locutus sum And that whych I do beleue I can by no meanes hyde but haue and wyll boldlye speake Mathw x. For I knowe that who so dothe confesse the before men hym wylte thou confesse before thy father which is in heaueÌ„ Faith causeth me to loue the for thyne owne sake aboue al creatures Loue causeth me to confesse the before al the world and for thy sake to worke towarde my neighbour as thou hast commaunded me trustyng for my so workyng to haue the reward which thou frely hast promised annexed to my worke But as the vtteryng of veritie coÌ„monly bredeth enuy so dothe enuye brede muche trouble Ego autem humiliatus sum nimis To the true confession of thy godly word is annexed persecution trouble vexation with out which fewe good men haue escaped sence the beginnyng of the world Act. xiiii The faythful must entre heaueÌ„ by many tribulatioÌ„s Paule suffred much trouble as an euyll doar ii Timoth. ii and was in bondes for the Gospels sake But the worde of God was not bounde It is a true saiyng sayeth thyne Apostle Paule that if we dye with Christ we shall lyue with him If we suffre patientlye aduersities for hym we shall also reigne with hym Aduersitie is the right way to the kingdome of Christ Who so take not theyr crosse on theyr backes and folow hym Lu. xiiii cannot bee hys dysciples Persecution and trouble bringe the feare of God the knowledge of maÌ„s owne infirmitie and lede him as it were a maÌ„ rapt in a traunce Ego dixi in excessu meo to the only conteÌ„plation of heauenly thinges wherby he shall know boldly confesse that all hys power and sufficiencie commeth of God All vyce naughtinesse cometh of his owne corrupte nature God only Rom. iii. Omnis homo meÌ„daâ— Math. xxvi of him selfe is good and true but al men are liars the childreÌ„ of sinne damnation Peter presumed of him self to staÌ„d fast by his master Christ but sone after he denied him was fouÌ„d a liar It is thi grace that maketh maÌ„ to be true and to be good Sapen xvi Thy grace is the nurce of al good thinges It ledeth maÌ„ froÌ„ one vertue to another It kepeth vs from falling helpeth vs vp again when we are falne Thi louing kindnes hath bene froÌ„ euerlasting endureth for euer Quid reddam domino pro omnibus que reâ—erbuit mihi What shal I therfor geue again vnto the Lord for the manifold benifites that thou hast done vnto me when I remembre thi tendre loue shewed to maÌ„ in his noble creation next in power wisdom knoledge vnderstanding to the nature of angelles made also touchyng the soule like to thine owne image whoÌ„ thou diddest plaÌ„t in that most pleasauÌ„t garden of Eden a place of pleasure wher he might haue liued euer if he woulde haue kept thi coÌ„maundement Genes ii I cannot but stil lameÌ„t his frailte in that he so shortly did breke it for which he deserued death euerlasting yet of thy mercy gentlenes thou diddest not straight execute thy sore sentence vpon him throwyng hym doune to hel as thou didest the angels for their offence But thou didest suffre him to dwel in this world to lament his fall to abide the tyme by thy maiestie apointed for his reconcilatioÌ„ Thou didest geÌ„tly coÌ„sidre his fraile nature substaunce wherfore thou dydest more pitie him theÌ„ thou didest angel whose nature was made pure and excellent and therfore of presuÌ„ption minded to be equal with the Then Lorde at length thou sendest thyne owne onely sonne to become man and wylledest him to suffre death for mannes redemption What more loue myght be shewed to him then thou hast shewed What more could be done to thy vineyarde then thou hast done Thi charitie was feruent to vs when we were all synnes Esaie v Fewe men woulde nowe gladlye die for their ryghteous frende Rom v but thou sendest thy sonne to suffre deathe for thyne enemyes that were synners Yea when we dayly nowe do fall styl from the by commyttyng al kindes of vices yet doest thou mercifully suffre vs gently receiue vs so oft as we do returne agayne to the by penaunce We forgeue our neighbours scarsely one or two displeasures that thei do to vs But thou Lorde forgeuest vs not .vii. tymes onely but seuentie times seuen tymes that is so ofteÌ„ as we fal and eueÌ„ so willest thou vs to forgeue one another Mathw xviii Wherfore to the intent I would not be found vnthankful nor vnkynd I do search busely to fynd some meane to recompence part of thy louyng gentlenes oft shewed to me the more I search the more I fynde my selfe vnable I fynde in me nothing that is good I am enuironed with mysery vanitie and sinne hauing no good thing but that I haue receiued of the. So that if I yeld to the any goodnes i. Corhin iiii it is a rendryng of that thou gauest me before The moost pleasaunt thynges that I may do to thy maiestie is fyrst to receiue the cup of saluatioÌ„ Colicem salutaris accipiam that is to geue the hertie thaÌ„kes for thy great benefites and to be inwardlye sorye that euer I dyd any thyng whych shoulde offend the Ephes iiii Rom. xiii then to mortifie the concupiscences of the fleshe to put of the olde Adam and putte on Christ to leaue to be carnal become spiritual Yea I wyl not loue the frayl fleshe so much but that as thou hast caused thy sonne Chryst to dye for me so wyl I not let takyng example of hym to suffre al kyndes of paines and persecutioÌ„s yea death if nede require for thyne honoures sake But I knowe ryght wel that I am much vnable this to do and suffre of myne owne selfe Et nomen domini inuocabo Wherefore I wyl cal on thy name for thi grace for thine ayde and assistence to helpe me and to strengthe me in thys my good purpose Psal l. not doubtyng but thou wilte graciously here me in the daye of my trouble and deliuer me my herte and all my hole bodye I offre willyngly to thy seruyce whiche al though it be of smale valure in dede yet I do not mystrust but that it shal be as acceptable in thy syght as was the offryng of two minutes which the poore woman threw into the treasury at Hierusalem Which smale some of her pouertie Mar. xii thou diddest more esteme and prayse then thou dydest al the great gyftes of the ryche men Besechyng thy highnes to accept this gyft of my poore soule and body not for that thou shalt anye thynge be auaunced therby But for the declaration of my louyng mynde toward the Vota mea domino reddam that thou mayst vouch safe so to worke in theym by thy grace that they may wil and worke that may be acceptable in
