of heauen and thynke that he loueth the then as the naturall father loueth and pitieth hys sonne For euery good sonne that he loueth he wyl beate and correcte to cause hym to stande in feare of hym Nother thynke that he hath forgotten the bycause he punisheth the. For soner wyll the mother forget the chylde borne of her wombe Esaye xlix then the Lorde wyl forget those that feare hym His merciful eyes neuer departe from them When nede requireth Psalm xxx he appeareth vnto them He knoweth the weaknes of hys frayle metall wherof man is made Quoniam ipse cognouit figmentum nostrese recordatê° est quia puluis sumus He coÌ„sidereth that he is but dust made of the earth and to earth shall retourne agayne And for that he woulde haue the perfect knowledge and experience of our nature he sent downe hys sonne Iesus Christ to take vpon hym the same nature Who hath proued and sene the frailtie therof Hebre. ii he was in al thinges tempted as we are and made lyke vnto man synne ignoraunce excepted he feared the approchynge of death that was contrarye to the nature of hys fleshe and in all other our infirmities he had the experience Wherfore thinke not that he doth or wyll forget it Homo quasi herba dies eiê° sicut flos agri siâ— florebit quia spiritus per ransiet eum et non subsistet et noÌ„ cognoscet eum vltra locus ei but doth coÌ„syder that our strength is lyke the grasse Our ioly tyme is like the floure of the felde whiche beynge toutched wyth a blast of colde wynde wythereth is gone and the place where it grewe knoweth it no more All the prosperitie of thys worlde all honour ryches nobilitie yea the very lyfe of maÌ„ endureth but a whyle in coÌ„parison of eternitie and shortly after death all is put in obliuion Ezech. xxxvii The place of the soule in this world is the mortal body which after death goeth to corruptioÌ„ and is no more knowen of the soule tyll the last and general resurrection when by the almighty power of God the same body shal be ioyned to the same soule go to ioy or to peyne euerlastynge God I saye consyderynge the body of man to be fraile and subiecte to corruption his age or hys lyfe to be lyke the grasse whyche shortly wythereth also all hys prosperitie and hys glory to be as the beauty of a floure that sone fadeth awaye hath in hys godlye prescience establyshed his merciful goodnes Misericordia auteÌ„ domini ab eterno et vsque ineternum super timeÌ„ces eum to endure for euer and euer vpon them that feare hym he hathe sent downe his onely sonne to take vpon hym our mortal nature to become grasse as we are Hys godheade that is eternall is become partaker of maÌ„nes mortalitie to make man partaker of hys ioyfull immortalitie to make grasse that wyll sone wyther to endure grene and pleasaunte for euer But be not thou proud of this my soule but humble thy selfe and thanke hym of hys great grace and mercie i. Corhinth iiii Whereby thou arte that thou arte for what good thynge hast thou that thou haste not receyued it is not of thy selfe wherefore glorye not in thy selfe Osee .xiii. Thou canst worke none other but onely thy perdicion it is his grace that worketh thy saluation Exalte therfore his mercie and prayse his ryghtuousnes whyche is shewed on hys faythful seruauntes and vpon theyr chyldernes chyldren such as kepe hys couenaunt and thynke vpon his commaundementes to do them Et iusticia eius in filios filioruÌ„ His qui custodiuÌ„t pactum eius â— recordaÌ„tur preceptorâ—cius ad faciendum ea of hys mere liberalitie he promised rewardes to the fulfyllers of hys lawes Whiche of his truth iustice he wyll not fayle to perfourme but to whom only to the doers of hys commaundementes not to the onely hearers or the reasoners therof or to them which onely haue them in remembraunce Iacob .i. For such are lyke to a man that beholdeth hys bodely face in a glasse immediatlye goeth awaye and forgetteth anone what hys fashyon was But the faythfull folowers of hys preceptes are dearely beloued of him And not they onely but also their childerns chyldren the whole coÌ„gregacion of elect persons Suche as haue applyed theyr hertes to be faythfull folowers of the good steppes and example of theyr faythfull parentes Psalm Cxxviii Thys is the blessyng of God wheron Dauid speaketh that they whyche feare the Lorde shal se theyr chyldernes children and peace vpon Israell that is peace euerlasting in heauen for the rewarde of theyr good workes There can no good dede be vnrewarded Neither any sinne be lefte vnpunished For Christ the iudge of the quycke and also of the deade hath prepared hys seate Dominus in celo paâ—uit sedem suam et reâ—num ipsius omnibus dominabitur in heauen and hys kyngdome ruleth ouer all In thys seate shall he iudge euery man accordyng to his actes without hauyng respecte to any person Apo. v. To hym that sitteth on thys seate shall all creatures whyche are in heauen and on the earth and vnder the earth gyue honoure and glorie for euermore Benedicite domino â—geli eius fortes roboâ— facientes verbum cius obedientes voci sermonis eius To hym the holy angels that be myghty in streÌ„gth gyue laude and prayse they fulfyl his coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t they obey the voyce of his wordes they acknowledge hym to be theyr Lorde and theyr maker and that by hym they haue all the power that they haue Benedicite domino omnes exercitus eiê° ministri eius qui facitis voluÌ„tatem etê° To hym all the hostes of heauenly spirites gyue thaÌ„kes and prayse they are his seruauntes and do his pleasure As dyd the angell that went before the children of Israel out of Egypte and went betwene them the host of Pharao Exod. xiiii whych folowed to haue destroyed theÌ„ An angel also was sent to Balaam stode in hys waye as he went wyth the Lordes of Moab Numeri xxii An angell of the Lorde iii. Regum xix ministred vnto Elias in the wyldernes Danie xiiii Dyd not an angell of the Lorde carye Abacucke the prophete by the heer of his head froÌ„ Iury to Babilon with meate and drinke for Daniel who was in the denne of the lions They are al ministring spirites sent to minister for theyr sakes which shal be heyres of saluatioÌ„ Hebre. 1 They bringe knowledge of the Lordes wyl to his faithful here vpon earth and are desirous that we shoulde as surely and obedientlye do hys sayed wyll here on earth as they do it in heaueÌ„ Benedicite domino omnia opera eius in omni loco dominationis eiê° Yea al the workes of the Lorde magnifie and speke good of the Lorde in euery place of hys dominion Hys
but the eatynge of the onely tree of knowledge of good and badde Genes ii further for his helpe comforte and companie of a rybe of his side thou madest for him a womaÌ„ and gauest her to him to be his wyfe There had they instructions gyuen them and the lawe of lyfe for an heritage Before them were layd both lyfe and death â—cclesiast xv good and euyl with a free wyl geuen them to take whether so euer liked them But their frailtie was suche that they throughe a small intisement chose the euyl and least the good they leaft lyfe and chose death Thus Lorde through synne and breakyng thy commaundement man lost the free wyll that was gyuen hym in hys creation and purchassed death to all hys posteritie In the way as he went from Hierusalem to Hiericho he fell in the handes of theues â—ic 1 who hurtynge and woundyng hym sore departed leauyng him halfe deade there could he of none haue helpe but onely of the good Samaritane who passed by the same way He poured wyne oyle into his wound and toke the cure of him This Samaritane was thy mooste louyng sonne Christ which toke vpon hym all the iniquities of mankynde and layed them on his backe â—say iâ—â— by hys deathe purgynge and cleansynge hym not onelye from the synne originall of oure forfather Adam but also from al our actuall synnes by vs committed from tyme to tyme by the vertue of his passion and the Sacrament of Baptisme and penaunce For as by one Roma â— that is oure fyrste Adam was death sent in to all mankynde so by one other oure seconde Adam Christe was mankynde restored to lyfe For the whiche great and hygh benifite of thy sonnes blessed passion for oure redemption we thy poore creatures mooste humbly prayse and thanke the and acknowledge hys inestimable loue towarde vs. In that he vouchsaffed to dye for vs beynge then synners and in that we were synners we were both thyne and hys mortall enemyes Neuerthelesse mooste mercyfull father the sparcles of the fyre kyndeled in vs by oure olde father Adam and the dregges or remnauÌ„tes of his synne remayne in vs that we are become so frayle and weake that we can do no good of oure selues no not once thynke a good thoughte And in case we by thyne assistence wyll do anye good acte Roma vii yet are we not able of oure selues to perfourme it But the wyll and the pefourmynge of the same Phillip ii doth wholye depende vpon the and the helpe of thy mooste kynde sonne oure louynge brother it lyeth not in vs nowe to chose and take what waye shall be beste but all our steppes and procedynges towarde goodnes muste be directed by the. We wander here miserably in the valeis and lowe partes our streÌ„gth wil not serue vs to clyme to the heyghte of the hylles where thou dwellest Lorde in the mounte of Syon a place prepared for thyne electe a chosen enherytaunce of thy faythfull seruaunt Abraham and his sede wherfore sence we beyng burthened wyth the affectes of worldely pleasures and also wyth other cares and troubles caÌ„ by no meanes ascend to the that arte on the toppe of so highe a mountayne accompanyed wyth so manye legions of angelles that styl attende vpoÌ„ the we haue no remedy but wyth thy prophet Dauid now to lyst vp the eyes of our hertes myndes towarde the â—enaui oculus meos â—u montes and to crye for helpe to come downe from the to vs thy poore and wretched seruauntes we wander here alowe as lost shepe hauynge no shepeherde We are assayled on euery syde wyth manifolde enemyes â— Petri. v. The deuyll rauenynge and hungry seketh whom he maye deuoure The worlde blandishynge and alluryng vs to her disceytful vanities The fleshe also whyche we cary about wyth vs beynge a domestical enemie readye and prone to drawe vs to all vices and pleasures from these can we by no meane be defended but by the Lorde Sende vs therfore thy helpe from the high hylles Vnde veniet autilium 〈◊〉 Sende vs thy holy angelles to assist and strengthen vs by whose helpe we maye by steppes of vertues clime vp to the to enhabite amonge these noble hylles the countrey of all fertilitie and aboundaunce To these hylles after longe labour thou broughtest the Israelites amoÌ„ge these hylles thou causedest thy chosen Citie of Ierusalem to be builte to be throughe them the stronger and more sure agaynste al assaultes of enemyes From these hylles discended the swete sprynges and fountaynes of water to ouerflowe the lowe valyes and make them both pleasaunt and profitable Thus of the mooste mercyful father Auâ—â—â—m meum a domino qui fecit eclum et terram floweth all bountie and goodnes Thou madest heaueÌ„ and earth for thine owne honoure and mannes coÌ„moditie Establish therfore good lorde the choseÌ„ worke of thyne haÌ„de wyth thy eternall helpe from heauen sende vs downe the well sprynge of thy grace Sende thy stronge angelles to ayde vs by whose helpe no assaulte of our spiritual enemies Non dei in commotinem pedem tuum maye preuayle agaynste vs. No not once be able to remoue oure feete or thoughtes froÌ„ the obseruyng of thy godly wyll and pleasure The bryghte angelles stode not fast but through pryde slypped and susteyned a great fal Our father Adam also brake thy precepte and his fote slypped He fel from paradyse of pleasure into thys worlde a place of trauayle He fell from immortalitie to mortalitie Take awaye therfore from vs Lorde that proude slyppy fete so that no temptation of synne remoue vs causing vs to fal froÌ„ the. Make vs to be trew Israelites Roma ix that is seares of God Make vs the trewe sede of Abraham by fayth and of Isaac by promission So that by the helpe of angelles we maye dwell here in the Citie of IerusaleÌ„ that is in thy trewe churche here militant continewinge in thy trew fayth wythout swarueuynge abydynge in hope of thy promyse made to al thy faythful and workyng by ardent charitie Math. v. as thou hast commaunded vs to the good example of other and to the glorifiynge of thyne excellent maiestie And then neade we not to be afrayed of any power of enemies Thou beinge our keper and our watchmaÌ„ we are sure froÌ„ al sodeyne inuasions Thyne eyes are and euer wyl be open vpon vs Neque dormitet qui custodit te Ecce non dormitabit neque dormiet qui custodit Israel thou neuer slepest nor none of thy holy angelles but intentiffely do attende to the saffekepynge of thyne electe and choseÌ„ people that are the lyuely stones of thy churche or congregation Al men be they neuer so holy do sleape and slumbre but Christe sleapeth not he sleapt once arose agayne froÌ„ his sleape so that he wil neuer more sleape but preserue the true Israelites i. Corhinth xiii i. Io. iii froÌ„ al perils
