which are in Heauen haue mercie vpon me and be thou my mercifull mediator for me vnto thy Father that I may be saued O holy Ghost God conqual with the father the sonne haue mercie vpon me worke thy diume power in me thorow thy gracious mipiration Drame me vnto Iesus Christ that I may finde fanour and be saued Amen The second part As concerning my bodie that I bequeathe vnto the earth from whence it came My Consission I Knowledge and confese with all my heart that I am a sinner yea such a sinner as hath neede of the grace mercie and fauour of God My faith ioyned with hope I beleeue that the Lord will haue mercie vpon me for he hath first made me and if it shall please him he may saue me This I beleeue whether I liue or dye I am the Lords My hope I Hope that I shall find both grace and mercie for my sinnes of God the Father euen for Iesus Christes sake in him I beleeue he is my redeemer he liueth for euer and euer He maketh intercession for sinnes So this I know that now I am a corruptible body but I hope through Christ to rise an vncorruptible body Now a mortall bodie but through Christ and his merites I hope to haue though now an earthly bodie then an heauenly bodie For as many as shall be saued shall shine in the kingdome of God as bright as the Sunne This my faith and hope I lay vp in my minde the mind of my Soule trusting onely to be saued thorowe the merites of Iesus Christ God and man which is in Heauen From whence we looke againe the which shall change our vile bodie and make it like his owne most glorious bodie whereby he is ablel to subdue all things vnto himselfe O Christ haue mercie vpon mee thou hast redeemed mee O Christ saue me A Prayer for the Sicke OH how sicke am I My weakenesse increaseth more and more Lord be mercifull vnto me and giue mee grace pacientlie and thankefullie to beare the crosse and in the middest of this my sickenesse alwaies to say Thy will O heauenly Father bee done and not mine Another Prayer for the Sicke O Lorde Iesus Christ which art the onely health of all men liuing and the euerlasting life of them which dye in thy faith I wretched sinner giue submic my selfe wholy to thy most blessed will And I being sure that the thing cannot perish which is committed vnto thy mercie most humbly beseech thee O Lord to giue me grace that I may now willinglie leaue this fraile wicked flesh in hope of the resurrection which in better wise shall restore it to me againe I beseech thee O most mercifull Iesu Christ that thou wilt by thy grace make strong my soule against all temptations and that thou wilt couer and defend my with the Buckler of thy mercie against all the assaults of the Diuell I see and acknowledge that there is in my selfe no helpe of life and fasuation 〈◊〉 my considence hope and trust i◠in thy most mercifull goodnesse I haue no merites 〈◊〉 good workes which I may alleage before thée Of sinnes and euill works alas I see a grace heape but through thy mercie I trust to be of the number of them to whom thou wilt not impute their sinnes but take and accept me for righteous and iust and to be the inheritour of euerlasting glorie Thou O most mercifull Lord waste borne for my sake Thou diddest suffer both hunger and thirst for my sake Thou diddest preach and teach thou diddest pray and fast for my sake Thou didest all good woorkes and deedes for my sake Thou sufferedst most greeuous paynes and torments for my sake And finally thou gauest thy most precious body to dye and thy most blessed blood to be shed on the Crosse for my sake Now most mercifull Sauiour let all these things profite me which thou freely hast giuen me which hast giuen thy selfe for me let thy blood cleanse and wash away the spottes and foulenesse of my sinnes Let thy righteousnes hide and couer my vnrighteousnesse Let the merites of thy passion and blood be the satisfaction for my sinnes Giue me Lord thy grace that my faith and perswasion in thy blood wauer not in me but euer be firme and constant that the hope of thy mercie and life euerlasting neuer decay in me that Charitie waxe not colde in me finally that the weakenesse of my flesh be not ouercome with the feare of death Graunt me also O most mercifull Sauiour that when death hath shut vp the eyes of my bodie yet the eyes of my Soule may still behold and looke vnon thee and that when death hath taken away the vse of my tongue and speech yet that my heart may crye and say vnto thee O Lord into thy hands I giue and commit my soule Lord Iesu take my Spirit A thankes giuing to God for the departure of the faithfull out of this vvorld O How can we most louing Father render vnto thee sufficient thankes for thine inestimable goodnesse toward thy faithfull seruants Whom thou calling out of this wetched world vouchsafe to place in thy heauenly Ringdome among the glorious companie of thy holy Angels and blessed Saints O full precious is the death of the faithfull in thy sight Blessed are the dead that dye in the Lord. For they are at rest