is within me prayse his holye name Enforce the with al thi strength to deuyse and to set furth hys noble praises Thou hast within the many goodly gyftes of nature and of grace which geue the occasion neuer to cease from geuyng thankes and speakyng of prayses Benedic anima mea dominum et noli oblinisci omnes retributiones eius Forget not these benificial gyftes which he hath geuē the. For of forgetfulnes commeth vntankfulnes whyche vnkyndnes maketh the not worthy to enioye that is frely geuen the. Consider my soule first the bare and miserable estate wherein thou wast broughte by synne Thou wast the enemy of God Qui propiciatur omnibus iniquitatibus tui◠the bondseruaunt of the deuyl and subiect to death euerlastyng From these hath thy mercifull brother Iesus Chryst beyng both God and man deliuered the satisfiyng for thy synne through his vile death and paynfull passion What more loue coulde he shew to the then to dye for the wherby he driueth away thyne offences as the wynde doth the cloudes and thy synnes as the mystes Esaye xliiii If thou set before thyne eyes the multitude and abhomination of thine owne sinnes then shalt thou also behold the benefites and the goodnes of thy redemer Euery synne hath death annexed as stipend Rmans vt wherfore so oft as thou offēdest remembre no lesse but that so oft he geueth the a newe life vpō thine hūble and hertie penaunce Gyue hym therefore the sacrifice of praises and glorifye him for therin he deliteth not for his profyte but for thyne not for that he is anye thynge thereby auaunced But that doing thi dutie by faith thou mayst be made partaker of ioye euerlastyng with hym Agayne after that he hath forgeuen the thy synnes yet remayne there in thy weke fleshe many perturbations manye redye inclinations to synne and no powre to do good Many perilles through violēt temptations and pleasaunt suggestions yea and many concupiscences which drawe toward eternal death But al these sores and infirmities the good Samaritane Christ expelleth through the preparaciō of his grace and geueth health by the vertue of his passion with the medicine of Baptisme and penaunce Et sanar omnes infirmitates tuas No soore is vncurable but when thou refusest to shewe thy gryfe and to receiue his salue Sometyme thy festred olde sore requireth sharpe incision or a bytyng corsyfe that is thyne accustomed synne wyl not be refrayned onles he violentlye scourge the wyth syckenesses losse of goodes losse of wyfe chyldren faythful seruauntes or by many other tribulations and persecutiōs Yet I say refuse not hys hand though it seme heauye to the at the fyrst for all is for thy health and welth Thynk that if he loued not the he would not chasten the but leaue the to syncke in thyne owne synne to thyne vtter losse both of bodye and soule But he hath saued thy lyfe from euerlasting destructiō Hui redimit de interitu vitam tuam Roman .iiii. He hath redemed the with his precious bloude He dyed for thy synnes and rose agayn for thy iustification Loue hym therefore my soule and magnifie him all the dayes of thy lyfe Put thyne hole affiance in him and feare no violence of enemies For although thei assault the yet can they not vanquyshe the. For he that throughe his greate mercy and louyng kyndnes hath geuen the powre by hym to vanquish thine enemyes Qui coronat te in misericordia et miserationibus wyl not fayle after thy fyght and victory to rewarde the with a crowne of ioye and immortalitie i Corhin xv When death thy last and fierse enemy shal be ouercome then shalte thou as a ruler or prince receiue thy sayde croune or garlande Thē shal al thy desires be satisfied with good thynges thou shalt be admitted to the ioyfull company of saintes in the heauenli Hierusalem Qui replet in bonis de sidetium tuum there to haue more ioye and comforte then thy herte can wishe When the glory of the Lorde shall appeare then shalt thou be fully satisfied to thyne assured contentation His countenaunce shall replenysh the with all ioye Wherfore my soule Psal xvii Psalm .xvi. while thou art in this present lyfe ioyned with the frayle and heuy carkas geue thankes louinglye to thy gentle redemer for his vnspeakable kyndnes His grace is redy at hande at thy call Fyght therfore mightely agaynst al synful concupiscences and vices Put of the olde man and leaue all the workes of darkenes Rom. xiii Ephesians .iiii. Put on the a newe man and arme the with the armour of light begin a new life Learne of the Eagle whose propertie is to restore hymself to youth and strength agayn after he hath liued a great age Renouabitur vt aquile iuuentus tua The meane of his recouerye is thys His ouer beeke through age is growne so longe that it letteth his fedyng So that what for age and for lacke of foode he is become leane and feble and almost vnable to flye Then of nature beyng also driuen thereto by necessitie he flyeth to the rocke of stone and theron knocketh his sayd long beke and wheteth it styll tyl it be broken made handsome to fede wyth Then falleth he earnestly to feding Wherbi in short space he recouereth hys strēgth hath poure to flye as high sa euer he did waxeth lusty and in apperaūce semeth yonge againe So thou my soule that art olde and withered in synne flye vp to Christ the strong and sure rocke Leaue al worldly pleasures and vanities yea leaue the trust of thyne owne selfe and thy powre cal for hys grace And therby on him stryke of thyne olde beke thyne owne