spoken that which God out of his holie word hath opened vnto me if you finde anie helpe thereby giue God the praise therfore and carrie this with you for euer that by manie afflictions both in the bodie and the mind you must enter into the kingdome of heauen Rawe flesh is noisome to the stomacke and is no good nourishment before it be sodden and vnmortified men and women be no creatures fit for God and therefore they are to be soaked and boiled in afflictions that the fulsumnes rancknes of their corruption maie be delaied and they maie haue in them some rellish acceptable vnto God And to conclude for the auoiding of all these temptations vse this sweet praier following which that godlie saint Maister Bradford made Oh Lorde God and deere Father what shall I saie that feele all thinges to bee in manner with me as in the wicked Blind is my minde crooked is my will and peruerse concupiscence is in me as a spring of stinking puddle O howe faint is faith in mee how little is my loue to thee or thy people how great is my selfe loue how hard is my heart by reason whereof I am mooued to doubt of thy goodnes towards me whether thou art my mercifull father and whether I be thy childe or no indeed worthilie might I doubt if that the hauing of these were the cause and not the fruit rather of thy children The cause why thou art my father is thy mercifull goodnes grace and truth in Christ Iesus which cannot but remaine for euer In respect whereof thou hast borne mee this good will to bring mee into thy Church by Baptisme and to accept me into the number of thy children that I might be holie faithfull obedient and innocent and to call me diuers times by the ministerie of thy word into thy kingdome besides the innumerable other benefites alwaies hitherto powred vpon me All which thou hast done of this thy good will which thou of thine owne mercie barest to me in Christ before the world was made The which thing as thou requirest straitlie that I shoulde beleeue without doubting so wouldest thou that I in all my deedes shoulde come vnto thee as to a father and make my mone without mistrust of being heard in thy good time as most shall make to my comfort Lo therefore to thee deere father I come through thy sonne our Lorde our mediatour and Aduocate Iesus Christ who sitteth on thy right hand making intercession for mee I praie thee of thy great goodnes and mercie in Christ to be mercifull to mee a sinner that I maie indeede feele thy sweet mercie as thy childe the time oh deere father I appoint not but I praie thee that I maie with hope still expect and looke for thy helpe I hope that as for a little while thou hast left me so thou wilt come and visite me that in thy great mercie wherof I haue great need by reasoÌ„ of my great miserie Thou art wont for a little season in thine anger to hide thy face from them whome thou louest but surelie O Redeemer in eternall mercies thou wilt shewe thy compassions For when thou leauest vs Oh Lord thou doest not leaue vs very long neither doest thou leaue vs to our losse but to our lucre and aduantage euen that thy holie spirite with bigger portion of thy power and vertue maie lighten and cheere vs that the want of feeling of our sorrowe maie be recompenced plentifullie with the liuelie sent of hauing thee to our eternall ioie and therefore thou swearest that in thine euerlasting mercie thou wilt haue coÌ„passion on vs Of which thing to the ende wee might be most assured thine oath is to be marked for thou saiest as I haue sworn that I will neuer bring anie more the waters to drowne the worlde so haue I sworne that I will neuer more be angrie with thee nor reproue thee The mountaines shall remooue and the hilles shall fall downe but thy louing kindnes shal not mooue and the bond of thy peace shall not faile thee thus saiest thou the Lorde our mercifull Redeemer Deere father therefore I praie thee remember euen for thine owne truth mercies sake the promise and euerlasting couenant which in thy good time I praie thee to write in my heart that I maie know thee to bee the onelie true GOD and Iesus Christ whome thou hast sent that I maie loue thee with all my heart for euer that I maie loue thy people for thy sake that I maie bee holie in thy sight through Christ that I maie alwaies not onelie striue against