from their painfull trauels and labour The soules of the righteous are in thy hand O God and the paine of death shall not touch them In the sight of the vnwise they appeare to dye but they are in peace They shine as the sparkes that runne through the red bush They glister as the shyning heauen They are as the starres world without end They are as the Angels of God They are clad with white garments and haue golden Crownes vpon their heads Tey doe seruice day and night before the glorious Throne of thy Diuine Maiestie They neither hunger nor thirst any more neither doth the Sunne or any heate fall vpon them for the Lambe which is in the middest of the Throne gouerneth them and leadeth them vnto the liuing fountaine of waters They followe the Lambe whithersoeuer he goeth They haue such ioyes as eye hath not seene nor eare hath heard neither is there any heart able to thinke them infinite and vnspeakeable are thy treasures O Lord which thou hast layde vp for them that depart in thy faith For these thy fatherly benefites toward the soule of the faithfull and for that it hath pleased thee to call this our Christian brother from this vale of miserie vnto thy heauenly kingdome we giue vnto thee most heartie thankes humbly beseeching thee that thou wilt take like care for vs and so gouerne vs with thy holy Spirit both in sicknesse and in health that we may liue a good and godly life in this present world and whensoeuer it shall be thy good pleasure to call vs hence we may with strong faith
in thee and in thy sonne Christ Iesu our Lord commend both our bodies and soules into thy mercifull hands and through thy goodnesse be placed in thy glorious kingdome among thy faithfull chosen people and so for euer and euer praise and magnifie thee our heauenly Father to whom with thy dearly beloued Sonne Iesu Christ our Lord and Sauiour and the holy Ghost that most sweete comforter bee all glorie and honour world without end Amen A Prayer of the comming of Christ to iudgement and of the reward both of the faithfull and vnfaithfull OH Lord Iesus Christ the Sonne of the euerliuing God by whom all things were made are ruled and gouerned as of thy loue for our redemption thou diddest nto disdaine to be our mediacour and to take vpon thee our nature in the wombe of a Virgin purely and without sinne by the operation of the holy spirit that both thou mightest in thine owne person woonderfully beautifie and exalt our nature and worke the same in vs also first abolishing the giltinesse of sinne by remission then sinne it selfe by death and last of all death by raysing vp againe these our bodies that they may be like vnto thine owne glorious and immortall bodie according to the power wherewith thou art able to subiect all things vnto thee as I say of the loue for our redemption thou becamest man and that most poore and afflicted vpon earth by the space of three and thirtie yeeres at the least in most humilitie and paydest the brice of our ransome by thy most bitter death and passion for the which I most hartely giue thankes to thee so of the same by loue towardes vs in thy good time thou wilt come againe in the cloudes of Heauen with power and great glorie with flaming fire with thousands of Saints with Angelles of thy power with a mightie crie shoure of an Archangel and blast of a Trumpe suddenly as a lightning which shmeth from the East c. when men thinke least euen as a Theefe in the night when men be asleepe thou wilt so come I say thus suddenly in the twinekling of an eye all men that euer haue been be and shall be with women and Children appearing before thy tribunall iudgement seate to render account of all things which they haue thought spoken and done against thy lawe openly and before all Angels Saints and Deuils and so to receiue the iust reward of thy vengeance if that they haue not repented and obeyed thy Gospell and so depart from thee to the Deuill and his Angels and all the wicked which euer haue been or shall be into Hell fire which is vnquenchable and of paynes intolle rable easellesse endlesse hopelesse euen from the face of thy glorious and mightie power but if they haue repented and beleeued thy Gospell If they be found watching with their Lamps and Dyle in their hands if they be found readie apparelled with the wedding garment of innocencie if they haue not hardned their harts and hoorded vp the Treasure of thy vengrance in the day of wrath to be reuealed but haue vsed the time of grace the acceptable time the time of saluation that is the time of this life in the which thou stretchest out thy hand and spreadest thine armes calling and crying vnto vs to come vnto thee which art meeke in hart and lowly for thou wilt ease all that labour and are heauie ioden If they hane visited the sicke and prisoners comforted the comfortlesse fed the hungrie clothed the naked lodged the harbourlesse if they haue not laden their hearts with Gluttonie and surfetting and carefulnesse of this life If they