Bradford God hath given thee a penitent and beleeving heart that is an heart which desireth to repent and beleeve for such an one is taken of him for a penitent and beleeving heart he accepting the will for the deed 2 Cor. 8. For if there bee first a willing mind it is accepted according to that a man hath and not according to that a man hath not Kâ—mnit When I have a good desire though it doth scarcely shew it self in some little slender sigh I must be assured that the Spirit of God is present and worketh his good worke He will fulfill the desire of them that feare him Psal 145. he will also heare their cry and save them His comming unto God HEe that commeth unto God Hebr. 11. must beleeve that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seeke him Let us draw neere with a true heart 10. in full assurance of faith In Christ we have boldnes Ephes 3. and accesse with confidence by the faith of him The first comming to God Hom. de fiâ— is through faith whereby we be justified before him For the faith of the Catholike Religion Chrysost is the light of the soule the doore of life the foundation of eternall salvation Aug. Without it no man can come neere the number of the sons of God without it all the endevour of man is void Gal. 3. For ye are all the children of God by Faith in Christ Jesus Beda It commeth not from the wisdome of eloquent words but from the gift of the heavenly calling Phil. 1. For unto you it is given in the behalfe of CHRIST not onely to beleeve on him but also to suffer for his sake Mark 1â— When the Scribe said that to love GOD with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the soule and with all the strength And to love his neighbour as himselfe is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices Jesus said unto him Ibid. thou art not farre from the Kingdome of heaven If thy heart can onely sobbe unto GOD despaire not Knox. thou art not destitute of Faith for that onely sobbe is an acceptable Sacrifice unto GOD. The Faith which the Scripture commendss is nothing else but Ferus To trust in the free mercy of GOD. Come unto mee all yee that labour Mat. 11. and are heavie laden and I will give you rest Incline your eare Isa 55. and come unto mee heare and your soule shall live and I will make an everlasting covenant with you even the sure mercies of David His Repentance 2 Pet. 3. THe Lord is long suffering to us ward not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance Act. 3. Repent ye therfore and be converted that your sinnes may be blotted out Glos ord Repentance is a bewayling of our former sins and a care not to commit the like againe Chrysost God never despiseth repentance if it bee offered unto him intirely and simply Hieron For the Lord respecteth not the length of time but considereth the upright affection of him that repenteth When we feele the burthen of our sins Vdall and be grieved in heart for them it is the worke of the holy Ghost and in time will bring forth fruit worthy of repentance There are foure parts of true repentance Hom. de poenit Contrition which is an unfained sorrow conceived in the heart for our sinnes committed Confession which is an humble and unfained acknowledging of our sins unto God Faith whereby we stedfastly beleeve that God for his Sonne Christ Jesus sake will forgive us all our iniquities Amendment of life which is to become new creatures and to bring forth fruits worthy of repentance Aug. Neither is it sufficient to repentance to change our manners into better and to depart from our evill waies unlesse GOD be satisfied for our sins past by the sorrow of repentance by the groane of humility by the sacrifice of a contrite heart Almes deeds accompanying Chrysost Not to bee grieved for thy sins doth more displease God and provoke his anger than the sinne which before thou diddest commit Ioel 2. Therfore now also saith the Lord Turne ye even to me with all your heart and with fasting and with weeping and with mourning Ibidem And rent your heart and not your garments and turne unto the LORD your GOD for he is gratious and mercifull slow to anger and of great kindnesse When thou so repentest Aug. that thy soule hath a bitter taste of that which before was pleasant in thy life and what before was delightfull to the body the same tormenteth thee in thine heart even now dost thou lament and mourne before GOD. If a man be never so great a sinner Latimer yet if he have true repentance with faith and hope in GODS mercy he shall be forgiven GODS mercy hath no limits at all Chrysost if any doe call for helpe there is one that will heare readily If any doe repent there is one that will shew mercy Lyra moral As the Palme tree which is rugged in the stocke and hath pleasant fruit in the top even so a righteous man beginneth in the roughnesse of repentance and endeth in the sweetnesse of heavenly comfort Hom de poenit Let us therefore repent for straying from so good a Lord let us confesse our unworthinesse before him but yet let us trust in Gods free mercy for Christ Jesus sake for the pardon of our sins Gregor For Gods mercy doth helpe those who repent in this world but in that which is to come we doe not repent but give account of our works Rom. 2. Despisest thou the riches of his goodnesse and forbearance and long suffering not knowing that the goodnesse of God leadeth thee to repentance His Confession HE that covereth his sins Prov. 28. shall not prosper but who so confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercie Confesse thy sinnes before God Chrysost and declare thine offences with prayer to the true Judge not with thy tongue but with remembrance of thy conscience That confession delivereth from death Ambr. which is made by repentance David said unto the Lord 2 Sam. 24. I have sinned greatly in that I have done And now I beseech thee O Lord take away the iniquity of thy servant for I have done foolishly Basil I doe not confesse with my lips that I may manifest my selfe to many but inwardly in my very heart shutting mine eyes to thee alone that seest the things that are in secret do I shew my groanes roaring within my selfe for the groanes of mine heart and the lamentations sent to thee my God from the depth of my soule suffice for a confession Hom. de poenit This is the chiefest and most principall Confession