sinne but also ouercome the same dailie more and more as thy children doe aboue all things desiring the sanctification of thy name the comming of thy kingdome the doing of thy will on earth as it is in heauen c. through Iesus Christ our Redeemer Mediatour and Aduocate Amen FINIS Faultes to be corrected PAg. 12. lin 8. for or reade are Pa. 15. l. 28. Autonius Antonius Pa. 21. l. 27. or are Pa. 32. l. 27. word world Pa. 46. l. 6. sowing sauing Pa. 87. l. 24. first fift P. 90. l. 17. performed perfumed p. 91. l. 8. face force p. 92. l. 22. quietnes disquietnes p. 97. l. 22. first fifth p. 121. l. 4. wise weake p. 122. l. 25. soule saile p. 124. l. 10. entire center p. 149. l. 12. worketh wotteth p. 160. 8. seduce subdue p. 160. l. 26. exhortation experience p. 161. l. 13. burned buried p. 165. l. 3. babbling bibbing p. 182. l. 25. â—â—uetous conuerted p. 183. l. 3. dimisse diminish a Mat. 25. 1 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. Luk. 13. 24. A caueat to all Protestants of what estate or coÌ„dition soeuer b 2. Cor. 13. 5. Psa. 119. 59 c Act. 20. 32. 1. 2. 3. 4. Mark that there is a true faith wrought by the holie Ghost verie like sauing faith yet no sauing faith a Ro. 1. 21. Psal. 19. 1. 3. b Ro. 7. 15. c Psal. 14. 1. Rom. 3. 10. 11. d Psal. 49. 20. e Act. 14. 71. Rom. 1. 21. f Heb. 6. 4. 2. Pet. 2. 23. g Matt. 22. 14. Luk. 13. 34. Prov. 1. ver 24. Iohn 9. 41. Luke 14. 6. h Psa 27. 8. i He. 10. 26 Act. 1. 16. 17. k 1. Sam. 29 21. l Gen 4. 13. m Eus. li. 8. cap. 17. 18. Socrat. lib. 3. ca. 11. o Act 2. 37. Rom. 8. 15. p Mark 6. 20. 26 q Mat. 27. 19. 24. r Mat. 27. 3. Heb. 12. 17 s Gen. 27. 38. 27. 41. 28. 9 t Exo. 8. 8. Math. 7. 7. u Gen. 4. 4. 1. Sa. 31. 4. Mat. 27 5. x 1 Re. 21. 27. 29. y Ex. 9. 27. Num. 22. 34. z Num. 23. 10. a Num. 11. 13. b Num. 11. 33. Psa. 78. 31. c Isa. 7. 11. 1 d Luk. 8. 13 2 3 e Iob. 13. 15 f Hâ—b 6. 4. Math. 13. 20. g 2. Pet. â— 14. 1. Ioh. â— â— Luke 1. 〈◊〉 Esa. 60.
of the fruit which God had forbiddeÌ„ him he hath made vs all to rue it euen till this daie but here thou seest the fruits that grow not in the earthlie Paradise but on the tree of life which is within the heauenlie Hierusalem Fear no danger be bold in Christ to eate of the fruit as God hath commanded thee it wil quicken thee reuiue thee being dead thou caÌ„st not do SathaÌ„ a worse displeasure thaÌ„ to feed on the godly fruit of this tree to smell on the sweete leaues which it beareth coÌ„tinuallie that giue such a refreshing sauour VII Most men now a daies are secure cold in the professioÌ„ of the Gospel though they haue the plentiful preaching of it And the reason is because they feel not in theÌ„selues the vertue and mightie operation of Gods word to renue them they cannot feel it because they do not applie the word aright vnto their own soules Plaisters except they be applied in order time be laied vpon the wound though they be neuer so good yet they caÌ„not heal so it is with the word of God the parts of it which except they be vsed in order time conuenient wil not humble and reuiue vs as their vertue is VIII The common Christian euerie where is faulty in this thing Whereas hee loueth himselfe wisheth al good that maie be to himselfe hee doth vsuallie applie vnto his owne soule the Gospell alone neuer regarding the law or searching out his sins by it Tell him what ye will his song is this God is merciful God is merciful By this meanes it coÌ„meth to passe that he leadeth a secure life maketh no conscience of couetousnes of vsurie of deceit in his trade of lying of swearing of fornication wantonnes intâ—mperaÌ„cie in bibbing quaffing c. But he plaieth the vnskilful ChirurgioÌ„ he vseth healing plaisters before his poisoned and cankred nature haue felt the power paine of a Corasiue And it will neuer be wel with him vntill he take a new course IX On the contrarie part many good Christians leaue to apply the comfort of the gospel to themselues and onlie haue regard to their owne sinnes and Gods infinite vengeance And euen when Sathan accuseth them they will not sticke to giue eare to Sathan and also accuse themselues and so they are brought into feareful terrors and often draw neere to desperation X There is a third sort called sectaries who addict themselues to the opinion of some man These commonlie neuer applie