them walke This waye worldly men thynke to be ryght pleasaunt but the ende therof leadeth vnto death Sicut oues in inferno spositi sunt mors depasâ—et eos They shall lye in hell lyke shepe Death shall fede vppon theÌ„ The wycked worme shall gnawe styll on theÌ„ and not kyll theÌ„ This is a cruell shepherde that leadeth his flocke froÌ„ payne to payne as the louyng shepherde leadeth his shepe from one pasture to another Iob xxiiii Fyrste he swylleth them in waters colder then the snow water Then transportith he theÌ„ to heat intollerable A mete shepherd for the wicked persons that had no mercy nor pitie on other in this worlde Ihon xiiii Death euerlastinge is theyr cruel guyde as to the faythfull thy soÌ„ne that is very lyfe Iohn .i. is their mercifull louynge good shepherde whyche dyd suffre deathe for hys flockes sake to make theÌ„ to triumphe theÌ„ ouer the wycked Et dominabuntur eis â—eÌ„s â—ecâ—i mane whiche now are here in great glory And why They are here in the night theyr workes are hyde and appeare not but at the greate iudgemente when Christ which is theyr lyfe shall shewe hym selfe Collos iii. Then shall the iust also appeare with him in glory Then shall it be cleare day lyghte all mennes workes shal appeare as they be The tree that in wynter shewed no freshenes shall then receyue sappe from the rote and appeare beautiful where the floure and herbe that was in sight pleasaunt for a whyle shall wyther away and fall Aurilium eorum vetâ— rasset in infâ—rno gâ—oriâ— eorum TheÌ„ shal the strength of the wycked consume Hell shall be theyr dwellyng In this morninge thou wilt destroy all the vngodly of the lande In thys mornynge we haue a sure hoope Psalm .xi. VeruÌ„tamen deus redâ— met animaÌ„ meaÌ„ de manu inferi cum acceperâ— me that thou wylt delyuer oure soules froÌ„ the power of hell and receyue vs to the by thy grace here in thys worlde and after when thou shalte come to the laste iudgemeÌ„t to take vs to thy selfe into glory Ihon .xiiii. Ne timueris cuÌ„ diueâ— factus fuerit homo eâ— cum multiplicata fuerit gloria domus eius that where thou arte there we may be wyth the. Nother do we malygne at the vngodly nor be afrayed when they are made ryche and the glorye of theyr houses encreased We know that it endurethe but a small season and vanished away as doth that smoke They are personnes whom thou regardest not therfore thou geuest them thynges of small estimacion Gene. xxv Abraham gaue to the sonnes of hys concubines giftes and sent them away but to Isaac he gaue his possession and all that he had So Lord to the wycked thou geuest temporall thynges of no value but for thy faythfull thou reseruest thyne euerlastynge heauenly enheritauÌ„ce This is a sure and a permanente rewarde â–ª the other sone slyppeth away QuoniaÌ„ cum interierfâ— noÌ„ sumet omnia neq descendet cum eo gloria eius Theyr tyme here is but short yet when they dye they shal cary nothinge awaye with theÌ„ nother shall theyr pompe folow them Like as the smoke vanisheth away so shalt thou lord dryue them awaye Psalme â—xvâ—â— and lyke as the war melteth before the fyre so shall the vngodly perysh at thy presence and then shalt thou chaunge theyr honoure in to shame to theyr confusion Whyle they lyued they were counted as happy men so longe as they were in prosperitie Osee iiâ— Quia anima eius in vita ipsius benedicâ—tur confitebitur tibi cum be â—efetetis â—i Introsbit vsque in progeâ—â—â—s paâ—ruÌ„ fuoruÌ„ vsque inâ—ternuÌ„ non videbit lumen Mathe. xxiii men spake good of them but when they folowe theyr fathers generatioÌ„ they shal neuer se lyght any more They were the chyldren of Cayn come of a wycked progeny They haue fulfylled the measure of theyr fathers iniquitie theyr deades were euyl they loued darknes better then lyght for they wrought the workes of darknes and not of lyght Ihon .iii. wherfore they shall haue euerlastynge darkenes wyth tormentes they shall haue fyre but it shal gyue theÌ„ no comfortable light Homo cuÌ„ in honore esset non inâ—â—llerit assimuâ—â—tus est â—umentis â—dequâ—tus est eis These paynes are ordeyned for men such as when they were in honour had riches in aboundauÌ„ce considered not their estate for lack of knowledge they were led in captiuity Esay v They led a beastly lyfe wherfore they became like vnto beastes to theyr vtter payne perdicioÌ„ ¶ The Prophet Dauid beyng very sory for the adultery 〈◊〉 Psalme Wiseâ—â—e mei deuÌ„s which he had committed wyth Bethsabe for the death of her husbaÌ„de Vrye made this Psalme in the person of the hole faythfull congregation also in the person of euery peniteÌ„t sinner priuately ii Corhin â— O Lorde almighty father of mercy and God of all coÌ„forte Sapi â—â— whych in the treasure of thine infinite mercy disposest all thinges Psalme â—xv not onely amonge vs thy poore creatures heare on earth which is bountefully replenished therwyth Psalmo cviii but also amonge thy holy aungelles and blessed spirites in heauen who therby are preserued and established in grace Lord whose naturall propertie is to be mercifull to all that loue the and in faith cal vppon the in so moch that thou saydest by the mouth of thy prophet Esaye that the mountaines shall remoue and the hylles shall fall downe Esay .liiii. but thy louynge kyndnes shall not moue from those that truste in the Lorde that of thy mercy Genes vii Genes xii â—â— sauedest Noe from the generall floude Abraham in hys pilgrimage through Egypte and through the lande of Gerar Loth Genes xix from synkynge amonge the synfull Sodomites Ioseph Genes xxxix and .xii. from the dauÌ„ger of his wicked ladye and mastres â–ª and after from daunger Exod. xii .xiiii. when he was cast in pryson the Israelytes from the boundage of Pharao froÌ„ many other daungers in theyr longe iourney Daniel vi Ionas .ii. Daniel .iii. Daniell from the cruell lyons Ionas from drownynge beynge in the bealy of the whalle thre dayes and thre nightes the thre yonge men from burning that were put into the flammynge fornaice wyth many thousaundes mo whom of thy naturall mercy of thy mercyfull custom of thyne accustomable goodnes and gentle promes therof made thou hast here to fore dayly doest and neuer wilt ceasse to draw to the through grace vnto thy hyghe maiestye I most miserable and wretched synne call for mercy and grace I do acknowledge my selfe greuously to haue offended the eyes of thy deitie so many wayes that I am not worthye to beare the name of a man much lesse of a ChristeÌ„ maÌ„ Myne offences are huge and the burden of theÌ„ is great Wherfore
vnto the tyme of death and the laste ende when euery trewe labourer in thy vyneyarde shall receyue of the for hys wages a peny for hys dayes worke Math. â—â— that is the kyngdom of heauen for hys rewarde what tyme so euer he begynne to worke in thy worke as thou hast promised of thy mere liberalitie and free goodnes O mercyfull Lorde Quam multa sunt opera tua domine ommiâ— in sapientia fecisti howe noble and manifest be thy workes passynge farre the capacitie of all thy creatures to comprehende But thou ful wysely hast wrought all thynges by the same wysedome that hath bene wyth the before any thynge was created and before al tyme by the whyche thou haste numbred the sandes of the sea the dropes of the rayne and the dayes of tyme by which also thou haste measured the heyght of heauen the breadth of the earthe and the deapnesse of the sea Eccles i. Thys wysedome is thy very sonne the seconde person in trinitie i Corhin i Coloss ii he is thy power and thy wysedome in whom are hydde all the treasures of wysedome and knowledge By hym haste thou wroughte thine owne worke according to thy nature which is to haue mercye and not to shewe crueltie By hym hast thou wrought the worke of our redemption and delyuered vs from eternall dampnation And althoughe thou be sometyme angrye wyth vs for oure wyckednesse yet is it to the entent to shewe thy mercie after whiche is thy proper and naturall worke Esai xxviii Impleta est term possessione tua On thys maner doest thou fyll the earth full of thy ryches Not onely by the order and disposition of thy earthly creatures thereof but chiefelye in that thou causest man by thy helpe to leaue the inordinate loue of the worlde and the wanton pleasures therof and to become a newe man aspirynge to the heauenly thynges In thys thou causest hym to be iuste and perfectly thy possession to be of thy peculiar flocke of whyche thou takest greate cure Thou haste ordeyned thyne electe to walke and trauayle in thys greate and wyde worlde Hoc mare magnum 〈◊〉 spaciosum Illic reptilia innumerabilia animalia paâ—â—ua cum magnis whiche may wel be compared to the greate sea For as in it are innumerable thynges creapyng both greate and small beastes Euen so in thys worlde are many terrible dauÌ„gers and daungerous temptations Sometyme by flatteryng pleasures Somtyme by cruell displeasures whyche appeare therin Somtyme by prosperitie Sometyme by aduersitie Somtime by cruel manifest enemies Somtime by subteltie of false fayned frendes So that there are many mo daungers to men that lyue here on earth then be in those whyche passe ouer the seas Yet for all these fearfull daungers let the fayethfull neuer be afrayed Ibi naues per traÌ„sibuÌ„t For as the sure shyppes fliete in the sea vnder theyr sayles and passe through the stormy teÌ„pestes without drownynge so do thyne electe passe throughe the fearful perelles of all theyr enemies in this worlde by the meanes of the shyppe of thy churche and the trewe fayth therof Of whiche shyppe Christe is the sternes man the guyde and the sure ancour to be caste in all necessities Who so trusteth in hym shal be broughte to the fayre hauen of perfecte beatitude Who so kepeth hym wythin the bourdes of this faythfull shyppe neadeth not to feare the greate whales or other monstres muche terrible to shyppemen neyther yet the dreadfull dragon that sturdy stronge leuiathan whose sportynge place is in the deape of the sea Deaco iste quem formasti ad illudenduÌ„ ei Iob .xli. To whose power no power on earth may be compared For he is so madde that he feareth nothynge and is the kynge ouer al the chyldren of pryde Esay .xiiii. Luc. x. Genes iii. Thys is that lucifer whiche fel from heauen Thys is the serpent that deceyued in paradyse and brought death to al mankynde He was fyrste made by thy maiestie a bryght angel but through synne he is become a cruel deuyl And hath power through thy sufferaunce to illude to tempte and to deceyue mankynde Neuertheles when thy faythful people are penitent for theyr offeÌ„ces resist his temptations folowe thy lawes put theyr whole truste in the thy blessed soÌ„ne Iob .xi. theÌ„ do they mocke discerue him They put a ringe through his nose and boare his chaftes through with an awle and as Christ mocked him layenge an hoke for him bayted with his humanitie whiche when he thought to deuour causing hym to be put to death of the Iewes he was trypped in his owne turne takeÌ„ with the hooke of his diuinitie In lyke maner do the fayethful membres of Christ also mocke deceyue him For wheÌ„ he thinketh them surely in his daunger they turne to theyr head Christ for refuge i. Corhinth x. and by his helpe do vaÌ„quish him Great therfore good Lorde is thy mercie goodnes that sufferest not thy faythful to be teÌ„pted aboue theyr strength But in the middes of theyr temptation makest away for theÌ„ to escape out The enemy hath no power of hym self but such as thou suffrest him to haue He with al other creatures hange al vpon thy wyl and coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t Omnia a te expectan vt des illis escam in tâ—pore suo dante te eis colligent Al waite on the that thou maist geue them meate in dew season wheÌ„ thou giuest it theÌ„ they gather it The meate appoynted to that serpent which deceyued Eue was earth Of the earth therfore of earthly men that loue better earthy thinges then heaueÌ„ly Genes iii. is the foode of that fierse leuiathan Such as are lefte destitute of thy grace depart froÌ„ the are lefte to be the foode of this serpent or dragon But I hertely beseche the moste merciful mightie God kepe thys dragon longe emptie Let hym not deuoure those for whose redeÌ„ption saluation thou voutchsafedest to sende thy most entierly beloued sonne to suffre death passion They haue the more pitie to great pleÌ„tie of foode of infideles Bring theÌ„ also lorde I besech the into the true fayth of thy holy churche that they may knowe the him that thou hast sent Io. x. for the saluatioÌ„ of al the world That there may be on both sortes one shepeherde one flocke and sende vs al lorde Aperiente te manuÌ„ tuaÌ„ replehuntur honitate abscondes vultuÌ„ tuum â—et turbabuntur thy merciful fauour Open thy liberal haÌ„de fyl vs all wyth thy goodnes Hyde not thy face froÌ„ vs for oure offeÌ„ces For then haue we cause of sorowe mourning coÌ„tinually No creature can lyue wtout the nourishing of corporall substauÌ„ce but must dye tourne to earth corruptioÌ„ Neither caÌ„ the soule of maÌ„ abide in lyfe spiritual with out the influence of thy grace Auferes spiritum coruÌ„â—t deficient et in pulueâ—em suum
