bee founde a watching faithfull seruaunt And as the prince of this worlde comming towardes thy sonne Iesus Iohn 14. founde nothing what to bite vpon him so also the same enemie may not haue any thing against me seeing that I doe belong to thy sonne Iesus By faith O Lorde haue our fathers ouercome kingdomes and closed the mouthes of the Lyons Therefore O Lorde graunt me grace that I may also ouercome by faith all tentations vntill that this faith being ended I may enter into thy euerlasting â—est A prayer against the sorrowes of Death O Lorde GOD my father who weart willing that thy sonne Iesus should yeelde vppe his spirite to saue me graunt mee grace that I may beare in my heart the remembrance of his bitter sorrowes and passion and that I may forthwith remember the sweete tender affection that thou bearest vnto vs poore sinners sauing them with so pretious a price that of one part I may with a true sorrowe die vnto sinne and forsake all mine iniquities and of the other part the remembrance of thy grace may make my soule liue let thy mercie O good God be vnto me a lampe and light to lighten me in the darkenesse of death vntill that I come vnto thee O Lorde if thou weart vnto me so good a father in life be also the same vnto me in death Leaue me not then when as my strengthes shall faile me And euen then namely when my mouth shal be no more able to speake leaue not off Lord to heare my desires vnto the last breath of my life Comfort againe thy weake creature and receiue my soule into thy glorie who yeeldeth vp to thee Thou O Lorde hast saued mee into thy handes I recommende my spirit Grant me the last words of thy sonne Iesus in his voice vppon his crosse that they may be my last wordes in this life Behold the earthly abode of this bodie which dissolueth it to yeelde my selfe ioiful of this tabernacle most blessed which is not made with mans hands This great prophet Elias when hee was taken vp into heauen let fall his cloke so willingly would I also leaue this garment both earthly and corruptible to bee clothed with immortalitie Heeretofore I was a wayfarer nowe am I come into my true countrey Euen vntill this time was I in fight now go I to triumph with our head Iesus Christ I begin to see alreadie this hauen which I haue so long desired hulling amongst the tempests of the world To be short I ioyfullie passe out of darknesse into light from daungers of this world to a place of assurance out of a lamentable case into a blessed state from battaile to victorie from an earthlie to an euerlasting life Here am I blind and there shall I receiue light In this place was I hacked with manie woundes and there shall I receaue healing O wretched life O fraile and life vncertaine in this world howe deceitfull and yrksome art thou The more thou thinkest or beleeuest the more thou distrustest and misbeleeuest The more one goeth in this world the more is hee charged with faintnesse and miseries Blessed is hee which knoweth the vanitie of this world yet more blessed that dooth not set his affection therein and most blessed which is withdrawen from thence to bee with thee Oh my God and my sauiour A prayer vppon the same Argument Alas when shall I come before the face of my God and when shall I haue my abiding in his house How long shall I bee in this exile whereunto for sinne we were banished But how shall a sinner stand before this great God How shall this poore flesh get vp into euerlasting paradise But praised bee my God who hath giuen vnto vs so good an assurance in his holie word Blessed bee GOD which hath ordained for vs this good ladder by the which wee ascend vp into heauen to wit Iesus Christ so that which was vnto vs impossible is possible to the beleeuer Therefore looke not O Lord into the manifold sinnes that are within me But rather remember that I am thy creature and the worke of thy handes I am vnworthie to bee called thy childe but it hath pleased thee to bee my father Thy will was that thy sonne Iesus should come downe here below to vs to make vs ascend vp to thee I feare not then death seeing I haue life with me Thy son hath destroyed death for all those which doe beleeue in him And albeit that this bodie be gnawen with wormes yet the soul goeth forthwith into rest the body awaiteth the resurrection I do desire therfore to die to beholde thy face and willinglie leaue this life to be with Christ Oh my God if the simple sound of thy worde which I heare on earth doth cause my soule to liue alreadie what life what countenance shall I haue there on high wheÌ„ as I shall receiue it in my heart seeing thy glorie being in so blessed a companie Open vnto me then O Lorde the gate of thy kingdome Make mee to heare this sweete voice which was prepared for the poore thiefe on the crosse To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Alas Lorde I am vnworthy thereof yet thy mercie giueth me assurance Grant me also O father streÌ„gth to perseuere giue me daily this desire of the life to come for if we be so much affectioned to this earthly life that is but for a day ful of miseries with what wish ought I to desire that glorious life which thy sonne Iesus hath purchased for vs Other short praiers for certaine necessities of the Churches To demand perseuerance Almightie God seeing we be knit together by the guide and counsell of thy sonne to this bodie of the Church which was so often scatered and dispersed graunt that we may abide in this vnitie of faith and that wee may constantly fight against all temptation of this worlde and that wee may not turne away from a true and right intent though it come to passe that troubles vppon troubles doe happen offences vpon offences seeing our faith is not builded vpon the holinesse of man or vpon their persons but vppon thee O true and almightie God And whatsoeuer euilles or deathes that shal be offered vnto vs we may not be possessed with such feare as may plucke away our hope out of our heartes but that we may rather learne to lift vp our eies yea our vnderstanding all our wittes vnto this thy power by the which thou quicknest the dead raisest vp that which was of nothing that our spirites may alwaies aspire vnto euerlasting rest albeit it behooued vs daily to die vntill at the last thou shalt shewe how thou art the true fountaine of life granting vnto vs the immortalitie through thy sonne Iesus Christ A prayer to haue stedfastnesse and constancie EVerlasting and almightie God al good and mercifull seeing we be heere subiect to so great aduersities and of so many sortes
