we wil not cast it out but the Lorde be thanked who hath had mercie vppon vs to make hold fast the word of truth what soeuer our fathers haue vainely taught vs And yet we are not in securitie But a third enimie is in the hart of man that the word of God may not haue his perfect honor and that is an opinion conceiued of earthly thinges planting of holines in corruptile creatures As in meates drinkes daies garmentes conditions of life places times Cerimonies neither hearing our Sauiour Christ that God is a spirite and onelie he is to be worshipped in spirite and trueth neither his Apostle Paule that the element of that world commend vs not vnto God for neither if we eate are wee euer the worse neither if we eate not are we euer the better These many and great tentations stand against vs assoone as wee woulde giue our selues to the word of God which is the beginning of a christian life Trowe you that in the continuance of our course and iorney before we come at our sauiour Christ shall we not be sifted and tried to see what is within vs. And you good mystresse H. to apply this to your selfe tell me howe you haue learned Christe hath his gospell bene peaceable in you from the first day til now without all contradiction was your minde neuer puffed vp in vaine imaginations did the traditions and persuasions of men neuer shake your thought haue you not ben tēpted w e opinions of creatures as though some wer more holy some more prophane I knowe as you long after Christ desire his trueth in single heart so his grace you haue not without sharp bitter trials and the more freely the word of God shall possesse your soule and fill your hart full with all desire of it the more you shall feele what fight is againste it looke for the like in all your life and when you approche to the true feare of God prepare youre hearte to the strongest assault The word of God thus made knowen vnto vs and when we follow it with all our soule that we maye haue a liuely fayth to reioyce at the promises of God to feare at his threatning and feele a full perswasion of a certayne performance of all his words O Lorde what is the malice of Satan and though many temptations are against vs the long prosperities of the wicked in which they triūph whiles the goodnes of God prouoketh thē still to repentaunce the bitter sighing of the godly in which they mourne vnder many crosses whiles God maketh their fayth precious before him these haue rooted quite out of the hearts of the vngodly the fayth and truth which they owe vnto God so that agaynst all his iudgementes they haue opened their mouths and said aloude Where is the promise of his cōming and against all his mercies they haue proclaymed warre and sayde they will not haue Christ to reigne ouer them But these temtations Christ hath ouercome in vs and giuen vs his spirite in which we know assuredly that the Lord reigneth neither slacketh he his comming as many accounte slacknes but he will come and his glory shall be knownen And yet we are not in peace but Satan wil sift vs another way He will lay our sinnes before vs to make vs feare that the promises of God belong not vnto vs and this of all temptations is the greatest yet we feare not for what belongeth to all our sinnes which Christe hath not borne sorowe sicknes death hel condemnation were they not in his body and are they not all crucified vppon the Crosse Is he not risen from them and hath he not broken the chaynes of death and so is ascended vnto glory If this be my feare because I am a sinner rather let me reioyce for Christ hath takē my sinnes vpon him and hath buried them deeper then the bottome of the sea he hath ledde it openly in triumph and nayled it vppon the crosse from henceforth and for euermore It hath no strength whosoeuer secme to colour it as redde as scarlet or make it like purple it is still nothing and casteth but a vayue terror before our eyes we will neuer deny this but freely confesse it that we be miserable sinners and not worthy to lifte vp our eyes to heauen but who will lay our sinnes to our charge now god hath iustified vs Or what sinne can rest vpon vs now Christ hath washed them away That which once was in fight with Christ and he hath ouercome it who shall set to his hande the seconde time to make the victorie perfect This is true and euerlasting trueth hath sealed it vp that sinne is abolished for euer and euer howsoeuer we feare or tremble or be faynt harted yet before the Lorde with whom our life is hid there is no perill no daunger no fcare but peace and righteousnes without ende Let our sinnes be neuer so great neither we nor our sinnes can chaunge the new testament that God is mercifull to our sinnes and will blot out all our transgressions therefore