cancred liuyng not doubtyng but he wyl make the able to lyue a newe spiritual lyfe renuynge thy mouthe whych was stopped for age i. Corhi iiii He wyl open it again making the able to eate the liuely food of Goddes worde yea through fayth thou shalte eate hym who sayde Iohn vi I am the liuely breade that discended from heauen Who shal so comfort the that thou shall not onelye in lyfe be endued with the grace of the holy gost to thy strength and comfort and power to resyst all thyne enemyes but also when thou shalt put from the the burthen of this miserable body which before was heauy and oppressed the thou shalte flye to that sure rocke Chryst by whose resurrection thou shalt obteine immortalitie bothe of soule and bodye in heauen euerlastyngly Sapien. ix Beholdyng continuallye the pleasaunte face of God to the fulnes of all thy ioye and contentacion of all thy desyres and to the intente thou shouldest stande fast in hope of that I haue sayde and not mystrust the mercyes of God that are ineffable call to thy remembraunce the auncient goodnes of the father of heauen Faciens misericordias donimus Whych is all one with the mercye of his sonne and
but the eatynge of the onely tree of knowledge of good and badde Genes ii further for his helpe comforte and companie of a rybe of his side thou madest for him a womaÌ„ and gauest her to him to be his wyfe There had they instructions gyuen them and the lawe of lyfe for an heritage Before them were layd both lyfe and death â—cclesiast xv good and euyl with a free wyl geuen them to take whether so euer liked them But their frailtie was suche that they throughe a small intisement chose the euyl and least the good they leaft lyfe and chose death Thus Lorde through synne and breakyng thy commaundement man lost the free wyll that was gyuen hym in hys creation and purchassed death to all hys posteritie In the way as he went from Hierusalem to Hiericho he fell in the handes of theues â—ic 1 who hurtynge and woundyng hym sore departed leauyng him halfe deade there could he of none haue helpe but onely of the good Samaritane who passed by the same way He poured wyne oyle into his wound and toke the cure of him This Samaritane was thy mooste louyng sonne Christ which toke vpon hym all the iniquities of mankynde and layed them on his backe â—say iâ—â— by hys deathe purgynge and cleansynge hym not onelye from the synne originall of oure forfather Adam but also from al our actuall synnes by vs committed from tyme to tyme by the vertue of his passion and the Sacrament of Baptisme and penaunce For as by one Roma â— that is oure fyrste Adam was death sent in to all mankynde so by one other oure seconde Adam Christe was mankynde restored to lyfe For the whiche great and hygh benifite of thy sonnes blessed passion for oure redemption we thy poore creatures mooste humbly prayse and thanke the and acknowledge hys inestimable loue towarde vs. In that he vouchsaffed to dye for vs beynge then synners and in that we were synners we were both thyne and hys mortall enemyes Neuerthelesse mooste mercyfull father the sparcles of the fyre kyndeled in vs by oure olde father Adam and the dregges or remnauÌ„tes of his synne remayne in vs that we are become so frayle and weake that we can do no good of oure selues no not once thynke a good thoughte And in case we by thyne assistence wyll do anye good acte Roma vii yet are we not able of oure selues to perfourme it But the wyll and the pefourmynge of the same Phillip ii doth wholye depende vpon the and the helpe of thy mooste kynde sonne oure louynge brother it lyeth not in vs nowe to chose and take what waye shall be beste but all our steppes and procedynges towarde goodnes muste be directed by the. We wander here miserably in the valeis and lowe partes our streÌ„gth wil not serue vs to clyme to the heyghte of the hylles where thou dwellest Lorde in the mounte of Syon a place prepared for thyne electe a chosen enherytaunce of thy faythfull seruaunt Abraham and his sede wherfore sence we beyng burthened wyth the affectes of worldely pleasures and also wyth other cares and troubles caÌ„ by no meanes ascend to the that arte on the toppe of so highe a mountayne accompanyed wyth so manye legions of angelles that styl attende vpoÌ„ the we haue no remedy but wyth thy prophet Dauid now to lyst vp the eyes of our hertes myndes towarde the â—enaui oculus meos â—u montes and to crye for helpe to come downe from the to vs thy poore and wretched seruauntes we wander here alowe as lost shepe hauynge no shepeherde We are assayled on euery syde wyth manifolde enemyes â— Petri. v. The deuyll rauenynge and hungry seketh whom he maye deuoure The worlde blandishynge and alluryng vs to her disceytful vanities The fleshe also whyche we cary about wyth vs beynge a domestical enemie readye and prone to drawe vs to all vices and pleasures from these can we by no meane be defended but by the Lorde Sende vs therfore thy helpe from the high hylles Vnde veniet autilium 〈◊〉 Sende vs thy holy angelles to assist and strengthen vs by whose helpe we maye by steppes of vertues clime vp to the to enhabite amonge these noble hylles the countrey of all fertilitie and aboundaunce To these hylles after longe labour thou broughtest the Israelites amoÌ„ge these hylles thou causedest thy chosen Citie of Ierusalem to be builte to be throughe them the stronger and more sure agaynste al assaultes of enemyes From these hylles discended the swete sprynges and fountaynes of water to ouerflowe the lowe valyes and make them both pleasaunt and profitable Thus of the mooste mercyful father Auâ—â—â—m meum a domino qui fecit eclum et terram floweth all bountie and goodnes Thou madest heaueÌ„ and earth for thine owne honoure and mannes coÌ„moditie Establish therfore good lorde the choseÌ„ worke of thyne haÌ„de wyth thy eternall helpe from heauen sende vs downe the well sprynge of thy grace Sende