doe hide their faces before him And man vnlesse that hee died could neuer see his maiestie yea man such as he is on the earth a sinner and mortall But oh happie and blessed shall that daie be 1. Iohn 3. and this houre ought to be desired of vs when as wee shall see this great God such as he is with a soul altogether cleane and a glorified bodie The knowledge of God from hencefoorth is vnto vs as Nazianzen saith in respect of the spirit as the sunne is vnto the bodie This is a light well liking vnto vs but happie is the soule that shall see him face to face and in seeing him shall liue for euermore In the meane-while let vs put our trust in the sonne who speaketh in his Gospell of that which hee hath seene and hath partaken his secretes vnto vs Iohn 15. as vnto his friendes and louers Vppon the 3. Chap. of S. Iohn God so loued the world that hee hath giuen his onely begotten sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life MEDITATION S. Paul oftentimes saith how he would not boast but in Iesus and the same crucified And in deede if man would consider these thinges at leasure which are contained in this sentence of S. Iohn hee would easilie agree with that which S. Paul speaketh and should finde that there is no knowledge in the world that giueth so much contentation as the knowledge of Gods loue through Iesus Christ in such sort as this sentence of S. Iohn ought to be as a pretious owel which a man dailie weareth about his necke euen so ought wee to imprint in our heartes this excellent witnesse of Gods loue For what are men that GOD loueth them What cause hath the immortall to loue the poore woormes of the earth The righteous to loue sinners The Maister the ingrate and vnfaithfull seruauntes Are wee not of nature the children of wrath Ought hee not without ceasing rather to represent vnto vs the hatred and the iust anger of this mightie God and that because of our corruption And moreouer if GOD had beene affectioned to some iust or excellent men yet say I this should bee greatlie to debase him But O diuine loue Oh woonderfull diuinitie Thou hast loued the world without considering anie certaine world anie Sexe anie Qualitie yea all the creatures which are come of the earth since Adam and Eue men and women great and little poore and rich fooles wisemen And all the cause and occasion that thou hast had to fauour them was not for their beautifull eyes but it was euen thy great and extreme bountie All their righteousnesse is as an vncleane cloth before him Esaiah 64. And their excellencie is but as a flower Esaiah 40. which withereth and fadeth from day to day Therefore it hath pleased thee O God to loue man But what say I to loue What tongue shall not iudge himselfe vnsufficient yea what heart shall not bee vnable to deduct or comprehend this so great a loue which hath brought thee to giue one onelie and innocent sonne to death and that to giue life vnto those creatures that are so vnthankfull and so corrupted Where is it that one shall finde a man in this world that will pledge himselfe euen to suffer death for an other were hee his friend and an honest man Truelie it is verie rare But what O Lord thou hast doone truelie more For thou hast not giuen an Angell or an Archangell but thou hast giuen thy onelie sonne vnto a sorrowfull and most shamefull death for to redeeme thy enemies that were reuolted from thee but alas wherefore is not this friendship alike Wherefore doe wee not loue thee with a burning desire as thou hast loued vs Wherefore complaine wee of a little earth lost in thy Seruice and thou hast not cōplayned at all of the death of thy welbeloued sonne of thy delight when the question was of our redemption When a prince dooth not giue vs his good countenance and fauour then we are sore troubled and greeued and yet in respect thereof we make ah alas but small reckenning of thy loue which art the king of kinges and the eternall God Therefore that which wee doe want is that we doe not sufficientlie tast how much the Lord is good and sweete Seeing now O Lord that thy loue is endlesse graunt vs heartes that may comprehend his infinite goodnesse and that wee may forthwith feele therein an endlesse comfort which may swallow vp all the sorrowes of this wretched life So be it Out of the 6. of S. Iohn Simon Peter answered Iesus Maister to whome shall we goe Thou hast the wordes of eternall life And wee beleeue and know that thou art the Christ the sonne of the liuing God Out of the 3. Chap. of the first to Timothie Without all gainsaying great is the mysterie of godlinesse to witte that God is manifested in the flesh iustified in the spirit seene of Angels preached vnto the Gentiles beleeued on in the world and ascended vp in glorie Out of the 4. Chap. of the first Epistle of S. Iohn Hereby know yee the spirit of God Euerie spirit that confesseth that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God And euerie spirit which confesseth not