haue not digged and hid their Talent in the ground doing no good therewith but haue been faithfull to occupie thy giftes to thy glorie and here washed their garments in thy blood by heartie repentance then shall the Angels gather them together not as the wicked which shall be collected as Faggoctes and cast into thy fire but as the good wheate that is gathered into thy Barne then shall they be caught vp to meete thee in the Cloudes then shal their corruptible bodie put on incorruption then shall they be indued with immortalitte and glorie then shall they be with thee and goe whither thou goest Then shall they heare Come ye blessed of my Father possesse the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning Then shall they be set on Seates of Maiestie iudging the whole world then shall they reigne with thee for euer then shall God be all in al with them and to them then shall they enter and inherite heauenly Ierusalem and the glorious restfull land of Canaan where it is alwayes day and neuer night where is no maner of weeping teares infirmitie hunger colde sickenesse enuie malice nor sinne but all wayes ioye without sorrow mirth without measure pleasure without paine heauenly harmonie most pleasant melodie saying and singing Holy holy holy Lord God of hosts c. Finally the eye hath not seene the eare hath not heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man that they shall then inherite and most surely inio although here they be tormented prisoned burned solicited of Sathan tempted of the flesh and intangled with the world where through they are inforced to crye Thy kingdome come Lord Iesus c. How amiable are thy Tabernacles Like as the Hart desireth the water brookes c. Now let thy Seruants departe in peace I desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ we mourne to our selues wating for the deliuerance of our bodies c. O gracious Lord when shall I finde such mercie with thee that I may repent beleeue hope and looke for these things with the fruition of those he auenly ioyes which thou hast prepared for all them that feare thee and to rest with thee for euer more A prayer concerning life euerlasting the place vvhere it is and the incomparable ioyes thereof THat there is an euerlasting life none will denie but such as will denie God For if he be true and iust which he must needes be or els he is not God then can there not be but an eternall life That he hath both spoken it and promised it in Matth. 25.1 Cor. 16. Hebr. 4.11 and 13.1 Peter 1. it plainly appeareth and els where in very many places So that to deny an euerlasting life is to deny God to deny Christ and all that euer he did also to denie all duetie and religion to condemne of foolishnesse all good men Martyrs Confessours Euangelists Prophets Patriarkes Finally the denyal of eternal life is nothing els but a denyall of the immortalitie of the Soule and so a playne making of man nothing better then beasts If it so be let vs then cate and drinke for to morrowe we shall dye Lord preserue vs from the saduciall and Epicuriall impietie and graunt vs for thy mercies sake deare God that we may be assuredly perswaded that there is in deede an eternall life and blisse with
then shall come vnto vs no sickenesse no neede no payne no kinde of euill to soule or bodie but whatsoeuer good we can wish that shall we haue and whatsoeuer we loath shall be farre from vs. O deare Father that we had faith to behold these things accordingly Oh that our hearts were perswaded thereof and our affections inflamed with the desire of them Then should we liue in longing for that which now we must lothe O helpe vs and graunt that we being ignorant of things to come and of the time of our death which to thee is certaine may so liue and finish our iourney here that we may be readie and then depart when our departing may make most to thy glorie and our comfort through Christ What is this life but a smoke a vapor a shadow a warfare a bubble of water a word grasse a flower That thou shalt dye it is most certaine but the time no man can tell when The longer in this life thou doest remaine the more thou sinnest which will turne to thy more paine By cogitation of death our mynds be often in a manner oppressed with darkenesse because we doe but remember the light of the bodie forgetting the light of the minde and for thy resurrection Hereto remember the good things that after this life shall ensue without wauering in certeintie of faith and so shall the passage of death be more desired It is like a sayling ouer the Sea to thy home and countrie It is like a medicine or purgation to the health of soule and bodie it is the best Phisition it is like to a womans trauaile For as the childe being deliuered commeth into a more large place then the wombe wherein it did lye before so mysoule being deliuered out of the bodie commeth into a much more larger and fayrer place euen into heauen A deuout prayer to be said daylie O Almightie and eternal God