and frendely one to an nother and to prepare for the nedefull sustentation of the poore membres of Iesus Christe who miserablye perisheth for wante of succor that the blessyng of God the father in his sonne our Lorde and sauior may plentifully descende down amongest vs and vpon vs al The mercy of god tovvards the Quene to the preseruation chieflye of the Quenes most royal maiestie whom god hath hitherto nourisshed blessed and mightily preserued thorowe hys mercye and according to the lyuelye faithe and hope of innumerable her true frendes and obedieÌ„t subiectes and contrarye to the expectation of manye thousandes her maliciouse most cruell enemyes our Lorde for the greatnes of hys mercyes sake wourks in them Repentaunce to the tournyng of their heartes and prepare them to be now appliable and obedient subiectes that we may altogether in vnitie wyth faythfull and true Englishe heartes be thankefull vnto God for her grace to leane to her and with a louelye feare to obeye her to honour her to healpe her and reioyce in her our chief souerayne and onelye high maiestrate nexte vnder god whome he with hys stretched oute arme and almyghtie power and without the effusion of anye christen bloud or occasion minystred to the same hath quietly stablished her and brought her to her imperial throne so greately hath he vanquished the harts of her enemies signifienge thereby vnto vs all her true englishe The pourpose of god tovvardes the Quene and christen subiectes that she is of purpose elected raised vp and preserued by god to this imperial dignity as the appointed seruaunie or high mynyster of God for the supportacion of peace and to take the swourd of auctoritie in her owne hande to the erecting or reedifying agayne of hys glorye in peace and righteousnesse takynge hys wourde of trueth to be her assured good guide aide and strength by the vertu and Inuincible power thereof to supplante and treade vnder foote The verâ—â—e of goddes vvorde all vaine deuised fantasies crastye collusions proude vsurpacions to the reioyeing of Christies faithfull seruauntes his true frendes and ministers and to the reformation or amendement of all other his disobedient and blynde ignorant ennemies if the spirite of grace wyl so work in them for their happy conuersion as the newe borne children of god and by her to be supported preserued and safelye defended by the auctoritie aforesayde grounded vpon god and her gracious mooste godlye lawes Withoute whiche holye conuersion and humble submission leauynge all wycked affectes apertlye or secreatlye repugnynge murmurynge conspiringe subtle dyssemblynge or wyckedlye rebellynge againste god and hys true procedynges reueled and sette soorthe from tyme to tyme by hys appointed and chosen mynisters for hys owne gloryes sake in righteousnesse In vvhat vvise god hath raised vppe the Queene not raysed vp wyth cruell rage by vs mooste maliciouse and wretched creatures wyth speare and shseide or wyth spre and swourde but peaceablye preserueâ— and therein supported by the only vertue of goddes diuine power who wil stire vp whom he suâ—ceth and wil haue his truth to raign and flouryshe maugre our heades that hath had or haue cursed beate hartes to the contrary that are so wifully blindly addicted to our fathers old fossty customes crepte in amongeste vs by the diuelles deuyse and receyued or stablished by menne wyth their consent coÌ„men couÌ„sails and agrement wythout true triall auctoritie by the wourd of god or prefermeÌ„t by the spirite of truth althoughe we call theym suche holye fathers and so many in number gathered togyther at certayn tymes and places who sought to vpholde the swetenesse of their terrestriall kingdome through couetousnes and theyr fayre coloured wourdes and goodly painted shewes makyng marchaÌ„dise of vs whose iudgemente is not farre of and their iuste dampnacion sleepeth not for the breath of God I say wyll confound such doinges and oure stubbourne disobedience shal be visited with the sword I shal not here neede by expresse wordes to make mention of the greeuous and moste terrible destruction speciallye of gods peculiar people the Iewes amonge other nations for their greate dysobedience wilfulnes pryde and vnthankefulnes Consider also that god hath now of late begonne agayne with his owne church sharpelye to visite them and diuersely for their greate vnthankfulnes VVilful and christinate rebellions shal be 〈…〉 1. The vvrath of god tovvardes his people in the dayes of hys grace and dydde therfore styrre