THE SINNERS Sanctuary ISA. 7.55 Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him returne unto the Lord and hee will have mercy upon him and to our God for hee will abundantly pardon HIERON The Lord doth neither performe the good things which he promised to the Saints if they returne to iniquities nor the evils which hee threatned to sinners if they returne unto salvation By THOMAS PACKER his Majesties Servant LONDON Printed by Iohn Haviland for Edward Blackmore and are to be sold at his shop in S. Pauls Church yard at the signe of the Angel 1638. TO THE CHILDREN of Men. ROM 3.23 For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God COme now Isa 1.18 and let us reason together saith the Lord though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow though they be red like crymsin they shall be as wooll Have I any pleasure at Ezec. 18.23 all that the wicked should die saith the Lord God and not that hee should returne from his waies and live 31. Cast away from you all your transgressions whereby yee have transgressed and make you a new heart and a new spirit for why will ye die O house of Israel 1 Sa. 12.23 I will teach you the good and the right way 24. Onely feare the Lord and serve him in truth with all your heart for cōsider how great things he hath done for you Wee must serve the Lord our God Deu. 28.47 with joifulnesse and with gladnesse of heart for the abundance of all things Trust in the Lord with all thine heart Pro. 35. and leane not unto thine owne understanding In all thy waies acknowledge him 6. and hee shall direct thy paths Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust Psal 40.4 And be not conformed to this world Rom. 12.2 but be yee transformed by the renewing of your mind that ye may prove what is that good that acceptable and perfect will of God Augustin Doe not understand that thou maist beleeve but beleeve that thou maist understand understanding is the reward of Faith Iohn 11.40 Jesus saith unto Martha Said I not unto thee that if thou wouldest beleeve thou shouldest see the glory of God Act. 18.27 When Apollos came into Achaia hee helped them much who had beleeved through grace Isa 7.9 If ye will not beleeve surely yee shall not bee established We beeleve and know Ioh. 6.69 that thou art Christ that Sonne of the living God Teach me good judgement and knowledge Psal 119.66 O Lord for I have beleeved thy Commandements It belongeth to every private man to judge of the doctrine of religion Brentius for satisfaction of his owne conscience and to discerne the truth from falshood That Religion which Lipsius is sincerely taken out of the holy Scriptures is the true and Christian Religion Andrad For they containe the most ample Canon that is the rule and square of Piety Faith and Religion August They have delivered unto us that there is but one God and one Christ one Hope and one Faith one Church and one Baptisme Ferus They are the sole rule of veritie and whatsoever differs or contradicteth the same it is error and cockle with what shew soever it commeth forth They are all plaine to him that understandeth Pro. 3.5 and right to them that finde knowledge All those things which appertaine to faith Aug. and direction of life are laid downe plainly in the holy Scriptures They are manifest to them Epiphan who repaire unto them with a religious heart Let not our Religion therefore consist in our fantasies for any truth Aug. whatsoever it be is better than any thing that can of our own head be devised Aug. Godly humility doth more easily finde out the Maker of the stars than proud curiosity the order of the starres Booke of nature into the book of Grace The depth of Predestination and the manner of Regeneration are difficult points of divine mysteries which a studious Divine an illuminated spirit cannot find out Ibidem Let us religiously adore these things by faith and not curiously search into them by reason further than Gods Word doth allow This is the perfection of the regenerate August If they acknowledge themselves to be imperfect The doctrine of the holy Ghost doth not encourage curiositie Bernard but inflameth charitie When the soule is overcome by the fever Chrysost or fiery heat of imaginations then it questioneth but when it is sound and in good temper it reasoneth not but faithfully beleeveth As zeale must erect our discretion Bernard that wee run not too slowly So discretion must direct our zeale that we run not too fast Aug. God will reveale wisdome onely to such as walke continually in the way of peace not in the way of precisenesse Harsnet Tell me what is not contained in the ten Cōmandements which of a Christian is to bee performed Lactant. When God opened his truth unto us he would have us know those things only which it behooved man to know for obtaining life But of those things which appertained to curious profane desires he spake not that they might bee hidden Why then doest thou seeke those things which thou canst