thrall Extende vnto mee wretched wight thy light and loue withall Oh Lorde my God forget mee not hyde not thy selfe from mee Although my flesh do striue to keepe my syllie soule from thee Showe not thyne anger as a foe let mercy be my staye It is no profite Lord for thee to cast my soule awaye Denie mee not a contrite heart a pensiue person poore An wofull wretch a sinfull soule that knocke here at thy doore Uouchsafe to turne thy face to mee forgiue my deedes amisse In feare I doo appeale to thee as one that guiltie is Deale not as my deserts doo craue but as of mercie thou Doost will and still delight to haue all sinfull heartes to bow Showe not thy force against thy foe that faine would come to thee And pardon my Offences all though Death be due to mee Oh plague mee not good Lord so sore I haue no force I fall I neuer wyll offende thee more if thou vouchsafe to call My soule from sinne and to affoord mee Solace sweete againe Loe here I doo against my selfe a sinfull wretch complaine Shame dooth beset mee round about my selfe consume in woe I am corrupt mine heart throughout I wander too and fro From sinne to sinne I run perforce I wander styll astraye Wherfore without thy due remorce I can not but decaye Since first I suckt my Mothersbrest yea since I sawe the daye The subtill Serpent hath not ceast to wrest mine heart astraye In sinne my mother did conceaue this cankred Corps of mine And Sathan seekes Lord to bereaue all that of right is thine He soweth 〈◊〉 and wicked seedes in mine vnstaid brest Wherof doo grow pernitious deedes which breede my soule vnrest Which I as yet cannot auoyde they fixe so fast one mee That froÌ„ my youth they haue auoid and keepe me Lord from thee So that I am full bought and sould betwene the Feend and synne And wickednes a thousand foulde myne heart doth lodge within The good I cannot which I would my nature proane to ill Withdraws myne harte froÌ„ what it should imbrace w t heauenly skil But Lord in sinne why should I dye syth thy good will is so To heare poor synners wheÌ„ they crie and them redeeme from woe And giuest them repaste againe from heauens high aboue And to repentant hearts full faine thou showest thy selfe in loue Ye thou doest saue through mercie meere those that deserue to dye When they to thee returne in feare oh Lorde now so doe I A thousand times before this daie thy mercies from aboue Haue saued them that went astraie to showe thy zealous loue Our fathers who were longe agoe when they were in dystresse Fell prostrate on their harts and loe thou gauest them redresse Ye wheÌ„ they were incompast round and no hope to auoyde Thy mercye Lord did so abounde that they were not destroyed Haue mercie therfore Lord on mee oh god on whome I call I wretched synner here to thee on prostrate heart doe fall Ease mee againe let mercie thine myne woefull hearte releeue And let not synne all goodnes mine through loosenes thus bereaue My soule alas in dolefull plight in hope of helpe doth crie Oh Lord extend thy louelie light that shines from heauen hye To guide my silly soule to blisse by shunnyng what is ill High time alas good Lord it is to frame mee to thy will Wherfore extend thy grace againe put foorth thy helpyng hand Let it reuiue what sinne hath slaine and loosen Sathans bande Lorde Iesus come oh come in haste Let Heauens Bowe come down That I a wretched wight at last maye ioye that passing Crowne Which y u by dreadful death hast won through pluÌ„ging panges on tree In loue to giue the same to those that feare to fall from thee Come come I say thou Solace true and fill mine hart with ioye My sinfull soule with grace renue whom Sathan would destroye No daye no time no minute is deuoyde of wo to mee But oh alas the cause is this I hold mee not by thee If thou absent thy selfe my soule my bones my bodie dust Corrupt with carke of wicked will as Iron doeth with rust If thou absent thy selfe my soule runnes headlong into yll And staggerryng too and fro it reeles and kickes against thy wyll Yf thou absent thy selfe my soule like wretched wight opprest Fast â—ettred in the boultes of sinne lyes groaning voyde of rest Yf thou absent thy selfe my soule sinckes into darkesome thrall But Lord driue darknes far froÌ„ mee sende light and loue withall So sinne shal passe and vertue slow within my dolefull brest Oh Iesu come Oh come in haste to set my soule at rest And thus my soule I doo commende into thy bosome sweete On whome I doo in heart depende heere prostrate at thy feete Solace Take heed take heed Oh sinful man let heart and tongue agree Leaue off to sinne repent foorthwith and I wyll dwell with thee Cast of the Cloake that is the cause to hinder thine intent Thy sinne and then in deede I wyll to thy request consent The sinfull man How shuld mine heart toong agree what meanest thou therin I haue at large thou maist perceiue vnfoulded all my sinne Solace I T is not ynough to shew thy selfe onely by outward wordes to be a sinfull man but thou must likewise as I haue tould thée before reforme thy former frowarde and peruerse wayes that is as thou knowest and hast confessed thy selfe heretofore to haue walked in errour in darkenes rebellyng against mine heauenly father So wold I haue thée to cléeue vnto the trueth to follow the light and obey mine heauenly father in performing those things which are commaunded thée For there be some that can make a gay gloze and showe of holinesse by such outward protestation when in deede they are farre from that true inwarde sorrow which causeth repentaunce vnto saluation whose dissimulation and hypocrisie deserueth double punishment The sinfull man Show mee therfore what must I doe and what must I obeye Uoutchsaufe mee grace I doe repent my gaddyng longe astray Solace WEll then for asmuch as the daie is gone and that there is no time to declare it now I will deferre it vntill to morrow and then I will tell thée what thou most doe and what leaue vndone In the meane time forget not to prayse myne heauenly father who hath made thee mée whoe haue redemed thée and the holye Ghoast whoe haue sealed thée as one of the adopted Children that shal be saued The Ende of the Frydaye or Fyfth Dayes Conference An earnest confession of sinnes with a Prayer for the forgiuenes thereof OH miserable and most wretched creature am I prest down oh Lord with so many euils with such notorious sinnes geuous offences heynous crymes manifould iniquities That I confesse my selfe manie thousand waies to haue offended thee and to haue deserued more punishmente then I am able to beare Oh Lorde such is myne vntowardenes my cursed
that is worthy of his Fathers fauour that for his fathers sake will not with patience suffer one howers hardnes or take such part nay some part of the paines that his Father sustayneth Or that obayeth not his Fathers will in thinges tending to his owne welfare Suerly that sonne deserueth no fauour but to be beaten with many stripes And what man is hée that if some skilfull Phisition doe foreshowe him of some daungerous disease beginning to growe vppon his body which he himselfe as yet féeleth not but to preuent a greater inconuenience will hee not bee contented not onely to bestowe his money but for the safetie of his arme will he not be contented to suffer his finger to be cut off and to saue his bodie will he not abide his legge to be cut off yes no doubt If such cost be not too deare nor such paines too terrible to preueÌ„t the daunger of the bodie what man will not bee contented for the safetie of his soule to cut off all whatsoeuer is like to indaunger the same And art thou so loth to cut off that or cast from thee those things which are the cause of thy so pernicious a disease securetie Doest thou think thy goods nay thy ill gotten goodes so deare so helpfull and so precious as to indaunger the death of thy soule with the deteining of them when thou art promised life vpon the restitution of them vnfeynedly repenting Beware I say beware least it fester and thy desease gather further into thine heart and so destroye both bodie and soule The sicke-man who for his healthes sake refuseth not to take the most bitterest Potions and hardest medicines and yet are they most greeuous and most vnpleasaunt to him for the time yet because their effect and their working turne to his health he willingly receiueth them So must thou be contented for thy soule health to accept of such bitter afflictions and crosses in this life as shall please mine heauenly father to minister vnto thee which although they bee sharpe and vnsauerie for the time it turneth all thinges to good yea to the health both of soule and bodie Thou hast supped a little of the cup of pouertie and want which is but a milde potion a gentle medicine and yet so contrary to disgestion that it hath driuen thee into such a frantique perplexitie that thou shewest thy self very vnable to take those Purgations which must worke with a more stronger effect to the driuing out of all such noysome affections as by the corruptible and contagious ayre of Sathans breathinges haue infected thine heart whereof if thou bee not cured and the same cut off