our coÌ„moditye comfort that thou mightest lead vs forth with the euill doers barden our harts Therfore Oh good god giue vs these thi good giftes namely streÌ„gth pacieÌ„ce ioyfulnes of hart to reioyce in temptacyoÌ„ assure vs that it is the triall of our faith that faithe in vs maye haue her perfecte worke that when we be well approuyd and purged with the fire of teÌ„ptations we may fynishe oure life in in vyctory and euer more liue w t thee in thy heaueÌ„ly kingdome where no temptacion shal doe vs hurt Finally most merciful father we humbly besech thee to deliuer vs froÌ„ this present euill world from all humaine wordly feare from al infirmities of the fleshe mind froÌ„ false prophetes and teachers from false brethren from traitours tyrantes c and if it be thy good pleasure and may make most to the glorye of thy name deliuer vs from the handes of our enemies from all other euylls present and to come both of bodye soule that we beyng by the greate mercy defended from al hurtful thinges may alwaies vse those thinges that be profitable for vs deuoutiye geueÌ„ to serue thee in good workes that y â— yoke of our enemies and the bandes of sinne being shaken of we may possesse the inheritaunce of thy heauenly kingdome which thy dere sonne Iesus Chryst hath wyth hys precious bloud purchased for thyne elect froÌ„ the begynning of the world for thyne is the kyngdome thou onlye haste the mayestye thou onelye arte the god aboue all goddes kyng of all kynges and lorde of al lords thou onelye haste the powre and authorytye to set vp kynges and to putte them downe thou liftest the poore once of the duste and makesste hym to sytte amonge the princes of thy people thou onelye makeste warres to cease and geuist victory to whom thou wilt Oh dere god there is neither maiestie rule nor power honour nor worshyppe dignitie nor office riches nor pouertie helth nor sicknes plenty nor scarâ—â—tie presycritie nor aduersitie war nor peace life nor death nor anye other thing but it is all thine thou both hast the power also wilt geue it to whoÌ„ it pleaseth thee in thy time and ceason that all glorye maye be geuen to the alone for thou arte worthye O dere father to thee we come therfore for helpe and succour for wythout thee there is no helpe at al. Oh good father deliuer vs froÌ„ al that is euil in thy sight for thy owne name sake and for thy deare Christs sake that we beynge armes with thy holy armour and weapened wyth thy blessed worde and instructed by thy holy spirit may according to thy holy promise serue thee without 〈◊〉 are
the purpose of hym whyche worketh al things according to the decree or counsaile of his owne wyll that we whiche hoped before you in Christ shoulde be vnto the prayse of his glorye in whom ye also hoped after that ye heard the worde of trueth the gospell of your saluation wherein ye also beleuing were sealed with the holy spirite of promise whiche is the earnest of our inheritaunce vntill the redemption or full fruition of the purchased possession vnto the praise of hys glorye These be y â— words of Paull which I haue faithefully translated according to the very texte in the greeke as by the iudgement of all y â— be learned I desire herein to be tried oute of the which words of Paul we may well perceyue euery thing affirmed in my proposition as I will geue occasion plainly to them that will to see it First that y â— cause of gods election is of his good will the Apostle sheweth in sayig that it is through his loue wherby we are holy and without blame also according to y â— good pleasure of his wil according to his good pleasure purposed in him selfe according to his purpose which worketh all things after the counsell of his owne will Secondly that electioÌ„ was before the beginning of the world the apostle plainly sheweth in saying that we were chosen before the foundatios the worlde was layed and afterwards in calling it the misterye of his will purposed wyth him self in time to be declared Thridly that election is in christ the Apostle dothe so flatly and plainly set it fourth that I nede not here to repete it We sayeth he are chosen in hym we are heyres by hym we are accepted by hym we are gathered together in him c. Fourthelye that electyon is of some of Adams posterytye and not of all we maye playnelye see it yf we consyder that he makethe the trewe demonstratyon of it beleuinge hopinge and hauynge the earneste of the spyryte In whom yea hoped sayeth he after ye hard the worde c in whom ye beleued were sealed vp c. Agayne in attrybutynge