for thée that when the hower commeth we may neither feare nor faint in faith but ioyfully without anie skrikes and cries of desperation and of a troubled and vexed conscience passe away in full hope and assuraunce that all our sinnes are wiped away in the bloud of Jesus Christ and we to thée in him so reconciled that life for euermore is certaine vnto vs. Last of all good father with most humble and heartie thankes for thy goodnes to vs this night let thy mercifull eye looke vpon vs this day and so kéepe vs bodie and soule that being occupied in our seuerall callinges we may be safe by thée from al our enemies liue to thée or die to thée as it best shal please thy gratious goodnes These thinges O Lorde and whatsoeuer else we haue néede of graunt vs for Christ his sake in whose name we aske them saying as he hath taught vs OUr Father which art in heauen halowed be thy name thy kingdome come thy will be doone in earth as it is in heauen giue vs this day our dailie bread and forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs and lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill Amen Let thy mightie hand out stretched arme O Lorde be still our defence thy mercy louing kindnes in Jesus Christ our saluation thy true and holy worde our instruction thy grace and holy spirite our comfort and consolation vnto the ende and in the end Amen The Lorde blesse vs and saue vs the Lord make his face to shine vpon vs and be mercifull vnto vs the Lorde turne his fauourable countenance towarde vs and this day and euermore vouchsafe to sende vs his peace Amen The blessing of God alminghtie the father the sonne and the holie Ghost be amongst vs and remaine with vs both nowe and for euer Amen ¶ An other for the same at night O Immortall God creatour of heauen and earth before whome all creatures feare and tremble were it not that thou hast commaunded vs neuer durst we appeare before thée so corrupt is our nature and so manie are our sinnes But good Lorde thou doest bid and therefore we obey thou doest call and therefore we come giue vs spirites to pray aright First then héere met together déere father we yéelde thy maiestie most humble and heartie thankes for all the mercies that euer thou hast bestowed vpon vs in bodie or minde in our selues or in ours priuate or common temporall or eternall Manie and meruelous haue they béene and still are vpon vs yea euen good Lorde past finding out This day what thou hast done for vs which of vs knoweth or is able to expresse Father of heauen forgiue vs that wée cannot acknowledge them or praise thée for them as we ought and quicken vs in this duety more and more Pardon and forgiue vs whatsoeuer wée haue offended thée withal this daie or euer before either in thought worde or déede yea euen our secret sinnes such as we haue committed and knowe not of remit them vnto vs for Christs sake Change vs O Lorde and wee shal be changed Create in vs cleane hearts and renew a right spirite within vs. Breake the strength of sinne that would subdue vs more and more And O mercifull father so frame these harts of ours within vs that we may more delight to liue according to thy will than to enioy all the worlde and all the pleasures therein Laie it often good Lorde before our eies by thy remembring spirite that thou hast not breathed the breath of life into vs that we should liue as wée list but that in holinesse and righteousnesse wée shoulde walke before thée all our daies Laie it before vs O Lorde that the time will come when the trumpe shall sounde the dead shall rise and we euen wée here mette together at this time all and euerie one of vs shall most assuredly stand before thy iudgement seate with naked hearts with open and vnfolded consciences there to giue an accompt howe wée haue so doone In which daie O the ioie O the endlesse ioie that they shall haue who waining themselues from the glistering shew of this wretched world in heart trueth haue sought serued thée Come come ye blessed of my father to their comfort shal they beare possesse the kingdom prepared for you But woe woe to all carelesse liuers in that flerie daie they shall drinke the wine of the wrath of God be tormented in fire and brimstone before the holie Angels and before the lambe they shall haue no rest daie nor night and the smoke of their torment shall ascende for euermore Father of hauen haue mercie vpon vs knit these hearts of ours fast vnto thée and now whil we haue time giue vs grace rightly to thinke of these things O continue thy worde of truth amongest vs euer to our comfort Let the séede thereof nowe sowen in our hearts take such déepe roote that neither the burning heat of persecution cause it to wither nor the thornie cares of this worlde riches or voluptuous liuing choke it but as séede sowen in good grounde it may bring foorth fruite according to thy pleasure O father giue grace that whē we heare or finde by thy word anie sinne that is in vs touched we maie striue and study without delay willingly to reforme it Kéepe vs good God y t wée neuer swarue for the feare of man from our own true knowledge becōming seruers of time and deniers of thée Kéepe vs from all hardnes of hart contempt of thy word and from all dissembling of sinceritie increase true loue amongst vs more and more stay our heady wrathful and wicked affections more and more And euerie waie good Lorde renew vs to thy liking Blesse thy whole Church O God with graces necessarie this parcel of it our natiue land and countrey déere father blesse it still with continuance of thy truth Lessen in it daily the number of blinde and wilfull Papists prophane Atheists increase the number of thy true children O presse vs not déere God with the weight of our ingratitude whose liues and knowledge answeare not the daies that we haue had worke with vs hence forward for thy mercies sake Preserue vnto vs long aliue good Lord our gracious prince gouernour multiplie thy spirite vpon her that still more and more she may séeke and sette out kéepe and maintaine that which pleaseth thée Giue to her honourable counsell graces necessarie for so high a calling Blesse all other Nobles Magistrates and the whole bodie of this realme with true heartes to thée and this country Increase in Israel the number of true watchmen whose harts may séeke thée and thy people and not their owne glorie or commoditie Bring to thy tolde by them such wandring remnants as are thine and O Lorde be gracious to our kinred and friendes in the flesh lighten their heartes with the sunne of vnderstanding that they and we acknowledging