with the Rasour of a true and vnfeined repentaunce it will procure thee not onely death of bodie but vtter destruction both of bodie and soule Wherefore I say seeke remedie in time come vnto me who am the onely true Phisition of all sicke soules refreshing all them that bee heauie laden healing their spirituall deseases if faithfully and without wauering they seeke the same at mine handes and speedely returne vnto mee by that true and vnfeyned sorrowe for their sinnes which sheweth it selfe in amendement of life in that true sorrowe which causeth repentaunce vnto saluation Comfort thy selfe in this therefore that thy desease is foreshewed thee and that Phisition hath taken thee in hand to cure thee that haue all power in mine owne handes and let neither thy sinnes past trouble thee nor thine estate greeue thee but bee onely reioysing in that I haue promised forgiuenesse of the one and helpe in the other Thou hast an aduocate with the father euen me Iesus Christ the righteous who haue obteyned pardon for al thy sinnes and haue raunsomed thee out of the handes of Sathan a most especiall benefite in respect whereof al the plagues al the troubles calamities and afflictions in this life can light vpon thee are not to bee accompted greeuous but willingly to bee imbraced and paciently to bee accepted as a fatherly calling of thee from thy selfe vnto mee for better it is for thee to be afflicted here in this worlde with bodily and short afflictions then in the world to come with endles destruction And therefore I say beare thou not only with pacience but with a thankfull heart whatsoeuer shal please mine heauenly father to sende thee be it sweete or sowre for those that are his he correcteth and oftentimes suffereth the wicked and careles the secure and dissolute liuers to runne on still in their wicked waies whâ—me of Iustice hee shall reward with endles perdition being yet so full of mercie and so loth to haue the sinner to dye in his sinnes that I most louingly call them intreâ—ting them fayrely to returne from their wickednesse and be saued whom if they repent not by the gentle admonition of the word he scourgeth them he striketh them with his Rod of correction by pouertie by sicknesse by losse of frendes and other aduersities to the ende they may remember themselues and be called from their securitie to place their whole trust in him that is able to saue them and to cast them away who is able to releeue them and to vndo them able to bring them to the déepe of the graue and to bring them vp againe who is able to plucke downe and exalt able to kill and to make aliue againe The lost Sonne as long as he was in his iollitie as long as he had his prosperitie of wealth at his will his health of bodie and thinges at his owne desire wanting nothing that pleased his fantasies so long ranne he astray followed wantonnes imbraced wickednesse and imployed himself to filthinesse and sinne euen with greedines But when he was touched with pouertie when his wonted freendes forsooke him and had no meane to releeue himself then began he to 〈◊〉 his fantasies after an other fashion thou he made of necessitie a vertue he brideled his affectiâ—ns he tamed his euil desires and in al humilitie in true sorrowe for his disobedieÌ„ce he returned againe vnto his father and in great bitternesse of heart as one that vnfeinedly repented he cryed out and sayd Oh father I haue sinned I haue sinned against heauen and against thee I am no more worthie to be called thy sonne accept me as one of thine hyred seruauntes whose submission obteyned pardon Dauid when he was in his prosperitie committed euill in the sight of mine heauenly father but when he was afflicted by the persecution of his owne sonne Absolon when he felt aduersitie then cryed he out and confessed his iniquitie bewraying his owne wretchednesse and acknowledged the mightie power of mine heauenly father to whom in great bitternesse of heart he prayed saying Oh Lord rebuke me not in thine anger neither chasten me in thine heauie displeasure But haue mercie vppon mee for I am weake c. So great a let is a prosperous estate vnto the proceeding and going forward vnto that
heauenly Ierusalem to that eternall blisse which I haue purchased and so great an helpe and furtheraunce is affliction and aduersitie as thou maist iustly lament thy worldly happinesse and sing euen with great ioye that thine estate is thus altered to reclaime thee from putting thy trust in transitorie thinges faithfully to repose the same in the sure defence of mine heauenly fathers right hande Be thankfull I say accept it as a good preparatiue to vnfeyned repentaunce wherein prostrating thy self in heart praie faithfully and confesse thy sinnes vnfeynedly and I will comforte thee againe with heauenly solace inwardly The sinfull man TheÌ„ shewe me how I should coÌ„fesse and how I ought to pray I doe repent my sinfull life that I haue led astray Solace I Will referre to instruct thee in prayer vntill to another day because the day is so farre spent and because I would first haue thee to confesse thy sinnes and discharge thy conscience of the heauie burden of thine iniquities before thou enter into that most excellent exercise of praier for the heart that is inwardly kept downe with the doubt of remission of sinnes through me can neuer freely open it selfe in a perfect faith to be heard of mine heauenly father and as long as thou goest about to cloke thine iniquities and to hide them from the sight of mine heauenly father thou canst neuer be assured of pardon for thou must bee assured that he that hideth his sinnes shall not prosper but he that confesseth them and forsaketh them shal haue mercie his sinnes be they as red as Scarlet I will make as white as wolle and were the 〈◊〉 purple I will make them as white as snowe Now confession is an inward constant and continuall acknowledging thy selfe to bee a sinfull man altogether corrupt whose righteousnes is as a stayned and filthy cloth in whome remayneth no goodnes at all for there is none that sinneth not there is none that doth good none that worketh righteousnes no not one All men are subiect to many infirmities And he that saith that he hath not sinned he is a lyer he deceiueth him self and in him is there no trueth No man can say mine heart is cleare and I am cleare from sinne If therfore euery man be sinfull and none can excuse himselfe but that hee deserueth to be punished that he deserueth in respect of his owne goodnes to be cast of and to be scurged with the rod of correction Thou canst not then say I haue not sinned no thou canst not but confesse with the lost sonne that thou hast gone astraye that thou hast rebelled against God mine heauenly father and wrought so many things against his will that thou art no more worthy to be accepted as his sonne deseruing iustly to bee cast of If then there remaine no hope of thine owne deserts whereby to be accepted into his fauour again wherby to be accepted as his soÌ„ne nay whereby to bee accepted as an hired seruant Therfore there is no way for thee no meane for thee no hope to be receiued againe but in al huÌ„blenes of heart to fall downe as one in his own conscience guiltie of death appealing vnto the mercie of mine heauenly father in me who for my sake will not onely not turne away his face from the humble confession of thy sinnes but of his mercie most plentifull will hee meete the voyce of thine humble confession euen in the middest of thine heart yea and vnfained cries as he heard the humble and zealous sighes of Dauid who when he had sinned and highly displeased mine heauenly father he went not as it wâ—re into a corner to hide his offences wiâ—h the Cloake of hipocrisie but bewrayed his owne vntowardnes layde open his iniquities and acknowledged his sinnes saying within himselfe I will speake against my selfe I will reueale mine offences vnto the Lorde and all his sinnes were forgiuen him Such a godly feeling had Dauid of his sinnes hee entred into consideration of his wickednes before he could thus râ—tourne vnto mine heauenly father in heartâ—â— confession So enter thou into thy selfe examine thine owne conscience and looke back into the whole course of thy life and thou wilt 〈◊〉 ashamed to see thy miserable estate thou wilt blush at the consideration of thy former life and find thy selfe a verie wretched sinner And condemne thy self worthy of farre greater punishment then thou art able to beare Thus must thou begin to take accompt of thy selfe before thou canst truely returne and vnfeinedly confesse thine iniquities vnto mine heauenly father whose wrath is so great against sinne that as long as thou retainest a will to goe forward in sinne and haue not a greater care to returne vnto him hee will forsake thee and not opeÌ„ the hands of his mercie to receiue thee Make haste cherefore to returne forsake thy selfe and flye vnto him take holde of his promises he hath promised in mee to receiue all sinners truely repenting into his mercie againe I came to cal the sinners not the righteous wherefore if thou be a sinner which vnles thou flatter thy selfe to deceiue thy