this care is paste that our sinnes be many the more they are the greater is his mercy who hath forgiuen them And this is the token which God hath giuen vs that we are his because we are greeued with our sinnes for our Sauiour Christe ouercame sinne with paynes sufferings which belong vnto it and this is the badge of our redemption to be made like him in afflictions we haue sinne and abhorre it it woundeth vs with feare it setteth before vs condemnation we haue a sence and feeling of Gods anger agaynst it and hell gnaweth vpon our soules because of transgression O blessed state and treasure of gladnes this was the image of Christ when he ouercame sinne a marke of my redemption in my owne flesh that I should not faynt As the sunne maketh the day and the night darknes so this affliction of sinne is the badge and cognisaunce of our certayne forgiuenes And herein see the goodnes of God which turneth all things to the best to those that loue him Through feare of sinne the diuell fighteth agaynst vs without feare of sinne we could neuer haue boldnes through anguish of heart the diuell woulde ouerwheline vs with sorrowe without anguish of heart we coulde neuer haue ioye In feeling Gods anger the diuel would make vs to dispayre without feeling his threatning and trembling before him we could neuer haue strength of fayth that his mercies are for euer In all sufferings I am like to Christ they are the markes of mine addoption that I am hys childe do we not heare the Lord him selfe doth speake If we be without correction then are we bastardes and not sonnes and to shewe what our correction shall be he sayth in another place If we be planted with him into the similitude of his death then shall we also be partakers of his resurrection Who hath heard so great salnation as this Euery weapon
Christ Iesus our Lorde 2. Thes 1.7 Heb. 11.1 1. Iob. 3.2 Qu. Shall all men be saued by Christ An. No. None but they onely that do in deede beleeue in him For it is written To whom the death of Christ is profitable He that beleeueth in the sonne hath life and he that beleeueth not in the sonne hath not life And he that beleeueth not is damned already because he beleeueth not Iohn 5.24 6.47 Qu. How do we attayne to fayth An. The holy Ghost worketh it in our hearts As Esay testifieth of the Churche Esa 54.13 â—aying they shal be all taught of the Lord. â—ere 31.33 Rom. 12.3 1. Cor. 2. Eph. 2.8 6.23 Phil. 1.29 2. Thes 1.3.3.2 Heb. 2.2 1. Iob. 5.20 Iob. 6.44 45. Qu. By what meanes The necessitie of the words preached An. By hearing the word preached as is written Faith is by hearing Rom. 10.17 and hearing by the worde of God Qu. May not this hearing be as well by reading as by the preaching of the worde An. No. For it is written Howe can they heare without a preacher Rom. 10.14 Gal. 3.2 Qu. May euery one preach that liste An. Rom. 10.15 No. For it is written Howe shall they preach except the Lorde sende them Qu. What testimonie can be had of any whether he be sent of the Lorde in this office for you knowe it is an easie matter to pretende a sending An. Besides an ordinarie calling of the Church wherein he liueth he muste of necessitie haue Vrim and Thumin knowledge and holynes he must be as it is written wise righteous holy temperate holding faste the faythfull worde according to doctrine that he also may be able to exhorte with wholsome doctrine Tit. 1.8 9. and improue them that say against it 1. Tim. 3.2.3 1. Pet. 5.3 Qu. Do you holde it conuenient that euery minister of the worde and Sacramentes be a preacher An. Yea especially For the Lorde is the fulnesse of all wisedome and sendeth only such as by his grace haue to dispatch his message also he sending forth his Apostles saide goe preach the Gospell c. and to shewe the necessitie of preaching he saith to Peter Feede feede feede Acts 20.28 1. Cor. 3.5 1. Cori. 4.1 2. Cor. 3.6 Ephe. 3.7 Col. 1.7.1 Tim. 4.6.1 Per. 5.2 Qu. Do you thinke it needefull to haue in euerie congregation a minister that is apte to teach An. Yea most needefull for it is written wher there is no preaching the people perishe Also the Apostles in the wisdome of the holie ghost beyonde which we may not presume ordeined suche in euerie Church Acts. 14.23 Tit. 1.5 and Paul appointed Titus to do the like Qu. Do you not think it sufficient that the people do heare the worde preached once in a year or in their life Though they haue no continuall preacher to labour in the worde amongst them An. No in no case For as the body can not liue with such nourishment The greate necessitie of preaching ministers muche lesse the soule without continuall comfort from the worde of God our only spirituall foode and there be dayly profitings in Gods Church wherto the Lords