the law or the Gospell to themselues but their whole meditation is chieflie in the opinioÌ„s of him whom they follow As they that follow Luther few of them follow his ChristiaÌ„ life they regard not that but about consubstantiation and vbiquity about Images and such like trumperie they infinitelie trouble themselues and all Europe too And in England there is a scismaticall and vndiscreet companie that would seeme to crie out for discipline their whole talke is of it and yet they neither knowe it nor will be reformed by it and yet they are enemies to it as for the lawe of God and the promises of the Gospell they little regarde they maintaine vile sins in refusing to heare the reading or the preaching of the worde and this is great contempt of Gods benefites vnthankefulnesse to him They are full of pride thinking themselues to be full when they are emptie to haue all knowledge when they are ignorant and had need to be catechized the poison of Aspes is vnder their lippes they refuse not to speake euill of the blessed seruants of God Well doe they aboue al things seeke the kingdome of God then let them be sincere seekers of it which they shall doe if in seeking Christs kingdome they seek the righteousnes therof vnto which they can neuer come but by the applying of the threatninges of the law and the comforts of the Gospell to their owne consciences But whereas they seeke the one and not the other they giue all men to vnderstand with what spirit they speake Consolations for the troubled consciences of repentant Sinners Sinner GOod syr I knowe the Lord hath giuen you the tongue of the learned to be able to minister a word in time to him that is wearie therefore I praie you helpe me in my miserie Minister Ah my good brother what is the matter with you and what aile you Sinner I liued a long time the Lorde he knoweth it after the manner of the worlde in all the lustes of my filthie flesh and then I was neuer troubled but it hath pleased God of his mercie to touch my heart and to send his own sonne that good shepheard Iesus Christ to fetch me home to his owne fold euen vppon his owne necke and since that time it is a woÌ„der to see how my poore heart hath beene troubled my corruption so boiles in me Sathan will neuer let me alone Minister Your case is a blessed case for not to be troubled of Sathan is to bee possessed of him that is to be held captiue vnder the power of darknes and to be a slaue vassall of Sathan for as long as the strong man keepes the hold all things are in peace Contrariwise he that hath receiued anie sparkle of true faith shall see the gates of hell that is the Diuell and all his Angels in their full strength to stand vp against him and to fight with an endlesse hatred for his finall confusion Christian. But this my trouble of minde hath made mee oftentimes feare lest God would reiect me and vtterlie depriue me of the kingdome of heauen Minister But there is no cause why it should so doe For how should heauen bee your resting place if on earth you were not troubled how could God wipe awaie your teares from your eies in heauen if on earth you shead them not You woulde bee free from miseries you looke for heauen vpon earth But if you wil go to heauen the right waie is to saile by hell If you will sit at Christs table in his kingdome you must be with him in his temptations You are as Gods corne you must therefore goe vnder the flaile the fanne the milstone and the ouen before you can bee Gods bread You are one of Christes lambes looke therefore â—o be fleeced and to haue the bloudie knife â—t your throte all the daie long If you were â— marke sheepe bought to bee solde you â—hould be stalled and kept in a fatte pasture â—ut you are for gods own occupying thereâ—ore you must pasture on the bare coÌ„mon â—biding stormes tempestes Sathans snatâ—hes the worldes woundes contempt of â—onscience and frettes of the flesh But in â—his your miserie I will bee a Simon vnto you â—o helpe you to carrie your crosse so bee it â—ou will reueale your minde vnto mee Christian. I will do it willingly my tempâ—ations are either against my faith in Christ â—r against repentance for
