to performe thy couenant and as for mans accusation thou knowst hee is arraind at the barre with thee how can hee iudge or condemne thee when all his hope is vpon our Sauiours mercie to redeeme himselfe But if afterwards thou shouldest wilfully continue repleat in any one sinne thy conscience reiterating daily the same and yet wilt obstinatelie perseuere in hope of his mercy I might iustly suspect Iudas receiuing and feare thy damnation when the pensill of the holy Ghost hath exprest He that sinneth wilfullie after receiuing the knowledge of truth there remaines no more sacrifice for sinne but a fearfull looking for iudgement O then flesh of my flesh let my present tortures preuent thy future torments for I call God to witnesse I now wish one of my limbs had perisht when I consented to wilfull sinne or receiued martirdome when I committed mortall sinne doe not then perseuere in offending nor delay thy conuersion for I should sooner curse thy begetting than ioy in thy being or hope of thy atchiuing to Gods Kingdome Trouble not thy selfe with purgatorie for feare of falling into the perpetuall punishment but spend the remainder of thy daies in alms-deeds fasting praying and the like for the surer preuenting of both and gaining of heauen Trust alwaies in Gods prouidence then thy owne conscience will be sure to direct thee better then mens counsells yet in spirituall negotiations and how farre thou maiest trench into temporall affaires without preiudice to soule or bodie Be vigilant to ioyne alwaies thy ghostly father in commission with thy conscience but let thy conscience bee of the coram for he cannot saue thee the other may condemne thee though he must answere it if hee either neglect or direct thee wrongfully howsoeuer his torture will be no mitigation to thy torment Obey the King to the losse of life fortune wife or family but let thy conscience receiue no impression contrary to its own direction for if thy soueraigne be vertuously giuen he will neuer presse thee if otherwise follow thy Sauiours words feare not those that destroy the body but loue and feare him which can destroy both soule and body Fight not against any Nation that doth baptise with signe of the Crosse and beleeues the invisible Trinitie without thou art commanded by thy Soueraigne or inuaded by themselues so shall thy hands be freed from the guilt of christian blood stand not so much vpon the title or theorie of religion as the practise in religion for what is a crowne without a Kingdome honour without vertue or learning without perseuering neither hunt after the diuine and hidden mysteries of predestination election destinie and the like for in my conscience they are left eclipsed and as stumbling blocks for seeming-wise men to stagger at Therefore rest thy soule vpon this resolution that although the causes be not knowne to thee yet vndoubtedly they cannot be vniust being preordaind by the sacred Iudge of all Iudges Shew alwaies a reuerent obedience to the supreme head of the Church vnder Christ Iesus and giue credence to their canon lawes but not as canonicall scripture though they were debated by the consistorie of counsels and established to beâ— reall in the strength of mans capacitie yet they receiued an impression of mortall frailtie euer since the fall of our first parents howsoeuer owe dutie to them all as laboures of holy fathers but faile not to follow those which thou findest plainely quoted in scripture or recorded in thy conscience so shalt thou offend none but practise all that God will require at thy hands And if the controuersie in supremacie startle thy fidelitie chose rather the explanation of scripture to decide the question than mans disputation so shall thy heart not onely haue the rock of Christ thy leader but his diuine inspiration vpon Peter the Apostle for thy supporter and vnlesse thou findst it recald by reâ—elation I would not aduise thee â—o beleeue tradition Doe homage â—o God in all sanctified holy plaâ—es and giue due glory to all â—aints and Angells as inuisible â—reatures already consummated â—y Christ Iesus But thinke not â—f meriting heauen for then I am â—ertaine to behold thee in hell â—hough thou hadst fulfilled the whole law yet thy originall sin would accuse thee thy presumpâ—ion condemne thee and Christs â—eath a witnesse against thee who then will saue thee none â—ut the sentence of Lord haue mercie vpon thee onely thus farre â—hou mayest goe according to humane iudgement and not derogate from the diadem of his sacred Deitie beleeuing through hiâ— assisting prouident compassion thou standest in a more sure certainty of saluation then wheâ— thou liuedst in worldly perturbation owe an obseruant obediencâ— to those that are elected in thâ— place of Gods ministers yet conuerse with none but those whoâ— liues are answerable to their profession In so doing thou wilt prâ—uent the ones vice and reape thâ— others vertue for thou canst nâ— expect to finde all true Leuitâ— when Christ himselfe found oâ— in twelue a traytor Giue place tâ— thy betters respect thy elders eâ—pecially those that are in authorâ—ty and goe to law with no man but in thy owne defence yet if â—hou canst not play thy part without passion acquite the stage for thou hadst better to lose thy reputation and reuenue than hazard thy soule and body Be curteous to all men hate no man doe good to any man especially to those â—hat cannot requite thee Honour old-age reuerence thy ghostly faâ—her and if it be possible remaine â—hy selfe single but aboue all of â—is part so shalt thou be freed from suspecting a third person â—hough the sacred integritie of the others fatherly friendship may be â—quall yet nature will be iealous â—nd make thee alwaies suspicious which in time might proue pernicious Deuote a daily dutie to the sect of women and when thou beholdest any whose ornaments are decent commend them if curteous requite them if charitable extoll them if vertuous adore them but if vicious loath them if ambitious scorne them and if malicious