selfe thou canst not denie then I say take hold of this promise Crie out and say Oh Lorde I am a sinner I am one that haue gone astray most wickedly haue I set mine affections and most vainely imbraced the things that can not auaile me in my distresse in which I am inuironed with so many daungers and troubles as without thine helpe I am vtterly forlorne Rest I say and stay thy selfe onely vpon the louing promises of myne heauenly father in mee in faith assuring thy selfe that I will strenghthen thee against all Sathans temptations Thus I say must thou consider thy corruption and with the eye of a perfect fayth looke into the whole course of thy former life and with the same eye to behold the mercies of mine heauenly father most freely promised in me without whose free goodnesse there is no hope of saluation whereby is my death and bitter passion made auaileable to wash away all the sinnes of as many as vnfeinedly beleeue confessing themselues wretched sinners who returning vnto mine heauenly father in a godly feare are accepted righteous before him Thy confession must be ioined with faith and amendement of life for the beliefe of the heart iustifieth and to confesse with thy mouth maketh thee safe whereby thou must consider that it is not enough to crie out and say Oh Lorde I haue sinned I am wicked I haue greeuously offended c. for all this is but winde it is but opening the mouth to none effect but thy confession must bee grounded vpon the inuincible Rocke of faith whereby thou must betake thee vnto his heauenly Maiestie condemning thy self wholy and altogether not faintly after the maner of hypocrites who thincke themselues discharged with their fewe wordes But with Daniell thou must crye out and say Oh Lord we haue
A SINFVLL Mans Solace Most sweete and comfortable for the sicke and sorowful Soule Contriued into seuen seuerall Daies Conference betweene Christ and a carelesse Sinner Wherin euerie man from the highest to the lowest from the Richest to the poorest and aboue all the sorowfull Sinner maye take such sweet repaste of Resolution to amendment of lyfe and confirmation of Fayth that in respect of the Heauenlie Solace therin faithfully remembred all the pompes and pleasures of this wicked worlde shall be plainely perceiued to be meere miserie Writeen by IOHN NORDEN IOHN 6. Hec est voluntas Patris mei qui misit me vt omnis qui videt filium credit in eum habeat vitam eternam ego resuscitabo eum in nouissimo die ¶ Printed at London by Richard Iones 1585. and of the yongest of those of my profession in that place and yet as a chicken vnder the wings of your Lordships fauour I rest in hope of defence frō the scarring practises of such as deseruedly or vndeseruedly make profers and manifest meanes to bereaue the credite of all and some of those that are or should be as I for functions sake desire to bee namely as one able to execute with truth to prosecute our vocation the office of Attorneis which office as it hath and ought to be of credite so ought it to be executed with honesty and trueth as it is not vnknowen to too many of vs is growen into contempt of many In respect I thinke of the ignoraunce that the rudest sort are blinded with that they see not their owne ease and benefite slaundering the honest minded for the misbehauiour of the vnsatiable and vnhonest dealers sakes But right honorable omitting that it resteth to craue humble pardon for my presumptuous andacitie wherein as a poore Cobler I presume to shew my selfe as it were readie to take a pensell in hand to frame a goodly whole and perfect picture whē in deede I know not how to cast the proportion of the very shooe it selfe yet alwayes hoping pardon hauing by experience a certaine sparke and feeling of sundry extraordinary and approued errours manifest resting and daily encreasing among the lowest as also among those of higher calling and countenaunce I presumed vpon my slender learning to make a shew of the erronious and peruerse conceit that a man of these our dayes in the time of the cleare light was so besotted in the miste of the voluptuous cares of this cankered world that he could not see the way to trueth but betooke himselfe to the way of sinfull securitie a man yet breathing whose reformatiō I heartily wish And to the end that by his folly other may learne wisedome and that by his reformation other may bee reformed I haue attributed vnto this poore piece of worke of mine the Title of A Sinfull Mans Solace for that it is comfortable to all men and hurtfull to none I haue contriued it into seuen seuerall dayes conference betweene Christ and a Sinner Wherein it may appeare that as the mindes of men being euill the dayes dangerous and good endeuours rare and seldome So is our Heauenly Solace our Mediatour Christ the readier through his grace to redresse the one and to stirre vp the other wherein his willingnes and care of our saluatiō his mercy and fauour shewed and our peruersitie and weakenes laid open and Sathan vanquished Which right honorable I haue endeuored to set downe according to the trueth as well for mine owne priuate comfort as for the commoditie that others may reape of the same Although perchance it may be obiected against me that I am of an other profession vnlerned without experience a greene head of no iudgement I yeeld me guilty of all onely my profession as a Christian I stand to defend though not a professed Diuine but a poore Punie that is willing to be instructed of the more learned and godly diuines presuming herein to make trial whither it wil winne me condemnation or good liking praise or dispraise fauour or ill will But being so resolued of your good Lordships good liking of the thing tending to a good purpose though not so pithily and exactly handled as beseemed this piece of work I rest so much the more in hope that your fauour will breed other mens good affection to this trauaile tending to the good o◠all men and to the hinderāce of none We wander right honorable in a wildernes of euils we are beset with many dangers familiar and houshold perils and annoiances which breed in our bosomes not seene not heard not felt nor vnderstood by reason that naturall inclinatiō to euil doth blind our eies dull our sences in such sort as neither vertue trueth nor grace can take any place in vs but is repulsed by the hand of sinne and Sathan ruleth in our hearts and poisoneth all our desires stirring vs vp to all mischiefes hardning so our heartes that we very seldome reforme our liues nor althogh we be daily called to vnfained repentance like vntamed coltes too well fed that know neither master want or wo we run headlong after the fleshly motions of our vnstaied will worse then the silly birds of the ayre the beasts or wormes of the earth who know their times and seasons and keepe the law of their natural custome as ancient writers doe reporte that the Storke by the Skyes knoweth the time and season of the yeare the Crane the Turtledoue and diuers other birdes beastes and wormes by their comming and departure doe argue that they haue a certayn knowledg that it is not alwayes Summer nor alwayes Winter and according to the time they laboure they rest they come they goe they fast and feed and therfore doth the Ant as the least among the rest gather in the Summer to supply his want in the Winter By the due course of which sillie and vnreasonable Creatures maye Man feele and vnderstand his owne imperfection and weakenes who being ordayned from the beginning Supreame gouenour as it were of all the rest of Gods creatures in respect of the giftes of reason and wisdome whereby he ought to direct his way to the prayse of God by his sincere and godly lyfe falleth into diuers and sundry noysome and vndecent conceites sinfull motions and vngodly deuices whereby to winne vnto himselfe here that that shall be to him in the time to come a meere impediment and stay of his entraunce into eternal ioyes which earthly eyes can not see neither can the mindes of mortall men conceaue for that naturall reason draweth from the true sence of spirituall motions vnto vnseemely attempts to follow vice with gredines lyke vnto the brute beastes whome no stayed counsaile dooth gouetne but euen the meere naturall motions whereunto it is incidēt for them to yeeld wherin if men showe themselues lyke brutish to yeeld and giue their rash consents to euery fleshly motion It may well be sayd of them which the Poet Iuuenall sayth