that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God but this is the spirit of Antichrist of whome you haue heard how that hee should come and now alreadie he is in the world And wee haue seene and doe testifie that the father sent the sonne to bee the Sauiour of the world Whosoeuer confesseth that Iesus is the sonne of God in him dwelleth God and he in God And wee haue knowen and beleeued the loue that GOD hath in vs. Here followeth VVhich vvas conceiued by the holie Ghost borne of the virgin Marie CONSIDERATION THis is not vnto vs as saith S. Basyl in a Sermon which hee made of Iesus Christes humane nature neither for vs much to inquire how Christ is come downe here below And wherefore God is serued with such a meane rather than with anie other For thou man saith hee thou wast lost and so recoiledst backe from the face of thy God that thou couldest not come neere thereunto Sith now that he is so humbled and brought low to come vnto thee wouldest thou dispute much thereuppon Rather acknowledge in all humblenesse this blessing of the sonne of God yea and with as great affection as thou canst or maist who is according to the euerlasting diuine nature ingendred by the Father not made nor created as it is said in Athanasius Creede both without Mother and without beginning but is according to the humane nature a like vnto vs sinne excepted begotten of a woman and the sonne of Dauid In such manner as Sedulius saith in a Hymme The creator of the world hath taken shape of a seruant to the end that hee might redeeme our flesh through his flesh and that those
euerie person by him selfe to be God and Lorde So are wee forbidden by the Catholike religion to say there be three Gods or three Lords The Father is made of none neither created nor begotten The Sonne is of the Father alone not made nor created but begotten The Holie Ghost is of the Father and of the Sonne neither made nor created nor begotten but proceeding So there is one Father not three fathers one Sonne not three sonnes one Holie Ghost not three holy Ghostes And in this Trinitie none is afore or after other none is greater nor lesse than another But the whole three persons bee coeternall together and coequall So that in al things as is aforesaid the vnitie in Trinitie and the Trinitie in vnitie is to be worshipped He therefore that will bee saued must thus thinke of the Trinitie Furthermore it is necessarie to euerlasting saluation that hee also beleeue rightly in the incarnation of our Lord Iesu Christ For the right faith is that wee beleeue and confesse that our Lord Iesus Christ the sonne of God is God and man God of the substance of the father begotten before the worldes and man of the substance of his mother borne in the world Perfect God and perfect man of a reasonable soule and humane flesh subsisting Equall to the Father as touching his Godhead and inferiour to the father touching his manhoode Who although he be God man yet he is not two but one Christ One not by conuersion of the Godhead into flesh but by taking of the manhoode into God One altogether not by confusion of substance but by vnitie of person For as the reasonable soule flesh is one man so God and man is one Christ Who suffered for our saluation descended into hell rose againe the third day from the dead He ascended into heauen he sitteth on the right hande of the father God almightie From whence hee shall come to iudge the quicke the dead At whose comming all men shall rise againe with their bodies And shall giue account for their owne workes And they that haue done good shal goe into life euerlasting and they that haue done euil into euerlasting fire This is the Catholike faith which except a man beleeue faithfully hee cannot be saued IN the thirde generall Councell which was assembled at Ephesus vnder the Emperour Theodosius the younger about the yeare of our Lorde Iesus Christ 450. The third counsell was refuted and condemned the errour of the heretike Nestorius the which would not acknowledge with the Christian Church whē as the worde became flesh that the two naturs diuine humane were knit in one person or substance and that vnseparablie But did teach howe they were onely knit by an assistaunce or dwelling together whereof he would not auowe that the virgin hadde borne the sonne of God or that the sonne of God had suffered for vs. That which was to make nothing euen all the mysterie of our redemption if he which was borne of a virgin and hath suffered for vs had not beene true God hauing personally knit vnto himselfe our nature after the which hee was borne of the virgin and hath suffered on the crosse In the fourth generall Councell in which did the Emperour Martianus assist at Chalcedon was condemned the heresie of Eutiches the monke the which monke fell into another extreme errour contrarie vnto that of Nestorius in such sort knitting the two natures in Christ as hee confoundeth them and in place of a person he leaueth as it were but a nature Whereof the Fathers of the councell to make cleare this matter did set out the confession which followeth Wee confesse and acknowledge one onelie Iesus Christ our Lorde perfect in diuinitie and also in humanitie verie God and verie man of a reasonable bodie and soule equall to the Father as touching his Godhead and coequall with vs as touching his manhoode and like vnto vs in all thinges sinne excepted begotten of the Father before the worldes according to his Diuinitie and in the latter dayes begotten of the virgine Marie mother of the Lord for our sakes and for our saluation as concerning his humanitie One onelie and also Sauiour in two natures without confusion conuersion diuision and separation The differēce of natures be not takē away through the vnion but