shall haue such an excellent communion with God that he shal be vnto them all in all For in the end of the world whē the whole number of the elect is accomplished Christ shall present them to his father and as he is mediator he shal cease to be a King a Priest a Prophet as Paule saith then shall be the ende when he hath deliuered vp the kingdome to God euen the Father when he hath put downe all rule al◠authoritie and power Againe among the elect there shall not bee king and subiect father mother child maister seruant noble ignoble rich poore liuing dead Some will say what then shall there be I answere one glorious and euerlasting God the Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost shall be in all the elect all that heart can wish and desire Men shall not be in darkenesse neither shall they neede the light of the Sunne Moone or Starres God himselfe immediately shall be their light as Iohn saith And the Citie hath no neede of the Sunne neither of the Moone to shine in it for the glorie of God doth light it and the Lambe is the light of it Men shall not then neede meate drinke clothing sleepe recreation fire shade respiration or any other such like but God himselfe immediately shal be their life and all things concerning life by Christ. Which Iohn signifieth when he saith that he saw a pure riuer of water of life cleere as Christal proceding out of the throne of God of the Lamb there being by either side of it the tree of life which bare two manner of fruites and gaue fruit euerie moneth And whereas God is continually to be worshipped in heauen they neede no other tabernacle or temple thereunto but God himselfe shall be their temple as Iohn saith I saw no temple therein for the Lorde God almightie and the Lambe are the temple of it Fourthly from this glorious communion which is betweene God and Christ as he is man and all the saints which are his members there ariseth an vnspeakeable ioy and gladnes wherewith they are filled Dauid saith that Gods children shall be satisfied with the fatnes of his house and that he shall giue them drinke out of the riuers of his pleasures This ioye vndoubtedlie is infinite and the Saintes are not onelie replenished with it but they are also swallowed vp of it as with an huge and infinite sea of waters as may appeare in Peter who at the transfiguration of Christ was so rauished out of measure with ioy at the sight of it that he quite forgot himself saying to Christ Maister it is good being here let vs make three tabernacles here one for thee one for Moses and an other for Elias Lastly out of this communion ariseth a perfect loue of God whereby the Saints loue God with all their hearts with all their soules and strength and this loue sheweth it self in that they are eternally occupied in worshipping God by singing of songes of praise and thankes giuing vnto him Now thē seeing the kingdome of heauen is so glorious and none can haue it but the true Christian let all men accompt the best thinges in this worlde as drosse and dung so that they may obtaine Christ and his righteousnes The last reason is the endlesse loue of Iesus Christ shewed in his death and passion Thou art by nature the childe of wrath and vengeance Sathan hath wounded thee with manie a deadlie wounde of sinne thou liest bleeding at the heart and and art like to die eternally Thou being in this estate there is no Man on earth no no Saint in heauen no Angell no creature at all is able to helpe thee Christ onely was able hee therefore came downe from heauen and became man for this cause to worke thy deliuerance Furthermore in the curing of the wounde of sin no hearbe no water no plaister no Phisicke can doe thee any good onely the bodie and bloude of Christ is soueraigne for this matter being stieped in the wrath of GOD. Hee therefore subiected himselfe to the death euen the death of the Crosse vpon which hee suffered the wrath of God due to the sinne of mankinde and of his owne heart bloude hee tempered for thee a soueraigne medicine to heale all thy woundes and sores Nowe therefore despise not this mercie seeke vnto Christ lay open all thy sores pray him that hee woulde vouchsafe thee if it bee but one droppe of his bloude then he will come vnto thee by his holy spirite he will wash and supple thy wounds in his bloud and binde them vp He is the tree of life the leaues whereof heale the nations If thou get but one leafe of him thou art well it will heale thee and restore