to instruct people in the way of saluation require of them againe meate drinke and clothing for his paines doth he require a thing vnreasonable or doeth he demaunde anie more than is his due right Yet did Paul the déere seruaunt of the Lorde hunger and thirst after this righteousnesse and had it not For vnto this houre saith he of himselfe we both hunger and thirst and are naked are buffeted and haue no certaine dwelling place c. Yet was he méeke patient his affections orderly for all this yet he had not his right as you sée What did Dauid againe desire at Sauls hande but that since he had voutsafed to make him his sonne in lawe hee would likewise vse him so or at least as a true subiect and seruant with safetie of life til he deserued worse And was not this right and his verie due Yet pleased it God Dauid should hunger and thirst for this righteousnes and not haue it And yet you sée I saie againe it was his right What did Ioseph hunger and thirst for but to be reputed honest when hee was honest and not stained with that crime which his soule abhorred Yet did he want it What did all the Prophetes and Martyres desire but Gods glorie to be increased and their owne liues saued when they deserued no death Yet did they want it Nay what did euen Christ himselfe hunger and thirst for whilest he here liued but the rising vp of Gods kingdome in the heartes of men and the saluation of their soules Yet euen this right and due to him and this great and endlesse good to men themselues could hee not obtaine but hungring and thirsting after it was despised and scorned and in the end killed Yet were all these méeke and gentle and quiet in their affections notwithstanding all this and neuer fretted themselues at the crooked course of a cursed worlde but staied thēselues and at the Lordes handes they were all satisfied in the ende according to this promise Ye haue heard that it hath bin saide an eie for an eie and a tooth for a tooth but I say vnto you resist not euill but whosoeuer shall smite thee on the right checke turne to him the other also Yea euen yet further they thus wronged in the worlde spake of méekenesse and commended it both to themselues and others For Learne of me saieth our sauiour Christ that I am meeke and lowelie in heart And them that be meeke saieth Dauid shall the Lorde guide in iudgement and such as be gentle them shall he teach his way Wherefore I conclude if it pleased the Lorde thus to deale euer with his children and euen with his owne déere son yet satisfying them in the ende and hath in mercie made a faithfull promise to deale no worse with vs in the ende if we will be content truly then no want of iustice euer in our most righteous sutes and demaundes should make vs intemperate but rather driue vs to this promise and in it wee to bee content with all méeke mildenesse both of heart tongue and countenance till the Lorde sée his time to satisfie vs. And I pray you Frailtie consider of it You sée it with your eyes your excuse is nought be your right neuer so good and your wrong neuer so great But wee can not doe what we should doe euer and especiaily in these harde conflictes Yet as néere as we can let vs be ruled and drawe to this heauenly vertue dayly more and more of méekenesse and patience If we will not surely as we liue when the Lorde hath tried vs a while with mercie séeking our good and cannot bowe vs he will at last scourge vs in anger fiercely breake vs. If the iudge should say it or anie mortal man be content and I will satisfie you we would be quiet and shall the God of heauen earth so saying not be heard trusted and regarded The Lord shew his worke vpon vs for otherwise if there be a hell or he be a God this intollerable contempt of so swéete a promise and so sure a blessing will haue a scortching rewarde at the last I can say no more Frailtie but bid you looke upon his owne wordes he saith you are blessed when you are oppressed for want of right if you will be content and you shall of his owne selfe be truly and fully satisfied if you will mildely tarie for it Nowe if you will call him lier to his face and say you are miserable because you are so dealt withall or not happie neither shall it be better with you vnlesse you wil leaue his lawes and ioyne felowshippe with the wicked you may worke your owne woe and who can helpe it But I hope better of you and I wish better to you which you shall neuer misse if you will be méeke And so let the Lorde worke with you you sée his worde and you knowe my minde The fifth temptation against mercifulnesse by reason of vnthankefulnesse Frailtie SInce then you are so plaine and comfortable I will yet further bewraie my secrete assaultes vnto you if I shall not be troublesome and craue your strength as in these hoping when the remedie appointed of God is vsed it will preuaile with mee I doe then ouer and beside all these find manie other infirmities and euen in any thing that God hath commanded somthing or other fast creepeth vppon mee to slacke mee from that duetie which I knowe to be enioined mee As first in dealing with such as haue neede of my helpe as a good Christian shoulde truely you will not beleeue howe the ingratitude of the world quencheth my hart and stayeth my hand For I see the course of men and the naughtinesse of natures in these euil daies Let a man lende his poore neighbour something to helpe him withall as God commaundeth or let him euen giue cleerely for euer to him yet shall he neuer a whit be better loued of a number for it but if he lende be driuen to sue for his owne and if hee giue haue rather vnkindnesse and a taunting scornefull speech than any other commendable and thankefull consideration for his goodwil Whereby I am often I confesse my corruption driuen euen to the point of this worldly and wicked conclusion with my selfe Let them sinke or swimme for mee I wil seeke to liue my selfe out of al mens daungers and I wil neither borrow nor lend giue nor take make nor meddle Let other mens wantes be other mens woes and God helpe them there are manie waies to make a man poore though his hand be harde ynough Now this I know is vngodly and I was not borne to doe thus yet Frailtie I am and by reason of the monstrous ingratitude that the worlde aboundeth with perforce I confesse it I am often driuen towardes this rocke Againe I see euerie man euen from the head to the foote so giuen to halting cogging glosing lying soothing smoothing flattering and