to receyue according to theyr deades but after diuers fashions i. Corinth vi The rightuous to be as iudges to the other the sinners to bee iudged the electe to the perfection of their glorye i. Tessalo iiii the soules beynge then vnit to their bodies The vngodly to theyr greter pain both of soules and bodyes At which greate and dreadful daye the sinners shal be seuered from the iust and shal be set the one on the ryght hande Mathew xxv the other on the left hand of thi victorious soÌ„ne as the shepherd doth disseuer his shepe from his goates And by good reason for as there is no match betwene lyght and darkenes ii Corinth vi no more is ther any equal match in company betwene the righteous and the vngodly QuoniaÌ„ nouit dominê° viam iustorum et iteâ— impiorum peribit The way of the iust is knowne to the Lorde and wel alowed of the. Wherfore to Moyses thou saidest I know the by name Exodus .xxx. Ieremy .i. Euen so diddest thou knowe Hieremy thy Prophet before he was begotten or borne And all by thy Godly approbation In lyke maner dost thou knowe the dayes of the godly and elect Psalmo xxxvii And ther inheritance shal endure for euer The other that is the vngodly thou knowest not Math. xxv nomore then thou knewest the fyue folyshe Virgyns which wer vnprouided of oyle in their lampes against the commyng of the brydgrome Thou knowest them not to their comforte or election but to theyr reprobatioÌ„ Wherfore they were shut furth of the gates of glory and departed with the workers of iniquitie whose waye is the way of death and damnation From this paynful way saue vs good Lorde and make vs to be as the fruitful trees planted by the water syde for thy blessed sonnes sake who to saue vs suffered bitter passion and deathe To whom be laude and prayse for euer Amen ¶ The Prophet Dauyd in the person of the faythful congregation which are penitent for their offences made this Psalme Psalme .vi. Domine ne in futore And declaryng his infirmitie and contricion desireth remission of his sinnes Apoca. â—i O God almyghtie Lord of heaueÌ„ and earth from whoÌ„ nothyng can be hyd or kept secret Lorde that searchest the hertes and raynes that is the thoughtes delectations of al men WheÌ„ I remeÌ„ber thi iustice in iudgement I tremble and quake for feare coÌ„sidering the burdeÌ„ weyghte and filthines of synne to be so great that for one proud thought a great noÌ„ber of Aungels fell from heauen to perpetuall payne Geâ—os â—â— For breakyng thy commauÌ„demeÌ„t Adam and his wyfe were expelled out of Paradise and purchased death to al their posterite Rome â—i xvâ— The yerth also was not able to beare the burtheÌ„ of Corah Dathan and Abyram but for theyr rebellion against the and thy seruauÌ„t Moyses and Aaron It opened and swalowed theÌ„ vp quycke wyth theyr adherentes For the synne of Dauid and for that he of a pride noÌ„bred or mustred his people puttyng trust in the multitude of them rather then in the that art the liuing God ii Reg. xâ—iiii there died of the pestileÌ„ce in Israel .lxx. thousand people within .iii. dayes This coÌ„sidered what creature liuyng can but tremble and feare Seyng that our sinnes now daily are no lesse in numbre and in haynowsnes then were theyrs but rather mooe greater And remedy haue we none but to flye from thy wrath into the bosome of thy most dearely beloued soÌ„ne Iesus Christ making him a bulworke and a shilde of defence betwene thyne anger and our offences Most humbly besechyng the for his sake and for the bitter paynes that he suffred for our redemption to be merciful vnto vs And not to rebuke vs in thine anger Domine ne in furorâ— tuo arguas me neque in ira tua corripias me nor to chasten vs in thyne heauy displeasure Let not thy sentence of euerlastyng damnation take place whyche thou gauest agaynst Adam and all his posteritie for his disobedience Thou art meke gentyl and longe sufferyng of thy selfe It is our greuous offences heaped together one vpon another that prouoke the to angre Not that thou art angry or furyous thy selfe but we felyng thy dreadful iudgemeÌ„t vpoÌ„ vs geueÌ„ to paine euerlasting or thy heauy haÌ„d in punishyng vs here in this worlde iudge the to be angry in the pronunciation of that sore seÌ„tence and in the execution of the same we speke and iudge of the after the sorte as wee that are worldely do speake and iudge one of vs by an other And with such wordes as we declare oure owne passions and affectioÌ„s we also declare the contentes of oure hertes vnto the Lorde desiryng the not to punysh vs in the rygour of thy iustice but after the swetenes of thy mercye to haue pitie vpon vs. Apoca. vi Elles shal we in that terrible day desire mountaynes and rockes to fal vpon vs to hyde vs from the face of hym that sitteth in the throne of iudgement froÌ„ the wrath of the lambe Whose wrath we are well assured wil not be then aswaged by any peticion of frindes â—ophony i. Nether shall syluer or golde be able to deliuer vs in that wrothful daye Wherefore we acknowledgyng our offences humbly desire the merciful father to haue compassioÌ„ vpon vs and to consider the weakenes and imbesilitie of our nature Aâ—â—set ete mei domine quontem infirmus suÌ„ which nature is wounded in al her powers with the dartes of concupicence Where through we are prone and redy to all vice feble to resist tentation and vnable of our selfes to aryse â—â—tio â—ue domine quoniam conturbata sunt omnia ossa mea beyng once drowned in the filthy myre of synne It is thou Lord thy blessed sonne that must heale our infirmities for al our bones are vered The strength that we haue is not able to withstande the temptations of our stiffe and sturdy enemye â—aâ—â—w xliii Thy soÌ„ne Chryst must reach vs his hande as he dyd to Peter walkynge on the water when he was in perel of drownyng TheÌ„ shall we haue strength to aryse hys Passion is our medicine and health Thy grace and his ar all the remedies in our infirmities Et anima mea turbaâ—a est valde Our soules that is our reason and our conscience are troubled through the multitude of our synnes which trouble surely is not small For we fynde an other lawe in oure meÌ„bres stryuinge wyth the law of oure mynd Roma vii subduynge vs vnto the lawe of sinne which is in our meÌ„bres We are al carnal sold vnder sinne So that what we should would do that we do not but what we sholde not and woulde not that we do And why Truely for the in vs that is in oure fleshe dwelleth no goodnes The crabbe tree can bring forth
the assisteÌ„ce of hys grace Nam et si ambulaueto in medio vmbremortis non timebo mala although we shoulde walke in the valey of the shadow of death yet we fear none euel for thou arte with vs. This lyfe is a shadowe of deathe after whych we trust by faith to dwell with the. Synne also is a shadow of death Esay .ix. and so darke a shadow that mankynde coulde not se to get oute therof tyl thy louynge soÌ„ne cam into this world geuynge hym lyght to see the way to heaueÌ„ And as synne is the shadow of death so do al synners as membres of the deuill walke in the same shadowe which cause temptacions and rayse persequutions to assault thyne electe Quoniam tu mecsi â—â— But al their coÌ„berous coÌ„pany we nothynge feare because thou arte wyth vs. If we walke in the water thou arte wyth vs that the strengthe of the floudes dryue vs nat awaye If we walke in the fyre the flame shal not burne vs. And why Because thou oure god arte wyth vs and thy sonne hath also promised to be wyth vs vnto the ende of the worlde Esay xliii Mathei vltimo Virga tua et bacuius tuus ipsa me consolata sunt His rodde of discipline and correction doeth chastise vs when we swarue at any tyme out of the ryght waye And ther in we iudge that he doeth loue vs for whoÌ„ so euer thou and he do loue Hebr. xii them do ye chasten and ye stourge euery sone that you receyue Christes stronge shepherdes staffe doeth stay vs when we ar weake as a sycke man is hoden vp by his walkyng staffe That is to say the gyftes of thy holy spyrite are oure strength our coÌ„forte in all infirmities tribulations and other encombraunces Thy rodde doeth directe vs to knowe what we shoulde dooe Thy staffe is oure streÌ„gth to stand fast therby agaynst al inuasions of oure enemies And to haue vs more sure cute of the dauÌ„ger of those that trouble vs thy sayd louinge sonne hath prepared set before our eyes the table of holy scriptures Parasti in conspectu meo meÌ„sam aduersus eos quitâ—â—bulant me wherin we maye trauayll and lerne to dryue awaye from vs all kyndes of temptacions Mathe. iiii as he hym selfe droue awaye the deuyll that tempted hym in desert by the allegations of holy scripture Impinguasti in olco caput meum Psalme .xliiii. And throughe these scriptures our heades are annoynted with oyle that is oure myndes are made ioyfull wyth spirituall gladnes Wyth thys oyle was thy sonne Christ annointed most priÌ„cipally aboue al other For in him as in the head rested that ioyful oyle from whense it ranne downe to the other membres Psalme â—xxâ—ii that is to all other faythfull people as the oyle that fel on the bearde of Aaron dropped froÌ„ thence to the skyrtes of hys garmeÌ„tes Ihon. i. i. Collos i. In Christ is the fulnes of grace from whoÌ„ distilleth all the grace Caliâ— meus mebrians quaÌ„ preâ—latus est goodnes coÌ„forte that we haue Through holy scripture also oure cup is fylled full to the brimme of pure liquor it causeth vs for ioy of heaueÌ„ly contemplacion to forget al the troubles miseries of this worlde The dregges of earthly pleasures and carnall affectioÌ„s remayne not in this cup. For as thy mercy hath gone before vs plentifully geuinge vs aboundauÌ„ce of thy great grace so we trust and doubte not but it wyll folow vs all the days of oure liues kepinge vs Et misericordia tua subsequetur me omnibus diebus vite mee that we fal not from fayth and from the good purposes and good mynde where in we are Thou lorde muste buylde oure house or els we laboure in vayne Psalme .cxxvii. yf we thynke we can buylde it Thou muste founde it vppon fayth and that is thy gyft Thou must also sende thy grace afterwarde to establysh oure worke or els it wyll fayll and fall and when it is ones erected thou must also kepe it by the continuall influence of thy sayd grace or els oure kepinge were but a yelding vp ther of to our enemies Thou must be our beginning Et vt inhabitem in domo domini in longitudinem dierum and also our endynge And then shall we be sure to dwell in the house of the lorde for euer that is in the heauenly citye of Hierusalem For we knowe surely that yf oure earthly mansion where in we nowe dwel were dissolued ii Cothin v. we haue a buildinge ordeyned of God and habitacion not made wyth mannes hande but eternall in heauen where is perpetuall ioye and beatitude wythout ende ¶ Dauyd in the person of euerye penitent Christian confesseth his offences The .xxxii. Psalme attributyng to God his coÌ„uersion but nothing to hys workes or deseruinges AMonge all the beautyfull sloures of vertue that growe in the gardyne of maÌ„nes soule one of the most pleasaunt most necessary and most acceptable is humilitie Whose power was so great that it drewe the sonne of God the seconde person in diuinitie from heauen into the wombe of the meeke virgyn Mary whom of all other he chose to be his mother specially for hyr humility Wherwith she amoÌ„ge many other vertues was syngulerly endewed In thys humblenesse of estate Chryst our sauyoure beynge lord of al the worlde walked al the dayes of hys lyfe there in ended humblynge him selfe vnto the vyle death of the crosse The wyse humilitye of Abygayll pacifyed the furye of Dauid i. Reg xxv when he was mynded to kyll all the men of the house of hyr husbande Naball The humble submission of wycked Achab asswaged the wrath of god ii Reg. xxi and kepte the plage of vengeaunce from his house al the dayes of his life The great goodnes of thys vertue is made manifest by openyng the hainousnes of the vice coÌ„trary therto whych is pryde for through it the bryghte aungelles fell from heauen Pryde of the myndes of Adam and Eue to be as godes knowynge boeth good and euell Genes â— caused them to breake the commaundementes of God and therfore were cast out of paradise Pryde caused the wycked people after the floude to take in hande the buyldynge of the tower of Babel Genes xi whose top should reatche vnto heaueÌ„ to get them therby a perpetuall name Pryde made A man to inuente a waye to destroy the people of God Hâ—ster .vi. which at leÌ„ght turned to his owne destructioÌ„ iiii Reg. xix For the proud blasphemous wordes of Sennacherib kynge of Assiria agaynst God the aungell of the Lorde slew in one nyght .clxxxv. thousand of his hoste he shortly after in hys owne countrey was slayne by two of his owne sonnes Pryde caused Nabuchodonosor to be cast by god Daniel .iiii. from his kingdom and to feade lyke an oxe wyth grasse in the feldes the space of seuen
