deserued eternall daÌ„nacion he dydde not streyghtwaye with the same rigoure fearcenesse wherwith he condeÌ„ned the Aungels for theyr disobedient arrogaÌ„cy caste vs awaye into the fyre of Hell but full gentely sent vs into this vale of misery for to repeÌ„t that afterward he myght saue vs yet constitutyng appoyntynge vs styll Lordes rulers oueral lyuyng creatures ¶ The. xliii Chapter MOreouer whaÌ„ it was not possible bycause of the great enormite of our synne that we coulde of our owne power strength merytes deseruynges good workes saue wynne our selues agayne into y e fauour of God howe louyngly w toute ony desertes of our parte eueÌ„ of hys owne mere goodnes and free mercy did he promise to saue vs by his derely beloued sonne oure LORDE Iesus Christ at his tyme predefined and appoynted from euerlastynge sente him downe in â—â—his worlde Which for our sake vnfaynedly by the wonderfull operacion of the holy Ghoste toke flessh of the moost blessed moost pure vndefyled virgyn Marye became very man lyke vnto vs in althynges sinne alone excepte Which also after he had lyued here certayne yeares eueÌ„ of his owne free wyll w tout any compulsion for the feruent vnspekable loue that he euer bare towarde vs gaue hymselfe vnto the very 〈◊〉 yea euen the moost spite full 〈◊〉 deathe of the Crosse. He offered 〈◊〉 â—oost blessed bodye a swete smellynge Sacrifyce to God the father for oure wyckednesse He suffred his moost precious bloude to be shed vpoÌ„ the Altare of the Crosse to paye the rauÌ„some for our synnes He refused no kynd of paynful grefe greuous payne to apease Goddes wrath to reconcyle vs vnto his celestiall father O good Iesu sayethe S. Bernard howe greatly were we endetted to the yet dost thou paye oure dette We haue synned thou arte punysshed This is a worke w tout exaÌ„ple a grace without meryte a charite without measure Uerely verely not the prodicioÌ„ betrayenge of Iudas not the furye cruell malyce of the Pharises and Bysshops not the wycked and false witnesses not the vnryghteous accusers not the cruell vnmercyfull iudges dyd put Christ to death but we our selues our synne our iniquite our vngodlynes our abhominacion our corrupte maÌ„ners dyd slaye hym put hym to that moost cruell deth We are they that dyd kyl him We soughte his deathe We dyd betray hym We dyd falsely accuse him We nayled him vpon the Crosse. We scourged his moost blessed body We shed his moost precious bloude We dyd cleue asunder his moost blessed herte with a speare oute of y t which raÌ„ne both water bloude We gaue hym Eysell Gaull to dryncke We scorned him we mocked him we dyd spit on his moost swete face We buffetted hym we brused hym we were the Authors of all y t tyranny which was wrought agaynst hym Yet for y â— loue that he bare towarde vs dyd not he disdayne to suffer all these in tollerable paynes by whose passioÌ„s suffrynges we are perfectly made whose by whose moost blessed bloud all oure synnes are wasshed awaye by whose deth euerlasting lyfe chauÌ„seth abundantly vnto vs. O vnmesurable kyndnes What a loue hath God to vs that he spared not his only sonne but gaue hym for vs all y t so many as beleue in hym maye not peryshe but haue euerlastynge lyfe And as God the father gaue hys sonne Christ vnto death for our synnes so dyd he rayse hym vp agayne by his moost puissaunt power from death for our iustificacioÌ„ He is oure peace howe than can we be sadde heuy He is our Sauiour howe theÌ„ can we despayre He is oure waye howe than can we erre He is oure trueth howe than can we be deceyued He is our lyfe howe thaÌ„ can we dye He is oure Resurreccion howe thaÌ„ can we slepe in synne He is our Phisicion how thaÌ„ caÌ„ we be sycke diseased He is our lyght howe than caÌ„ we walke in darkenes He is our bread howe thaÌ„ can we be hungrye He is oure defender howe than can we be afearde He is oure wisdome howe than can we be ignorante He is our righteousnes howe than can we be vnrighteous He is our sanctificacion howe than can we be prophane vnholy He is our redeÌ„cion howe than can we be damned He is our rytches howe than can we be pore He is oure beautye howe than can we be deformed yll fauoured He is our mediatour and aduocate howe than can oure matters be vnhearde He is oure head howe than can we his members perysh He is our Bysshop Curate of our soules howe than can we wante spirituall doctryne He is our dore how than can we but enter into the kyngdom of heauen To conclude he is altogither oures all that euer he hathe how than can we but sayle in a safe quiette hauen Howe than can we but haue all thynges prosperous fortunate Thus se we what an hye treasure Christ is to vs. Yf any maÌ„ desyreth to knowe more of Christ what benefites we haue receiued by let hym read my worke of y e Newes out of heaueÌ„ where he shall se Christ truly