windowes of heauen and powre his mercies out vpon your La. the Lorde confirme you in all good workes giue you a true sight of this vaine world make your heart shake at his iudgementes melt with a fruitefull feeling of grace assured to holie life and the Lord to profite make you thinke you euer heare that voice ARISE YOV DEADE AND COME VNTO IVDGEMENT and yet in faith to saie with cheerefull heart COME LORDE IESVS COME QVICKLIE So be it London this first of December 1583. Your Honors most humble bounden to death Geruase Babington A Conference betwixt mans Frailtie and Faith Frailtie O Wicked worlde and wretched state I stand in O heauy hart sorowing soule how should I comfort you I haue it not I see it not I feele it not what any way might ioie mee and howe then can I giue it you The contrary I see in fullest weight and measure and wo is me ten thousand times that euer I sawe this light yea let the day euen perish wherin I was borne and the night when it was saide there is a manchilde conceiued Let that daie be darknesse let not God regard it from aboue neither let the light shine vppon it But let darkenesse and the shadow of death staine it let the cloud remaine vpon it and let them make it fearefull as a bitter day let darkenesse possesse that night let it not be ioined vnto the dayes of the yeare nor let it come into the accounts of the moneths Yea desolate be that night and let no ioy be in it Let the stars of that twilight be dimme through darkenesse of it let it looke for light but haue none neither let it see y e dawning of the daie because it shut not vp the doores of my mothers wombe nor hid sorrowe from my eies Why died I not in the birth or why died I not when I came out of the wombe Why did the knees preuent me and why did I sucke the brests For so shoulde I nowe haue lien and beene quiet I should haue slept then and beene at rest Or why againe was I not hid as an vntimely birth either as infants which haue not seene the light Woe is me I liue woe is mee I doe not die and wo I feare much more when ended is my course Faith Why Frailtie what in the name of God meaneth this fearful impatiencie or what case can there be in the life of man and woman so vncomfortable as that in regard thereof they should thus cris out Open your selfe and conceale not your griefe for the verie speaking of it shall giue some measure of ease Frailtie Alas I knowe not almost howe to doe it For my conceites doe so oppresse me and euer as I thinke of one miserie still the remembraunce of an other thrusteth it selfe so into my minde and at last the heape appeares so huge as all amazed I faint vnder the beholding of them and my cogitations are so distracted as it is not possible for me to make an orderly rehearsall of my woe Yet since I haue met with you I wil performe it as I can committing my selfe to that mercie that hath no measure and to your selfe as an instrument to applie his comfortes to me begging it euen with teares tenne thousand times at your handes I consider then that I am created heere in this worlde a reasonable creature consisting of bodie and soule both subiect to dreadfull and endlesse woe if I finde not mercie with the Lorde which I confesse vnto you I comfortablie cannot assure my self of as yet bicause the hand of God me thinke more heauily presseth me diuers waies than I imagin it would do if he loued me Faith And wherein I praie you doe you thinke you are pressed ouer heauily Pouertie the first temptation Frailtie ALas in manie things and yet God laie not my pleading with him to my charge To begin with some thing I must needes confesse vnto you that my lowe estate in the world is a maruellous temptation to me manie a time For God knowes I am poore and euen verie poore notwithstanding all my paines carke and care which is not a little My charge also is great for such an one as I am and their want as good reason bindeth is my continuall woe Yet if this were all me thinke I could wrastle with it and by Gods helpe get the victorie but these companions of pouertie are they that sting me so sore to wit disdaine and contempt both of me and mine of my doinges sayinges or any thing that proceedeth from me and that reiection which is made of me out of all meetings and companies those whisperinges that I heare reproches that I carrie euen at their handes that I little thought would haue done it and that scornefull pitying of me which often appeareth with such like For in deede if euer anie found it I finde it true that by wise Syrac was saide so long agoe There is euen as much peace betwixt the riche and the poore as betwixt Hyena and the dogge But looke howe the wilde Asse is the Lions pray so are the poore meate for the riche And looke howe the proude hate humilitie so doe the rich abhorre the poore If a rich man fall his friendes set him vp againe but when the poore falleth his friendes driue him away If a rich man offende he hath many helpers hee speaketh proude wordes and yet men iustifie him but if a poore man faile they rebuke him and though he speake wisely yet can hee haue no place When the riche man speaketh euerie man holdeth his tongue and looke what he sayeth they praise it to the clouds but if the poore man speake they say What felowe is this And if he doe amisse they will destroy him These these companions of my pouertie are the thinges that euen cut my heart a sunder and wil I nill I it breaketh euen vpon mee by force as it were to thinke that if the lord loue