shunne them so shalâ— thou bee freed from the ones iniquitie and share in the others vertue for there is no such companion as a discreet religious woman which to my great comfort haue knowne the one and to my ouercharged griefe the other But iâ— thou appeare so infortunate aâ— to forsake the celestiall rites of a single life to obtayne the society of a temporall wife let her vertues be the foundation of thy affection and thy conscience debate vpon confirmation before thou conclude a resolution that God may honour the vnion and your selues ioy in the coniunction which if diuine prouidence blesse the fruit of her wombe let thy inward loue be equally descended to thy eldest as scripture hath commanded and thy gentle correction as occasion shal be required so mayest thou redeeme thy virginitie in raising a posteritie to glorifie God by a fraternitie But aboue all be sure to let charitie be thy gentry and
commended what others out of ignorance may obiect fat bee it from your Lordship so to iudge Phil. 3.6 Socra scho cap. 18. For it hath beene practised by the best sort of Christians euer since Christs time with such precise and strict seueritie as they did not onlie resist all externall acts of sinne but chastised their bodies with corporall affliction 2 Cor. 6.5 which is manifest in the liues of the Apostles by their much fasting watching and praying Likewise Saint Augustines conuersion and Saint Ieromes approbation of Paul and Antony the Heremites besides the discipline he vsed vpon his owne bodie with manie other ancient Fathers which for feare of being tedious I omit So that if these holie men were fain to vndertake such strait captiuitie for gaining of heauen what punishment should I endure for preuenting of hell 1 Pet. 4.17 whose whole course of life hath beene a race of errours especiallie when the spirit of God dailie knockes at my heart to prosecute the same austeritie which giues mee a more cleare reuelation of Gods fauours where now I finde the theorie so much to be true by practise that I call God to witnes I am no more able to expresse the felicities I enioie then remember the catologue of my past offences let therefore other men thinke as they please of this alteration 1 Cor. 4.3.4 it sufficiently contents me that the Saints in heauen reioyce at my conuersion For God hath spoken peace to my soule my soule preacheth peace to my conscience my conscience sings a comfortable sweet All-haile to my sad heart and should the world the flesh or the Deuill sound all their most powerfull instruments to plucke from this my resolution they may sacrifice my flesh vpon the worlds Altar but my faith shal be so sure found hanging vpon the hornes of this Sanctum Sanctorum as my heart is confident that your Lordships former fauour conferd on me was preordaind to be a meanes of sealing your redemption by the death and passion of our Sauiour were your past transgression red as scarlet for that I am bounde to acknowledge vnder God your Honours affable curtesie established my regeneration 1 Pet 4.8 and what the reward is in gaining a soule Ioh. 5.20 beleeue not mee but the promise of Christ exprest in holy writ Humbly intreating your Lordship so farre to continue your respect as when any shall question my fidelitie aduise them to suspend their censure till the fortunate fatall tribunall day of iudgement which will decide the question without malice The rather for that each of vs were baptized with the signe of the Crosse and both endeuouring to hit the same marke though with seuerall shafts But if it should fall out to be knowne that they themselues continue in any one wilfull sinne your Lordship may boldlie giue no more credence to their language in points of Religion then to a periured man in case of a triall For as the Law will not admit of the one certainlie God will not allow of the other wheâ— the pensill of holy Writ confirms that the Diuell holds them as we by one sinne as by a thousand 1 Ioh. 3. Aâ— which I leaue to your Honour graue iudiciall iudgement anâ— rest Your euerliuing Beadsman Thomas Bushel To the onely sonne and bloud of my owne body BEloued the Lord thy God hath commanded me to instruct thee thee to obey me vpon penaltie of eternall punishment that wilfullie breakes the couenant if my aduertisement agree with the pensill of the holie Ghost otherwise thou art free I only bound which to auoid the danger of my part I haue as God hath enabled my illiterate and humane apprehension bequeathed vnto thee by my wofull experience a briefe diuine and morall way how to prostrate thy louing obedience towards God and man for the surer preuenting Natures frailty the safetie of thy owne soule Gods glorie and the discharge of a fathers dutie that thou mightst not curse thy birth I thy being nor diuine prouidence repent of thy making hoping the president of my late erroneous life will cause thine to be religious otherwise my iniquities will bee added to thy transgressions though no ease to each of our sufferings Let therefore thy internall faculties of body and soule be zealous towards thy Creator in keeping his Commandements with a trembling feare of violating the least and a willing desire to performe them all in so doing thy mortalitie is sure to bee ratified with immortall glorie Let his iust iustice euer go before thee and his infinite mercie will not faile to follow thee Let thy meditations be alwaies vpon our Sauiours sufferings then thou canst not be so ingrate as to forget his blessings nor neglect thy duties Giue thankes to thy maker for thy nights sleeping and morne waking with humble desire of his continuall prouidence for the day following and at night call thy selfe to a strict account of what good deedes thou hast omitted and what offences thou hast committed who were the occasions of the one and neglect of the other from such refraine vnlesse thou canst command thy selfe not they thee but if they proceed from thine owne stiffenecked nature condole thy infirmity chastize thy iniquitie with