not know neither art thou more blessed if thou knowest them Grace teacheth a man to put his knowledge in practice Harsnet He desires to be taught Idem that he may walke not that he may talke as too many doe Adde to your faith vertue 2 Pet. 1.5 and to vertue knowledge 6. And to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience and to patience godlinesse 7. And to godlinesse brotherly kindnesse and to brotherly kindnesse charitie 8. For if these things be in you and abound they make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitfull in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ Luther in Luke 6. Let us first repose Faith in God alone and then let us direct our works to the benefit of our neighbour As many as will not follow God Idem in Ephes 5. and walke in love and I shew forth their faith by their works are neither the sons of God nor heires of his kingdom What doth it profit Ia. 2.14 my brethren though a man say hee hath faith can faith save him The end of the Commandement is Charity 1 Tim. 1.5 out of a pure heart and of a good conscience and of faith unfeined By faith which is conceived Haymo in the heart professed with the mouth and adorned with good works the just man liveth eternally Cyprian Life is here lost or wonne everlasting salvation is here provided for by the due worshipping of God and the fruits of faith Epiphan For in the age to come after a mans death there is
no more helpe by fasting no more calling to penance no more exhibition of Almes Epiphan It is as the corne that swelleth not after it is reaped neither can bee spoiled with the wind The garners are sealed up the time is past Idem the combat is finished the lists are voided and the garlands are given Aug. Let us therefore bee at one with the word of God while we are in this life for when we are gone out of this world there shall bee no more compunction or satisfaction there remaineth no more but the Judge the Gaolour and the Prison When wee were enemies Rom. 5.10 we were reconciled unto God by the death of his Son Heb. 9.26 Once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himselfe Acts 10.43 To him give all the Prophets witnesse that through his name whosoever beleeveth in him shall receive remission of sinnes Bellar. Wee confesse that Christ hath truly yea most fully satisfied God the Father for us and for the whole world Aug. JESUS CHRIST taking upon him the punishment but not the fault hath therby blotted out both the fault and the punishment Let us hold fast the profession of our faith Heb. 10. without wavering for hee is faithfull that promised The rule of Catholike faith is certain known Bellar. There is nothing more knowne Idem nothing more certain than the holy Scriptures which are contained in the writings of the Prophets and Apostles They are Catholikes Aug. which be of sound Faith and good life Idem Hereticks doe violate faith by beleeving false things of God Tertul. Whatsoever favoureth against the truth is an heresie be it never so ancienta custome Aug. And schismatiks though they beleeve the same things with us yet doe fly from brotherly Charitie by their wicked divisions Idem Wherefore neither doth the Heretick belong to the Catholike Church because hee loveth not God Nor the Schismatike Idem because he loveth not his neighbour Pure Religion Ja. 1.27 and undefiled before GOD and the Father is this To visit the fatherlesse and the widowes in their affliction and to keepe himselfe unspotted from the world If true charity Casarius and humility be wanting we ought not to presume and trust to the habit only of Religion Let us search Lam. 3.40 and try our waies and turne againe unto the Lord. 25. The Lord is good to them that wait for him to the soule that seeketh him 30. For hee doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the Children of Men. 1 PET. 2.17 Feare God Honor the King The contents are these viz. THe Sinners conversion Pa. 1 His godly desire 4 His comming unto God 7 His Repentance 10 His Confession 15 His Absolution 19 His amendment of life 23 His assurance of Salvation 30 Gods mercy 34 Death 40 The last Iudgement 44 4. Helps to the amendment of life 1. Prayer 51 2. Reading the Scriptures 55 3. Hearing the Word preached 59 4. Sacraments 62 The holy Eucharist or Sacrament of the Body and Bloud of our Lord. 64 A remembrance of the death and passion of our Saviour Christ 68 Worthy Receivers 70 Vnworthy Receivers 74 Transubstantiation 76 To be received in both kinds 80 The Prayer before receiving the Communion 83 The Prayer after receiving the Communion 85 A Prayer before reading the holy Scriptures 87 A Prayer for faith 88 For Repentance 89 A short and effectuall Prayer 90 The generall Confession 91 A Prayer for the Morning 93 A Prayer for all times 95 A Prayer before going to bed 96 A Psalme of contrition and confession 98 A Psalme for remission 100 A Psalme for mercy and direction 102 A Psalme of confidence in Gods mercie 104 A Psalme of praise 106 THE SINNERS Conversion O Israel Hos 14.1 returne unto the Lord thy God for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity Returne unto mee Malac. 