vp his ministers of vnrighteousnes diuerslye most cruelly and impituouselye to vexe them to tormente them and moste shamefully to destroye them as shepe appointed to the slaughter and in suche wyse their mercyles crueltye did abounde that the fauourers of their religion a great numbre of them in the daies of kynge Edwarde fledde frome them they vtterly forsoke theÌ„ for their hartes dyd abhorre them in their doynges OccasioÌ„ of the peoples conuersion and were thorowly perswaded in their consciences that yf they or their religion had ben of god thei wold haue been muche more pitifull and not with such tyranny destroy the professours of Christ so great was the wrathe of god ouer his people and flock for thabusing of his grace and not wel ordryng them selues in suche holy profession Frome whome he hath now ones more withdrawen his wrathe God hatiâ—â— retourned his mercy thorowe his greate mercy in Iesus Christ and at the humble intercession in hym of his moste greuous afflicted saintes to the cleare shynyng ones agayne of his glorye in truthe amongest them for their further instruction and more reuerente obedience to his lawes If God so bytterlye vexed them whoms he so dearely loued the louers of his gospell for their disobedience sake aad dissimulation or doublenes how much more shall the fire of hys merciles wrath be kindled agaynst vs that haue ben before obstinate The vvrath of God agaynste his obstinate and vvilful enemies wilfull and olde repugners of ryghtuousnes hynderers blasphemers consentours to bloud shedde and moste cruell persecutours to the deathe of his true ministers faithefull prophetes preachers and dearely beloued membres although we spightfully reuiled them mocked them and called them seismatikes and a thousande heretikes with rathe iugement to damnation for euer not takyng heauen nor purgatory charitably in our waie and that notwithstandyng suche thynges are nowe called agayne in peace and wyl yet perseuer in suche wickednesse and wilfully kicke against the pricke Truely truly we are well warned by the significations of god VVhat the mercyes of God 〈…〉 vs doâ— signifie according to his mercy to be better scooled learned and practised in the doctrine and rules of Christe and to feare the swourde of goddes vengeance that hangeth by a feble threde redy to fal vpon vs. God is the god of saluation to all them that wil harken and tourne vnto him to leane vnto his examples of mercy to flie from tyranny or consent to bloudshed with such like accordynge
in his doctrine and to make vs againste oure aduersaries wyse politike and puissant And therfore with al our possible strength and endeuour to apply our good myndes to folowe the same that althoughe our flesshe seeketh her owne and couereth with the deuil and the worlde to take parte against god to the destructioÌ„ of our soules yet will he assist vs streÌ„gthen vs with the armour of grace that his holye and diuine wil here in earth may be done by vs and amongst vs Math. â— Luc. 11. as in the presence of his glorious maiestie amonge the angels and saintes in heauen leste we be founde to the contrary very rebels in the latter daie and wilfull disobedient children vainely kickyng against the pricke whiche can neuer be aptely atteyned vnto onles the said corruption and blyndnes bee first taken from vs Ephe. â— Iohn â— Iohn 8. and our soules clean purged of the vnfruitefull workes of darknes wherwith we shuld haue no felowship that we may be light in the Lorde walke as the children of lyght by thexample of Iesus Christe the trewe lyghte of the worlde whome if we folowe we shall not walke in darkenes but shall haue the light of life wherby we may the better the more clerely discern in our profession thynges that are euyll to be refused frome thynges that are good to be accepted so to eschew the stuÌ„bling or the doubtful adueÌ„ture at the electioÌ„ of such thyngs as appertaineth in dede to the very profession tru religion of christen men we shall then fynde thereby to the confirmation of oure promise howe verye needefulle it shall be Mat. 13.16 Marc. 9. Luc. 8. Iohn 2. 