rather the propertie of both natures being kept concurring in one person or substance not to diuide them into two persons but to the end that hee alone might be our onelie Sauiour as the Prophetes haue prophesied thereof and he hath taught vs and the Symboles of the Fathers confesse him It is to bee noted that although the said Symbols and confessions are amongest the papistes yet notwithstanding they cease not to persecute to the vttermost those which with all their heartes beleeue the alone comprised Doctrine Wherein is to bee seene that they haue not those confessions but vpon the paper for they doe not beleeue in them and that instead to be the true Catholikes they persecute them For as wee see in the Code of Iustinian and in the 9. booke of his tripartite historie the 7. Chap. The Gretian Emperours Valentinian and Theodosius made an Edict and declaration that they would hold those for good Christians and good Catholikes which followed the Doctrine that was taught by S. Peter and did beleeue in the Trinitie and of Iesus Christ according as it is here before said Nowe men doe not hold them for Catholikes vnlesse one beleeue the blasphemies of the Pope and of his traine who sitteth in the Temple of God as a God making lawes at his pleasure and profaning the pure seruice of the Lorde Here follovveth the consideration of the first Article of our faith conteining manie goodlie Doctrines Of Faith Of the Trinitie Of the Creation Of the Prouidence Meditations and Praiers vpon the Articles of the Faith I beleeue in God Of Faith CONSIDERATION ALL and euerie Science hath his rule and their principles Ruffin vpon the Symbole but the true foundation of Christian religion is to beleeue For after that man by distrust The principle of Christian Religion and through curiousnesse had sinned and was fallen it was the counsell of God that by faith he should bee saued And willing as it were to be too ouer-wise Gen. 3. 1. Cor. 1 2◠and so to knowe good from euill hee straied out of the way that through the preaching of the crosse of Christ that is reputed for follie in the worlde he might be guided to saluation In the Booke of the prescriptiō of heretickes Let therefore saith Tertullian curiousnes now giue place vnto faith and let faith bee no more aucthorised by men or by the people But let all people and men be tryed and prooued by faith and then approoued onelie when they shall beleeue For it is also neuer spoken or said in the Scripture thy great skill or knowledge Matt. 9.22 Ioh. 20.31 thy great riches or thy great
raging of the sea and the most greatest riuers to whom thou hast also giuen their boundes so shall it be as easie when it shall please thee to still and appease the stormes and tempestes that we do behold in these daies and to tame the furie of the enemies But graunt vs grace O heauenly father that among so many stormes wee may stay ourselues vpon thy holy and vndoubted witnesses that wee haue in thy worde that we may remaine constant in all thy seruices and in thy house vntill that thou hast drawen vs out of the waues of this worlde to guide vs vnto the blessed and happie life and vnto the hauen of saluation So be it A prayer grounded vpon Gods prouidence O Lorde our God thou God of vengeance and iudge of the earth if euer it were time that thou shouldest shewe thy selfe clearely displaying thy iudgementes vpon thine aduersaries and vpon thy people thy mercies nowe it is O Lorde that thy children of so long time haue beene and are oppressed by the conspirators of Antichrist yea massakers and murtherers yea with more horrible disloyaltie and crueltie than euer man sawe in such sort O Lorde as it maketh the wicked to lift vp themselues and waxe proude as if wee were vtterly vndone and as if there were no God in heauen that cared for his poore Church And moreouer O God the long time and the greatnesse of these afflictions would make vs a thousande thousande times lose courage were it not that wee should be more than brutish if we did not assure ourselues that thou seest our miseries and vnderstandest our sorowes and mourneful complaintes thou Lord which hast made the eye and planted the eare of man yea thou great God by whom wee liue and haue our mouing and being to be short thou which hast gouerned this whole worlde by thy so great wisedome from the beginning of the worlde chastice these people and make them know and see thy iudgementes It is the remembraunce of thy so great workes and of thy prouidence which comforteth vs and causeth vs to haue patience in our afflictions seeing that it is certaine that thou shuttest vp our teares in thy barrels keepest all our bones that not one of thē is broken Therefore O Lorde thou shalt be our defence for thy helping hande hath gathered vs together euer since we came forth of our mothers wombe and shalt be the rocke of our trust for euer more who knowest well to rewarde both in place and time vnto our enemies their outrage to destroy them through their owne malice A prayer taken out of the 26. of Esaie vpon the same matter concerning the prouidence of God TRust ye in the Lorde for euer more for the Lorde is strong for euer for he will bring downe them that dwell on high the high citie hee will abase euen vnto the grounde will he cast it downe and bring it vnto dust The foote shal tread it downe euen the feete of the poore and the steps of the needie The way of the iust is righteousnesse thou wilt make equall the righteous path of the iust Also wee O Lorde haue awaited for thee in the way of thy iudgementes the desire of our soule is in thy name and to the remembrance of thee with my soule haue I desired thee in the night and in my spirite within mee will I seeke thee in the morning for seeing thy