my minde It must be where some plesaunt spring and woods do grow by kind Where eccoes with resounding voice may answere Cornet shrill The Trumpet and Recorder sweet to please my fancy still Which might it be where Wheary boat could passe the Theams with oare Where I might take my like repaste with Citron and Bandoare It were a wished seate indeede a pleasant place for mee To take my solace at my will and passe my time with glee And as I gesse I haue a place within a Manour neare A Farme in lease Ile get me that and place my Palace there I thinke my Tenant wilbe glad to yelde to my request If not he shall be sure to sit therein with litle rest Goe footboys goe thy way in haste to Simple of the Grange And bid him come to me as fast as he can hither range Thou shalt not need to shew y e cause but bid him come in haâ—e And tell him if he tarry long his stay will breed him waste The Footboye I haue bin there loe Simple coms he is at hand I see Him come loe here he is say on whatso your pleasure be Simple God saue you sir loe here I am your message I obey Both I and mine to your commaund as subiects here this day The Rich-man I thank thee Simple welcome now I thank thee for thy payn I sent for thee come walke with me thou shalt goe soone againe Good Simple doe one thing for me and I will be thy friend It is indeede a small request in brief Ile make an end And thus it is the Grange thou hast and lands by lease of me It wilbe eighteene yeares and more before it ended be I must request the same in hand And I will set thee where Thou shalt be sure to liue as wel as euer thou didst there It is a place so fit for me thou maiest not me withstand But graunt me back my state again ile build there out of hand Simple· Oh Sir I trust you will not so oppresse me seely man If I forgoe my Farme I must seeke dwelling where I can Desire it not Landlord I pray on knees I doe request I came with willing minde to you but now with griefe opprest I humblie pray you be content craue not my liuing so It makes my heart with bitter sighes to burst it selfe for woe The Rich-man Wherefore I will bestowe on thee A place as good as that And stand thy faithful friend at need thou doest thou knowest not what Denying me so small a thing which gentlie I request But yeeld it vp I say or else thou shalt haue little rest Simple Where shall mine wofull wife become what shall my childreÌ„ doe Ten tender Infantes all vndone this fact of thine shall rue Haue some remorce therefore on vs let pitie pearce your brest Seeke not to suck your sweete of me alreadie thus opprest Who gaue an Incum great God wot and yearly rent not small To pinch at euery quarter daye my carefull heart withall And gape you yet for greater gayn to greeue me more more Nay gaine is past now you seeke to get me out of dore Good landlord let these words suffise let mercy moue you so That I may now departe againe worke not my further woe It greeues me to forgoe the thinge concerning me so neere Content your selfe therefore I may not buy your loue so deere The Rich-man Ah are you at this point indeede hath scripture taught you this To vse such taunting words at him that farre your better is Yet law hath twenty trickes again which I haue learnd of late To make such beggers as thou arte to forfaite their estate Wherefore be sure to pay thy rent according to the day Or else be sure I will not slacke to thrust thee cleane away And other Couenants there are although thou haue enioiyde Thy lease with quiet which may soone make all thy title voide And if I finde a hole therein what law may doe be sure To feele the smarte if golde or fee thy torments may procure Content thy selfe therefore yelde vnto my small request And I will stand at need thy friend and when thou arte opprest Simple Alas is there no shift to shun this forced cause of woe Must I be sorst against my will my liuing to forgoe Well then I know my wife and I with all our children must Goe beg our bread goe steale or sterue to satisfie your lust The Rich-man No no thou shalt not begge thy bread thy wife ne Children shall Goe steale nor starue for want of foode nor be opprest with thrall If thou wilt yeeld thy lease againe Of all the Grange to me I will doe any thing in deede wherein to pleasure thee By word or deede to ride or goe to lend or giue be sure I will be ready at thy neede while life and lymbs indure Simple Thus if you doe I am content to satisfie your will But if I thought the contrarie I would retaine it still The Rich-man Doubt not the contrarie but fetch thy Lease in hast to me Ile cancell that and then I will doe what I can for thee Simple Then graunt that I may keepe the same this quarter that I may Prouide for my poore familie some other where to stay The Rich-man Wel bring thy Lease I wil not stand vppon a thing so small I will doe any thing I can to pleasure thee withall Simple Here is the Lease doe what you wil therewith I am content But sure my wife dooth sigh so sore as though her heart would rent And all her children crie to see their Mother in that case Would God you would vouchsafe to show me wofull man some grace To let me haue my Lease againe and I will pray for you Or else no flintie heart but may mine happe so heauie rue The Rich-man Nay nay pray not for me at all these wordes be but in vaine Tis nought to me although thy wife and children waile amaine Wherefore I say prouide a place packe from the Grange in hast Thou shalt not tarie there in deed if this weeke once were past I wil not slack my building so nor spend the time so long Hence hence thy peeuish prattle doth my weightie causes wrong For I will presently in hand t-accomplish my desire I haue laid baggs enough in store to paye the workemens hyre I would it were now finisht faire according to my will In finest wise as might be done by mans inuentiue skil But long it shall not be I trowe Till it be brought to passe That I may sit therein and say a brauer neuer was And in delight to passe my dayes in such a princely place Who would not be in pleasant plight to stand in such a case Solace Oh foolish man oh mortall wight in wofull state art thou Thy soule accurst
sinned we haue dealt wickedly we haue most traiterously rebelled against thee These words came not faintly from y e tongue but with force and faith from the very roote of the heart And why because he had searched and tried yea he had a feeling an inward greefe for the sinnes of the people whose confession was accepted and whose prayer was heard The sinfull man Before I doe confesse to thee my sinne thou doest beholde The same at large what need I theÌ„ my sinnes thus to vnfolde Solace INdeede I doe beholde most plainely aswell the very intent of the heart the inner parte thereof as the outwarde actions the externall and visible corrupt conuersation there is no secrete thought no imagination that passeth vnreueiled by the light of my knowledge but whatsoeuer thou doest whatsoeuer thou speakest and whatsoeuer thou thinkest when and where I see and perceiue it altogether And yet notwithstanding it is requisite for thee for two causes to make confession of thine eniquities and that openly And why namely that mine heauenly father may bee knowne and acknowledged to be onely righteous only good yea and goodnesse it selfe a mercifull and pacient GOD and a most louing father and thy selfe to bee altogether vnrighteous fraught with euill in whom remaineth no goodnesse at all Thus must thou cast downe thy self condemne thy self and reprehende thine owne corruption and take holde onely of the goodnesse of GOD the Father in the merites of mee his Sonne by whose death thou art deliuered from death and deserued damnation which is an especiall cause to moue thee to this vnfeined and open confession of thine offences The seconde cause is to the ende that this thine open acknowledging of thy sinnes may bee to the edifying of other men As thou seest the confession of Dauid to bee profitable not onely vnto himselfe but to others not onely to them that were then present but euen to this day is hee to bee set before the eyes of sinners as a fitt patterne to measure their sorrowes by and to bewraye their owne wretchednesse in humble confession and to referre themselues onely to the mercies and louing promises of God mine heauenly father to bee releeued and comforted in their afflictions as Dauid was Yea the confessions which the faithfull haue made heretofore serue nowe to edefie other men at the consideration of whose humilitie and the good successe of their vnfeyned confession wherein they returned vnto mine heauenly father and were accepted againe into his fauour thou canst not but bee the more stirred vp to the like maner of humbling thy selfe acknowledging thy selfe a wretched sinner and to put thine whole trust and confidence in my death and bitter Passion and bee more and more stirred vp to serue and honour mine heauenly father in newnesse of life to the good and godly example of other men who seeing the mercie of GOD my father so plentifully shewed vnto thee shall in like maner make haste vnto the Throane of his grace in open confession of their sinnes that so one by the example of an other nay many at y e good example of one may bee edefied and glorifie God my father which is in heauen who deliuered mee ouer to suffer death for the redemption of them that truely turne to mee Wherefore I say acknowledge thy self sinfull and greatly indebted vnto mee in respect of thy many and wilfull transgressions wherby my gâ—ace may the more appeare in thee disclaime all desertes and merites of thine owne and cast thy selfe downe in thine owne conceipt as one not worthie of any comforte at all at mine handes appealing altogether to my merites in such sorte as by thine example other men may learne to confesse their iniquities and condemne them