continuall abstinency vntill thou findst reason and religion to master thy passion and affection by this means thou wilt euer after sleepe in peace continue obedient and remaine in safetie but on the contrarie as thy conception was wretched so thy life will bee lamentable thy death miserable and thy torments ineuitable Let therefore thy beleeuing faith bee grounded vpon the rocke Christ Iesus for that is the true Religion the others are tost vpon the waues of time proceeding rather from mens frailtie then any setled veritie Yet lest thy conscience should be eclipsed and thy continuance reuerted into the dreadfull danger of a lukewarme Christian by beholding so many graue Senatours of seuerall Religious opinions I haue held it expedient vpon my death bed and according to my engagement as the soule of mee must answer the same at the tribunall day of iudgement to present vnto thy internall spirits these recited precepts Let thy heart and conscience bee incorporate to the bodie of Christs vniuersal Catholike Church performing so farre as in thee lieth all these prescriptions which he hath enioined thee to obserue obey and keepe in holy writ and when thy conscience together with thy ghostly Father approoues of thy inabilitie to bee capable of the Sacramentall mercie make a true confession of thy life past with an inward repentant contrition that euer thou didst offend and a constant resolution by Gods permission neuer more willing to offend but suffer death rather then violate thy condition as afterwards to commit a hainous sinne or wilfully continue in any other This being zealoushe kept God warrants thee saluation who then will accuse thee thy conscience cannot and Christ hath protested he will not if thou doest thy vtmost endeauor
due and offending others but leaue the sequel to their owne consciences who â—an best iudge of innocencie As for my selfe with shame I must acquite the title and pleade guilty which grieues my very soule that so matchlesse a Peere should bee lost by such insinuating caterpillars who in his owne nature scorn'de the least thought of any base vnworthy or ignoble act though subiect to infirmiries as ordain'de to the wisest for so much I must assure you was his hatred to bribery corruption or symmonie that hearing I had receiu'de the profits of first fruits for a Benefice which his pious charitie freely gaue presently sent to me and being asked of his Lordship I sodainly confessed whereupon hee fell into so great a passion that repli'de I was cursed in my conception and nursed with a Tiger for deceiuing the Church threatning I should be no longer his seruant for that one scab'de Sheepe might infect the whole flock Yet notwithstanding vpon my submssion the noblenesle of his disposition forgaue me the fact and receiu'de me into fauour but neuer could obtaine a spirituall liuing afterwards which makes me certainly beleeue they that minister'd those hellish pils of bribery gilded them ouer not onely at first with a shew of gratuity or in the loue of courtesie but waited the opportunitie of his necessitie otherwise it had beene impossible to haue wrought an impression So that by such stratagems the wisest men may proue weakest amongst all officers for those whose consciences are innocent of mitigating iustice either by bribery gratuity friendship fauour or courtesie let him cast the first stone and be canoniz'd for a Saint vpon earth But the report goeth that it is the policy of other States when once the subiect groanes vnder oppression to select some man of worth for allaying clamor of the vulgar and congratulate the giddy multitude which if his misfortune were such he was not the first nor I am confident wil be the last So that in time it may reflect some comfort to you and others that honoured him in their hearts but not with their lips To my Christian Brethren the Ofsprings that proceeds from Vniuersities BEloued Brethren if you haue past the exercises Ceremonies and degrees with approu'd allowance by the coÌ„mon lawes of man to take the orders of Priesthood Minister Teacher Pastor and Shepherd which is the most worthy honorable blest title confirm'd on man Let not then Deare brethren my affectionate aduice be displeasing in perswading your diligent resolutions to search the lawes statutes and commands which God both requires and expects at your hands for if any of you vndertake the tuition oâ— soules and then by the neglect oâ— your duties there should perish either man woman or child you are to answer for their sufferings Ezek. 23. though no ease to the parties grieued So that as the dignitie of your profession doeth excell the power and authoritie of Kings Emperours or Monarches euen likewise their perils hazards and dangers are equall to their greatnesse by how much the one commands but the bodie temporall and the other Charge of the soule eternall O then gentle Sirs let me intreat you for my poore brethrens sake Gods glory and the safegard of your owne soules search narrowly into the fraile dispositions conditions of your owne natures and then ponder whether your abilities are of that efficacie and power to discharge so noble a calling without degradation of the title perill to your soules and losse of our poore brethren setting aside the president of others which I pittie some feare diuers suspect the best Yet I hope there will bee found many righteous Abrahams chaste Lots godly Daniels and patient Iobs Otherwise wee of the Laitie are in great danger if the Clergie should be lost for how can the bodie liue when the head is dead First then deare brethren let mee perswade you to follow the old Prouerbe Looke before you leape read and consider vpon the oath requir'd by man next examine your hearts if you can keepe the same which is expected by God then whether you are in loue and charitie whether more flesh then spirit more addicted to pleasures then deuotions more delighted in worldly trifles then heauenly treasures or whether more for reuenue of the place then Gods glory and profit