adulterer learne to giue ouer his beastly whoredome filthy fornication Let the drunkard y â— glorieth in his corrupâ—…on forget giue ouer his vnresonable quaffing Let y â— gréedy landlord indeuor to forbeare the practise of pouling his poore tenant to conclude let vs all ingenerally froÌ„ the hiest to the lowest of vs come before y â— Lord our maker with humble contrite harts Let vs wéepe waile cry out morne biterly for our sins then the Lord our God in y â— fulnes of his mercies wil heale our offences cleanse vs froÌ„ our sins purge vs froÌ„ our iniquities and wash vs from our wickednesses in y â— blod of the lamb yea the Lord our God wll become vnto vs a shelter a shield against all our enimies yea he wil fight for vs against al those that maliciously seke to assaile vs he wil turne towards vs his gratious countenance continue our peace blesse our anointed Debora our virgin Quéene y â— handmaid of the lord continue hir highnes helth to our coÌ„forts conuert or else vtterly confound the power of al hir enimies forren domestical blesse our land spare vs froÌ„ those plagues y â— we haue most righteously deserued at the last when it shal plese him to cal vs vnto an account reckoning of our bailiwéekes and stewardships before his tribunal thron we shall stand before him in innocencie holines of life here him pronounce to our endles comforts this hapie sentence Come you blessed of my father enter into y â— kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world To the which most gratious God louing father mercifully conduct vs for thy sonne Christ his sake to whom with thee the holie Ghost the spirit of all truth vnitie and concord thrée person one eternall and euerliuing God be rendred all laud glory honor praise power and dominion for euer Amen FINIS The 〈◊〉 of Godmighâ—… sâ—…ir vs vp to 〈◊〉 and newnâ—…s of life The innâ—…cent 〈◊〉 of Christ is the tood of the soule and his guitles blood the drinke spiritual that quencheth the thirst of the faithfull Onely by 〈◊〉 in Christ Jesus we are deliuered from the 〈◊〉 of hell and 〈◊〉 if we 〈◊〉 constantly Gods temporall blessings are giuen vs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without our 〈◊〉 for the nourishment of our carnall bodies 〈◊〉 wâ—… contâ—…ne the spirituall fooâ—… of our soules so doâ—… we abuse these his tem porall blesâ—… heaping 〈◊〉 vnto our 〈◊〉 vengeance in the day of 〈◊〉 We are verie readie talkers of Christ and his gospell but we are ouer â—…ll and slow walkers after his wil. We haue forsaken Christ and giuen our consents to sathan as peo ple past grace and falsly forsworne neglecting our spirituall begetting to God through Christ. As we â—…orget the rich graces that our â—…ng God in Christ Iesus hath bestowed 〈◊〉 vs so for the most part of vs do we cast from our memories the spiritual conslict that he hath fought for vs. As we abuse his 〈◊〉 â—…races so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dâ—…spise we hâ—…s 〈◊〉 beneâ—…ts Monâ—…rous sinnes râ—…gning in coâ—…nterfait christianâ—… Charitâ—…e forgâ—…ten crâ—…lty 〈◊〉 Hospitâ—…litie murthered by 〈◊〉 True friendship banished by â—…tion God by the exercise of our outragious sinnes is greatly dishonored Sinne plaâ—… vs by these our 〈◊〉 actiâ—…s vnto the bottomles take of perdition The Lord of the harâ—…st commeth â—…or wheat he wil not be plâ—…sed wâ—…th the câ—…kle of corruption Euery one oâ—… vs oâ—…ght to examine our selues diligeâ—…tlie whether we doe those things that God hath 〈◊〉 vs or whether we doe them not at al and when we finde our imperfections to be such that we cannoâ—… doe that we shold let vs not ceaâ—…e to craâ—… assistâ—…nce of â—…ur 〈◊〉 father by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The righteouâ—…nes 〈◊〉 our saâ—…or Christ shal â—…ouer our imperfections if we beleeue and sin death and hel shal die in vs and wee shall liue for euer Note what thing God requireth of vs his crâ—…tures The Lord our God is without beginning and ende If we will worship the Lorde our God we must walke before 〈◊〉 in innoâ—… The 〈◊〉 of the proude Pharaâ—…cs ought not to receiued of godly affected câ—…ristians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we mâ—…st dâ—…re of God for Christ â—…is sake to be made newâ—… doâ—…gh The holie Ghost is the director of the faithfull into all truth False teachers are the ministers of â—…than Christians â—…ust go forâ—…ard from vertue to vertue Christ will 〈◊〉 our 〈◊〉 heard and we shalbe the 〈◊〉 of his â—…sture Ocâ—…sions to â—…ue vs to the worshipâ—…ing of God Note and consider ouâ—… frowardneâ—… against the Lorde our God The fruits of 〈◊〉 neglected 〈◊〉 are worshippers â—…f God with oâ—…r externall 〈◊〉 but our â—…rts are far from him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mâ—…n desirâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 innocent 〈◊〉 A comparison betwixt the flesh and the soule Bodie and soule through â—…nne detested in the cies oâ—… the Lord. All men haue erred and 〈◊〉 astraie in the sight of the â—…rd no good nesie among the sonnes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The coÌ„ming of Christ to iudgement from our memories The 〈◊〉 of the flesh 〈◊〉 and not subdued Who continueth the battel against the world the fleshe and sathan vnder the standerd of Christ Iesus The paines that Christ hath suffered on the crosse for our redemption can not pearce our flintie harts The seruants of sin continue their wickednes the seruants of christ are make and â—…umble 〈◊〉 broken and brused hâ—…t is 〈◊〉 sacrifice acceptable to God Repentance grounded on a 〈◊〉 saith is sathans 〈◊〉 and ouerthrow Christ calleth sinners to repentance The compasâ—…on and pitie that Christ extendeth to the vnfeined 〈◊〉 Deâ—…y â—…eth 〈◊〉 deferring of râ—…pentance brâ—…geth Gods indigâ—… The 〈◊〉 of christ Ieâ—…us Christ Iesus is the heauen lie 〈◊〉 and Phisician of our soulâ—… We are 〈◊〉 Samaritanes The great mercies of Christ set foorth â—… comfort and strengthen our