selues to bee guiltie and to haue deserued to bee punished and whereby they may be taken from them selues namely from the proude opinions of their owne good worke for in the sight of mine heauenly father can no man by his owne merites be accepted righteous but through me are they acceptable and iust in his sight And therefore saith Iob what if I should flatter my selfe and stand in mine owne coÌ„ceipt righteous and iust when my deedes shall be layd open when they shall be manifested I cannot answere one of a thousande thinges layd to my charge Therefore sayth he I will make my praiers and supplication vnto the Iudge If therefore thou be desirous to be iustified before mine heauenly father thou must sâ—y away all desertes of thine owne and confesse that there is nothing in thee but meere wickednesse horrible confusion vtter dispaire of thine owne goodnesse yeelding thy self guiltie of many euills For if thou seeke perfect righteousnesse thou must not stand vpoÌ„ thine owne abilitie to fulfill the law for so makest thou my death to be 〈◊〉 vain which through faith is that true vndoubted righteousnesse which iustifieth thee before mine heauenly father makest thee heire of eternall life Thorowe me is preached the forgiuenesse of sinnes and hee that beleeueth is iustified from those things from which he could not haue bin by the lawe that is by his owne workes Wherefore thou must coÌ„fesse me with thy mouth beleeue in thine heart that mine heauenly father raysed me from the dead to iustifie thee for with thine heart must thou beleeue vnto righteousnes and confesse with thy mouth vnto saluation By my grace I say art thou saued through faith and not by thine owne workes be they neuer so glorious in the sight of the world The sinfull man TheÌ„ what auaile good works are they of none effect in deede And bootes it not to keepe the lawes that Moses first decreede Solace THou must vnderstand that although in respect of thy good workes be they neuer so many and faire in the vewe of the worlde thou mayest not presume vpon the same so farre as to chalenge for the same the reward of eternall life and that thou must confesse when thou hast done all that thou canst thou art an vnprofitable seruant it behoueth thee with all diligence and godly care to endeuour to doe all that is commaunded thee in â—â—ese lawes of mine heauenly father writteÌ„ by the inspiration of y e holy ghost by Moyses in the two Tables wherein consisteth the whole summe of that which is required of euery man to be done in respect of the outward action and inward working which is in doing good to man whom thou seest and to loue God mine heauenly father whom thou seest not but by the eye of that true faith which taketh his light of the Gospel of trueth whereby thou art directed to the meane which worketh that perfection for thee which of thy selfe thou art not able to reache vnto namely my selfe without whose perfection thou must needes continue imperfect and vnable to doe any thing that is good by whome to whome
thou must praye for grace and assistance to doe that which in those two Tables is conteyned And what by reason of thine owne weakenes thou canst not performe thereof thou must beware that although I haue vndertaken to stand betweene thy selfe the curse due for the same thou thinke not thy selfe so discharged of performance thereof as farre as thou canst least by the careles câ—sting of the burden thereof vppon mee thou runne headlong into those euils that Sathan shall pricke thee vnto perswading thy selfe that I haue vndertaken to release thee of that which heretofore was layde on thee to be performed and so thincke it needlesse to doe that which is commaunded thee Take heede I say take heede least that this conceite drawe thee into a negligent going forward to doe good and a promisse to doe euill But bring foorth the fruites of amendement of life work righteousnesse execute iudgement growing and proceeding from fayth to fayth ioyning thereunto a good conuersation with knowledge and much patience accompanied with brotherly kindnes and loue wherein thou must shewe thy selfe willing to doe good vnto all men to speake the trueth from thine heart to imagine no deceit against thy neighbour but to doe vnto him as thou wouldest others should doe vnto thee shewing thy selfe fruitfull in the knowledge of the trueth confirming thy free election in mee by the workes proceeding of the Spirit through a liuely and a woorking faythe wherein acknowledging thy true and earnest repentaunce by disclayming thine owne merits thou shalt in the ende receiue that swéet and endles solace which by my death I haue purchased whiche is the moste comfortable presence of my father in heuen life euerlasting without the· which there is nothyng but vtter destâ—â—ction The sinfull man Then Lorde of lords oh Solace sweet Oh louing Iesu deere Whose passing power by word of trueth created heauens cleere The Sea that surgeth too and fro the earth and Creatures all Thy wisdome is surpassyng high thy mercies great withall So that the workes which thou hast done doo all depend on thee And I among them all the woorst crye come Lorde come to mee Who am a Uessell fraught with wo whose dayes are past in sinne My nature proane to wickednesse reteines mee yet therin But thou that art the God of blisse extende thy mercie meere Let not the furious Feend preuaile against thy Creatures heere Thou canst attend before I crie support before I fall Thou canst relieue before I craue forgiue before I call Thy grace is of so great effect thy counsaile Lord so pure That whome thou wilt preserue and keepe remaineth most secure Thou art of grace the giuer true the God of mercie meere Who wouldest not that Sinners die but turne to thee in feare So that Oh Lord abounding so with loue and mercie store Thou didst vouchsafe to send a salue to cure my cruell sore Thy onely Sonne delight and ioy who came in humaine weede Into this vale of deepe annoy to kyll the Serpents seede Who did betray and bryng to woe our former Parentes twaine Whom thou hadst set in blessed state for aye there to remaine And I poore wretch the seede of sinne so subiect vnto yll Haue swerued from y e word of trueth and sore transgrest thy wyll Imbracing with great greedinesse my substance and my store Which I by couin and deceit haue gotten heretofore And in delight haue past my dayes as Sathan rulde my will I framde my â—â—nfies all and some to thinges peruers and ill Haue mercie mercie Lord on mee whoe haue deserued thrall Refuse mee not though I be dust by nature proane to fall Blot out of thine accompting Booke what I haue done amisse Oh pardon my Offences all and place my soule in blisse Wash me from all vngodlinesse make soule and body cleene That not a spot of filthinesse in neither may be seene I doo confesse O Lord to thee I doo confesse my sinne And doo condempne my selfe of all that I haue liued in I am a frowarde Childe to thee prouokyng thee to Ire But Lord vouchsafe call mee againe I would full faine retire From wandring in such vanities to walke the wayes of light Extend thy loue Lorde let me liue from hence a life vpright I disobeyed thy Preceptes and did what Nature would I did not that that Uertue wyld and what of right I should Most wickedly I walked in the wayes that were vniust Esteeming filthy Carcase so as it had not ben dust Oh Lorde I stood no feare of thee nor reuerenst thy name But as a disobedient wretche haue lead my life in blame Thy Lawes I cast behinde my back and doo not them fulfyll I follow with all greedinesse mine owne corrupted wyll I haue most lewdly lead my life without remorce of minde Neglecting true repentance styll to wickednes inclinde I roue at randone too and fro from sinne to sinne I runne And therin wallow as the Sow in durtie soyle in Sunne The Solace whiche I should haue shund I sought with gredinesse And shund the Solace which I shuld haue held as happinesse Which thou O lord thou doost behold yea what I thinke or saye What I haue done and what I doo and how I gad astraye How I despised thy commaund and how I breake thy wyll How like a senceles man I run by rash conceit to yll Wherfore I neede to say no more my sinnes my soule annoy Mine heart doeth harbour such conflict that gone is all my ioy Solace Dispaire not man let sorrow passe take solace now of mee I am the God that neuer was nor wyll vnfaithfull bee My mercie is a thousand fould to him that doth repent Repent therfore saye on be bould the contrite is not shent What if thou be a sinfull man in hart repent therfore Be sure thou shalt haue pardon then but see thou sinne no more The Thiefe that hung on tree w t mee as he gaue vp the Ghost Did craue that he might saued bee whose praiers were not lost And Marie Magdaline that was a sinfull woman came To mee in heart repenting sinne and I forgaue the same By death I say I ouerthrew the Serpent and his trayne Mine heauenly fathers wyll I dyd obey without disdaine Upon the Crosse with euyll men my Corps were nayled fast Not as a Sinner but for thee when helpe of hope was past Proceede therfore confesse in haste what thou hast done amisse For Sinne I know remains in thee as in all men there is The sinfull man Then Lorde I see thou doest beholde with thy supernall eye The creaturs which in thraldome bee and hearest when they crie I sinfull soule distressed sore in plungyng pangues of woe Doo craue the cruÌ„mes of mercie store which from thy Table floe For Lorde I see that thou art prest to ease my sinfull sore Refuse me not vouchsafe mee rest in heart that call therfore Who by my sinfull lyfe haue lost thy loue and purchast