3.7 and I will returne unto you saith the Lord of Hosts Our conversion will alwaies finde him prepared August Humble your selves therefore under the mighty hand of God Iam. 4.10 that hee may exalt you in due time Lyra in Eph. Humility is the foundation of the spirituall building Iam. 4.8 Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you Greg. Naz. O the readinesse of Gods gratious love O the easinesse of his exorable reconcilement Perkins A man beginning to bee converted is at that instant the childe of God Idem Inward motions and inclinations of Gods Spirit are the materiall beginning of a Sinners conversion Phil. 3.13 For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to doe of his good pleasure Luke 15. The prodigall son when he came to himselfe said I will arise and goe to my father and will say unto him Father I have sinned against Heaven and before thee And am no more worthy to be called thy sonne Ibidem make me as one of thy hired servants And he arose Ibidem and came to his father But when he was yet a great way off his father saw him and had compassion and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him Though a man come to the height of vice Chrysost and yet be willing to returne into the way of vertue God receiveth and embraceth him willingly None ought therefore to despaire of pardon Greg. if about the end of their life they turne to repentance And although our conversion be good in our last sicknesse yet is that better Idem which is performed long before our death that wee may with more security passe out of this world Hieron God grant the sinner may be as soone turned to repentance as the Lord is ready to change his determined judgement Ezech. 33. Turne yee turne ye from your evill waies for why will ye dye O house of Israel Lam. 15. Turne thou us unto thee O Lord and wee shall bee turned His godly desire Psal 42. AS the Hart panteth after the water brookes so panteth my soule after thee O God 84. My soule longeth yea even fainteth for the Courts of the Lord My heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God The more earnestly God is desired of us Gregor the more sweetly is hee delighted in us Our desires doe sound more powerfully in the secretest eares of God Idem than our words Hee that searcheth the heart Rom. 8. knoweth what is the mind of the spirit because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God God hath annexed a promise of blessednesse Perkins and life everlasting to the desire of grace Blessed are they which doe hunger Mat 5. and thirst after righteousnesse for they shall be filled August The whole life of a good Christian is an holy will and desire
that in the Scriptures and Word of God wee are bidden to make and without the which we shall never obtaine pardon and forgivenesse of our sins Bernard Without this Confession the righteous man is judged unthankfull and the sinner reputed a dead man Therâ—fâ—re Conf ssion is the way of the sinner and neverthelesse becommeth the righteous Lord be mercifull unto me Psal 41. heale my soule for I have sinned against thee If any say I have sinned Iob 33. and perverted that which was right and it profited mee not He will deliver his soule from going into the pit Ibidem and his life shall see the light If we will with a sorrowfull Hom. de poenit and contrite heart make an unfeined confession of our sins unto God he will freely forgive them and put all our wickednesse out of his remembrance Ibid. I doe not say but that if any do finde themselves troubled in conscience they may repaire to their learned Curat or Pastor or to some other godly learned man and shew the trouble doubt of their conscience to him that they may receive at his hand the comfortable salve of Gods word Hom. de poenit But it is against the true Christian liberty that any man should be bound to the numbering of his sinnes as hath beene used heretofore in the time of blindnesse and ignorance Bellar. Calvin admitteth of private confession unto the Pastor when any is afflicted in his conscience and shall need anothers helpe Yet with this moderation that this confession bee free and not exacted and not injoyning a rehearsall of all particular sins Let us with a true and contrite heart Hom de â—oenit use that kind of confession which God hath commanded in his word If we confesse our sins 1 Ioh. 1. he is faithfull and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousnesse His Absolution WHo can forgive sins Mark 2.7 but God onely The Son of Man hath power upon earth to forgive sins 10. He will purge your conscience from dead workes Heb. 9.14 to serve the living God For this is not an humane Ambros worke neither is the holy Ghost given by man but beâ—ng called upon by the Priest is bestowed by God wherin the gift is Gods the ministery is the Priests Pet. Lumb God onely doth remit and reteine sins and yet he hath given unto the Church power of binding and loosing But God bindeth and looseth otherwise than the Church doth for he by himselfe only remitteth sins because hee purgeth the soule inwardly from the spot of sin freeth it from the depth of eternall death which the Church cannot do but hath power of binding and loosing that is of declaring what sinners are either loosed or bound Chemnit In absolution God himself by the ministery of the Gospell doth remit sins unto all beleevers The vertue and effect of remission is not in the Disciples Cajetan but in God who pardoneth We account of them Ambros as the Ministers of Christ Stewards of the Mysteries Sins are not loosed or reteined at the pleasure of men Aug. but according to the will of God praiers of the Church To the Lord our God belong mercies Daniel 9.9 and forgivenesses though we have rebelled against him Delivering fom sin Chrysost he ingrafteth righteousnes yea he extinguisheth sin and suffereth it not to be O Lord God Almighty Ordo Rom. antiq de Offic divin pag. 18. edi Rom. 1591. be mercifull to me a sinner that I may worthily give thankes unto thee who hast made me an unworthy one for thy mercies sake a Minister of the Priestly Office and hast appointed mee a poore and humble Mediatour to pray and make