thy stronge angelles to ayde vs by whose helpe no assaulte of our spiritual enemies Non dei in commotinem pedem tuum maye preuayle agaynste vs. No not once be able to remoue oure feete or thoughtes froÌ„ the obseruyng of thy godly wyll and pleasure The bryghte angelles stode not fast but through pryde slypped and susteyned a great fal Our father Adam also brake thy precepte and his fote slypped He fel from paradyse of pleasure into thys worlde a place of trauayle He fell from immortalitie to mortalitie Take awaye therfore from vs Lorde that proude slyppy fete so that no temptation of synne remoue vs causing vs to fal froÌ„ the. Make vs to be trew Israelites Roma ix that is seares of God Make vs the trewe sede of Abraham by fayth and of Isaac by promission So that by the helpe of angelles we maye dwell here in the Citie of IerusaleÌ„ that is in thy trewe churche here militant continewinge in thy trew fayth wythout swarueuynge abydynge in hope of thy promyse made to al thy faythful and workyng by ardent charitie Math. v. as thou hast commaunded vs to the good example of other and to the glorifiynge of thyne excellent maiestie And then neade we not to be afrayed of any power of enemies Thou beinge our keper and our watchmaÌ„ we are sure froÌ„ al sodeyne inuasions Thyne eyes are and euer wyl be open vpon vs Neque dormitet qui custodit te Ecce non dormitabit neque dormiet qui custodit Israel thou neuer slepest nor none of thy holy angelles but intentiffely do attende to the saffekepynge of thyne electe and choseÌ„ people that are the lyuely stones of thy churche or congregation Al men be they neuer so holy do sleape and slumbre but Christe sleapeth not he sleapt once arose agayne froÌ„ his sleape so that he wil neuer more sleape but preserue the true Israelites i. Corhinth xiii i. Io. iii froÌ„ al perils
in dominum Psalm .xxii. Rom. viii euen froÌ„ the breastes of my mother and by the same hope I trust fyrmely to be saued The good husband maÌ„ ploweth his ground soweth it reapith and thresheth his corne and al vpon hoope of the profyte i. Corhint ix whyche thereon ariseth Euen so Lorde wyl I abide in hope and trust of thi glory that is to come and that not onely in youth A custodia matutina vsque ad noctem or one tyme onely of my lyfe but continually froÌ„ the mornyng watch vnto the nyght from the tyme of youth in which thou gauest me fyrst my descretion vnto the laste ende of my lyfe For whosoeuer casteth away hys hope before the night of death come loseth al that he watched for before Genes xii The wife of Loth kept wel her way of a great whyle styll lokyng on forward but at the last she coulde not forbeare but loked backe vpon her couÌ„try wherin she before had plesure and was turned into a saltston It was not without a great misterye that the Leuites were commaunded to offre vnto thee Lorde Leuit. i bothe the head and the tayle of the beast offred for sacrifice Wherby is meÌ„t that thou dost not alowe a good beginnyng vnles there folowe also a good ende For he that continueth to the ende shal be saued This hope in thi promise hath my poresoule firmly reposed in her bosome or brest Mathew .xxiiii. and this hope it is mete that al Israel Speret Israel in dominum that is all chrysten menne which by faith se God should haue For blessed is the man which trusteth in the merciful God and curssed are they that put theyr trust in man Of thi grace and mercy only cometh al our goodnes Thy mercy forgeueth dayly our sinne Quia apud dominum misericordia the painful death of thi sonne Christ deliuered vs from al the paynes dewe for our offeÌ„ces Et copiosa apud eum redemptio Thou boughtest vs not with golde and siluer or any such vile price nether yet with the bloud of a goate or any other beast 1. Peter .i. But with the precious bloud of that lambe without spot thy blessed sonne Whose death had bene sufficient for a hundreth thousand such worldes The greatnes of thy loue caused the plentiful payment of the price of our redemption Ecclesi xxxix Thi blissing did flow vpon vs as a mightie flodde whose greate inundations do moysten all the grounde The charite of thi sonne hath brente vp and consumed by his death al our iniquities Wherfore the faithful beyng thus deliuered from all daungers by thyne onelye goodnes maye nowe geue praises and thanckes vnto thy myghtie maiestie restyng in hope to haue after this lyfe the thyng for whiche thei so long haue hoped which is ioye euerlastiÌ„g through the perfect visioÌ„ of thi blissed deitie euen as it is Which who so seeth enioyeth all thinges that his hert can desire The C.xxxviii Psal ¶ The faythfull man gyueth prayse to God wyth thaÌ„kes for his mercie shewed to him and exhorteth all other to do the same THe myghtie power of thi deuine maiestie O Lord of Lordes and God of al Gods with the plentifull aboundauÌ„ce of thi goodnes dayly declared to al mankynd Deute â— enforceth me to consider myne owne weakenes and insufficiencie in yeldyng to the any recompence Thou Lord arte omnipotent and madest all thynges of naughte I am thy symple creature made wyth thy hande and withoute thy helpe iiii Reg. v. I am able to do no good thynge Thou art the God eternall besyde whom there is no God I am a worme of the vyle earth not worthy to beare the name of a chrystian man for that through myne owne act of synne I haue defaced the beaultie of the principall part of man which is my soule made to thy godly image Neuertheles synce thou art the refourmer of mens hertes and the inspiratour of all grace and goodnes I mooste humblye beseche the to correcte by thy power that whyche throughe my frayltie is a mysse Redres by thy pitie that whiche I haue marred through my follye make me able to yelde vnto the that whiche thou requirest of me that is to acknowledge myne owne insufficiencie CoÌ„fitâ—bor tibi domine and to rendre vnto the noble prayses and louyng thankes for thy manifolde gyftes