giue ouer the opiniō of thine own good works and cleaue vnto the mercies of mine heauenly father in me and so much the more by howe much nowe thou maiest see thine vtter decaye without me But thou maist beware that thou in respect of thy saluation promised in mee neglect not these dueties enioyned thee towards mine heauenly father and thy neighbor as hath bene tolde thee before but so much the more endeuour thy selfe to performe thē that louingly and faithfully not in the outwarde shewe onely but with the inward affection of the heart imbracing that with a godly desire which thou art commaunded and hatefully eschewing that which thou art forbidden to doe assuring thy self by a liuely and working faith that thou art sealed with the holy Spirite proceeding from my father and mee freely by my merrits without any deseruings at all of thine owne to eternall saluation The sinfull man Now doth that Solace sweet appeare which thou hast promist mee And that mine owne deserts are not the meane to come to thee Thy merites are mine onely stay thy mercie meere extende Let faith in thee direct my life my words and thoughts amend The darkesome night is come I see there is no longer stay Tell mee good Solace neede I not come yet an other day Solace THou seest that I haue spent these sixe daies in calling thee from thine error and instructing thee what thou oughtest to doe to reforme thy wicked life yet remaineth there some thing els for thee to be exercised in to mayntaine that fauour of mine heauenly father towardes thee which I haue purchased for thee And therefore although to morrowe bee the Sabboth day which as thou hast learned it behoueth thee to sanctifie with ceasing from all worldly labors and to giue thee to deuine exercises yet for asmuch as all mine endeuour tendeth to the safetie of thy soule I would haue thee to repaire hyther againe to morrowe when I will declare vnto thee the residue breefly that belongeth vnto thee and that behoueth thee to learne to the finishing of all the course of thy life that after this life ended through my merites thou mayst enioye eternall saluation The sinfull man With willing minde I will attende mine heart doth long to see Those heauenly ioyes wherein I trust at last to liue with thee The ende of the Saterdaies Conference betweene Solace and the sinfull man A PRAYER TO God the Father for pardon in Iesus Christ for transgressing his Commaundements for grace to bee directed to the true fulfilling of the same OH God my God oh fountaine welspring of al mercy louing kindnes vouchsafe fauourably to looke down vpon my corruptiō and wickednesse and set before the eyes of thy Iustice the merites of thy Sonne Iesus Christ for whose desertes and due obedience sake leaue to be angrie and turne to me in loue take away the curse which is due for my transgressions and wilfull disobedience Alas what should become of mee if I should receiue according to my desertes for which there is nothing due but the iust reward of death For merciful Lord God when I compare the whole course of my life past with the righteousnesse of thy deuine institutiōs and most sacred Commaundements I find my selfe a very Traytour a most monstrous Rebell against thee the God of my welfare Oh Lorde when the Iustice and iust iudgements of thy deuine Maiestie shew themselues vnto my deserts wherby my conscience accuseth mee to haue deserued eternall death I cannot but fall into vtter dispayre of being acquitted before thee Only herein a◠I comforted sweete Lord that I haue pardon promised in the death and merites of thy deare Sonne mine onely Sauiour and Redemer Iesus Christ in whose name I here present and prostrate my self vnto thee and for his sake most humbly pray thee to forgiue my transgressions and to pardon al my sinnes vouchsaueing me grace from henceforth faithfully and truely to frame all my desires vnto the fulfilling of all thy most godly Commaundements and that in vnfeyned loue of thee aboue all things and to shew the same outwardly to the performāce of my duety to my neighbours whom thou hast cōmaunded me to loue succour helpe releeue and doe vnto as I would that other men should doe vnto me Graunt me sweet Lorde for Iesus Christes sake grace to doe that which I am commaunden in thy lawes and carefully to shunne and auoyde that which I am herein forbidden that I may keepe not onely mine handes but all mine actions and doinges yea mine heart and thoughtes free from displeasing thee And for asmuch as my corruptiō keepeth doune mine vnderstanding and will so that I am not able to performe that which I ought but am ready to do that which I ought not vouchsafe to accept the merits of thy Sonne Iesus Christ as a sufficient discharge for that which I cannot do and for his sake to forgiue mine insufficiencie to performe thy will Sweete God Amen THE SVNDAYE and last dayes Conference betweene Solace and the sinfull Man VVherein Solace directeth him in prayer which is the principall and last work belonging to the attainement of eternall life by faith in Christ. Solace WHat art thou so earely here this morning oh man thou shewest thy selfe now to bee very desirous of my solace as it seemes by thy diligent attendaunce this morning The sinfull man Ye Solace loe I looke for thee mine only comfort deare Whose comfort now I find in deed proceede from heauens cleare And therefore I attend on thee mine only guide and stay Whom thou doest call I see cannot gad like a wretch astray Mine heart is set to secke the way through thee y t guides to blisse Whereby I shall at last possesse the ioye that perfect is Which I in heart by faith doe feele though in this vale of woe Where Sathās forces fell abound and sinnes by custome growe Which vale I long to leaue in haste to take my rest with thee In heauens hye where only ioye and nothing els can bee Solace THou doest well to bee wearied and greeued at the vewe of those abuses and daylie offences which thou perceiuest in the world to moue mine heauenly father to displeasure which in deede are many and greate and to haue a longing desire to leaue them and to giue them ouer to the end thou mayst the more freely come vnto me But thou must beware thou kicke not nor murmur against mine heauenly father in respect of any miserie temptation or trouble to befall thee here in this world and to be discharged or vnburdened thereof to wish for death but referring thy cause vnto his omnipotent and mercifull prouidence in heartie and faithfull prayers through me Waite his good pleasure arming thy self manfully to fight against Satan and his wicked ministers assuring thy self through an vndoubted faith that whatsoeuer thou shalt aske my heauēly father in my name he shall giue it thee I am thy
Mediatour by whom thou shalt be sure to obteyne al thinges both for body and soule Aske therefore I say in my name for I pray vnto mine heauenly father for thee for whose sake he shall giue thee al thinges that thy ioye may be full The sinfull man Alas I knowe not how to aske nor what true prayer is I long to learne so sweete a meane to bring my soule to blisse Wherefore declare to me in haste how I must pray aright Mine heart is set to seeke the thing so pleasaunt in thy sight Solace TRue and faithfull prayer is the principall seruice wherewith God mine heauenly father is honored and pleased for that thereby is thy faith manifested and which beareth witnes openly that thou expectest all helpe all releefe all happinesse and welfare to come from him alone acknowledging him thine onely defence thine onely rocke and sure refuge in the day of thy tribulation who most louingly calleth thée to come vnto him in thy necessitie So y t thou mayst be assured that he is most readie and willing to hearken vnto thy petitions to graunt thy requestes Call vpon me in the day of thy trouble and I will deliuer thee Which calling of thine must be faithful without hypocrisie that is it must bee vnfeyned and zealous euen from thine heart as a sure and certeine testimonie that thou accomptest him thine onely helper and defender and that thou reposest thy trust onely in him as the fountaine of all good whatsoeuer and from whence thy zealous and vnfeyned prayer shall drawe as from the head-spring of al releefe the pure water of continuall comfort namely in this worlde all thinges which shalbe expedient and necessary and in the ende eternall saluation wherein consisteth the whole care which thou art in this life teyed vnto and not so much to seeke the transitorie defence of thy mortall body nor thinges apperteining therunto as the preseruation of thy soule which shall liue for euer and euer wherein thou must