1. Ioan. 5. Faithe is a liuely and quicke feling knovvlege of the mercye of our heuenly father agreed made at one and moste graciousely reconciled vnto vs by the bloude of our lord Iesus Act. 5. to haue in our hartes an assured and lyuely faithe in god our creatour and heauenly father as his chyldreÌ„ regenerate and new borne to rule vs to dwel and abide in vs And whollye to dedicate oure selues vnto hym both harte and soule our mynde and wytte and that all is within vs as vnto a god of loue mercy and righteousnes whome we euer fynde to bee oure readye helper in all necessities by whose dyuyne power also we lyue we haue oure beeinge and are moued Of whose greate mercye and goodnes towards vs the prophet wrighteth that he lyke a diligente watcheman attendeth euer more vppon his people whether they wake or sleepe and is these strength and mightye defence not onlye against Sathan that olde and maliciouse enemye of mankinde but also againste all other oure aduersaries so that thorow his great mercy and godlye power we be harmeles preserued and are deliuered frome the power of darknes hath translated vs into the kingedome of his deare sonne whose eyes contynuallye respecteth theym that loue hym for their loue agayne is largely required he is their myghty protection and stronge grounde a defence for the heate and a refuge for the hot noone day a succour for stumvlyng Eccle. 34. and an healpe for fallynge He lyfteth vp the soule he lyghteneth the eies he geueth lyfe health strengthe and blessyng And the cause also why the said prophete who alwaies beholdeth the mercies of God in Christe brefely declareth vnto vs that is for our faithfulnes mekenesse and humblenes of spirite for our hartes contrition Psal 1 9.15.25.33.34 37.40.41.84.91.101.103.107.112.116.119 128.145.147 for our constancy in loue and obedience to his commandementes And sainct Paule also saieth That he hath blessed vs with all maner of spirituall blessynges in heauenlye thynges by Christ accordyng as he had chosen vs in hym before the foundations of the worlde were layde that we should be holy and blamelesse before hym thorowe loue Wherby also he hath ordeined vs to be heires vnto hymselfe accordynge to the good pleasure of his will and to thexaltation of his glorye for his grace wherwith thorowe oure Lord Christ he hath made vs accepted c. For these his abundant mercies innumerable benefites and blessyngs poured vpoÌ„ vs most wretched sinners we owe duely vnto hym by the direction of sound clere consciences euen froÌ„ the very depth of our harts soules Deute 10. Eccle. 2.14 Iohn 14. Roma 8. 1. Iohn 4. Iohn 3 Roma 2. 2. Cor. 5. Collos 1. all thankes geuyng praise and glory and with no lesse efficacie force and vertue to loue hym again in wourd deede to loue him feruently aboue all thynges and to keepe his commandementes Whose greate loue apered vnto vs first in that he sent his only begotteÌ„ sonne into the world that we the children of death might haue life and liue thorowe hym Herein appeared the great loue of god to vs ward not that wee loued hym but bycause he loued vs and gaue his onely sonne to make agrement for our sinnes God is loue and he that dwelleth in loue dwelleth in god and God in hym And hereby knowe we that we divelle in hym and he in vs because he hathe geuen vs of his spirite And we knowe and beleue the loue that God hathe to vs. If god so loued vs thenne oughte we also to loue one an other If we loue one an nother God dwellethe in vs and his loue is perfecte in vs. And the perfecte loue of God seekethe not it selfe but frankelye appeareth for all others necessitye It is alwayes charitable and frendelye paciente 1. Cor. 8. and longe sufferynge If a mannne saye I loue God and yet hate hys brother he is a lyar Leuit. 19. Iohn 13. For howe camme he that loueth not his brother whome he hath sâ—ene loue God whome he hathe not seene And this commandement haue we of hom that he which loueth god shoulde loue hys neighbour also Wherby saieth Christe all men shall knowe that ye are my disciples yf ye loue one an other If my wourdes abyde in you then are ye my right disciples and ye shall knowe the truthe and the truth shall make you free and delyuer you You shal be cleane rydde from all bondage of vnrightuousnes ye shall bee possessed with the good spirite of GOD Iohn â— and where the spirite of God is there is freedome And therefore abyde you in Loue Obeye my preceptes and commandementes And this coÌ„mandement geue I vnto you Iohn 15. that ye loue togyther as I haue loued you As ye haue found me to be vnto you a God of mercy and louyng kyndnes and haue alwaies trained ye vp by example and doctrine to thexcercise of godly coÌ„passion and charitie so I requite you and geue coÌ„maundemente vnto you that ye obedientely walke in my waus inseparably to knitte your hartes in vnitie and â—â—saynedly to loue one an other And howe to continue in loue Christe in fewe wordes signifieth vnto vs that is 〈…〉 the preceptes of god 1. Cor. 14. by