â—…bicilities We are called now to coin to Christ put it not of til to morrow Christ gâ—…th about to couple and ioine vâ—…to himselfe the faithfull 〈◊〉 God the lord of time will not be tied to thy appointed morrowe come nowe therefore â—…ith thou art called We 〈◊〉 consider the ioies of heauen nor yet dread 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tormentâ—…s 〈◊〉 â—…ell 〈◊〉 We are diâ—… caled but we haue made deaf our 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 â—…ur â—…arts in such sort that woe will not heare nor conceaue the voice of the caller Neither can gâ—…ds merciâ—…s nor his comâ—…inations driue vs to amendment of our liues Though Christ be reddie to 〈◊〉 vs yet we wil not come to him We are erthly minded and not spirituallie affected Wordlie honor is more desired then heauenly glorie The treasures of this world are set by before the celestiall treaures of Chistes kingdome 〈◊〉 thing most dangerous to 〈◊〉 The 〈◊〉 of Adam hath polluted our consciences and the taste of the forbidden apple 〈◊〉 still 〈◊〉 oâ—… mouths â—…ll fâ—…re of God is â—…anished from our memories Noah
for the Lorde ouâ—… God is a great a mightie and gelouâ—… God his wisedome is 〈◊〉 and his kingdome hath no ende the scepter oâ—… his seate is a righteous scâ—…pter and his dominion shall indure for euer This our God was and is without beginning and ending and this our God in puritie and holinesse must be worshipped of vs from the beginning of our â—…ais euen to the finishing and ending of our liues for gratious is the Lord our God and his truth shall continue for euer Let vs therefore if we will wâ—…ship the Lord our God truelie walke before him in innocencie continuâ—…llie stand in awâ—… of his displeasure humble our selues with reuerence before the throne of his grace coâ—…e before his presence with ioie and 〈◊〉 shew our selues glad in him with psalmes and alwaies and euer let vs speake good of his name â—…r he by his wisedome of nothing hath â—…ade all things the seate of our God is â—…e glorious heauens he sitteth betwene 〈◊〉 Cherubins his chariot is the wings 〈◊〉 the winds and the whole earth is his â—…otstoole and other gods besides this our â—…od there is none his name be blessed â—…aised for euer euer If we will worâ—…ip this our God namelie the Father â—…onne holie Ghost three persons in triâ—…itie one onlie God we must â—…denor 〈◊〉 cast away far from vs the lothsom leaâ—…en of the proud pratling Pharasies that â—…asted of their owne righteousnesse and â—…stification and wée must earnestlie â—…ire of God and that vnceasantly with â—…mble and contrite harts that wée may 〈◊〉 made new dough that is that our conâ—…ences our minds soules may be thoâ—…wly seasonned with the most prâ—…ious â—…me of his grace by the power wherof â—…rough Jesus Christ the comfortable â—…iding of the holy Ghost we may be diâ—…ed into al truth therin by his prouiâ—…nce we may be so stronglie confirmed â—…at neither the temptations of sathan the sinfull suggestions of the fleshe 〈◊〉 pollicies of his disceaueable minister that are possessed with the spirit of lieâ—… teaching their owne traditions contrâ—… rie to Christ neither yet the vaine aâ—… fading corruptible pleasures of thiâ—… worlde may be able to preuaile to witâ—… drawe vs from the worship of our Goâ—… but that we may as it becommeth godlâ—… and true regenerate children perseuâ—… and go forwarde from vertue to vertuâ—… and constantlie continue with cleaâ—… harts vndefiled consciences and purifiâ—… soules in the blood of our sauiour the seâ—… uice of our God and then he will becoâ—… our shepherd and we shall be the shâ—… of his pasture he will remaine our graâ—… ous and louing father and we shal be thâ—… children of his blessed inheritance thâ—… which our Christ hath purchased for 〈◊〉 those that beleeue with the prise of hâ—… hart blood If we will worship God wâ—… must loue him bicause he is the fountaâ—… of loue and loued vs from the beginniâ—… euen when we were his enimies Fâ—… what loue could be greater than this 〈◊〉 â—…at he gaue his onelie begotten sonne â—…hrist Iesus to sufâ—…r for our sakes al the 〈◊〉 that could be deuised to beare 〈◊〉 our sakes being forlorne for our sins â—…he altogither holy innocent the heauy â—…rthen of his fathers displesure therâ—… we beleuing stedfastly in him to make 〈◊〉 that were the children of death the â—…ires of life and saluation O inestimaâ—…e loue and aboundant kindnesses granâ—…d vs frely without our deserts through â—…ace in Christ Iesus euen when wee â—…ere the children of damnation and the â—…rie fire brands of hell who for this his â—…ceeding loue and grace would be so vnâ—…nd but to loue him againe that for all â—…ese his bountifull bestowed benefites â—…ueth nothing at our handes but that â—…e loue him as he hath loued vs contiâ—…allie and that without feining Naie â—…ho forgetteth not this his great loue â—…d recompenseth him that hath loued 〈◊〉 with monstrous ingratitude Who â—…orshippeth him in hart and mind as he commanded nay who prophaneth not â—…s honor and â—…lorie Who is chedient to his blessed wil heauenlie ordinanâ—… Naie who impugneth not his statutes breaketh not his commandements 〈◊〉 these the fruits of gods glorioâ—…s 〈◊〉 that he requireth at our hands Do 〈◊〉 we are commanded Do we our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to â—…oath adorne our selues 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 oâ—… his holy name or by 〈◊〉 hearing of his heauenly word with 〈◊〉 spirituall Adam Christ Nale do we 〈◊〉 â—…ather deuise to reâ—…est couer our 〈◊〉 with the transgressions of our olde 〈◊〉 rentes to the coâ—…demnation of our 〈◊〉 dies and soules eterâ—…ally Thuâ—… throuâ—… the hardnes of our harts that worshipâ—… God with our lips and denie him in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 y ◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and mightie in all abhomination readâ—… to 〈◊〉 the workeâ—… of 〈◊〉 leaue the worship â—…f our