whereby the true Church of God is discerned from that false and bastard Church which wanteth both true faith Ephe. 3.14 true inuocatiō Now I bowe the knees of my soule to the Father of our Lorde Iesus Christ to the end that according to the riches of his glorie The Pastors of the Church of Orlians that were preserued M. Gallars M. Anton. Chanorrier M. Robert Mason M. Pet. Baron Daniel Toussain he will graunt vs that wee may be strengthened by his spirit that Christ may dwell in you through faith through the which you may be rooted and grounded in all true knowledge of his will And as it hath pleased him in the middest of so manie floudes miraculouslie to keepe the Pastors of your Church whom God be praised he employed alwayes to his seruice that it will please him to shewe you this fauour raysing vp your estate as from death to haue strength to reioyce againe and that quicklie to the end that we may altogether as it were created anew sing vnto him a newe song to his honor vnder the protectiō of the shadow of his winges Frō S. Lābert within the coūtie Palatine this 20. of Iuly 1578. Daniel Toussain THE FOVNDATION and spring of all holy prayers and christian meditatiōs ought to be faith Behold where fore we shall set heere in the entrie the articles of our faith which some call the symbole of the Apostles as in deede they conteine a summarie of the Apostles doctrin as is to be sene of that which is written in the 15. Chap. of the 1. vnto the Cor. vers 3. elswhere it is to be seene by the writings of the elders as by the cathechisme of Cyrill and the treatise of S. Ambrose of Cayne and Abell and in the 8. Chap. of S. Augustines booke named Enchiridion that is to say Manuel that these Articles of the faith were holden amongest them as the true beginninges and foundation of Christian religion I Beleeue in God the Father almightie maker of heauen and earth And in Iesus Christ his onelie sonne our Lord. Which was conceiued by the Holie Ghost borne of the virgine Marie Suffered vnder Ponce Pilate was crucified dead buried he descended into hell The thirde day he rose againe from the dead He ascended into heauen and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almightie From thence shall he come to iudge the quicke and the dead I beleeue in the Holie Ghost The holie Catholike Church The communion of Saints The forgiuenesse of sinnes The resurrection of the bodie And the life euerlasting Amen IN the yeare of our Lord 273. in the Synode of Antioch was condemned the heresie of Samosatenus who would not auowe Iesus Christ to be the worde subsisting but made thereof a sound or decree of God not a seconde person of his diuinity in such sort as against his errours was published a confession by George Neocoefariensis as is to be seene in the 3. booke of Eusebius IN the yeare of our Lord about 332. 1. Synode called vniuersall was vnder Constantine the Great assembled a Synode or Councel to the assisting whereof there were 328. Bishoppes at Nice a citie in Bythinia there where was chieflie condemned the heresie of Arrius who dinied the true sonne of God equall with the father and of the same substance In this Synode were made plaine and cleare against Arrius the Articles of faith which concerne Iesus Christ by a confession as followeth 1 I Beleeue in one God The Symbol of Nice the Father Almightie maker of heauen and earth and of all things visible and inuisible 2 And in one Lorde Iesu Christ the onely begotten sonne of God begotten of his Father before all worldes 3 God of God light of light verie God of verie God begotten not made beeing of one substance with the Father by whome all thinges were made 4 Who for vs men and for our saluation came downe from heauen 5 And was incarnate by the Holie Ghost of the virgin Marie and was made man 6 And was crucified also for vs vnder Poncius Pilate he suffered and was buried 7 And the thirde day he arose againe according to the Scriptures and ascended into heauen and sitteth at the right hand of the Father 8 And he shal come againe with glory to iudge both the quicke and the dead whose kingdome shall haue none ende 9 And I beleeue in the holie Ghost the Lorde and giuer of life who proceedeth from the Father and the Sonne who with the Father and the Sonne together is worshipped and glorified who spake by the Prophets 10 And I beleeue one Catholike and Apostolike Church 11 I acknowledge one Baptisme for the remission of sinnes 12 And I looke for the resurrection of the dead the life of the world to come Amen IN the yeare of our Lorde 386. Seconde Councell there assembled at Constantinople the second Synode called vniuersall which confirmed and ratified the confession made at Nice adding onely that which followeth against the heretike Macedonius who denied the true diuinitie of the holie Ghost We beleeue in the holy Ghost Lorde and giuer of life proceeding from the father and the sonne who with the father the sonne together is worshipped and glorified HEere followeth the Symbole or confession of Athanasius Bishoppe of Alexandria being chosen fiue monthes after the Councell held at Niece who hath abiden great combats for the pure doctrine of the sonne of God against the Arrians WHosoeuer will be saued before all things it is necessarie that he holde the Catholike faith Which faith except euerie one doe keepe holy and vndefiled without doubt hee shall perish euerlastingly And the Catholike faith is this that we worship one God in Trinitie and Trinitie in vnitie Neither confounding the persons nor diuiding the substance For there is one person of the Father another of the Sonne and another of the Holie Ghost But the Godhead of the Father of the Sonne and of the Holie Ghost is all one the glorie equall and the maiestie coeternall Such as the Father is such is the Sonne and such is the Holie Ghost The Father vncreate the Sonne vncreate and the Holie Ghost vncreate The Father incomprehensible the Sonne incomprehensible and the Holie Ghost incomprehensible The Father eternall the Sonne eternall and the Holie Ghost eternall And yet they are not three eternalles but one eternall As also there bee not three incomprehensibles nor three vncreated but one vncreated and one incomprehensible So likewise the Father is almightie the Sonne almightie and the holie Ghost almightie And yet they are not three almighties but one almightie So the Father is God the Sonne is God and the Holie Ghost is God And yet are they not three Gods but one God So likewise the Father is Lord the Sonne Lorde and the Holie Ghost Lorde And yet not three Lordes but one Lorde For like as wee be compelled by the Christian veritie to acknowledge
euerie person by him selfe to be God and Lorde So are wee forbidden by the Catholike religion to say there be three Gods or three Lords The Father is made of none neither created nor begotten The Sonne is of the Father alone not made nor created but begotten The Holie Ghost is of the Father and of the Sonne neither made nor created nor begotten but proceeding So there is one Father not three fathers one Sonne not three sonnes one Holie Ghost not three holy Ghostes And in this Trinitie none is afore or after other none is greater nor lesse than another But the whole three persons bee coeternall together and coequall So that in al things as is aforesaid the vnitie in Trinitie and the Trinitie in vnitie is to be worshipped He therefore that will bee saued must thus thinke of the Trinitie Furthermore it is necessarie to euerlasting saluation that hee also beleeue rightly in the incarnation of our Lord Iesu Christ For the right faith is that wee beleeue and confesse that our Lord Iesus Christ the sonne of God is God and man God of the substance of the father begotten before the worldes and man of the substance of his mother borne in the world Perfect God and perfect man of a reasonable soule and humane flesh subsisting Equall to the Father as touching his Godhead and inferiour to the father touching his manhoode Who although he be God man yet he is not two but one Christ One not by conuersion of the Godhead into flesh but by taking of the manhoode into God One altogether not by confusion of substance but by vnitie of person For as the reasonable soule flesh is one man so God and man is one Christ Who suffered for our saluation descended into hell rose againe the third day from the dead He ascended into heauen he sitteth on the right hande of the father God almightie From whence hee shall come to iudge the quicke the dead At whose comming all men shall rise againe with their bodies And shall giue account for their owne workes And they that haue done good shal goe into life euerlasting and they that haue done euil into euerlasting fire This is the Catholike faith which except a man beleeue faithfully hee cannot be saued IN the thirde generall Councell which was assembled at Ephesus vnder the Emperour Theodosius the younger about the yeare of our Lorde Iesus Christ 450. The third counsell was refuted and condemned the errour of the heretike Nestorius the which would not acknowledge with the Christian Church whē as the worde became flesh that the two naturs diuine humane were knit in one person or substance and that vnseparablie But did teach howe they were onely knit by an assistaunce or dwelling together whereof he would not auowe that the virgin hadde borne the sonne of God or that the sonne of God had suffered for vs. That which was to make nothing euen all the mysterie of our redemption if he which was borne of a virgin and hath suffered for vs had not beene true God hauing personally knit vnto himselfe our nature after the which hee was borne of the virgin and hath suffered on the crosse In the fourth generall Councell in which did the Emperour Martianus assist at Chalcedon was condemned the heresie of Eutiches the monke the which monke fell into another extreme errour contrarie vnto that of Nestorius in such sort knitting the two natures in Christ as hee confoundeth them and in place of a person he leaueth as it were but a nature Whereof the Fathers of the councell to make cleare this matter did set out the confession which followeth Wee confesse and acknowledge one onelie Iesus Christ our Lorde perfect in diuinitie and also in humanitie verie God and verie man of a reasonable bodie and soule equall to the Father as touching his Godhead and coequall with vs as touching his manhoode and like vnto vs in all thinges sinne excepted begotten of the Father before the worldes according to his Diuinitie and in the latter dayes begotten of the virgine Marie mother of the Lord for our sakes and for our saluation as concerning his humanitie One onelie and also Sauiour in two natures without confusion conuersion diuision and separation The differēce of natures be not takē away through the vnion but rather the propertie of both natures being kept concurring in one person or substance not to diuide them into two persons but to the end that hee alone might be our onelie Sauiour as the Prophetes haue prophesied thereof and he hath taught vs and the Symboles of the Fathers confesse him It is to bee noted that although the said Symbols and confessions are amongest the papistes yet notwithstanding they cease not to persecute to the vttermost those which with all their heartes beleeue the alone comprised Doctrine Wherein is to bee seene that they haue not those confessions but vpon the paper for they doe not beleeue in them and that instead to be the true Catholikes they persecute them For as wee see in the Code of Iustinian and in the 9. booke of his tripartite historie the 7. Chap. The Gretian Emperours Valentinian and Theodosius made an Edict and declaration that they would hold those for good Christians and good Catholikes which followed the Doctrine that was taught by S. Peter and did beleeue in the Trinitie and of Iesus Christ according as it is here before said Nowe men doe not hold them for Catholikes vnlesse one beleeue the blasphemies of the Pope and of his traine who sitteth in the Temple of God as a God making lawes at his pleasure and profaning the pure seruice of the Lorde Here follovveth the consideration of the first Article of our faith conteining manie goodlie Doctrines Of Faith Of the Trinitie Of the Creation Of the Prouidence Meditations and Praiers vpon the Articles of the Faith I beleeue in God Of Faith CONSIDERATION ALL and euerie Science hath his rule and their principles Ruffin vpon the Symbole but the true foundation of Christian religion is to beleeue For after that man by distrust The principle of Christian Religion and through curiousnesse had sinned and was fallen it was the counsell of God that by faith he should bee saued And willing as it were to be too ouer-wise Gen. 3. 1. Cor. 1 2◠and so to knowe good from euill hee straied out of the way that through the preaching of the crosse of Christ that is reputed for follie in the worlde he might be guided to saluation In the Booke of the prescriptiō of heretickes Let therefore saith Tertullian curiousnes now giue place vnto faith and let faith bee no more aucthorised by men or by the people But let all people and men be tryed and prooued by faith and then approoued onelie when they shall beleeue For it is also neuer spoken or said in the Scripture thy great skill or knowledge Matt. 9.22 Ioh. 20.31 thy great riches or thy great
preheminence saueth thee but Thy faith hath saued thee Wherefore was the Bible And behold wherefore all the Bible is written to wit that wee might beleeue howe Iesus Christ is the Sonne of God and that beleeuing therein we might haue euerlasting life O therefore howe much is the doctrine of the Gospell necessarie and fit for vs seeing that it is as Paule saieth in the 10. to the Romanes the woorde of Faith whereby the Lorde kindleth and maintaineth faith in our hearts O how great also is the vnspeakeable goodnes of this mightie God which giueth vs blessednes and euerlasting life for nothing and requireth no other thing of vs but that we put our trust in him and that we doe beleeue in his worde O blessed we for whose sake he hath so louinglie spoken yea sworne and made an othe that hee would be vnto vs a father and sauiour But woe more than accursed are those that beleeue not in the Lorde who hath confirmed and ratified so manie goodlie and solemne promises by oth yea by the precious bloud of our Sauiour What Faith is For Christian faith is not an opinion or light beleefe of all that a man might set before vs but it is the gift of God Ephes 3. and a worke of God Iohn 6. by which gift and woorke of the Lord wee are brought vnto a certeine knowledge of his will by the meanes of his holie promises made in his woorde as S. Peter in the sixt of S. Iohn saieth Wee haue beleeued and doe knowe that thou art Christ and S. Paule in the first of the second to Timothie He hath giuen vs a spirite of a sounde minde and wee knowe verie well in whome wee haue beleeued and wee are persuaded that hee is able to keepe that gage c. Rom. 4 2â— And therefore we giue glorie vnto God beleeuing in the promises of our God being certeine and fullie assured that that which hee hath promised vnto vs hee will and can doe it to wit to forgiue vs our sinnes The effects of Faith and euerlasting life through Iesus Christ who was deliuered to death for our sinnes and rose againe for our iustification by whom also wee haue peace with God and haue accesse through faith vnto his grace wherein we stand and reioice vnder the hope of the glorie of GOD to come calling also vpon his name in all our needes and necessities as it is said in the Psalme 116. I haue beleeued and therefore haue I spoken and in the tenth of the Rom. Let vs call on him in whom we doe beleeue Things contrarie vnto faith By this it appeareth that there are three things which cheeflie are contrarie vnto faith First the despising of Gods word and of the preaching of the Gospell seeing that the Lord inspireth our harts by this meane and giueth vs also faith not willing that our beliefe and saluation should bee builded vpon mans discourse or fleshlie wisedome but vpon him alone Secondlie the doubts distrusts are contrarie vnto faith if a man doe not resolue himselfe in GOD if a man walke in vncertaintie Double errours in the Papaltie in the maner of Faith if a man doe not assure himselfe of his saluation as it is seene in the Papistes howe they in this behalfe doe commit a double fault In the first place as it is to be seene in the sixt session of that goodlie councel of Trent 9. Chapter They taught how it was a vaine trust when as men did fullie assure themselues of Gods grace and that none could knowe an assurednesse by faith that he had the grace of God O how bare weake and vnable of power should our consolation bee against sinne the diuell and hell namelie in the article of death if this doctrine tooke place For that which they say howe man because of his infirmitie cannot so assure him in his God The aunswere is easie to wit that the certaintie of faith is of God and of his word and not of our strength and merites or deseruings and therefore it ouercommeth all our weakenesse For we be also saued not after the greatnesse and weakenesse of our beliefe but through the excellencie and mightinesse of him in whom we doe beleeue that is to wit Iesus Christ in such sort as weake faith leaueth not off to be a faith to saluation because it apprehendeth the euerlasting sonne of God The other errour of the Papists is that not fullie trusting in the Lord they cal vpon Saints of both kindes not considering how that we do beleeue in one onelie God and we must also call vpon God alone For we doe call vpon him in whom we doe beleeue and fully put our assurance Rom. 10. as also in the 44. Psalme The Church protesteth not to haue lifted vp hir handes to a strange God To be short there is nothing more contrarie vnto faith than the distrust of the goodnesse fauour and assistance of our God or to think that he hath not heard our praiers seeing that it is his propertie to heare them as Dauid saith in the 65. Psalme All creatures shall come vnto thee because thou hearest their prayers They sinne there also against the nature of faith which do not beleeue that which they doe see and so soone as they see no succour prosperitie and riches they are discouraged and leaue religion And as it is said in the eleuenth Chapter to the Hebrues there prooued by manie goodlie examples that faith is the rest or stay of the thing a man hopeth for a shew of things a man seeth not For S. Augustine saith Man beleeueth with the heart not by the hand vnto righteousnes so as diuers beleeue not that which they doe touch with the hand or doe see with the fleshlie eie Thirdlie this of all other is contrarie vnto faith to purpose or to set foorth or to establish anie other thing than Christ the sonne of God Rom. 10. vpon whom we ought to trust be they our works riches or men for establishing vs vpon our selues we doe ouerthrowe so much as lieth in vs the righteousnes of God And so we deceiue our selues because that there is none other name but the name of Iesus Acts. 4. by whom wee shall haue life prosperitie saluation and in summe all maner of blessings A Praier vnto God to obtaine true Faith and encrease therein OVR Lorde God Father of light from whom proceedeth euerie good and perfect gift S. Iames. 1.17 which hast promised to powre vpon thy seruaunts the spirite of grace and of prayer Zach. 12.10 we most humblie beseeche thee Ephes 1. that for the loue of thy sonne Iesus by whom it hath pleased thee to choose vs and to blesse vs in all spirituall blessing let it please thee also to giue vs a truenesse of faith by the which wee may comprehend this largenesse depth length and height of thy delight towards vs to trust and comfort
and make head against the diuel for he himselfe doth alleage the scripture and therfore if we be not well seene or exercised therein he will trouble and ouercome vs. Let vs also pray this good God that he will giue vs his holy spirite which is the true teacher and expounder of the scripture the which the deuill in not being able to haue hath nothing but the barcke of the scripture and is easie to be vanquished and ouercome by those which are caried by the spirite of God Of prayer which is one of the effectes of Faith 7. Chap. of S. Matthewe Aske and it shal be giuen you seeke and you shall finde knocke and it shall be opened PRAYER O Lorde GOD seeing that thou thy selfe doest offer thy selfe vnto vs with so great kindenesse and sweetenes suffer vs not that we be negligent in calling vpon thee neither permit that we become restiffe in asking when as thou art readie to giue And to this effect graunt vs grace to feele howe much thy helpe is necessarie for vs euen for vs poore creatures which haue not neither possesse we any thing but of thy fauour and grace and yet neither that which we haue can prosper without thy blessing We therefore namely do acknowledge the great wantes and defectes which are in vs in respect of those heauenly things For neither faith hope nor charitie can be in vs vnlesse thou doe store vs with thy light S. Iames. 1. and helpe our infirmities For all good guiftes doe come from aboue from thee thou father of light Wherefore should we not then call vpon thee hauing thy promises Or wherfore shold wee goe elsewhere synce that in thee is all aboundance and sufficiencie Giue vs grace O good God not onely to pray to thee but also to knocke at thy gate It seemeth that it is somtimes shut against vs and that thou hast no care ouer vs as in verie deede the gates of grace were shut vp against vs because of sinne But we haue our mediator Iesus Christ at thy right hande who hath promised to open it vnto vs. Open therefore vnto thy children that knocke thou which hast giuen thy deere sonne for vs giue vs faith that may bring vs vnto thee and also hope which may entertaine vs in faith and giue vs in summe that which thou knowest farre better than we to be necessarie for vs for thy sonne Iesus Christes sake A notable sentence to hold the faithfull in a true confession of Gods name taken out of the 10. Chap. of S. Matthew FEare ye not them which kil the bodie but are not able to kill the soule But rather feare him which is able to destroy both the Soule and bodie in hell Whosoeuer therefore shall confesse me before men him will I confesse also before my father which is in heauen But whosoeuer shal denie me before men I will denie him before my father which is in heauen MEDITATION THe feare of death is the thing that dooth most turne away men from our Lorde The feare of death and from the imbracing of his worde For Iesus Christ sheweth what the follie of man is in this we feare death for feare of losing life But man cannot take away life wherefore are they then afraid For life is in the hand of God who hath giuen it But if it be a question of sorrowes and tormentes then death is no more it that we feare Iob. 5. for they are the sorrowes wherein we be borne as the bird to flie and those which we ought patientlie to beare euen as a valiant souldier beareth certaine woundes to be after crowned As concerning the bodie that is put in the graue we doe not thinke it lost because that nothing is lost but the infection and corruption the which wee doe desire to loose And our bodies shall rise againe glorious bodies For it is euē as when a man melteth a great masse or lumpe of Copper to make a faire Image of Truelie then is not the copper lost but fined and set in honour Moreouer as a good martyr named Simeon said of whome is spoken in the Ecclesiasticall historie of Sozomene in his second booke and 10. Chap. Seeing that of nature we be alreadie mortall wherefore should we not account this for a great honor when we die for Iesus Christ But our Lord dooth yet vse an other Argument If we feare death then wee must feare the great danger that is euerlasting And that is wherein God may cast those downe headlong that offend him This is the secōd death whereof is spoken in the Apocalyps in the 21. Chap. ver 8. Blessed are they that feare God more than men Alas he asketh no great thing of vs to be short he requireth but that we trust in him and that we confesse his name The Elementes Psal 16. the earth the trees and the riuers doe declare his glorie Psal 148. so doe the byrdes on the braunches Wherefore is it that man which is created vnto his likenesse will not praise the Lord And when we doe confesse him it dooth serue him but for little marrie it dooth bring much vnto vs that he confesseth vs in his glorie and that hee acknowledgeth vs to bee his Now what pitie is it when so manie men shew themselues so slacke and vnfaithfull vnto the Lord some forsaking him and openlie blaspheming him other some being ashamed of him hauing the knowledge of the trueth hidden and shut vp in them Moreouer Titus 1.16 how manie be there which confesse him by their tongues and denie him in their heartes and wicked life O Lord therefore open our lippes and make cleane our heartes so as wee may beleeue with the heart and confesse with the mouth that we be not confounded in this great comming of thy sonne Iesus Christ but rather that we may haue his honor to be reknowledged and also declared thy children and heires of thy kingdome That through faith we goe vnto Christ and what the yoke of the faithful is 11. Chap. of S. Matthew COme vnto me all ye that are wearie laden and I will ease you Take my yoke vppon you and learne of me that I am meeke and lowlie in heart and yee shall finde rest vnto your soules for my yoke is easie and my burthen is light A consideration vppon the said text BLessed are those saith Dauid in the 119. Psalme that are vpright in their way and walke in the lawe of the Lord. But what Where is the man that walketh vprightlie For they are all gone out of the way taking damnable pathes as it is said in the 14. Psalme and in such sort through infidelitie and disobedience are men turned away from the Lord and walke after vanitie they are turned againe into their course saith Ieremie in the 8. Chap. as the horse that rusheth into the battell Now see the sonne of God who so gratiouslie dooth call you againe and bid you to come againe vnto him