of your brethren For if any of those temporalties haue gained the vpper hand yet it were weakenesse to attempt but madnesse to vndertake vnlesse you can command them not they you Otherwise your soules are in danger and they infortunate that are planted vnder your iurisdiction For beleeue it hopefull Sirs you cannot serue God and Mammon 2 Cor. 11.13 which those vainely expects remission whose liues be not answerable to their profession for if the Deuills should omit their accusations yet the poore soules which perish vnder their tuition will cry out vengeance for their condemnations and God is iust as he is mercifull So that I feare their language Doe as I say and not as I doe will not protect them Yet worthy Sirs you perceiue the calling was honorable from the institution and the reward is glorious aboue any if you liue answerable But on the contrary miserable wretched damnable to your selues and others that neuer iniur'd you so that it is better to bee an open wicked man then a luke-warme Christian Diuine for the one ruines but himselfe the other hazards many yet I had rather be no man then either of them Wherefore deere brethren if vpon mature deliberation you finde your selues able to encounter those enemies which originall nature and custome hath claim'd a priuiledge goe on boldly in the celestiall enterprise and take these precepts along with you as a help to your pious indeauours Let the sensible faculties of your hearts be holy religious and zealous towards God with an inward affection to edifie your charge according to the directions of Christs Catholike Church exprest in holy Writ not making any difference or respect of persons Instruct them publikely admonish them priuately rebuke them sharpely Iam. 2.9 and if those will not recall them proclaime it openly without fearing the displeasure of any humane creature For they are not worthy to bee Commanders that either distrusts in their Generall or feares their Souldiers But aboue all let me intreat you to be mindfull of Baptisme The Sacrament and visiting the sicke For the first easeth your professions the second testifieth your integrities and the third dischargeth your duties For as it confirmeth their saluation or damnation so likewise it remaines the highest pinacle of your profession and if it be possible adopted Sirs entertaine no wedlocke but rather striue to curbe nature with sparenesse of dyet 1 Cor. 9.27 then satisfie the flesh to vse such helpers For your selues had need bee well grounded with inward spirations nay in a manner gods on earth that vndertake such bosome friendes and performs the weightie charge which will bee requir'd at your hands hoping
your owne innocencies will neuer bee tempted to appeare in any spirituall preferment by the way of Sinon Magus Act. 8.18 or helpe of his coadiutors for surely those are neuer consecrated by God nor allowed by Lawes How then gentle Sirs in your owne consciences can they absolue baptise instruct or minister the Sacrament but with a trembling feare of murthering the soule like a tyrants conscience that is imbru'd in blood O then you anointed branches bee not perswaded by a mould of clay to trench in so great a crime knowing your selues as yet vnspotted In so doing Matt. 12.50 Gods Name will bee glorified your brethren edified and your owne dutyes discharg'd which will remaine presidents to others ioy to your parents comfort to your friends and happinesse to your Soules To my wel-wished Christian Brethren the Laitie IF any of you are so infortunate as to detaine the Rights and Profits which was ordained by God for the maintainance of the Church and members therof Let mee beg vpon my knees as with teares I write it that you make restitution contrition to God and man For if your consciences preiudicate they are wrongfully kept backe and yet willfully continues can it bee denied but that you rob God of his Iustice if you expect saluation by the death and passion of our Sauiour though admit you will plead prescription by Act of Parliament and that it was and is lawfull for you to receiue continuing so long in descent from your ancestors Yet my deare Brethren I pittie your weake Right Title and Interest for that it was not warranted from Heauen but by Gods permission confirm'd in Hell So likewise you may plead damnation from your forefathers for foure thousand yeres together which is the more ancienter title and surer to descend if from your hearts proceed not repentance Howsoeuer fearing you should suspect spleene or imbecillitie Let mee intreat you to fearch the records of holy Writ and if there your selues find God pardon any one man that robbeth the church without it were in ignorance or satisfaction by vnfained amendment remaine as you are But on the contrarie looke vpon the dreadfull death of Ananias and Saphira Actes 5.5 for detaining some part of their owne goods by deceit from the Apostles much more you that not onely take your own but other mens when Christ himselfe saith Mat. 22.21 Giue vnto Caesar that which is Caesars And if God would not spare his owne Tribe for one offence certainly deare Brethren hee will not omit you which obstinately persist in the same Rom. 11.21 for that hee is a iust Iudge as hee is a mercifull Sauiour but peraduenture you will obiect the inducted partie is more vicious then vertuous more wicked then religious howsoeuer it is the sustentation of his birthright and ought not to be diminished But assuredly himselfe and those are accursed that instituted him by how many soules perish with his carelesse neglect O beloued Brethren if you would but ponder with your selues of the strickt account which will be required from you and them at the day of Iudgement I durst engage my life there is not one true Christian but would rather choose to bee fed himselfe wife and family with the almes of charitie then liue wrongfully on the tythes of Laitie for questionlesse as they nourish the bodie they starue the soule All which I leaue to your owne consciences praying daily for