yeares tyll he knewe and confessed that all power commeth of the Lorde This vyce is yet the destruction of many christians at thys day Who thynke they may do good of there owne power and wheÌ„ they shew any good workes they glory of them not geuinge thankes to him that gaue them the grace to worke well Roma iiii They consyder not that by grace through fayth the wycked synner is made iust for all men were founde in synne and iustified by grace through fayth which boeth are the gyftes of God frely geueÌ„ and through theÌ„ are all the worckes of maÌ„ made good Luke .xviii. The proude pharesy made boast in his praiers of his good deades and dispysed his poore neyghboure which caused hys prayer not to be harde wheÌ„ the poore publicane standinge a fare of of humilitie durst not lyft vp his eyes to heauen but hertely knockynge hys brest sayd lorde be mercifull to me wretched synner whyche herty confession of his synnes was cause of his iustification Wherfore most graciouse Lorde our heauenly sather I considering the power of humilitie and the acknowledginge of a mannes offences wyth a penitent herte to be of so great efficacy I thy poore creature vnworthy to appeare before thy mighty maiestie do poure downe euen here before the my sacke that is ful wyth synnes which I haue coÌ„mitted euen from my youth They are great and many with oute number Neuertheles trustyng of thyne accustomed and naturall propertie to be mercifull to all synners that beynge sory for the committinge of theyr offences wyth all ther hertes call turne to the Marc. â— and knowinge that thou diddest send thy louynge sonne not to call those that seme in ther owne conceytes to be iust but to call those to repentaunce which confesse themselues to be synners I therfore lorde wyllynge by the helpe of thy grace vtterly to forsake synne and to fulfyll thy holy wyl here after desyre the humbly of forgeuenes Beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitates quo tis terta sunt peccata and to admitte me amoÌ„ge the nuÌ„bre of those that are blessed and theyr vnrightuousnes forgeuen I wyll not hyde from the my synnes neyther yet excusse them But I pray the Lorde to hyde them in the bloudy woundes of thy soÌ„ne Christe where they shal be put in perpetual obliuion Ezechiel xvi For who so couereth his owne iniquitie thou wylte dyscouer it to all the worlde at the daye of iudgement to hys shame Osâ—â—â—â— Thou wilt then haue him striped as naked as he was borne that is his shame shall not be hyd but manifest to al men in that day Wherfore I wyl not hyde my wounde my selfe to th entent that thou my good surgeoÌ„ mayst lay a plaister theron to couer it that the deuyll myne enemy shal neuer espy where it was Beatus vit cui noÌ„ imputabâ—â— dominus peccatuÌ„ nec est in spirituâ—â—s doluâ— Blessed is the maÌ„ vnto whom thou imputest no synne and in whose spirite ther is no gyle If I dyd fayne my selfe to be sorowfull and were not theÌ„ were there gyle in me But from the botome of my hert lord I am sory and aske the forgeuenes If I thynke I am iust hauing my coÌ„science loded wyth synnes then were there gyle in me but I knowe ther dwelleth no goodnes in me For yf euer ther were any it was thyne thyne handy worke not myne But synne I know I haue had and haue many and they be myne owne workmaÌ„shyp not thyne and whyle I held my tongue not coÌ„fessynge theÌ„ my bones that is QuoniaÌ„ tacui inuetarauerunt ossa mea oâ—clamarem tota diâ— my strength consumed awaye through dayly coÌ„playninge The powers of my soule waxed faynt with my silence which with declarynge my synnes through penitence are become strong and of force I kept close the faultes that I should haue declared or elles I excused them my good deades which I shoulde haue kepte close those euer I publyshed The synnes that I hidde remayne styll with me but the goodnes wherof I boasted iiii Reg. â— â–ª that I lost and the rewarde for it I am there in serued as was Ezechias the king of Iuda Who shewed to the messengers of Berodach BaladaÌ„s sonne to the kynge of Babilon all the ryches of golde syluer iewels and all that was in his treasorye Wherfore the prophet Esay prophecied vnto him that the day shoulde come whan all that was in his house and all that his father had laid vp in store shoulde be caryed to Babilon whych was fouÌ„de trew not long after in the dayes of zedechiah In lykewyse I dyd set my good deades which were my treasoure forth to the sale Wherfore I lost theÌ„ and well worthy Luke .xviii. for he that humbleth him selfe shal be exalted and he that exalteth him selfe shal be brought lowe But al is for the beste to those that wyll consyder thy callynges for because thy hande was so heauye vppon me both day and night Quoniam die ac nocie granata est super me manus tua connersus sum in ersina mea duÌ„ configitur spâ—â—a Iob .xix. scorging me wyth tribulatioÌ„s my moysture was lyke the drought in somer thy hande toutched me causyng me to take sorowe and thought neuertheles I was therby brought to know myne infirmities thy mighty power This weyght of thy hande was cause of myne humilitie my conscience was pryked with the pryke of remorse it was neuer quiet tyll I had acknowleged my synne and all myne iniquitie to thy maiesty I sayd in my hert and mynde I wyll acknowledge myne offence and accuse my selfe vnto the lorde DelictuÌ„ meum cognituÌ„ tibi feciâ— et iniusticiam meam non abscondi Diâ—i confitebor aduersum me iniusticiam meam domino et tu remisisti impietatem peccati mei and thou incontinently forgauest me the wyckednes of my synne So soone as I was determined no longer to hyde them thou Lorde streyghte waye forgaueste me Thyne eare was in my hert before that my voyce was in my mouth Thy mercye washed awaye my synne or euer my confessioÌ„ were in my mouth Luke xvii The ten lepers were healed of there leprosie in the waye as they were goynge to the priestes for there iudgement of the cure as Christe commauÌ„ded them to do Thou arte as ready to heare and forgyue as we are to confesse so that we accuse oure selues not the â—â—m iâ— as Adam dyd when he sayd the woman whom thou gauest me to beare me company she toke me of the fruite and I eate it Some of vs also accuse other and boast our selues as the pharisei dyd Luke â—viâ— and as al hipocrytes do They woulde disguyse them selues as Rebecca dyd her sonne Iacob Genes xxvii puttyng the skynnes of gootes about his necke and his haÌ„des to make him rough as was his brother Esau to disceiue therwith his father Isaac
Thou hast put vs into this present worlde to fyght and to striue with our enemies who coÌ„tinually assault vs. But thi grace maketh vs able to repel al their inuasions Thou sufferest vs not to be tempted aboue our strength And for our triumph thou rewardest vs with a crowne of glory and immortalitie For thys purpose of thy bountefull goodnes hast thou appoynted vs this place that is this worlde to trauayle in to the inteÌ„t that so oft as we do fall from the in this place we should lament mourne and wepe for our offences not doubting but thou through the merites of thy sonne Christ wilt mercifully receyue vs agayne into thy fauour geue the blessyng of thy grace whereby we shall haue a good wyl and disposition to ascende vp to the. Etenim benedictiones dabit legis lator And encrease of streÌ„gth to cleaue fast vnto the. Ibunt de fortitudine in fortitudinen The vngodlye fal from the descendyng douneward frome one vice to another but thi faithful elect increace dayly in goodnes And of the Lord coÌ„meth al our power strength to do good of thy sonne Chryst Iesus our maister our teacher gouernour Luke vi who promised that if we wepe and mourne here in this vale of myserye for our synnes Psalme .cxxvi. we shall here after laugh and be ioyful in eternal glori If we do sowe with heuines we shall reape with gladnes If we perceauer good stroÌ„g champions here in battel we shal for our reward behold thi glorious face in Sion that heauenly mansion Videbitur deus deoruÌ„ in Sion we shall se the face of thy sonne Chryst who is thy wysedome and thy power whych whoso seeth enioyeth all ioyes and pleasures To se that delectable syght i Corhin i. oure hertes do much desyre of the that art the Lord of hostes Domine deus virtutuÌ„ exaudi orationem meaÌ„ auribus petelye deus Iacob For thys we make humble peticion to the that art the God of Iacob Genes xxxii who wrestled with thyne angell and preuayled whose name thou diddest chauÌ„ge diddest call hym Israel that is the fear or beholder of God EueÌ„ so make me of Iacob that is of a stroÌ„g and good wrestler against al myne enemies in this worlde to become Israel that is that I may after this lyfe se thyne incomprehensible deitie Lorde of Lordes in Sion to the full contentation bothe of my soule and body We are much vnworthy to obtayne any thyng of the consideryng our vnkyndnes shewed to the and our wretched estate wherin we remayne Protector noster aspiâ—e deus Neuertheles Lord we pray the to be our defeÌ„ce and protectioÌ„ through thy grace not for our merites but for the merites of thy most entierly beloued sonne Chryst thyne only annoynted aboue all other with the oyle of ioye and gladnes Collos i. He is our head we are the meÌ„bres of hys body He dwelleth in his faythful and thei in hym Who so receiueth any of hys electe Mathe. â— receiueth him He was incarnate for vs suffered death for vs bare all our iniquities on his backe and arose agayne for oure iustification Wherefore Lord we doubte not but thou through the infusion of thy grace Respite in faciè Christi tui Roma v. wylt looke vpon hym in vs that is to shewe vs mercy for his sake So that where abouÌ„dance of synne hath bene there may nowe reigne more plentifulnes of grace through hym that all the workes of darkenes being throwne away and all vanities of this worlde beyng cast behynd our backes we maye enter into the court of thy bryght heauenly Ierusalem Quia melior est dies vna in atriis tuis super milia wher one dayes abydyng is better then a thousand daies being in this world For here is continual trouble and disquietnes there is perpetual rest and traÌ„quillitie yet many there be whoÌ„ the being still here in this world woulde wel content and satisfie and all for lacke of fayth Thei thinke of this life they haue knowledge and experience so haue they not of the other They are loth to lose a thyng certayn for a thyng vncertayne But thy faythfull knowe through fayth that wheÌ„ in this world the day passeth sone away and then commeth the nyghte and darknes accordyng to the reuolution of tyme Apoca. xxi in thi celestial citie is continual day and neuer night All is there but one day a day eternal a