beware that the affections which are naturally towardes the body exceede not nor blind thine vnderstanding in such sorte as thou seeke for superfluous meanes for the preseruation thereof and neglect those things wherein the safetie of thy poore soule consisteth which is the worship of mine heauenly father attributing vnto him both outwardly in thy deedes and inwardly in thine heart those dueties and preheminences which by the prescript rule of his deuine worde thou art bounde to yeeld and doe vnto him the cheefest and most acceptable maner whereof is this zealous hearty faithfull prayer which thou must direct vnto him alone through mee his Sonne by whom and by no other meanes thou mayst freely come vnto him reueyling thy necessities opening thy wants bewraying thy weakenesse confessing thy sinnes and yeelding al laude vnto his holie name and all possible thankes and praises for his most bountifull louing kindnesse towardes thee in which seuerall poyntes ought thy prayers to consist namely in coÌ„fessing thy sinnes for he heareth not sinners that is such as haue no feeling of their owne corruption and fall not to vnfeined repentaunce and seeke not forgiuenesse of their sinnes in mee And therefore aboue all things seeke first attonement with my heauenly father yea and that whensoeuer thou goest about to aske any thing at his handes thinke that thou art a sinner and that the remission thereof in true repentaunce is promised in mee to whom al the Prophetes beare witnesse that through my name all that beleeue in mee shall receiue the remission of their sinnes By whom being iustified by faith thou hast peace with myne heauenly father To whom as thou art bound to make all thy prâ—â—ers so must they be made in and by me by whom thou hast boldnesse through faith to goe vnto him euen to the seate of his grace And hauing reconciliation and attonement with him through me and free accesse vnto the throane of his Maiestie in faith lay open thy necessities assuring thy selfe that whatsoeuer thou pray vnto him for be it for spirituall or temporall benefites in my name he shall giue it thee for I am the Mediatour and high Bishop that make continuall prayers for thee and no man commeth vnto the father but by mee And therefore if thou abide in me and my wordes abide in thee aske what thou wilt and it shalbe done for thee Wherefore it behoueth thee duely to consider that I am onely the meane wherby thy petitions are heard and for whose sake they were graunted and al the promises fulfilled And that there is none other neither Sainct nor Angell or other through whome or for whose sake thou mayst looke for peace with God my heauenly father whoÌ„ thou hast offended but my self alone to whoÌ„ were al the promises made being heire of all thinges who am made vnto al the faithfull wisedome holines sanctificatioÌ„ redeÌ„ption wherefore namely that whoso reioyceth should reioyce in myne heauenly father through mee and to attribute euery good gift and euery perfect gift vnto him from whom al goodnes proceedeth and that with continual thanckesgiuing which is the thirde principall point of this especiall worship and seruice of God namely vnfeined prayer wherein when thou hast referred thy selfe and reueiled vnto him in my name either the multitude of thy sinnes and greeuous traÌ„sgressions and feeling thy selfe through a liuely faith to be vnited vnto his grace and fauour again or when thou hast declared vnto him thy corporall or spirituall wants as of a competent liuing of defence in daunger tranquillitie of minde peace with thy neighbors successe in thy vocation good health of body or of any other thing necessarie for thy reliefe and thou according to thy request hast bene heard and comforted It behooueth thee not as a thanckles person to runne on in petitioÌ„ only but to acknowledge the bountifull mercie of myne heauenly father in forgiuing thy sinnes and to yeeld him all possible thanckes for his protection for his superaboundant louing kindnes wherein hee hath releeued thee defended thee and preserued thee from those euils wherein without his ayd and outstretched arme thou couldest not but haue perished and those mercies of his not only to commend for a time but continually for that thou standest in a continuall present neede of his fauour without the which euerie day euery howre and euery moment bringeth with it euils enough to ouerthrowe thee yea both body and soule Wherefore I say it behooueth thee to the discharge of thy duety in this so precious a work praier first to confesse thy sinnes and to seeke attonement and peace with GOD myne heauenly father through mee in a liuely fayth Secondly to make thine humble praiers for corporall or spirituall necessaries and for the gift of them not to rest vnmindful or thankles but yeelding vnfeyned thankes not onely inwardly in heart but shewing the same in the
giuing thee whatsoeuer is necessarie for thee And for that cause oughtest thou to be subiect and obedient vnto his will in all thinges and to pray for the setting forth and sanctifying of his holy name which is to haue his word truely taught louingly imbraced diligently followed him to be worshipped according to the trueth thereof in all thinges And therefore when thou intendest to pray either for good thinges to bee giuen thee or euill things to be taken frō thee thou must haue a principal regarde to the magnifying of his holy name and to the setting forth of his most worthie praises for his mercies and goodnesse with ardent desire that his holy name may be hallowed and his kingdome come That is that his holy spirite would so direct thee in all thy doinges thoughtes and desires that thine heart varie not from his will but bee so setled in the performaunce thereof in all thinges that true humilitie vnfeyned loue vndoubted hope and constaunt faith may begin in thee that tranquilitie and peace of cōscience which may assure thee through me to bee the heire of his euerlasting kingdome to the ouerthrowe of Sathans rule and destruction of all his power whereby he endeuoureth to leade all mankinde into vtter destruction Pray therefore that his kingdome may come which is his holy spirite which hee hath promised to powre out vppon those that earnestly desire it which shall guide thee to the true seruice of mine heauenly father here in this world vntill such time as I shall appeare in the Clowdes to chaunge thy mortal body and place it in that kingdome wherein thou shalt remaine in blisse vnspeakeable for euer Thou must pray also that myne heauenly fathers will bee done in earth as it is in heauen that is that not onely thy self but all the people of the earth may doe that which in his worde is prescribed and commaunded to be done and that there may bee such obedience such loue such godly behauiour in this world amōg men as is required to be that as the Angelles in heauen are obedient vnto his will and cōmaundements whereby he is glorified there so he might be obeyed to the magnifying of his name here in earth And therfore art thou commaunded faithfully to pray vnto him that he would vouchsafe to gouerne all men as Princes Pastors and Teachers Gouernours and Magistrates that they may performe his will here in earth as it is done in heauen And that all men may execute their vocations truely to the praise of his holy name In which three former petitions thou hast to learne that it behoueth thee principally in thy praiers to regarde the glorie of God mine heauenly father And now attend and thou shalt perceiue that as thou art commaunded in the former petitions to haue respect onely vnto the honour of myne heauenly fathers name So art thou also louingly called to craue corporall blessings namely for such thinges as are necessarie and expedient for the maintenaunce of this life by this petitiō Giue vs this day our daily bread which comprehendeth in it not onely request for bread but for a competent liuing and good successe in thy vocation namely that hee will blesse it and make thy trauayle prosperous in such sort as by the fruites thereof thou mayst be able without vnlawfull meanes to liue and be rather helpefull then burdensome to others Yea thou hast warrant in this petition to craue all things belonging to this life not onely sufficiencie of foode and apparell but also health of body and other temporall benefites The Prophet declareth in the Psalmes that hungrie and thirstie soules wandring in the wildernes called vnto myne heauenly father and were releeued and sent away replenished Yea those rhat lye in prison and in the shadowe of death fast bound in miserie and iron without all hope of healpe calling vpon him in hearty and faithfull prayer are heard their prayers graunted and they deliuered Such also as are afflicted and pining away with sicknesse and heauinesse of heart humbling themselues vnto him in prayer are cured of their diseases When thou art therfore in such or any other afflictiō be it sicknesse imprisonment pouertie daunger of enemies or any other trouble whatsoeuer referre thee to the cōsideration of this petition and there shalt thou finde that thou hast sufficient warrant to flye