which vouchsafest that we as it were heaueuly Children should euery one of vs call thee our heauenly Father Graunt that among vs be purenesse and example of innocent life thy most holy name may be sanctified that all other Nations beholding our goodnesse and vertuous deedes that thou workest in vs may be stirred to hallowe and glorifie thee Graunt O Lord that the kingdome of thy grace and mercie may reigne continually in our hearts so that we may be worthie to be partakers of the Realme of glorie and maiestie Graunt that vnto the very death we refuse not to followe thy diuine will and that we according to the example of the celestiall Citizens agreeing together quietly vnited in spirite all controuersie in opinions layd apart the lustes of the flesh being subdued and the flattering assaultes of the world and the Deuill ouercome neuer wrastle against thy most holy will but obey it in al things Graunt O Lord for our bodie needefull sustenaunce that we may the more freely serue thee Giue vs we beseech thee O mercifull Father that Hearuenly bread the bodie of thy Sonne Iesus Christ the very foode and health of our soules giue vs the bread of thy diuine precepts that we may truely walke and liue after them Giue vs the bread of thy heauenly word which is the strong fortresse and sure defence of our Soules that we being well fed and silled with this foode may worthily runne to the celestiall feast where as is no hunger Graunt O Lord that we paciently beare and susfer our enemies and such as hurt vs and willingly to forgiue the offences committed against vs that so we may finde the Lord in forgiuing vs our trespasses milde and mercifull Graunt O Lord that we be not vtterly led into temptation that there by we should be lost But in all perilles of temptation and in the middest of the stormie tempests and tribulations let vs thy children perceiue and feele thy fatherly succour readie to helpe vs least that we be ouercome with the naughtie craftes and deceites of the tempter should be drawne into euerlasting destruction but when we be well assayed approoued and purged with the fire of temptation then let vs finish our course and so well and valiantly fight that we may for euermore liue with thee in that heauenly Citie where and against the which no manner temptation canpreuaile Finally graunt most mercifull Father that we through thy benigne goodnesse may be deliuered from all euils present and to come both in bodie and soule and that at the last that yoke of that foule feend being shaken off we may possesse the heritage of the heauenly kingdome which thy Sonne with his precious blood bought for vs thy children and there fore euer to haue the fruition of celestiall delectations accompanied with Angels and blessed Saints through the helpe benignitie and grace of our Sauiour Iesus Christ to whom and to thee our father and to the holy Ghost be all glorie and honour now and euer Amen Another Prayer O Heauenly father God almightie I pray and beseech thy mercie beningly to behold me thy vnworthy seruant that I may by thy gift of thy holy Spirit feruently desire thy kingdome that I may knowne thy will and worke thereafter Giue me O Lord wisdome Make me constant patient and strong in thee Keepe me Lord from the sleightie inuasion of the olde wilie Serpent Defend me from the counsailes and cursings of euill tongues let thy mightie arme be my shield against all the malignitie of the wicked world Remember not O Lord myne offences instruct prepare me to repent and to be sorie for my sinnes Make me to loue iustice and hate wrong to doe good and abstaine from all euils that I may be worthie to be called thy child To thee be honour and glorie for euer and euer Amen A deuout Prayer LORD hearken to my wordes consider the thought of my heart Behold how lowde I crye vnto thee let my iust prayer enter into thy cares which vnfeignedly commeth from my heart Heare me Lord for I am poore and destitute of mans helpe Take care for my Soule saue me thy Seruant which wholy trust in thee haue mercie vpon me O Lord for I will neuer cease crying to thee for helpe For thou art milde and more mercifull then any tongue can expresse as often as aduersitie assayleth me I will crye and call for helpe vnto thee I will call vpon thee in the day time and in the night my cry shall not be hid from thee O thou God of the heauens and maker of the waters and Lord of all creatures heare me a poore sinner calling vpon thee and putting my whole trust in thy mercie Haue mercie vpon me for thy manifold mercies sake forgiue me al myne offences Amen The Letanie O God the father of heauen haue mercie vpon vs miserable sinners O God the father c. O God the sonne redeemer of the world haue mercie vpō vs miserable sinners O God the sonne c. spare vs good Lord spare thy people whom thou hast