lyghte euerlastyng The absence of the sunne in this preasent world causeth the night But in thy citie thy sonne Chryst whiche is the sonne of iustice is euer continually present causyng there one continuall day whych day encludeth many thousande yeres Yea it endureth for euer sence tyme there hath no place for as thou wast without begynnyng before tyme so shalt thou Lord Titus i be without endyng after tyme regning with thy chosen and blessed spirites in ioye euerlastyng in thy noble palace ful of blysse and of al couÌ„fort In which house Elegi ad limen sedeâ— in domo dei mei magâ—quam habitare in tabernaculis impietatis Mathe. xi I had rather be a dore keper then to dwell in the tentes of the vngodly Thy holy seruaunt Ihon the Baptist by the testimony of thy sonne Chryst was the greatest most perfect man that was vpon the earth Neuer theles the lest in the kyngdome of heauen whiche was angel was greater theÌ„ he Exod. ii Moyses was brought vp by the daughter of Pharao and reputed as her sonne where he myghte in great wealth haue continued if he had would But wheÌ„ he was great through fayth he refused to be called her soÌ„ne and chose rather to suffer aduersitie with the people of God â—breos xi then to enioy the pleasures of synne for a season and al for that he had respect to the reward to come in thy heauenly house All honour al pleasures and all thynges in this world are mouable and transitory as are tentes tabernacles The ioyes there are stedfast and perdurable and geuen of thy goodnes â—athe v. â—uia misericordiam â—ritatem deligit deus â—tiam et gloriam dadominus Non pribit bonis eos qui â—bulaÌ„t in perfectione tuâ—iâ—â—athew iâ— to those that are meke and humble in spirit Thou dost graunt to thy faythfull mercifull Lord of thy great goodnes both grace and glorye so that no good thing shal be witholden from them that lyue a godly lyfe Thou fyrst shewest thy mercy and geuest grace calling sinners to repentaunce as thou diddest call Paull from persequution and Mathew from the receiuyng of custome Then of thy verite iustice thou geuest to those that thou hast called the reward of immortalitie whyche reward or crowne of glorye Timo. vi thy sayed Apostle Paull claymed as a dutie after hys battayle Thou arte therin dettour to al iust people of thy promyse not of theyr deseruinges
the holy gost world without ende ¶ The prophet Dauid beholdynge the fall of Adam beynge for synne caste oute of Paradise The Cii Psalme and his sorowfull penaunce made after to God therfore set forth this psalme of penaunce in the person of AdaÌ„ mete to be sayd by all his posteritie that are penitent inwardly for theyr offences to his hyghnes coÌ„mitted and desyre to be restored to the fauoure of God whych through synne they haue lost O moste blessed father of heauen the fouÌ„tayne of al grace and goodnes Ephes ii â—mans .x. that art rych in mercie and plentifull in geueyng the same to al that faythfully cal vpon thy name lorde that haueuyng a sonne no lesse rich in powre wisdome knoledge and mercy theÌ„ thou art thy selfe didest not spare to seÌ„d hym from thy heaueÌ„ly palaice downe to the earth eueÌ„ into the wombe of a virgin for the saluacion of mankynd to declare thyne abouÌ„dauÌ„t loue towardes vs thou didest make him pore whiche before was riche Corin. viii to the intent that we whyche before were very poore should by hys pouertie be made ryche that he who before was all one wyth the in thi diuine substaÌ„ce might now be made one with vs that are membres of the body wherof he is the head Domine exaudi oratiâ—nem meam et clamor deus ad te ueniat HarkeÌ„ good lord geue eare vnto my praier Let my cry and hertie peticion ascende vp before the sight of thy maiestie The comyng of thy mercifull soÌ„ne did make me veri rich But the vilenes of myne owne actes hath cast me downe and made me veri pore and miserable The greatnes of mine offences hathe caused the to tourne awaie thi face from me withdrawing thi grace whiche was the cause of al my good wyl good workes Thou caÌ„st fynde no good thing in me worthy of thy fauour Wherfore Lorde beholde the face of Christe thy dearly beloued sonne my brother my mediatour For his sake geue me that which of my selfe I am much vnworthi to obteine of the. Ne abscondas faciem tuam a me In die tribulationis mee inclina ad me aurè â—uam Shewe thy delectable couÌ„tenaunce vnto me Loke on me with thy pitiful eie And in the time of my trouble encline thyne eare to me I am neuer withoute trouble Myne olde enimies daylye assaulte and ver me Wherefore I wyll not cease daylye to call vppon the. But specially at the hour of my death Lord heare me and defend me at whych tyme my sayd enimies wyll most busilye inuade me Roman ii Indignacion wrath tribulacion and anguishe shall then come vpon the soule of euery man that doth euyl Before that troublous tyme lord heare me But wyth which of thine eares With the eare of thy iustice No I besech the. For that eare must hear myne accusers to my condemnation My prayer must be hard by thyne ear of mercy from whense coÌ„meth forgeuenes to those that are gilty so that penitence folowe the iniquitie Wyth this eare Inquacumque die innocauero te uelociter exaudi me Isaye heare me when I call vnto the and that with spede So that accordynge to the greatnes and multitude of my tribulations maye be the spedye receiuing of my peticion Which shal not be to craue of the aboundauÌ„ce of earthlye goodes aboue that honest necessitie dooth require But the abundaunce of thy grace in this lyfe and for thy glorye euerlastinge in another life This hast thou of thy mere liberalitie promised to graunt to all that in stedfast fayth call vppon the. Iaco. i This hastie callyng vpon the doste thou delite in Esaye .lviii. and as thy prophet Esay sayth thou art as redye to answere me as I am redy to cal vnto the. Wherfore make spede in hearynge as I am dryuen by necessitye to be hastye in callynge considering the short tyme of myne abidyng in thys worlde Thou diddest indue man in his creation with immortalitie but synne brought in death to al that bere lyfe Consumpti sunt sicut fuinâ—dies mei so that my dayes are consumed awaye lyke smoke Age ouertaketh youth before I am aware of him youth stealeth from me preuely as the smoke doth vanysh away after it is once out of the chymney Yea many tymes before age coÌ„meth death priuely woundeth keaping none order in his arresting but al according to the time onely to the before knowne Iob .ix. Thus my time passeth away more swyftly then a runner or then a ship that is good vnder sayle and as an Egle that hasteth to get his pray For this cause I haue more neade of thy spedi helpe Also my bones are brent vp as it were a fyre brand Ossa mea quasi frira contabuerunt or as meat ouer dried that sticketh to the friyng panne As my bones do sustayne or vpholde the flesh of my body so do the powres of the soule susteine the soule Which beyng moysted and mayntained by the fat moysture of thy grace are liuelye and quicke able to work acceptably But thy grace being once with drawne all remayneth drye burned to the panne Thei haue no powre of them selues to worke any good worke or to thynke any good thought And if that whiche is of most force in me be of so small force efficasie Alas in what case then is the corrupt flesh bred naturally in concupisceÌ„ce What goodnes caÌ„ we loke to fynd therin of it selfe more then we would loke for a throne to brynge furthe pleasaunt apples Percussus sum quasi tenum et arefactum est cor meum Ful well may mankynd be like ned to grasse For so loÌ„g as he through thy grace worketh the workes of iustice so long is he grene florishing and liuely But so sone as sinne which is the sythe or sickle of our enemy the deuyl doth cut of the grasse by the roote causyng man to fall from the obedience dewe vnto thy maiestie and from thy lawes he theÌ„ waxeth dry withered and with euery temptation falleth from vice to vice and becommeth very barreÌ„ of good workes The cause is for that wheÌ„ maÌ„ leauith the fouÌ„datioÌ„ which should be his norishyng his strength and his life he must nedes consume wast and dry Quia oblitus sum coÌ„medere panem meum I haue left thy holy word and commaundemeÌ„tes which are as bread to the soule geuing nutriture and moysture by fayth and charite and haue eaten of the fruit of the tree which thou forbadest me I haue with our father Adam folowed the illusion of the serpent and tasted of sinne Wherfore my leaues wyther my fruyt is destroied Ecclesi vi and I am left as a dry and a barreÌ„ tre without any goodnes Wherfore I left the liuely food of thi holy word that semed bitter at the first tast and in steade therof receiued swete poysen that is death of both bodye and soule throughe the desolation of
synne The voyce of thy terrible sentence geuen to all mankynd for his transgression caused me to lament mourne and to grone for feare therof so that my bones wyll scarse cleaue to my flesh A voce gemitê° met uix ossibê° heret pellis mea Thy displesure defaceth al my strength and al my powre I haue no comfort nor ioy of any thing that I was wont to haue comfort of But lyke the Pellicane I draw me to solitary places Similis factus sum pellicano solitudinis bewayling the euyl which I haue done against thi highnes The Pellicane as some reporte kylleth her owne byrdes For which vnnatural act she mourneth .iii. daies after then with her beke plucketh away the flesh of her owne brest tyl it blede whych bloude she letteth droppe vpon her dead birdes With the heat wherof they reuiue agayn Thus do I lord wyth my birdes that is with the good workes whych by thy grace I haue brought furthe my synne afterward commytted hath caused theim to be dead and of no valure But yet by peniteÌ„ce and humble praier for thi grace which commeth of grace the sayed dead workes are quickened agayne receiue their pristine force Job iii This thinge to bring better to passe I learnyng of the Pellicane do a voyd the companye of worldlye people which should draw me backe from my good purpose I banysh also from myn hert or mynd all delightes all pleasures the troble also of worldly busines desyryng quietnes in body and mynde Our fyrst father Adam was a PellicaÌ„ toutching some part of that birdes properties For through his dissobedience he slewe all his birdes that is all vs that came of his progenie in whiche death we had still remained had not one other gentle louyng and natural Pellicane thy blessed sonne Iesus Chryst shed hys bloud for our viuication wherby he hath restored vs to thi fauour mercy through the sacrameÌ„te of baptisme through the hertie repentaunce and quickned vs agayne who were before dead in synne He sleyth and caÌ„ rayse agayne Deute xxxii He striketh and after healeth as he dyd Paul in his persecution Howe much therefore are we bound to his grace that without any of our deseruynges willingly offred hym self to the death for our redemptioÌ„ and to thi maiestie also Who diddest not spare thyne onelye begotten sonne but of thy pure pitie sendest him doune to suffre all opprobry and vile death on the crosse for our sakes Wherfor I am much ashamed to hold vp myne eyes to heauen towarde thy hyghnes beyng so vnkynd to the agayne so many wayes Shame causeth me to withdrawe me from al coÌ„pany as doth the nyght crow or the shricke oule Factus sum quasi â—ubo solitudinum to olde for letten houses sekyng my food out of al lyght and sight of men And if I could I would also hyde me from the as dyd Adam when he had trespased against the in paradise Genes .iii. I loued the workes of darkenes therfore I fled froÌ„ the lyght of the bryghte sonne of iustice For this cause do I sygh sorowe and bewayle my wretchednes So that I can take no slepe in the nyght Vigilaui factus sum sicut passet solitarius ie tecto Tota die exprobrabaÌ„t mihi intenici mei Et qui laudabant me aduersum me iurabaÌ„t I mourne as doth the sparrow that sitteth alone vnder the eues of the house wantyng her comforte And to augment my griefe myne enemyes reuile me al the day long with open rebukes and slanders Agayn my fayned fryndes laugh me to scorne and are sworne together against me Many geue me fayre wordes and yet intend my distruction As dyd the Pharises and the Herodians to thy blessed sonne Christ Mathew .xxiiii. when they sayed vnto him they knewe hym to be true and to teache the waye of God truly Wherfore thei wold know his mynd whether it were lauful to pay tribute