God to serâ—… our 〈◊〉 aduersarie 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thus our innocent soules the 〈◊〉 rie and trâ—…â—…age of God is by the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of our â—…dies wâ—…nded 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to â—…ternall deaâ—… she mournâ—… 〈◊〉 but who regaâ—… 〈◊〉 soulâ—… 〈◊〉 The outwaâ—…de man is giâ—…en to pleasure and ease The soule is â—…inched with penurie and paine and neâ—…er can haue rest The soule through â—…he actions of the fleshly mâ—…nded man is â—…isgarnished of the vesture of gods grace â—…hough the man of sinne be pranked vp â—…n menstrous pride The flesh is stout and sturdie the soule is saint and feble The flesh is lustie and healthie poasting â—…fter pleasure The soule is sicke and soâ—…owfull for want of the feeling of gods â—…race The flesh is affected to all kinds of â—…niquities and therby the soule is dangeâ—…ously wounded with transgression so â—…hat both body and soule is become most â—…onstrous in the eies of the Lorde our God and al bicause we will not learne tâ—…â—…orship him nor to walke in his waies â—…ut who is he y â— considereth these things â—…aie who is not rather delighted to worke wickednes to do euil in the sight â—…f the Lord our God Uerily all haue 〈◊〉 from the highest to the lowest and 〈◊〉 be short God hath from his dwelling â—…lace looked down to the face of the earth and knoweth that there is no goodnesse among the sons of men who hasteth the to shroude himselfe by an earnest deploration of his sinnes vnder the couert of the glorous wings of Gods grace Naie rather who wandereth not wide from his heauenlie veritie and setteth not by the continuance of his euill to heape vp vengeance to himselfe in the daie of wrath who is he that prepareth himselfe to watch and kéepe warde for the coming of Christ in the clouds Nay who is he that slepeth not soundly in the vnclennes of his own hart Who is he that striueth in these dangerous daies of wickednes to vanquish subdue the loathsoâ—… lusts of his owne flesh Naie who is
A SOMMON to Repentance Giuen vnto Christians for a loking Glasse wherin we may behold our owne deformities and therein and thereby we are not onley forewarned of our destructions but we are learned to humble our selues in these daungerous dayes of wickednesse before the throane of Gods mercy that wee maye be preserued from the Lake of damnation in the great and notable day of Christs comming to iudgemente Published by J.P. student of Cambridge Math. 3. Repent and amend your lyues for the kingdome of God is at hande AT LONDON Imprinted by D. Jackson dwelling in fleetestroete 1584. ¶ To the right Honorable Sir Edwarde Osbourne Knight hir Maiesties Leiftenante Lorde Mayor of hir Highnes most honorable Cittie London the right Worshipfull Knight Syr Rowland Haiward Alderman of London the right worshipfull Mayster Iohn Spencer Alderman and Shriue of London and the right worshipful of the fraternitie and misterye of Clothworkers Iohn Phillip the sonne of Robart Phillip Clothworker disceased wisheth the feare of God peace and prosperitie in our merciful Lord and Sauior Christ Iesus c. IF this small present right honorable and worshypful rendered into your hands with all humility and reuerence maye finde fauour in your sight I shall not only accounte my selfe happye but hereafter shew my selfe industerious to pleasure you wyth some other treatise which with this shall redowne to the glory of god your well liking and the commodity of my natiue cuntrimen In the meane season I most earnestly besech your good Lordship and euery of you to pardon my boldnes and to satisfie your mindes with this poore mite of mine which to the comforte of the godly and the reformation of the maleuolent is published not doubting but as you are vertuous and godly affected so your honor and euery one of you being patrons members of this common weale in as much as in you shal consist will doe your indeuors to beate down syn whose branches are so monsterous that they begin to ouer shade vertue the which thing to cal vnto our memories is a thing of al things to be lamented who heareth not in the Gospel how diligently our wickednesses coÌ„mitted against the maiestie of eternal God are reproued but who or where are they that conuert and turne to the Lord in this our last time of our age and calling no we glory in our iniquityes and hate to be reformed and generally to speake the truth we I say for the most part and greatest number of vs that professe the name of Christ are rockt and lulled in the corrupt cradle of our owne securities and therin we slepe so soundly that neither can the remembrance of Gods graces signes tokens his greuous threat nings and terrible comminations serue to rouse vs vp out of the dangerous and most perrilous slumber of our iniquyties it cannot be chosen right Honorable and Worshipful but that the day of our visitation is at hand and except we repent we shal perishe in our wickednesses for Gods heauie indigâ—…tion is readie to enter into the gates of our Cities the vâ—…ols of his wrath are ready to be powred forth vpon vs our God is ready in the fulnesse of his displeasure to hew vs downe with the Axe of his vengeance for our ingratitude to bloâ—… our names out of the booke of lyfe for the contempt of his commandements and to leaue vs 〈◊〉 pray for our abhominable actions to our auncient aduersarie sathan I exhort your good Lordship therefore and euery one of you to whome God hatâ—… giuen authority in the bowels of Iesus Christ to perseuer and go forward from vertue to vertue to the vttermost of your powers to banishe from your Cities and Townes al the maysters of misrule that both contemne God and despise good order Thus shal you please God in discharging your dueties and shewe your selues obedient subiects to hir excellent maiesty that putteth you in trust to bridle the outrage of the wicked that range as gracelesse after their vncleanesse