hurt nor hindered this day when we crie vnto thee constrained by present neede not greedilie crauing through vaine care against to morrow our dailie Bread our daily and necessarie foode and reliefe both bodily and ghostlie and espeiallie so that the spirituall foode of Christs flesh and his blood by dailie preaching of thy Gospell and the ministration of the Sacraments may replenish our heart and mindes with continuall remembrance of his death and passion dailie to be vsed for our necessarie and spirituall consolation Forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. We feeling and knowing our own sinifulnes doe desire thy mercifull forgiuenes of our faultes and trespasses which we haue committed against thee so that we freely forgiuing al other that haue offended vs in any thing whatsoeuer it be may be sure that mercie springing in thee hath proceded vnto vs being graciously offered of thee hath bin thankfully receiued of vs and being charitably vsed of vs towards other shall most certainly bee confirmed and enlarged of thée towards vs so that by free mercie springing procéeding from thee all faults may be freely forgiuen Euen as those which other haue committed against vs so likewise those which we haue done against thee And leade vs not into temptation Suffer not the Deuill by the abuse of thy benefites to leade vs Cap\tiues into deceitful and damnable temptation drawing vs by daintie meates vnto greedie Gluetonie by money and rithes vnto vnsatiable couetousnes and by wealth and prosperity vnto pride and vaine-glorie and by all thy godly and gracious gifts vnto euery diuelish and abominable sinne But deliuer vs from euill Deliuer our goods from abuse our bodies from corruption our soules from damnation Deliuer vs by Christ Iesu from the bondage of sinne vnto the libertie of the Gospell so that from the danger of the diuell and all his temptation traming and inticing towards danmation we being deliuered may serue thee in holinesse and righteousnesse all the daies of our life For thine is the kingdome the power and glory for euer and euer Amen For such is thy riches and regiment power and authoritie praise and excellencie that whatsoeuer treasures lands and possessions might wisdome and superioritie dignitie honour and maieslie hath been is or shall be in any persons times and places the same of equitie dutie and necessitie begin continue and ende so as the Eternitie Veritie and Maiestie of thy onely kingdome power and glorie may best appeare and be knowne to be far past all creatures ability vnderstanding or capacitie in thee onely Lorde God of truth without beginning change or decay eternally yea euery other kingdome power and glory be but slender shadowes and shewes seruing for this transitoric time to make vs more mindfull and desirous of thy eternall kingdome power and glorie By reason whereof out hope and the promise of eternall saluation and glorie in Christ be Amen that is to say most certaine So be it ALmightie and euerlining God vouchsafe we beseech thée to graunt vs perfect continuance in thy liuely faith augmenting the same in vs daylie till wée growe to the full measure of our perfection in Christ whereof wée make our coufession saying The Crede of the Apostles I Beleeue in God the father Almightie maker of heauen and earth And in Iesus Christ his onely Sonne our Lord. Who was conceiued by the holy Ghost borne of the Virgin Mary Suffered vnder Ponce Pilate was crucified dead and buried He descended into hell The third day he rose again from death He ascended into heauen And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almightie From thence shall he come to iudge the quicke and the dead I beléeue in the holy Ghost The holy eathelike Church The communion of Saints The forgiuenesse of sinnes The resurrection of the bodie And the life euerlasting Amen The Confession of the Christian faith I Beleeue and confesse my Lord God eternall infinite vnmeasurable incomprehensible and inuincible one in substance three in person Father Sonne and holy Ghost who by his almightie power and wisdome hath not onely of nothing created heauen earth and all things therein contained and man after his own Image that he might in him be glorified but also by his Fatherly prouidence gouerneth maintaineth preserueth the same according to the purpose of his will I beléeue also and confesse Iesus Christ the only Sauiour and Messias who being equall with God made himselfe of no reputation but tooke on him the shape of a seruant and became man in all things like vnto vs sinne except to assure vs of mercy and forgiuenesse For when through our Father Adams transgression we were become Children of perdition there was no meanes to bring vs from that yoke of sin and damnation but onely Iesus Christ our Lord who giuing vs that by grace which was his by nature made vs thorow faith the Children of God who when the fulnesse of time was come was conceiued by the power of the holy Ghost borne of the Virgine Mary according to the flesh and preached on earth the Gospell of saluation till at length by tyrannie of the Priests he was giltlesse condemned