iudgementes are in the earth the inhabitance of the worlde shall learne righteousnesse But yet let mercy bee shewed vnto the wicked and he will not learne righteousnesse in the lande of vprightnesse will he doe wickedly and will not beholde the maiestie of our Lorde O Lorde they will not consider thy hie hande but they shall see it and be confounded with the zeale of the people and the fire of thine enemies shall deuour them Lord vnto vs thou wilt ordaine Peace for thou also hast wrought all our workes for vs. Goodly warninges grounded vpon Gods prouidence that the mother made vnto her seuen sonnes executed by Antiochus taken out of the 2. Booke of the Machabees and the 7. Chap. THe mother did valiantly exhort euerie one of her seuen sonnes saying I can not tell howe you came into my wombe for I neither gaue you breath nor life It is not I that set in order the members of your bodie but doubtlesse the creator of the worlde which formed the birth of man and founde out the beginning of all thinges will also of his owne mercie giue you breath and life againe as ye nowe regarde not your owne selues for his name sake The Apostles prayer vpon the same matter out of the 4. Chap. of the Actes O Lorde thou art the God which hast made the heauen and the earth the sea and all thinges that are in them which by the mouth of thy seruant Dauid hast sayd why did the Gentiles rage and the people imagine vaine thinges The Kings of the earth assembled and the rulers came together against the Lorde and against his Christ For doubtlesse against thine holy sonne Iesus whom thou haddest annointed both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and the people of Israell gathered thē selues together to doe whatsoeuer thine hande and thy counsel had determined before to be done And nowe O Lorde beholde their threatninges and graunt vnto thy seruantes with all boldenes to speake thy worde Certaine goodly examples of Gods prouidence turning away the enterprises of the wicked helping his taken forth of Gene. the 50. Chap. IOseph being solde by his brethren and seeing thē to haue some remorse of conscience after his fathers death sayde thus vnto them Feare not for am not I vnder God whē ye thought euill against me God disposed it to good that hee might bring to passe as it is this day and saue much people aliue Behold how in one selfesame thing the worke of man is euill and that of Gods both good and holie the disloyaltie of Iosephes Brethren was euill and to bee reproued But as S. Augustine saith our God is so mightie and good that hee would neuer suffer euill to happen if he were not the almightie and that hee cannot turne it vnto good And let vs marke therefore what S. Augustine saith elsewhere of the same that is to wit that the iudgementes of God may well sometimes be hidden but the vniust neuer An other example taken out of the 1. Chap. of Exodus ANd Pharao said vnto his people Let vs worke wiselie against the children of Israel least they multiplie it come to passe that if there bee warre they ioyne themselues altogether vnto our enemies and fight against vs and get them out of the land A Prayer or Meditation O euerliuing and almightie God who is he therefore that shall feare mans enterprises Pharao wrought well and his people did agree with him They bestowed imploied all their wisdomes together And wherewith was it that they had so great a feare
vncleannesse filth and sinne that hee may bring vs into all trueth and that hee may sanctifie and strengthen vs vnto the ende comforting vs in this Article of death praying Rom. 8. and sighing for vs with gronings that cannot be expressed Witnesses out of the holie Scripture concerning the Holie Ghost Out of the 12. of Zacharie verse 10. I will powre vppon the house of Dauid and vppon the inhabitantes of Ierusalem the spirit of grace and of compassion and they shal looke vpon me whom they haue pearced MEDITATION BY the first Adam alas wee become barraine and vnprofitable were shut out of the grace of God but the Lorde promising the establishmēt of his Church againe by Christ promised to poure out his giftes and graces in great abundance For although that in our fathers dayes God had wrought great fauour vnto the people yet so it is that this is proper vnto Christ to giue vnto vs the spirit of grace mercie and inuocation And this is the richest gift that GOD could impart vnto vs for so much as it is said in the 8. Chapter to the Romans That wee could not knowe how wee were Christes and the children of GOD without this spirit For hee was woonderfullie and extraordinarilie giuen in the day of Pentecost But yet dooth hee dailie ioyne together his woorking with the preaching of the Gospell and woorketh in vs that wee doe call vppon God with full assurance Oh that this spirit of grace is to bee desired 1. Sam. 18. It is not this euill spirit which was giuen vnto Saul that vexed and troubled him but it is the spirit of grace and of compassion This is the Lord that we must woorship in spirit and trueth Out of the 4. Chap. of the Euangelist S. Iohn Iesus said vnto the Samaritane Whosoeuer drinketh of this water shall thirst againe But the water that I shall giue him shall bee in him a well of water springing vp into euerlasting life A MEDITATION OH how hath Dauid truelie felt the vertues of these liuing waters when as he said in the 42. Psalme Like as the thirstie Hart runneth with swift course vnto the riuers of water euen so dooth my soule also long and pant after thy diuine grace For what is it likewise to inioie all the pleasures of the world since that they take not away his thirst neither yet quench this alteration but doe increase and make the people like vnto men filled with dropsies which the more they