vnto Ceasar Thei praised hym first but that was to trap hym in his answer by the liberal shewyng of his mynde Such false fained frendes are more dangerous and also more odible then open enemyes Esai iii. But both these sortes are a plage sente vnto me for mine iniquities I am neuer quiet but in coÌ„tinual feare Quia cinete tanquam palem maÌ„ducabam I eate ashes with my bread that is I consider that I was made of yearth and there vnto I shall returne In the bitternes of suche thoughtes I eate my breade and I myngle my drynke with the teares that fall from myne eyes and all because I perceiue the to be angry wyth me Et potum meum cum â—leru miscebam Knowyng that at the tyme of thy commyng to the dredful general iudgemente the storme of thyne indignation shall go furthe and shall fall doune vpoÌ„ the heades of the vngodly A facie ite indignacionis tue Iermie xxiii Quia eleuasti me et elisisti me Thou hast lyfted me vp of a great hyght in that thou madest me lyke vnto thyn image toutching my reasonable soule hast geuen me power by thi grace to inherit the euerlastyng ioyes of heauen bothe body and soule if I did liue here after thy commaundementes What greater gyft canst thou gyue me Lorde then to haue the fruition of the that art al in all thynges Howe canst thou lyfte me hygher then to eternall beatitude But then alas Sapien. ix thou hast letten me fall doune agayne For thou hast ioyned my noble soule with an earthli heauye and a frayle bodye the weight and burden wherof draweth doune my mynde and hert from the consideration of thi goodnes and from wel doyng vnto al kindes of vices and to the regardyng of temporall thynges accordyng to his nature The earthly mansion kepeth downe the vnderstandyng Iob .xxx. Thus settyng me vp as it were aboue the wynd thou hast geueÌ„ me a very great fal I am in creation aboue al other kind of earthly creatures and almost equal with angels But beyng in this estate thou hast knyt a knot there to that for breakyng the lest of thy commaundementes I shal suffre dampnatioÌ„ So that with out thi continual mercye and helpe I am in far worse case herein then any brute brast whose life or soule dieth with the body And what is the time of the abydyng of mankynde in this worlde Of truthe but shorte All though we haue not the grace earnestly to thinke theron My daies passe awaye lyke a shaddowe and I am withered like grasse GrauÌ„t me therfore Lorde Dies mei sicut vmbra declinauerunt et ego sicut fenum atui that in the shadowe of this lyfe I may haue grace to se light I meane to haue knowledge of the of thy wayes and of thy holy worde Psalm C.xviii Which geueth light vnderstandyng vnto babes For after this lyfe ther is no place nor tyme left of repentauÌ„ce and sence my
to know the as their Lord and creatour Mathe. xxiii and thi sonne as their redemer and that with a great louyng affectioÌ„ as the henne calleth her chickens to crepe vnder her winges but she refused the. She wold not answer vnto thy call She folowed straung Gods She did not work accordyng to thy lawes But thy second Ierusalem thy holy churche our mother gathered of thy faythfull beleuers doth answer Lorde vnto thy call Respondit ei Thou sendest the dewes of thy grace vppon vs and we brynge furth the fruit of good workes to thyne honour and the helpe of our neighbours But whereby els Lord In via fortitudinis sue but in the power strength of thy grace not of our owne power nether for any our merites but frely of thy gyft We kept thy lawes through thy myght not of our infirmitie which of it selfe is stroÌ„g to nothing but to sinne Paucitatem dierum meorum nuncia mihi This thy churche desireth to knowe howe long it shal abyde here in this worlde sufferynge greate tribulation and temporal afflictions by antichrist and his complices the enemyes of thy fayth To whom thou hast made answere by the mouth of thy blessed sonne that thy power and his assisteÌ„ce shal be with her vnto the ende of the world but she and her chyldren beynge desirous wythe thine apostle Paul to be losed and to be with the and thy soÌ„ne Chryst Philip. i knowyng surely that if this earthly mansion wherin they now dwel were destroyed that thei haue a buyldyng ordayned of the for them ii Corhi v an habitacion not made with handes but eternall in heauen They I say accoÌ„pte all the tyme froÌ„ Adam vnto the ende of the world to be a short tyme as it is in dede to be compared to eternitie It is as a droppe of water is in comparison of the sea Ne reuoces me in dimiâ—io dierum incorum The desyre of thy syght in this ioyful eternitie causeth al vs that are her childreÌ„ to desire the to bryng vs to the ende of this short tyme of the abyding in this world tyll that houre to continue thy grace and louyng fauoure vnto vs and not to leaue vs at any tyme in the mydle of our age But bryng all our tyme by thy gratious assistaunce to an ende that after oure shorte temporal dayes In generatione et generationem anni tui we may se thyne eternall yeres which indure through all generations Al tymes passe away quickly but eternitie abideth for euer This must of reason be true for eternitie is thi very substaunce which suffreth no mutabilitie but abydeth euer wythout alteration Whiche substaunce whoso seketh to knowe it is the same that it is Exod. iii. Wherfore to Moyses desirynge when thou sendest hym to the Israelites to knowe thi name that he myght declare it vnto them thou diddest answer hym that thou art euen the same whiche thou arte Initio tu domine terraÌ„ fundasti opera manuum tuarum sunt celi that is thy name Thou wast before the erth was made Thou Lord hast layd the fouÌ„dation thereof and the heauens are the worke of thy handes thy word made them thy handes that is thi powre created theÌ„ Ipsi peribunt .ii. Peter .iii. Luke .xxi. and al they shall perysh The earth and al creatures here in this base region shall at the last perishe by fyre The heauens shall also peryshe not in substance but in that they shall leaue theyr mocions and naturall operations For there shal be no nede of the vse or seruyce of theim when the numbre of thyne elect shal be fulfylled for whom they were made The bodies also of thy reasonable creatures shall perish and shal be raysed againe cleane of another sort so that all thynges shall peryshe accordyng to thy godlye institution The order and fashyon wherof to vs is vnknowne But thou Lorde Tu autem permanes et omnes quasi uestimentum atterentur shalte endure in thy glorye euerlasting almyghtie eternall and omnipotent God hauyng knowledg of all power to doo al thynges they shall waxe olde and weare as dooth a garment And as a vesture shalt thou chaunge them and they shal be chaunged As clothes are a garmeÌ„t to couer the body Et sicut pallium mutabis eos mutabuÌ„tur so are the bodyes garmeÌ„tes to the soules Thys garment of the body wyl in short space weare away perish shal be chauÌ„ged froÌ„ corporal to spiritual i. Cori. xv froÌ„ mortalitie to immortalitie But the soule being made lyke thine image touching the spiritual qualities of theÌ„ Tu autem idem ipse es ei anni tui non deficient shal remayne as meÌ„bres of the of thy soÌ„ne that is theyr head That is to say as thou lord art immortal and inuisible and abydest styl the same which thou wast in the beginnyng and as thy yeares shall not fayle but abyde eternall so shall the soules of thyne elect enioye pleasaunt immortalitie The soules of the wycked be also immortal but in paine Thy louers and seruauÌ„tes shal be immortall in ioye and felicitie The risyng of thy sonne Iesus Chryst their heade from death to lyfe euerlastyng is an assured token of their resurrection at the last daye to ioye euerlastyng Filii scruotum tuoruÌ„ habitabunt et semen eorum ante faciem tuaÌ„ permanebit And the chyldren of thy seruauntes shall continue and their sede shall prosper in thy syght Thy seruauntes were the prophetes and the Apostles of thy sonne Chryst of whom al that sence their time haue bene faithful haue bene engendered throughe fayth by their holye preachyng whyche chyldren with their fathers the Apostles abyde fast in the hope of thy promises to receyue at the last ioye euerlastynge and why truely for their sede that is theyr faythful workes are alowed of thy maiestie The barren tree is not alowed of the but the fruitfull Ioseph the sonne and the good seede of Jacob went before his father into Egipt Denai xiv to prepare for hym by thy prouidence all that should serue for the auauncemeÌ„t of hym and his succession So Lord we besech the sende vs thy grace that we may so sowe the sede of our good workes in this worlde that they may declare vs to be thy faithful seruauntes and that they maye be acceptable frut in thy sight for that thei are planted in fayth for whych thou hast prepared a place for vs in heauen where thou abidest styll as thou arte wyth thy blessed sonne and the holye spirit proceadyng from you both in euerlastyng beatitude worlde wythout ende ¶ The prophet exhorteth euerye faythfull person to geue prayses and thankes to Christ for the manifold benefites of hym receaued The Liii Psalme PRayse the Lorde o my soule Benedit anima mea dominum et omnia in teriora mea nomen sanctum eius and all that
the holy gost Beholde howe mercifull and benificiall he hathe euer bene to those that beleued and trusted in hym As to Noe to Abraham Isaac and Iacob to Ioseph Moyses Iosue Gedeon Dauid Solomon Hezechias and to other innumerable in the olde tyme to whom was plentifullye shewed the experience of his mercy and goodnes And as he hath declared his pitie in helpyng his seruauntes Et iudicium omnibus iniuriam patientibus so hath he expressed his power in reuengyng them on theyr enemyes whyche oppressed theÌ„ As of Pharao kyng of Egypt Of Achab kynge of Israell Senacherib kynge of the Assirians Haman the Macedonian Herod and manye other it hath bene playnely shewed Wherefore thincke surely that the same mercifull God that was so benificiall to his fryndes in the olde tyme is nether wylbe lesse benificiall almaner of wayes to theym that beleue and haue a sure trust in hym beynge of hys Churche here militauÌ„t He shewed to Moyses his waies Notas fecit Moysi vias suas Filiis Israel voluntates suas his lawes his preceptes and to the children of Israel he she-his power and declared his wyll But by Christ his only sonne he manifested to vs his deuine plesure in the euangelical lawe And as great wonders hath he shewed to the declaration of his power confirmation of hys lawes and to the punishment of the enemies of his spouse the church Howe full of compassioÌ„ mercye is the Lorde to all those that are synners Howe great is his patience howe riche is his goodnes howe gratious is his sufferance so long to abyde the conuersion of sinners from theyr iniquities Roma ii Esaye xxx He suffereth and abydeth to the intent he myghte haue mercye on them If thei amend not he then gently scourgeth them to cal theim vnto hym Aunswere therefore when he calleth Roma ii Take no day for thy conuertyng least thou rayse his wrath in the daye of hys angre and iust iudgemeÌ„t Trust not so much to his mercy that thou despeyse his iustice Let not his long sufferyng of the for thy conuersion turne to thyne vtter destruction Repente in tyme. Aske grace and mercy earnestlye and he wyll not fayle to geue them vnto the. He cannot do agaynst his nature Non imperpetuum ita sectur neque meternum comminabitur His angre endureth not for euer His thretenynges cease in a short whyle if thou cease froÌ„ thyne iniquitie A lytle while doth he forsake the Isaye .liiii. but with great mercifulnes wyll he take the vp to hym When he is angrye he hideth hys face from the for a seasoÌ„ But through his euerlasting goodnes wyl he pardon the sayth the prophet Esaye Non secundum peccata nostra fecit nobis neque secundum iniquitates nostras tetribuet nobis Nother doth he deale with vs accordynge to the quantitie of our synnes nor rewarde vs accordyng to the multitude of oure iniquities for our sinnes excede the numbre of the sandes of the sea ii Paral. xxxiii in oracione Manasses regis Iude. and our iniquities are multiplied very sore but God in place of great plages sendeth smale punishmentes And where our infinit synnes requyre paynes infinite yet to call vs to penaunce he sendeth manye temporall afflictions in thys worlde to kepe oure soules from destruction and to cause vs to enioy the lyght of the lyuyng Iob .xxxiii. The lyght of euerlastynge