Thus wishing you right honorable and euery one of you the feare of god peace and prosperitye in Iesus Christ I leaue you to his gracious heauenly preseruation beseeching him of his infinite good nes whilst his mercy holdeth his indignation at a bay to giue vs the grace with humble and contrite hartes to prostrate our selues before him to craue pardon at his fatherly hands for our offences to weepe bytterly for our sinnes and to bring forth the fruites of repentance thus shal we pacifie hys heauy displeasure conuerte his fury to fauor his 〈◊〉 to loue and his conceiued wrath to comfortable kindnes the which we shal inioye in this life and after when the course of this our pilgrimage is fully finished we shal stand before him in purity be sanctified with his holynes be crowned with honor and glory and be made fellow heires with Christ Iesus of his celestial kingdome the which God for hiâ—… sonne Christ his sake graunt you and euery of you Your humble and faythful wel willer in the Lord. Iohn Phillip ⧠A Sommon to repentaunce giuen vnto Christians for a looking glasse IF wee woulde consider deare christians the inestimable graces of our louing God poured foorth vpâ—…n vs that haue little or nothing at all deserued his fatherlie fauor it â—…ere a thing that might mooue vs sinfull and most wretched creaâ—…ures not onlie to walke as it becommeth â—…s in godlie integritie and newnes of life but therewithall we would like adopted sonnes by his 〈◊〉 grace continew our obedience towardes him that like a most carefull Father and gratious God sâ—…keth all the meanes possible that 〈◊〉 be to nourish and féede vs both in soâ—… and bodie to euerlasting life and heauenly blessednes In spirite and soule by the operation and working of a liuelie faâ—…th through his diuine grace we are prouidently fâ—…d â—…n the truth of his 〈◊〉 testament with the sweetest flesh drinke the dâ—…rest blood of our immaculate and spotles lambe Christ Iesus who giueth himselfe most willinglie to all those that constantlie beleeue not carnallie but spirituallie to be fed vppon by faith and fréelie 〈◊〉 vnto vs his most precious blood without our deserts to aswadge the thirst of our soules that Sathan through sinne had 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 death and destruction euerlasting from the which by the vnspeakeable prouidence and infâ—…te wisedome of our omnipotent GOD through Iesus Christ we are deliuered Si sumus fideles And as by his grace we inioy this delectable foode and most 〈◊〉 Nectar to the comfort of our soules so with these his deuine benefites hâ—… most louinglie inricheth vs with his temporall blessinges For in bodie 〈◊〉 our feeble and weake natures most carefullie are by his onelie goodnesse fostered from his bountifull handes with meate and drinke and all other the glorious giftes of his grace without the which wee coulde not continue But alas neither the one nor the other is of vs accepted
and 〈◊〉 of vs as it ought to bee for as we enter into contempt of his graces lâ—…uinge carelessie as men carnallie and worldelie affected so loath 〈◊〉 Christ JESUS so contâ—…e wée in our actions as lip labourers the Gospell of hys grace and therewithall wee despise Manna I meane the Spirituall Lambe that fâ—…th with hys blessed fleshe and 〈◊〉 with his guiltelesse bloode oâ—…re hungrie soules The which thing to consider is a thing of all thinges most lamentable and miserable requiring for our deserued contempt deserued punishment But is this all No though we be christians by name we are contrarie to Christ in deede wee proâ—…esse him carnallie with wordes but our hearts are alienated and far of him we are busie talkers of his gosgell but we are ashamed to be â—…arnest walkers after his heauenlie will we liue lasciuiouslie prodigallie and wantonlie we that were contracted to Christ in our newe regeneration are nowe wedded to our owne vntamed lusts and straieng affections we that had vowed by an inuincible faith to take our rest in Christ Iesus haue giuen our consents to Sathan as the enimies of the lambe and are â—…ulled fast a sleepe in the sinfull cradell of our owne securities And thus as people past grace we are become wilfull truce breakers of his holie commandements contemners of his blessed coâ—…enant periuâ—…ed people and creatures falslie forsworne forgetting our newe birth and bearing againe to God through grace in Christ Iesus who hath made the attonement for our â—…ffences appeased the furie of our creator canceled the bond of our guâ—…tie trespasses and broâ—… a sunder yea euâ—…n to verie péece meale the seale of our condemnation which we deseruedly had heaped vp vnto our selues and that most worthelie by the reason of our to maniâ—…old sinnes and wickednesses but as we forget these his great and inestimable rich graces so dâ—… we also cast from our memories for the most part his bloodie death and painefull passion the triumphant conquest that hée hath made for our sinnes on the crosse The sharpe and most 〈◊〉 battle that he fought for vs against the world sinne death sathan and all the power of hell is of vs nothing at all remembred and yet we will be christians by externall profession and outward shewe when as within we are full of all filthines and repugnant to Christ but the greater shall bee our plagues in the daie of desolation Thus as we perseuer and go forward in the waies of our vncleannes soyling our selues both in bodie and soule with the blemishes of our corruption and as it were vtterlie despising of his celestiall graces and contemning of his 〈◊〉 â—…orments y â— he suâ—…ed on the crosse for our iniquities so like shamlâ—…s Epâ—…ures and beaâ—…lie bâ—…lly gods we abuse his terrestriall giftes and benefites Measure is sâ—…ldome or in anie place obserued Ryot euerie where and in all places ruffleth as maister of misrule Sobrietie is forsaken drunkennesse imbraâ—…ed Hâ—…militie is cast downe arrogancie aduaunced Uertue is defaced monstrous vice