drinke the more thirstie they are But behold two thinges that this water dooth greatlie recommend vnto vs whereof Iesus Christ talked with the Samaritane It is that they which drinke thereof are no more tormented with thirst feeling in them a well of liuing water that springeth vp alwayes without ceasing and cannot be drawen drie Besides this water that man feeleth in his soule and that runneth about his heart dooth neuer forsake vs but quickeneth vs vnto euerlasting life Therefore blessed are they which doe feele in their soules such a running water which dooth not for a trueth spring out of the vaines of the earth but from the hiest heauens and out of the true heauenlie paradise Now as S. Chrysostome saith This water is the strength and woorking of the spirit of God working by the word of the Gospell For it behooueth that we take heede of the errour of the Massalians and Scuencfieldians Against the Massalians who doe separate the spirite from the worde and doe dreame in the reuelations of the spirite But S. Paule teacheth vs in the 3. to the Galathians That we receiue the spirite through the preaching of faith and in the second Chap. of the 2. Epistle to the Thessalonians hee ioyneth together the sanctification of the spirite and the faith of trueth Moreouer this spirite hath diuers effectes and is by this occasion some times called fire Matth. 3. because that it purifieth and consumeth our euill affections and kindleth in vs a zeale as in the disciples going to Emaus Luke 24. whose heartes burned within themselues hearing Iesus speake Nowe it is also called water thorough his working because that this holy spirite refresheth vs against the burning heat of temptations and also doeth wash and serue to quench the firie dartes of Sathan let it then neuer come to passe Ephes 6. for vs to doe as the ydolaters of whom God complaineth in the 2. Chap. of Ieremiah Who forsaking the fountaine of liuing water digged to themselues dead pittes and drie cesterns that can hold no water Out of the 7. Chap. of S. Iohn vers 38. Ioel. 2. He that beleeueth in me as sayeth the scripture out of his belly shall flowe riuers of water of life Nowe this spake he of the spirit which they that beleeued in him should receiue Out of the 15. of S. Iohn A witnesse of the spirite and of the preaching ioyned together When the comforter shal come whom I will sende vnto you from the father euen the spirite of trueth which proceedeth of the father hee shall testifie of me and yee shall witnesse also because ye haue beene with me from the beginning Out of the 16. of S. Iohn When he is come which is the spirit of trueth hee will leade you into all trueth for hee shall not speake of himselfe but whatsoeuer he shall heare shall he speake Out of the 8. Chap. of the Epistle to the Romanes For if you liue after the flesh yee shall die but if ye mortifie the deedes of the bodie by the spirite yee shall liue For as many as are lead by the spirit of God they are the sonnes of God S. Paule prayeth by the spirite Out of the 15. Chap. to the Romans vers 30. I beseech you for our Lorde Iesus Christs sake and for the loue of the spirite that ye would striue with me by praiers Out of the 3. Chapter of the 1. to the Corinth Knowe ye not that ye are the temple of God and that the spirite of God dwelleth in you Out of the 12. to the Corinth 1. Epistle There are diuersities of giftes but the same spirite and there are diuersities of administration but the same Lorde and there are diuersities of operation but God is the same which worketh all in all But the manifestation of the spirite is giuen to euery man to profite withall Out of the 13. Chap. of the 2. to the Corinth and 13. vers The grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ and the loue of God and the communion of the holy Ghost be with you all Out of the 4. Epistle to the Ephesians vers 30. Griue not the spirite of God by whom ye are sealed vnto the day of redemption Out of the 5. Chap. and the 1. to the Thes Quench not the spirite Despise not prophesying Out of the 1. of S. Iohn 2. Chap. The annointing which yee receiued of me dwelleth in you and ye neede not that any man teache you for the same annointing
maiestie O God thou art my treasure grant me grace to haue my heart there where my treasure is and to meditate night and day in thy worde which is the light that guideth my steppes and is in tribulation more sweete vnto my heart than honny is vnto the mouth The reason of man was truely O Lorde a goodly lampe that thou haddest giuen vnto man but as it is darkned it cannot shewe the way which leadeth man from sinne to righteousnes and from death to life and they which otherwaies are not lightened but by the same doe perish as beastes Psalm 49. Nowe since it pleaseth thee to haue a Church on the earth which thou hast gathered together thorowe the preaching of thy worde inlighten my eies to beholde and see the spirituall state and magnificence of this house to the ende I may loue it and delight my selfe therein And because that I am a stranger in the land inlighten me in such sorte that seeing the way of euerlasting life in thy word I may follow it vntill I come vnto the true countrie which is in heauen Out of the 59. Chap. of Esaiah verse 21. Beholde my couenaunt with them faith the Lorde my spirit that is vppon thee and my wordes which I haue put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seede nor out of the mouth of the seede of thy seede saith the Lorde from henceforth euen for euer CONSIDERATION THese wordes doe declare vnto vs that the onelie people which haue the word of GOD and the purenesse of the Doctrine are auouched the true people of the Lord. For with this word God worketh and vnfoldeth the force