intercession unto our Lord Jesus Christ for sinners that returne unto repentance And therefore O Lord the Ruler who wouldest have all men to bee saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth who dost not desire the death of a sinner but that he may bee reconciled and live Receive my prayer which I powre forth before the face of thy mercy for thy servants and handmaids who have fled to repentance and thy mercie Nehemiah 9.17 Thou art a God ready to pardon gracious and mercifull slow to anger and of great kindnesse Behold Ambros that by the holy Ghost sins are forgiven but men to the remission of sins bring their Ministery They exercise not the authority of any power Therefore in all the servants there is no dominion Optat. but a Ministery Almighty God give unto thee absolution Tho. Aquin. and remission His amendment of life YOu were sometimes darknesse Ephes 5. but now are yee light in the Lord walke as children of light Set your affection on Colos 3. things above not on things on the earth Ephes 4. Put ye off concerning the former conversation the old man which is corrupt after the deceitfull lusts Ibidem And put yee on the new man which after GOD is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse Playfer That which is borne of the old man which is the flesh must dayly decrease in us and grow downwards Idem But that which is borne of the new man which is the Spirit must daily increase in us and grow upward Latymer Repentance and amendment of life are a sure remedy that our sins shall not bee our shame and confusion Vdall Bee carefull to live in godlinesse reforming your affection inwardly and your conversation outwardly according to the prescript rule of God word They that from the bottome of their heart doe acknowledge their sins Hom. de â—oenit and are unfeinedly sory for their offences will cast off all hypocrisie and put on true humilitie and lowlinesse of heart And as they did before give themselves to uncleannes of life Ibidem so will they henceforth with all diligence give themselves to innocency purenesse of life and true godlinesse The graces of God Oecumen as the flowers of a garden must not only be kept but also dressed that they may have not only a being but also an abounding Coloss 3. Put yee on therefore as the elect of GOD holy and beloved bowels of mercies kindnesse humblenesse of minde meeknesse long suffering Forbearing one another and forgiving one another 4 if any have a quarrell against any even as Christ forgave you so also doe ye Ibidem And above all things put on Charity which is the bond of perfectnesse Raban Mercy consisteth in giving almes cheerfully in suffering wrong patiently in reforming the rude lovingly Chrysost It is the safety of salvation the ornamâ—nt of faith and propitiation for sins Lyra. Let Christs humility also bee inwardly in your hearts and not outwardly as it is with hypocrites For unlesse wee bee beaten downe in humility â—â—all we
are no vessels for Christ to dwell in Humilitie is a signe of worth but pride Bernard of emptinesse and vanity If the minde be constantly directed to GOD Greg moral whatsoever in this life is bitter unto us through patience wee account it pleasant Let a man looke into his heart Aug. and see if he have Charity and then let him say I am borne of GOD. Charity is a desire of the minde to love GOD for himselfe Idem and to love our neighbour for GOD. It is the stay of wisdome Idem the fruit of Faith the riches of the poore and the life of them that are dying Luther A Christian life consisteth in this that we deale with faith and with the heart in things apperteyning to GOD but use our life and works towards our neighbour Ephes 2. For wee are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordeined that we should walke in them Hom. de fid oper There is one work in which be all good works that is faith which worketh by charity If thou have it thou hast the ground of all good works Luther GOD will have works done freely not that wee may merit any thing therby but that we may doe them to the profit of our neighbours and witnes our sincere faith by them Aug. No man doth good works to receive grace by them but because he hath first received grace therefore consequently he doth good works Behold Iohn 5. thou art made whole sin no more lest a worse thing happen unto thee Which penance wee shall never be able to fulfill Hom. de poenit without the speciall grace of him that saith Ioh. 15.5 without me ye can doe nothing It is therfore our parts Hom de poenit if at least wee bee desirous of the health and salvation of our own soules most earnestly to pray to our heavenly father to assist us with his holy spirit that we may bee able to hearken to the voice of the true Shepheard and with due obedience to follow the same Let us heare the conclusion of the whole matter Eccl. 12. feare God and keepe his commandements for this is the whole duety of man His assurance of Salvation Iohn 3. HE that beleeveth on the Sonne hath everlasting life 1 Pet. 1. Whom having not seene ye love in whom though now yee see him not yet beleeving ye rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory Ibidem Receiving the end of your Faith even the salvation of your soules Bish Fisher If wee will enter into heaven we must not come with a double heart or wavering faith but with that which is altogether without doubting and most certain Hillar The LORD will have us hope for the Kingdome of Heaven without any doubting for otherwise there is no justification of faith if faith be uncertaine The just living by faith Fulgent saith confidently I beleeve to see the goodnesse of the LORD