ministers must carefully attende To this effect speaketh Paule to Titus Tit. 1.5 saying For this cause left I thee at Creta that thou shouldest continue to redresse the thinges that remayne c. Also no house is buylt so soone as the first stone of the foundation is layde and S. Paule sheweth the ende for whiche the Lorde doth giue his faythfull seruantes his ministers into his Church namely not onely for the gathering togeather and for the worke of the ministerie but also for the buylding vp the Lords Saints the edification of the body of Christ Ephe. 4.12 14.15 that we might be no more children caried about with euery winde of doctrine but that we mighte grow vp into him which is the head that is Christe Qu. Seeing you thinke it a matter so greatly needefull that there be in euery congregation continually a godly minister apte to teache let me I pray you heart your iudgement by the word of God what is required of the people concerning them and the worde which they bring vnto theÌ„ is it in their choyce whether they wyll heare their preachers and any whitte account of them or no An. No. The peoples duety to their pastours For as no Prince or maister can beare the reiecting of his Ambassador or seruaunt sent foorth in speciall message though to his equals so neither can or will the Lorde beare the like at our hands who be his vassals And to this effect The Lords ministers must be receiued that his faythfull seruauntes his ministers might be comforted agaynst the vnthankfulnesse of the world and to set the people out of doubt how he would haue them taken he sayth He that receiueth you receiueth me Mat. 10.40 and he that receiueth me receiueth hym that sent me Also he addeth Luc. 10.16 He that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me And to put vs out of doubt in what sort he would haue vs to receiue his seruauntes sent to vs for our suche singuler profite as the saluation of our whole soule and body They must be heard and obeyed he doth testifie vnto vs in his worde first that we must heare and obey them Secondly that we must nourish them and thirdly that we must esteeme of them and lastly that we must pray for them For the first he sayth by the Apostle S. Paule 2. Cor. 2.9 For this cause did I write that I might know the proofe of you whether you would be obedient in all things 2. Thes 3.4 14. Heb. 13.17 For the second They must be nourished prouided for Gal. 6.6 it is thus written Let him that is taught in the worde make him that hath taught him partaker of al his goods And also we beseeche you brethren that you know them that labour among you and are ouer you in the Lorde and admonishe you that you haue them in singuler loue for their works sake c. 1. Tim. 5.18 1. Cor. 9.7 8 9. 1. Thess 5.12 13. They must be esteemed 1. Tim. 5.17 For the thirde it is written thus The Elders that rule well are worthy of double honour specially they which labour in the worde and doctrine 3. Iob. 8. And for the laste it is written thus They must be prayed for of the faithfull Col. 4.3 Continue in prayer and watche in the same with thankes giuing praying also for vs that God may open vnto vs the doore of vtteraunce to speake the mysterie of Christe c. that I may vtter it as I ought to speake c. And also Brethren pray for vs 2. Thes 3.1 that the worde of the Lorde may haue free passage and be glorified c. Ephes 6.19 Qu. I pray you how are they accounted of
before the Lorde which do not these dueties for I thinke you shall easily finde many which professe the Gospell and yet do neuer one of them but rather the contrarie So that the very Papistes and Infidels receiue more readily obey more willingly prouide for more sufficiently esteme more highly and do all other things more carefully as our experience doth approue too true for their popish sacrificers idolaters and diuell worshippers then these doe the true seruauntes and ministers of Iesus Christ An. In the Lordes presence they be found to deceiue them selues The state of such as neglect ther dutie to the Lordes messengers Mat. 7.21 whose religion is but in vayne words for that the Lord liueth not in them as in deede he doth not where his glory and kingdome is not cared for Of whom the mouth of the Lorde hath spoken that they shall neuer enter into the kingdome of heauen and they deserue to perish in extreme famine that eyther reiect or so lightly account of the spâ—rituall foode of their soules reached vnto them of the Lorde by the handes of hys Church and ministers and their iudgement sleepeth not for the Lorde him selfe â—arth Who soeuer shall not receiue you nor heare your wordes when you departe out of that house or out of that citie shake of the dust of your feete Mat. 10.14 15. Truely I say vnto you