lyuyshly paynted as alone perfecte redemer a plenteous and an omnisufficient sauiour for al theÌ„ that faythfullye repente and lede a newe lyfe Would not all these so great commodities large benefytes whiche we receyue of God y t father thorowe Iesus Christ moue ony christeÌ„ hert in the worlde to be thankful and to syng perpetuall prayses vnto God For we haue lerned here that al our saluacion coÌ„meth only from God y e father thorow Iesus Christ that he saued vs mercifully wheÌ„ we were loste miserablye But let vs beholde more of Goddes kyndnesse that we maye learne that thankes ought to be gyuen vnto hym seriously ¶ The. xliiii Chapter ALthough by Christ we be sette agayne at lybertye receyue our manumissioÌ„ fredome froÌ„ that captiuitie wherunto we were made honde by the synne of Adam so sone as we are regenerate borne a new by y e honorable Sacrament of Bapâ—tisme and the holy Ghost yet in as much as afterward thorow our fragilite weakenes we fall agayne in to synne deserue therby also to beâ— cast from the fauour of God to be dampned perpetuallye yf God dyd not also healpe vs in this behalfe Oâ— LORDE God in how miserable a casâ— are we What should it profytte vs by Christ to be delyuered from that wretchednes into the whiche Adam dyd caste vs yf there were not also a remedy to expulse that daunger into the which we cast our selues thorowe synne after Baptisme Therfore here also dothe the goodnesse of God appere very large bountious toward vs. For though we synne after baptisms neuer so greuously yeâ— doth not he streyght wayes take
ony thiÌ„g eyther in thought word or dede thaÌ„ let vs not fayle to confesse our synne streyghtway to God w t a contryte sorowfull herte desyryng him moost huÌ„bly for his great mercyes sake to forgyue vs that our iniquite not to be angry with vs but so assyst vs with the influence of his moost holy Spirite that we may in no poynte traÌ„sgresse his moost diuine wyl but worke all thynges that maye be pleasaunt vnto hym Yf we shal at that tyme perceyue that we are at debate with ony maÌ„ let vs noÌ„t go to bed before we be reconciled one to another if it be possible accordynge to the precepte of y e Apostle let not the Sonne faull downe vpoÌ„ your anger If that may not coÌ„uenieÌ„tly be done y t nighte let vs not fayle the nexte mornynge betymes or so sone as we may to go vnto theÌ„ that are offended w t vs or we w e theÌ„ neuer cease tyll we haue made an agremeÌ„t betwene vs beyng perfectly perswaded that we can by no menes please God so long as we be not in loue and charite For as S. IohnÌ„ sayth he that loueth not his brother abideth in death Euery one that hatethe his brother is a manslear ye knowe that euery maÌ„slear hath not euerlastynge lyfe abydynge in hym ☞ Loke what we haue offended god that daye let vs so bewayle our syn take suche thought for y e coÌ„mission of it y t we maye haue no more pleasure to do that offeÌ„ce agayne but rather be made the more circumspecte â— beware afterward y e we be no more oppressed with the subtyle assaultes of SataÌ„ Let vs euery daye dye vnto synne Let vs continually mortyfye the affectes of the olde AdaÌ„ The lenger we lyue the lesser let synne remayne in this oure mortall bodye Let all our meditacioÌ„ study endeuour be nothynge els than a perpetuall care to leade a pure and innocent lyfe ¶ The. xli Chapter BUt yf it so chaunse that whan we haue coÌ„sydered the spending of the daye we perceyue no notable cryme heynous faulte commytted neyther agaynst God nor our neighbour than let vs reioyse gyue God thankes desyre hym so coÌ„tinually to ayde vs withe his diuine helpe y e we maye not onlye continue in that purite of lyfe but also go forth from sayth to sayth from vertue to vertue tyll we waxe auncient in christ become perfette meÌ„ iÌ„ our professioâ— Theise thynges once done let vs than faull to prayer desyrynge God for his great mercies sake thorow Iesus Christe to gyue vs a prosperous quiet nyght that neyther Satâ— nor none of his Aungels do trouble vs but that thoughe the bodye take rest slepe yet the mynde the herte the inwarde man may alway watch to him delight in hi perpetually After oure prayers let vs coÌ„myt oure selues to the tuicion of God so swetely gyue our selues to reste And let this be our dayely exercyse D LORDE God yf we would do this with a serueÌ„t herte burnyng loue towarde God it can not be expressed that greate singulare coÌ„modities would ensewe To do thus is y e dutye of vs all but whyther we haue done it or not let euery man search his owne conscience and amende Thus haue I declared what tymes I thyncke moost coÌ„uenient for prayer how we should behaue ourselues in y e tyme of pray eng I haue not done this to bynde snarlethe conscience of ony christeÌ„ man which oughte to be free to serue God at all houres