Fearest thou not in thy selfe that huge heapes of sinne that wil accuse thee or make the more careful and lowely Neither thy barthen of thy conscience that so fore oppresseth thee and wherby the iustice of god hangeth ouer thee Either wyâ—â—e thou shew thine hart to be hardened against him O fadyng floure erthly creature what meanese thou vnreuarently to forget god thy creator or not to fear hym Thinkest thou that the coÌ„tinuaÌ„ce of thy wil to do wickedly shal euer endure Or why art thou so presumptuous ageinst him Art thou able thou wretched and feeble wourmâ—â— to resiste hys omnipotence or almyghtye power Art thou not in hys hande as a piece of clay in the hand of the potter Esaie 49. Iere 18.19 Rom. 9. Or whyche of all the stought or puyssaunte prynces of the earthe shall not stoupe at hym and obeye hym He trulye is almyghtye and terryble yea the earth trembleth and quaketh for feare of hys greate indignacion and wrath and the people shal not he able to abide hys threatnynge The whole power and strength of all the earth ioyned to Iâ—ther is not able to abyde one blaste of the breathe of goddes mouthe And darest thou thou dustye stubble persist or stand at any time in the state of wickednes before the face of so great and terrible a god Consider therfore thy wilfull malice and folishnes and thy carelesse slippyng from god that is so iust and terrible Examin thy self reuerentlye in the feare of god trye well the state of thy coÌ„science whether thou mayest iustlye saye before heauen and earth O lord thou omnipoteÌ„t terrible god Hiere 17. whose throne is most glorious excelleÌ„t and of most antiquitie which dwellest in the heuens euen in the place of mans holy rest of whoÌ„ thou arte of all goddes moste highely to he feared for thou art a rightous and a iuste god in pouryng thy wrath vpon thyne enmies The repentant sinner yea I must also say that thou art a mercyfull and a louyng god the only comforter and refuge of man his immouable pillour and staye of assurance and the lyuely hope of his helth ioy strength and saluation Therfore O Lorde in acknowledgynge thyne omnipotency and great mercy whervnto I appeale I humbly fly vnto thy mercy seate for succour for myne iniquitie O god is manyfest vnto thee which I confesse before thy diuine maiestie I haue O lord offended against thee I haue forsaken thy lawe and coÌ„mitted iniquitie I haue fledde from thy loue I haue falne from thy word I haue broken my fidelite I haue ben rebellious against thee For myn hart hath wickedly possessed pride and maliciousnes wherby I haue greuousely offended and hurte my neyghbour O Lorde greate therfore is myne iniquitie in thy sight Psal 119. My conscience iustly accuseth me my fleshe treÌ„bleth for feare beefore thee my spirites are troubled within me And the remembraunce of thy Iudgement is terrible vnto me O Lorde myne eies therefore gushe oute with water my sight falleth me I am greuouslye vexed myne harte panteth within me my strength is gone from me my knees are weake my flesshe is dryed vp my beautie is consumed I am weary of my gronynge Alas my griefe alas my fal Alas my great wo and myserye for thys my stroke and wofull plage that thy grace O God should thus be taken frome me wherby I most wretched sinner am forget full of my truthe and obedience of my faythe and promises of thyne infinyte loue and goodnesse towardes me and of thy greate indignation and Iustice for my synne iniquitie Ah who shall geue me water to my head and a fountain of teares to mine eies that I may washe my bedde with teares of sorow and bewayle my sinnes both nighte day wherby thy grace O swete god may yet be returned vnto me and thy iustice agaist me be shortlye preueÌ„ted I make myn huÌ„ble peticion in thy presence with my whole hart the thou wile be merciful vnto me accordyng to the truthe in thy wourde O heauenly father A Prayer lette thy greate mercy in Iesus Christe lyghten vppon me that thy wrathfull indignation preuaile not against me I humbly with repentaÌ„ce acknowledge myne iniquite I coÌ„tesse my sicknes frailtie appeale to thy mercye promysed vnto me in Iesus Christ And if thou O Lorde for his sake wilt assist me Psal 119. order my steppes according to thy wourd my fete shall kepe thy pathes no wickednes shall henseforth haue dominion ouer me O refourme therfore with mercy that is amisse Psal 3â— for thy mercy recheth vnto the heauens and thy faithfulnes vnto the cloudes With the is coÌ„fort the light of life in thy light shal I se light and the workes of darknes shall flie farre from me O turne thee then vnto me Ierem. 