vnder Pontinus Pilaie then President of Iurie and most slaunderously hanged on the Crosse betwixt two theeues as a notorious trespasser where taking vpon him the punishment of our sinnes he deliuered vs from the curse of the lawe And for as much as he being onely God could not feele death neither being only man could ouercome death hee ioyned both together and suffered his humanitie to be punished with most cruell death feeling in himselfe anger and seuere iudgement of God euen as if he had been in the extreame torments of hell and therefore cried with a loude voyce My God my God why hast thou for saken me Thus of his free mercie without compulsion he offered vp himselfe as the onely sacrifice to purge the sins of all the world so that all other sacrifices for sin are blasphemous and derogate from the sufficiency hereof The which death albeit it did sufficiently reconcile vs to God yet the scriptures commonly do artribute our regeneration to his resurrection for as by rising again from the graue the third day he conquered death euen so the victorie of our faith standeth in his resurrection and therefore without the one we cannot feele the benefite of the other For as by death sinne was taken away so our righteousnesse was restored by his resurrection And because he would accomplish al things and take possession for vs in his kingdome he ascended into heauen to enlarge the same kingdome by the aboundant power of his spirit by whom we are most assured of his continuall intercession towards God the Father for vs. And although he be in heauen as touching his corporall presence where the father hath now set him on his right hand committing vnto him the administration of all things as well in Heauen aboue as in the Earth
beneath yet is he present with vs his members euen to the end of the world ini preseruing and gouerning vs with is effectuall power and grace who when all things are fulfilled which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his Prophetes since the world began will come in the same visible forme in the which he ascended with an vnspeakable matestie power and companie to separate the Lambes from the Goates the Elect from the reprobate So that none whether he be aliue then or dead before shall escape his iudgement Moreouer I beleeue and confesse the holy Ghost God equall with the Father and the Sonne who regenerateth and sanctifieth vs ruleth and guideth vs in all truth perswading most assuredly in our consciences that we be the Children of God Brethren to Iesus Christ and tellowe heires with him in life euerlasting Yet notwithstanding it is not sufficient to beleeue that God is omnipotent and mercifull that Christ hath made satisfaction or that the holy Ghost hath his power and effect except we doe applie the same benefites to our selues which are Gods Elect. I beleeue therefore and confesse one holy Church which as members of Iesus Christ the only head thereof consent in faith hope and charitie vsing the giftes of God whether they be temporall orspirituall to the profit and furtherance of the same Which church is not séene to mans eye but only known to God who of the lost Sons of Adam hath ordained some as bessels of wrath to damnation and hath chosen others as vessels of his mercy to be saued the which also in due time he calleth to integritie of life and godly conuersation to make them a glorious church to himselfe But that church which is visible and séene to the eye hath thrée tokens or marks wherby it may be discedice First the word of God contained in the old and new Testament which as it is aboue the authoritie of the same Church and only sufficient to instruct vs in all things concerning saluation so it is left for all degrees of men to reade and vnderstand For without this word neither Church counsel or decree can establish any poynt touching Saluation The second is the holy Sacraments to wit of Baptisme and the Lords Supper which Sacraments Christ hath left vnto vs as holy signes and seales of Gods promises for as by Baptisme once receiued is signified that we as well infants as others of age and discretion being strangers from God by originall sinne are receiued into his familie and congregation with full assurance that although this roote of sin lye hid in vs yet to the elect it shall not be impured So the Supper declareth that God as a most prouident Father doth not only feede our bodies but also spiritually nourisheth our Soules with the graces and benefites of Iesus Christ which the Scripture calleth eating of his flesh and drinking of his bloud neither must we in the administration of these Sacraments followe mans phantasie but as Christ himselfe hath ordained so must they be ministred and by such as by ordmarie vocation bee thereunto called Therefore whesoeuer reserueth or worshippeth these Sacraments or contrarywise contemneth them in time and place procureth to himselfe damnation The third marke of this Church is Ecclesiasticall discipline which