reformation To my vnmarried Christian Brethren BEst beloued Sirs if you be not so fortunate as to performe your chaste single liues 1 Cor. 7. â— according to the Apostles words which placeth your selues next vnto God but must of necessitie haue the vnion of second helpers Let mee your wel-wishing Brother aduise each of you to entertaine diuine religious thoughts in the daily contemplation of your choice before you attempt so weightie and great a charge which will be demanded at your hands otherwise it may seeme a hard and ouer-strict captiuitie in being bound and thrall with the cares and humors of another for if it should fall out that any of you doe meete with more bone then flesh more flesh then spirit your liues will alwayes bee most miserable and wretched 1 Cor. 7.28 as by woefull experience diuers of your predecessours can informe you that for one houre of their folly being a fault committed without malice and by meere ouer-sight yea many times to obey the aduice of Parents they broughâ— themselues into a perpetuall bondage Which accustomed misery deare Brethren proceeds from a fraile imbecillitie of nature and want of spirituall discipline they hauing not grounded themselues vpon the fundamentall points of marriage For beleeue me gentle Sirs if that your chiefest and only end bee not to auoid fornication and a desire of procreation to glorifie God by a mutuall societie your Nuptialls were neuer solemniz'd by him nor allowed by his lawes For it were impossible if God had a hand in the coniunction that euer there should proceed either iealousie malice rage or any other miserable condition But it may be some will reply that the Scripture confirmes all marriages are made in heauen So liâ—â—wise you know Christ died for all sinners yet few are the number that shall be saued 〈◊〉 20.16 by reason the one wants either beliefe a good life or true repentance and the other omits performance according to the first institution which makes both dangerous fearefull and infortunate for that humane creature rather depends vpon the weakenesse of his owne strength then Gods promises the allurements of Satan then the blessings of our Sauiour O then my vnited brethren let neither beauty allure honor tempt lust prouoke wealth encourage nor parents compell for they are all both imperfect and fatall without you sweetly â—â—uper them by reducing their extreamities into the chastitie of vertue Likewise deare Brethren there is another charge impos'd greater then the former whereof you must haue an especiall care to edifie your wife children and family in the commands and seruice of God For if any of them perish by your neglect the soule of you must bee sure to answere for it which grieues my very heart to behold so many of our predecessors runne the hazard of eternall perdition by this one transgression in parents For most commonly they neuer thinke so much of the mutuall loue in glorifying God as the reuenue of wordly profit and temporall honor Nay I haue knowne some parents will marry the wise to the foole which makes themselues prooue tyrants to the of-springs of their loynes for a little wealth to binde the liuing to the dead but assuredly howsoeuer it is carried in the sight of men 〈◊〉 5.13 they are accursed before God and those infortunate that must suffer the bondage who at last will cry out vengeance on the parents that begot them which is the greater crueltie but iustly rewarded Wherfore beloued Sirs if I were worthy to aduise there should none
a temporall Lord a mechanicke Magistrate or pesant Iustice in honouring them more with cap and knee then his omnipotent person that created me But when I cast my eye vpon the second there finde I a distraction of madnesse though I haue not worshipped the molten calfe of brasse iron stone the like yet haue I done sacrifice to the image of liuing clay with that adoration as I made the female sexe my godesses on earth and left the refuse of my time for the seruice of him that made me howsoeuer touching the third I so much prophaned the Deitie of his name that I made it my familiar discourse for which in iustice I am culpable of death But as for the fourth I continually mixt my weake douotions with so many erronious pleasures that to my knowledge I kept not one whole Sabbath for his gory wherby I am debarred of claiming either loue fauour or mercy but the course of perdition which for surer violating the first I was so sparing in shewing either reuerence or dutie to my parents that I seldome payed any tribute as I ought whereby I haue deserued not onely the shortnesse of dayes but the losse of their fatherly blessings As for the first thanks be to God I haue not â—ctually shed the bloud of any man â—nd whether it were not more for â—eare of punishment by the decree of â—nan then the law of God I neither â—an say nor iustifie my selfe but to â—ny remembrance am free from that â—rying sinne howsoeuer for the seaâ—enth if I should deny the acknowedgment of that deadly sinne the â—ynt actors in my lustfull recreation will cry out vengance on my conâ—emnation for we euer held it as a â—port of pleasure brought into the world by nature and at the most vaâ—ued in the ranke of veniall sinnes â—ut now it speakes death vnto mee â—nd I feare no comfort vnto them which for the eight you know in my â—hildhood was guilty so that I can â—eit her acquite nor accuse my selfe of any mortall fact and as for thâ— ninth I canot plead ignorance but tâ— my knowledge was neuer broughâ— to the test before a seat of impartiaâ— iustice Yet as I was it is ten to onâ— that I should haue proued more flesâ— than spirit more false than honest but certainly for the tenth I muâ—â— confesse my self guilty to all either bâ— thought or act with delectation 〈◊〉 affection Thus you see the maâ—row and sinnewes of the whole laâ—â— haue I broken which makes mâ—â— liable to eternall torture death anâ— damnation God forgiue them thaâ— were the occasion Yet if the multâ—tude of these crying sinnes were â—â—period of my