flourisheth Chastitie is disdained incontinenâ—…ie esteemed Truth is oppressed â—…atterie vpholden Simplicitie is banished 〈◊〉 well welcommed A golden meane is vtterlie vanquished Coueâ—…ousnesse hath gotten the preheminence Charitie as conuinced quaketh hir â—…oints are benummed with colde Crueltie is wrapped in his furres Liberalitie is not able to stirre for lamenesse an inmeasurable nigardise hath neither left him handes to distribute to the poore â—…eete to go to the sicke nor yet eies to beholde the indigent Hospitalitie is verie faint and so â—…eeble that he â—…are not peepe abroade nor be seene and all by the reason of proâ—…igalitie who I feare me hath 〈◊〉 him to the death True friendshippe a-amongst mortall men is neglected dissimulation is so deepelie harboured almost in the hearts of all estates and degrees Just dealing is an outcast bribes are taken to betray the innocent Neighborliâ—… loue is no more thought vpon God is greatlie dishonoured Mammon is highlie worshppied and to conclude enuiâ—… hatred wrath oppression and the filthie fruits of all vncharitablenesse reigneth generally in all places ages of this our last time â—…las what a whirlepoole of wickednesse doe wee continue in What a filthie sincke of Sodomitrie doe we wallowe in What a perillous puddle of vncleannesse and corruption doe we plunge our selues into of a set purpose Or into what a stincking channell of all kindes of impieties determine wee to cast ourselues headlong Is God delited thinke we with these oâ—…r outragious sins wil he be pleased with vnsauery cockle in the day of the great mighty haruest when he looketh for good perfect wheat Will we giue him course branne when â—…e commeth for fine flower O what shal become of vs then Uerilie we shall lose the diademe of life the eternall crowne of glorie tâ—…e comfortable fruission of his glorious preâ—…nce and be throwne as most miserable outcasts to the dungion of hell wherewith Sathan and his angels we shall be tormented euerlastinglie Let vs therfore euerie one of vs from the highest to the lowest whilest we hauâ—… time enter into our owne consciences and by a deepe and earnest confidence of our selues let vs behold diligentlie whether we doe those things that God commaundeth we should doe or whether we leaue them altogither for the most part of vs vndone and then when that we find feele our imperfection to be such and so great that we cannot perform that thing which God by his word and will hath tied and bound vs vnto let vs not cease by the inâ—…ocation of his holie and blessed name to craue and desire the assistance of his holie spirit with humble and contrite hearts that by the effectuall and liuelie working thereof we may indeâ—…or our selues to walke in the light to shun the darkenesse of death to liue as it becommeth godliâ—… affected christians to â—…ast of the olde Adam and to cloth our selues with Christ the newe and heauenly Adam and then his grace shall supplie our wantes his righteousnesse shall couer our imperfections finne death and hell shall die in vs and we shall liue to him by whose blessed merites we are sanctified for euer and euer But if wee will harden our harts in our wickednesses and stande vp in our sinnes against the Lord as our forefathers haue done that wilfullie rebelled against his maiestie we shall not onely with them inâ—…r his heauy displeasure but sodeinly with his mightie arme be confounded in the imaginations and deuises of our owne harts Let vs see what God requireth of vs his creatures First aboue all other thinges hee hath giuen vs an especiall charge to serue honor worship praiâ—…e and gloriâ—…e his holie namâ—… and as God is truth so looketh he to be worshipped of vs in spirite and truth solely onelie and alone neither may wée giue or attribute that praise honour and reuerence that to him belongeth to anie other
he that hath not agréedie and an inordinatâ—… desire to thrist hunger after his owne filthinesse and none the waie to worship God Who is he that fighteth like 〈◊〉 good souldier manfullie vnder the 〈◊〉 captaine of our Sauiour Christ Iesus against the worlde the flesh and thâ—… diuell Naie what is he that flieth 〈◊〉 like a cowarde from the battell 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ouer the 〈◊〉 forsaketh not the field â—…efuseth not his redéemer eleauing to the world pampring himselfe in all kinds of â—…ncleannes yéelding himselfe most wilâ—…nglie a pray to sathan The which to cal 〈◊〉 our remembrances is a thing most 〈◊〉 alas is this the glorie wée giue vnto our God O sinful wretches 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 your selues in your 〈◊〉 wickednesses against the Lorde of 〈◊〉 power and maiestie What deserue we in this doing any other than eternal death and destruction of bodies soules O that the painfull passion and the 〈◊〉 woundes that Christe suffered on the crosse for our â—…nnes cannot pierce our 〈◊〉 and stony hearts Alas wretâ—…es that we are doe we forget howe 〈◊〉 he hath paied the price of our â—…demption O what shal become of vs that go about to tread she blessed blood of our Messias vnder our miserable â—…éete â—…hal not the â—…iols of his wrath be pouâ—…ed foorth vpon vs or euer we be aware 〈◊〉 that vnlooked for Yes 〈◊〉 For 〈◊〉 the Lord and his iudgements are true Whilest we haue time therfore 〈◊〉 vs conuert and turne vs wholie to the Lorde our God for he is mercifull and full of compassion and louing kindnesse Let vs no longer remaine the seruaunts of sinne but doe our indeuour with all humilitie to serue with feare and reuerence the Lord our God And then shall we to the comfort of our soules inâ—…oy the chéerefull light of his glorious countenance we shall gratiouslie be deliuered from the snares of death be set free from the captiuâ—…tie of Sathan and be restored to his fauor and grace who is more ready to heare than we are to cal More willing to open vnto vs the rich storehouse of his mercie then we are to knocke at the