of grace wherwith thou hast of thi mere leberalitie endued both my soule and my body Make me worthy to laude the which by no meanes maye be but by wyping away al myne iniquities Ecclesi xv In toto corde meo For thy prayses be not semely in the mouthe of a synner Yea Lorde I pray the enflame my hert with the loue of the. So that from the botome therof I maye speake them and thine honour to extol not myne nor to loue any thyng in this worlde but the and for the. Thou art the true God and sauiour and there is none els but thou Esaye .xlv. Out of thy mouth cometh the worde of ryghteousnes whiche no man may turne Wherfore al other Gods set a syde to the onelye wyll I synge prayses and confesse the onely to be the liuyng God and that wyl I knoledge before the hole congregation of the faythful ii Corin. vi Adorabo conuersus ad templum sanctum tuum Thou knowest the inwardes of the hert of man and in the hertes of the faythful is thy seat or resting place The soules of the iust are the temples wherin thou dost inhabit To this temple wyl I turne my selfe by consideryng the estate of myne owne soule which wheÌ„ by thy grace I make clene of vices then am I mete to receiue the to honour the to geue praises to thy high maiestie Actes .xvii. Since that thou beyng Lorde of heauen and earth and of al that therin is coÌ„tayned delitest not to dwel in temples made with maÌ„s handes Dauid wold haue made the a temple and was forbidden by the Prophet Nathan to whoÌ„ thou saydest thou wast not vsed to dwel in any house ii Regum .vii. iii. Regum .v. And although thou diddest afterwarde cause Salomon his sonne to buylde the a material house for the congregatioÌ„ to assemble in and therin to honour the yet chifely Lord the hert or soule of man is thy pleasaunt habitation Wherfore Christ thy sonne sayde to the woman of Samarie Iohn .iiii. that nether on that mouÌ„tayn nor yet in Hierusalem should men worshyp the but that the true worshippers shold worship the in spirit and in truth The true worshippers must leaue earthly affections and inwardlye beholde the spiritual heauenly ioyes desiryng to be the pertakers of them with the aungels So shal they beyng thy holy temple here on earth behold thy noble spiritual temple in heauen Et confitebor nominâ— tuo super misericordia tua et veritate tua Thus shal we worthely praise thy
ioyes and the fulfyllynge of all desires whiche passeth farre the capacitie of man to expresse Neuertheles yet art not thou noble Syon the churche of Christe here militant voyed of many godly gyftes which should sterre the also to synge prayses vnto God i. Corthin vi We I say moste merciful father of heauen that are of thy faythful congregation as membres of the bodye wherof Christe is the heade althoughe we do not perfectly feale the ioyes of thy heauenly Hierusalem for that we be ioyned here in the mortal bodye whose grossenes is suche that it letteth the speculatiffe syghte of the soule Sap. ix yea it is heauy to the soule for the earthly mansion keepeth downe the vnderstandyng Yet do we abyde for the dissolution of that whiche is corruptible remaynynge in hope afterwarde to enioye those ioyes whiche are perdurable and for an earneste therof Qui emittit verbum suum terre thou haste sent vs thy blessed sonne Iesus into thys worlde beynge thy very worde wherby thou madest al thynges to be a meane of our introduction into those eternall beatitudes Act. ii Thou dyddeste also sende thy holye spirite visibly in the lykenes of fyry tonges amonge thine apostles after the ascentioÌ„ of Christ as a further earneste or rather as a confirmation of thy promyse before made to thyne electe Veioelier curtii sermo cuis who as speedy messengers conueyed thy holy worde and doctrine swiftly in to al the partes of the worlde hauynge power to confirme the same by straung signes or miracles Where vpon it ensewed that the snowe whiche before was congeled in the region of the ayre aboue vs Qui bat niuem sicut tanam Esay .i. is fallen downe vpon the earth and is be come as wolle that is a greate numbre whiche were harde herted synners before the manifestation of the gospel are nowe not onely from theyr foule colour of wickednes become whyte as wolle and beautiful in syght but also they haue receyued the good propertie of wolle to make of them a goodly and a warme garment of Christe wyth out spot or wryncle to the ornameÌ„t of his churche here militant and to make warme suche predestinate persons as before were cold in sinne for lacke therof So that through that garment they shal shyne in brightnes as dyd the garmeÌ„tes of Christ at the tyme of his transfiguration before his apostles Math. vii Peter Iames and Ihon on the mountaine Thou scatterest also the hore froste which is somwhat harder then snowe vpoÌ„ the earth lyke ashes that is to the synner whiche is frosen and wanteth the heat of charitie Pruinem â—icut tinerâ—m dispergit thou of thy grace by the hearyng of thy worde gyuest repentaunce which in olde tyme was shewed outwardly in wearing of her cloth and sittyng downe in ashes castynge them vpon theyr heades by which thy grace Luce .x. they leauyng theyr olde vitious lyuing are made new men and folowers of the doctrine whiche they haue learned Ione iii. as of the kynge of Niniuie and his people is manifest and of many other But for a further declaration of thy mercifull goodnes shewed to Syon thy welbeloued churche Mittit ChrystalluÌ„ suuÌ„ sicut buccellas thou also sendest forth as it were morselles of harde I se the hayle fallyng vpon the grounde wherby is ment the indurate and obstinate synners who longe haue remayned in theyr acustomed sinne and yet Lorde of thy goodnes euen vnto many of them thou gyuest suche grace and callest them by suche violence that of cruel persecutours they become meke folowers bolde setters forth of thy worde and commaundementes as of Paule and other hath ben playnely shewed Sap. xvi