transgressions I mighâ— haue hope by the death and passioâ— of my Sauiour But when I pondâ— â—â—on the barbarous and inhumane â—rriage vsed towards his mercies it â—â—tinguisheth the light of comfort â—â—our or pardon for God knowes â—â—am more worthy of death by his â—ath then for violating he whole â—â—w of Moses in that I haue coÌ„mitted â—ortall sinnes against him that died â—r my sinnes Heb. 12.25 by making the â—oanes and sorrowes in his passion â—e robe of shelter to my base wicked â—â—d detestable pleasures for that I â—â—ar'd not prosecuting the life of my â—â—rsed offences vpon presumption of â—s mercies not searing his iustice â—or pittying his sufferings whereby haue exceeded the fact of Iudas or â—â—e Senate of Iewes for the one beâ—ayed him but once I a thousand â—â—es the other crucified him out of ignorance I a million out of wilfulnesseâ— What assurement deare brother caâ— be expected by me that am worse thâ— those whom I haue named but thâ— dreadfull ruine of permanent perditâ—on â—zek 18. â—ccle 5. Yet you will say God is mercifuâ— vpon repentance at the last gaspâ—â— which cannot be denyed so likewiâ—â— my conscience tels me hee is iuâ—â— which will not be contradicted Mat. 5.17.18 Foâ— certainly without my repentance â—â—quall my transgressions the Churcâ— may absolue me â—eue 18. but not assure mâ— And I should vainly expect remissioâ— by any ghoâ—tly fathers absolution 〈◊〉 I continue in any one sinne whiâ—â— lieth in my power to preuent Ioh. 3. â— 6 〈◊〉 the greatest comfort of continuanâ— in all my calamitie was the sweâ—â— saying of our Sauiour that himselâ— â—â—d his Angels ioyed more at the â—â—nuersion of one sinner which â—â—ely repents then ninty nine righâ—ous O with what an vnspeakeâ—ble happinesse was this cordiall â—erse to my afflicted soule wherein ministred the application daily to â—â—fresh my sad heart and wearisome â—nses but at last it proued bitter as all in operation and digesting For â—hen I searched into the mistery of â—â—id sense there I found it was ninety â—ine to one that a wilfull sinner neâ—er truly repented otherwise you â—ould make God ioy more in a sinâ—â—ll wicked mans life then a religious godly liuer which brought me into â—o fearfull a danger of desperation â—hat had you or any other beene â—n eye-witnesse in the agony of my perditious soule it would hauâ— made the flintiest heart soone choose to wrestle with a Lion then commit a mortall sinne against the immortall God which created him Yet after a long debatâ—â— betwixt hope and despaire the president of Saul otherwise called Paul dâ—stilled into me the happines of hope by reason his palpable crimes reflected some equality to my offences 〈◊〉 but at last his patterne left mee in 〈◊〉 darke Ecclips for that they were errors executed out of ignorance Tim. 1. â— noâ— wilfully and therefore obtayned remission vpon his contrition I theâ— ministred to my deiected soule thâ— mercies conferred on Mary Magdalene â—uke 7. â— yet notwithstanding small waâ— my reliefe for that her conflict oâ— â—â—pentance did in a manner exceed others and her transgressions but â—â—e of the seuen deadly sinnes â—hereupon I applied the thiefe on â—â—e Crosse as my last refuge but â—ere I saw apparant lesse shelter for 〈◊〉 the raysing of Lazarus from the â—aue was onely a miracle to shew â—â—at he was Christ the Messias Luk. 23. Ioh. 11. euen 〈◊〉 my conscience telles me that the â—n paralleld mercy vpon the theefe Mat. 26.38 〈◊〉 as preordained only for that houre 〈◊〉 be as a witnesse of his wrongfull â—â—nominious suffering and not any â—ssurement of safety for vs to build â—â—n Thus being depriued as you â—ay perceiue from all hope in the â—â—ue of God by my disobedience â—rom all mercy by my matchlesse â—resumption and from all comforts in malefactours by my superlatiâ— transgressions together with inwaâ—â— griefes of the ioyes I had lost aâ—â— the wofull exchange of heauen fâ— hell brought me into that desperaâ— extasie as I fell suddenly on thâ— ground in a trance where diue iudgements of God reiterated to 〈◊〉 memory that were executed alreaâ—â— vpon his dearest seruants for lesse â—â—fences which closed all the facuâ—ties of my body and soule into an oâ—â— scure darkenesse but thankes be 〈◊〉 the diuine prouidence that
especiallie his preseruation from so many dangers in the world and the assaults in this my conflict hath made me resolutely to set my rest vpon the anchor of this hope that if neither inward griefes nor penitent praiers by the mercies of our Sauiour cannot attaine vnto the ioyes of heauen I will striue to mitigate my torments in hell but certainelie I am resolued rather to suffer death then commit any grieuous or wilfull sinne for I should accompt my selfe more accursed then either Heathen Pagan Turke or Infidell by how much my knowledge exceedes their ignorance and his prouidence my basenesse in exhaling me out of Sodome to Zoar from an euill bewitching Court into a delightfull solitarie Caue where no fraud pride nor deceipt inhabits O my beloued Brother if you or any other did but know the inestimable happinesse which retirednesse bequeathes those that depend vpon Gods prouidence and are resolued to encounter temptation by reformation I am confident the man liues not that desires preseruation of his soule but would rather affect the solitarie continent life then all the pleasures of Solomon Though I must confesse the first two months were both fearefull dangerous and desperate but after repulsing the viâ—lent allusions of Sathan by these generall pleas to all his assaulting accusations alleadging I both confirmed and acknowledged his words to bee true that the wickednesse of my life neither had nor could deserue any hope fauor â— pardon and that I confidently â—eleeued as he said it were imposâ—ble so many sinnes should escape â—npunished hauing the same God â— be iudge which not onely creaâ—ed redeemed and preserued but â—nowes how opprobrious and â—ontemptible I haue beene to all â—s Lawes Statutes and