it shall be easier for them of the lande of Sodom and Gomortha in the day of iudgement then for that Citie Luc. 10.11 14 15. Qu. Many thinke them selues in best case when they haue a minister that cannot labour in preaching the worde of the Lord amongest them what do you think of their estate An. Men miserably blinde and see it not First their estate is most wretched for that as blinde men without guide they wander in darknesse for without the word there is no light in our waies Psa 119.105 Thy worde is a lanterne to my feete and a lighte vnto my pathes and also both the one and the other be vnder the iudgement of God Mat. 15.14 The estate of the people that haue an vnpreaching minister If the blinde lead the blind doth they not both fall into the ditche Qu. Then it semeth that you tye the saluation of the people of necessitie the to preaching of the Gospell An. It is moste true for without the preaching of the Gospell there is no ordinarie meane to attaine to faith Rom. 10.14 â—7 faith commeth by hearing the worde of God preached Without faith we cannot atteine to Christ Ioh. 6.40 He that seeth the sonne and beleeueth in him hath euerlasting life c. With out Christ is no way to pacifie the fathers wrath Mat. 3.17 This is my beloued sonne in whom I am well pleased heare him And if the fathers wrath bee not pacified there is no hope of life Psa 2.12 if his wrath be kindled yea but a little we shall perish in the way The necessitie of preaching the Gospell which men make light of So that I conclude that without the preaching of the Gospell it is not possible to be saued Qu. Do you include infants fooles and deaf folkes within this necessity An. No The wisdome of Gods spirit doth leade vs in the streight wayes of the Lorde nor binde the Lorde vnto the meane but in all chinges confesse him to be free but I say that for others the Lord hath giuen vs no ordinarie meane but the preaching of his Gospell Mat. 28.19 Goe preache the Gospell to all creatures who soeuer beleeueth and is baptised shall bee saued c. Mar. 16.13 Qu. There be that thinke that if a man haue learning Selfeliking ignorance and reason that is corrupt blindes many a one especially in the sciences tonges he can not be ignorant of the way of life and so will often reason for others and persuade them selues the one say such bee learned they muste needes knowe the truth The wisdom of carnall men is against God The Lorde when he wil doth vse the meane but he is not bounde to it and the other contemne preaching as if they were too wise for it An. Albeit it pleaseth the Lorde to vse the ciuill knowledge whereof you speake for the furtherance of his gospel when one where he seeth it conuenient yet is it no sure consequent that where these thinges he there also is the sure knowledge of the Lordes truth for in Ephesus were many excellentlie learned in ciuill knowledge As Pithagoras Parmenides Zeno Democritus such like Ephes 1.13 and yet wholie ignoraunt of the way of the Lorde and Saint Paule proueth their faith in Christ to haue commed only from the preaching of the Gospell thorough the power of the spirite of Christe saying In whom ye also trusted after that you heard the worde of truth euen the gospel of your saluation Qu. Then as I take it also you would that in teaching there should onely be vsed the testimonie of the worde it selfe The maner of such as seeke more to please their cares then to profite their soule And yet many that goe for wise men do looke that the preachers should feede them with prophane stories and sayings of men Also some like to spende much time in fables and other needlesse matter Howe thinke you of it An. I graunt you that such things may carry a wilie shew to the carnall man but in all these and a thousand moe of like sort standeth not the faith of Gods chosen for it onely resteth in the word of trueth which Saint Paul testifieth in this respect Esai 55.11 to be the Gospell and when these be at the last yet want the warrant of the spirite to testifie for them that they be the word of truth Againe the Lord blesseth his own meane whose gospel hath a blessing in it selfe and neuer returneth emptie which all these earthly out showes want though in some sort the auouching of some haue their vse namely to confute them that trust in theÌ„ Act. 17.28 Tit. 5.1.12 2. Tim 4.2 as S. Paul doth in the like also they are commanded to preach the worde Mat. 28.20 1. Pet. 4.11 Iho. 9.10 Qu. I see then that the onely way to iustifie vs before God is through fayth in Iesus Christ which you proue that God worketh in our hearts by the preaching of his Gospell But by what meanes I pray you is this iustifying fayth continued and increased in vs An. By the selfe same preaching of the worde For as it is written As new borne babes 1. Pet. 2.2 desire the sincere milke of the word that you may grow thereby 1. Pet. 2.5 1. Cor. 3.2 Heb. 5.13 14. Also the holy Sacramentes are ordeined for vs of the Lord to this end The Lorde by his word and Sacramentes sheweth hys singuler care for the sauegarde of his Church Gal. 3.27 namely to confirme the promises of his Gospell vnto