bryghtnesse and the trewe light that neuer shal be dimmyd How canst thou therfore my soule gyue coÌ„dyngne thaÌ„kes or prayses to God for his inestimable goodnes and grace to the shewed Quantum enim excelsius est celum terra taÌ„tum coÌ„firmata est misericordia eius super timentes cum For loke howe hygh the heauen is from the earth so great is his mercy also to them that feare hym God hath appoynted the heauen to couer and compasse the earth on al partes and to sende downe somtyme wynde somtyme rayne somtyme heate sometyme colde sometyme fayre somtyme foule weather accordyng to the necessities of man And as it is impossible but the heaueÌ„ shoulde couer the earth and cause the benefites thereof to be shewed so is it impossible but that God wyll couer defende gouerne his seruauÌ„tes whyche lyue in the feare of him For he doth euer compasse hys people and saueth them Psalm Cxxiiii as the ball of hys eye from all daunger And he sayeth by his prophete Hieremie Hierem. xxxiii may the couenaunt be broken which I haue made wyth the day and the nyght that there shoulde not be daye and nyght in dew season Then maye my couenaunte also be broken whyche I made wyth my seruaunt Dauyd that is wyth all that well and trewlye serue and feare me The sonne also of God the seconde person in diuinitie being in heauen eternally ineffable impassible and equall in power wyth hys father vouchsaffed to come downe from hys celestial throne into the base region of this worlde to be incarnate of the virgyn Marie and to suffer death for the redemption of mankynde so dyd his mercy stretche from heauen to earth and raysed vs vp to lyfe agayne whyche before were dead in synne Quantum distat orieÌ„s â—b occidente longe feâ—t iniquitates nostras â— nobis â–ª And as the wynde dryueth awaye thycke mystes from the face of the earth so by hys death he droue away our synnes settyng them as farre from vs as the East is from the weste Lykewyse as when the sunne aryseth the worlde receyueth lyghte Agayne when it is auayled darkenes of the nyght approcheth Euen so when grace commeth Ephe. â— the soule is made bryghte and shynynge whiche by sinne agayne is made foule and darke Remembre therfore my soule what displeasure it is for the mortal body to liue in darkenes lacking the syght of the carnall eye in thys worlde Tobie ii as dyd blinde Tobie And therby thou shalt know what hurte the spiritual darknes of sinne bryngeth to the soule of maÌ„ Eccle. â— Wherof in figure the stoborne Egyptians had one plage of darkenes thycke and palpable accordynge to the darknes of theyr synnes and disobedience agaynst God WheÌ„ the children of Israell that is the faythful beholders of God had in the same countrey lyght in al places where they dwelled The grace of God expelled from them all suche darknes of synne They feared God and serued hym faythfully in theyr hertes durynge the tyme of theyr oppression by the Egyptians but after beyng at libertie they waxed wanton and kycked agaynste the Lorde that had delyuered them Be thou therfore glad wheÌ„ aduersitie commeth For that is the mooste soueraigne medicine for the soule gyuen by the hygh phisition to suppresse the proude fleshe that rebelleth agaynst the spirite and therby to make man call for hys grace Sicut miscretur pateâ— filiorum misertus est dominus timentibê° se Hebre. xii And herein thynke the mooste bounde to the father
in dominum Psalm .xxii. Rom. viii euen froÌ„ the breastes of my mother and by the same hope I trust fyrmely to be saued The good husband maÌ„ ploweth his ground soweth it reapith and thresheth his corne and al vpon hoope of the profyte i. Corhint ix whyche thereon ariseth Euen so Lorde wyl I abide in hope and trust of thi glory that is to come and that not onely in youth A custodia matutina vsque ad noctem or one tyme onely of my lyfe but continually froÌ„ the mornyng watch vnto the nyght from the tyme of youth in which thou gauest me fyrst my descretion vnto the laste ende of my lyfe For whosoeuer casteth away hys hope before the night of death come loseth al that he watched for before Genes xii The wife of Loth kept wel her way of a great whyle styll lokyng on forward but at the last she coulde not forbeare but loked backe vpon her couÌ„try wherin she before had plesure and was turned into a saltston It was not without a great misterye that the Leuites were commaunded to offre vnto thee Lorde Leuit. i bothe the head and the tayle of the beast offred for sacrifice Wherby is meÌ„t that thou dost not alowe a good beginnyng vnles there folowe also a good ende For he that continueth to the ende shal be saued This hope in thi promise hath my poresoule firmly reposed in her bosome or brest Mathew .xxiiii. and this hope it is mete that al Israel Speret Israel in dominum that is all chrysten menne which by faith se God should haue For blessed is the man which trusteth in the merciful God and curssed are they that put theyr trust in man Of thi grace and mercy only cometh al our goodnes Thy mercy forgeueth dayly our sinne Quia apud dominum misericordia the painful death of thi sonne Christ deliuered vs from al the paynes dewe for our offeÌ„ces Et copiosa apud eum redemptio Thou boughtest vs not with golde and siluer or any such vile price nether yet with the bloud of a goate or any other beast 1. Peter .i. But with the precious bloud of that lambe without spot thy blessed sonne Whose death had bene sufficient for a hundreth thousand such worldes The greatnes of thy loue caused the plentiful payment of the price of our redemption Ecclesi xxxix Thi blissing did flow vpon vs as a mightie flodde whose greate inundations do moysten all the grounde The charite of thi sonne hath brente vp and consumed by his death al our iniquities Wherfore the faithful beyng thus deliuered from all daungers by thyne onelye goodnes maye nowe geue praises and thanckes vnto thy myghtie maiestie restyng in hope to haue after this lyfe the thyng for whiche thei so long haue hoped which is ioye euerlastiÌ„g through the perfect visioÌ„ of thi blissed deitie euen as it is Which who so seeth enioyeth all thinges that his hert can desire The C.xxxviii Psal ¶ The faythfull man gyueth prayse to God wyth thaÌ„kes for his mercie shewed to him and exhorteth all other to do the same THe myghtie power of thi deuine maiestie O Lord of Lordes and God of al Gods with the plentifull aboundauÌ„ce of thi goodnes dayly declared to al mankynd Deute â— enforceth me to consider myne owne weakenes and insufficiencie in yeldyng to the any recompence Thou Lord arte omnipotent and madest all thynges of naughte I am thy symple creature made wyth thy hande and withoute thy helpe iiii Reg. v. I am able to do no good thynge Thou art the God eternall besyde whom there is no God I am a worme of the vyle earth not worthy to beare the name of a chrystian man for that through myne owne act of synne I haue defaced the beaultie of the principall part of man which is my soule made to thy godly image Neuertheles synce thou art the refourmer of mens hertes and the inspiratour of all grace and goodnes I mooste humblye beseche the to correcte by thy power that whyche throughe my frayltie is a mysse Redres by thy pitie that whiche I haue marred through my follye make me able to yelde vnto the that whiche thou requirest of me that is to acknowledge myne owne insufficiencie CoÌ„fitâ—bor tibi domine and to rendre vnto the noble prayses and louyng thankes for thy manifolde gyftes of grace wherwith thou hast of thi mere leberalitie endued both my soule and my body Make me worthy to laude the which by no meanes maye be but by wyping away al myne iniquities Ecclesi xv In toto corde meo For thy prayses be not semely in the mouthe of a synner Yea Lorde I pray the enflame my hert with the loue of the. So that from the botome therof I maye speake them and thine honour to extol not myne nor to loue any thyng in this worlde but the and for the. Thou art the true God and sauiour and there is none els but thou Esaye .xlv. Out of thy mouth cometh the worde of ryghteousnes whiche no man may turne Wherfore al other Gods set a syde to the onelye wyll I synge prayses and confesse the onely to be the liuyng God and that wyl I knoledge before the hole congregation of the faythful ii Corin. vi Adorabo conuersus ad templum sanctum tuum Thou knowest the inwardes of the hert of man and in the hertes of the faythful is thy seat or resting place The soules of the iust are the temples wherin thou dost inhabit To this temple wyl I turne my selfe by consideryng the estate of myne owne soule which wheÌ„ by thy grace I make clene of vices then am I mete to receiue the to honour the to geue praises to thy high maiestie Actes .xvii. Since that thou beyng Lorde of heauen and earth and of al that therin is coÌ„tayned delitest not to dwel in temples made with maÌ„s handes Dauid wold haue made the a temple and was forbidden by the Prophet Nathan to whoÌ„ thou saydest thou wast not vsed to dwel in any house ii Regum .vii. iii. Regum .v. And although thou diddest afterwarde cause Salomon his sonne to buylde the a material house for the congregatioÌ„ to assemble in and therin to honour the yet chifely Lord the hert or soule of man is thy pleasaunt habitation Wherfore Christ thy sonne sayde to the woman of Samarie Iohn .iiii. that nether on that mouÌ„tayn nor yet in Hierusalem should men worshyp the but that the true worshippers shold worship the in spirit and in truth The true worshippers must leaue earthly affections and inwardlye beholde the spiritual heauenly ioyes desiryng to be the pertakers of them with the aungels So shal they beyng thy holy temple here on earth behold thy noble spiritual temple in heauen Et confitebor nominâ— tuo super misericordia tua et veritate tua Thus shal we worthely praise thy
name for two the most special benefites that thou hast shewed vs that is for thy great mercy wherby thou hast forgeuen put awaye al our synnes and then for thy verite of iustice wherby thou wilt vndoutly perfourme thy geÌ„tle promises made to vs in rewardyng vs for the obseruyng of thy preceptes And as these be the wayes by whych thou shewest thy selfe to vs and dost approch neare vs euen so graunt vs Lord that we shewyng the same to our neighbours may also approche nere vnto the. I meane that thou wilt geue vs grace to haue compassion on those that haue nede of our helpe and sucour and also to be indifferent and vpryght in iudgement to all men So that these two vertues may appere to be planted by the in vs. O howe plentiful is thy goodnes to all that loue the. Marc. xiii Thy promises to them made are merueilous great yet neuer was one iote of theÌ„ vnperfourmed although to men thei seme vnpossible As for example amoÌ„g many I wyl onely take Abraham the father of al faythfull to whom was a chylde promysed to be borne of his olde wyfe Sara Genes xvii Genes xâ—i whiche agaynst the course of nature thou dyddest perfourme Thou diddest also promyse hym that his sede should be increased to the multitude of the starres of the firmameÌ„t or as the sandes of the sea bankes that is to a nombre past numbring which after beside all mennes expectation thou broughtest to passe Genes xxii And all thys Lorde dyddest thou for thy names sake Quo niam magnificasti super omne nomen sanctum tuum thou wylt euer haue thy worde founde true and also magnified for thyne owne honoure and glory and for our comoditie Vppon the therefore wyll I styll call In quacunque die inuotauâ—ro te exaudi me trustyng that thou wylt shortlye heare me I wyl also cal vpon the myghtie name of thy sonne Iesus Chryst Marc. xvi In whose name the faythfull haue and dayly do cast out deuyls from the possessed thei haue spoken and do speake with newe tonges They kyll the serpentes and if thei drynke anye deadly thynge it shal not hurt them that is they leaue their wycked myndes and deuylyshe workes in whiche they before led their lyues they speake thy holye worde and set furthe the veritie leauynge all lyes and deceyte They doo suppresse the suggestions of the olde serpent Sathan pluckynge oute the stynge of hys tayle wherewyth he was accustomed to wounde them and if at anye tyme they haue consented to sinne and receyued his poysen it shall not hurt theim For Chryst on whose name they made inuocation purgeth theim cleane thereof after theyr hertie repentaunce So that to the good faythfull people theyr faull into synne is nowe tourned to good to