gates of his grace with the hammer of an inuincible faith And more desirous to find vs that are lost shepe then we are to séeke after the shéepeherd of our soules Christ Iesus For the Lord our God is slow to wrath and readie to accept the oblations of our sorrowfull â—…earts for a broken hart and mourning soule is the sacrifice that pleaseth God Neither hath â—…he Lorde pleasure in the death of a sinner It is his ioie and sathans foile sorrowe and ouerthrowe when wee conuerte from our euill and bring soorth the fruits of repentance For Christ himselfe hath giuen vs this gratious aduertisement to our exceeding ioie comfort and consolation saieng there is greater solace among the Angels in heauen ouer one person that heartelie artelie and earnestly conuerteth from his sinne than there is ouer ninty and nine iust persons that neuer did offend O happie and blessed saiâ—…ng He that hath eares to heare let them heare and let him whose consciences is ouerladen with sinne craue of the gratious caller Christ Iesus with weeping eies heauie harts and groaning soules that it woulde please him to continue this call Come vnto mée you that labour and are heauie ladden I will refreshe you my yoake is easie and my burthen verie light If thy sinnes be as redde as scarelet tome vnto mee I call thee saieth Christ hearken to my 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 will make thée whiter than snowe what wouldâ—… thou haue more 〈◊〉 my hands are thy sinnes innumerable Surmount they in thy sight the â—…ands of the seas despaire thou not for my mereies excell thy â—…ins a thousand fold Hast thou broken the will of my father thy God come vnto me though thy offences be neuer su great I haue for thée fulfilled thâ—… lawe my righteousnes shall be thine I wil heale the sorâ—…s that sathan hath made into thy soule through â—…inne and by 〈◊〉 thou shalt be accepted where thou wast refused Hast thou spent thy patrimonie 〈◊〉 Hast thou gone 〈◊〉 whooring after strange gods Linger not the time neither put it off from daie to daie I call thee nowe saâ—…e not thou to morrowe but come now thou art called though thy sinnes be gréeuous I will ease thée of the burthen of thy wickednesses that are readie to presse thâ—… downe to the dungeon of hell stre yea I will louingliâ—… if thou come at my call lift thée vp from the daungers of the second death and giue thee life and endlessâ—… glorie in the kingdome of heauen O louing Lord what canst thou doe more for vs Hast thou broken thy vowe in wedlocke Hast thou liuedin adulterie Did not I by my gracâ—… couple and weddâ—… thée to my selfe And hast thou made the members of my glorious bodie the members of a shamelesse strumpet Labour to come vnto me by faith and earnest repentance I will release thée from the burthen that gréenously oppresseth thée and pardon and forgiue thoe all that is past I will release thée in my death and blood I wil couple thee to my selfe with the yoake of my fauour my burthen is light thou maiest easely beare it it shal not be troublesome to thée come quicklie come my grace shall cleanse the corruption of thy conscience and heale thy leaperous soule I will abide in the temple of thy bodie and thou shall haue thy dwelling in me O swéete Christ that thus louinglie callest vs home to thy selfe Hast y ◠〈◊〉 my name Hast thou delighted in theft Hast thou 〈◊〉 a bearer of false witnesse against the innocent â—…ast thou defeated the widowe of hir dowrie Hast thou robbed the fatherlesse of his right Hast thou broken my Sabbaoth which I commanded to be kept holie O come come vnto me set a side all dangerous doubtes I will healâ—… all your infirmities sinne shall not harme you death shall not greeue you neither yet shall your aduersarie sathan nor all the power of hell be able to preuaile against you for I my selfe will not faile you I will be with you to the ende and in the ende O come vnto me come vnto mee there is none that can helpe you or doe you anie good but my selfe no not one you are sinful Samaritanes I see the condission and estate that you remaine in You are fallen into the handes of hatefull theeues You are wounded with the â—…erie dartes of the deuill You are compassed rounde about with the snares of death You are bound fast hand and foot with the chains of damnation And there is no remedie left for you except I take you in hande For neither can y â— Priest nor the Leuitè doe you anie good I call come vnto me I will cure the 〈◊〉 vlcers of your iniquities I will heale the festred sores of your wickednesses I will willingly take awaie
to walk in the waies that the Lorde our God hath appointed vs and yet we will be compted christians by name but infidels in our actions To talke of Christ being carnally affected and not heauenlie minded is a thing of all other most dangerous 〈◊〉 acknowledge him to be the Sonne 〈◊〉 God in our wordes and not to 〈◊〉 his testimonies is a thing most diuelish and sathanicall for the 〈◊〉 did the like in the desertes when he tempted the Lorde of life that Iohn baptized in Iordan and then if we bée faithlesse as I feare me the greatest number of vs are that remaine in this our last time of calling what differ we from sathan that vnrighteous prince of darknes And is this the way do we coÌ„iâ—…ture with our selues to please God when in not regarding the price of our redemtion accomplished by Gods eternall decree freelie by and through the working of his â—…serued grace in the spotles and immaculate lambe No we vsurpe the name of Christ in this doing we deceiue our selues we tread the blood of him that hath redeemed vs vnder our feete and to conclâ—…de wée aggreuate heape vp vnto our selues the heauie and intollerable curse and indignation of the aâ—…ightie and therwithall vnlesse we conuert from the 〈◊〉 waie of our abhominable wickednesses the destruction of our bodies and soules euerlastinglie But who is he that will enter into his owne conscience examine himselfe whither he be giltie of