Christes righteousnes holynes innocencie and immortalitie and of all the merites of Christ and his whole glory For it is written The glory which thou gauest me I haue giuen them He also is made partaker with the Church and all the good that euer it or any member of it had hath or shall haue for there is in it a communion and fellowshippe of Saintes which we beleue and which hath wayting on it alwayes the forgiuenes of sinnes the rising agayne and eternall lyfe with God Qu. In examining our selues The third matter in examination what els must we looke for An. Our estate before the Churche The state of the faythfull before the Church wherein is required not onely that we forgiue from our hearts those that haue offended vs that we may haue an experience within our selues of Christes spirit and so glorifie God in our heartes by assurance of his mercy in forgiuing vs and accepting of vs in Christ As it is written Forgeue and you shall be forgiuen Math. 6. But also we muste seeke to be reconciled to them whom we haue offended As it is written Mat. 5.23 If thou offrest thy gyft vpon the alter and there remembrest that thy brother hath ought agaynst thee leaue there thy gifte and go and be reconciled first to thy brother and then come and offer thy gifte and this must not only be done of vs before we come to the Sacrament but also concerning prayer to the Lorde For it is written When you pray say thus Our father c Forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse agaynst vs. Qu. But were it not better firste to doe these thinges that concerne Gods glory then to seeke reconcilement afterwardes for is not this to prefer to offices of charity before the worship of God and to set the the second table which cencerneth our brethren before the first which concerneth the Lorde him selfe An. As the heart of man is prone into the way of offence euen from the wombe and hath not any inclination of it selfe into the way of the Lord The naturall man hath an cuill heart so they in vain pretend to haue receiued eternall blessings from him by his spirite where there is not in some measure these the like fruites of the same spirite And the Lorde taxeth them as false pretenders to worship God which proudly coÌ„temn their brethren whoÌ„ they haue offeÌ„ded And vnder one kinde he setteth downe the outward exercises of the diuine worship wherby men ofteÌ„ times do more couÌ„terfet lines theÌ„ truly testify it which is the property of al hipocrits as it is seen in the pharasie Qu. The papistes in steede of all this say goe to the prieste and tell him all thy sinnes then come at Easter and receiue c. do you thinke it well An. No nothing of vs ought to bee accounted well done that is not done to the gloric of God Qu. Why they will say they doe it to the glorie of God and how can you prooue the contrarie An. There is no good thing vvithout the light of the vvorde Nothing can be done to the gloric of God without obedience There is no obedience without the worde so that I conclude nothing can bee done to the glory of God without the testemony of the worde But these vile immaginations be not only without the worde which were enough to throw them withall their good put poses intents down to the diuel in iudgment but that they may holde their interest in a deeper and more horrible vengeance they are directly agaynst the manifect testimonies of the worde of the Lorde First they will haue the people to confesse their sinnes to them The Scripture willeth vs to confesse our sinnes to the Lorde onely Dauid sayth Remember not Lorde the sinnes of my youth Psal 25.7 Psa 51.3 4. c. And agayne Agaynst thee O Lorde haue I sinned Also Luke teacheth vs by the example of the lost sonne to confesle our sinnes to the Lorde The Publicane sayde Luc. 15.1 Luc. 18.18 Lorde be mercifull to me a sinner And where the Priestes say they must confesse all the Prophet Dauid sayth Who can tell howe ofte hee offendeth Psal 19.12 Also where as they say they can forgiue sinnes Sooner sayde then proued they shew their fust condemnation namely that the diuell and sinne reigneth in them For if they can forgiue sinnes then Christ dyed in vayne But let God be euerlastingly true and the diuell and all Papistes lyers I euen I am he sayth the Lord that put away thine iniquities for mine owne sake Esa 43.23 and will no more remember thy