of his spirit Rom. 1. as by this occasion is the Gospell also so called the power of God to saluation to all beleeuers to bee short by the meane of this word 2. Cor. 5. and through the ministrie of reconciliation God hath established his couenant amongest vs being fauorable vnto vs and forgiuing vs our sinnes Therefore this Church is not gouerned by swords or by Crosses but by the spirit and by the word of God And because that this word is euerlasting it is not in the power of the world to stop the course thereof But God to punish our vnthankfulnesse draweth it backe sometimes from vs and in the meane while it is in such sorte as hee maketh it to waxe fruitefull elsewhere and that which wee doe not see our posteritie shal see it with whom the Lord hath also his couenant O the follie of mankinde which heareth not wisedome crie out in the streets and biddeth vs come vnto her Prou. 1. Therefore of good right doeth she laugh at the destruction of all those which despise her A Prayer vppon this place Out of the 15. Chap. of S. Matthew EVerie plant which mine heauenlie Father hath not planted Prou. â—0 shall bee rooted vp O Lord my God because that thine onelie word is pure cleane and a buckler vnto all those that trust in thee giue me grace to loue thee and since that thou thy selfe inuitest vs vnto the wholsome waters that thou giuest for nothing guide me vnto those running brookes keepe my soule from being led away by this enemie which soweth Cockle and euill hearbes in the world 1. Iohn 4. Giue mee the spirit of discretion to proue the spirites and suffer me not to bee lead with euerie winde of Doctrine 2. Tim. 1. but dailie to holde the true patterne of thy wholsome word 1. Cor. 11. which is in faith and loue in Iesus Christ And albeit to proue thine thou doest suffer manie times the euill plantes to increase and permittest heresies as is to bee seene of olde when as the blasphemie of the Arrians tooke roote as it were in all the East and in our dayes popish Idolatrie hath doone in the West 2. Thes 2. So in likewise haue wee also seene how thou hast vnrooted them and manifested the dreames of men so that there is none nowe deceaued but those whome despise the trueth and loue the Epicures life yeelding themselues woorthie to bee led away by the spirit of blindnesse and errour In the meane while O GOD beate downe them which make Sectes Partialities Rom. 16. and Scandals a part against the pure Doctrine graunt power and might to the Ministrie of thy holie Gospell that all heresies and errors may bee rooted out of mens heartes and that in quiet peace and concorde wee may praise thy name all the dayes of our life Also shew thy fauour vnto vs and now that it is so late in the end of our time yea and that it seemeth O Lorde that this faire sunne of trueth would goe to rest whome thou hast shewed in the world Mat. 28. may remaine with vs and strengthen vs in thy knowledge following this thy promise that thou hast made to bee with vs euen vnto the end of the world So be it Of the hearing of the word of God Out of the 11. of S. Luke Blessed are they that heare the word of God and keepe it MEDITATION BLessed are they then not that heare much know much and speake much of the word of God But that keepe it in obedience of faith For whereto serueth the seede throwne into the ground if it tooke not roote there to increase and bring forth fruite Whereunto serueth as saith Iesus Christ in the 7. Chap. of S. Matthew to make a high building if vppon the blowing of the first windes the house fall They loue me saith Christ in the 14. of S. Iohn that doe not onlie heare but also keepe my commaundementes For how shall wee heare if hee doe not pearce our eares Psal 40. and open our vnderstandinges because that it is nothing to heare outwardlie vnlesse that God doe speake vnto vs inwardlie and if it be not heard within vs. Men truelie haue eares But they haue not all eares to heare and to make their profit of the word of God Now since that they are vndoubtedlie accursed which neither heare nor keepe this word and doe loue better to heare worldlie songes or foolish follies Let vs pray without ceasing this God that hee will open the heartes to vnderstand his word as hee did vnto this Lydia a seller of purple of whome mention is made in the 16. Chap. of the Actes And that wee doe not take it of the Lord in ill part when hee shall punish vs because that in so doing hee doth open our eares to receaue instruction euen as it is said in the 36. of Iob and the 10. verse A prayer vppon the same matter O Most gratious and mercifull GOD thou hast declared by thy dearelie beloued sonne Iesus Christ that they which heare thy word and keepe it are blessed Doeth it not rather belong vnto vs O Lord to acknowledge and to maruaile at thy blessednesse and felicitie It is for vs to speake of thine and thou doest
wee may not doubt but that thou in the end wilt worke that which the world thinketh otherwise at this day to bee impossible and therefore doe mock thereat And that wee may constantlie continue in this trust that euerie one of vs doe bestow our labours of thee and studie to the end and that wee lose no courage to aduaunce the spirituall building vntill wee bee gathered together with the Angels when thy sonne shall appeare to bee wonderfull to his chosen placing vs with him in his euerlasting glorie I beleeue the forgiuenesse of sinnes THe Church then was neuer in this world so cleane but that it had and hath occasion to demaund of God Lord forgiue vs our sinnes For wee doe protest in this Article that wee doe beleeue by the word of God who doeth witnes it that our sinnes are freelie forgiuen vs for Iesus Christes sake Thus this Article The confession of our sinnes first