but to helpe the infyrme and weake Christians that they fyrst vsynge these tymes certayne introduccions maye afterward come vnto the perfeccion of worshyppynge God at all tymes For a christen maÌ„â—hall haue abundant occasions at all houres to call on y e name of y e LORD for helpe Notwithstandynge yf ony man shall loke vpon these thynges y e I haue here wrytten with a syngle eye he shall not fynde theÌ„ altogyther superuncaneous vayne God giue vs all grace to so followe theÌ„ or better yf we maye ¶ Of thankes gyuynge ¶ The. xlii Chapter NOwe begynne the oure worke to draw vnto an ende I haue declared sufficiently heretofore as I trust all thynges that moost principally pertayne vnto prayer that is to say vnto asking ony thynge of God It remaynethe nowe therfore that I intreate somewhat of thanckes gyuynge to God For it is conuenient y e we also gyue thanckes vnto God for the gyftes benefytes that we receyue of hym or els we maye iustely seme to be vnworthy ony parte of Gods kyndnes For what haue we y e we haue not receyued The wyfe maÌ„ oughte not to â—â—oyse in his wisdome nor the stroÌ„g 〈◊〉 his strength nor yet y e rytch 〈…〉 spiches but only in our LORDE God from whom euery good perfecte gyfte descendeth and commeth downe What haste thou that y u haste not receyued sayeth Paule If thou haste receyued it wherfore doste thou reioyse as though y u haddest not receyued it Let not y e wyse man sayth God by his Prophet reioyse in his wisdome nor let not the strong man reioyse in his strength nor let not the rytch man reioyse in his rytches But let him that reioyceth reioyse in this yf he vnderstoÌ„d knowe me For I am the LORDE which doth mercye iudgement and righteousnes in y e earth these are those thynges that I desyre saythe the LORDE Seynge than y u all our glory and reioycyng ought to be in our LORDE God alone as S. Paule sayeth reioyse in the LORDE al way agayne I saye reioyse feynge also y e what so euer goodnes is in vs 〈◊〉 ly of him â—eâ—ely me ougâ—â— at all houres to reioyse in hym as the 〈◊〉 blessed virgin Marye dyd sayengeâ— my soule magnifyethe the LORDE my spiryte hath reioysed in God my sauiour to gyue to him thankes to synge to his name so long as our lyfe lasteth perpetuall encomies laudes coÌ„mendacion and prayses If we wyll be moued to gyue god thanckes at any tyme as we ought to do alwaye it shall be fyrste conuenient to perpende weye consyder his manifolde goodnes towarde vs. Fyrste howe at the begynnynge he made vs not lyke vnto brute bestes but lyke vnto his owne symilytude Image And he made vs not to be fyre brondes of hel but inheritours of euerlastyng glory For he gaue vs a body muche more beautyfull and pleasauÌ„t in aspecte than any other lynynge creature hath He gaue vs a mynd â—â—â—rendued with wytte reason discreâ—â—â— wisdom vertu knowledge cunnynge immortalite godlines c He set vs in Paradyse and gaue vs rule power dominioÌ„ ouerall the fysshes of the see the byrdes of the ayre ouer all lyuynge creatures that moue vpon the earth Agayne whan we in our pareÌ„tes had traÌ„sgressed his moost godly precepte therby
To the ryght honorable and vertuous Lady Anne Grey Theodore Basille wissheth longe â—yfe contynual helth and prosperous â—eâ— licitie ✚ IT is not without an vrgent and moost necessarye cause that we are so ofte commauÌ„ded in the moost sacred holy Bible to match praye For yf we that professe our selues to be souldiours of Christes armâ— do seriously w tout saynynge ponder weye consyther our state maner of lyuyng in this world we shall shortly be occasioneâ— to confesse and graunte with the holy pacient man Iob that the lyfe of man is nothynge els than a very knyghthode or warrefare vpon the erth full of misery trouble replete with lytle ioâ—e plesure To whom is it vnknowen what a great multitude of mortall ennemies euery one hath â— this world that doth professe Christ aright Among al other haue we not thre capital chefe aduersaries the dyuell the world the flesh whiche cease not dayly to assayle vs after the moost crafty subtyle maner Howe doth Satan spreade his nettes in euery Forreste Parke y â— no dere maye escape his deuouryng teth rauenyng pawes Howe many wayes seketh he to destroye kyll and sâ—ay the innoceÌ„t shepe of Christ Euen froÌ„ the beginnyng of y â— world hath he exercised his tyrannicall fury furious tyranye agaynst manâ—â—d Who hath at any tyme ben free were he neuer so good perfecte froÌ„ his subtile to much craftye assaultes He is so beÌ„t ferueÌ„tly addict to the destruccion of man that so sone as we are regenerate borne anew â—n Christ by the holy Ghost y â— most blessed honorable Sacramente of Baptisme he streyght falleth in haÌ„d with vs labouryng by one meanes or other vtterly to allure entise vs from our profession as we may se in our sauyour LORDE