sinnes Psal 3.8 Also whereas they alow the Sacrament to the people onely at Easter they do in that as in the rest for as they robbe the Lorde of his honour and put an holines in the time so all the other times of the yere wherein the Lorde sayth to the whole Church in respect of the Supper beeing a publike action Take ye eaâ—e ye the Papists say let the Priest eate it alone and let all the people gase looke on But be the Lords trueth neuer so playne ageynst this kind of superstitious receyuing the Lords Sacraments yet such force hath these deuises of the diuell to holde the vngodly in condemnation that you shall see many in many places and they not the least euen at this day The Popes friends which professe to ferue the Lord by seasons come once a yere to the Sacrament more for feare of the lawe then for loue to the Lord. who at Easter will come very deuoutly and all the yere after neuer a whit in whom the foule stenche of the diuels excrementes in these and the like practises of popery hath so forestalled their senses that there is no place in them for the sweete fauour of the worde of lyfe whose condemnation sleepeth not And for so muche as these and their Popish teachers hold vp an other doctrine then Christ hath taught vs we are warranted by the Apostle to holde them accursed Qu. What say you to the place of Saint Iames which thy alleage for eare confesseon Iames. 5.16 where he saith confesse your sinnes one to another An. Saint Iames in the wisedome of the holie Ghoste prouideth for the comfort of Gods chosen in the distresse of spirite thorough the conscience of sinne in which case he adutseth the Lords people to imparte them such greefe with some such of their brethren as in the wisedome of Gods spirite according to the folowwip of his hee may iustly hope both for such counsell in the warrantise of the word as his soul needeth and also may be strengthened by his feruent prayers to the Lord and so the words following proue for he saith Confesse your sinnes one to another and pray one for another that ye may be healed c. Also if this gaue any strength to eare confession then must the prieste
wherewith the enimie striketh the same armeth vs to greater saluation and euery wounde that we do receiue the same confirmeth vs to a suter life Then before as I sayde care not for sinne for that is abolished so here I may adde Care not for hell for the nearer we feele it the further we are from it Let them feare sinne that feele it not and let them be afrayde of condemnation that knowe not what it is vpon whom destruction shall come sodenly as an armed man Our eyes haue be kept waking and we haue seene our sinnes our harts haue fainted before the anger of the Lorde and wee haue not despised his heauenly calling therefore in the daye of trouble we shall haue rest In this perswasion we will liue and dye and if our soules should melt for feare within vs although the Lord should kill vs yet would we trust in him Abraham beleeued in the Lorde and it was imputed vnto him for righteousnes against hope he beleeued vnder hope and if our hoye seemed to be takeÌ„ from vs yet would we patiently wayte the Lordes leasure vutill we saue our hope agayne that at the least our fayth might haue agayne the glorye and trueth of full assuraunce An other thing we must labour in and in an other thing we shall haue temptation and that is that we may see what is the glorie of God and immortall life herein lette vs meditate in our beddes and thinke on this in our secret places in the middest of companies let these cogitatioÌ„s be often in our heartes and in all places let these be out mâ—ses when we shall apprehende with all the seruauntes of God what is the height the bredth the length the depth we shall know that the glory is great of immortalitie and he is onely to be belecued who shall shine in honour when this vanitie is ouerpast His strength is great that layde the foundations of the worlde and bys brightnes exceeding that made the Sunne and the Moone His treasure and ritches are aboue measure who hath giuen princes their golde siluer and other precious stones for the honour of man he in deed is of excellent maiesty who is king of kings Lord of Lords his power is aboue all who maketh sicknesse his messengers and death his minister till he shal abolish them both for his mercies are vnspeakable that forgineth vs all our sinnes his goodnes is great who hath had regard to the children of men From nothing be brought vs into life he kept vs from the graue he wil restore vs make vs see his glory When I would think on this my soule is compassed with dulnes of flesh that I cannot see the fulnes of his fauour When I would consider in my heart what is his grace darknes ouershaddoweth mine