vnto mine heauenly father in my name in heartie prayer for deliueraunce from thy distresse who is nere vnto all them that cal vpon him yea to all that cal vpon him in trueth he will fulfill the desire of them that feare him he will heare their prayers and saue them In this petition therefore it behoueth thee and all aswell the rich as the poore to consider that it is not great aboundaunce of riches and store of all worldly thinges nor the labour industrie and earnest diligence of their vocations but the onely blessing of mine heauenly father whereby their store is preserued and the labour of their handes so prospered as it serueth for the preseruation of their mortall liues And therefore all men ought so to referre them selues vnto mine heauenly fathers will bee they poore or rich in zealous and heartie prayer as that in the good successe both of their store and calling they may referre the glorie vnto him the aucthor of all their welfare and whose blessing it is that maketh rich and releeueth the poore Thou hast heard before that it behoueth thee in all thy prayers first to craue forgiuenesse of thy sinnes and reconciliation with God myne heauenly father through mee And in this former most excellent forme of prayer which must be thy direction to all thy praiers thou art warranted to aske for remission of thy sinnes But vpon this condition namely that thou forgiue freely and from thine heart all those that haue offended thee Wherein thou hast then to consider that if thou come vnto mine heauenly father endewed as before thou hast been taught with especiall loue of him and vnfeyned loue towardes all men come freely and boldly vnto him in the name of mee thy continuall Mediatour and craue in a true faith that for my sake hee will forgiue thy sinnes and receiue thee againe into his fauour assuring thy selfe that hauing mee the high Bishop praying for thee through whom thou being iustified by faith art at peace and at one with God mine heauenly father Thinke therefore diligently vpon the forgiuenesse of thy sinnes in me and whensoeuer thine owne vnworthinesse through feare so cloyeth thy poore conscience that thou thinke nothing but condemnation due vnto thee Cast the eyes of thine heart through a liuely faith vppon my merites standing at no time vppon thine owne deseruinges craue reconciliation and remission for my sake assuring thy selfe to bee heard and receiued into mine heauenly fathers fauour againe And beware thou stande not righteous in thine owne conceit for if thou
a speciall fruite of repentance A guiltie coÌ„science shall condemne it selfe in the last dry An hard sentence for the couetouse men Luke 18 22. Mat 19.20 Hard for a rich man to be saued The state of wicked Rich men very miserable Luke 19 2. to 11. Zacheus a paterne of repentance Prou 28.8 We must releeue our poore brethren Psal. 39.6 49.6 Psal· 52.6.7.8 1. Sam. 25 The reward of Naball for not releuing the young men that came from Dauid Pro. 11.4 Prosperitie the nurce of vice 1. Sam 12 13· Dauid in prosperitie fell to vice Luke 19.8 â—ob 4 8.9 As we haue plentie we must giue plentifully God rewardeth those that giue to the poore Prou. 19 17. Psal 41.1 1. Tim. 6.18 We must not onely say we will but we must doe thus We may not not looke for saluation in respect of our owne works but in the merite of Christ. 1· Iohn 2 12. Iudâ— 21. We must disclaime our owne worthines Psal. 1.43.2 1. Ioh. 2.1 Heb. 9 24· Rom. 8.34 We may not so presume vppon the mercies of Christ as to neglect our owne indeuours to doe well Rom. 2.4 We muste take heede of driuing off from day to day to repent Manie be ouertaken with death while they defer their repentaunce from day to day We may not deferre our true repentance but spedely to returne vnto God No man can say my hearte is cleare froÌ„ sinne Luke 15.7 Ioye in heauen for a sinner that repenteth Act. 5 5·10 The hipocrisie of Annanias and Saphira rewarded with death The ende of the fourth dayes conference A prayer â—here be manie that in outwarde showe seem peacockes braue birdes who if euery birde might take his feather woulde show them selues to be poore bussards Some that show theÌ„selues to bee good members or at least seeke to be accompted profitable for the common wealth that are very catterpillers of the lande Luke 13.5 The exchaÌ„ge of welth into want is greuous The knockâ— that we giue other men to benefit our selues are sweet vnto vs thogh sower vnto them The poore mans sorrow are sallets in the rich mans dish â— Cor 5.11 We must make choise of companie to goe forward in vertue The conuersation of the godly a good example to follow Pouertie â— good spurre to pricke vs forward to obedience to God The spirit worketh coÌ„trary to the will of the flesh As flesh taken newly from the shambles soone fâ—streth so he that is lately called from error is soner withdrawen from the trueth againe with-out exercyse The pouerti of Iob was preparatiue to patience The humilety of Iob. Pacience accompanied with a godly sorrow The end of pacience God is neere vnto all them that suffer affliction with patience Psal. 143.3 Gen. 37.5.28 God was nere vnto Ioseph in his distres In our necessites we must referre the manner the meane the time to the prouideÌ„ce of God God helpeth when the helpe of man can take no place The read sea deuided it selfe to letâ— the children of Israell to goe through· God nere vnto Daniell in his troubles The three children delyuered from the whot Furnace Ier 18 As long as we are choaked with riches pleasures of the world we cannot truely repent Psal. 119·71 Affliction the meane to seeke the Lord. Act. 14.22 By manie troubles and not by pleasures we must enter into the kingdome of heauen we must returne to god when we bee called or els he will vse scurges to wyn vs. Psaâ— 119.71 Christ is the way that leadeth vnto eternall lyfe Deut. 8 2.3· Dan 9.9 Iudg 10.15.16 Vngodly sorrowe enmitye to god afflyction an argument of gods fauour 2 Sam. 16. Iudith 8.28 We haue deserued more punishments then we can beare We must suffer a little ye al afflictions for our saluations sake If we can suffer paynes for the curing of the body we must much more be contented to suffer afflictions for our soules sake As sharp medicines be often times most curable for the bodies so the sharpest afflâ—ctions most healthfull to the soule Chrâ—st the onely phisition of all sicke soules All the afflictions of this life is not answerable to the least part of the benefit of our saluation in Christ and therefore not to be accouÌ„ted greeuous Pro. 3.12 God punisheth oftentimes the iust and spareth the wicked Ezek. 33 1â— Luke 15.19 Io. 8.12 A notable example worthy to be noted of the lost sonne Prosperitie is a spurre to euill and aduersitie a pricke to vrge vs to trust in God He that is loden wit the heauie burden of sinne can neuer referre himselfe to heaâ—tie prayer before he be perswaded of the remission thereof thorowe Christ. Pro. 28.13 Confession what it is King 8.46 No man can say that he hath not sinned The way to obtaine the fauour 〈◊〉 God is to humble our selues and to appeale vnto his mercie in Christ. Psal. 32.5 The confession of Dauid If we woulde loâ—ke backe into the 〈…〉 life we shall find our selues the whole packe of vs wretched sinners With the eye of a true faith must we look into our former euils and with the same eye looke vpon the mercies of God promised in Christ. Confession must be ioyned with faith and repentance Rom. 10.10 Dan 9 5. The confession of Daniel God beholdeth aswell the inward thoughtes as the outward actions Wee must confesse our sinnes for two causes The first cause The second cause Psal. 3.6.218.18 The confession of the godly men profit vs. One is edified by anothers vnfeyned confessioÌ„ Mat. 5.16 Psal. 14.3.2 2. Pet. 1.3 Ioh. 9.15.2 We must lay away all our owne merites before we can take hold of Christes promises Gal 5.4 Gal. 3.8 Tit. 3.7 Act. 3.38.39 Rom. 10 9.10 Ephe. 2.8.9 Although our Iustification come freely thorow faith in Christ we are not discharged of doing our endeuour to fulfill the law Christ is our perfection through faith without whoÌ„ we remaine vnperfect We must take heede that wee neglect not our dueties in performing the lawe as farre aâ— we can notwitstanding Christ hath vndertaken to doe that which we cannot attaine vnto 1. Pet. 1.5.6.7 Zecha 8.16.17 2 Pet. 1.8 we must shew our faith to be a true faith by our work We must not only confesse our sinnes but we must leaue them and forsake them All men haue sinned When we confesse our synnes we muste take heed that 〈◊〉 be not only in the tongue but from the hart Some can make a fayre show of holines outwardly but repent not rightly inwardly who deserue doubble punishments Works without fayth are abominable We are bouÌ„d to doe good vnto all men The Couetous man esteemeth his aboundanâ— as his god The summe of the whole commaundemeÌ„ts is loue Ex· 20.2 Mat 22.37 Gall 5.14 We must esteeme the commandements as the very word of God God ioyned his maiesty with the word came downe to deliuer the same Mount Sinay smoaked and trembled at the presence oâ— the Lorde PsaÌ„ 19.7 When thou hast