It is thy grace Lorde that is the nourse of all good thynges It is thy worde whiche preserueth theÌ„ that put theyr trust in the. Thys thy grace and thys thy holy worde beinge taken awaye from vs wherby we shoulde be made hote in fayth and rytche in al good workes Ante faciem frigoris eius quis sustinebit what creature is able to abyde the coldenes of the sayed froste If thou wylt suffre the synner to remayne in hym selfe and not cal him to the he can be none otherwyse but accursed and abiecte as was Cain Bene. iiii Exod. xiiii Nume xvi Iudic. ii v. indurate as was Pharao rebellious as were Corah Dathan and Abiram Idolaters as were the chyldreÌ„ of Israel diuers times after the death and chaunge of theyr Iudges and kynges â— Regum .xiii. disobedient as was Saule whiche folowed his owne imaginations leauyng thy preceptes and commaundementes ii Regum .xi. he shall fall into auoutrie murder as dyd kynge Dauid through the loue that he had to Bethsabe into pryde and crueltie as dyd Aman to his owne destruction Hester .v. To vntrueth treason as did Iason to his frendes and countrey ii Machab. v. To couetousnes as dyd Symon Magus Act. viii Laste of al into desperation as dyd Iudas as one of the twelue apostles of thy sonne Iesus Act. i. and consequently into al kyndes of vices Neades muste he be frosen to eternall death that hath no heate of thy gracious goodnes Neades muste the grounde be barreyne of good workes where the coÌ„fortable bryghte and warme beames of thy grace shewe not theyr heate So sone as thy pleasure is to cal the hardest frosen synner anone he aryseth wyth Leuy the customer and foloweth the. Luce .v. Emitter verbum suuÌ„ et liqui saciet ea Sende out therfore mooste myghtie God thy holy worde to melt the sayed snowe and harde congeled I se poure forth vpon vs miserable wretches the abundauÌ„ce of thy noble grace wherby the stony hertes are made softe and fleshy Cal vs secretly vnto the through thy heauenly inspiration speakyng to vs inwarde in our hertes or outwardlye by the manifeste declaration of thy worde Hierem. xxiii whiche is a consumyng fyre dryinge vp in vs all colde humours the breders of many diseases in oure soules It is also a great hammer that breaketh to pieces the harde frostie I se of our hertes reducing vs wholy to repentaunce amendemeÌ„t of lyfe Spirabit spiritus eiê° et fluent aquae Blow also Lorde and breath vpon vs thy holy spirite proceadynge frome the and thy sonne Christe to be oure comforte and staye after oure sayd amendement that we maye growe and encrease dayly in vertue by meane of his spiritual gyftes sent into oure soules Io. vii wherby the harde I se maye be tourned to floudes of water whiche maye flowe out of oure bealies beinge faythfull as ryuers of water of lyfe Cause the warme sotherne wynde to melte al the hardenes of our iniquities so that the moystnes whiche before was frosen in vs being resolued through the breath of the warme wynd of thy grace Psalm Cxxvi. may arise to great imindations wherof oure drye soules as a barreyne grounde maye receyue comfortable moysture Qui annunciat verbi suum Iacob This grace Lorde thou gauedste pleÌ„tefully to Abraham Isaac and then to Iacob whoÌ„ thou madest stronge to wrastle wyth thine angell and calledst hym Israell that is one that had sene god face to face Gene. xxxii With hym dyddyst thou make a couenauÌ„t touching his sede in fayth whiche sede now we are merciful God of thy faithful church creapte through thy grace in the place of the Iewes into the possibilitie of thy noble promes WheÌ„ they refused the thou dyddest sende into the high wayes to call vs to thy feast Iusticias et iudicia 〈◊〉 a Israel we gladly came vnto the. To vs therfore thy faythful hast thou giuen thy lawes and coÌ„maundementes prescribing vnto vs rules whiche we muste obserue if we wil auoyed the terriblenes of thy iudgement and thy sonne when he shall come to rewarde all reasonable creatures accordynge to theyr desertes Roma ii Thou haste made vs priuy of thy wyll and haste gyuen vs thy lawes wyth a promyse of eternall lyfe in thy kyngdome of heauen if we order our life therafter Non fecit taliter omâ—i nationi et iudicia â—ua non manifestauit â—s whiche lawes Lorde the heathen nations knowe not wherefore they remayne in infidelitie and can not atteyne to saluation For as at the rysynge of the waters of the generall floude Gene. vii no man nor beast was saued but onely such as were wythin the shyppe of Noe no more is any saluation promised by thy worde but onely to the membres of Christe thy sonnes churche Prayse therfore be to thy highe maiestie Lorde of all Lordes who haste of thy mercy sent vs thy holy wyll and worde as a rule and a directoure of oure lyues which excellent token of thy loue towarde vs byndeth vs to magnifie thy mightie and incomprehensible deitie â—po i. beynge three persons in one essence to whome be honoure glorie and dominion for euermore So be it
labour for goodes for honour and dignitie for landes to leaue to theyr successioÌ„ to endure for euer and for prayse of the world But when al is done it is but a spiders webbe gotten with labour and kept to smale effect for or it be long al is taken awaye other by some vnhappy chaunce or elles by death Whych infallibly approcheth and vnmercifully striketh Dies annoram nostro um in ipsis spetuagin 〈◊〉 annis Si autem multum ocâ—oginta anni et ê™ amâ—lius labor est et dolor â—uoniam transiuimus ito et auolauimus fewe men there are in thys our tyme which liue to se .lxx. yeares But if thorough the strength of theyr nature they attayne to ixxx yeres which is a very rare thyng sene Yet lyue thei then all in payne and sorow and tary but a short space after For as the bird clippeth her wynges and flieth away when she espyeth an hauke commyng a farre of so doth the aged at the appearing of death These punishmentes by short lyfe in these latter dayes of our tyme whych lyue