vnderstaning all my thoughts do vanish in his immortality WheÌ„ I would speak of al his louing kindnes my toung cleaueth to the roote of my mouth and my words stick fast within my lippes But this one thing in al mine infirmities I can perceiue that his glorie is exceeding great whose glorie I can not comprehend the life is long appointed vnto man where his heart and minde can see no end If al the world were a flowing water and euery yeare one drop shoulde be deminished the Sea should be all made dry and the bottomes of the deepe shoulde appeare before he shall ceasse to liue whome God hath raised from the dead and this breadth widenesse betweene heauen and earth if it shoulde be filled vp and cuerie yeare but one handful of earth added to the work yet sooner should the great distance be closed vp the emptie places made full then he shall cease from ioy and gladnes who shal stand in the resurrection of the iust This is the glorie that hath neither spot nor blemishe before which me thincketh not only princesse the glory of the world but the Sun and Moone all the hostes of heauen are nothing else but meere vanitie for death shaddoweth the glorie of man though hee spread his branches neuer so farre yet the graue closeth vp in little roome the ambitious heart which before was enlarged from East to West And the heauens that are high free from death yet are holden vnder the tyranny of enuious and consuming time in which they shall be changed onely the Lorde is in honour and maiestie who hath set eternity rounde aboute him cast out time vnto confusion Oh Lorde where are their eyes that say not this or their hearts that see and regard it not who hath be witched them in the countenances of meÌ„ to carry the hearts of beasts and to forget the latter ende The Lord turne them the run astray the they may know see wher is their glorie but the teÌ„ptations haue ouertaken them which are against our hope when the Lord shall deliuer them from euil they shal giue thee thankes and reioice with vs that they also haue eyes to see And blessed are you good mystres H. and God hath visited you in an acceptable time whose heart he hath touched with feare whose affections he hath filled with hunger and thirst that you should mourn for the redemption that is in Christe and be pleased with nothing but with the grace of his countenance This is a schoolmystres to bring you vnto him a bond to tye you fast that you shal not be seperate And accomplishe I beseeche you this good worke of his grace till you loue the Lorde withall your heart and till you can say with the blessed Apostle I desire to be desolued and to be with Christ For this purpose we are chastised of the Lorde and when our faith is tried at the last it shall be made strong that w e it wee may quench al the firie darts of Sattan and in righteousnes and peace and ioy of the holy Ghost runne the course that is set before vs till in a blessed issue of happy daies with a good spirite wee maye say boldly Lorde nowe lettest thou thy seruaunte departe in peace whiche I beseeche GOD the father of our Lord Iesus Christ the God of mercâ— and Father of all consolation graunte vnto you Amen Pray pray pray pray this is your best seruice wheresoeuer your duetie is most bounde
conscience and the peace of his Church in and for his sonne our Lorde Iesus Amen Your Honours most humbly to be alwayes vsed in the Lorde Christe VVILLIAM HOPKINSON ¶ A preparation into the waye of lyfe with a direction into the right vse of the Lords Supper Question HOwe had you your beeing at the first Answere God created mee and all men in Adam as it is written The Lorde God made man of the duste of the grounde and breathed in his face breath of life and man was made a liuing soule Question Wherefore did God create you Ans To seeke his glory as it is written Of him through him and for him are all things to him be glory for euer Amen Qu How will God be glorified Ans According to his will reuealed in his worde For it is written Deut. 12.32 Whatsoeuer I commaunde you take heede that you doe it thou shalt put nothing thereto nor take ought therefrom Iosh 1.7 Qu. In what estate were you created An. Holy and excellent without sinne in perfect righteousnes and holynes before him as appeareth Gen. Let vs make man in our image according to our likenes Gen. 1.27 c. Qu. How became you subiect to so many infirmities Ans By sinne and disobedience As it is written Because thou haste obeyed the voyce of thy wife and hast eaten of the tree wherof I commaunded thee Gen. 3.17 saying Thou shalt not eate of it cursed is the earth for thy sake in sorrow shalt thou eate of it all the dayes of thy life Qu. How became you sinnefull An. Adam transgressed the Lords precept in eating