bee founde a watching faithfull seruaunt And as the prince of this worlde comming towardes thy sonne Iesus Iohn 14. founde nothing what to bite vpon him so also the same enemie may not haue any thing against me seeing that I doe belong to thy sonne Iesus By faith O Lorde haue our fathers ouercome kingdomes and closed the mouthes of the Lyons Therefore O Lorde graunt me grace that I may also ouercome by faith all tentations vntill that this faith being ended I may enter into thy euerlasting â—est A prayer against the sorrowes of Death O Lorde GOD my father who weart willing that thy sonne Iesus should yeelde vppe his spirite to saue me graunt mee grace that I may beare in my heart the remembrance of his bitter sorrowes and passion and that I may forthwith remember the sweete tender affection that thou bearest vnto vs poore sinners sauing them with so pretious a price that of one part I may with a true sorrowe die vnto sinne and forsake all mine iniquities and of the other part the remembrance of thy grace may make my soule liue let thy mercie O good God be vnto me a lampe and light to lighten me in the darkenesse of death vntill that I come vnto thee O Lorde if thou weart vnto me so good a father in life be also the same vnto me in death Leaue me not then when as my strengthes shall faile me And euen then namely when my mouth shal be no more able to speake leaue not off Lord to heare my desires vnto the last breath of my life Comfort againe thy weake creature and receiue my soule into thy glorie who yeeldeth vp to thee Thou O Lorde hast saued mee into thy handes I recommende my spirit Grant me the last words of thy sonne Iesus in his voice vppon his crosse that they may be my last wordes in this life Behold the earthly abode of this bodie which dissolueth it to yeelde my selfe ioiful of this tabernacle most blessed which is not made with mans hands This great prophet Elias when hee was taken vp into heauen let fall his cloke so willingly would I also leaue this garment both earthly and corruptible to bee clothed with immortalitie Heeretofore I was a wayfarer nowe am I come into my true countrey Euen vntill this time was I in fight now go I to triumph with our head Iesus Christ I begin to see alreadie this hauen which I haue so long desired hulling amongst the tempests of the world To be short I ioyfullie passe out of darknesse into light from daungers of this world to a place of assurance out of a lamentable case into a blessed state from battaile to victorie from an earthlie to an euerlasting life Here am I blind and there shall I receiue light In this place was I hacked with manie woundes and there shall I receaue healing O wretched life O fraile and life vncertaine in this world howe deceitfull and yrksome art thou The more thou thinkest or beleeuest the more thou distrustest and misbeleeuest The more one goeth in this world the more is hee charged with faintnesse and miseries Blessed is hee which knoweth the vanitie of this world yet more blessed that dooth not set his affection therein and most blessed which is withdrawen from thence to bee with thee Oh my God and my sauiour A prayer vppon the same Argument Alas when shall I come before the face of my God and when shall I haue my abiding in his house How long shall I bee in this exile whereunto for sinne we were banished But how shall a sinner stand before this great God How shall this poore flesh get vp into euerlasting paradise But praised bee my God who hath giuen vnto vs so good an assurance in his holie word Blessed bee GOD which hath ordained for vs this good ladder by the which wee ascend vp into heauen to wit Iesus Christ so that which was vnto vs impossible is possible to the beleeuer Therefore looke not O Lord into the manifold sinnes that are within me But rather remember that I am thy creature and the worke of thy handes I am vnworthie to bee called thy childe but it hath pleased thee to bee my father Thy will was that thy sonne Iesus should come downe here below to vs to make vs ascend vp to thee I feare not then death seeing I haue life with me Thy son hath destroyed death for all those which doe beleeue in him And albeit that this bodie be gnawen with wormes yet the soul goeth forthwith into rest the body awaiteth the resurrection I do desire therfore to die to beholde thy face and willinglie leaue this life to be with Christ Oh my God if the simple sound of thy worde which I heare on earth doth cause my soule to liue alreadie what life what countenance shall I haue there on high wheÌ„ as I shall receiue it in my heart seeing thy glorie being in so blessed a companie Open vnto me then O Lorde the gate of thy kingdome Make mee to heare this sweete voice which was prepared for the poore thiefe on the crosse To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Alas Lorde I am vnworthy thereof yet thy mercie giueth me assurance Grant me also O father streÌ„gth to perseuere giue me daily this desire of the life to come for if we be so much affectioned to this earthly life that is but for a day ful of miseries with what wish ought I to desire that glorious life which thy sonne Iesus hath purchased for vs Other short praiers for certaine necessities of the Churches To demand perseuerance Almightie God seeing we be knit together by the guide and counsell of thy sonne to this bodie of the Church which was so often scatered and dispersed graunt that we may abide in this vnitie of faith and that wee may constantly fight against all temptation of this worlde and that wee may not turne away from a true and right intent though it come to passe that troubles vppon troubles doe happen offences vpon offences seeing our faith is not builded vpon the holinesse of man or vpon their persons but vppon thee O true and almightie God And whatsoeuer euilles or deathes that shal be offered vnto vs we may not be possessed with such feare as may plucke away our hope out of our heartes but that we may rather learne to lift vp our eies yea our vnderstanding all our wittes vnto this thy power by the which thou quicknest the dead raisest vp that which was of nothing that our spirites may alwaies aspire vnto euerlasting rest albeit it behooued vs daily to die vntill at the last thou shalt shewe how thou art the true fountaine of life granting vnto vs the immortalitie through thy sonne Iesus Christ A prayer to haue stedfastnesse and constancie EVerlasting and almightie God al good and mercifull seeing we be heere subiect to so great aduersities and of so many sortes
was hauing this honour to conduct the people into the promised lande Neither likewise Iehosuach the Sonne of Iosedec the high Priest of whome the Prophet Zacharie speaketh that were but simple men and haue doone nothing but through borrowed strength neither also were they other but the shadowes of this great Iosua and mightie Sauiour that is Iesus Christ the onelie true and euerlasting Sauiour so as there is none other name by the which a man may haue the grace of God Actes 4. or obtaine anie thing of him or to come to the most blessed life It is this name or rather this vertue and power before whome all knees ought to bowe that are in heauen and on the earth To be short this is he whome all tongues shall confesse to be the Lord Iesus Christ vnto the glorie of God Hee is the Lorde because that the father hath brought all thinges in subiection vnder him to this person I say Hebr. 2. which is verie God and verie man For hee is particularlie our Lord because that he hath purchased vs vnto him through his pretious bloudshedding so as we be not vnto our selues 1. Cor. 6. but vnto him that hath bought vs. Therefore he whome the Iewes haue crucified for enuie him hath God raised and lifted vp and hath made him Lord and Christ as it is said in the 2. Chap. of the Actes Psal 2. Col. 1. Let vs then reioyce of such a Lord who is the Lord and sauiour Let vs willinglie doe seruice vnto such a Maister who hath gotten vs by his pretious bloud and deliuered vs from the power of darknesse and euen so hath in deede made vs free In him Iohn 8. it is easie for vs to ouercome the world for he is greater than the world Iohn 4. Yea in him is Sathan trodden vnder our feete euen as S. Paul speaketh in the 16. of the Romans Wherefore let vs say with Esai in his 26. Chap. Howsoeuer it be O Lord that other Lords besides thee haue ruled vs yet wil we remember thee dailie and thy name For there is but one God and sauiour that is properlie Iesus Christ of whome is spoken in the 9. Chap. of Zacharie and 9. ver and in the 1. Chap. of the Epistle of S. Paul vnto Titus ver 3. and 4. O how happie are they that doe put their trust in him as it is said in the 2. Psalme and that doe imbrace the sonne which is Christ that is to say the annointed of the liuing God and doe not onelie acknowledge him with the mouth but doe likewise suffer him to raigne in them by his word and through his spirit and seeking none other oblation than the euerlasting oblation Heb. 10. which is of a perpetuall efficacie and strength which he hath offered vnto his father on the Crosse once for all as a perfect and euerlasting priest But alas whereto serueth this goodlie title of a Christian if vice doe raigne in thee if the flesh and the world maister thee if thy soule will not suffer it to bee commaunded by the annointed Christ and consecrated to raigne in vs here below by his grace vntill such time as hee shall bring vs vnto the kingdome of his glorie And whereto serueth it to sing to crie to roare out the Apostles Creed as was doone in the Papacie fince they seeke for other Maisters than Christ and other sacrifices than his persecuting with all extremitie those that doe hope and trust in him alone Iesuites But what shall we say of those which are ashamed at these daies to bee called Christians Actes 11. which is the auncient name of the disciples of Iesus Christ and are not thus contented to haue part in the Lordes annointing that he promised vnto vs by the holie spirit but will also bouldlie sease vpon that name 1. Iohn 2.20 that dooth belong to him onelie inasmuch as hee is the alone sauiour calling themselues Iesuites as though they would outface all the rest of Christendome A prayer to haue and to retaine the true knowledge of Iesus Christ O Lord our God and father Iohn 17. forsomuch as this is eternall life that wee doe know thee and to know thee we cannot but in thy ingraued Image and in thy sonne which was declared in the flesh may it please thee to leade vs by thy holy spirit vnto the true knowledge of thy sonne likewise giuing vnto vs such a resolution as that wee may esteeme all things as dung Philip. 3. in respect of the excellent knowledge of Iesus Christ First of all giue vs grace O God rightlie to feele and vnderstand our necessitie to wit that wee ought to haue such a soueraine high priest as should be holy Heb. 7. innocent without spot separated from sinner which was very God and true man Moreouer O heauenly father print liuely in our hearts the knowledge acknowledging of this thy woonderful charity yea a loue fauor so great which thou hast shewed vnto vs poore sinners Titus 2. Titus 3.5 making thy wholsome grace to appeare in thy sonne Iesus Christ and sauing vs not through the workes that we should haue done but by the onelie merit of the death passion of thy sonne Iesus Christ O Lord what grace O what fauour O what humblenesse is this that the eternal sonne of the liuing God hath taken the forme of a seruant hath humbled himselfe euen to die for vs miserable wretches Ephe 4.20 But aboue all giue vs grace to learn Christ aright and not to be like vnto thē that liue vnorderlie doe abuse through a fleshlie libertie this blessed wholsome knowledge which should rather drawe vs to follow his aime to witte that by the same we might be humbled so cōfounded in our selues in seeing how horrible and great our sinnes haue bin as it behoued vs to haue them bought againe by so great a price to the end wee should not esteeme and magnifie anie thing but thy bountie and that all our ioie and glorie might be in thee In summe that wee should cast our eyes vpon this good Iesus in all our aduersities and miseries aspiring vnto eternall saluatiō that he hath prepared for vs forsaking our selues to liue vnto the praise of him who hath redeemed vs. O God doe not suffer poore Christendome to bee brought backe againe into a bottomles pitte of darknes and to be depriued from so wholsome a knoweledge by this damnable sect of Arrians the which alas would spring vp a fresh in the world and who haue denyed the true diuinitie of Iesus or through this miserable heresie of the Martionites Eutichians and others blotting out and vtterly frustrating the proprieties of the humane nature of the same thy deare sonne as much as lieth in them shrowding them selues notwithstanding with the name of Euangelicall Doctors O Lorde for the loue of thy name and of our poore posterities maintaine the trueth
doe hide their faces before him And man vnlesse that hee died could neuer see his maiestie yea man such as he is on the earth a sinner and mortall But oh happie and blessed shall that daie be 1. Iohn 3. and this houre ought to be desired of vs when as wee shall see this great God such as he is with a soul altogether cleane and a glorified bodie The knowledge of God from hencefoorth is vnto vs as Nazianzen saith in respect of the spirit as the sunne is vnto the bodie This is a light well liking vnto vs but happie is the soule that shall see him face to face and in seeing him shall liue for euermore In the meane-while let vs put our trust in the sonne who speaketh in his Gospell of that which hee hath seene and hath partaken his secretes vnto vs Iohn 15. as vnto his friendes and louers Vppon the 3. Chap. of S. Iohn God so loued the world that hee hath giuen his onely begotten sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life MEDITATION S. Paul oftentimes saith how he would not boast but in Iesus and the same crucified And in deede if man would consider these thinges at leasure which are contained in this sentence of S. Iohn hee would easilie agree with that which S. Paul speaketh and should finde that there is no knowledge in the world that giueth so much contentation as the knowledge of Gods loue through Iesus Christ in such sort as this sentence of S. Iohn ought to be as a pretious owel which a man dailie weareth about his necke euen so ought wee to imprint in our heartes this excellent witnesse of Gods loue For what are men that GOD loueth them What cause hath the immortall to loue the poore woormes of the earth The righteous to loue sinners The Maister the ingrate and vnfaithfull seruauntes Are wee not of nature the children of wrath Ought hee not without ceasing rather to represent vnto vs the hatred and the iust anger of this mightie God and that because of our corruption And moreouer if GOD had beene affectioned to some iust or excellent men yet say I this should bee greatlie to debase him But O diuine loue Oh woonderfull diuinitie Thou hast loued the world without considering anie certaine world anie Sexe anie Qualitie yea all the creatures which are come of the earth since Adam and Eue men and women great and little poore and rich fooles wisemen And all the cause and occasion that thou hast had to fauour them was not for their beautifull eyes but it was euen thy great and extreme bountie All their righteousnesse is as an vncleane cloth before him Esaiah 64. And their excellencie is but as a flower Esaiah 40. which withereth and fadeth from day to day Therefore it hath pleased thee O God to loue man But what say I to loue What tongue shall not iudge himselfe vnsufficient yea what heart shall not bee vnable to deduct or comprehend this so great a loue which hath brought thee to giue one onelie and innocent sonne to death and that to giue life vnto those creatures that are so vnthankfull and so corrupted Where is it that one shall finde a man in this world that will pledge himselfe euen to suffer death for an other were hee his friend and an honest man Truelie it is verie rare But what O Lord thou hast doone truelie more For thou hast not giuen an Angell or an Archangell but thou hast giuen thy onelie sonne vnto a sorrowfull and most shamefull death for to redeeme thy enemies that were reuolted from thee but alas wherefore is not this friendship alike Wherefore doe wee not loue thee with a burning desire as thou hast loued vs Wherefore complaine wee of a little earth lost in thy Seruice and thou hast not cōplayned at all of the death of thy welbeloued sonne of thy delight when the question was of our redemption When a prince dooth not giue vs his good countenance and fauour then we are sore troubled and greeued and yet in respect thereof we make ah alas but small reckenning of thy loue which art the king of kinges and the eternall God Therefore that which wee doe want is that we doe not sufficientlie tast how much the Lord is good and sweete Seeing now O Lord that thy loue is endlesse graunt vs heartes that may comprehend his infinite goodnesse and that wee may forthwith feele therein an endlesse comfort which may swallow vp all the sorrowes of this wretched life So be it Out of the 6. of S. Iohn Simon Peter answered Iesus Maister to whome shall we goe Thou hast the wordes of eternall life And wee beleeue and know that thou art the Christ the sonne of the liuing God Out of the 3. Chap. of the first to Timothie Without all gainsaying great is the mysterie of godlinesse to witte that God is manifested in the flesh iustified in the spirit seene of Angels preached vnto the Gentiles beleeued on in the world and ascended vp in glorie Out of the 4. Chap. of the first Epistle of S. Iohn Hereby know yee the spirit of God Euerie spirit that confesseth that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God And euerie spirit which confesseth not that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God but this is the spirit of Antichrist of whome you haue heard how that hee should come and now alreadie he is in the world And wee haue seene and doe testifie that the father sent the sonne to bee the Sauiour of the world Whosoeuer confesseth that Iesus is the sonne of God in him dwelleth God and he in God And wee haue knowen and beleeued the loue that GOD hath in vs. Here followeth VVhich vvas conceiued by the holie Ghost borne of the virgin Marie CONSIDERATION THis is not vnto vs as saith S. Basyl in a Sermon which hee made of Iesus Christes humane nature neither for vs much to inquire how Christ is come downe here below And wherefore God is serued with such a meane rather than with anie other For thou man saith hee thou wast lost and so recoiledst backe from the face of thy God that thou couldest not come neere thereunto Sith now that he is so humbled and brought low to come vnto thee wouldest thou dispute much thereuppon Rather acknowledge in all humblenesse this blessing of the sonne of God yea and with as great affection as thou canst or maist who is according to the euerlasting diuine nature ingendred by the Father not made nor created as it is said in Athanasius Creede both without Mother and without beginning but is according to the humane nature a like vnto vs sinne excepted begotten of a woman and the sonne of Dauid In such manner as Sedulius saith in a Hymme The creator of the world hath taken shape of a seruant to the end that hee might redeeme our flesh through his flesh and that those
woonderfull thing that the coniunction of humane nature is made with the diuine without changing of natures also without anie confusion of persons therein For Christ hath so knit the natures together as hee both God and man is in diuine substance but one person with the father and the holie ghost O strange thing wee were not woorthie to be seruauntes and now wee be children and coheires with Christ And now I pray thee good God graunt mee grace in good ernest to acknowledge thy vertue that I may with a burning desire loue thee all the daies and time of my life and that my faith be stayed on my redeemer who was seene in the world and was lifted vp into glorie It Followeth Suffered vnder Ponce Pilate was crucified dead and buried hee descended into hell CONSIDERATION YEe neede not to maruaile that in this Article of our faith wee doe passe from his natiuitie vnto his death For first all his life was a preparatiue vnto death a perpetuall passion Secondlie the death and passion of Iesus was the true witnesse of his obedience and then was ended this true Sacrifice that hath abolished sinne and death Euen as the auncient high Priestes did take of the people that which they had to sacrifice so hath hee also taken of vs our nature and this bodie which hee hath sacrificed on the crosse being the sacrifice and the sacrificer Therefore hee had will to suffer truelie in our flesh and to die that in him we might haue life And that wee may liue and die in him dailie dying to the world to vice to liue vnto all righteousnesse and to his glorie who hath redeemed vs. Death the graue hell are verie terrible thinges yea more than terrible But Iesus Christ hath triumphed ouer death and arising againe hee hath sanctified our graues and hath by his vertue ouercome the sorrowes of hell and hath broken all the boltes and chaines to make free and to set in safetie all his elect so as there is no condemnation vnto those that doe beleeue in him Rom. 8. Away with these sacrifices of these popish Priestes seeing that this true sacrifice made with the shedding of the bloud of the Lambe without spot Iohn 1. taketh away all the sinnes of the world Places of the holie scripture testifying the death and passion of Iesus Christ Out of the Prophecie of Dauid 22. Psalme For Dogges haue compassed me the assemblie of the wicked haue inclosed me they pearced my handes and my feete I may tell all my bones yet they behold and looke vppon me According to the exposition of some as if the should haue said he shal not be ouerwhelmed with troubles and sorrowes For he is the euerliuing sonne of of God of an euerlasting generation But this is for our sinnes and by the counsel of God that it should happen vnto him They part my garments among them and cast lottes vppon my vesture Out of the 69. Psalme I was constrained to restore that which I tooke not They gaue me gall in my meate and in my thirst they gaue me vineger to drinke A prophesie of the death and passion of Iesus Christ Out of the 53. Chap. of Esaiah Surelie hee hath borne our infirmities and carried our sorrowes yet did wee iudge him as plagued and smitten of God But hee was wounded for our transgressions hee was broken for our iniquities the chasticement of our peace was vppon him and with his stripes are wee healed All wee lyke Sheepe haue gone astray wee haue turned euerie one to his owne way and the Lorde hath laid vppon him the iniquitie of vs all He was oppressed and hee was afflicted yet did hee not open his mouth he is brought as a sheepe vnto the slaughter as a sheep before her shearer is dumme so hee openeth not his mouth He was taken out from prison and from iudgement And who shall declare his age For hee was cut out of the land of the liuing and for the transgression of my people was he plagued And hee made his graue with the wicked and with the riche in his death though hee had doone no wickednes Vnto the rich neither was anie deceite in his mouth Yet the Lord would breake him and make him subiect to manie infirmities This was Ioseph of Arimathe when hee shall make his soule an offering for sinne hee shall see his seede and shall prolong his dayes and the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand Of the abasing of Iesus Christ in this world Daniel also hath prophesied in the 9. Chap. and 26. verse ANd after threescore and two weekes shall Christ bee slaine and shall haue nothing and some doe translate there shall none remaine to helpe him or hee shall bee altogether made of none effect This death of Christ was figured by the offering of weathers and Lambes and likewise by the offering that Abraham made of his sonne Isaac in the 22. of Genesis The brasen serpent and by the brasen serpent set vp in the wildernesse whome those that did behold were deliuered from the venemous bitings of serpentes as it is written in the 21. Chapter of Nombers This brasen serpent did signifie that Christ should take the forme of a sinner and should bee notwithstanding without sinne That which was set vp on a tree did signifie that Iesus Christ should bee lifted vp vppon a crosse as wee doe reade it in the 3. of Saint Iohn As Moses lifted vp the Serpent in the wildernesse so must the sonne of man be lifted vp That whosoeuer beleeueth in him shall not perish but haue eternall life And to shew in deede that it was not in the brasen serpent that had anie vertue annexed to it but that wee ought to looke more high King Ezechias seeing how the people did goe a whoring after this Serpent â— King 1â— hee brake it in peeces and named it Nehustan that is to say a vile thing and woorth nothing The historie of the passion and death of Iesus Christ wee haue drawen out by the foure Euangelistes especiallie in the 22. 23. of S. Luke THe causes of the passion and death of Iesus Christ The causes of Christes death were first the vnchangeable counsell and prouidence of GOD as it is said in the second of the Actes and the 23. verse Hee was deliuered by the determinate counsel of God And againe the loue of God towardes mankind God so loued the world that hee hath giuen his onelie begotten sonne as saith S. Iohn in the 3. Chapter And wee doe reade in the 5. Chap. to the Ephesians and the 25. verse how hee also loued vs and gaue himselfe willinglie for vs. If wee must come vnto other outward causes of this death and which bee inferiour there is the hatred of the diuell and the enmitie whereof it is spoken in the 3. Chap. of Genesis betweene the serpent and the seede of the woman There is