1â— so shall I be tourned heale thou me and I shall bee made whole saue thou me and I shall be saued O be not terrible vnto me after thy rightuous iudgemente Psal 143. Enter not into iudgement with thy seruaunt for then shall I not be iustified in thy syghte Yea if thou O lorde shouldest extremely marke what is doone amysse who could then abyde it But thou arte also a God of mercy yea thou delightest in mercy and with thee is plentuous redemption My soule therfore flieth only vnto thee Psal 130. it wayteth humbly for thee trusteth assuredly in thee Out of the depe doo I call vnto thee O Lorde O here myne humble voyce and lette thyne eares consyder welle the voyce of my complaynte Benignely beholde me with thyne eye of mercy that I I say thyne vnwourthy seruaunt maye bee ioyfull of thy couÌ„tenance O let thine holy spirite possesse my harte to create in me a cleane harte to â—enue within my bowelles a ryghte spiryte that I wretched synner may be quiet in thee maye growe in the true knowledge of thee that I may feruentlye desyre thy kyngedome and that I maye knowe thy wyll and reuerently wourke there after For thorow thyne onelye grace O Lorde and by the vehement impulsion of thyne holye spirite shall myne heart and soule be cleane pourged quiesed quickened strengthned sanctified It is thy spirite O GOD that shal conuerte my soule and guyde me forth in the pleasaunte and playn path waye of rightuousnesse Yea Lorde I wyll therfore be bolde and saye Come thou good spirite of god comme I beseche thee and assiste me with the present healthe of thy grace I haue affiaunce in thee O instruete thou me and strengthen mee refresshe comforte and quiete me replenysshe my soule with ioye and gladdenesse and kendle in me the fyre of thy loue Th n O holy spirit whether in body I wake or sleape my soule shall continuallye watche vnto thee thynke of thee delight in thee depende onely vpon thee yea it shal be fully satisfied in thee and euermore reioyce loue please thee euen
it repeÌ„t you and be conuerted sayeth Christ that your sinne and iniquities may be done avvay Math. 4. Act. 3. tourned oure faces and fledde backe from the voice of our most holy and rightuouse God in the lare dayes specially of hys mercyfull visitation yet lette vs repentauntely tourne in tyme and embrace hym moste louely with our readye spreadde armes of faith charitie and constancye And as we haue ouer longe wyth corrupted and vaine hartes bene vaynely addicted to vaine thynges and our wylles greatly dissenting from the wil of god so let vs now make haste that wyth all puritie and cleannes of harte suche fondnesse and impuritie may be refected and goddes most diuine wyll obediently retayned Yea and though God in deede by his iustice hathe some thing of late dayes and preseÌ„tly also touched vs Gods heauye and bitter vvrathe vpon Englande and hath seemed to laye vpon vs cruell strokes and rough chastisementes whether by our late kynges death that most godly and christeÌ„ prince either by the breach of vertuous and good lawes by the alteration of Chrystes holy religion by takinge awaye the lyght of the gospel by cruell persecution and destruction of the pastoures and flocke of Christe And in stead of mercy and pitie bitter tyrannye and most shamefull effusion of innocente and christen bloude by bournynge famishinge in prysons buryenge in dungehylles rackynge headinge drawynge hangynge and quartering as in the dayes of goddes slaughter by his greate and most heauie indignacion besides strange diseases sodein deathes dishonorable warres greuouse exactions meynteinyng of straungers vniuersal famyne losse of goods losse of frends or otherwise yet for the auoidynge of further daungers that by the bytternes of his wrath maye yet fall vpon our fleshe and specially escapynge the second death secludinge wilfull ignoraunce obstinatie Good couÌ„sayle and stiffeneckednes let vs humbly geue thankes vnto gods diuine maiestie for all thinges and namely for the present shewe and ioiefull lyght of his countynaunce now shynynge agayne vpon vs dailye besechinge him to contynue his goodnesse to assiste vs wyth his grace and to prepare vs lyuelye and apte folowers of his holye and diuine wylle wythout murmurynge vnreuerente talkynge secrete conspirynge or cursed rebellynge for they are euelles greately dyspleasing god and wourkes of the deuell and of hysedicious membres vpon