a man hee should neuer suffer him for want of worldly trash so despitefully to be intreated in this worlde and so generally This is but one thing that troubleth me besides which I haue manie moe but helpe me if you can ere I go anie further Faith Nay goe on vtter your gréefe fullie and then your minde wilbe the fitter to heare a great deale For otherwise you will be musing of the rest when I shall he speaking to you for your ease in this Frailtie An other verie daungerous torment then I must needes confesse is that continuall vncomfortablenesse which is still in me by reason of diuerse thinges as by a weightie and stinging sense of mine owne sinnes by sight of other mens loose course and grieuous dishonouring of God in euerie place giuing thēselues to flatterie dissembling and all manner of holowe dealing with God and man by meditation of the fierce wrath of God and most dreadfull iudgementes which assuredly hang ouer vs for these thinges
doe not then as mightilie ministreth it an argument againe of woe alas and endlesse woe vnto vs. Secondlie to be méeke is a true imitation of Christ for Learne of me saieth he I am meeke and lowly in hoart But he that treadeth the steps of this Lorde and God shall neuer die and therefore blessed are the méeke Contrariwise to be hastie furious and intemperate is to followe Caine Esau and all reprobates which whoso followeth shal neuer liue and therefore cursed is the contrarie Thirdlie the Lorde careth for vs if wée be méeke and watcheth ouer our wronges séeing all the wordes déedes and verie thoughtes conceiued against vs and the Lorde will pay our debtes if we leaue it to him and iustle him not out of his throne sitting downe our selues therein as iudges and reuengers of our owne causes He knoweth our vprising and downe lying he is about our bed and about our pathes and spieth out all our goinges and séeth hée not when we are wronged He hath taken a reckoning of the verie heyres of our heads he putteth our teares into his bottle and are not our wronges thinke we noted in his booke O therefore how should we our selues learne to be méeke to forgiue and to referre our selues euer to him since we haue such a iudge The wife whilest her husbande liueth quieteth her selfe from forren toyles and leaueth all incumbrances to him for he careth for them but if he by death depart from her then she her selfe because she hath lost her aide Nowe we if we be indéede as wee thinke wee are the children of the Lorde we are the spouse of an husbande that neuer dieth but in life is permanent in power sufficient in care still vigilant and therefore how should this consideration kill our affections mortifie our hastie heartes and handes and altar vs daily to an heauenly temperance patience and méekenes The Lorde is our aduocate to put vp our sute the Lorde is also iudge to giue sentence of our wrong and Frailtie then howe can any escape that hurteth vs if we would be méeke and leaue it vnto him Me thinke me thinke I could euen dwel continually in this consideration it is so comfortable What madnesse should moue vs to harbour our hurt to hatch vp our harme and to kéepe matters boyling and festring within vs vnforgiuen and vnforgotten when wee haue such a Judge God strengthen vs and giue vs victorie of our selues But why Frailtie standest thou yet so mute Beléeuest thou not all this If thou dost yet hang in the bryers of thy vnreformed passions adde hereunto some further proofe of passed practise and experience let that as mightie to perswade confirme and comfort thée to this vertue if it be the Lordes will The Israelites in AEgypt oppressed and harmed could not with right counternaile might but as patiently and méekely as God made them able abid it and cried vnto the Lord and what folowed The Lorde heard them Moses was sent they were deliuered and Pharaoh with all his host drowned in the sea Sée with your own eies the reward of méekenesse Dauid oppressed by Saul his father in lawe whom at home and abroade hee truely serued and honored sought no reuenge but euen refused it when it laie before him and with all méekenesse mildnesse and patience committed it to the Lorde and Saul had his punishment Dauid the kingdome Iacob being threatned destruction by his brother conceiued not by and by the like towardes him againe but leaueth his countrie and fathers house putteth vp the wrong possesseth his spirit in patience and meeknesse and what insued The Lorde was with him both daie and night the Angels of heauen are his seruantes the Lord giueth him wiues and wealth comfort strength euerie where and Esau liueth to die for euer as the fatted oxe is prepared for the slaughter Ioseph horribly slaundered for his faithful seruice bare his grieuous crosse méekely and honour is his ende euen great and rare honour O harts of ours then where are they What a God serue we whose mercie vppon méekenesse hath thus shewed it selfe beside in numbers moe Shall it not mooue vs Shall it not pierce vs Nay shall it not change vs God forbid wée shoulde be senselesse and therefore you sée Frailtie what must be done and what soueraigne helpe the Lorde laieth downe for your infirmitie be your occasion publike or priuate at home or abroad with manie or few affections certainely must be brideled and euen fought withall till they yéeld and become more quiet otherwise we run vpon our ruine both in heauen and earth For the one thus as you sée is prooued and truly the other is as true For what gouernment are they worthy that wil not gouerne as they possibly can themselues well What trueth can they know that can not abide to heare indifferently both parties No euery man shal frame him selfe to their humours till his turne be serued and truth shall neuer dare to appeare before them What daunger can be preuented or what guilefull guest cā be discouered when heate doth thunder out threates ere the time serue to take knowledge of the matter The enimie is armed the friend is discouraged and iudge your selfe then howe strength is impaired What seruant if God rule not in him mightily will truly serue where comfortable countenance either giueth not hope of conuenient rewarde or at