that haue thy worde and thy promises and with whome thou art reconciled as thou hast promised by thy prophet Esaiah Esay 54. That although for a time thou hidest thy face away from thine yet neuerthelesse thou hast sworne as in the daies of Noah that thou wouldest no more suffer the waters to ouerflowe the earth so also hast thou sworne that thou wilt be mercifull vnto thy people 1. Peter 3. Whereof thou giuest vnto vs assuraunce in the sacrament of Baptisme in which thou shewest vnto vs both life and death as vnto Noah death in the waters and life in the arke Our sinnes O Lorde are the meanes of thy wrath sufficient to drowne vs but in receiuing vs into thine Arke which is thy Church and graffing vs in thy sonne Iesus whereto thou giuest vs a visible signe and testimonie in baptisme wee be saued and quickened Albeit therefore though the faithfull be in small number as was also the familie of Noah made onely of eight persons yet suffer not that I turne away for this from thy Church or that euer O my God this desperate spite take me to drowne and destroy my selfe with the multitude But O heauenly father giue mee rather grace to watch and to continue that I bee not ouerwhelmed and sette vpon by thy iudgementes euen as they were in Noahs time which sported themselues and gaue themselues ouer to their delightes Matth. 24. but rather that I may be found watching and awayting patiently and constantly the comming of my good maister Iesus Christ So be it Ierusalem was also a figure of the Church of God For as it is sayde in the 122. Psalme Ierusalem is builded as a citie that is compact together in it selfe whereunto the Tribes euen the Tribes of the Lorde goe vp according to the testimonie of Israell to praise the name of the Lorde It is called the house of the Lorde in the which the brethren are set in order In the 56.7 of Esaiah the temple shall bee called the house of prayer for all people The tabernacle that was also so welbeloued for the testimonies that God gaue therein of his presence Psalm 84. and that there they did seeke the Lorde as it is saide in the 33. of Exodus was a figure of the Church where is the meeting and congregation of the Lorde The Church in the 10. Chap. of S. Iohn is compared vnto a sheepefolde whereof Iesus is the sheepehearde and in the which the sheepe doe heare and vnderstande the voice of the sheepheard In the 5. Chapter of the Epistle of S. Paule to the Ephesians as also often times in the prophetes the Church is compared vnto a welbeloued spouse in whom the Lorde taketh his pleasure and of whom he is the heade as the husbande of his wife whom he maketh much of and for whome hee hath giuen himselfe So then the true Church is compared in the scripture vnto a heauenly Ierusalem Heb. 12.22 and hath most excellent titles when as man doth respect the chosen of God and the companie of the true faithfull which the Lorde knoweth and approueth But when the scripture beholdeth this visible Church and considereth it at once and outwardly then is it compared vnto a great fielde that yeeldeth maniefolde and sundrie kinde of graines where amongest and in which there is great store of Darnell or else like vnto a nette Matth. 13. that hath taken all manner of fishes For all they which are outwardly Iewes as S. Paul saith in the 2. to the Romanes be not therefore very Iewes in deede So likewise all they that say Lorde Lorde Matth. 7. shall not enter into the kingdome of heauen But God doth alwaies reserue some seede in the middest of these corruptions and without that wee had as Esaiah sayeth euen a good while agone beene as Sodom and Gomorra Certaine places of the scripture concerning the Church of God and the profite of his worde Out of the 93. Psalme vers 5. Thy testimonies are verie sure O Lord holinesse becommeth thy house for euer Out of the 94. Psalme vers 12. Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest O Lorde and teachest him thy lawe that thou maiest giue him rest from the daies of euill whiles the pit is digged for the wicked Out of the 119. Psalme vers 32. I will runne the way of thy commaundementes when thou shalt inlarge mine heart A prayer O Lorde my God because that the way of thy saluation is declared vnto vs in thy worde and that by so many testimonies of the prophets and Apostles wee do vnderstande what is the true and right way suffer me not to lose my selfe wandering through the large way of the world and going in the counsell of the wicked or following the traditions of men Psalm 73. Make me to knowe that all they which trust not in thee are in daungerous and slipperie places And suffer me not O good God that in this faire way wherein thou hast set me I waxe feeble or slowly walke but that rather I may runne out this holie course euen vnto the ende and that I may remaine constant in thy obedience and that I may by a true faith ouercome the offences and lettes that Sathan offereth vnto them which doe runne vnto thee Alas O Lorde I truely knowe that the best runners are some times subiect to stumble but keepe me from falling and if I fall let thy holie hande relieue mee and soone set me vpright that so Lorde feeling thy goodnesse and sweetenesse that I serue thee not vnwillingly and grudgingly but where as in times past I ranne after vanities and ydolatrie I may nowe runne O my God in the way that thy worde doeth appoint vs and to the ende I may runne set my heart at libertie Psalm 32. for our spirites are naturally so much let with worldly cares that we are become more duller and restiue than oxe or mule But it is thy vertue wherein I so hope and trust it is thy aide that I call for that by thy mighty spirite my weake spirite may be vnswathed and vnroled there may be nothing to stay me from walking in thy feare to the ende I may vowe my selfe in thy seruice O Lord blessed are they which be in thy schoole where thy worde soundeth and thy spirite gouerneth which comforteth and strentheneth vs against all afflictions namely against death 1. Cor. 9. declaring vnto vs that wee runne not in vaine but for the vncorruptible crowne of glorie O Lorde giue mee grace so to runne that I may learne him and come euen vnto thee We doe require as Dauid sayeth Psalm 119. in this worlde they face in thy Church But we doe not see as yet thy face vncouered we see thee in thy worde and in part But O happie are we when as wee shall see thy glorie and that we shall see thee such as thou art without sacrament or figure inioying the trueth and presence of thy
our soules and hast left vnto vs amongest others the sacrament of the supper that we should be assured howe his life doeth flowe into vs. O what a refreshing is this to vs in this our pilgrimage yea to them that feele and laie holde of such like graces By the presse men doe drawe foorth out of the grapes the lyquor of wine And thou O Lorde thou hast put thy sonne vpon the presse of the crosse to make vs drinke of this holy lyquor But nowe O Lorde my God to the ende that I doe not vnworthily present my selfe vnto this holie table and foode which is marueled at and honoured by the Angelles purifie and cleanse my heart by thy holie spirite Powre foorth thy loue through all the partes of my soule that I may take increase in all vertue and holinesse and that I may so continue in this blessed fellowshippe of the bodie of thy sonne that I may drawe out of him strength and life as the branch out of the vine stocke and that beeing knitte with thy sonne Iesus I may be one with thee that I may liue to thee vntill the time I doe come euen vnto thee So be it A giuing of thankes after the supper O Lord I giue thee thankes for thy inestimable loue for that not onely I haue this benefitte of my beeing and mouing in thee but chiefly in that it hath pleased thee to make mee to liue for euer in thy kingdome redeeming mee from euerlasting damnation which I had deserued through my sinnes But good God I beseech thee that this precious bloud be not shedde in vaine for me but daily nourish my soule by the partaking of the flesh of thy sonne Quicken mee in his bloud that I may be of the number of thy children and a member of the bodie of thy Church that I be not so vnhappie to abuse these sacred meates which haue cost so deere a price of thy deere beloued sonne Iesus to prepare them for vs that I be not also like vnto the dogges which returne vnto their vomittes and swine that goe backe againe vnto their puddle Alas Lorde make me that I neuer forsake thy holie couenaunt for any thing in the worlde For whither is it that I shoulde goe but vnto thee that hast the wordes of euerlasting life Let it not be a daie onely that the remembrance of thy sonnes passion bee before my eies But that I may for euermore honour this good sauiour which hath left vnto vs so faire an heritage by his testament and hath giuen vs thereof so goodly an earnest in the supper Now to thee O God my creator to thee Christ my redeemer to thee holie Ghost my comforter who worketh this holie coniunction of men with GOD and of earth with heauen vnto thee one alone true God be honour and glorie I poore creature doe recommende my selfe vnto thee glorious God being well determined through thy grace to goe in peace and in ioy to death when the houre shall come since that Christ is my life Auaunt from me all delightes and earthly meates which doe turne into doung syth that I haue a foode which turneth me to immortalitie the bread of Angelles the breade which wee shall eate without signes and sacramentes when as we shall inioye that felicitie beeing in heauen Prayers for the Church A Prayer against the aduersaries of the Church ALmightie God since that thou seest thine aduersaries so proud yea with a diuelish rage to force against thy Church cause that wee may feele how thou art the verie same whome all thy faithful haue prooued in times past in all ages to wit that thou hast the care of the saluation of those that call vppon thee with a pure heart yea and seeke thee in extreme distresse and necessitie that although thou stretchest forth thy hand at this day and repressest this rage which thou seest to be kindeled against all thy seruauntes and children to the end that last of all the reprobates may feele and vnderstand and that to their destruction how they haue not vndertaken warres against a miserable people corrupted stripped and naked of all ayd but against thine vnestimable vertue that being confounded albeit they haue no shame rore out the more against thee and against thy power yet they may serue notwithstanding for an example and bee for a manifest instruction that thou art not onelie faithfull in all thy promises But also furnished and garnished with such vertue that thou canst execute and fulfill all that which thou hast promised for the safe keeping of thy Church vntill such time as thou hast fullie deliuered vs out of our enemies hand An other prayer vppon the same matter ALmightie GOD forasmuch as thou seest how wee be at this day compassed about on all sides with so manie enemies who practise continuallie our ouerthrowe and that we are so weake and feeble make vs learne to looke vnto thee and that our faith may so rest vppon thee that into whatsoeuer daungers wee be put and howsoeuer our flesh saith wee may neuer doubt but that thou art stored with a mightie power to make all our enemies afraid that amongest the daungers of this life wee may liue in rest of spirit and that wee cease not from calling vppon thee as thou hast promised to be a faithfull protector of those that call on thee in Iesus Christ his name So be it A prayer to perseuere in the doctrine of the Gospel ALmightie God seeing we be so much inclined vnto corruption that with great hardnesse wee doe enter into the listes so lightlie wee retire our selues from the course being well instructed yet we fall off and doe easilie degenerate graunt that being by thy spirit furnished with constancie we may perseuere to the end in that same right way that thou hast shewed vnto vs by thy word Furthermore though that manie are cast into diuers errors yet that wee maie take pleasure to call and to withdrawe them backe againe yea if wee doe not profite anie whit therein yet at the least that wee be not allured after them but that wee may remaine constant in faithfull obedience vntill such time as hauing atchieued all our Combates we may be gathered together to that blessed rest which is kept for vs by our captaine and sauiour Iesus Christ in the heauens A Prayer to bee constant in Religion against all lettes or withstandinges Almightie God sith that Satan setteth before vs at these dayes manie feares and dreades which might altogether cast vs downe and make vs lose courage as in deed wee bee but feeble and weake graunt that wee hauing our eies lifted vp to heauen wee may consider this inuincible power wherewith thou art furnished to make vs ouercome all lettes Besides although nothing doe appeare in this world but that which is contemptible which may confirme or maintaine our faith yet notwithstanding graunt that wee may pearce by the eyes of our faith into this secret vertue and so
death and shewing that she had no more power sith that Christ is risen againe Nowe will some say howe doth this place agree with S Paule Wee must consider the thinges more neerer It was sayde that if the people had turned to God he had deliuered them through his diuine mercie But forasmuch as there was nothing in vs but sinne and so likewise death it behoueth vs to looke vpon Christ who hath ouercome death and vanquished Hell in such sort as they cannot hurt the children of God For being graffed in Christ we feare nothing Wherefore S. Paule who reioyceth himselfe in Christ and in his righteousnesse and who considereth that through him saluation is giuen vnto vs doth with good right dispite and tryumph ouer death and as concerning him he doth not recite the wordes of the prophet worde for word but he hath a respect to the intent and meaning of them By Christ then are we quickened therefore haue we sure hope of the resurrection so as that which the righteousnesse of the lawe could not do is fulfilled and wrought through Christ in whome wee feare not death Thus by faith we are deliuered from the whole curse Out of the 22. Chap. of S. Matthew Iesus disputing of the resurrection against the Sadduces sayde And concerning the resurrection of the dead haue ye not read what is spoken vnto you of God saying I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaae and the God of Iacob God is not the God of the dead but of the liuing Out of the 5. of S. Iohn The houre shall come in the which all that are in the graues shal heare the voice of the sonne of man And they shall come foorth that haue doone good vnto the resurrection of life but they that haue doone euill vnto the resurrection of condemnation Excellent witnesses of the resurrection out of the 15. Chapter of the first Epistle to the Corinthians If there be no resurrection of the dead then is Christ not risen But Christ is risen was seene of manie Then is there a resurrection of the dead If we haue our only hope in this life we shall be most miserable of all mankinde But our faith is not in vaine neither the witnesse that the holy Ghost doth yeelde vnto our heartes that wee be the children of God Then is there another entire life of man and consequently a resurrection The seconde Adam is truly as mightie at the least as the first Nowe all these die which are borne of Adam it followeth then that they which be borne againe in the seconde Adam which is Christ are also made liuing after the bodie and soule The sacrament of Baptisme is vnto vs also a sacrament which doth represent vnto vs our mortification our life and resurrection when the people were drawen through the water The saintes and faithfull neither fought nor suffered in vaine For if there were not another life in vaine should they suffer euen vnto death We haue likewise saith S. Paul an example of the resurrection in the graine of corne and in other seedes which die in the grounde and in dying doe in the spring time rise againe more fairer wherefore is it that that should not so likewise happen vnto our bodies Out of the 3. Chap. of the Epistle of S. Paule to the Philippians Our conuersation is in heauen from whence also we looke for the sauiour euen the Lorde Iesus Christ who shall change our vile bodie that it may be fashioned like vnto his glorious bodie according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all thinges vnto himselfe Out of the 2. Chapter of the 2. Epistle to Timothie S. Paule reproueth Hymeneus and Philetus which haue erred from the truth saying that the resurrection is past alreadie and doe destroy the faith of certaine I beleeue the life euerlasting Euerlasting saluation is the ende of our faith as sayeth S. Peter in the 1. Epistle and 1. Chap. This is truely the glorie of God which ought to be our ende and that whereunto wee doe aspire euen the price which is promised to this militant Church that is life euerlasting The soule of Lazarus separated from the bodie Luke 16.22 was receaued to euerlasting rest It was said vnto the good thiefe as he is called which confessed Christ with repentance To day shalt thou bee with me in paradise Now who is hee which could expresse the blessednes of the life euerlasting For this word Life comprehendeth all ioy peace glorie and honor as S. Paul saith in the 2. Chap. to the Romans Vnto those which with patience are giuē to goodnes shall bee giuen Glorie honor immortalitie and life euerlasting And they shall shine as the sunne in the kingdome of their father as it is said in the 13. of S. Matthew Contrariwise the Infidels shall bee cast out from the face of the Lorde with anger with euerlasting tormentes where shall bee weeping and gnashing of teeth Behold what is the auncient faith that the Apostles haue held and S. Peter hath preached for the which our Churches are persecuted and wee are called heritikes But what Wee oftentimes call to remembrance that goodlie admonition that S. Paul made to Timothie in the 6. Chap. of his first Epistle Fight the good fight of faith Lay hold of eternall life whereunto thou art also called and of that which Dauid speaketh in the 138. Psalme Lorde though I walke in the middest of trouble yet wilt thou reuiue me And of this goodlie place which is in the 25. of Esai The Lorde will destroy death for euer and will wipe away the teares from all faces and the rebuke of his people wil he take away out of all the earth And in that day shall men say Lo this is our God wee haue awaited for him and hee will also saue vs. This is the Lorde wee haue awaited for him wee will also bee ioyfull and reioyce in his saluation And though wee bee deliuered to death for the name of Iesus yet doe wee know that his life shall bee manifested in our mortall flesh as it is said in the 4. Chap. of the 2. to the Corinth But the fearefull and vnbeleeuing the abominable and murtherers and whoremongers and sorcerers Idolaters and lyers shall haue their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death Apoca. 21.8 Comfortes against death taken out of manie auncient Doctors IT is not without great reason that the great philosopher Plato saith that the life of a wise man ought to passe in a continuall meditation of death For wee shall in deede auoid a number of offences if we haue in remembrance our end and the estate of this life which is so short as it is said in the 7. of Ecclesiast Nowe it is a strange thing to consider the blockishnesse of men in this case which by dailie experience well see that they must die They see well that our bodies bee not
that is our louing heartes knit together For God loueth the offering of him who hath a louing heart But if the heart be froward then doeth nothing of his actions or doinges please the Lord. A thing that is plainelie seene in the histore of Abel and Cain In short for so much as hee which hateth his brother is a murtherer 1. Iohn 3. God will haue no acquaintance with murtherers let vs make no account to obtaine his diuine fauour if wee be not louing and at peace with our neighbors Afterwards the Lord warneth vs howe wee should pray Lead vs not into Temptation ANd in this behalfe hee dooth warne vs howe the aduersarie can doe nothing against vs but in so much as the Lorde dooth suffer him to the end that all our feare and reuerence bee alwayes made readie to the Lorde Wee reade in the 24. Chapt. of the second booke of the Kinges how God did deliuer the citie of Ierusalem into the handes of the king of Babylon For it was by the occasion of our sinnes that the wicked were let loose against vs as it is said in the 42. of Esai Who is it that giueth Iacob for a spoile Is it God against whome they haue sinned And in the first booke of the Kinges and 11. Chap. The Lord threatened Salomon to raise vp an aduersarie against him because that he had forgotten himselfe in cōmitting so manie vilanous thinges Wherefore wee be tempted And as concerning these powers and temptations which hee prepareth against vs they are for two diuers causes Either it is to punish vs when wee doe offend or else to make vs victorious when as by them wee be onelie proued tried which may be seene in the historie of Iob. The Lorde in the 19. of S. Iohn speaking of himselfe said vnto Pilate Thou shouldest haue no power ouer me if it were not giuen thee from aboue Now this prayer whereby wee doe pray that the Lord lead vs not into temptation doeth represent before our eyes mans weakenesse that is subiect vnto so many knockes in such sort as it is not for him to doe any brauerie but rather dailie to watch to the ende that hee enter not into temptation following so many warninges as are made vnto vs. The spirite is readie but the flesh is weake what then shall we doe Let vs praie the Lorde and that that we shall aske with humblenesse he will grant vs for his fidelitie There is in the end of the praier But deliuer vs from euill Vnder this is cōprehended all that our enemies can deuise and platte against vs and wherewith we be defended if the Lord doth heare our praiers lend vnto vs his helpe Well then when we doe pray to be preserued from euill it is to be deliuered from all daunger and from all enterprises whether it be from sathan or the world in such sort as hauing the protection of God against euil we may wel hold vs most assured For how shall he feare any ill in this world that is kept of God in this world compassed about with his safegard To be short this is the life euerlasting the fulnesse of all good hap Iohn 17. to know one onelie true God and him whom he had sent into this world Iesus Christ our Sauiour Now our Lord Iesus hath not onelie commaunded vs to pray Luke 6. but he himselfe hath giuen vs an example withdrawing himselfe oftē vp into the mountaine to make his prayer And if he did pray which was exempt frō sinne how is it then that we poore wretches doe not pray to God The prayer of Iesus Christ And if he haue passed some times whole nightes therein wherefore doe we leaue off a thing so necessarie His prayer was not so much for himselfe as for vs. And wee see that which is spoken how that Sathan had desire to sift the Apostles but that he had prayed that their faith should not faile them In the 17. Chap. of S. Iohn he saith I pray not onelie for thē but for all those that shall beleeue in me O what bountie affectioned loue was that of our sauiour that was not contented to redeeme vs by his bloud but had moreouer great desire to pray for vs. And he hath prayed that we might bee all one well knowing that in the kingdome of God no discord doeth enter Nowe when wee pray my brethren let all fleshlie thinges bee farre from vs that the spirit may thinke vppon none other thing but vppon onelie praier And thereof commeth the manner that wee haue when as one in the beginning of our prayers pronounceth these wordes Lift vp your heartes And the people aunswere Wee lift them vp vnto the Lord. So that it is requisite that our heartes be shut vp from Sathan and open vnto our God The Diuell is craftie and hee seeketh some clift creuie or chinke by the which hee may slide into our vnderstandinges and to turne them away from God So that by this meane hee maketh vs to haue one thing in our heartes and an other thing in our tongues and yet in the meane space it is the heart that God demaundeth not the sound of the mouth For what lack of consideration is this for a man to be wretched in manie thoughtes in praying to God seeing that it is a thing wherein wee ought so much to take heed how wee pray vnto this great God How wouldest thou that GOD should heare thee when that thou doest not heare thy selfe Wouldest thou that God should haue remembrance of thee thou doest nowhit at all remember thy selfe This is to giue our selues for a pray vnto our enemie and to offend the maiestie of GOD This is also to watch with the eyes and to sleepe with the heart Furthermore it is needefull that the praier haue his effect and not be barren and this is the cause wherefore the scripture hath often times ioyned with it almes and fasting as the examples are thereof in Toby and in the good captaine Cornelius whereof it is spoken in the 10. of the Actes And in the 58. of Esay amongest other thinges that the Lorde requireth of those which call vpon him it is that they breake their breade vnto those which haue hunger Beholde heere the chiefe pointes that are requisite in true prayer that S. Cyprian describeth Blessed are those whome the Lorde shall finde waking and praying be it that he take vs by death or else that wee be chaunged in the twincking of an eie to appeare in his iudgement Now O Lord giue vs grace to praise thee vnto whom be all honour and glorie for euer So be it 2. Thessalonians Chap. 2. Brethren stande fast and holde the ordinaunces which ye haue beene taught whether it be by our preaching or by our Epistle Our Lorde Iesus Christ and God and our Father which hath loued vs and hath giuen vs euerlasting consolation and good hope in grace comfort your hearts and stablish you in all good saying and dooing FINIS