standeth in admonition and correction of faults The finiall end whereof is excommunication by the consent of the Church determined if the offender be obstinate And besides this Ecclesiasticall censure I acknowledge to belong to this Church a politicall Magistrate who ministreth to euery man Iustice desending the good and punishing the euill to whom we must render honour and obedience in all things which are not contrary to the word of God And as Moses Ezechias Iosias and other godly rulers purged the Church of God from Superstition and Idolatrie so the defence of Christs Church apperteineth to the Christian Magistractes against al Idolaters and Heretikes wherein standeth only remission of sinnes purchased by Christs bloud to al them that beleeue whether they be Iewes or Gentiles and leades vs to vayne confidence in Creatures and trust in our own imaginations The punishment whereof although God oftentimes deferreth in this life yet after the general resurrection when our soules and bodies shall arise againe to immortalitie they shall be damned to vnqueachable sire and then we which haue forsaken all mans wisdome to cleaue vnto Christ shall heare that ioyfull voyce Come ye blessed of my Father inherice ye the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world and so shall goe triumphing with him in bodie and soule to remaine euerlastingly in glory where we shall see God face to face and shall no more need one to instruct another for we shall all know him from the highest to the lowest To whom with the Father the Sonne and holy Ghost be all praise honor and glorie now and for euer So be it The Commandements of God giuen by Moses and expounded by Christ The first Table THou shalt haue none other Gods bt me Exo. 20. Deut. 6. I am the Lord thy God which haue brought thee out of the land of AEgypt out of the house of bondage Christ Mat. 6. Heare Israel Our Lord God is one Lord and thou shalt loue thy Lord God with all thy heart and with all thy soule and with all thy mind and with all thy strength Matth. 4. Thou shalt worship thy Lord God and him onely shalt thou serue ij Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any grauen image nor the likenesse of any thing that is in heauen aboue or in the earth beneath nor in the water vnder the earth thou shalt not bowe downe to them nor worship them For I the Lord thy God am a ielous God and visit the sinnes of the Father vpon the children vnto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me and shewe mercie vnto thousands in t hem that loue me and keepe my commandements Iohn 1. No man hath séene God at any time The only begotten Sonne which is in the bosome of the Father hath declared him Christ Iohn 4. God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth Acts 18. For as much as we are the generation of God wee ought not to thinke that the Godhead is like vnto Gold Siluer or Stone grauen by craft or imagination of man 1. Iob. 5. Babes kéepe you from Images Sap. 14. Cursed is the I dol that is made with hands yea both it and he that made it because it was called God whereas it is but a fraile thing For the vngodly and his vngodlines are both like abhominable vnto God iij. Thon shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine For the Lord will not hold him guiltles that taketh his name in vaine Christ Mattth 5. Ye haue heard how it was sayd vnto them of olde tyme Thou shalt not forsweare thy selfe but shalt perfourme thyne othes to the Lord. But I
thee for them that put their trust in thee amongst whom account me for thy mercies sake Againe this eternall life and the place appoynted for them that be thy seruants all men doe graunt to be with thee because thou art euery where therefore eternall life is euery where For they by thy word doe knowe that in almuch as no man can see thee and liue this eternall life and thy blessed presence is most pleasant and had in fruition after in an other world whereunto by corporall death they dodepart and are translated to a place aboue them where thou dwellest in a light whereunto no man can approach Abrahams bosome they reade was aboue as the place of the wicked was alowe and beneath Helias was caught vp into Heauen and thy Sonne our deare Sauiour prayed that where he is those also might be which thou haddest giuen him and might see his glorie Now here deare Fatehr we learne by thy ppirit was ascended and taken vp in his very bodie into heauen whether Stephen looking vp and saw thy Christ standing on thy right hand to whom he prayed Oh Lord Iesus receiue my spirite Graunt I beseech thee gracious God and Father that I may haue a cleane heart more and more to see thee and so in spirit to see and looke often vpon this place whither bring me at the length in bodie also I humbly pray thee Now what a thing this euerlasting life is no man is able to conceiue much lesse able to vtter For the peace of God which is eternall life passeth all vnderstanding The eye hath not seene the