Iesus Christ whome after his Baptisme Satan dyd not feare to assayle and to teÌ„pte vnto muche absurditie and wickednes â—f the sonne of God were not free from his crafte subtilite gyle howe shall we than miserable creatures eschewe his tyranny whiche are redy to faull at euery houre excepte we watche and praye Our stryfe is not sayth S. Paule agaynst bloud flesshe but agaynst rulers against the powers agaynste the Lordes of the world I mene the gouernours of y e darkenes of this world agaynst spirituall subtilities in heaueÌ„ly thiges Therfore sayeth S. Peter Be ye sober and watche for your aduersary the dyuel goeth about lyke a roryng Lyon sekynge whome he maye deuoure Moreouer what an extreme enemy is the worlde to so many as professe Christe Howe many occasions haue we thorowe the entysementes and vayne pleasures therof to faull from the true godlynes Howe doth it allure vs to the loue of transitory thynges Howe doth it delyghte vs with the beholdyng of the vayne spectacles therof Howe doth it drawe vs to the loue of mundane thynges to the vtter contempt of thynges celestiall and heauenly â—ea how almoost doth it wynne vs altogyther on her syde WhaÌ„ the scripture not withstandyng sayeth Loue not the world nor those thynges that are in the worlde If ony man louethe the worlde the loue of the father is not in hym For all that is in the world as the concupiscence of the flesshe the lust of the eies the pryde of the lyfe is not of the father but it is of the world And the world passeth awaye y e lustes therof But he that dothe the wyll of God abyde the for euermore S. Iames also sayeth O ye adulterers and alulteresses do ye not knowe that the frendeshyp of y e world is emnite with God Who soeuer therfore wyll be the freende of the world he is become an enemy of Gods Furthermore what a cruell aduersary is the flesshe vnto a christen man Howe doth it at all tymes lust contrary to the spirite Howe doth it continually fyght with the heaueÌ„ly mocions of the holy Ghost Howe dothe it moue vs to the loue of oure selues to pryde vncleannesse glotony couetousnesse wantonnesse of lyuynge vnmercifulnesse crudelite al that euer nought is And this enemy do we norysshe in oure owne brestes He is a domesticall aduersarye one of houshold as they vse to say He is euer at hande to do vs displeasures He is neuer froÌ„ home but alwayes within the dores so that we are in daunger of destruccion at euery hour excepte we deligeÌ„tly watch and take hede Whyther so euer we turne vs our enemies mete with vs so cruelly assayle vs that excepte the grace of God assyst vs valeauntlye we are at euerye moment of an houre redy to be caste into hell fyre O the vnspekable misery of man in this moost miserable worlde Where are they nowe y â— so lyue in all worldely ioye pleasure that they take no thoughte for the cruell assaultes of theyr enemies â–ª Where are these wicked â—dolaters supersticious Hypocrites abhominable blasphemers of Gods moost blessed name brekers of y â— Sabboth day which settynge asyde al loue and feare of God throw theÌ„ selues headlong into al kynde of vngodlynes Where are these dishonorers of our moost excelieÌ„t moost redoubted kynge of the other publigue magistrates sente by hym for the punisshement of euell doers but for the prayse of them that do well Where are the disobediente to theyr parentes Where are these mansâ—ayers which daily thyrst inoceÌ„t bloud no lesse then the thyrstye herte pantynge for hette desyreth the lyuysh springes of waters Wher are these abhominable adulterers vncleane fornicatours and stynckyng whoremongers which conteÌ„nyng y e bonde of honorable wedlocke the lawe of y e vndefyled bed the chast lyuyng w e theyr owne wyues do dayely hunte after whores defile virgins pollute maried women corrupte wydowes as I maye passe ouer much other detestable vncleannes whiche it shameth not theÌ„ to perpetrate and do yea that so boldely that this synne of fornicacioÌ„ is among many at this present recouÌ„ted no synne but a naturall inclinacion a token of loue a puttyng awaye of emnite discord I thynke yf it be not redressed shortly it wyl growe vp into such freedoÌ„e libertie that it shalbe counted no synne at all but rather a vertue or at the leest a spurre prouocacioÌ„ to vertue O the abhominacion of the worlde O intollerable wickednes O vncleannes more detestable then it maye any lenger be suffered The great displeasure the fearce wrath the extreme vengeaunce the fearce and cruell plages of God hang ouer our heades yf this to much detestable vyce be not shortely remoued froÌ„ the bouÌ„des of Christianite Agayne where are theise malicious Theues which despisyng laboure lyue of the sweate of other mennes faces of y e labour of other mennes handes after an vniust and wronge maner Wher are these false wytnesses