concluded for the third time O peace more cruell than any warre the yeare 1570. in the moneth of August the faithfull of the Church of Orlians thinking to inioy and vse the benefite of the saide peace were daily threatened beaten robbed and were for the most part euen for the space of one yeare let hindered both to inioy the greatest part of their goods as also to gather the Church together vntill the yeare of our Lord 1571. in the month of Septēber by the friendly soliciting that the late Lord Chatilliō Lord admiral through the great zeale goodwill that he had vnto these vertuous and notable men of name the late maister Baylife of Orlians The establishment of the Church of Orlians in the Isle maister Ierome Groslot Lord of the Isle with certaine other notable citizens of the saide citie the Church began to gather together as the peeces of a broken ship in a great sheepwracke vnto the saide place of the Isle a two small miles from Orlians where I was called thither againe to exercise the ministry and to beginne to reare vp this poore tabernacle which was so desolate But as our Lorde Iesus Christ being scarce borne and lodged in a little place at Bethelem forthwith had such kickings and assaults that he was constrained to retire himselfe into Egypt euen so the saide Church of Orlians as a man would say being but about to be borne againe and a litle to gather it selfe together that shee might knowe her selfe felt right soone the encountringes and forces of the enemie the exercise being broken off in the same place for a time through extorted cōmandements and wrasted proclamations such as we reade to haue beene in the fourth of Nehemie when for a time the building of the Tēple was hindered by one Sanbulat and his complices Nowe God graunting grace to this litle flocke to ouerpasse such lets and stops the exercise being a new agreed vpon in the saide place the furie and the slaughter of these papisticall people was no whit appeased in such sort that in steede of taking pitie of v. or vi hundred persons which went out ordinarily euery sunday to heare the preaching and exhortation as women children young and old and that often in vnseasonable times Cruelty against those which returned frō the preaching in the Isle and by verie long iourney they commonly receiued them with flinging of stones with myer and durt cast in their faces with iniuries outrages all kinde of scornings and derisions which the poore faithfull ones yea the women patiently did beare praising God who hadde giuen them this honour to suffer any thing for Iesus Christs sake The day of S. Bartholmewe vntill that that glowning fearfull and blouddie day of the 24. of August in the yeare 1572. was come on which day I made the last Sermon in the said place of the Isley There followed a generall deluge of Christian bloud through out all Fraunce and that which might stint euen one of the fairest and flourishingest Churches in all Fraunce to wit a 700. and more as some say Bourgeses Inhabitantes Counselars Aduocates Doctors and men of all qualities and conditions were cruellie slaughtered and Massacred amongst other there was slaine Monsieur de Champeaux the ancientest Counseller and next in place vnto the President one of the most courteous of all the citie The murther done at Orleans Doctor Taillebois the aduocate Patas maister Iohn Baudet and Gilles le Boiteux two of the most honorable and best affected citizens and so many others without sparing one of the most worshipful and ancient olde men of the citie who all his life long had beene honored amongest the chiefest bourgeses and beloued for his liberalitie and integritie to wit Monsieur Framberge Lorde of Bretache who drawen through the fieldes where he was in a waggen was cruelly striken downe in the suburbes of Portereau he who had all this yeare with great zeale and to his great charges lodged the Church to wit the Lord of the Isle The Massacre of the Lord of the Ile being Bailife of Orlians of whom mention was made before and who was there at the wedding of the king of Nauarre among the most auntient seruantes of his house this man was partlie shot in with Harquebusiers and partlie stricken downe by Halbardes within the citie of Paris Now who seeth not will some man say that yet this wound bleedeth and that ruine droppeth downe without ceasing vpon the desolate as was said in the destruction of Ierusalem in the 9. Chap. of Daniel Lord where are thy former mercies whereon wee doe waite Psal 89. Where is the zeale the strength of the Lord and the compassion of his bowels which are so dull that the Churches of long time in Fraunce bee as though God ruled not in the middest of them Esai 63. Lament ◠Yea who seemeth to haue deliuered his people so into the hands of them of them I say out of which they cannot be recouered and stand vp What hope is then there will some say or what are these remnantes of the Church seeing that the greatest part hath beene lead as it were vnto a butcherie or to slaughter the remnant for the most part forced by impatience is in such sort turned and falne away from the trueth that it seemeth there is no trace or path of a Church left or that euer there had beene anie reformation had at Orlians or in the most part of the other cities These are O alas the thinges that are most true and that which hath bin recited is not the thowsand part of the outrages violences and miseries which haue come to the said Church For what tongue can expresse or what speach can vtter and set forth so manie lamētable cries as well of women as of childrē seeing slaine cruellie before their eyes their husbandes and fathers as well by enforcementes of their bodies as of their consciences and other such like outrages that would make the posteritie euen by onelie thinking of it to quake and tremble and now maketh vs as it were beside our selues when we doe but by the way make anie mention thereof as for example this preface can not bee a full laying out of such lamentable Tragedies neither is it my meaning at this time leauing those to intreate of this argument more at large that can doe it better with an higher stile and that are better informed of all the particularities than I can be But this is to the end that wee may now see and as it were put into the ballance on the one side the afflictions and miseries of the said Church And againe on the other part may see the consolations wherewith the scriptures haue furnished vs to the end we should know whether we haue occasion altogether to droupe and to lose our courage as alas to my great sorrow I see that manie haue done and not rather euen
souldiers wherof they vant and bost to wit their skarres and maimes to shewe how they haue beene the first at the medley or fight Therefore let vs not be greeued if we doe receiue in this world some losse beatinges and skarres for Christes sake and let vs not thinke to be ouercome what euill so euer happeneth but to be ouercommers so long as by faith we doe surely hold ourselues in the Lorde An other goodlie example taken out of the 13. Chapter of Iob to bee vsed in the middest of the greatest Temptations Lo though he slay me yet wil I put my trust in him and will reprooue my wayes in his sight He shal be my saluation also for the Hypocrite shall not come before him c. CONSIDERATION BEcause of the doubtfulnesse of this worde Loe in the Hebrewe tongue some reade this Text thus See he will slaie me and I will not awaite or looke for any more as if he should say I haue nothing else to awaite after Neuerthelesse this is the meaning and intent of Iob to say Albeit that God kill me and that there is not herein anie apparaunce after my death to looke for any more good of the Lorde yet so it is that I will not leaue off from acknowledging my selfe a sinner reproouing my waies and to holde him for the God of my saluation who also quickeneth dead thinges as by the deawe of the spirite he causeth to spring foorth those things that seeme as dead euen as it is sayde in the 26. of Esaie 5.19 Therefore it is the propertie of Faith not to limite any thing to God but to suffer him yea if he would kill vs or bring vs to dust And in the 78. Psalme the Iewes are reproued in tempting God and to limite the holie one of Israell Contrariwise the faithfull say My soule keepeth silence vnto God Euen as it is sayde in the 62. Psalm ver 1. and patiently abideth in the Lorde and suffering him that knoweth to draw out of darkenesse light and out of death life and who also declareth his Power Strength and Vertue in our weakenesse 2. to the Cor. 12. Wherefore doe not we remember this infinite power of the euerlasting Lorde in the middest of our Anguishes Why doe not we beholde the Prince of life in the middest of the shadowe of death and also vnto him who through his death hath giuen vs life And whose goodnesse is better than life it selfe As it is sayd in the 63. Psalm O that we had truely the excellent greatnesse of his power before our eies done to vs which do beleeue through his force strength whereby hee hath wrought it in Christ when he raised him vp from the dead and made him to sit at his right hand according as S. Paule speaketh in the 5. Chap. of his Epistle to the Ephesians Howe much more of courage would we be when namely we should receiue it as the sentence of death in our selues if we do come againe to consider thereof Philip. 1.21 how Christ liueth in vs and that to die in him is life and aduauntage To bee short in place to murmure against God in our anguishes we should reproue blame our waies and our sinnes with Iob for our only sinnes are they that do destroy mankinde Certaine notable sentences touching Faith taken out of the Psalmes and an assurance of the true faithfull Out of the 27. Psalme Hope in the Lord and be strong he shal comfort thine heart and trust in the Lorde Though that my Father and my Mother should forsake me yet the Lord will gather me vp The 36. Psalme How excellent is thy mercie O God and therefore the children of men trust vnder the shadowe of thy winges They shal be satisfied with the fatnesse of thine house and thou shalt giue them drinke out of the ryuer of thy pleasures For with thee is the well of life and in thy light shall we see light The 40. Psalme Blessed is the man that maketh the Lorde his trust From a heartie Faith proceedeth the confession of the mouth and regardeth nor the proude nor such as turne aside to lies I haue not hid thy righteousnesse within mine heart but I haue declared thy trueth and thy saluation I haue not concealed thy mercie and thy trueth from the great congregation Withdrawe not thou thy tender mercie from me O lord let thy mercie and thy trueth alwaies preserue me The 50. Psalme Call vppon me in the day of trouble so will I deliuer thee and thou shalt glorifie me The 55. Psalme Cast thy burthen vpon the Lord and he shall nourish thee hee will not suffer the righteous to fall for euer The 62. Psalme In God onely is my trust in God only is my saluation he is my rocke my castle and my defence therefore I shall not be moued Yet my soule keepe thou silence vnto God for my hope is in him in God is my saluation and my glory Trust in him alway ye people powre out your heartes before him for God is our hope Yet the children of men are vanitie the chiefe men are lies Trust not in oppression nor in roberie bee not vaine if riches increase set not your heartes thereon The 63. Psalme Because thou hast beene my helper therfore vnder the shadow of thy wings will I reioyce My soule cleaueth vnto thee for thy right hande vpholdeth me The 71. Psalme In thee O Lorde I trust let me neuer be ashamed For thou art mine hope O Lorde GOD euen my trust from my youth Vpon thee haue I beene stayed from the wombe thou art he that tooke mee out of my mothers bowelles my praise shal be alwaies of thee Cast me not off in the time of age forsake mee not when my strength faileth me The 73. Psalme Whome haue I in Heauen but thee And I haue desired none in the Earth with thee My flesh faileth and mine heart also but God is the strength of mine heart and my portion for euer For loe they that withdrawe themselues from thee shall perish As for me it is good for me to drawe neere vnto God therefore I haue put my trust in the Lord God that I may declare all thy workes The 84. Psalme Blessed are they that dwell in thine house they will euer praise thee Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee I had rather be a doore keeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the Tabernacles of wickednesse For the Lorde God is the sunne and the shielde vnto vs the Lorde will giue grace and glorie and no good thing wil he withholde from them that walke vprightlie O Lorde of Hostes blessed is the man that trusteth in thee The 91. Psalme Thou hast sayd the Lord is my hope thou hast set the most high for thy refuge there shall none euill come vnto thee For hee shall giue his Angelles charge ouer thee to keepe thee in all thy waies Because hee hath loued mee
therefore will I deliuer him I will exalt him because he hath knowen my name When he calleth vppon mee I will heare him I will bee with him in trouble I will deliuer him and glorifie him with long life will I satisfie him and shew him my saluation The 118. Psalme The Lorde is with mee therefore I will not feare what man can do vnto me The Lorde is with me among them that helpe me therefore I shall see my desire vpon mine enemies It is better to trust in the Lord than to haue any confidence in man I shall not die but liue and declare the workes of the Lord. The Lord hath chastened me sore but he hath not deliuered me to death Thou art my god and I wil praise thee euen my God therfore will I exalt thee The 125. Psalme They that trust in the Lord shal be as mount Sion which cannot bee remoued but remaineth for euer As the mountaines are about Ierusalem so is the Lord about his people from hence foorth for euer A MEDITATION PRAIER as concerning Faith and inuocation drawen out of certaine Psalmes SAint Paule in the 3. Chap. to the Rom. sayth That all haue sinned are depriued of the glorie of God But because that by faith wee doe put on vs Christ who dwelleth in our heartes wee bee so pleasing vnto him as his wisdome as it is saide in the 8. Chap. of the Prouerbs and tooke his delight in the childrē of men Therefore are young and olde great and litle bidden to praise the Lorde euen as we doe see in the 148. Psalme O what an honour is this vnto vs that God will be praised by vs Who is he sayth S. Chrysostom that to be honored and praised by the wormes doth much care for it We be such yet notwithstanding hee will haue vs praise and glorifie him From whence commeth this honor except it be by faith which yeeldeth vs pleasing and setteth vs in honor Yea so pleasing Psal 145. as the Lord offereth himselfe to worke the desires of those that call vppon him in trueth What is it to call vppon him in trueth vnlesse to pray in Faith and to confirme our requestes and desires vnto the word of GOD which is the onelie trueth Wherefore soundeth not out thē the whole world the praises of the Lord Why then goe so manie people roming after strange Gods that cannot saue them What iniquitie haue men found in the liuing God that they digge pittes where there is no water Ieremie 2. and forsake the fountaine of life Is not our helpe in the name of the Lord Psal 124. who hath made both heauen and earth Is this he who hath giuē vs occasion and assurance to trust in him euen from the time that we sucked our mothers pappes And though that he chastice vs holdeth he not dailie the affection of a Father when as in chasticing vs he correcteth vs and in correcting vs aduaunceth our saluation in such sort as Dauid himselfe confesseth that it was good for him to be chasticed Psal 11◠to learne the iudgementes of the Lorde Yea and albeit that death should be before our eyes Psal 68. is it not he that hath the issues of death in his hand O Lord suffer vs not to be led away by them that goe farre from thee A prayer Neither yet let vs at anie time communicate with the bloudie Sacrifices of Idolaters Psal 125. Psal 16. Rather graunt mercie vnto the poore bringing them with vs vnto thy sheepefold Make strong the weake and keepe vs from being too presumptuous Rom. 11. seeing that it is by faith and by grace that we stand fast Keepe vs O good Father standing that wee doe not fall 1. Cor. 10. Let vs prooue our selues if we be in faith and let this faith increase that it may shine as gold in the middest of afflictions that it be also stirred vp in vs without ceasing and strengthened by a dailie hearing of thy word meditating of thy bounties and by supplications and prayers that in this fraile and olde ruinous age of the world Psal 62. ◠since that the infidels are as an old tottering wall we may be strong sure constant dailie leaning vpon this strong tower and rocke thy sonne Iesus Christ So be it A consideration vppon this which is spoken of the vse of Gods word taken out of the 30. Chap. of the Prouerbes EVerie word of the Lorde is purged and is as a bucklar vnto those that haue proofe in the same Dauid speaketh almost the same in the 12. Psalme Now for a trueth the wordes of the Lord are pure wordes as the siluer be it that we behold his subiect for it interpreteth not of worldlie vanitie as dooth other doctrine but of holie and heauenlie thinges be it that a man consider his effectes And they which doe receaue it by faith feele by it their heartes purged of earthlie thoughtes be it that a man respect the Author of this word which is pure and faithfull in his holy promises more purer than anie fined siluer But as concerning mankinde there is in them no assurance nor no faith as it is said in the first of Esai Thy siluer is become drosse in short there is nothing in men but corruption and deceite And if a man would behold the manifold fires persecutions wherethrough the word of the Lord hath passed it should be seene how much shee hath made triall in that it can consume nothing nor hinder the course of Gods word Great a doe haue they that striue or storme against the word of GOD when they shal persecute it it will shine so much the more and will be alwayes a bucklar vnto the children of God against all manner of temptations euen as Iesus Christ hath shewed vs a godlie example in the 4. Chap. of S. Matthew when he was tempted of the Diuill how we must be holpen with this bucklar Certaine godlie textes taken out of the Prophetes concerning Faith and the assurance that we ought to haue in God The 7. of Esai ver 9. IF you beleeue not Iames. 1. sure you shall not be established For he that wauereth is like a waue of the Sea tost and caried away of the winde The 12. of Esai The faithfull feeling their deliuerāce by Christ shall say Lord I giue vnto thee thankes and albeit thou hast bin angrie with me thy wrath is turned away and thou hast comforted me Behold God is my saluation I wil trust and will not feare for the Lord God is my strength and song he also is become my Saluation Therefore with ioy shall you drawe waters out of the welles of saluation The 25. of Esai The manner of the faithfuls thankesgiuing O Lord thou art my God I will exalt thee I will praise thy name for thou hast doone woonderfull thinges according to the counsels of olde with a stable trueth For thou hast beene a strength
this strange doctrine of the vbiquitie or the Alpresence of Christes bodie Of the vbiquitie attributing a bodie vnto Christ which is through all and inuisible that is to say which is not a bodie Nowe many seeing these diuisions would blame the doctrine of the Gospel and take an occasion to mistast the same But hath not the Lorde foretolde it Were there not also diuisions amongst the Apostles Ought this to keepe vs from going forwarde No for our faith is not builded vpon men and further when a man looketh neere thereunto it is easie to trie the spirites and we must praise the Doctors of the Church which haue in them those guiftes and likewise acknowledge their imperfections and reade them with iudgement As Luther himselfe A warning by M. Luther in the preface of his first Tome of his Latine workes besought that men would reade his workes with pitie iudgement and discretion and that men should remember him to bee an inraged Papist heretofore and a poore Moonke which could not see and perfectlie comprehend forthwith all the pointes of religion Also when one seeth the Church of God so assaulted within by diuisions and heresies without with so cruell persecutions it were enough to shake him if he be not wel setled to make him thinke whether it were possible that this companie which we call the Church being so contemptible and so subiect to great offences be the Church of GOD or no or at least whether it bee possible that God dooth loue it laying it open to so manie euils These are in deede the violent assaultes which the faithfull dailie doe proue in this wretched world wherein one may see so manie contentions and affections boyling with ambition and pride and so manie heartes more than frosen in matter of zeale and charitie Wherefore if there be anie sentence now at this day to be considered this is it that he which shall continue to the end shall be saued For as Iesus Christ speaketh in the 11. of S. Matthew Those that suffer once and continue in their zeale shall carie away the kingdome of heauen Therefore let vs not be fleeting children and caried hither and thither by euerie puffe of doctrine through mans deceite but followers of the trueth with charitie growing in Christ with loue and aboue all other thinges holding sure our Catechisme and the Articles of our Faith Suffering afflictions patientlie 2. Timo. 2. seeing this word is certaine that if we doe suffer with Christ we shall raigne with him considering also that this world waxeth olde as dooth a garment 2. Pet. 3. and that the Elementes shall melt with heate and the earth shall be dissolued let vs aspire vnto the kingdome which cannot be shaken holding grace fast by the which we may serue God in reuerence feare and assured hope awaiting the great day of Christs comming Other godlie places speaking of Faith The 3. of S. Iohn GOd hath so loued the world that hee hath giuen his onelie Sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life And he that beleeueth in him shall not bee condemned but he that beleeueth not in him is condemned alreadie because he beleeued not in the name of the onelie sonne of God The faithfull ought not to seeke but the glorie of God The 5. of S. Iohn the 44. ver How can yee beleeue which receaue honor one of an other and seeke not the honor that commeth of God alone Places taken out of the Epistles of S. Paul out of the 1. Chap. of the Epistle to the Ephesians ver 13. YEe are in Christ hauing heard the word of trueth euen the Gospell of your saluation wherein also after that ye beleeued yee were sealed with the holie spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance vntill the redemption of the possession purchased vnto the praise of his glorie Therefore also after that I heard of the faith which yee haue in the Lorde Iesus and loue towardes all the Saintes I cease not to giue thankes for you in my prayers The 1. of the Thessal 1. Chap. Wee giue GOD thankes alwayes for you all remembring your effectuall faith and diligent loue and of the patience of your hope in our Lord Iesus Christ in the sight of God our Father knowing beloued brethren that ye are elect of God For our Gospell was not vnto you in word onely but also in power and in the holy ghost and in much assurance The 2. to the Thessal 1. Chap. Wee pray alwayes for you that our God may make you woorthie of his calling and fulfill all the good pleasures of his goodnesse and the woorke of faith with power that the name of our Lord Iesus Christ may be glorified in you and ye to him according to the grace of our God and of our Lord Iesus Christ The 1. Epistle of S. Peter 1. Chap. You are kept by the power of GOD through faith vnto saluation which is prepared to be shewed in the last time wherein ye reioyce though now for a season if neede require ye are in heauinesse through manifold temptations that the triall of your faith being much more pretious than Gold that perisheth though it be tryed with fire might be found vnto your praise and honor and glorie at the appearing of Iesus Christ whome you haue not seene and yet loue him I beleeue in God Heere followe certaine Meditations and prayers of one onelie true God and of three persons in one substance or essence CONSIDERATION AS it is said in Athanasius Creede the generall faith is that wee worship one God in one Trinitie and one Trinitie in one vnitie Let vs not confound the persons nor diuide the substance For we must know God as he reuealeth himselfe otherwise we should but woorship a fantasie in place of knowing and woorshipping the true God Now the true God in whome we doe onelie beleeue Iohn 7. and that is mans soueraigne good for this is life eternall that we know him hath thus declared himselfe in his word and in his most excellent workes that is to say in that hee is one onelie true God in substance as it is said in the 6. Chap. of the 5. booke of Moses and in the 4. of the Ephesians but in this one substance wee do acknowledge three persons subsisting that is to say 1. Tim. 1. this onelie true God which is the king of worldes immortall inuisible wise onelie onelie good who manifesteth himselfe so as we doe see one God maker of heauen and earth And yet all this by his word which word is not a sound in the aire or a thing hauing beginning but was from the beginning with God and was God of whome is spoken in the 33. Psalme and also in the first Chap. of S. Iohn And afterward the holy spirit spread and mooued himselfe aboue the waters For the spirit cannot signifie in this place the aire or the winde that was not