far vnder the age of men that liued in the begynnyng of the worlde also of our myseries during the sayde shorte lyfe and last of all of death of thy wrath and of paynes eternal are for that our sinnes he more greuous then were the sinnes of men in the old time Mathew .xxiiii. Charite is more colde iniquitie is more aboundaunce Quis nouit fortitis nem ire suer whych causeth thy wrathfull indignatioÌ„ to be more fierse in punishmeÌ„t Thou hast strycken vs to cause vs to knowe oure selues but we haue not repented for in stead thereof we haue murmured and bene impatient Hebreos .v. Thou hast beaten vs and we haue refused to receiue disciplin We haue nothyng done our dutie vnto thy maiestie as we ought to haue done Et secundum timore tuum indignationeÌ„â—am Whereby we haue stirred vp thi mightie displesure against vs which we can by no meanes asswage but by submyttyng of our selfes wholy vnto thi great mercy and goodnes For who is able to stand with the in iudgemeÌ„t Or can for feare Hiere ii numbre or expresse the execution of thy displeasure agaynst synne Lyke as no eye hath sene no eare hath hard nor hert can imagine the ioyes prepared for thyne elect no more can any tong expresse or mynde thynke the number of the greuous turmentes whyche are ordayned for the wycked synners after this lyfe Iob .xxxi. The wrath of God is to be feared as are the swellyng and raging waues of the sea whyche cannot be noumbred Psalm .cxxx. The weightie burden which he maye lay vpon vs if he wyl charge vs accordyng to our actes Vt numereÌ„tur dies nâ—stri sic ostende et venâ—emus corde sapienti no man can sustayne Wherefore teach vs mercifull Chryst to noumber our daies that we may apply our hertes vnto wisedome Geue vs grace to haue in remembraunce the short dayes of our lyfe wyth the dauÌ„gerous passage of our time in this world So that hauynge no trust or affiaunce in the vncerteintie thereof we may wholy apply our selues to the conteÌ„plation of heauenly wysedome i. Cori. i. that we may coÌ„sidre ernestly thy goodnes shewed vnto vs who art the powre and the wysedome of God thy father and as by thy punishynge of vs for oure synnes â—nuertere domine vs quo et dâ—precabilis eâ— super seruos tuos it semed thou didest turne thy face from vs. So beholdyng our hertie repentaunce for our offences we besech the to turne the mercifully and louyngly vnto vs be gratious to vs that are thy seruauntes For although we fall oftymes from the through the frailtie of our nature yet we forsake not the vtterlye but returne to the as the wastful sonne returned to his father after long absence â—uke .xv. and was receiued and much made of at his returne We are thy seruauntes redy by thy grace to serue the. â—hreno iii. Here therfore our humble prayer and as thou wilt not here the prayers of synners that continue in synne and prouoke the to anger so to vs who are returned to the by penitence shew thy mercy and thy grace let thyne anger asswage Exod. xxxii Imple nos matutina â—isericordia tua Oh satisfie vs wyth thy mercy that early in the mornyng that is righte sone and shortly In the nyght of the olde law the wrath of thy father reigned vpon men by reason of hys sentence geuen vpon mankynde for his inobedience ii Peter i But when thou Lord diddest arise after thy passion then arose also mercy and grace Then the day appered and Lucifer that bright morning sterre began to shyne in the hertes of men With this mornynges mercy satisfie my soule gratious Lord. ii Corhin v. For which all thy faythful sore hungre and thryst so long as they abyde in thys lyfe But thei shal be perfectly and fully satisfied when thy glory shal be manyfested vnto them in thy heauenly habitation Psalmo .lxvi. Laudabimus et letabimur cuntis diabus nostris Then shall we reioyce and be glad all the dayes of our lyfe The daies of this worlde passe away lyke a shadow But all our dayes in that glorious life are but one day of eternitie In those daies the suÌ„ne neuer setteth night neuer approcheth but al is bright day wtout end With that ioyful day coÌ„fort vs again good lord Letifica nos pro dieâ— quibus affliristi nos pro annis in quibus dimus mala in recoÌ„peÌ„ce of the yeres wherin we haue suffred much auersitie endured the manifold plages which thou hast seÌ„t vs. As after many dangrous passages great aduersitie thou broughtest at the last thy people Israell into the pleasaunt land of Chanaan let thy noble worke of our redeÌ„ption appeare to vs and take effect in vs thy faythful seruauntes Appereat seruis tu opus tuuÌ„ et gloria ti super filios eorum and suffre not the benifit of our reconsiliation to be hid from our chyldreÌ„ and our posteritie but that they may know it and enioy it to the obteining of thyne euerlasting glory Cause the bryght maiestie of the Lorde God Et sit splendor domi dei nostri super nos to be vpon vs that is let thy grace shyne vpon vs let it be euer assistent vnto vs most merciful Iesu which art the bright light of God thy father Et opus manuum iâ— stratum dirige super nos et opus manuu nostrarum confirâ—â— TheÌ„ shall we be sure that what worke soeuer we take in hande it shal surely prosper Our intentes shal be so directed that nothyng shal be done for vain glori nor for any temporal reward but al for the loue of the principally then to the profit of our neighbour for thy sake lord to whoÌ„ be honoure glorye with the father