the forbidden fruite lost his innocencie and brought sinne vpon him self and all his posteritie As appeareth when he had yeelded to disobey the Lorde Gen. 3.9.10 The Lorde God called to the man and sayde to him Where art thou Who said I heard thy voyce and was afraide because I was naked therefore I hidde my selfe Also the Lorde God sent him foorth from the Garden of Eden Gen. 3.23 to till the earth from whence he was taken c. Qu. Is this sinne in euery one by nature An. Yea in all Adams posteritie none excepted as it is written Rom. 5.12 As by one man sinne entred into the world and death by sinne and so death went ouer all men in as much as all men haue sinned Qu. What is the rewarde of sinne An. Death eternall as it is written Deut. 27.26 Cursed bee hee that continueth not in all the wordes of this lawe to doe them Rom. 6.23 Gal. 3.10 Qu. Shall I escape this death by the workes of the lawe An. No. For it is written Rom. 8.3 For that that was impossible to the law in as much as it was not able because of the flesh God sending his owne sonne in the simisitude of sinnefull flesh condemned sinne in the flesh Qu. Sith the Lawe doth not instifie vs before God what profite hath a Christian by it An. The vse of the lawe Iosh 1.8 First it is a way for Gods children to walke in as it is written Let not this booke of the lawe depart out of thy mouth but meditate therein day and night that thou mayest obserue and doe according to all that is written therein for then shalte thou make thy waye prosperous and then shalt thou haue good successe c. Deut. 6.6 Secondly it teacheth man not to truste in his owne innocencie For it is written We haue proued that all both Iewes and Gentiles are vnder sinne Rom. 3.9 10. Psal 14.1.53.4 Thirdly it pulleth downe the pride of mans heart and humbleth him before God as it is written We knowe that whatsoeuer the lawe sayth it sayth it to them which are vnder the lawe that euery mouth may be stopped Ro. 3.19.20 and all the world culpable before God And by the workes of the lawe shall no fleshe be iustified for by the lawe commeth the knowledge of sinne Fourthly it is a scholemaister to Christ Gal. 3.23 for it is written Before faith came we were kept vnder the lawe and shut vp vnto the fayth that should afterwardes be reuealed wherefore the lawe was oure scholemaster to bring vs vnto Christ that we might be made righteous by fayth Qu. Why should we doe good workes sithe they do not iustifie vs An. First The right end of workes Ioh. 14.15 to shewe our loue to God our father in walking as becommeth his children For the Lorde sayth If you loue me keepe my commaundementes Leui. 11.44.19.2 Secondly to shewe our loue to our selues making our election therby sure vnto our selues For it is written Ephes 1.3.4 Blessed be God euen the father of our Lorde Iesus Christ c. He hath chosen vs in him before the foundation of the worlde was layde that we should be holy and without blame before him in loue 1. Pet. 1.2.2 Pet. 1.10 Thirdly to profite our brethren and glorifie the Lorde Mat. 5.16 Let your light so shine before men that they seeing your good workes maye glorifie your father which is in heauen 1. Pet. 2.12 Qu. VVhat works be good and the contrary Rom 14.23 Howe many things are principally to be considered in good workes An. Three First that they proceede from an heart purified by fayth Whatsoeuer is not of fayth is sinne Mat. 7.17.18 Secondly they muste be ruled by the worde of God for it is written Eph. 2.10 We are his workmanship created in Christ Iesus vnto good workes which he hath prepared for vs to walke in Thirdly the speciall ende for which they are done muste be the glory of God 1. Cor. 10.31 for it is written Whether you eate or drinke or whatsoeuer you doe doe all to the glory of God Exod. 32.32 Rom. 9.3 Qu. What is eternall death An. The euerlasting curse of God whiche conteineth all the tormentes that can be deuised both of soule and body for it is written Deut. 27.26 Cursed is he that continueth not in all the wordes of this lawe to doe them Gal. 3.10 Qu. By what meanes shall I escape this death An. Onely by fayth in Christ as it is written Rom. 3.28 We conclude that a man is iustified by fayth without the workes of the lawe Iohn 3.13 36. 5.24 6.40 47. 11.25 20.29 31. Math. 9.2 Luc. 7.50 Act. 10.43 16.3 Rom. 1.12 Gal. 3.26 Phil. 3.9 Col. 1.23 Eph. 3.12 Heb. 11.6 1. Pet. 1.9 c. Qu. What is a Christian fayth An. VVhat fayth is A full perswasion and assurance of mine heart that whatsoeuer Christe hath wrought for mans saluation perteineth not onely to others but to me also and is furely mine as it is written For I am perswaded that neither death for life Rom. 8.38 nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in