thy dead soule that thou maiest liue eternallie in the kingdome of heauen If this reason will not mooue thee to be a Christian thy case is desperate It is the best reason that Paule could vse to this purpose As obedient children saith he fashion not your selues vnto the former lustes of your ignorance but as hee which hath called you is holie so bee yee holie in all manner of conuersation His reason followeth Knowing that yee were not redeemed with corruptible thinges as siluer and golde from your vaine conuersation receaued by the tradition of the Fathers but with the precious bloud of Christ as a Lamb vndefiled and without spotte Thus much haue I spoken to the worldling who in his heart makes no more account of Christ then of his olde shooes and who had rather bee without Christ then be without his pigges with the Gaderenes Nowe for the true Christians I haue nothing to saie but this The Lorde increase the number of them And the Lorde fulfill them with the knowledge of his will in all wisedome and spiritual vnderstanding that they may walke worthie of him and please him in all thinges beeing fruitfull in all good workes and increasing in the knowledge of God And whereas they are at continuall warre against the flesh the world and the Diuel Lord Jesus strengthen them with all might through thy glorious power vnto all patience and long suffering with ioyfulnes And deere father of all mercie plant that gouernement in thy Church euerie where which thou hast reuealed in thy worde That thy Saintes may worshippe thee in o those meanes in that order and comelines which thou hast appointed abounding in righteousnes peace of conscience and ioy of the holy Ghost Amen Amen A Dialogue of the state of a Christian man betweene Eusebius a perfect Christian and Timotheus a wise Christian and the most of it was gathered here and there out of the sweete and sauorie writings of Maister Tindalland Maister Bradford TImotheus Because of our auncient acquaintance and familiaritie deare friende Eusebius I will make bolde with you to aske such questions as may be for my edification and comfort and of no other matters but
this case in which thou art at this present Christian. Heerein thou prouest thy selfe to be a lying spirite for the Prophet Dauid â—aith of himselfe that he was foolish and as a beast before God and yet he euen then trusted in God And Paule was so led capâ—iue of sinne that he was not able to do the good he would but did the euill which hee â—ated and so in great pensiuenes of heart desired to be deliuered from this world that â—ee might bee disburdened of his corrupt â—â—esh Sathan Thou miserable wretch doest â—â—ou feele thy selfe gracelesse and wilt thou â—eare the face of a Christian and by thy â—ypocrisie offend God as thou art so shew â—â—y selfe to the world Christian. Auoide Sathan Christe hath anquished and ouercome thee for my â—ause that I might also triumph ouer thee â— am no hypocrite for whereas I haue had â—eeretofore some testimonie of my faith at his time I am lesse mooued though faith â—â—eme to be absent like as a man may seeme 〈◊〉 bee dead both in his owne sense and by the iudgement of the Phisition and yet maie haue life in him so faith maie bee though alwaies it doe not appeare Sathan But thou art a man starke dead in sin God hath now quite forsaken thee hee hath left thee vnto me to be ruled hee hath giuen me power ouer thee to bring thee to damnation he will not haue thee to trust in him anie longer Christian. Strengthen me good Lord remember thy mercifull promises that thou wilt reuiue the humble giue life to them that are of a contrite heart Sathan These promises concerne not thee which hast no humble and contrite but a froward and a rebellious heart Christian. Good Lorde forget not thy former mercies giue an issue to these temptations of mine enemie Satan And you my bretheren which know my estate praie for me that God woulde turne his fauourable countenance towards me for this I know that the ptaier of the righteous auaileth much if it be feruent Howe a man should applie aright the word of God to his owne soule I EVerie Christian containeth in himselfe two natures flat contrarie the one to the other the flesh and the spirite and that he may become a perfect man in Christ Iesus his earnest indeuour