whome he wyl assuredly poure downe his determinate plages to their swyfte confusion of bodye and soule Lette vs feare therefore to offende the maiestie of so mighty a God VVe maye not vvith stande the vvil of god who is rightuous and a ieolous god ouer rightuousnes let vs not repugne his wyll or stryue against the streame preparyng newly vnto our selfs the cup of gods wrath and to drynke double the dregges of his vengeaunce but spedyly with a lyuely faythe to retourne and leane towardes hym and not be doubtefull of his mercy for he hath promised in Iesus Christe that our synnes shall be consumed oure transgressions couered and oure iniquities pourged He is mercyfull Daniel 9. he beholdeth vs in Christe and reioyceth in the conuersion of synners he wyll haue mercye vppon vs after the multitude of his mercyes whyche wyll not the death of synners Math. 3. Eze. 18.33 1 Timo. 〈◊〉 1. Peter 3. The tyme and houre vvhen god vvill vifite vs and take accomptes of vs vvee knovv not but rather that they repentantly tourne and lyue and aptly receyuynge the grace of god readily to prepare theim selues that in what so euer tyme and place deathe by the hande of God shall assaild them they bee not founde vnprepared in that so shorte and sodayne warnyng And not withstandinge this moste apte preparacion touchyng lyfe and death or tymes appointed for them let vs referre all with a liuely hope to the good disposition and wyll of god and say with saint Pauie whether welyue or whether we die to god and to goddes good pleasure wee lyue or dye For herein shall consist greate perfection in oure spirituall profession if in our redines and moste apte preparacion we humblye embrace rightuousnes shewyng our selues always well pleased and reioycing in god and desire accordynge to the wyll of god to be dissolued from this frail and corruptible body and to lyue vncorruptible wyth Chryst for euer And we may be sure yf god see in vs such apt towardnes that we hunger thirst for the waye of ryghtuousnesse and that we earnestly seeke the mortification of our olde grosse affectes and shake frome oure shoulders that greuous packe and reprocheful bourthen of malice Collos 3. fearcenes wrath bloudshed cursed speaking coÌ„spiring rebelling lieng octractioÌ„ false accusation pride couetousnes druÌ„kennes vncleannes selfe loue vayne affection and suche lewde fondnes and in respect of gods he auenly felicite and endles treasure to neglect the fugitiue and shorte pleasures of this life he will not deferre to help vs to assist vs and streÌ„gthen vs such is the accustomed goodnes of his deuine nature towardes vs but wyll be myndefull of hys promyse to haue mercy vpon vs as he in thys wise sayeth of hym selfe by the prophet Esaye I haue forsaken you sayeth hee for a small season Esay 〈◊〉 I haue tourned my face from you I haue sharply with plages visited you haue stretched out myne arme agaynste you to stryke you and make you stoupe for the greatnesse of your pryde and iniquity ye haue bene agaynste me so stoughte so stonye harted and sturdye but now I see you agayne relented repentaunse for your synnes and tourned agayn vnto me I wyl with great mercyfulnes tourne me vnto you embrace you receyue you take ye vppe agayne vnto me and for euer holde ye vp and preserue you And where in my wrathe as it were the twyncklynge of an eye I hydde my selfe frome you I haue nowe thoroughe myne euerlastynge goodnesse tourned me agayne vnto you and pardoned you sayeth the LORDE GOD youre auenger I am he Psal 102. I am he sayeth the Lorde whych taketh awaye your iniquities for mine owne sake and will no more remember youre synnes Thus we vnderstande the greate mercye and goodnesse of God towarde vs dysobediente and wretched synners who wylle not onelye here vs and tourne hym mercyfullye agayne vnto vs by oure humble sute and peticion or by oure happye amendmente of lyfe thoroughe the true faythe and loue in Iesus Chryste and staye his presente indignacion now raygnynge vppon vs and the greate terroure of hys vengeaunce to comme eyther in cases generall touchynge thys our already afflicted realme or countrey our lord blesse it and defende it or properly touchâ—â—â—â— our owne personnes for euerye of vs see in our selues our due dosertes but wyll henseforthe blesse vs he wyll renewe styll hys ioyfull countynance vpon vs he wyll wythdraw the power of the diuell from vs that he preuayle not agaynst vs in no kynde of temptacion he wyll not suffre vs to be tempted aboue our strength but wyl in the myddeste