substance the father that neuer was begotten the onely sonne of the father and the holy Ghost proceeding from both the holie inseparable trinitie one almightie God Thou Lorde hast made vs strong and mightie when as we were not and when wee were lost through our offence thou hast restored vs miraculously through thy goodnesse Therefore neuer suffer vs O Lorde that we shew our selues vnthankefull and to yeelde vs vnworthy of so many thy mercies graunt rather good GOD to increase in vs faith hope and charitie So by this thine accustomed grace make that we may be stedfast in faith apt to all good workes that by thee we may come vnto euerlasting life that one day Lord seeing thy glorie such as it is wee may worship thy maiestie singing vnto thee this song Glorie be to the father which hath created vs glorie bee to the sonne that hath redeemed vs glorie bee to the holy ghost that hath sanctified vs glorie be vnto the most high and inseparable Trinitie whose workes are inseparable and Empire euerlasting Here followeth to the Articles of the Faith The father almightie maker of heauen and earth Of Gods almightie power Of the making of all thinges and of his diuine prouidence Of Gods almightie power TO the end that the knowledge of our God bee not acknowledged in the aire and that we may see also that they are good tokens that wee should put our trust in him it is written in these Articles of our faith that in his word he is reuealed euen as well as by his workes that we might also so much the more discerne our selues from the people that doe not know him aright and truelie Thererefore this is the verie proper gift of the Church to know God such as he is to wit in substance and therewithall these three persons the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost And he who knoweth not the Father knoweth not the Sonne Iohn 14.11 and he that knoweth not the Sonne knoweth not the Father Now albeit that hee is also our Father as we doe call him in the Lordes prayer yet be wee not but the children of adoption receaued and adopted Psal ◠for the loue of his onelie sonne euerlasting and eternallie engendred of the Father in whome he taketh his good pleasure Behold how God is here called Father to shew vnto vs that our onelie faith is builded on God alone But this verie God whome the Church woorshippeth and in whome it beleeueth is the Father How God is manifested the sonne and the holie ghost the which God hath truelie shewed himselfe in the world by foure diuine workes most excellent aboue all by the creation by the redemption made of mankinde by the assemblie and conseruation of the Church and by the woonderfull giftes that God did partake vnto this Church giuing vnto her forgiuenesse of sinnes and euerlasting life in that she confessed the true God so as by the meanes of this knowledge Rom. 15. wee might say as S. Paul did in the 3. 1. Cor. 3. Chap. of the first Epistle to the Corinth that all thinges are ours because that we be vnto Christ as Christ is vnto God who is the father of our Lord Iesus Christ as S. Paul manie times calleth him Now is he called also Almightie and thus lifted vp aboue all creatures and aboue the Gods of the Gentiles and their Idols Psal 115. that haue handes and cannot touch Eyes and cannot see But our God that hath his throne in heauen dooth what him pleaseth And as concerning vs poore creatures we know not to make alas one slippe of grasse and there is none that with all his care industrie can adde one cubite vnto his stature or height Mat. 6. This is then for you to woorship and to feare the almightie that hath power ouer heauen ouer earth ouer bodies ouer soules goods children and ouer all that which is vnto vs Psal 149. ouer kinges ouer the prowdest princes yea to buind them in chaines when it shall please him to vse his iudgementes and to bring them to nothing Lift not vp your hornes on high saith Dauid in the 75. Psalme for it is GOD that is your Iudge who lifteth vp and setteth downe as it pleaseth him How was it that hee tamed Pharao How did he put downe Nabuchadonozer whome he made to feede with beastes for seuen yeeres space And this it is as Iob speaketh in the 21. Chap. Against the wicked shall griefe of minde and trouble be strengthened because hee hath stretched forth his hand against the Almightie Esai 33. And how should man helpe himselfe before his face that is as a consuming fire Who is he that would abide in continuall burninges See wee not the mountaines leape and tremble before him as it is said in the 19. of Exodus and in the 68. Psalme But what say I the mountaines Yea the verie diuels are constrained to tremble Iames. 2.19 knowing and feeling that there is a God Therefore what blockishnesse is this what hardnesse what mischiefe that man shall sometimes be so froward and presumptuous that hee as it were would spite the Lord Euen as men may see enough therein who despise his threatninges and doe sooner feare earthlie man that is with all his glorie but as a flower and grasse than the Almightie before whose face the fearce and foming Sea the hard rockes and the earth also doe quake and tremble as wee doe reade in the 114. Psalme Wherefore let vs remember euen all the daies of our life that which was spoken vnto Abraham in the 17. of Genesis I am the God almightie walke thou before mee And I pray you what better Maister could we finde than him who hath all abundance in himselfe and that may doe all that he will For his power is ioyned with trueth righteousnesse He can doe that which he will but hee will not anie thing sauing that which is agreeable to his trueth and righteousnesse Iohn 10. Wee ought to haue remembrance namelie in our afflictions of this Almightinesse of the Lord and that none can take away his hand frō vs When God nourisheth sustaineth and preserueth his not onelie by ordinarie meanes but also by woonderfull meanes when it pleaseth him as he shewed when he diuided the Sea to make his people to passe through conducting them with a clowdie Pillar yea a fierie Pillar giuing thē Manna and so manie other his woonderful benefites 1. Cor. 2. and singular woorkes as one may yet dailie marke Therefore blessed are we whose faith is not builded on the wisedome of man but on the power of GOD. But Owe thrise yea foure times vnhappie if wee doe not trust in the almighty but doubt in his promises For that which is harde before our eies shall it therefore bee harde before the eies of the euerlasting himselfe Like as he speaketh in the 8. Chap. of the prophet Zacharie and as it is
the North Brightnes the praise thereof is to God which is terrible The 22. Psalme It is thou that diddest drawe me out of the wombe and thou giuest me hope euen at my Mothers brestes I was cast vppon thee euen from the wombe thou art my God from my mothers bellie All the 107. Psalme is full of testimonies of his diuine prouidence where amongest all other thinges it is said Seamen And those that goe downe into the sea in shippes and occupie by the great waters they see the woorkes of the Lord his woonders in the deepe For he commaundeth and raiseth stormie winde and it lifteth vp the waues thereof Whē they crie vnto the Lord in their trouble he turneth the storme to calme so that the waues thereof be still When they are quieted they are glad and hee bringeth them vnto the hauen where they would be He turneth the floudes into a wildernesse Wildernesse and the springes of water into drienesse And a fruitfull land into barrennesse for the wickednesse of them that dwell therein Againe he turneth the wildernesse into pooles of water the drie land into water springes And there he placeth the hungrie and they build a citie to dwell in Fieldes Vines And sowe the fieldes and plant vineyardes which bring forth fruitful increase For he blesseth them and they multiplie exceedinglie and he diminisheth not their Cattell Cattel Againe men are diminished brought lowe by oppression euill and sorrowe He powreth contempt vppon princes Princes and causeth them to erre in desert places out of the way Yet he raiseth vp the poore out of miserie The poore and maketh them families like a flock of sheepe The righteous shall see it and reioyce and all iniquitie shall stop her mouth Who is wise that he may obserue these thinges For they shall vnderstand the louing kindenesse of the Lorde Out of the Psal 147. Great is our Lorde and great is his power his wisedome is infinite The Lord relieueth the meeke and abaseth the wicked to the ground Sing vnto the Lord with praise sing vppon the Harpe vnto our God which couereth the heauen with clowdes and prepareth raine for the earth and maketh the grasse to growe on the mountaines He giueth to beastes their foode The yong Rauens and to the yong Rauens that crie O Ierusalē praise the Lord praise thy God O Sion for hee hath made the barres of thy gates strong and hath blessed thy children within thee Peace He setteth peace in thy borders and satisfieth thee with the flower of wheate The 21. of the Prouerbes The heart of kinges The kings heart is in the hand of the Lord as the riuers of waters he turneth it whither soeuer it pleaseth him Euerie way of man is right in his owne eyes but the Lord pondereth the heartes The 45. of Esai God hath not alonely created but disposeth also Behold what the Lord saith that created heauen God himselfe that formed the earth and made it he that prepared it he created it not in vaine hee formed it to be inhabited I am the Lord and there is not other I am the Lord and there is none other I forme the light and create darknes I make peace and create euill I the Lord doe all these thinges Yee heauens send the dewe from aboue and let the clowdes droppe downe righteousnesse Let the earth open and let saluation and iustice growe forth Let it bring thē forth together I the Lord haue created them Wo be vnto him that striueth with his maker the Potsheard with the Potsherdes of the earth shall the clay say vnto him that fashioneth it What makest thou Or thy woorke hath no handes Wo vnto him that saith vnto his father What hast thou begotten Or to his Mother What hast thou brought forth Thus saith the Lorde GOD The holie one of Israell and his maker Aske me of thinges to come concerning my sonnes and concerning the woorkes of mine handes Commaund you me I haue made the earth and created man vppon it I whose handes haue spread out the heauens I haue euen commaunded all their armie The 54. of Esai Behold I haue created the Smith that bloweth the coles in the fire Wherfore the armies of the enimies are not to bee feared and him that bringeth forth an instrumēt for his worke I haue created the destroyer to destroy But all the weapons that are made against thee shall not prosper The 3. of Amos. A trumpet shall be blowen in the citie and the people shall not be afraid Aduersity O what euill shal be in the citie and the Lorde hath not doone it to visite their sinnes for aduersities are great paines to punish the euill and guiltie man and the faultes of men The 6. Chap. of S. Matthewe The fouls Beholde the foules of the heauen for they sowe not neither reape nor carie into barnes yet your heauenly father feedeth them Are ye not much better than they Which of you by taking care is able to ad one cubite vnto his stature And why care ye for rayment The lilies of the fields Learne howe the lilies of the fielde doe growe they labour not neither spinne Yet I say vnto you that euen Salomon in al his glorie was not arayed like one of these Wherefore if God so cloth the grasse of the fielde which is to day and to morowe is cast into the ouen shall hee not much more doe vnto you O yee of litle faith The 10. Chap. of S. Matthewe Sparowes Are not two Sparowes solde for a farthing and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your father Yea and all the hayres of your heades are numbred Feare ye not therfore ye are of more value than many Sparowes Our steps our going and comming The 4. Chap. of the Epistle of S. Iames. Go to nowe yee that say to day or to morowe we will goe into such a citie and continue there a yeare and buy and sell get gaine and yet you cannot tell what shal be to morowe For what is your life It is euen a vapour that appeareth for a litle time and afterwarde vanisheth away For that we ought to say if the Lord will and if we liue we will do this or that Certaine prayers taken out of the Scripture grounded vpon the doctrine of the prouidence of God taken out of the 93. Psalme and digested in forme and manner of a prayer OVr Lorde and God although it seemeth that the diuell ruleth at his pleasure in this wretched worlde and that the wicked and vngodly doe those thinges that vnto them seeme to bee good yet so it is that we doe acknowledge and confesse thee to be the true raygning God and king of all kinges who hast made fast the worlde by thy power and hast clothed it with an inuincible strength And so is it as easie for thee to appease and make calme the
raging of the sea and the most greatest riuers to whom thou hast also giuen their boundes so shall it be as easie when it shall please thee to still and appease the stormes and tempestes that we do behold in these daies and to tame the furie of the enemies But graunt vs grace O heauenly father that among so many stormes wee may stay ourselues vpon thy holy and vndoubted witnesses that wee haue in thy worde that we may remaine constant in all thy seruices and in thy house vntill that thou hast drawen vs out of the waues of this worlde to guide vs vnto the blessed and happie life and vnto the hauen of saluation So be it A prayer grounded vpon Gods prouidence O Lorde our God thou God of vengeance and iudge of the earth if euer it were time that thou shouldest shewe thy selfe clearely displaying thy iudgementes vpon thine aduersaries and vpon thy people thy mercies nowe it is O Lorde that thy children of so long time haue beene and are oppressed by the conspirators of Antichrist yea massakers and murtherers yea with more horrible disloyaltie and crueltie than euer man sawe in such sort O Lorde as it maketh the wicked to lift vp themselues and waxe proude as if wee were vtterly vndone and as if there were no God in heauen that cared for his poore Church And moreouer O God the long time and the greatnesse of these afflictions would make vs a thousande thousande times lose courage were it not that wee should be more than brutish if we did not assure ourselues that thou seest our miseries and vnderstandest our sorowes and mourneful complaintes thou Lord which hast made the eye and planted the eare of man yea thou great God by whom wee liue and haue our mouing and being to be short thou which hast gouerned this whole worlde by thy so great wisedome from the beginning of the worlde chastice these people and make them know and see thy iudgementes It is the remembraunce of thy so great workes and of thy prouidence which comforteth vs and causeth vs to haue patience in our afflictions seeing that it is certaine that thou shuttest vp our teares in thy barrels keepest all our bones that not one of thē is broken Therefore O Lorde thou shalt be our defence for thy helping hande hath gathered vs together euer since we came forth of our mothers wombe and shalt be the rocke of our trust for euer more who knowest well to rewarde both in place and time vnto our enemies their outrage to destroy them through their owne malice A prayer taken out of the 26. of Esaie vpon the same matter concerning the prouidence of God TRust ye in the Lorde for euer more for the Lorde is strong for euer for he will bring downe them that dwell on high the high citie hee will abase euen vnto the grounde will he cast it downe and bring it vnto dust The foote shal tread it downe euen the feete of the poore and the steps of the needie The way of the iust is righteousnesse thou wilt make equall the righteous path of the iust Also wee O Lorde haue awaited for thee in the way of thy iudgementes the desire of our soule is in thy name and to the remembrance of thee with my soule haue I desired thee in the night and in my spirite within mee will I seeke thee in the morning for seeing thy iudgementes are in the earth the inhabitance of the worlde shall learne righteousnesse But yet let mercy bee shewed vnto the wicked and he will not learne righteousnesse in the lande of vprightnesse will he doe wickedly and will not beholde the maiestie of our Lorde O Lorde they will not consider thy hie hande but they shall see it and be confounded with the zeale of the people and the fire of thine enemies shall deuour them Lord vnto vs thou wilt ordaine Peace for thou also hast wrought all our workes for vs. Goodly warninges grounded vpon Gods prouidence that the mother made vnto her seuen sonnes executed by Antiochus taken out of the 2. Booke of the Machabees and the 7. Chap. THe mother did valiantly exhort euerie one of her seuen sonnes saying I can not tell howe you came into my wombe for I neither gaue you breath nor life It is not I that set in order the members of your bodie but doubtlesse the creator of the worlde which formed the birth of man and founde out the beginning of all thinges will also of his owne mercie giue you breath and life againe as ye nowe regarde not your owne selues for his name sake The Apostles prayer vpon the same matter out of the 4. Chap. of the Actes O Lorde thou art the God which hast made the heauen and the earth the sea and all thinges that are in them which by the mouth of thy seruant Dauid hast sayd why did the Gentiles rage and the people imagine vaine thinges The Kings of the earth assembled and the rulers came together against the Lorde and against his Christ For doubtlesse against thine holy sonne Iesus whom thou haddest annointed both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and the people of Israell gathered thē selues together to doe whatsoeuer thine hande and thy counsel had determined before to be done And nowe O Lorde beholde their threatninges and graunt vnto thy seruantes with all boldenes to speake thy worde Certaine goodly examples of Gods prouidence turning away the enterprises of the wicked helping his taken forth of Gene. the 50. Chap. IOseph being solde by his brethren and seeing thē to haue some remorse of conscience after his fathers death sayde thus vnto them Feare not for am not I vnder God whē ye thought euill against me God disposed it to good that hee might bring to passe as it is this day and saue much people aliue Behold how in one selfesame thing the worke of man is euill and that of Gods both good and holie the disloyaltie of Iosephes Brethren was euill and to bee reproued But as S. Augustine saith our God is so mightie and good that hee would neuer suffer euill to happen if he were not the almightie and that hee cannot turne it vnto good And let vs marke therefore what S. Augustine saith elsewhere of the same that is to wit that the iudgementes of God may well sometimes be hidden but the vniust neuer An other example taken out of the 1. Chap. of Exodus ANd Pharao said vnto his people Let vs worke wiselie against the children of Israel least they multiplie it come to passe that if there bee warre they ioyne themselues altogether vnto our enemies and fight against vs and get them out of the land A Prayer or Meditation O euerliuing and almightie God who is he therefore that shall feare mans enterprises Pharao wrought well and his people did agree with him They bestowed imploied all their wisdomes together And wherewith was it that they had so great a feare
the yeares of so manie generations and how his people are the portion of the Lord hee hath found them in the wildernesse and hath guided them he hath giuen them vnderstanding and hath kept them as the apple of his eye and as the Egle soaring ouer his little ones and beareth them The Lord alone hath led them and with him there was no strange God An other example of Gods prouidence in the historie of Manna that is written in the 16. Chap. of Exodus ANd the children of Israel said O that we had dyed by the hand of the Lord in the land of AEgypt when wee sate by the flesh pots whē we did eate bread our bellies full For ye haue brought vs out into this wildernesse to kill this whole cōpanie with Famine Then said the Lord vnto Moses Behold I will cause bread to raine from heauen to you and the people shall goe out and gather that that is sufficient for euerie day that I may prooue them whether they will walke in my wayes or no. But the sixt day they shall prepare that which they shal bring home and it shall bee twise as much as they gather dailie Also out of the 8. Chap. of Deuteronomie THe Lord humbled thee Wherefore Manna was giuen and made thee hungrie fed thee with Manna which thou knewest not neither did thy fathers know it that he might teach thee the man liueth not by bread onelie but by euerie word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord dooth a man liue Thy raiment waxed not olde vppon thee neither did thy foote swell these 40. yeares Know therefore in thine heart that as a man nurtureth his Sonne so the Lorde thy God nurtureth thee Beware that thou forget not the Lorde thy God not keeping his commaundementes and his lawes and his ordinances which I commaund thee this day Least when thou hast eaten and filled thy selfe and hast built goodlie houses and dwelt therein And thy beastes and thy sheepe are increased and thy siluer and thy gold is multiplied and all that thou hast is increased then thine heart bee lifted vp Beware thou say not in thy heart my power and the strength of mine owne hand hath prepared me this abundance But remember the Lord thy God For it is hee which giueth thee power to get substance c. A Meditation vppon the aforesaid places IF there bee anie thing that greeueth man in the worlde it is the care of those thinges which doe concerne the bellie which is the God of manie as S. Paul in the 3. to the Philip. dooth witnesse and notwithstanding wee doe see that it is Gods blessing which dooth nourish vs and not the bread Forasmuch as earth could not bring forth but thornes and thistles vnlesse that GOD did put thereunto his blessing And although the earth should bring forth and carie the best fruites of the world What is it if GOD did not giue thereunto his strength and his propertie to nourish vs As men doe see when that the Lord is angrie he breaketh the staffe of bread and causeth that a man is not satisfied yea although hee doe eate much Moreouer wee doe see that this almightie God is not tyed vnto mans meanes But that he can helpe his extraordinarilie and sustaine them against all meanes For God would surelie Second causes that man should bee holpen of the second causes but not that man should rest therein and wholie to depend of them Seeing then that we cannot tell what to doe therefore wee bee bound to lift vp our eyes vnto the Lord euen as did this good king Iosaphat as we doe reade in the 20. Chap. of the 2. booke of the Chronicles A PRAYER LOrd GOD and father because that our nourishment dependeth not of meates but of thy pure grace and especiall prouidence and that thou hast so manie woonderfull meanes to helpe vs Psal 24. Graunt vs grace that wee may rest our selues vppon thy prouidence and goodnesse Psal 23. of the which thou art the God vnto whome dooth appertaine the earth and the contentes thereof who art also our true shepheard that alone feedest the soule and the bodie in such wise as the great and mightie Lyons of the world being hungrie and thirstie as it is said in the 34. Psalme Thou giuest vnto thy children foode and fillest them As also those that gathered vp store of Manna had no more than they which gathered but little Nowe as they did the sixt day gather the double of Manna for the day of rest graunt vs grace in this last age which is as the fixt day to prepare our selues vnto this great and last day of rest that wee may gather vp a good quantitie of this spirituall Manna and that thou wouldest so furnish vs ◠Kinges 19 for the euerlasting life wherewith wee being sustained as Elias was in times past by the foode which was presented vnto him by the Angell wee may come vnto thy holy mountaine and vnto thy blessed rest A conclusion vppon the Article of the Creation A PRAYER O Lord euerlasting and almightie God that hast made mee when I was nothing and canst bring me againe to nothing when it pleaseth thee graunt vnto me thy poore creature grace truelie to acknowledge my maker and rightlie to vse those creatures whome thou hast subiected and giuen vnto men to reuerence thee as my Lorde and to depend vppon thy prouidence assure me in thy power Esai 45. And as thou hast taken vs from our Mothers wombe Rom. 8. so graunt to beare vs also in our old age and to maintaine vs Prouer. 3. Hebr. 12. being a father and sauiour vnto vs for euermore And furthermore O good God because that all thinges doe helpe to good to those that loue thee Psal 73. Psal 37. and whome thou doest cherish thou doost fatherlie correct giue me grace patientlie to beare thy corrections and voutsafe to giue me vnderstanding in the sanctuarie of thy holy word to comprehend and vnderstand the wretched issue that the wicked shall haue to the end I may neuer beare malice vnto them Graunt me therefore the patience and constancie that Dauid had when as Semei cursed him that I may acknowledge in summe that there happeneth neuer anie thing without thy ordinance and that which thou doost appoint is for the wealth and health of thy children Moreouer O Lord forsomuch as we are not fit and apt of our selues to thinke any good thing 2. Cor. 3. inspire me thy poore creature dailie direct and guide my steps my thoughtes speaches and dooinges and aboue all suffer not that I doe forget thee thou that art my creator Galen de vsu partium for as much as the heathens themselues onelie seeing acknowledging the wonderfull worke whereof our bodies are made and the vse of all the partes of the same yea the least whereof haue beene constrained to praise and magnifie thy mightie name