least presently accepteth what is done in fauour What one that hath anie gifts friends or abilitie will euer abide with a louing and true hart where reproches and discomforts are his daily death No no it will neuer be nor it cannot be Well may a worldlie minde in regard of passed time and charge make men rubbe out and carie coales till they can do better or may get a cheate but the heart being alienated and the true faithfull kinde affection that is aboue golde worne away with oftē rebukes which being not digested send vp at times as tokens of their remaining a bitter tast all is but hollowe all is but in regarde of themselues and if time shoulde serue to néede them God knowes howe their snubbed harts would call their snubbes to remembraunce whereas méekenesse gentlenesse comfort and countenaunce maketh a seruant true in his dealings painefull willing constant in his place and readie euen to die in the seruice of them whose louing vsage hath pierced his soule with a permanēt affection if he be of any good nature and if he be not the same vertue of méekenesse watcheth loketh heareth and considereth all things wisely not bewraying himselfe till he haue found indéede a hollow seruant and then wéedeth out iustly so ill a member Therefore I saie againe whatsoeuer your occasiōs be of disorder in your affections be they at home or abroade truely Frailtie fight with your selfe and neuer suffer your infirmitie to preuaile For God requires it and euen worldlie wisedome requires it and the verie hardest things are made easie by some
blessed and experience make vs mercifull then whensoeuer the Lorde giueth vs anie tast of woe he doeth but schoole vs vnto happinesse But I passe it ouer and now let vs consider what a verie monster and vglie beast in nature he is who hauing himselfe drunke of the beggers dish and tasted the smart of néedy want yet neuer the more is mooued in tender kindnesse to others when God hath made him able to helpe them but as brasse or yron turneth both hande and heart away when pitifull sutes are made vnto him for some comfort And then viewe we in like manner the force of sight in such examples as wee haue commended to vs in the scriptures When Pharaohs daughter sawe little Moses in the basket she pitied it when Iesus sawe the multitude he had compassion on them and healed all their sicke when hée sawe their want of teachers he pitied them when he saw the woman wéepe whose sonne was dead he pitied her when the Samaritan saw the wounded man he pitied him when the Lorde sawe his debter fall downe he forgaue him all and hée that séeth his brother want and turneth his face awaie O howe is the loue of God in him with a number such So that sight I say aboue either hearing or manie other meanes is a vehement worker of this vertue in vs if wée be the Lordes and of this vertue not in part but in whole for if you marke the examples againe you shall neither sée pitie without helpe nor helpe without entire compassion in them but both together the one folowing euer after and vpon the other which if it be so then shoulde wée take a view of our selues occasioned by this doctrine and diligently weigh what either sight of other mens woes or hearing or anie other meanes worketh in vs and if we find a fiintie heart within vs whatsoeuer we sée or heare iudge then betimes what will be our case at one time or other when blessed shall be the mercifull Surely we shall finde what the Lorde hath spoken that iudgement without mercie shall be vnto vs because wée haue shewed no mercie And if we finde the contrarie as greatly may it ioie vs againe on the other side But I forget my selfe in following this discourse too farre and therefore here will I cutte it off once againe desiring you neither in this vertue nor others euer so much to regarde what the worlde doeth thinke as what the God of heauen that made the worlde doeth iudge For if you doe you shall neuer whilest you liue kéepe a straight course in any good The Lord saieth the mercifull man shall be blessed therefore shame vnto the face that once auoucheth it that mercy maketh miserable The Lorde accepteth it let the worlde neglect it the Lorde rewardeth it let a senselesse worldling be neuer so vngratefull and what the Lorde rewardeth it can neuer make a man worse if he vse it therefore be mercifull What should I saie Certainely Frailtie till God become false till his blessings become cursings his promises vnprofitable and his rewardes not worth hauing the féeling heart and the helping hand head tongue or anie member gift or abilitie in vs can neuer impouerish vs beyond our good as you plainely sée and therefore your temptation is answeared and your weaknesse strengthened if the Lorde graunt you féeling and vse of his word which I trust he will and beséech him that he may Strength against Dissimulation the sixt temptation YOur next temptation ariseth by dissimulation and a mighty motion you finde to do as the world doth But Frailtie would you leaue to thinke gaine to be godlinesse and beginne to thinke onelie godlinesse to be gaine as the Apostle teacheth and a little to weigh with your selfe what in euerie age euerie honest man and woman hath thought of this beastly vice were it neuer so generall surely you woulde finde strength against it in your selfe and a maruellous hatred kindled in your heart of it I beléeue verily For there is nothing that pulleth any bodie into this Metamorphosis of nature but a carelesse contempt of al opinions of vs so wée may flourish and get our desire of this cursed worlde Which I must say againe is a beastly vice in man or woman because it so maketh them that vse it this being euer the propertie of a man to preferre honestie before all vtilitie Nowe if you aske what hath béen thought I am able to shew you euen vnder one sight both God and man against it and man not onely Christian but heathen such as beside the light of nature had no direction by the Lorde For Wo vnto them saith the Lorde that seeke deepe to hide their counsels from me That is that carie more shew than trueth as they doe which are outwardely religious and inwardly most prophane contemners of the same Helpe