theim and to theyr profyte Multiplicabis in anima mea virtutem Theyr soules thereby receyue greater force and strength euer after For this strength of the powers of my soule I cal most humbly vnto the merciful God whereby I maye be able to vanquyshe the sayde subtyl Serpent and al his illusions Perfourme in me that whiche thou hast promysed Farebuntur te esse dominuÌ„ omnes reges terre vbi audieruÌ„t omniâ— verba otis tui whereby all people yea the myghtie Kynges Prynces and rulers of the earth hearynge of thy merciful promyses and power in perfourmynge theym shall take occasion to prayse the and to magnifie thy name Yea Et cantent in viis domini ê™ magna est gloria homini wyth songes and hermonye thei shall set fourth and prayse thy wayes and beare witnes of thy hyghe maiestie Al thy wayes are mercye and truthe Phal xxv Thy mercye reacheth to the heauen and thy faythfulnes to the cloudes Psalmus .xxxvi. and thy righteousnes standeth lyke the strong mountaines This considered nedes must all the rulers of the earth confesse that greate is thy myghte and thy glory Excelsus dominus et humilia respicit alta eminus agnoscit Neuertheles although thou dwellest aboue the heauens yet hast thou a louyng respect vnto the lowly and meke of spirit Psal xxxiiii thou beholdest them as one loketh on hys frynde Thou drawest nere vnto them to heare their praiers Yea thou arte their shylde and protection in all their necessities But what shall we then thynke Doest thou not beholde also those that are proude and worke iniquities Yes truely Thou seest them perfectlye But it is a far of Thou seest theim with a fyerse loke to theyr confusion Psalm .xxxiiii. to destroy and rote furth the memory of them cleaue out of the land of euer lastyng beatitude Who so therfore wyl haue thy maiestie come nere vnto hym Mathw xv Si ambulauero in medio tribulationis uiuirabis me must pul doune his hye mynde and become lowe in herte The meke and humble people be those that shall enioye the heauenly country And though thei walke in the myddes of trouble yet shalt thou refreshe theim and quickeÌ„ them This world is a place ordained for trouble not for rest Here we are appoynted to trauail In this place no man wanteth tribulation But thou euer gratiously refreshest and coÌ„fortest thy faythful Thou suffrest them not to be ouercome in any tribulation Yea although thei be commytted by tirauntes to temporall deathe yet through the shall they vanquish al their enemyes Psal Cxvi The death of thy saynctes is ryght deare precious in thy syght Mathwe x. Thei nede not to fear those that haue power onely to kyll the bodye But let them feare thy myghtie hande Lorde which hast power to slea both body and soule The temporall death is a waye to brynge vs from muche trouble to the hauen of euerlastynge health into the lande of liuers Yet let the vniust cruel enemies of the faythfull stande in dreade of thy stretched forth arme Supet iram inimicorum meorum extendisti manum tuam wherwyth in thyne angre thou wylt stryke them Of thine infinite goodnes thou suffrest longe abydyng theyr coÌ„uersion but at leÌ„gth after longe taryinge thou strykest very sore throwyng both soule body into the pit of hell there to be tormented wyth plages and receyue double asmuche to be poured forth to them of the same cuppe whiche they fylled to other Apoca. xvii suche measure of crueltie as they shewed to other such measure of punishmente and sorowe shall be measured to them agayne whyche shall neuer ceasse nor be diminished Thys knowyng and beleauyng moste mercyful God what reasonoble creature woulde not tremble and quake who wyll continewe in synne coÌ„sideryng the peynes dewe to synne wherfore Lorde powre out thy mercies I beseche the vpon thy flocke delyuer vs from all oure enemies spiritual and temporal Saluâ— me fecit dextera tua Let thy right hande saue vs that is leade vs through thy grace into eternall felicitie As for ritches ease honour or
ioyes and the fulfyllynge of all desires whiche passeth farre the capacitie of man to expresse Neuertheles yet art not thou noble Syon the churche of Christe here militant voyed of many godly gyftes which should sterre the also to synge prayses vnto God i. Corthin vi We I say moste merciful father of heauen that are of thy faythful congregation as membres of the bodye wherof Christe is the heade althoughe we do not perfectly feale the ioyes of thy heauenly Hierusalem for that we be ioyned here in the mortal bodye whose grossenes is suche that it letteth the speculatiffe syghte of the soule Sap. ix yea it is heauy to the soule for the earthly mansion keepeth downe the vnderstandyng Yet do we abyde for the dissolution of that whiche is corruptible remaynynge in hope afterwarde to enioye those ioyes whiche are perdurable and for an earneste therof Qui emittit verbum suum terre thou haste sent vs thy blessed sonne Iesus into thys worlde beynge thy very worde wherby thou madest al thynges to be a meane of our introduction into those eternall beatitudes Act. ii Thou dyddeste also sende thy holye spirite visibly in the lykenes of fyry tonges amonge thine apostles after the ascentioÌ„ of Christ as a further earneste or rather as a confirmation of thy promyse before made to thyne electe Veioelier curtii sermo cuis who as speedy messengers conueyed thy holy worde and doctrine swiftly in to al the partes of the worlde hauynge power to confirme the same by straung signes or miracles Where vpon it ensewed that the snowe whiche before was congeled in the region of the ayre aboue vs Qui bat niuem sicut tanam Esay .i. is fallen downe vpon the earth and is be come as wolle that is a greate numbre whiche were harde herted synners before the manifestation of the gospel are nowe not onely from theyr foule colour of wickednes become whyte as wolle and beautiful in syght but also they haue receyued the good propertie of wolle to make of them a goodly and a warme garment of Christe wyth out spot or wryncle to the ornameÌ„t of his churche here militant and to make warme suche predestinate persons as before were cold in sinne for lacke therof So that through that garment they shal shyne in brightnes as dyd the garmeÌ„tes of Christ at the tyme of his transfiguration before his apostles Math. vii Peter Iames and Ihon on the mountaine Thou scatterest also the hore froste which is somwhat harder then snowe vpoÌ„ the earth lyke ashes that is to the synner whiche is frosen and wanteth the heat of charitie Pruinem â—icut tinerâ—m dispergit thou of thy grace by the hearyng of thy worde gyuest repentaunce which in olde tyme was shewed outwardly in wearing of her cloth and sittyng downe in ashes castynge them vpon theyr heades by which thy grace Luce .x. they leauyng theyr olde vitious lyuing are made new men and folowers of the doctrine whiche they haue learned Ione iii. as of the kynge of Niniuie and his people is manifest and of many other But for a further declaration of thy mercifull goodnes shewed to Syon thy welbeloued churche Mittit ChrystalluÌ„ suuÌ„ sicut buccellas thou also sendest forth as it were morselles of harde I se the hayle fallyng vpon the grounde wherby is ment the indurate and obstinate synners who longe haue remayned in theyr acustomed sinne and yet Lorde of thy goodnes euen vnto many of them thou gyuest suche grace and callest them by suche violence that of cruel persecutours they become meke folowers bolde setters forth of thy worde and commaundementes as of Paule and other hath ben playnely shewed Sap. xvi It is thy grace Lorde that is the nourse of all good thynges It is thy worde whiche preserueth theÌ„ that put theyr trust in the. Thys thy grace and thys thy holy worde beinge taken awaye from vs wherby we shoulde be made hote in fayth and rytche in al good workes Ante faciem frigoris eius quis sustinebit what creature is able to abyde the coldenes of the sayed froste If thou wylt suffre the synner to remayne in hym selfe and not cal him to the he can be none otherwyse but accursed and abiecte as was Cain Bene. iiii Exod. xiiii Nume xvi Iudic. ii v. indurate as was Pharao rebellious as were Corah Dathan and Abiram Idolaters as were the chyldreÌ„ of Israel diuers times after the death and chaunge of theyr Iudges and kynges â— Regum .xiii. disobedient as was Saule whiche folowed his owne imaginations leauyng thy preceptes and commaundementes ii Regum .xi. he shall fall into auoutrie murder as dyd kynge Dauid through the loue that he had to Bethsabe into pryde and crueltie as dyd Aman to his owne destruction Hester .v. To vntrueth treason as did Iason to his frendes and countrey ii Machab. v. To couetousnes as dyd Symon Magus Act. viii Laste of al into desperation as dyd Iudas as one of the twelue apostles of thy sonne Iesus Act. i. and consequently into al kyndes of vices Neades muste he be frosen to eternall death that hath no heate of thy gracious goodnes Neades muste the grounde be barreyne of good workes where the coÌ„fortable bryghte and warme beames of thy grace shewe not theyr heate So sone as thy pleasure is to cal the hardest frosen synner anone he aryseth wyth Leuy the customer and foloweth the. Luce .v. Emitter verbum suuÌ„ et liqui saciet ea Sende out therfore mooste myghtie God thy holy worde to melt the sayed snowe and harde congeled I se poure forth vpon vs miserable wretches the abundauÌ„ce of thy noble grace wherby the stony hertes are made softe and fleshy Cal vs secretly vnto the through thy heauenly inspiration speakyng to vs inwarde in our hertes or outwardlye by the manifeste declaration of thy worde Hierem. xxiii whiche is a consumyng fyre dryinge vp in vs all colde humours the breders of many diseases in oure soules It is also a great hammer that breaketh to pieces the harde frostie I se of our hertes reducing vs wholy to repentaunce amendemeÌ„t of lyfe Spirabit spiritus eiê° et fluent aquae Blow also Lorde and breath vpon vs thy holy spirite proceadynge frome the and thy sonne Christe to be oure comforte and staye after oure sayd amendement that we maye growe and encrease dayly in vertue by meane of his spiritual gyftes sent into oure soules Io. vii wherby the harde I se maye be tourned to floudes of water whiche maye flowe out of oure bealies beinge faythfull as ryuers of water of lyfe Cause the warme sotherne wynde to melte al the hardenes of our iniquities so that the moystnes whiche before was frosen in vs being resolued through the breath of the warme wynd of thy grace Psalm Cxxvi. may arise to great imindations wherof oure drye soules as a barreyne grounde maye receyue comfortable moysture Qui annunciat verbi suum Iacob This grace Lorde thou gauedste pleÌ„tefully to Abraham Isaac and then to Iacob whoÌ„ thou madest stronge to wrastle wyth thine angell and calledst hym Israell that is one that had sene god face to face Gene. xxxii With hym dyddyst thou make a couenauÌ„t touching his sede in fayth whiche sede now we are merciful God of thy faithful church creapte through thy grace in the place of the Iewes into the possibilitie of thy noble promes WheÌ„ they refused the thou dyddest sende into the high wayes to call vs to thy feast Iusticias et iudicia 〈◊〉 a Israel we gladly came vnto the. To vs therfore thy faythful hast thou giuen thy lawes and coÌ„maundementes prescribing vnto vs rules whiche we muste obserue if we wil auoyed the terriblenes of thy iudgement and thy sonne when he shall come to rewarde all reasonable creatures accordynge to theyr desertes Roma ii Thou haste made vs priuy of thy wyll and haste gyuen vs thy lawes wyth a promyse of eternall lyfe in thy kyngdome of heauen if we order our life therafter Non fecit taliter omâ—i nationi et iudicia â—ua non manifestauit â—s whiche lawes Lorde the heathen nations knowe not wherefore they remayne in infidelitie and can not atteyne to saluation For as at the rysynge of the waters of the generall floude Gene. vii no man nor beast was saued but onely such as were wythin the shyppe of Noe no more is any saluation promised by thy worde but onely to the membres of Christe thy sonnes churche Prayse therfore be to thy highe maiestie Lorde of all Lordes who haste of thy mercy sent vs thy holy wyll and worde as a rule and a directoure of oure lyues which excellent token of thy loue towarde vs byndeth vs to magnifie thy mightie and incomprehensible deitie â—po i. beynge three persons in one essence to whome be honoure glorie and dominion for euermore So be it