these causes or not or who is he that finding his conscience wouÌ„ded with the deadlie dart of his own transgression ouerladen with sinne will learne to acknowledge his owne wickednesses to humble himselfe with Dauid before the thron of gods mercies to saie Lord haue mercie vpon me and according to the multitude of thy manifolde mercies blot out all mine iniquities out of thy presence verelie in this age there are few or none that indeuor to bring forth the fruits of repentance for the confidence that we haue in our selues the great distrust that we haue in God in neglecting his commandements the loue that we haue to this transitory world the slender care wée haue to Christ his Gospel the dangerous delight we conceaue in our owne force contrarie the vtter forgetting of gods graces bestowed vppon vs a proue vs rather to be the children of darknes then the sonnes of light were it not an absurde thing for vs to be called in this our last age wherein Christ is sencerely preached to be 〈◊〉 for our sins the enimies of Chist and the friends of Belial who would not think he had iniury being baptised to be called sathâ—…n But what redéemed whome Christ hath raunsomed not with golde nor siluer but with the price of the hart blood of our redéemer will at all times ingraue or print into his remembrance the painful torments that Christ hath suffred for the sins of the whole world nay rather who flieth not from the ensigne of his capteine Christ Jesus and yeldeth not himselfe a bondslaue to â—…in a seruant to sathan a pray to eternall damnation hel If God haue coÌ„mâ—… nded vs to serue honor obey him to dedicate and offer vp our selues into his holie handes to depende wholie onely and solie vpon him to put our whole trust and confidence in him and to continue his worshippe in feare and reuerence Why doe we scorne his commandements Why yeelde we not our selues to obedience Why are wée become men pleasers Or why go wée about of a set purpose to displease our creator knowe we not that we are in his heauenly hands as the clay is in the hands of the potter will we become vessels of dishonor in dishonoring him that of dutie we are bounde to obey Are our hearts so hardened that wée thinke him insufficient to punishe vs that without ceasing prouoke him to displeasure or are we become so farre past feare that we will not stande in awe of his iudgementes Hath Ladie selfeloue made vs so wilfullie affected that we wil stand thus sturdely against the Lord and his annointed or hath the inordinate desire of our priuate gaine in this world of wretchednes so déepelie possessed our harts that we vtterlie cast Christ Jesus our high and mightie Lorde treasurer and the vnspeakeable treasures of his glorious kingdom froÌ„ our memories alas if wee will cockeâ—… our selues in our vncleannes heape vp sinne vpon sin glorie in our vncleannes and giue our consents to worke euill in the sight of the Lorde our God We are not members of Christ sons of adoption and grace but children of the diuell forlorne and cast away bastardes If we wil become wilful wantons stragling Goates refuse the good sheephearde and cleane vnto the hired seruant shall not sathan the wilie wolfe deuoure vs both in body and soule If we will liue 〈◊〉 lift vp our selues against the Lord stande stiffe in our owne securities and growe in the contempt of Gods eternall iustice shall not hee in his heaâ—…ie displeasure with the heauie Axe of his vengeance cut vs downe in our sinnes and then after this temporall death shall not the seconde death of bodie and soule which shall endure for euer vexe and torment vs in the dungion of hell Oh that we would record and call these thinges to our remembrances O that we woulde ponder in our owne consciences how heauie and dangerous a thing it is to fall into the iudgements of the Lorde our God O that we would diligently coÌ„sider with our selues that as God is mercifull louing amiable to those that loue him and kéepe his commandements so is he iust terrible and displeasant to those that continue their wickednesses The 〈◊〉 tree that was barren was accursed and thinke we that are fruitlesse to be blessed Can not the good seede of the Gospell sowne in the stoniâ—… grounde of our stintie harts take no root at al in vs shal the filthy furrours of our cankred consciences in stead of good and perfect graine bring foorth vnsanerie darnell when the Lorde of the haruest commeth for perfect wheat will we render him chaffe alacke then most miserable is our condission and estate for hee then that hath his fanne in his hand wil purge his floure gather his wheate into the glorious gâ—…rner of his grace but the chaffe he will burne with an vnquenchable fire These thinges might forewarne vs in time while wée haue time to turne to the Lorde our God and to bring soorth the fruites of repentaunce But wée generallie for the most part here and euery where rather like beastlie Epicures then godlie affected christians wallowe in the myrie soyle of our vncleanesse and putrefaction expecting nothing so much as we doe our ease wherin wée she we our selues to be more laisie loyterers then louelie labourers in the Lordes vineyarde For let vs euen from the highest to the lowest from the