Lord saieth the Prophet Dauid for it is high time there is not one godlie man left but the faithfull are minished from the children of men they talke of vanitie euery man with his neighbour they doe but flatter with their lips and dissemble with their double heart And then in the detestation of so vile a thing the spirite of the Prophet breaketh out into a curse and the Lord roote out saith he such deceitfull lips Which certainely is a spéech that shoulde pierce vs déepe when wée consider and thinke of it The Apostle Peter also crieth vnto all that feare God Laie aside al maliciousnesse and al guile and all dissimulation enuie and all euill speaking opposing these to the sincers milke of the worde of GOD which al men ought to desire that they may growe thereby as things that cannot agrée and dwell together in any man And if we marke examples was it not I praie you a horrible thing for Simeon and Leuie to pretende such friendshippe to the Sichemites and to harbour secretely so bloudie conceites Did not the soule of their godlie father Iacob detest both such men and such dealings Was it not vile and vnséeming either for a king or an honest man to dissemble such liking of Dauid as that hée woulde giue him his daughter to wife and yet meane nothing therby in truth but to snare him and to worke his certaine ouerthrowe by it Such loue come to them that long for it and such fathers in lawe God kéepe vs euer from may we thinke and say if we marke it Was it not a detestable nature in Cain vnder a brothers face to dissemble a murthering heart and minde Can you abide but euen to thinke of that cursed Courtier Ioabs spéech Art thou in health my brother Amasa and leaning forwarde to kisse him secretely to stabbe him with his dagger that he died presētly These are the effects of this cruell vice these are the fruites of such vnnaturall men as haue caried faces vnder an hood moe than they would shew which assuredly the Lorde hath caused to be
kingdome diuided in it selfe can neuer stande And that other also of the Poet. By concorde small to muche is brought And discorde great thinges brings to nought Upon al which then gather this conclusiō that if this great vertue of peace and loue be to the Lorde himselfe so acceptable and to all estates in the world so profitable must it not néedes be in it selfe howsoeuer the worlde accepteth it a most singular thing and a most deserued praise to a man to be a peace-maker amongest men Certainelie it must But we neede not to gather it by conclusion For the Lorde Christ himselfe hath saide it in the same 5. of Matthewe as preparing strength before hande for this verie same temptation that nowe you féele That blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God And neuer as I haue nowe often saide doeth he set a blessing vppon the heade of anie thing but the same in it nature and before his maiestie is a worthie thing Wherefore this place shoulde bee to you euen a thousande argumentes to confirme your obedience in so Christian a duetie as peacemaking is and a thousande spurres to pricke you dailie to it when opportunitie is offered and occasion giuen to the same For Frailtie what can you resolue this speach of Christ into if you marke it wel but into this sense As if he should haue saide to his disciples in this order I knowe the manifolde discomfortes that shall bee giuen to all men and especiallie to you ministers in that duetie of peace-making which yet both belongeth to al men and especially to your calling notwithstanding euer to indeuour so farre as power shall serue And therefore least hereafter when it shall so fall out either you or anie other should be tempted through mens vnthankefulnesse to the giuing ouer of that so thrise néedeful a thing I forewarne you here before hande and euen giue you in charge as I am your Lorde and maister that you neuer regarde cleaue and sticke in the acceptaunce or thankefulnesse of men for your paines and trauell in this matter For if you doe you shall be discouraged But euer looke you vppe to heauen what is there thought of it and to the better sort of the worlde also whome the Lorde hath giuen eyes to discerne good things with al. And whatsoeuer you finde at mens handes for so godlie a labour you shall well knowe it finde it and féele it that with the Lorde in heauen blessed for euer shall bee the peacemakers and both of him and his true children heere in earth that knowe what is what they shall be counted taken and acknowledged for the sonnes of almightie God that shall liue with their Father for euermore Which is inough Frailtie if there be either touch or tast or anie féeling in the worlde in vs to staie vs for euer in this dutie be the peruersenesse of men neuer so much For what can we desire more than to haue our doinges accepted of the Lorde and our selues assured of euerlasting rewarde at his handes for men Let men be mad and mad againe let their crooked affections worke and writhe them whither they can and euen all vnthankefull spéeches burst from them against vs for our good-will that may be imagined my God is pleased shoulde a Christian heart thinke with my indeuour and his acceptaunce is my satisfaction his content is my rest and a sufficient requitall of all my paines Otherwise Frailtie I pray you euen earnestlie consider it What loue of God is that in vs that the loue of man driueth out of vs what care to please him is that that mens displeasure quencheth Fie fie it is too grosse and ten thousand wonders may it be that euer anie of vs can sléepe with this imagination that wee loue God aboue all and yet in such thinges as by name are commaunded and by promises commended to vs wholie guide our obedience according to mens acceptance or not acceptance liking or misliking Wherefore on still Frailtie with this dutie and indeuor to reconcile disagréeing mindes in the name of God and were the bitter gaule the spitefull péeuishnesse and all the vnthankfulnesse of the Diuell and his whole hoast in euerie man and woman you deale withall yet haue you comfort inough if either the Lords acceptance can content you or your owne promised rewarde and blessing please you or good