in the land of the living We have hope Heb. 6. as an Anchor of the soule both sure and stedfast and which entreth into that which is within the Vaile Because ye are sons Gal. 4. GOD hath sent forth the spirit of his son into your hearts crying Abba father Wherefore thou art no more a servant but a son Ibidem and if a son then an heire of God through Christ Wee leave not a sinner in Stapleton the middest of wavering doubtfulnesse but we place him in good and firme hope when once his conscience witnesseth with him that he hath truely repented Aug. There is a kind of glorying in thy conscience when thou knowest thy faith is sincere thy hope certain thy love without dissembling Altisiodor Wee may discerne we are in grace by our good desire comfort of minde and good works Bernard The spirit by faith revealeth to a man the eternall purpose of God concerning his future salvation which revelation is nothing else but the infusion of spirituall grace whereby the deeds of the flesh are mortified and the man prepared to the kingdome of heaven Gods truth and his power Vdall is the cause of our assurance of salvation his truth because we doe not doubt but he will keepe his promise his power because all things are possible to him Herein we looke not upon our own worthines Idem for then we must needs doubt but upon him that promised who will faithfully performe God hath promised to thee Aug. O man that thou shalt live for ever dost thou not beleeve it Beleeve it beleeve it for that which he hath already done for thee is a greater matter than that which he hath promised These things have I writâ—en unto you that beleeve on the name of the Sonne of God 1 Ioh. 5. that yee may know that yee have eternall life and that ye may beleeve on the name of the Son of GOD. Rom. 15 Now the GOD of hope fill you with all joy and hope in beleeving that yee may abound in hope through the power of the holy Ghost Gods mercy Lam. 3. IT is the LORDS mercy that we are not consumed because his compassions faile not Psal 103. Hee hath not dealt with us after our sinnes nor rewarded us according to our iniquities Lam. 3. But though hee send affliction yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies Psal 103. For as the heaven is high above the earth so great is his mercy towards them that feare him This is the glory of man Hieron that hee may know and understand that GOD is the LORD who giveth mercie and justice upon the earth The omnipotency of God excelleth two waies Hieron in granting mercy to the penitent and punishing such as continue in sin according to their desert Hee rejoyceth not of his owne gaine Chrysost but of our salvation hee is not grieved for his owne displeasure but for our destruction When hee punisheth Idem and taketh vengeance he doth it not with passionate anger but with all unspeakable clemency with the affection of an healer not of a destroyer How rich art thou O Lord GOD in mercy how great in justice how bountifull in grace Bernard Thou beholdest the humbie with favour the Innocent thou judgest righteously savest sinners mercifully Kempis dial inter Deum peccator de imitat Christi si 4. cap. 18. Although a sinner do abide still in the flesh yet doe I receive him into my favour so that he is not to feare the utter confusion for his sins coÌ„mitted but rather to thanke praise God that old things bee passed away and that all things are become new Ibid. So gracious and mercifull am I that alwaies I am more ready to forgive than thou art to begge forgivenesse at my hands more ready to
give than thou art to aske To hope well of my goodnesse Ibidem is a very token of true humilitie and of great faith What Ibid. looke you to bee all worthy before you make accesse unto mee And of your selfe when will you bee so If onely such as are good Ibid. and worthy and great and perfect should approach unto mee to whom should sinners and publicans approach So then Luke 15. what saith the Gospell Then drew neere unto him all the publicans and sinners for to heare him Therfore let the unworthy approach Kempis that they may become worthy let the wicked approach that they may bee made good let the weake and unperfect approach that they may prove strong and perfect yea let all and every one approach that they may receive from the abundant streames of the well of life Iohn 7. Hee which is a thirst let him come to me and drinke Isay 55. And he which hath nothing let him come and buy without silver and without money Mat 9. Hee that is sicke let him come to be healed Mark 9. Hee that is neither hot nor cold let him come to be inflamed Kempis Hee that is fearfull let him come to bee encouraged Hee that is sorrowfull let him come to bee comforted Idem Hee that is wearied with cares Idem let him come to be refreshed with joy Loe my delight is Idem to bee with the children of men And therefore bee ever mindfull both of your fraile condition Idem and of my glorious Majestie and so with humble reverence approach boldly into my presence For I am hee that putteth away thine iniquities Isa 43. and will not remember thy sins It is I that justifie the ungodly Rom. 4. and this I doe for my holy Name sake yea and I am still ready to minister greater gifts of mercy unto thee Because I doe ever chuse Kempis to shew favour rather than displeasure as one who had rather spare than punish 2 Cor. 1. Blessed bee God even the Father of our LORD JESUS CHRIST the Father of mercies and GOD of all comfort Death Heb. 13.14 HEre have wee no continuing City but wee seeke one to come Luk. 12.4 Be yee prepared for the Sonne of man will come at an houre that yee thinke not Aug. All men know that the day