to the electe forgeuenesse of synnes holynesse blamelesse lyuynge beinge in Christ c. That we shoulde bee holye saieth he c we haue receyued forgeuenesse of synnes c. Whoe seeth not that these are not common to all men All menne haue not saythe sayeth Paulle elles where None beleued sayeth â—ake but suche as were ordayned to eiernail lyfe None beleue but suche as be borne of god None beleue treewlye but suche as haue good heartes and keepe gooddes seede to brynge forth frutes by patience So that it is plaine faith being a demonstration of goddes election to them that be of yeres of distretion that all men are not elect because all meÌ„ beleue not For he that beleueth in the lord shalbe as mounte Sion that is he shall neuer be remoued For if he be remoued that is finally perishe suerly he neuer truely beleued But what goe I about to lighten a candel in the cleare soÌ„ne light when our sauiour plainly saith y â— all be not chosen but fewe Many be called saith he but fewe be chosen And in the second chapter to the eph the Apostle plainly saith that the great riches of gods mercy through his exceding greate loue hath saued them before their parentes manye other gentils which were excluded from Christ and straungers from the promise hoples godles c. Whertherough we may be occasioned to crie Oh the depth of the Iudgements of god which is iuste in al his doinges and holy in all his workes exteÌ„ding his mercy after his good pleasure will aboue al his workes Fyftly that god hath predeffinate these thus elect vnto euerlasting life in Christ the apostle doth also in the words before writen declare in saying hath predestinate vs through Iesus Christ to be heires vnto hym selfe Againe by him saith he ye are made heires and predestinate to the praise of his glorye So saith the Apostle els where whom he hath predestinate them he hath predestinate to be like fashioned vnto the shape of his sonne And Christe therefore saithe reioyce in this y â— your names are writen in heauen Sirtly that the ende of election is to the prayse of goddes glorye and grace the Apostle sheweth here in saing we are predestinate to be holy and without blame before god c in saying we are predestinate to y â— glorye of his grace and in saying also vnto the praise of his glorye so that nothing can be more manifest Seuenthly that predestination is not without vocation in gods time and iustification the Apostle here doth teach in bringing vs to the consideration of hearinge the worde of truth beleuing and receiuing the holy spirite remission of sinnes c. In whom saith he ye haue hoped after that ye heard the word of trueth c. Againe by whom ye haue redemytion that is remission of sinnes thorough the sheeding of his bloude c Also he hathe in his full time declared the misterie of his will c. Unto the Rom. the apostle shewth it most manifestly in saying whom he hath predestinate them he calleth whom he calleth theÌ„ he iustifieth Wherby we may se that predestination or election is not vniuersalle of all for all be not iustified Eyghtly and laste of al that election is so certaine that the elect and predestinate to eternall life shall neuer finally perishe or erre to damnation the apostle doth here also very playnely shewe in saying that they are predestinate to the praise of goddes grace he saith not to the prayse of has Iustice to the prayse of hys wysedome to the prayse of his power although he might most truely saye so but he saith to the praise of his grace whiche were not grace yf there were any respect at all of workes on oure behalfe for then were grace not grace If there shoulde be any condemnation of the electe and predestinate to eternall life it must nedes be because of their sinnes but where were the praise of gods grace then which is the ende of gods election Shall we not by this meanes make gods electioÌ„ without an ende and so without a heade and so no election at all as some would haue further then they elect themselues Let suche feare they shall not fynde the benyfyte of gods electioÌ„ because they seke it as the Israelites did and not as the elect whiche not onelye find it but also obtaine it The other are blinded as it is writen god hath geueÌ„ them the spirit of vnquietnes eyes that they shoulde not see and eares that they should not heare eeuen to thys daye c. Agayne he shewethe the certayntye of saluation to them that be elected in saying that they be accepted iÌ„ the beloued once accepted and beloued in Christ and euer beloued for whom he loueth he loueth