accompt to bée one that God hath chosen for his childe with the better sort of the worlde comfort you Nowe by the way of a little digression in hope I doe not wearie you I would also wish you a little to consider that if this peace and agréement amongest neighbours in towne or countrie be such and so swéet in the sense of the Lorde as that euen the preseruers of it and restorers when it is broken are so heartily blessed and accompted for it the sonnes of God must it not néedes followe that those thinges likewise are in high accompt before his maiestie which being in men and women doe most mightilie maintaine this blessed vertue in all and euerie societis vnder heauen Surely it must néedes followe And what are they Manie and diuerse are they if one should make a curious recitall but for my part when I marke the course of thinges and the causes of good agréement in anie place I thinke but euen especiallie of these thrée First a patient and méeke nature in our selues able to beare and tolerate something without mounting into the house top immediatly and flashing out all on fire by and by vppon the sight or hearing of it Secondly a wel iudging heart of others till wée be certaine of the contrarie And lastly a good tongue Must not I say if peace be so pleasing to the Lorde these things also be pretious in his eies which all the worlde knoweth to be nourishing nurses of the same wheresoeuer they are If peace-making pull a blessing vppon vs as the Lorde liueth these so great preseruers of peace shal haue a happy reward And if this be true then on the other side againe the contrarie vices for their contrarie effect must néeds be as loathsome hatefull and accursed Namely an impatient hastie fierce frowarde furious nature y e is as short as mosse that hath neuer fought withall and foiled anie affection but cleauing still in pure naturalles is vnregenerated and euer casteth out the sauour of old Adam vpon euerie occasion be it but a trifle Secondly a suspicious misdéeming mind of euerie bodie that they say thus of vs worke this against vs or at least thinke thus of vs when in trueth it is nothing so O poison of peace in anie kingdome countrie towne house or person liuing in the worlde this misdéeming minde And to a mans selfe there is no more twitching tormēt vnder the son For it is euen a worme that is euer gnawing and euer biting and can neuer be contented Lastly an euill tongue a peaceles tongue that can neuer be
y e childe that is her flesh before he can forget vs and aswell can a man suffer the apple of his eye to be pricked as he vs to be hurt if we cleaue to him then iudge if his crosse shoulde euer dismaie vs. Fourthly it is no strange thing or vnhearde of or vnséene before that befalleth to vs when we are persecuted but such as all our brethren haue tasted founde and felt before vs and why then should we faint when we drinke but of the same cuppe that the déerest saintes and soules nowe blessed with the Lorde haue begunne to vs in Cast your eyes about sée the course of times although I knowe you knowe it well ynough Beganne not Abell vnto vs in this cup and course assoone as euer the Lord bewrayed his loue vnto him before his brother Followed not the Patriarkes and Prophetes men and women elde and young in their times and measures euen till Christ came Then was it not the cuppe that his owne selfe beganne to his children in and the baptisme wherewith he was baptized Followed not his disciples sent out into the world as shéepe amongst wolues whipped and beaten checked and snubbed imprisoned and cheyned c. Followed not againe after them those thousandes of his children vnder the primitiue persecution some scalded some burned some broyled some hanged some headed some throwne down from the rocks vpon stakes some stabbed in with forkes some racked and torne in péeces their tongues cut out their eyes bored out their fleshe twitched off with pinsons womens brestes seared off with hoat yrons pricked vnder the nayles with néedles and a thousande waies tormented Yea was it not euer true with the godly In hoc vocati estis For this ende were yee called And good Lorde then why should not a common case be a cōmon comfort Why should any man or woman that loueth God séeke or wishe a priuiledge aboue all the children of God that euer were and euen aboue the sonne of God himselfe Christ Jesus Is it not honor ynough mercy ynough and fauour ynough to be dealt withall as they were Therefore the communitie of it to vs with all our brethren and sisters and euen with our eldest brother Christ Jesus should stay our hearts whensoeuer it pleaseth the Lord to sende it Fiftly the cause being not ours but the Lorde our Gods and good should also confirme vs. The short time that it can indure were it suppose as long as we liue should comfort vs. For our life is but a flower as grasse as smoke as a bubble of the water and as the vainest fickle fading thing that you can imagine Againe that passed promise from the Lorde of life and trueth sealed with the bloud of his owne sonne vnto vs the swéetenesse whereof all the tongues of men and Angels can neuer expresse That hee will neuer lay more vppon vs than hee will make vs able to beare should be like a thousande staies rounde about vs to houlde vs vp The promises of peace comfort and quiet for euermore aboue measure and concept of man in heauen if we continue faithfull to the end should hould vs vp That sentence passed in the Lords court of bastardie and consequently of depriuation of all inheritance if we be without correction should hould vs vp And what should I goe any further The examples of our brethren of al rallings of all ages men and women that haue constantly caried their crosse and neuer deliuered it vp till they deliuered soule and all to their God should hould vs vp Wherefore Frailtie euen as Iudas the Machabee could incourage his men not to feare the multitude of their enemies neither to be afraid of their assault but to remember howe their fathers were deliuered in the redde sea when Pharaoh pursued after them so say I to you and to my selfe let vs neuer feare affliction nor the euill day for our momentanie crosse causeth