of death will come yet all or almost all doe notwithstanding labour to put it off yea even those who beleeve that after death they shall live more blessedly So great power hath the sweet fellowship of the flesh and soule Take heed watch and pray Mar. 13 33. for yee know not when the time is The last day of our life is unknowne August that all daies may be observed the remedies are too late provided when the dangers of death approach Plato his opinion is Hieron that the whole life of wise men is the meditation of death Wee ought therefore to premeditate what we shall be hereafter and that whether we will or not death cannot be longer from us Hee which is assured hee shall dye Gregor opposeth himselfe against all the desires of this life For the perfect life is a meditation of death which while just men doe performe they escape the snares of sin Aug. That death is not accounted evill which a good life hath gone before Colos 3.2 Set your affection on things above not on things of the earth Gregor If wee consider what and how great things are promised to us in heaven all things in earth will be vile and base in our estimation For earthly substance compared to the heavenly felicity is but an heavy burthen not an helpe and succour This temporall life compared to the eternall is rather to bee accounted a death than a life Eccl. 12.7 Then shall the dust returne to the earth as it was and the spirit shall returne unto God who gave it They which desire to bee dissolved Aug. and to bee with Christ doe live patiently and die cheerfully They are not lost Ambros but sent before whom eternity hath received All the daies of my appointed time will I wait Iob 14.14 till my change come For to me to live is Christ Phil. 1.21 and to die is gaine When Christ Colos 3.3 who is our life shall appeare then shall ye also appeare with him in glory The last Iudgement Heb. 9. IT is appointed unto men once to dye but after this the Judgement Rom. 14. Wee shall all stand before the Judgement Seat of Christ Eccles 12. For GOD shall bring every worke to judgement with every secret thing whether it be good or whether it bee evill Hieron It is not in us to know the day of Judgement but being alwayes uncertaine of the comming of the Judge let us so live as if we were to bee judged the next day Idem If there bee any joy in this present life let it be so used that the bitternesse of the Judgement to come do not at any time depart out of our memory Nothing doth more set forward an honest life Ambros than to beleeve he shall be judged whom hidden things doe not deceive evill things doe offend and good things doe delight That judge is not prevented by favour Aug. nor led now by mercy nor corrupted with money nor appeased by satisfaction or repentance let the soule while it hath time here labour for it selfe by repentance so long as here is place for mercy because there is the place of Justice God doth so behold our waies and number our steps Greg. moral that evē our smalest thoughts and least words remaine not unexamined in his Judgemēt Psal 37. The Lord knoweth the daies of the upright and their inheritance shall be for ever Ibid. But the wicked shall perish and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of Lambs they shall consume into smoke shall they consume away Chrysost In that day wee have nothing to answer for our selves where Heaven and Earth the Aire and Water and the whole world shall witnesse our sinnes against us And if all else doe hold their peace our thoughts themselves and our works especially shall stand before our eies accusing us before God Bernard That day will come in which upright hearts shall more prevaile than eloquent words a good Conscience more than a full purse because that Judge will not bee deceived by words nor turned by gifts On the right hand Anselm will bee our sinnes accusing us on the left hand innumerable Divels underneath us the terrible deepnesse and darknesse of Hell above the Judge offended without the world burning within the conscience tormenting there shall the just scarce be saved Alas miserable sinner being thus taken unawares whither wilt thou fly for to hide thy selfe is impossible and to appeare
enemies Beseeching thee of thy fatherly goodnesse and mercy to remit and pardon all mine offences which in thought word and deed I have committed against thy holy Laws and Commandements Furthermore I humbly beseech thee that by thy most gracious protection I may bee defended and preserved this night from all perils and dangers both of body and soule that mine eyes may sleep quietly my body rest securely and my soule ever watch unto thee constantly so that I never consent to the temptations and allurements of Satan but by the continuall direction and assistance of thy heavenly grace I may come to thine eternall glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Our Father which art in heaven hallowed c. A Psalme of contrition and confession Psal 38. O Lord rebuke me not in thy wrath neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure Ibidem I am troubled I am bowed downe greatly I goe mourning all the day long 22. I am powred out like water and all my bones are out of joint my heart is like wax it is melted in the middest of my bowels 31. I am forgotten as a dead man out of minde I am like a broken vessell 41. Lord be mercifull unto me heale my soule for I have sinned against thee 38. All my desire is before thee and my groaning is not hid from thee For I will declare mine iniquity Ibid. I will be sorry for my sinne The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit a broken 51. and a contrite heart O Lord