eare hath not heard neither can mans heart conceiue those things which thou deare God hast prepared for them that loue thee Whatsoeuer therefore can be spoken or imagined of the kingdome of the clearnesse ioy and felicitie of the same is nothing in comparison as we may see by the Prophets which because they could not otherwise vnder corporall things haue shadowed the same so that the confidence of eternall life what a thing it is can in no wise be tolde Howbeit somewhat we may be brought into some sight of it by earthly things to thinke on this sort If God hath giuen heere so many things in a strange place how many are the great good things that be at home If in a prison are so many mercies how many are they in the Palace If the wicked haue so many benefites what is the siore prepared for thy seruants Oh Lord If thy Children finde such comforts in the day of teares and mourning what shall they finde in the day of the Marriage If which beastes men being haue the vse of innumerable blessings Oh how many are the blessings which they shall enioy with thy Angels and with thee thy selfe O deare God when they shall see thee and haue the fruition of thee in whom is fulnesse without lothing of all good and faire things so that nothing can be more desired and that for euermore This thy children doe not see as they now beleeue it I say that euen in their bodies they shall see it for euer as Iob said They beleeue that they shall see thee and their owne eyes behold thee when these our corporall eyes our bodies being raysed shall doe their duties Such a knowledge of thee they beleeue to haue as shall not be onely intellectuall and by faith as now it is but euen a full sight and fruition yea a coniunction and fellowship with thee Now they see but in a glasse euen in a darke speaking but then they shall see face to face For faith though it be the substance of things hoped for and a certaine darke sight of thee yet it may not be compared to the reward of faith and glorious sight which we shall see in the life to come when faith and hope shall cease Now thy children knowe that they be thy Sonnes though it yet appeare not what they shal be We know say they that when our Christ God and man shall appeare then shall we be like vnto him for we shall see him euen as he is Oh great prerogatiue to see Christ is he is Which is not to be considered so much for the manhood as for the godhead it selfe as Paule doth also write that when all things are subiect vnto the sonne then shall he be subiect vnto thee deare Father also so that God may be all in all And therefore Christ our Sauiour prayed for vs that we might knowe thee the only true God not that our Christ thy Sonne is not with thee the true coequall and substantiall God but that we might knowe how that after the iudgement such a mysterie of his mediatorship shall not be in heauen as it is now in earth Then thou blessed Trinitie God the Father God the Sonne and God the holy Ghost shall be all in all thou shalt be the ende of our desires thou shalt be looked vpon with out ende thou shalt be loued without loathing thou shalt be praised without wearinesse Although lothsomnes be wont to followe fulnesse yet our fulnesse in the contemplation of thy pleasures shall bring with it now kynd at all of lothsomnesse Societie of ioyes shall be in the beholding of thee Pleasures are on thy right hand for euer We shal be satisfted when we arise after thine Image I meane in the resurrection Oh deare father show thy selfe vnto vs and we aske no more Oh graunt vs with thy Saints in euerlasting life to praise with perpetuall praises thy holy name Happie then and happie againe were we if that day were come that we might sing with thy Angels Elders and innumerable thousands a newe song and say thou Christ Iesus which wast staine art worthie to receiue power and riches and wisedome and strength and honour and glorie and blessing In this blessed life all kind of maladies griefes sorrowes and euils be sarre away and all full of all kind of myrth ioy and pleasure Oh that we might see now a little with Saiut Iohn that holy Citie nowe Ierusalem descending from Heauan prepared of God as a Bride trimmed for her husband Oh that we might now something heare the great voyce speaking out of the throne behold the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and he shall be vnto them their God he wil wipe away all teares from their eyes and death shall be no more nor weeping nor crying nor sorrowe for the former things are gone A prayer of death and the commoditie it bringeth WHat other thing do wee daylie in this present life then heape sinne vpon sinne and hoorde vp trespasse vpon trespasse So that this day is worse alwayes then yesterday by increasing of dayes so sinnes and therefore thy indignation good Lord against vs but when we shall be let goe out of the prison of this bodie and so taken into thy blessed companie then shall we be in most safetie of immortalitie and saluation