must bee to tame and subdue the flesh to strengthen and confirme the spirit II Answerable to these two natures are the two parts of Gods worde First the Lawe because it is the ministerie of death it fitlie serueth for the taming and maistering of the rebellious flesh and the Gospell containing the bountifull promises of God in Christ is as oile to powre into our wounds and as the water of life to quench our thirstie soules it fitlie serueth for the strengthening of the Spirite III Well then art thou secure Art thou prone to euill Feelest thou that thy rebellious flesh carrieth thee captiue vnto sinne Looke nowe onelie vpon the lawe of God applie it to thy self examine thy thoughts thy words thy deedes by it pray vnto God that he would giue thee the Spirit of feare that the law maie in some measure huÌ„ble terrifie thee for as Salomon saith blessed is the man that feareth alwaies but cursed is he that hardeneth his heart IIII In the Law these are most effectuall meditations to humble and bridle the flesh which follow First meditate on the greatnes of thy sinnes and of their infinite number and if it may be gather them into a Catalogue set it before thee and looke vnto it that thou think no sinne to be a small sin no not the bare thoughts and motions of thy heart Often with diligence consider the strange iudgements of God vpon men for their sinnes which thou shalt find partlie in the Scriptures partlie by dailie experience Doubtlesse thou must thinke that euerie iudgement of God is a sermon of repentance Thinke oft on the fearefull curse of the law due vnto thee if thou shouldest sin neuer but once in al thy life and that neuer so litle Remember that whensoeuer thou committest a sin God is present and his holie Angels that he is an eie witnes that he taketh a note of thy sin registreth it in a booke Thinke dailie of thy ende and know that God maie strike thee with sodain death euerie moment and that if then thou haue not repented before that time there is no hope of saluation Thinke on the sodain comming of our Sauiour Christ to iudgement let it moue thee continually to watch and praie If these will not moue thee think on this that no creature in heauen or in earth was able to pacifie the wrath of God for thy sins but his owne Sonne must come downe from heauen out of his Fathers bosome and must beare the curse of the lawe euen the full wrath of his Father for thee V When by these meanes thou art feared and thy minde is disquieted in respect of Gods iudgement for thy sin haue recourse â—o the promises of mercie contained in the â—ld and new Testament Is thy conscience stung with sin And doth the law make theâ— feele it With all speede runne to the braseâ— Serpent Christ Iesus look on him with the eie of faith and presently thou shalt be healed of thy sting or wound VI When thou doest meditate on the promises of the Gospell diligentlie consideâ— these benefites which thou enioiest by Christ. Through Adam thou art condemned to hell by Christ thou art deliuereâ— from it Through Adam thou hast transgreâ—sed the whole law in Christ thou hast fulfilled it Through Adam thou art before Goâ— a vile a lothsome sinner through Chriâ—â— thou doest appeare glorious in his eies Bâ— Adam euerie litle crosse is the punishmenâ— of thy sin and a token of Gods wrath by Christ the greatest crosses are easie profitable and tokens of Gods mercie By Adam thou diddest loose all thinges in Christ aâ— things are restored to thee again By Adam thou art dead by Christ thou art quickneâ— and made aliue againe By Adam thou art slaue of the Diuel and the childe of wratâ— but by Christ thou art the child of God 〈…〉 Adam thou art worse than a Toade moâ—… detestable before God but by Christ thoâ— art aboue the Angels For thou art ioined vnto him and made bone of his bone misticallie Through Adam sinne and Sathan haue ruled in thee and led thee captiue by Christ the spirite of God dwelleth in thee plenteouslie By Adam came death to thee it is an entrance to hel by Christ though death remain yet it is onelie a passage vnto life Lastlie in Adam thou art poore and blinde and miserable In Christ thou art rich and glorious thou art the King of heauen and earth fellow heire with him and shalt as sure be partaker of it as he is euen now Adam when he must needs tast