Therefore vnto thee O God bee eternall praise and glorie for euermore So be it Errors contrarie vnto this Article The Epicures and all those which thinke that this world is gouerned by aduenture The Manichees and others which doe establish more beginninges than one They which doe not acknowledge Gods prouidence in all thinges in the verie same thinges which seeme strange and little They which put their trust in anie other than in one onelie God They which thinke how GOD hath created some thing to ill purpose and thinke to make it more perfect than God They which abuse the creatures of God not vsing them to his glorie and with thankesgiuing And in Iesus Christ his onelie sonne our Lord. CONSIDERATION THe creation of the whole world together ioyned with a prouidence iustice and woonderfull wisdome is the first witnesse that the Articles of our beleefe doe set downe vnto vs of our GOD to the end to reuerence him and to trust in him Yet followeth there an other more wonderfull witnesse and that presenteth together vnto vs a passing goodnesse and infinite power that is to say the worke of our redemption For to redeeme and to quicken the creature that was lost and to buie him of such a price to wit with the pretious bloud of Gods euerlasting sonne and not to deliuer him onelie from bondage and death but also to communicate with him euerlasting life this is so great a woorke and so singular a benefite as no tongue can expresse nor heart can sufficientlie comprehend it Hence it is that God hath so loued the world that hee hath giuen his onelie sonne to the end that all those which beleeue in him shall not perish but haue euerlasting life Man was therefore created good perfect as it is said in the 7. Chap. of Ecclesiastes But he taried not in this happie estate But following his owne inuentions and discourses with the euill counsell of the Diuell hee was so turned from his GOD and by this meanes cast headlong into destruction as hee made himselfe and his posteritie guiltie of death and euerlasting perdition Rom. 6. For death and all the thinges belonging vnto death as are all kindes of aduersities be the reward of sinne Oseas 13. Euen so commeth our destruction of our selues For asmuch as man abusing his freewill yeelded himselfe a slaue vnto the diuell and by this meanes drew vppon him the iust vengeance of the euerlasting God O What a change and pitious alteration was this when as the Image of God was so defaced in man and that of so noble a creature hee was become vile miserable and full of sinne and filth For albeit that man was fashioned of the dust of the earth yet so was it that the spirit of God if hee had not sinned had swallowed vp that which was of the earth corruptible and had freed man of his weakenesse and putrefaction But hauing chased away from him Gods good spirit Gene. 6. hee remaineth a foule lumpe of flesh and is not now of his nature but dust and clay and his heart from his infancie altogether froward For although that there is but one GOD in whome wee doe beleeue Iesus Christ the matter that our faith onelie looketh on as S. Ierome verie well saith vppon the 4. of the Ephe. Yet so is it that the sonne which is the second person of the diuinitie who is one substance is the true obiect and foundation of our faith and not without cause Iohn 14.9 For first in beleeuing in him we doe beleeue in God because that hee is God blessed for euermore as S. Paul saith in the 9. of the Romans Secondlie hee it is of whome Moses the Prophetes and the Psalmes haue spoken and vnto whome they haue directed vs as it is also said in the 24. of S. Luke Thirdlie it is hee that the father likewise willeth that wee heare and that is the subsisting Image of the inuisible GOD Colos 1. Hebr. 1. the brightnesse of his glorie and the ingraued signe and marke of his person by whome also the father hath spoken and doone all thinges Lastlie this is the person that hath taken our nature and hee who is called Immanuel God with vs and GOD manifested in the flesh So that this is the cause why S. Paul saith that no man can lay anie other foundation than that which is laid to wit Iesus Christ and that hee woulde not know anie thing saue Christ Not that hee would not likewise know and vnderstand the Father and the holie Ghost but because that in him man knoweth all 1. Cor. 3. both the Father and the holie Ghost as it is said in the first Epistle to the Corinthians and second Chapter 1. Cor. â— And that without him wee can neither know the Father neither haue accesse vnto this light not able to bee come vnto vnlesse the Sonne giue vs both assurance and accesse Euen as Saint Paul teacheth vs in the 2. Encridion 5. Chap. Chap. to the Ephesians ver 18. And as Saint Augustine yet teacheth how manie heretiques doe speake of Iesus Christ vaunting them of his knowledge yet so it is that when a man dooth neerelie looke therein it is found that they haue onelie but the name and that they are but woordes without trueth and effect For where as they will neither speake neither yet vnderstand or teach as it behooueth concerning his Person or teach anie euill concerning his Office So is this a proper gift vnto the Christian Church to knowe with a wholesome knowledge the eternall and liuing GOD that is to say Iohn 17. to know him in Iesus Christ and to call vppon him through him holding Christ for verie God and verie man the onelie mediator betweene God and man That which thing neither the Turkes neither the Iewes neither Papistes nor manie heretickes doe as in deede the diuell dooth labour to raise vp false Prophetes in all times to darken and vtterlie to ouerthrowe the knowledge of Iesus Christ on the earth who is as a signe or a marke against which euerie man gainsayeth euen as Simeon did speake in the 2. of S. Luke But against such kinde of people wee must retaine these Maximes or rules Maximes First that such a mediatour and sauiour is necessarie for vs to haue which was verie God and verie man and who partaketh to the end to bee a meane with the natures of those that were at strife in such sort as hee might ouercome sinne death and the diuell and giue men accesse vnto the light not able to be come vnto Ephe. 1. It was necessarie that hee should bee stronger than all creatures to witte God and the welbeloued of the Father vnto whome wee might be fit and agreeable As of the other side it was meete that the same flesh which had bin ouercome Rom. 8. Esai 53. should haue the victorie and that the flesh which had sinned might beare the
the worlde beganne But nowe is opened and published among all nations by the scriptures of the prophets at the commandement of the euerlasting God for the obedience of faith To God I say only wise be praise for euer Out of the 4. Chap. of the Epistle to the Galathians When the fulnesse of time was come God sent foorth his sonne made of a woman and made vnder the Lawe that hee might redeeme them which were vnder the lawe that we might receiue the adoption of the sonnes Out of the 2. Chap. of the Epistle to the Philippians Let the same minde be in you that was euen in Christ Iesus who beeing in the forme of God thought it no robberie to be equall with God But he made himselfe of no reputation and tooke on him the forme of a seruaunt and was made like vnto man and was found in shape as a man He humbled himselfe and became obedient vnto the death euen the death of the crosse Out of the seconde Chap. of the Epistle to the Hebrewes For as much then as the children were partakers of flesh and bloud he also him selfe likewise tooke part with them that he might destroy through death him that had the power of death that is the diuell And that he might deliuer all them which for feare of death were all their life time subiect to bondage For he in no sort tooke the Angels but he tooke the seede of Abraham Wherefore in all things it became him to be made like vnto his brethren that hee might bee mercifull a faithfull high priest in things cōcerning God to the end he might make reconciliation for the sinnes of the people Borne of the virgin Marie The historie of the Lordes Natiuitie we haue it with all the circumstances thereof in the 2. Chap. of S. Luke Howe hee was borne vnder Octauian Augustus the Emperour Borne in Beth-lehem the citie of Dauid was wrapped in swadling clothes and layde in a cratch for he became poore to make vs rich 2. Cor. 8. Chap. This birth was by the Angels declared to the sheepeheardes Moreouer the wise men of the East were guided by a starre vnto Beth-lehem 2. of S. Matthew A MEDITATION vpon the conception and birth of Iesus Christ after the flesh WHo is he that would not desire to beholde with all reuerence and with great wonder this mightie mysterie of our God concerning the incarnation of Iesus Christ and our redemption seeing that the verie Angels desire to looke thereon as S. Peter speaketh in his 1. Chap. 1. Epistle For it is the Gospel that doeth declare and reueile this hidden secret Rom. 16. at all times figured through diuers ceremonies and trulie fulfilled in the latter dayes O that so many kings patriarks prophets haue desired to see him but now men make litle account of this so great a secret O how beautifull are the feete of them that do declare vnto vs this Gospel of peace O and how much are the heretikes to be abhorred that would turne away from vs the knowledge of this Christ true God and man who hath not doone this honour vnto the Angelles to take vpon him their nature to redeeme them which were fallen but hath shewed this fauour vnto vs poor◠wormes of the earth Psal 51. as to take on him our nature Wee alas are conceiued in sinne and in iniquitie But the holy of the Lorde which was conceiued by the working of the holy spirite is come into the worlde to sanctifie saue vs. Ephes 2. We are borne the childrē of wrath But the welbeloued of the heauenly father was giuen for vs and now is our nature in honour and grace because that the euerlasting word was made flesh not leauing that which it was but taking vnto him that that he was not that is to say our nature ◠Iohn 1. O what an excellent word considering that is spoken of it that it was and did alwaies rest with God as the seconde person of the diuinitie but if a man haue respect vnto his essence it was and is God as S. Iohn sayth in the same place And that it is so all thinges haue beene made by it the life the light and all fulnesse is in it By it hath the Lorde spoken and reueiled the secrets of Paradise But what is it that this hath taken knit with him this word Our flesh And what is our flesh Flesh When as the scripture would speake of our poorenesse it calleth vs flesh as in the 78. Psalme And the Lord remembred that they were but flesh Howsoeuer that Iesus had taken vpon him all our nature that is to say the bodie and the soule as he is the redeemer of all mankinde yet so it is that we be but flesh and rottennesse He hath not therefore taken this flesh which was sinfull or the affection and passions of the flesh but the substance the weakenesses and the alterations that are in the flesh here withall did he charge himselfe He was not then ashamed of vs as the Schuencfeldians thinke that it should be to debase him too much if it were sayd that he had bin made flesh For the scripture sayth the same that he was made flesh that is yet a more vile word than the worde creature But as S. Bernarde sayth The more that thou considerest the humilitie of Christ so much the more seest thou thy glorie and the honour that God hath doone vnto thee how also God hath exalted thee and hath giuen thee a name aboue all names in such sort as they that forsake and despise thee shal one day feele that they shall haue to doe not with anie poore creature but with the king of kings and with the iudge of this worlde A praier of S. Ierome concerning the incarnation of Iesus Christ. O Lorde Iesus thou art my God and my sauiour that hast suffered for mee And although thou wert true God before all ages begotten euerlastingly of the father of an vnserchable generatiō yet wouldst thou to bee conceiued in the wombe of a virgin and to be made man like vnto me and in such manner as thou art true God and true man For thou hast in such sort taken humane nature in the virgins wombe as thou art God and man so as the diuinity is not the humanitie neither the humanity the diuinitie Thy two natures are not confounded and yet doe they make one the selfe same person O eternall worde that was made flesh to become our brother Thou hast had hunger and thirst Thou hast taken our weakenesse vppon thee sinne excepted which did neuer enter in thee as we bare it euen from our mothers wombe Nowe in thee O Lorde dwelleth bodily all fulnesse of grace and diuinitie Thou art made lesse than the father if a man doe respect thy humanitie And if one doe consider thy diuinitie thou art equall vnto him and now that thou hast debased thy selfe he doeth acknowledge thee for
his welbeloued sonne O good sauiour haue mercie on thy brethren come vnto them and dwell in them A prayer concerning Iesus Christ for to know him rightly O Lord my God seeing thou hast prouided for vs so precious a gift giuing vnto vs thy sonne Iesus fill my soule with the feeling of his bountie kindle in me a true desire of thy deere sonne and of his grace quench in me all euill affections neither suffer that my soule be vexed by worldlie cares but lift it vppe O Lorde and drawe it vnto a perpetuall meditating of thy sonne my redeemer Let his name be in my mouth let his mercie be shed in my heart to run through all my bones marowe and that I may neuer tast any other thing than this good sauiour that is dead for me Grant me also grace to correct my manners and take away from mee that which displeaseth thee for to giue me that which is agreeable and pleasing vnto thee Alas who shall make man cleane that is conceiued in vncleannesse if he be not washed and made righteous by thy sonne Iesus My health lyeth in thee good GOD and my weakenesse is before thee Heale this and by thy grace graunt vnto me the other For it is thou that healest the infirmities and keepest them that are healed and all through thy mercie An other prayer on the same matter O Lorde if our eyes be so tender and weake that they bee not able to beare the light of the sunne howe can we alas beholde thee if thou haddest not declared thy selfe in thy sonne which is the eternall worde and brightnesse of thy glorie O woonderfull secret that is not vnderstoode by mans wisedome the which is come out of the heauenly closet This is it that GOD was made man the euerlasting is made mortall hee that was not subiecte to suffer was made subiect to suffer the maister to abide the death for his seruauntes and he which ought nothing hath payed the debt to set vs poore sinners free O the great goodnesse of our sauiour to abide and suffer so much for vs O great power of our Lord Iesus Christ to ouercome death Hell had thought to haue swallowed him vp but it is hee that hath ouercome hell And in such manner it is come to passe therein as vnto fishes the which are taken when they thinke to take the baite euen so death taking our redeemer was himselfe taken And nowe Lorde who is he that will not trust in thee seeing that thy sonne is risen againe on the thirde daie so gloriously and tryumphauntly seeing that hee is ascended aboue all the highest heauens and hath deliuered man from his captiuitie to make him way euen vnto the heauenlie dwelling place It is there where hee sitteth on thy right hande and where wee doe worshippe him with thee the father and with the holie Ghost the comforter of the afflicted This is thy sonne our Lorde who is our life and our resurrection This is the hope and trust of the afflicted this is our light in our darkenesse this is the dewe of our thirstie soules This is he that doeth strengthen vs in our weakenesses and that healeth our woundes Wee are sinners but our sinne is not so great and mightie as is his mercie We be wanderers in this worlde but he is our shephearde and we doe awaite vpon him with a most earnest desire that our bodies may be alike vnto his glorious bodie and that wee may O mightie God beholde thy face A prayer and meditation vppon the birth of Iesus Christ taken out of the 15. Chap. of the Meditations of S. Augustine O Exceeding goodnesse O inestimable loue of thee my God who hast giuen thy sonne to redeeme thy seruaunt God was made man that man being lost should be redeemed out of the diuels pawes It must be O Lorde true that thy sonne Iesus hath right tenderly loued mankinde seeing that he hath not alonely brought him selfe so lowe to bee willing to become man and to bee borne of a virgine but did willingly yeelde himselfe vnto the punishment of the crosse and that for our saluation The good sauiour is come vnto vs he by his goodnesse is come to seeke out that which was lost hee hath sought out the lost sheepe and hauing founde him he hath taken him vppon his shoulders to carie him vnto the sheepe folde O good Lorde O true shephearde O woonderfull charitie And who is he that may heare these thinges without beeing astonied from the bowelles of this mercie Who will not marueile thereat or rather reioyce therein in that thou hast so much loued vs Lorde thou hast sent thy sonne in the likenesse of a sinnefull man that he who was without sinne might ouercome sinne and that we might of thy righteousnesse reioyce in him For hee it is that is the true Lambe without spotte and that hath taken away the sinnes of the worlde and that in dying hath destroyed death and in rysing againe hath brought life But alas O Lorde what shall I yeelde vnto thee for these so excellent benefites What prayses what thankesgiuing shall I giue vnto thee O Lorde Although wee shoulde be indewed with the knowledge of Angelles yea though all our members shoulde bee turned into tongues yet shoulde we be vnsufficient and vnwoorthy to praise so great a louing kindenesse for thy inestimable charitie that thou hast shewed vnto vs poore and vnworthie creatures dooth ouercome all knowledge Because that thy sonne hath not taken the seede of Angelles but of Abraham beeing made like vnto vs sinne excepted Therefore hauing taken humane nature and glorifying it and through his resurrection decking it with immortalitie he hath lifted vp him selfe aboue all heauens and hath placed him at thy right hande where hee is hee that is thy sonne worshipped and feared of Angelles Nowe beholde my comfort and my hope and wee all haue a portion in his flesh And since that he that hath taken our flesh raigneth with it I doe beleeue that I shall raigne because that my flesh is glorified in the person of Christ we shal be also glorified Albeit that my sinnes may let mee therein yet will this coniunction that I haue with Christ take away the lettes My God is not so rigorous and seuere to despise man seeing hee hath carried man and the humane nature vp on high How should hee forget that that hee hath with him Truelie this good Lorde is gentle and louing and loueth his flesh And if the Father loue his sonne as in deede hee loueth him hee also loueth all the which dooth appertaine vnto him so that from henceforth we be as raised vp in Christ Wee be alreadie seated in the kingdome of God since that the humane nature is gone vp thither with Christ No man hath euer hated his owne flesh We be bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh Oh that this is a great secrete saith the Apostle this of Christ and of his Church O
offered since the foundation of the world but now in the end of the world hath hee appeared once to put away sinne by the sacrifice of himselfe So was hee once offered to take away the sinnes of manie c. Out of the 10. to the Hebrewes For with one offering hath hee consecrated for euer them that are sanctified Out of the first Epistle of S. Peter the 3. Chap. It is better if the will of God bee so that yee suffer for well dooing than for euill doing For Christ once hath suffered for sins the iust for the vniust that he might bring vs to God and was put to death concerning the flesh but was quickened in the spirit Out of the 4 Chap. of the first of S. Peter Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for vs in the flesh arme your selues likewise with the same minde which is that hee who suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sinne that he henceforward should liue as much time as remaineth in the flesh not after the lustes of men but after the will of God Also in the 13. verse Reioyce inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christes suffering that when his glorie shall appeare ye may be glad reioyce A prayer on the death and passion of Iesus Christ O Lord my God since that this faire and goodlie Image according to which man was created was thus through sinne disfigured drawe mee neere vnto thy sonne Iesus in whome thou hast created vs as it were anewe Acknowledge in me thy worke and blot out that which is not thine Behold not that which is from me or from Satan Looke O Lorde vppon the humanitie of thy sonne to take pitie on mine infirmities Consider the punishment of the redeemer and forgiue him his sinnes whome hee hath bought againe Wherefore was it that hee who was so obedient should suffer punishment of disobedience vnlesse it were to saue vs This is he who is the good shepheard who hath brought home the straying sheepe and hath presented before thy face those that were straglers and runagates by meanes of their sinnes O good God therefore looke vppon thy deere sonne spread abroad vppon the crosse bow downe thy head to see thy poore creatures for the loue of whome thy welbeloued yeelded vp his spirit vpon the crosse and hath bowed downe his head Behold his wounded handes and forgiue the offences of our handes See his innocent side whereout ran bloud and water in the day of his passion Alas good God wilt not thou content thy selfe with so pretious and deere a paiment as was payed for our offences Behold the feete pearsed with nailes which neuer walked but in thy lawes and in thy obedience and haue compassion vpon vs which haue walked in the way of sinners O glorious passion that hast slaine our enimie Sathan and hast purchased for vs so great a friend euen the eternall God O what an exchange is made through this blessed and happie Passion when as euerlasting life is offered vnto vs in stead of eternall torment Thy sonne went downe to hell His desceding into hell and hath felt the horrour and wrath that wee had deserued to exalt vs into heauen O death where is thy strength O hell where is thy dread and feare syth Christ hath redeemed vs from both O good God grant me grace nowe that as thy sonne hath suffered for my sake so manie tormentes and rebukes that I also may patiently abide punishment for his name And as hee was stripped out of his garmentes to goe to the crosse so let me be vnclothed of these worldly cares and vncouered of my fleshly affections yea and aboue all of pride of presumption to be arayed with a true faith and with pitifull and heartie affections towardes my neighbours And euen as the same Iesus Christ did make a free confession before Ponce Pilate so likewise before all the iudges of the world yea before all men let me also confesse him when I shall haue neede Pilate the vniust O my God hath condemned the iust But thou iust Lorde haue mercie on me vniust for thy sonnes sake vniustly condemned who was hanged on a tree and made accursed that I might be blessed in him and by him granting me grace daily to die to sinne and to liue to righteousnes So be it Errors contrarie vnto the afore saide Article of Iesus Christes death They that thinke howe he hath made a shewe to suffer and hath not truely suffered in the flesh 1. Pet. 3.18 Item the Schuencfeldians that thinke that the diuine nature hath suffered because that the sonne of God hath suffered in the flesh the diuinitie being vnsufferable They that seeke other sacrifices and offeringes for sinne than the onely sacrifice of Christ once suffered on the crosse for all Philip. 3. They whose bellies is their God which are enimies to the crosse of Christ and would haue a vellot Gospell They that liue in all worldly wantonnesse not hauing anie mortification They that doe worshippe crosses of wood stone or of siluer in steede to worshippe and honour him that was crucified and in place to beare the true crosse which they doe cause the poore martyrs to carie To be short these heere tread vnder their feete the bloud of the couenaunt as it is sayde in the 10. Chap. to the Hebrewes that hauing the knowledge of the trueth doe willingly sinne neither will they amende their liues The thirde daie hee rose from the dead A prayer and meditation vppon the Lordes rising againe NOw praysed be God since that which was esteemed most to be feared of the worlde verie death is now ouercome and destroyed Praysed be the Lorde by whom death hath lost her sting and that there is no more condemnation for vs. Nowe it is that sinne is ouercome sith that Christ is risen For seeing that he was our pledge if death had yet anie power against vs it had kept our pledge But for somuch as hee is risen and was not kept in the graue wee see how hee hath destroyed death and hath brought life and immortalitie vnto light through the Gospell 2. Tim. 1. Our righteousnesse is now manifested for if the righteousnesse of Christ that was giuen and imputed vnto vs had not beene perfect hee had still beene kept by death and hell For death is the reward of sinne Romans 6. Let vs therefore reioyce for such a sauiour Rom. 4. that was dead for our sins and is risen againe for our Iustification This is the cause why the Euangelists and the Apostles haue made thereof so often mention as is to bee seene in the 2. Chap. of the Actes and in the 15. Chap. of the first to the Corinth O Lord giue vs also grace that we bee not drawen away in the desire of earthlie thinges neither yet to bee buried in worldlie cares but that being risen againe with thy sonne Iesus wee may seeke the thinges from aboue Colos 3. euen vntill such