Iudgeâ—ents giuing credence to his â—ords from my heart that euerie â—ilfull sinne should bee afflicted â—ith contrary particular torment â—onfessing that Gods sacred iustice â—espected no persons but rewarâ—ed euery man according to his â—eserts and therefore hee might â—est assured of mee when euer my Sauior was pleased to pronounce â—is sentence for that I knew my past life deserued none other aâ— as for future himselfe warrantâ— could merit no other Yet in regaâ— Gods vnsearchable prouidenâ— gaue me life after so many inhâ—mane transgressions and beleâ—uing the comfortable sayings 〈◊〉 Christs owne words those thing which are impossible to man weâ— no whit impossible to God Mar. 10.27 fâ— that he desired not the death of 〈◊〉 sinner but ioyes more at the coâ—uersion of one offender then ninâ—tie nine righteous Besides himselfe had made mee more capabâ— of apprehending Gods hatred tâ— sinne seueritie in punishment anâ— his blessings presumptuously abused by my basenesse So that 〈◊〉 were a monster in nature if eueâ— â— did more offend the Deietie of â—is sacred name Heb. 10.26 Ioh. 15.22 For in commitâ—ng wilfull sinne I should bee â—onfident it would trench against â—e Holy Ghost attributing hee â—artly rewarded the prentiship of â—ny seruice in reuealing the naked â—uth of my wretched estate proâ—esting vpon the faith of my saluaâ—ion let him say what he would â—ttempt what hee could yet noâ—hing should allure mee by Gods â—ssistance neither to despaire nor â—ffend my Creator more but leaâ—ing soule body life and death at his will and pleasure acknowledging my selfe that if he had made me one of his number I had iustly deserued it and if his infinite â—mercy saued mee I must confesse it were a miracle Howsoeuer 〈◊〉 would bee no longer disobedientâ— for that might prooue ingratitudâ— vpon ingratitude I knowing what fauours God hath bestowed and now hee telling mee whaâ— offences I haue committed assuring him if hee were permitted to punish mee with bodily affliction and temporall crosses the morâ— I were certaine of spirituall comfort Thus is and euer shall continue my resolution by the helpe of him that made me for before I had fixed my heart soule and sences vpon this intire affection neuer to be violated by any stratagemes whatsoeuer I was perpetually troubled with vncharitable thoughts vnquiet feares desperate despaires but now I â—nde they are either lessened or â—se I am carelesse of them Insoâ—uch that my inward faculties â—re mollified with a sensible humiâ—ty to offer vp my morning and â—uening sacrifice as a daily tribâ—â—â—â—f contrition that euer I did 〈◊〉 end and a trembling feare for to â—ffend wherein one night aboue â—ll the rest I cannot chuse but imâ—art the rapture of so much ioy â—hat me thought my apprehension was transformed into another â—emisphere yet durst not presume â—n his mercy for feare of robbing â—is iustice by reason I could neâ—er attaine to so high a pitch of â—elestiall happinesse but in a loâ—er orbe of teares and sorrowes to which I ascribe God the gloâ—â— For when I my selfe was a coâ—panion of others those discipliâ— posternes were as heathen greeâ— to me which now they prooâ— my daily delights of recreation yâ— shall neuer be at quiet vntill I haâ— obtained the period of that formâ— felicity which if nightly watcâ—ing daily fasting continuall praying or corporall affliction caâ— extract this vnparalleld comforâ— I will remaine constant by thâ— permission of God during life oâ—ly reseruing so much time fâ— nourishing the faculties of natuâ—â— that I may continue the longeâ— But peraduenture some of yoâ— lukewarme diuines will not admit of this life though I am minâ— owne taskemaster yet I hope you â—ill not build vpon the Theory 〈◊〉 anothers opinion more than â—e practise of your Brother that â—inioyned to loue you as his own â—ule howsoeuer for my particuâ—r may I neuer prosper in this my â—terprize if all deuines should â—ake it not lawfull by thetorick â—eech or traditions from Adam â—ey would not reflect the least â—ought of reuolt for that I haue â—yned more knowledge hope â—nd comfort to my oppressed â—ule in this one yeere of retiredâ—esse than fowre prentiships beâ—â—re yet I take God to witnesse â—ere is no man breathing that weth a more greate reuerence 〈◊〉 their function and doctrine then my selfe But if his diuiâ— permission amplifies a blessing my second edition as my hope depending I will giue such an 〈◊〉 sured satisfaction that your heaâ— soule and sences shall say God the author and man subiect 〈◊〉 palpable erronious errours 〈◊〉 the meane time following 〈◊〉 president of holy Dauid my truâ— is in God and therefore I feare 〈◊〉 what flesh can doe vnto me Your Brother though a desert Beadsmanâ— Thomas Bushel To the high and mighty mercifull Sauiour God of Heauen and only Judge of Earth The humble petition of thy distressed and deiected creature the superlatiue Prodigall WIth trembling feare sheweth That a poore Suppliant hath offended the Deitie of thy pious Maiestie in what not that 's ill with delectation of affection whereby I haue lost the birthright of creation preseruation and redemption which my fairest hopes cannoâ— presume thou wilt breake thâ— whole course of thy iustice in oâ— mitting so many crying sinnes tâ— escape vnpunished For that 〈◊〉 must