the holy gost world without ende ¶ The prophet Dauid beholdynge the fall of Adam beynge for synne caste oute of Paradise The Cii Psalme and his sorowfull penaunce made after to God therfore set forth this psalme of penaunce in the person of AdaÌ„ mete to be sayd by all his posteritie that are penitent inwardly for theyr offences to his hyghnes coÌ„mitted and desyre to be restored to the fauoure of God whych through synne they haue lost O moste blessed father of heauen the fouÌ„tayne of al grace and goodnes Ephes ii â—mans .x. that art rych in mercie and plentifull in geueyng the same to al that faythfully cal vpon thy name lorde that haueuyng a sonne no lesse rich in powre wisdome knoledge and mercy theÌ„ thou art thy selfe didest not spare to seÌ„d hym from thy heaueÌ„ly palaice downe to the earth eueÌ„ into the wombe of a virgin for the saluacion of mankynd to declare thyne abouÌ„dauÌ„t loue towardes vs thou didest make him pore whiche before was riche Corin. viii to the intent that we whyche before were very poore should by hys pouertie be made ryche that he who before was all one wyth the in thi diuine substaÌ„ce might now be made one with vs that are membres of the body wherof he is the head Domine exaudi oratiâ—nem meam et clamor deus ad te ueniat HarkeÌ„ good lord geue eare vnto my praier Let my cry and hertie peticion ascende vp before the sight of thy maiestie The comyng of thy mercifull soÌ„ne did make me veri rich But the vilenes of myne owne actes hath cast me downe and made me veri pore and miserable The greatnes of mine offences hathe caused the to tourne awaie thi face from me withdrawing thi grace whiche was the cause of al my good wyl good workes Thou caÌ„st fynde no good thing in me worthy of thy fauour Wherfore Lorde beholde the face of Christe thy dearly beloued sonne my brother my mediatour For his sake geue me that which of my selfe I am much vnworthi to obteine of the. Ne abscondas faciem tuam a me In die tribulationis mee inclina ad me aurè â—uam Shewe thy delectable couÌ„tenaunce vnto me Loke on me with thy pitiful eie And in the time of my trouble encline thyne eare to me I am neuer withoute trouble Myne olde enimies daylye assaulte and ver me Wherefore I wyll not cease daylye to call vppon the. But specially at the hour of my death Lord heare me and defend me at whych tyme my sayd enimies wyll most busilye inuade me Roman ii Indignacion wrath tribulacion and anguishe shall then come vpon the soule of euery man that doth euyl Before that troublous tyme lord heare me But wyth which of thine eares With the eare of thy iustice No I besech the. For that eare must hear myne accusers to my condemnation My prayer must be hard by thyne ear of mercy from whense coÌ„meth forgeuenes to those that are gilty so that penitence folowe the iniquitie Wyth this eare Inquacumque die innocauero te uelociter exaudi me Isaye heare me when I call vnto the and that with spede So that accordynge to the greatnes and multitude of my tribulations maye be the spedye receiuing of my peticion Which shal not be to craue of the aboundauÌ„ce of earthlye goodes aboue that honest necessitie dooth require But the abundaunce of thy grace in this lyfe and for thy glorye euerlastinge in another life This hast thou of thy mere liberalitie promised to graunt to all that in stedfast fayth call vppon the. Iaco. i This hastie callyng vpon the doste thou delite in Esaye .lviii. and as thy prophet Esay sayth thou art as redye to answere me as I am redy to cal vnto the. Wherfore make spede in hearynge as I am dryuen by necessitye to be hastye in callynge considering the short tyme of myne abidyng in thys worlde Thou diddest indue man in his creation with immortalitie but synne brought in death to al that bere lyfe Consumpti sunt sicut fuinâ—dies mei so that my dayes are consumed awaye lyke smoke Age ouertaketh youth before I am aware of him youth stealeth from me preuely as the smoke doth vanysh away after it is once out of the chymney Yea many tymes before age coÌ„meth death priuely woundeth keaping none order in his arresting but al according to the time onely to the before knowne Iob .ix. Thus my time passeth away more swyftly then a runner or then a ship that is good vnder sayle and as an Egle that hasteth to get his pray For this cause I haue more neade of thy spedi helpe Also my bones are brent vp as it were a fyre brand Ossa mea quasi frira contabuerunt or as meat ouer dried that sticketh to the friyng panne As my bones do sustayne or vpholde the flesh of my body so do the powres of the soule susteine the soule Which beyng moysted and mayntained by the fat moysture of thy grace are liuelye and quicke able to work acceptably But thy grace being once with drawne all remayneth drye burned to the panne Thei haue no powre of them selues to worke any good worke or to thynke any good thought And if that whiche is of most force in me be of so small force efficasie Alas in what case then is the corrupt flesh bred naturally in concupisceÌ„ce What goodnes caÌ„ we loke to fynd therin of it selfe more then we would loke for a throne to brynge furthe pleasaunt apples Percussus sum quasi tenum et arefactum est cor meum Ful well may mankynd be like ned to grasse For so loÌ„g as he through thy grace worketh the workes of iustice so long is he grene florishing and liuely But so sone as sinne which is the sythe or sickle of our enemy the deuyl doth cut of the grasse by the roote causyng man to fall from the obedience dewe vnto thy maiestie and from thy lawes he theÌ„ waxeth dry withered and with euery temptation falleth from vice to vice and becommeth very barreÌ„ of good workes The cause is for that wheÌ„ maÌ„ leauith the fouÌ„datioÌ„ which should be his norishyng his strength and his life he must nedes consume wast and dry Quia oblitus sum coÌ„medere panem meum I haue left thy holy word and commaundemeÌ„tes which are as bread to the soule geuing nutriture and moysture by fayth and charite and haue eaten of the fruit of the tree which thou forbadest me I haue with our father Adam folowed the illusion of the serpent and tasted of sinne Wherfore my leaues wyther my fruyt is destroied Ecclesi vi and I am left as a dry and a barreÌ„ tre without any goodnes Wherfore I left the liuely food of thi holy word that semed bitter at the first tast and in steade therof receiued swete poysen that is death of both bodye and soule throughe the desolation of