as their glorie shall bee the condemnation of the world who did oppresse them and persecute them O Lord come quicklie to iudgement that all eyes may see thee yea those who haue pearced thee Apoca. 1. and doe dailie make warres to thee in thy mēbers Witnesses out of the scripture concerning the iudgement In the 25. of S. Matthew verse 31. When the sonne of man commeth in his glorie and all the holie Angels with him then shall he sit vppon the throne of his glorie and before him shall be gathered all nations and hee shall separate them one from an other as a shepheard separateth the sheepe from the Goates And shall set the sheepe on his right hand and the Goates on the left Then shall the king say to them on his right hand Come ye blessed of my Father inherit yee the kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world And vnto those that shall bee on the left hand Depart from mee yee cursed into euerlasting fire which is prepared for the Diuell and his Angels Out of the 5. Chap. of S. Iohn verse 22. The Father iudgeth no man but hath committed all iudgement vnto the Sonne because that all men should honor the sonne as they honor the father As the Father hath life in himselfe so likewise hath hee giuen vnto his sonne to haue life in himselfe and hath giuen him power also to execute iudgement in that hee is the sonne of man As if hee should say although the father the sonne and the holie Ghost doe worke Iudge and gouerne together yet wil the Lord that wee should cast our eyes vppon the sonne of man by whom we are guided and through whome God hath declared himselfe Out of the 17. of the Actes verse 30. And the time of his ignorance God regarded not but now hee admonisheth all men euerie where to repent because hee hath appointed a day in the which he wil iudge the world in righteousnesse by that man whom he hath appointed whereof hee hath giuen an assurance to all men in that he hath raised him from the dead Out of the 5. Chap. 2. to the Corinth Wee couet that both dwelling at home and remouing from home wee may bee acceptable to him For wee must all appeare before the iudgemēt seate of Christ that euerie man may receaue the thinges which are doone in his bodie according vnto that hee hath doone whether it bee good or euill Out of the 4. Chap. and 1. Epistle to the Thessalonians For the Lorde himselfe shall descend from heauen with a shoute and with the voyce of the Archangell and with the Trumpet of God and the dead in Christ shall arise first then shall wee which liue and remaine bee caught vp with them also in the cloudes to meete the Lord in the Aire and so shall wee euer bee with the Lord. Wherefore comfort your selues one an other with these wordes Out of the 2. Epistle of S. Paul to the Thes the first Chapter For it is a righteous thing with God to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you to you which are troubled rest with vs when the Lord Iesus shal shew himselfe from heauen with his mightie Angels in flaming fire rendring vengeance vnto them that doe not know God and which obay not vnto the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ which shall bee punished with euerlasting perdition from the presence of the Lord and from the glorie of his power When hee shall come to bee glorified in his Saintes and to bee made maruelous in all them that beleeue c. Out of the 3. Chap. 2. Epistle of to S. Peter Against scorners or mockers There shal come in the last dayes mockers which will walke after their lustes and say Where is the promise of his comming For since the Fathers died all thinges continue alike from the beginning of the creation For this they willinglie know not that the heauens were of old and the earth that was of the water and by the water by the word of God But the day of the Lord will come as a theefe in the night c. I beleeue in the holie Ghost CONSIDERATION AS it was said frō the beginning the Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost are but one onelie true God and this onelie true God is in such sorte declared to the world that the Father is named maker the Sonne redeemer and the holie ghost our Doctor and sanctifier For albeit that this Trinitie worketh together yet notwithstanding for our great comfort it is in such manner manifested that we may acknowledge how all these three persons doe woorke together in all things that doe appertaine vnto our saluation Now as the sonne is euerlastinglie begotten of the Father so likewise dooth the holie Ghost proceede euerlastinglie from the Father and the Sonne So then beleeuing in the holie Ghost wee doe not beleeue that the holie Ghost is onelie some moouing or inspiration But chiefelie we doe beleeue against the Macedonians ancient Heritikes that he is verie true God of the same substance that the father and the sonne is see then wherefore we doe beleeue in him And wee bee also baptised in his name as of the father and of the sonne he is an eternall spirite as it is said in the 9. Chap. of the Hebrewes and from him also commeth grace and peace as it sayde in the 1. Chap. of the Hebrewes Beeing the temple of the holie Ghost it is sayde that we be the temple of God To be short the father the worde and the holy Ghost are all one as it is saide in the first Chapter of the first Epistle of S. Iohn Then doe we beleeue that for the loue and in the name of Iesus Christ the holy Ghost doth comfort wash and sanctifie vs and that by the inspiration of him the holie Prophetes and the Apostles haue spoken and it is called the gift of God and in the 2. of the Actes because that he who is but one in himselfe hath brought foorth diuerse operations in vs of the which it is spoken in the 12. Chap. of the 1. to the Corinthians And as S. Bernarde sayeth vppon the Canticles we were dead in sinne and as stinking creatures but Iesus did embawlme vs with his holie spirite and hath annointed vs therewith to the ende wee might knowe taste and feele his mercie This is the heate of the Sunne which warmeth vs. This is the goodly and faire water of the heauenly ryuers which doeth refresh and water vs. It is the Bawlme that embalmeth vs it is the Oyle which doeth strengthen and make vs glad Nowe what tongue is it that can expresse this goodnesse of God towardes vs of the Father that hath created vs vnto his image of the Worde who hath bought vs againe with his bloude of the Holie Ghost that hath sanctified vs by his power Therefore let vs giue place vnto this Holie Ghost Ephe. 4. and let vs not sorrowe for our
vncleannesse filth and sinne that hee may bring vs into all trueth and that hee may sanctifie and strengthen vs vnto the ende comforting vs in this Article of death praying Rom. 8. and sighing for vs with gronings that cannot be expressed Witnesses out of the holie Scripture concerning the Holie Ghost Out of the 12. of Zacharie verse 10. I will powre vppon the house of Dauid and vppon the inhabitantes of Ierusalem the spirit of grace and of compassion and they shal looke vpon me whom they haue pearced MEDITATION BY the first Adam alas wee become barraine and vnprofitable were shut out of the grace of God but the Lorde promising the establishmēt of his Church againe by Christ promised to poure out his giftes and graces in great abundance For although that in our fathers dayes God had wrought great fauour vnto the people yet so it is that this is proper vnto Christ to giue vnto vs the spirit of grace mercie and inuocation And this is the richest gift that GOD could impart vnto vs for so much as it is said in the 8. Chapter to the Romans That wee could not knowe how wee were Christes and the children of GOD without this spirit For hee was woonderfullie and extraordinarilie giuen in the day of Pentecost But yet dooth hee dailie ioyne together his woorking with the preaching of the Gospell and woorketh in vs that wee doe call vppon God with full assurance Oh that this spirit of grace is to bee desired 1. Sam. 18. It is not this euill spirit which was giuen vnto Saul that vexed and troubled him but it is the spirit of grace and of compassion This is the Lord that we must woorship in spirit and trueth Out of the 4. Chap. of the Euangelist S. Iohn Iesus said vnto the Samaritane Whosoeuer drinketh of this water shall thirst againe But the water that I shall giue him shall bee in him a well of water springing vp into euerlasting life A MEDITATION OH how hath Dauid truelie felt the vertues of these liuing waters when as he said in the 42. Psalme Like as the thirstie Hart runneth with swift course vnto the riuers of water euen so dooth my soule also long and pant after thy diuine grace For what is it likewise to inioie all the pleasures of the world since that they take not away his thirst neither yet quench this alteration but doe increase and make the people like vnto men filled with dropsies which the more they drinke the more thirstie they are But behold two thinges that this water dooth greatlie recommend vnto vs whereof Iesus Christ talked with the Samaritane It is that they which drinke thereof are no more tormented with thirst feeling in them a well of liuing water that springeth vp alwayes without ceasing and cannot be drawen drie Besides this water that man feeleth in his soule and that runneth about his heart dooth neuer forsake vs but quickeneth vs vnto euerlasting life Therefore blessed are they which doe feele in their soules such a running water which dooth not for a trueth spring out of the vaines of the earth but from the hiest heauens and out of the true heauenlie paradise Now as S. Chrysostome saith This water is the strength and woorking of the spirit of God working by the word of the Gospell For it behooueth that we take heede of the errour of the Massalians and Scuencfieldians Against the Massalians who doe separate the spirite from the worde and doe dreame in the reuelations of the spirite But S. Paule teacheth vs in the 3. to the Galathians That we receiue the spirite through the preaching of faith and in the second Chap. of the 2. Epistle to the Thessalonians hee ioyneth together the sanctification of the spirite and the faith of trueth Moreouer this spirite hath diuers effectes and is by this occasion some times called fire Matth. 3. because that it purifieth and consumeth our euill affections and kindleth in vs a zeale as in the disciples going to Emaus Luke 24. whose heartes burned within themselues hearing Iesus speake Nowe it is also called water thorough his working because that this holy spirite refresheth vs against the burning heat of temptations and also doeth wash and serue to quench the firie dartes of Sathan let it then neuer come to passe Ephes 6. for vs to doe as the ydolaters of whom God complaineth in the 2. Chap. of Ieremiah Who forsaking the fountaine of liuing water digged to themselues dead pittes and drie cesterns that can hold no water Out of the 7. Chap. of S. Iohn vers 38. Ioel. 2. He that beleeueth in me as sayeth the scripture out of his belly shall flowe riuers of water of life Nowe this spake he of the spirit which they that beleeued in him should receiue Out of the 15. of S. Iohn A witnesse of the spirite and of the preaching ioyned together When the comforter shal come whom I will sende vnto you from the father euen the spirite of trueth which proceedeth of the father hee shall testifie of me and yee shall witnesse also because ye haue beene with me from the beginning Out of the 16. of S. Iohn When he is come which is the spirit of trueth hee will leade you into all trueth for hee shall not speake of himselfe but whatsoeuer he shall heare shall he speake Out of the 8. Chap. of the Epistle to the Romanes For if you liue after the flesh yee shall die but if ye mortifie the deedes of the bodie by the spirite yee shall liue For as many as are lead by the spirit of God they are the sonnes of God S. Paule prayeth by the spirite Out of the 15. Chap. to the Romans vers 30. I beseech you for our Lorde Iesus Christs sake and for the loue of the spirite that ye would striue with me by praiers Out of the 3. Chapter of the 1. to the Corinth Knowe ye not that ye are the temple of God and that the spirite of God dwelleth in you Out of the 12. to the Corinth 1. Epistle There are diuersities of giftes but the same spirite and there are diuersities of administration but the same Lorde and there are diuersities of operation but God is the same which worketh all in all But the manifestation of the spirite is giuen to euery man to profite withall Out of the 13. Chap. of the 2. to the Corinth and 13. vers The grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ and the loue of God and the communion of the holy Ghost be with you all Out of the 4. Epistle to the Ephesians vers 30. Griue not the spirite of God by whom ye are sealed vnto the day of redemption Out of the 5. Chap. and the 1. to the Thes Quench not the spirite Despise not prophesying Out of the 1. of S. Iohn 2. Chap. The annointing which yee receiued of me dwelleth in you and ye neede not that any man teache you for the same annointing
maiestie O God thou art my treasure grant me grace to haue my heart there where my treasure is and to meditate night and day in thy worde which is the light that guideth my steppes and is in tribulation more sweete vnto my heart than honny is vnto the mouth The reason of man was truely O Lorde a goodly lampe that thou haddest giuen vnto man but as it is darkned it cannot shewe the way which leadeth man from sinne to righteousnes and from death to life and they which otherwaies are not lightened but by the same doe perish as beastes Psalm 49. Nowe since it pleaseth thee to haue a Church on the earth which thou hast gathered together thorowe the preaching of thy worde inlighten my eies to beholde and see the spirituall state and magnificence of this house to the ende I may loue it and delight my selfe therein And because that I am a stranger in the land inlighten me in such sorte that seeing the way of euerlasting life in thy word I may follow it vntill I come vnto the true countrie which is in heauen Out of the 59. Chap. of Esaiah verse 21. Beholde my couenaunt with them faith the Lorde my spirit that is vppon thee and my wordes which I haue put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seede nor out of the mouth of the seede of thy seede saith the Lorde from henceforth euen for euer CONSIDERATION THese wordes doe declare vnto vs that the onelie people which haue the word of GOD and the purenesse of the Doctrine are auouched the true people of the Lord. For with this word God worketh and vnfoldeth the force of his spirit Rom. 1. as by this occasion is the Gospell also so called the power of God to saluation to all beleeuers to bee short by the meane of this word 2. Cor. 5. and through the ministrie of reconciliation God hath established his couenant amongest vs being fauorable vnto vs and forgiuing vs our sinnes Therefore this Church is not gouerned by swords or by Crosses but by the spirit and by the word of God And because that this word is euerlasting it is not in the power of the world to stop the course thereof But God to punish our vnthankfulnesse draweth it backe sometimes from vs and in the meane while it is in such sorte as hee maketh it to waxe fruitefull elsewhere and that which wee doe not see our posteritie shal see it with whom the Lord hath also his couenant O the follie of mankinde which heareth not wisedome crie out in the streets and biddeth vs come vnto her Prou. 1. Therefore of good right doeth she laugh at the destruction of all those which despise her A Prayer vppon this place Out of the 15. Chap. of S. Matthew EVerie plant which mine heauenlie Father hath not planted Prou. â—0 shall bee rooted vp O Lord my God because that thine onelie word is pure cleane and a buckler vnto all those that trust in thee giue me grace to loue thee and since that thou thy selfe inuitest vs vnto the wholsome waters that thou giuest for nothing guide me vnto those running brookes keepe my soule from being led away by this enemie which soweth Cockle and euill hearbes in the world 1. Iohn 4. Giue mee the spirit of discretion to proue the spirites and suffer me not to bee lead with euerie winde of Doctrine 2. Tim. 1. but dailie to holde the true patterne of thy wholsome word 1. Cor. 11. which is in faith and loue in Iesus Christ And albeit to proue thine thou doest suffer manie times the euill plantes to increase and permittest heresies as is to bee seene of olde when as the blasphemie of the Arrians tooke roote as it were in all the East and in our dayes popish Idolatrie hath doone in the West 2. Thes 2. So in likewise haue wee also seene how thou hast vnrooted them and manifested the dreames of men so that there is none nowe deceaued but those whome despise the trueth and loue the Epicures life yeelding themselues woorthie to bee led away by the spirit of blindnesse and errour In the meane while O GOD beate downe them which make Sectes Partialities Rom. 16. and Scandals a part against the pure Doctrine graunt power and might to the Ministrie of thy holie Gospell that all heresies and errors may bee rooted out of mens heartes and that in quiet peace and concorde wee may praise thy name all the dayes of our life Also shew thy fauour vnto vs and now that it is so late in the end of our time yea and that it seemeth O Lorde that this faire sunne of trueth would goe to rest whome thou hast shewed in the world Mat. 28. may remaine with vs and strengthen vs in thy knowledge following this thy promise that thou hast made to bee with vs euen vnto the end of the world So be it Of the hearing of the word of God Out of the 11. of S. Luke Blessed are they that heare the word of God and keepe it MEDITATION BLessed are they then not that heare much know much and speake much of the word of God But that keepe it in obedience of faith For whereto serueth the seede throwne into the ground if it tooke not roote there to increase and bring forth fruite Whereunto serueth as saith Iesus Christ in the 7. Chap. of S. Matthew to make a high building if vppon the blowing of the first windes the house fall They loue me saith Christ in the 14. of S. Iohn that doe not onlie heare but also keepe my commaundementes For how shall wee heare if hee doe not pearce our eares Psal 40. and open our vnderstandinges because that it is nothing to heare outwardlie vnlesse that God doe speake vnto vs inwardlie and if it be not heard within vs. Men truelie haue eares But they haue not all eares to heare and to make their profit of the word of God Now since that they are vndoubtedlie accursed which neither heare nor keepe this word and doe loue better to heare worldlie songes or foolish follies Let vs pray without ceasing this God that hee will open the heartes to vnderstand his word as hee did vnto this Lydia a seller of purple of whome mention is made in the 16. Chap. of the Actes And that wee doe not take it of the Lord in ill part when hee shall punish vs because that in so doing hee doth open our eares to receaue instruction euen as it is said in the 36. of Iob and the 10. verse A prayer vppon the same matter O Most gratious and mercifull GOD thou hast declared by thy dearelie beloued sonne Iesus Christ that they which heare thy word and keepe it are blessed Doeth it not rather belong vnto vs O Lord to acknowledge and to maruaile at thy blessednesse and felicitie It is for vs to speake of thine and thou doest
experience and amongest manie temptations learned the deceites of the Diuell oftentimes said that one day he would put hand to penne to write a great volume against Satan to discouer his wiles and craftes and all the kindes of temptations wherewith hee was accustomed to fight against vs. Besides this hee did dailie aduertise the people both priuatelie and openlie that it was not a thing so light as men thought it to haue dailie Satan at our heeles and an enemie so craftie that spied out but the occasion to sift vs and to destroy vs. Now on a time Luther being requested by a good man who suffered manie tēptations and other vnquietnesse for some comfort Hee wrote this vnto him that followeth in a booke brieflie expounding this sentence of S. Iohn set downe before Satan from the beginning of the world was a lyar and through lyes hath a desire to tempt mankinde Behold how Adam and Eue our first parentes were ouertaken and caught which were created vnto the Image of God For hauing beguiled them through lies hee was therein also a murtherer in that that of the immortall they became mortall Not long after hee set Caine against his Brother Abel and did thrust forward the brother to imbrue his handes with the bloud of his brother And this is the manner and guise of all Satans kingdome Hee began through lying to seduce men afterward hee ceaseth not to stirre vp persecutions against the true faithfull which would not cleaue vnto his lies In the meane while hee bringeth his maintainers to dispaire as it is to be seene of Caine Iudas and others Therefore it is for vs to beware of so cruell and craftie an enemie Let vs also beware and take good heede of his false and dreaming doctrines which commeth forth out of his shoppe the end whereof is vtter destruction To be short let vs take heede of lying and crueltie seeing both the one and the other commeth of the Diuell Moreouer let vs marke that our comfort is that Iesus Christ was giuen vnto vs who appeared to ouerthrow and destroy the workes of the diuell And in deede hee was found the stronger that did buind his enemie Satan and draue away the Prince of the world Against his leinges he hath armed vs with the trueth of his Gospell Against death hee gaue vs life giuing himselfe to bee our Emanuel that is to say God with vs. What greater comfort should wee know to desire For if a man would say yea but Christ is in heauen Behold that which Iesus saith If anie man keepe my word hee shall not perish The doctrine of the lawe accuseth vs and setteth downe before vs our condemnation But the Gospell is the word of life and power of GOD to saluation O miserable and wretched world that forsaketh this pretious word The auncient Fathers haue woondred at a hearbe called Panacea which as some say healed all maner of diseases And seeing manie times we doe see that men esteeme more of some little experience of Phisicke that they shall haue against anie sicknes Why then doe they not commend and praise aboue all the doctrine of the Gospell which healeth vs against death Is it because that the world is so earthlie and lustfull which is not otherwise guided but by fleshlie considerations and neither trusteth in God nor in his promises But wee must feare the iudgementes of God For as they which doe keepe this word shall not feare death So contrariwise they that keepe it not shall see the first and the second death And howsoeuer it seeme vnto men that they passe away with eies closed vp vnto death yet neuerthelesse they doe see death whē the bitternesse thereof and the wrath of God present themselues before their eyes Now concerning the children of GOD they see them dailie dying and themselues also doe die But because their soules learne the word of GOD they see not death For hee teacheth them euen as those that doe goe into darke places by the light who see not the darknesse which is ouercome by the light So a faithfull man which possesseth Gods grace doeth not behold death in his nature and as Gods iudgement but as a sweete sleepe whereby wee doe passe into heauenlie rest and how much the more wee beleeue so much the more are wee assured and certaine against death But the more wee be negligent to heare the word of God so much the more wee lie open to terrours and feares O how strong is therefore the faithfull man who is a member of the Church which staieth himselfe vppon the word of God The great warriers Alexander Iulius Caesar and others hauing braued in the world haue beene famous for their onlie prowes they are dead and those commonlie are the most astonied when death commeth as it is read of Adrian the Emperour The Sorrowes of Adrian the Emperour who at the point of death made such like mournings O poore soule naked and a vacabond into what place goest thou now to yeelde thy selfe Alas what shall become of thee thou companion and ghest of my bodie Thou from hence forewardes shalt haue no more pastime Loe this is the vnquietnesse and vnsetlednesse of the people of this world Let vs pray therefore as in the 90 Psalme that God will giue vs grace to consider the shortnesse of our dayes to the ende we may applie our heartes vnto wisedome A prayer vpon this place Out of the 14. of S. Iohn If any man loue me he will keepe my worde and my father will loue him and we will come vnto him and will dwell with him O Lord who is he which will not loue thee syth that thou hast so loued vs to haue giuen thy sonne for vs Nowe because that thou discernest those which do loue thee in deede from hypocrites when as they loue and keepe thy worde giue me grace yea vnto mee that naturally loue but vice and vanitie to loue thy word vnto me that can doe nothing but in thee and by thee to keepe thy worde and to yeelde obedience vnto thee For what a benefite is it to haue thy companie yea this sweete companie of thee and of thy sonne Iesus and of thy holie spirite which thou hast promised to them that wil yeeld themselues affectionated vnto thy worde What greater mischiefe could happen than to be thrust backe and depriued of such a companie For whosoeuer is not with thee it behoueth that hee be with Sathan that is to say with all euill Because that in as much as thou giuest peace felicitie and life vnto them with whome thou dwellest euen so also is sathan the authour of all euill and of all mischiefe Therefore O Lorde giue me grace to abide in thee as the braunch in the vine to bring foorth the fruites of thy glorie to liue in thee and vnto thee to feele thee daily with all the comfortes that thou giuest vnto thine Let thy good spirite succour mee in my weakenesse Rom. 8.