representeth before our eyes our sinnes the which are such as there is no humane satisfaction that can absolue vs therein But we must humble our selues and bowing downe our head throw our selues at the feete of Iesus Christ as Dauid saith in the 32. Psalme I acknowledged my sinne vnto thee neither hid I mine iniquitie I thought I will confesse against my selfe my wickednesse vnto the Lord and thou forgauest the punishment of my sinne Therefore shall euerie one that is godlie make his prayer vnto thee And S. Iohn in the 1. Chap. of his first Epistle If wee say wee haue no sinne we deceaue ourselues and there is no trueth in vs. But if wee acknowledge our sinnes hee is faithfull and iust to forgiue vs our sinnes and to cleanse vs from all vnrighteousnesse If wee say wee haue not sinned wee make him a lyer and his word is not in vs. Now insomuch as it is against God that wee sinne as it is said in the 51. Psal It is also vnto him that wee doe confesse our sinnes wee must note that wee doe not buy neither doe we deserue the forgiuenesse of our sinnes but wee doe beleeue it that is to say wee doe hold it of the pure grace of God Simon the Magician was reproued in the 8. Chap. of the Actes who thought that the gift of God might bee bought for monie Let vs come then without siluer and haue recourse vnto the throne of grace where wee shall finde forgiuenesse not of one sinne but of all For there is nothing condemnable to the children of God And as all sinnes are deadlie vnto the reprobate euen so are all sinnes venial vnto the faithfull for Iesus Christes sake who is the aduocate for all our sinnes as S. Iohn saith in the 2. Chap. of his first Epistle And for this cause hath he established in the world the Ministerie of reconciliation to the end that in his name there might bee preached vnto vs the forgiuenesse of sinnes 2. Cor. 5.19 Chap. O horrible Idolatrie and Simonie of the Papistes that make trafique of pardons and cause that to bee sought for in the bowels of the Pope which the sonne of God hath purchased for vs by his pretious bloud For it is hee that hath declared vnto vs the true Iubile and yeare of redemption and grace bringing vnto vs good newes Esaiah 61.1 graunting to the captiues deliuerance and healing the heartes of the desolate This is hee of whome Ieremie speaketh in the 31. Chap. who ought to set his law in our heartes forgiuing vs our sinnes without hauing anie more remembrance thereof A confession out of the Psal 51.4 AGainst thee against thee onelie haue I sinned and done euill in thy sight that thou maist be knowen iust when thou speakest and pure when thou iudgest Behold I was borne in iniquitie and in sinne hath my mother conceaued me Thou shalt purge my sinnes with Hisop and I shall bee cleane Make me to vnderstand ioy and gladnes Create in mee a cleane heart and renue a right spirit within mee c. A prayer O Lord our God forsomuch as thou are not merciful but vnto those that feele their sinnes and acknowledge them beholding with thy merciful eye the sorrowfull and broken heartes I doe fall downe before thy face confessing and acknowledging that I haue offended thee not onlie in this that I am conceaued in sinne and a poore child of Adams but also through so manie vaine thoughtes distrustes so manie euill mouinges and desires that fight against thy word and holie will so that if all the men in the world would absolue mee I know that I haue to doe with thee because it is thou that triest the heartes it is also against thy lawe that wee poore creatures sinne Thou therefore art alwayes iust and I am vniust Thou art pure and vncleane and I am defiled frō my mothers wombe and my sinne maketh mee abominable But cleanse me Lord thou that art the God and none the like which onelie art God the sauiour farre passing aboue our sinnes and purging it with this sweete Hisop of the bloud of thy sonne Iesus Christ Now for somuch Lorde as the totall summe lyeth in the feeling as it is fit graunt mee grace to feele in good earnest not onelie my wretchednesse and to bee touched therein to the quick to humble my selfe before thee But also giue me feeling and true assurance of thy grace and of the forgiuenesse of my sinnes by thy holie spirit that my sorrowfull soule may reioyce in thee that this free and sonnelike spirit may driue away from me the seruile feare and horror of thy iudgementes and that thus being comforted I may declare thy blessinges and prayse thy mercies for euer A thankesgiuing for the remission of sinnes Out of the 103. Psalme My soule praise thou the Lord and forget not all his benefites which forgiueth all thine iniquities and healeth all thine infirmities which redeemeth thy life from the graue and crowneth thee with mercie and compassions Which satisfieth thy mouth with good thinges And thy youth is renued like the Eagles MEDITATION THe Prophet reciteth here sixe great blessinges of God for the which all Christians are truelie bound to praise thsi good God with all their heartes The first benefit is that all our sinnes are forgiuen vs through his diuine clemencie That commeth to passe because that Christ charging vppon him our miseries by the oblation of his verie pretious selfe hath reconciled vs and is our true mediator and sacrificer The second benefit is that the infirmities which remaine in vs namelie since this reconciliation be it of bodie or of spirit are healed because that our sinnes are not imputed vnto vs And that in our infirmities God sheweth his strength and power in sustaining vs. The third is hee redeemeth vs dailie from manie mischifes dangers of death For this nature is so fraile as wee should fall euerie moment into the graue if God did not hold vs vp The fourth is that hee doeth couer vs with