â—…ertues haue their â—…eing in our carnal contemptuous gospellers which rather make a scorne of Christ Iesus then honour him in their harts But this inâ—…incible faith gâ—…unded on the touchstone of truth and this vnfeinâ—…d repentaâ—…ce through the which by grace in Christ Iesus the olde man is dead and buried from â—…inne and this contriâ—…on and hartie sorrowe where with all our consciences are touched not for deâ—…tes but fréely by gods inestimable louâ—… and kindnes commeth not of our selues but procedeth towards vs from the father of light and these his singuler graces are pertinent and belonging to the children of beleefe that are truelie regenerate begotten borne againe to God the Father not by water but in the pretious death and bloodshedding of the innocent lambe Christ Iesus This faith and this repentance was profitable to the prophet Dauid when he felt in himselfe the sorrows of his hart and confessed himselfe to haue 〈◊〉 displeased the maiestie of the Lord God saieng I will acknowledge mine vnrighteousnesse against my selfe O Lorde and thou forgauest the vngodlines of my sinnes and as his submission was found acceptablein the sight of the Lorde GOD so Saule wanting a liuely faith and impenitent what could his contriâ—…on auaile or proâ—…t him This faith was sâ—… setteled in the Apostle Peter that when he had denied his Lorde and maister Christ Iesus looking back vpon him the sillie cocke became a preacher vnto him thervpon calling vnto his remembraunce the wordes of his louing Lorde hee went foorth of the doores and wâ—…pt bitterlie for his trespasse thus his repentance obteined mercy at the hands of god found fauor bicause that he grounded oâ—… faith Contrarily this repentance nothing at all aâ—…ailed Iudas and why bicause he was faithles Thus as Peter purchased remission by faith earnest repentance so Iudas drowned in infidelity sathan poscessing him most desperately hanged him selfe and did heape vnto himselfe the vtter condemnation of bodie and soule and I feare me that in this our last age we haue a far greter number of desperate ludases than faithful repentant Peters God turne our harts and giue vs his holie spirit by the power wherof sin shall cease in vs and we shal liue to Christ Iesus But if we will with an vpright and single 〈◊〉 behold the maners of wicked wordlinges we shall finde them so far dissonant from Christ as light is from darkenes and yet most shamelessie he that is most wicked he whose actions are most detested in the sight of the Lord God wil not stick to say they are folowers of Christ and it may be so that they both followe and seeke after him but howe not with the thrée wise men to serue and worship him in spirite truth but with bloodthirsty Herode to kil and cruciâ—…e him afreshe in his members They mind not with Nichodemus to seke the Lorde Christ by daie nor yet by night to learn of him as his disciples that which may benefit them to euerlasting life but they seeke and followe after him with the subtill Scribes the proud Pharâ—…sies and the deceitfull Saâ—…uces to intrap him in his talke and to tempt him with a pâ—…nny but they are sent away not without answere for Caesar must haue that which to him belongeth God must haue his glorie These vsurpers of Christ his holie name these wicked and impudent creatures come not to the lambe of God with the beleeuing Centurion neither wil they repose such confidence and trust in Christ as he did for the râ—…couery of his daughters health no they will not come to him that like a good and louing Phisicion woulde cure their sicke soules purifie their 〈◊〉 hearts and cleanse them from all the â—…oares of sinnâ—… and yet with the Lawier that came to Christ to know y â— way to life they can brag they haue kept the coÌ„manâ—…ements and al necessary things for their â—…aluation but with the Lawier they go awaie ashamed for these iustifieng felowâ—… of themselues keepe backe with the lawier neither will they consent to sel all that they haue and giue it to the poore no they will followe Christ in no such order Iudas was a follower of Christ Iudas gaue Christ a discembling kisse but wee haue many Iudases but the faith of Zacheus is forgotten of these counterfeits they will not sâ—…e Christ in spirit and truth but after their owne affections this is the manner of the maleuâ—…lent that thinke themselues searchers after CHRIST when they being carnallie affected rather shew themselues blind at noone â—…aies then to haue or inioie their perfect sight for they grope as graceles for him that they cannot finde But contrary the little fold the members of the church militant the faire daughter of SioÌ„ y â— perfect spous of Christ and the faithful louers of the gospell they seeke for Christ spiritually and how by a fruitful faith and an earnest repentance they find him to the comfort of their coÌ„sciences the ioie of their troubled harts to the exceding comfort of their soules they sée find him y â— both is delighted to dwell with them in them they in him haue their being so that by his especiall grace â—… fauour they are puriâ—…ed in the blood of the lambe from al the spots of their sins the deformed wrinckles of their wickednesses this is the meane of godlie christians that seeke and search for Christ by an immoueable faith and beartie sorrowe for their sinnes and they are certeine to find him and why bicause he hath promised that when so euer two or thrée be assembled and gathered togither in his name he will be in the middest of them and this is the hope of the faithful this is the greatest ioie that belongeth to the children of beleefe this is â—…he comfort of each and euerie constant christian and yet they can not stand of themselues but when they fal into the laspe of sinne they confesse their iniquities and forthwith they being touched with the finger of Gods grace they like prodigall sonnes that â—…aue wandered from the sheepefolds of the true and verie Emanuell crie out and returne to their father againe for want of whose fauour they being readie to pine were glad with the swine that wallowe in the stincking â—…ncks of sin to eate y â— corrupt cods of their vnclennes but being as they were vnder the curse of the lawe subuerted by gods eternall iustice to eternall death and damnation they feeling the gnawing worme of their owne conscience to vexe and tormente them and therewith all they beholding the horror of their wickednesses committed against the Lorde their God they seeke to bee ridde of this hellish slauerie they counte to shake of this heauie and intolerable burthen of their iniquities and to be released from the bondage of hell the â—…ting of the second death and the ceaseles torments of that euerlasting