our heartes bee as his temple O right blessed are they that thus doe eate the flesh of the Lorde hauing a desire to remaine with him and to obey him The bodie of Christ set foorth in his worde is our foode The meane and way to eate him is faith that doth stay vpon his promises and is ioyned vnto him On earth we do communicate with Christ by the helpe of his worde and sacramentes but on hie in heauen we shal eate this heauenly bread without anie outwarde helpe and shall drinke this holy drinke feeling effectually his presence the ioie of that glorious life O happy time so much desired in the which we shall eate with the holy Angels at the table of the Lorde in his kingdome O we now very happie blessed from hence forth seeing we sauour already the sweetenesse of the life to come in Christ O howe easily may we despise the rich mens tables and their iounket and delicate meates to partake the bloude of Christ in the Church of God Yea this bloud yea this is our victorie and glorie this is it that we ought to take chearefully in the supper and so to beare with Christ all afflictions in this life although the banket of the crosse seeme verie thinne and troublesome vnto the beastly ignorant worlde But they which do possesse Christ care not to possesse the world and they that haue drunke of the Lordes cup care not they are at a point to powre out their bloud for the name of Christ for their liues are most assured in their sauiour Reioyce thou thē flocke of the Lorde seeing thou hast so liberall a sheepeheard which feedeth thee with his bloud that thou maiest liue by his life For they that liue not but of the infected bloud of Adam and of the carnall and sensuall life are more wretched than the beastes To this feast are not onely bidden the sacrificers and priestes of Leui but all the Church But aboue all let vs take heede that this gift of God be vnto vs a wholesome gift and that we partake not therein to our condemnation Let vs therfore take on the wedding garment and make cleane our vessels to receiue so excellent a gift Let vs also beware of hauing therein any profanation in steede of deuotion Let vs keepe our selues from communicating in darkenesse when we doe come neere vnto this light And as S. Ierome sayeth writing vnto Theophilus When we drawe neere to Christ let vs not giue him a Iudas kisse Let vs knowe that these are the poore in spirite that shall finde comfort in that banquet These are not the worldlinges nor the high in degree neither the ouerweening and brablesome persons For if Christ declare that euerie oblation displeaseth GOD without reconciliation howe should he make an offering vnto vs of a thing so singular if wee haue not peaceable heartes And if we be not knit together with our brethren howe would we that he shoulde knit himselfe with vs A prayer concerning the holy supper O Lorde God the heauen of heauens cannot comprehende thee and yet thou doest vnto vs this honour to haue fellowshippe with vs. Alas who are wee that thou shouldest take pleasure to bee with vs yea in vs Neuerthelesse wee doe thanke thee in that through thy mercie thou makest vs able to receiue thy graces whereof Psalm 36. of our owne corrupt nature we were altogether vnwoorthie For in trueth they onely are blessed that doe not depart from thee and they that doe partake with the bodie of thy sonne on earth beginne alreadie to liue in heauen The Israelites haue eaten manna in the desert but the most part in the meane while are dead in the wildernesse without seeing the lande of promise But they that eate of this sacred foode are assured to come to the euerlasting heritage O what comfort is this vnto vs in this vale of miserie to bee refreshed with such a pasture O woonderfull pasture which seemeth to bee eaten with teeth in so much as the signes doe beare his name and yet in the meane space is neuer consumed but nourisheth the soule with great vertue That which Adam and Eue did eate in the earthly gardein by the temptation of Sathan caused them to die But O Lorde this meate that we do eate by thy appointment bringeth vnto vs life Now Lorde seeing it hath pleased thee to ioine the earthly with the heauenly by this sacrament the humane creatures with the celestiall graunt vs grace truely to consider these so hie mysteries and to vse them withal innocencie and reuerence For Lord Iob. 14. who is he that shall make cleane that which is vncleane O father who hast redeemed vs by the bloude of thy sonne thou canst only wash and sanctifie vs by thy spirite And as the fulnesse of ioie and gladnesse is to see thy face and to feele thy presence So let our soules feele effectually the sweetenesse of thy son Iesus let vs feele the increase of strength and of faith by the meanes of this holie sacrament and suffer vs not to followe the example of Esau who for a messe of pottage lost his birthright but rather that wee doe not forsake thee for any worldlie thing But that all our consolation may rest in thee Graunt vs O Lorde that thou keepe that assurance which thou hast promised likewise as thou wilt that wee keepe a remembraunce of thy sonne and of his death so haue thou daily remēbrance of vs and as he was giuen for vs so let vs yeelde ourselues louing vnto our neighbours through christian loue and that aboue all our heartes may be lifted vp where our head Iesus Christ is in thy glorie Further more for so much O Lord as we doe eate at thy table as thy children and familie of thy house let vs also walke in all goodnesse as it is becomming those which doe belong vnto such a Lorde And for so much O God as this sacred meate beseemeth not an irkesome and full stomacke Graunt vs grace that we may haue a true and a right hunger yea and a holie appetite vnto these graces that we may sauourly tast these meats of thine and well degest thē tasting how gratious sweete thou art also how bitter all the delights of the worlde are in comparison of the sweetenesse of Iesus Christ So be it Another prayer concerning the supper What tongue O Lorde can expresse and what heart can comprehend thy wonderfull loue towardes vs for that to redeeme a wretched creature thou wouldst that thy sonne should suffer so many labours and sorrowes euen to bee sacrificed on the crosse And howsoeuer it be that thou doest not content thy selfe with all these things that are alreadie done but to the end that the remembrance of thy loue should not be blotted-out of our heartes or that our faith should flite or be shaken syth that thy sonne is ascended vp to thy right hande thou leauest not yet to nourish
his graces and with his mercie hee doeth crowne vs making vs there to feele it mightilie And by the same doeth blesse and exalt vs in stead of destroying vs. The fifth is that hee dooth satisfie vs and giueth vs that that is sufficient a thing that is speciall vnto the children of God For God is not a niggard in his giftes But as concerning vs the most part are neuer contented So that contentation is one of the great blessinges of the Lord. The sixt benefit is this Renewing and this commeth vnto vs by Christ in whom wee bee made newe creatures and in whom we shall receaue a new and lasting life O how then hath the soule which feeleth such benefites good cause to blesse praise the Lord. A confession and prayer out of the 9. Chap. of the Prophet Daniel WE pray thee O Lord our God which art great and fearefull and keepest couenant mercie towardes thē that loue keepe thy cōmaundementes haue mercie on vs For we haue sinned haue cōmitted iniquitie haue done wickedlie yea we haue rebelled and haue departed frō thy preceptes frō thy iudgementes For wee would not obay thy seruants the Prophets which spake in thy name to our kings to our princes to our fathers to all the people of the land O Lord righteousnesse belongeth vnto thee vnto vs open shame as appeareth this day vnto the man of Iudah and to the inhabitantes of Ierusalem because of their offences that they haue committed against thee O Lord vnto vs appertaineth open shame to our kinges to our princes and to our fathers because wee haue sinned against thee Yet compassion and forgiuenesse is in the Lord our God albeit wee haue rebelled against him and haue not harkened vnto the voyce of the Lorde our GOD to walke in his lawes which hee had layd before vs by the ministerie of his seruauntes the Prophetes Yea all Israel haue transgressed thy lawe are turned backe that they might not heare thy voyce therefore the curse is powred vppon vs that is written in the booke of Moses the seruant of God Dan. 27. because wee haue sinned against him The Lorde hath made the plague to come vppon vs for the Lorde is righteous in all his workes which hee dooth But we would not obaie his voice And now O Lorde our GOD that hast brought thy people out of the land of Egypt with a mightie hand and hast gotten thee renoume as appeareth this day wee haue sinned wee haue doone wickedlie O Lord according to all thy righteousnes I beseech thee let thine anger and thy wrath bee turned away from thy citie Ierusalem Heare now O God the prayer of thy seruant and cause thy face to shine vppon thy sanctuarie that lyeth wast for the Lordes sake O my God incline thine eare and heare Open thine eyes and behold our desolations and the citie wherevppon thy name is called For wee doe not present our supplications before thee for our owne righteousnesse but for thy great tender mercies O Lorde heare O Lord forgiue vs O Lord consider and doe it deferre not for thine owne sake for thy name is called vppon thy citie and vpon thy people A Prophecie of the forgiuenesse of sinne which is giuen to the Church by Christ Out of the 13. Chap of Zacharie verse 1. In that day there shall bee a fountaine opened to the house of Dauid and to the inhabitantes of Ierusalem for sinne and for vncleanesse This is it that S. Paul speaketh of in the 3. Chap. to Titus Wee our selues also were in times past disobedient seruing to diuers desires but when the bountifulnesse and loue of God our sauiour towardes man appeared he saued vs. Not by the workes of righteousnesse which wee haue done but according to his mercie by the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the holie Ghost which hee shed on vs aboundantlie through Iesus that wee being iustified by his grace should bee heires according to the hope of eternall life That Iesus Christ hath power to forgiue sins Out of the 9. Chap. of S. Matthew IEsus said vnto the sicke of the palsie Sonne be of good comfort thy sinnes are forgiuen thee And that ye may know that the sonne of man hath authoritie in earth to forgiue sinnes then hee said vnto the sicke of the palsie arise take vp thy bed c. MEDITATION THe greatest aduersitie to the man sicke of the palsie was not his outward palsie for as Iesus Christ did heale the sicknesse of the bodie so would hee shew that it was hee which did take away the diseases from the soule which are the most daungerous howsoeuer men care not for thē so much as for the bodilie sicknesses Health is therefore nothing and it is nothing to be deliuered out of a sicknesse if we be lying vnder the wrath of God if sinne be not forgiuē which is the cause of death and of all tormentes Now when the question is of the forgiuenesse and healing of their sinnes men are ordinarilie much distract or when they doe not consider how necessarie it is or rather when they doe seeke such a benefit there where it is not But the Lord teacheth vs what is the true Purgatorie Purgatorie A materiall fire cannot purge the soule and nothing can make cleane sinne but God onelie which is the soueraigne cleanesse as Micheah in the 7. Chap. of his prophesie and Dauid in the 130. Psalme doe attribute that vnto God as his own to tread down sinne to yeeld grace mercie to poore sinners And to the end we should be assured thereof the sonne of God is come into the world by his bloud hath reconciled vs. Hee therefore hath power to forgiue sinnes for hee is verie God He hath also right to pardon vs for he hath satisfied for vs. Now if anie would charge vs againe for our sinnes We I say which doe beleeue in Iesus it behoueth vs to cleaue vnto him forasmuch as hee is our warrant Therefore there is neither Angell nor anie other creature which hath this power but hee which is God and who hath fullie paied for our sinnes O how rightlie is his doctrine called the Gospel that is to say glad tidinges Seeing that it giueth boldnesse and comfort vnto poore sinners for so much as it calleth vs his children and considering that it declareth vnto vs the forgiuenesse of our offences which would binde vs to eternal death and all through the bloud of the Lambe that taketh away the sinnes of the world not taking them away in such sort as there is no more sinne remaining but that it might not bee imputed Iohn 1.29 Sinne how it is taken away that it might not raigne and to bee short that it might bee forgiuen Let vs therefore take heede of the Diuels temptations which is an accuser that accuseth vs and without ceasing lyeth in waite for nothing more than to throw vs downe headlong into dispaire
and to make doubtful this Article for the forgiuenesse of our sinnes to the ende to trouble our poore consciences Let vs holde I say this for an vndoubted article as it is saide in the 10. of the Actes that all the prophetes doe giue this testimonie of Iesus that through his name all that beleeue in him without exception of persons shall receiue remission of sinnes We haue indeede strongly to wrestle and we feele yet the lawe of our members which kicketh against the spirit Rom. 7.23 neither also doe we beleeue an vtter putting off of our sinnes but the forgiuenesse of our sinnes and therefore wee crie out with S. Paule Alas wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from the bodie of this death I thanke God through Iesus Christ our Lorde who as it is saide in the 4. Chap. to the Romans is ordained an oblation for the forgiuenesse of our sinnes Prayers and meditations to dispose a man to the acknowledgement of his sinnes A prayer of S. Augustine out of the 11. and 24. of his priuate meditation of the soule with God O Lorde I thy poore creature will yet haue hope in the shadowe of thy winges all sinnefull that I am hauing remembraunce of this thy goodnesse according to the which thou hast created mee Helpe therefore thy creature that thy goodnesse would frame and suffer not that he whoÌ„ thy mercie hath made be destroied through my malice For if I O Lord returne to dust whereto shall thy creature serue thee It was not my deseruinges neither the grace that was in me then when I was but dust which could leade thee to create me let then this clemencie which moued thee to create me let the same lead thee to keepe me Whereto shall it serue thee that I was made if thy right hande holde me not vp Alas my God I verie wel knowe that thy hande is not shortened that it cannot saue me neither is thy eare likewise stopped that it cannot heare But I truely feele that they are my sinnes which haue made the diuision betweene thee and mee betweene darkenesse and light betweene death and life betweene vanitie and veritie betweene this daylie life and the euerlasting life Notwithstanding O mightie God I that am the worke of thy handes I will call vppon thee yea I will crie vpon thy name O Lorde For it is not in my selfe neither in my strength that I haue set my hope It is thy arme that shall saue me it is the light of thy couenaunt that shall make me glad Otherwise alas if thou weart not my hope I shoulde despaire But thou art my maker which neuer leauest them that trust in thee Thou art a great God louing sweete pacient disposing all things with an vnmeasurable mildenesse True it is that we are as a withered leaâ—e or as a litle flower and all our life is but vanitie and a winde that passeth away For this cause wee beseech thee also that thou proceede not against vs in thy wrath yea seeing that we be thy litle children that thou hast made of the earth alas wouldest thou trie thy strength against a leafe or against strawe and stubble We haue hearde so much praise of thy mercie in that thou desirest not the death of vs poore sinners Therefore suffer not death whome thou hast not created to rule ouer thy creature I desire O Lorde to be saued but in hauing a will thereto I haue not the power thereof to be short I can doe nothing vnlesse thy power comfort me I doe not knowe to will and desire that I ought vnlesse thou graunt mee grace that thy will be doone in mee as it is in heauen Thou art the Lorde of the whole worlde and the prince of all fleshe That which doth like thee thou doest fulfill in heauen in earth and in the depthes Let then thy will be done in vs on whom thy name is called vpon and that thy creature whom thou hast created to thy likenesse perish not A prayer vpon the same matter O Lorde howe dare I name thee my father and esteeme my selfe thy childe seeing that in me there is no obedience How dare I lift vp my eies to heauen seeing I am vnworthie that the earth should beare me For death is the rewarde of sinners and my iniquities are before mee which set thine anger in my sight I haue alas so often offended and my sinnes haue fought against thy mercie Thou hast giuen mee vnderstanding to knowe thee and a heart to honour thee Thou hast giuen me eies to beholde thy workes and handes to stretch foorth to the comfort of my neighbour to be short thou hast fashioned mee to thy glorie But O God I haue turned backe my spirite doeth applie it selfe to iniquitie My heart hath serued this wretched bodie which is but a vessell of dung and must be a pray for wormes My soule hath not loued thee with all her strength neither hath meditated in thy worde My eies haue beene fixed on the grounde I haue stretched out my handes to doe sooner euill than good My feete haue walked in the way of the worlde and not in thy pathes And in such sort O Lorde as if thou shouldest goe forwardes against mee in thine anger I could not awaite for anie other thing at my departure out of this worlde than to make my abode in hell I cannot awaite but for thy iudgement and this horrible sentence that shall flash and lighten vpon the wicked when they shall be sent vnto euerlasting fire But O good God I haue yet my trust in thee for it is not the assurance of my workes whereon I rest it is in thy great mercie it is in thy sonne Iesus which is flesh of my flesh and bones of my bones according to his humanitie Beholde then his precious bloud which was shedde for me Forgiue thy sinfull seruant for thy innocent sonnes sake Wipe away that tract that Sathan hath made in me and graue in my heart thy commandementes Quench vice in mee and there kindle faith and true godlinesse Take from me a stony heart and giue me a heart apt to be taught which may loue thee honour thee and delight in thy worde and that so I may haue part in thy kingdome Another confession of sinnes O Lorde my God I haue sinned against thy maiestie I haue prouoked thy wrath against me and also my soule is in sorrow For it feeleth the condemnation that it hath deserued and hath no satisfaction that may content thee What then O Lord shall I perish in mine iniquitie must I in steede of breathing againe despaire in my selfe It had beene much better that I neuer had beene borne in the world than to be here without thy grace Whereto doth this life serue me if thou which art life dost not fauour me Alas my God by my sinne I haue lost thy fauour but thou neuer loosest thy goodnesse therefore looke not vpon me a sinner in thy righteousnesse
earthlie bodie and a heauie burden prouided alway that an other burden more daungerous which is sinne doe not ouercharge vs or as saith S. Paul in the third Chap. to the Thessalontans wee must then let our conuersation from henceforth be in heauen whence we doe await after our Sauiour Iesus Christ who shal transforme our bodies and make them conformable vnto his glorious bodie Oh wonderfull mercie of this great God that presenteth life vnto vs not deserued putteth death farre from vs that wee haue merited Oh what light is this word of God that giueth vs light in the graue and in the middest of death maketh vs to see Therefore now the children of God doe no whit feare death But as S. Cyprian writeth in a letter which he sent vnto the Confessors Martyrs of Iesus Christ Hee that hath once ouercome death in his person dailie beateth it downe in his mēbers So as we haue Iesus Christ not onlie a beholder of our combates but an assistant wrestler with vs. And as this good Doctor writeth in a treatise which he made of the mortalitie the onlie way for a man that wil not come to Iesus Christ is to feare death And not to be willing to come to him is as much to say as not to bee willing to raigne with him What trauailer is he which drawing neere vnto his home reioyceth not hauing passed through manie dangerous waies And who is he that wil not willinglie runne out of a house that is readie to fall downe about his eares What pleasure haue we in this world which approcheth dailie to his end and wherein wee buy the pleasures so derely which we receiue in this life What other thing is it but a continuall battaile and a sharp medley wherein we be wounded sometime with enuie sometime with one thing sometime with an other besides the alaromes which doe giue vs in our bodies a nūber of diseases Why shal we not say then with S. Paul in the first Chapter to the Philippians I desire to be loosed to be with Christ Wherfore we praie dailie Let thy kingdome come but only for the desire that we haue to see the accomplishmēt thereof in an other life For as S. Ierom doth largelie declare in the funeral Sermon of Nepotian vnto Heliodor if the Panims haue oftētimes cōquered their mourninges loosing their friends by the simple knowledge that they had that they were mortal Wherefore do we sorow grone with so many sighs teares the death of Gods childrē whom we know to be blessed Iesus Christ wept vpō Lazarus And S. Paul to the Thes doeth not altogether forbid mourning yet is it for vs to behaue our selues more vertuouslie than the Painims not to shewe so great a mourning for men as it were a disparing in vs of Gods mercies And as Saint Cyprian saith VVherfore do we put on our black mourning weedes when as our brethren goe to doe on their white garments to rest with the Lorde Let vs sorow for them rather as absent than dead not as people that we haue lost but that we a wait for to see againe Alas that which is to be wailed for it is that which men doe see in this worlde VVe reade of Xerxes the great Lord and generall howe that hee had a desire one day to viewe his whole armie which was of a maruelous number of people from the top of a mountaine and seeing so manie people began to weepe cōsidering that within one hundreth yeare after there should not be one of thē left aliue But if anie one could not get vp vppon such a mountaine whence he might discouer so manie sinnes as be in the world so manie murthers as be committed so manie cities and realmes as be ruined so manie deceites cousinages as be practised so much pouertie and infirmitie as is euerie where Alas hee should haue great occasion to fetch manie a sad sigh and to shead manie a whotte teare Wee see not in our selues the changes that happen vnto our persons first in our infancie then in our youth then in our full age last of all in our old age and so manie crosses the rest of our daies whereby wee must passe Then that which wee ought to doe is so to mislyke of this life which is but a vapour and a shadow of a true life a traueling and a fraile life that we suffer Christ to raigne and liue in vs to the end that by him wee may haue euerlasting life the which onelie deserueth to bee esteemed and called a life A Prayer O Lord my God if thou hast aduertised the king Ezechias by the Prophet Esai Esay 38. to dispose of his affaires when hee should die much more thy will is that wee going to death should haue regard to the disposition of our soules to present our selues before thee For alas death is certaine but his houre is vncertaine and there is nothing more dangerous than to leaue the soule in this fight doubtfull and vncertaine The sentence of S. Barnard O Lord what a Porter hast thou giuen vs at our passage from this world which will not suffer vs to carie away anie thing with vs But as wee came naked into this world euen so death causeth vs to passe out of the same state Wherefore should wee then tormēt our selues so much in worldlie things O Lord what is it that I should dispose of my selfe It is in thee to dispose of vs it is in thee to commaund and in vs to obay Beare vp our weakenesse through thy mercie For how is it that wee should not bee afraid of death sith the horror thereof hath made thy sonne Iesus to sweate water and bloud Mar. 14. Esai 53. But seeing that it is euen hee who hath also borne our sorrowes and that was wounded for our iniquities what gaine or aduauntage should death haue ouer vs syth that thy sonne Iesus hath saued vs And if thou be for vs who is he that can be against vs Yea man borne of a woman is thraled to many miseries and vanisheth away as a shadowe or flower of the fielde But yet O good God we doe knowe how thou desirest not the death of vs sinners Ezech. 18. thou rather wouldest that we should turne and liue We doe shed heere many teares but thou wilt euen at once make drie all my teares by calling me vnto thee Nowe O Lorde strike heere belowe so long as thou wilt hurt wounde seeing that thou art mercifull and fauourable vnto vs in the euerlasting life to come A sentence out of S. Augustine Rom. 8. What sorrowe or affliction should we feare synce that all thinges turne to thy children for their good Alas who would take much pleasure in this life sith that man liuing in it can not see thee and that all that is in it is but transitorie and miserable Graunt me therefore grace patientlie to awaite thy will that I may