an euerlasting weight of glorie But let vs remember the firme faith of our fathers of our mothers of our brethren and friendes let vs looke vpon their paciencie vppon their constancie their hope beséech the liuing God we may followe their good steppes and staie in strength vppon his mercy whatsoeuer he sendeth vs knowing it as we know we liue that though our braines cleaue to the wales though our bones be strowed in the stréetes and our bloud runne downe euerie chanell yet shall we rise againe restored by the power of our God be gathered into his barne as his pure wheate our bloud reuenged we crowned and our tongues sounde the praise of him that sitteth vpon the throne with maiestie and honour aboue all concept of anie earthly heart Frailtie O but Faith the worlde will giue such a spitefull censure of a man or womans life religion honestie wisedome and such like as that it is euen a hell to heare them when the Lorde doth exercise vs. For it was euer and I thinke euer will be the concept of flesh and bloude that a good man and woman truely religious truely honest and sufficiently wise cannot bee so plagued as they tearme it of God at anie time and therefore the crosse must needes testifie to the worlde a want in all these Faith It is most certaine and daily found what you say yet is there nothing vnder heauen more absurde than that opinion For loued not God Abell Abraham Isaak and Iacob loued he not his Prophets loued he not his owne sonne and all that followed his steppes to this day Were none of them of a true religion of an honest life and wise ynough to take that course in the worlde that God allowed Yet all of them plagued he as they call it And neuer any further humbled in this world than Christ himselfe and therefore prosperitie or aduersitie may not be taken for signes euer of fauour or displeasure But the worst man most quiet often in this worlde and most honored loued promoted and renowned his deserued torment being deferred to an other day and the truest christian most troubled tossed reiected and humbled his comfort and rewarde remaining for him in an other worlde But beside all this plaine demonstration of a tried trueth vse with your selfe Frailtie to oppose against that concept of the worlde the sentence of the Lorde our God next following in the fifth of Matthewe after those that nowe haue béene considered of Blessed are they that suffer persecution for righteousnesse sake for theirs is the kingdome of heauen And thinke with your selfe as I haue nowe often sayde that if our God set a blessing vpon it what skilleth it what the whole worlde and ten thousande worldes moe if they were extant doth iudge Shall the voice of man be the guide of our course and the line of our life Shall mans iudgement or Gods iudgement stande in the later day O Frailtie we may not hang vppon so broken a réede as flesh and fleshlie wit is Wee may not be lifted vp with
one truth may glorify thée in the true and constant profession of the same all the daies of our life Comfort O Christ thy afflicted members wheresoeuer or howsoeuer troubled and graunt vs peace if it be thy pleasure in our daies Finally because the night is now vpon vs and we readie to take our rest let the bed O Lord strike into our hearts that the graue is almost readie for vs. Which of vs can tell whether these eies of ours once closed vp shall euer open anie more againe or no Lorde therefore receiue vs into thy handes wée all here nowe commend our selues bodie and soul we bequeath vnto thée kéepe vs this night and euermore ready for thée when thou shalt call for vs. Heare vs O Lorde O God and father mercifull in these our petitions for thy sonne Christ Jesus sake our Sauiour in whose name we al together beg these mercies saying O Our father which arte in heauen halowed be thy name thy kingdom come thy will be doone in earth as it is in heauē giue vs this day our daily bread and forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs and leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill Amen Let thy mightie hand and outstretched arme be still our defence thy mercie and louing kindnes in Jesus Christ our saluation thy true and holie word our instruction thy grace and holy spirite our comfort and consolation vnto the end and in the end The Lorde blesse vs and saue vs the Lorde make his face to shine vpon vs and be mercifull vnto vs. The Lorde turne his fauourable countenance towarde vs and sende vs euer his peace Amen The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ the loue of God the Father the most comfortable felowshippe of the holie Ghost be with vs all blesse vs and kéepe vs this night and for euermore AMEN Iob. 3. Syrach 13. 16. Luke 6 20. Non magnum est sua sed se relinquere Exo. 22. 25. Deu 15. 10. Iob 26 15. Psal 9. 9. verse 12. verse 18. Psal 10. 17. Psal 21. 24. Psal 107. 22. Prouerb 28. 6. 22. Esay 25. 4. 66. 2. Luke 4. 18. Matth. 11. Luke 4. Iames 2. 5. Ruth 1. Kings 17. 2 Kings 4. Tobias 4 21. 1. Tim. 4. 6. Gen. 4. 5. verse 11. 12. 1. Sam. last 2. Sam. 17. 23 Acts. 1. Psal 6. 6. Rom. 15. 4. Luke 19. Rom. 9. Psalm 74. 9. Mich. 7. 2. Micheas 7. 2. Luke 6. Numb 11. 12. Ierem. 15. 10. Ierem. 20. 7. 1. Sam. 3. Luke 1. 38. 2. Timot. 2. 25. Psal 25. 9. Galat. 5. Math. 11. 29. That we hurt our selues also in earth by heat of affections Chap. 5. 1. Cor. 4. 11. 2. Cor. 11. Mat. 13 38. Verse 5. 37. 25. 112. 5. 31. 20. Prou. 11. 26. Mich. 6. 6. Colos 3. 12. Note Luke 6. Math. 18. Marke 6. Luke 10. Matth. 6. Matth. 3. 1. Cor. 11. 29. Rom. 12. Cor. 15. Howe mercifulnesse is wrought in men Experience Heb. 2. 17. 4. 15. Sight a worker of mercifulnesse Exod 2. Matth. 14. Marke 6. Luke 7. Luke 10. Luke 18. Iames 2. 13. Scripture against it Esay 2◠Psalme 12. 1. Pet. 2. 1. ◠Sam. 18. 21. ◠Sam. 20. 16. Psalme 34. Psalme 32. Psalme 15. Fathers against it Simplices qua si sine plicatione Anselm in Rom. 9. Lib. 1. Ad Caelant Heathen against it Cic. Offic. 2. Syrac 8. 19. 13. 9. De Sacerdotio lib. 1. Scriptures teach vnitie Psalm 133. 1. 2. 3. 4. Iohn 34. Ephes 4. 1. Thinges in nature teach vnitie Hose 2. 22. Deuter. 28. 32. 1. Tim. 5. 23. Actes 14. Apoc. 4. Psalme 119. Psalme 27.