of penitent teares fit for transgressors and sorrowes due to sinners O my Sauiour no! How then canst thou denie me when I sue for no more but what thy selfe hath assured me O my Christ are these the eyes that haue displeased thee let them receiue no light through thee is this the heart which hath dishonoured thee let it bleed to death for thee Is this the flesh which hath offended thee let fire be her fuell by thee Are these the bones which haue brought me woe let them bee burnt and borne no more Or are these the sences which haue sinned against thee let them be a liuing sacrifice to thee O my God I am rackt with griefe that I cannot grieue and perplext in repentance that I know not how to repent For to proceed after the worlds weakenesse I suspect thou seest their wilfull ignorance And if I follow thy Gospels professours I feare thou findst them full of scandall distraction and worldly perturbation What then sweet Sauiour will become of me forlorne creature that haue no reliefe but sinnes to succour me Sathan to assist me and a guilty conscience to comfort mee without thy sacred sufferings make intercession for me and accept thy Saints oblations for sinners to thee I shall be forced to curse my conception and wish my mothers wombe had beene my tombe to haue formed me a lumpe of flesh without life or any creature but thy image for then had I liued according to creation and not liable to eternall damnation Yet most mercifull and immortall father should my agonied soule suspect to suffer shipwracke when thou guidest the sterne or despaire and die when thou art liuing or curse her birth when thou art in being O my God rather let her taste the tortures of hell then be depriued of life and lose her hopes in the ioyes of heauen let then Sathan assay his best and the wicked world her worst my deiected soule hath set vp her rest in thee that made her to saue her Lord I beseech thee to say Amen The Supplication of a Prodigall MY God my refuge my mercy how dare I remember thy greatnesse when the billowes of my crying sinnes haue raisd the wrath of thy Omnipotent person who out of meere diuine loue to pious charitie createdst me after thine owne image redeemed mee being lost and in a word gaue mee all I euer had yet haue I so much dishonoured the Deitie of thy glory that I made the pleasures of this life my Gods on earth and now they are turn'de my tormenting accusers of Death O Sacred Father bequeath the plagues of Egypt for my talent rather then this deceitfull world to my portion which hath not onely bred me disobedient towards thee that made mee a traitour to thy Sonne that dyed for me but sacrific'de my owne soule to be the fuell of hell fire O deadly life of immortall death what shall I tearme thee the shape of a Christian which without thy Sacred intercession for thy neuer dying mercies I shall remaine quickened with the fiend of hell to future ages for euer O do not thou sweet Sauiour forget the pittie of thy goodnes though I haue lost the dutie of my obedience but grant the same fauour to me thou gauest the thiefe vpon the Crosse looke vpon the teares of my miseries with the passions of thy mercies and if neither griefes groanes sighes nor sorrowes can appease thy iust wrath why didst thou make mee wherefore was thy death whom wilt thou saue or art thou another God now then when thou wert mercifull to the oppressed a Father of the godlie and an aduocate for the damned if they repented O then enrich my soule with a diuine sorrow for my ioy the agony of death for my comfort that I may neither presume of thy fauour nor despaire of thy mercie but haue thy great Name glorified thy Sacred death satisfied and thy poore forlorne sinner saued Lord I beseech thee say Amen ¶ The Prodigalles Prayer O Deare and omnipotent God I heere stand guilty of all the barbarous and inhumane sinnes which Sathan can obiect against the cursedst creature liuing For I haue presumptuouslie committed more riots and offences then either Heathen Pagan Turke or Infidell besides treacherouslie made thy name a cloake for my owne villanie Thus deare Sauiour haue I liued a smooth factour for Sathan to the vtter subuersion and depriuation of eternall felicitie and purchased the reward of condemnation with endlesse miserie Breake O my big swollen heart lest a thunderbolt from heauen preuent thee Gush foorth into a flood of teares thou Crocodile by nature in being such a cursed reprobate to forget thy maker a Diuell incarnate for crucifying thy Redeemer Ah sauage beast could neither creation redemption nor dailie blessings mollifie my flintie heart to honour thee as a father feare thee as a God or loue thee as a Sauiour but must so Iudas-like sacrifice thy image to the enemie thy curtesies to crueltie and thy redemption to my dreadfull destruction O indignation of the Almightie fall not vpon mee though I haue sowed the vngratefull seed of Plutarchs aire for Scorpions to bite my flesh and snakes to sucke my bloud Yet most mercifull Father should my miserable soule despaire when thy omnipotenâ— person died for deiected sinners Or can I presume to hope seeing thou hast punished thy dearest seruants for lesse offences Neuer O Lord in my wretched selfe but by the vnspeakable death and passion which is able to releeue the sicke heale the lame restore the blinde and helpe the distressed to thee I submissiue come whose sacred wisedome knowes that man is rottennesse his desires vanitie and life miserie Wilt thou therfore shew thy strength against so poore a worme as man that hath neither creation preseruation nor habitation but by thy diuine prouidence O then dearest Father remit the execution of thy iustice enlarge the liberalitie of thy mercie and extend thy holie spirit on me thy lost sâ—ruant that I may neither curse my birth nor being thou repent of thy creation or redeeming to the end I might liue in thy feare die in thy fauour rest in thy peace rise in thy power and remaine in thy glorie Lord I beseech thee say Amen To the Right Honourable WILLIAM Earle of Derby MY honored Lord I doe not know how far this my solitary life may trench into the displeasure of your Lordships graue censure Therefore I thought best to recommend those generall reasons which were the occasions of my reuolt from the world assuring your Lordship it was not the foolish fantasie of my wandring thoughts Gal. 6. Pro. 18.13 but a serious consideration of my former transgressions with an inward meditation of the small time that God will stay for mans conuersion or euersion made me bequeath the remainder of my daies to this priuate Cell by your Lordships assisting permission Yet peraduenture some will alleadge to your Honour that this course of retirednesse is neither commanded nor