thou wilt not despise O GOD 69. thou knowest my foolishnesse and my sinnes are not hid from thee I have gone astray 119. like a lost sheep seeke thy servant for I doe not forget thy commandements I acknowledge my transgressions 51. and my sin is ever before me Against thee Ibidem thee onely have I sinned and done this evill in thy sight There is no soundnesse in my flesh 38. because of thine anger neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin Ibidem For mine iniquities are gone over my head as an heavy burthen they are too heavy for me Ibidem My wounds stinke and are corrupt because of my foolishnesse 40. Innumerable evils have compassed me about mine iniquities have taken hold upon me so that I am not able to looke up they are moe than the haires of mine head therfore may heart faileth me A Psalme for remission Psal 51. HAve mercy upon me O God according to thy loving kindnesse according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions Wash mee thorowly from mine iniquity Ibid. and cleanse me from my sinne Purge me with hysop Ibid. and I shall be cleane wash me I shall be whiter than snow For thy name sake O Lord 25. pardon mine iniquity for it is great Remember not the sins of my youth Ibid. nor my transgressions according to thy mercy remember thou mee for thy goodnesse sake O Lord. Turne thee unto me Ibid. and have mercy upon me for I am desolate and afflicted Looke upon mine affliction and my paine Ibid. and forgive all my sins O keepe my soule Ibidem and deliver me let me not be ashamed for I put my trust in thee 39. Deliver mee from all my transgressions make me not the reproach of the foolish 31. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant save me for thy mercy sake 51. Hide thy face from my sins blot out all mine iniquities Ibid. Create in me a cleane heart and renew a right spirit within me Ibid. Cast mee not away from thy presence and take not thy holy spirit from me 141. Mine eyes are unto thee O Lord God in thee is my trust leave not my soule destitute A Psalme for mercy and direction Psal 69. HEare mee O Lord for thy loving kindnesse is good turne unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies Remember O Lord 25. thy tender mercies and thy loving kindnesse for they have beene ever of old Be mercifull unto mee 86. O Lord for I cry unto thee daily Shew mee thy waies 25. O Lord teach me thy paths Lead me in thy truth Ibid. and teach me for thou art the God of my salvation on thee doe I wait all the day O send out thy light 43. thy truth let them leade me let them bring me to thy holy hill and to thy tabernacles Cause me to heare thy loving kindnesse in the morning 143. for in thee doe I trust cause me to know the way wherin I should walke for I lift up my soule unto thee Ibid. Teach me to doe thy will for thou art my God thy spirit is good lead me into the land of uprightnesse 40. With-hold not thou thy tender mercies from me O Lord let thy loving kindnesse and thy truth continually preserve me 119. Order my steps in thy word and let not any iniquity have dominion over me 86. Teach me thy way O Lord I will walk in thy truth unite my heart to feare thy name 39. Lord make mee to know mine end and the measure of my daies what it is that I may know how fraile I am A Psalme of confidence in Gods mercie Psal 23. THe Lord is my shepherd I shall not want He maketh me to lie down in greene pastures Ibidem he leadeth me beside the still waters He restoreth my soule Ibidem he leadeth mee in the paths of righteousnesse for his Names sake Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will feare none evill Ibidem for thou art with me thy rod thy staffe they comfort me I will abide in thy Tabernacle for ever 61. I will trust in the covert of thy wings Because thou hast been my helpe 63. therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoyce For thou hast beene a shelter for me 61. and a strong tower from mine enemies I will come into thy house 5. in the multitude of thy mercy in thy feare will I worship towards thine holy Temple 62. My soule wait thou onely upon God for my expectation is from him Ibid. He only is my rock and my salvation he is my defence I shall not be moved 40. Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust A Psalme of praise Psal 104. I Will sing unto the Lord as long as I live I will sing praise unto my God whiles I have my being 7. I will praise the Lord according to his righteousnesse I will sing praise unto the name of the Lord most high 8. O Lord our God how excellent is thy name in all the earth who hast set thy glorie above the Heavens I will give thee thankes in the cōgregation 35. I will prais thee among much people I will worship towards thy holy Temple 138. and praise thy name for thy loving kindnesse and for thy truth for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name I will extoll thee my God 145. O King and I will blesse thy name for ever and ever Every day will I blesse thee Ibid. and I will praise thy name for ever and ever My mouth shall speake the praise of the Lord Ibid. and let all flesh blesse his holy name for ever and ever The Lord liveth 18. and blessed be my rock and let the God of my salvation be exalted 28. Blessed be the Lord because hee hath heard the voyce of my supplications 41. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting Amen Amen ECCLES 12.12 OF making many books there is no end and much study is a wearinesse of the flesh 13. Let us heare the conclusion of the whole matter feare GOD and keepe his Commandements for this is the whole duty of man Collectanea T. P. FINIS Imprimatur SA BAKER Iunii 30. 1637.