sonne for vs herin doest y u coÌ„mende vnto vs thy loue y t when we were yet sinners Christe thy derâ—sonne died for vs so y t nothing shuld separate vs from thy loue in christ Iesê° nether death nor hunger c. For if when we were enemies we were recoÌ„ciled vnto thee by the death of thy soÌ„ne much more we being recoÌ„ciled shalbe saued by his life And y t I shuld not doubt herof but certeinly be per swaded all thys to pertayne to me where I mighte haue been borne of Turkes loe y u woldest I shoulde be borne of Christian parents brought into thy church by baptisme which is y e Sacrament of AdoptioÌ„ and requireth faith as wel of remission of my sinnes as of sanctification and holines to be wrought of thee in me by thy grace and holy spirit Where I mighte haue been borne in an ignorant time and region y u woldest I I shuld be borne in this time and region wherin is more knowlege reueled then euer was here or in many places is Where I mighte haue been of a corrupt iudgemente entangled with many errours loe y u of thy goodnes as thou hast reformed my Iudgement so doest thou keepe it and nowe for the same iudgementes sake doest vouchsalfe somewhat by the crosse to try me By al which thinges I shuld confirme my faythe of thys that thou alwayes haste been arte and wylte be for euer my deare father in respect wherof I should be as certaine of saluation of these aheritaunce of heauen for euer 〈◊〉 thankfull cast my whole care on thee trust on thee and call on thee with comforte and certaine hope for all thinges that I wants For in y t thou haÌ„st giuen to meÌ„ this benefite to be thy childe vndeserued vndeseced on my behalfe 〈◊〉 and onely in respect of thine owne goodnes and grace in Christ lest at anye time I should doubt of it how shuld I but hope certainlie that nothinge profitable to me can be denied in y t thi power is infinite For as thi good will is declared in adoptinge me so nothing can be finally wanting me which may make for my weale for y t shuld improue thy power to be almighty in y t thi wil is so bouÌ„teously already declared wheras my beâ—eâ—â—e requireth to beleue in thee y e father almightie in consideration whereof I shoulde in all thynges behaue my self as a child reioyse in thee praise thee truste in thee feare thee serue thee loue thee call vpon thee c. But alas how heauie harted am I How vnthankfull am I Howe full of vnbeleife doubtinge of this thy riche mercie Howe litle doe I loue thee feare thee call vpon thee c. Oh be mercifull vnto me forgyue me good father for thine owne sake and graunt me the spirit of thy children to reuele thy self vnto me and Iesus Christe thy deare sonne oure lord by whoÌ„ we are made thy children that I may truly knowe thee hartely loue thee faithefully hange vpon thee in al my nedes with good hope call vpon thee render faithfully this honour to thee that thou art my god father I thy deare childe through thy grace in Christ and so alwaies be endued with an assured hope of thy goodnes and a faithfull obedient hart in all things to thy holy will At thy hands and from thee as I must loke for al things so come I vnto thee and praye thee to gyue me these thinges whiche thy deare children haue and thou requirest of me that I might come aske them of thee as now I doe through Iesus Christ our lord As by this word father I am taught to glory of thee and in thee and all that euer thou hast for thou art wholy mine my lord my god my father so by this word Our I am taught to glory of all the good that al euery of thy seruants that euer were are or shalbe had haue and shall haue For now I am taught to beleue y t thou hast called me into the communion of thy churche people whom hereby I perceiue y u hast commaunded to be carefull for me as for theÌ„ selues and in all their praiers to be as mindful of me as of themselues Againe as by this word Father I am taught to remeÌ„ber render my duetie I owe to thee wards faith loue feare obedience c so by thy worde our I am taught my dutie towards thy people to be carefull for them to take their sorow pouerty affliction c as mine owne and therfore to labour to helpe them in hart and hand after my vocation habilitie vtterly abhorring all pride selfloue arrogancie contempt of any By reason wherof I haue great cause to lament to reioyse To lament because I am so farre froÌ„ coÌ„sideration much more froÌ„ doig my dutie to thy people in thoughts words or dedes To reioyse because I am called of thee placed iÌ„ the blessed societie of thy saints made a meÌ„ber citizen of the heauenly Ierusalem and because thou hast giueÌ„ in commauÌ„dement to all thy church to be as care full for me as for themselues But alas howe farre am I herefroÌ„ As I am giltie of vnthankfulnes for this thy calling me into the blessed coÌ„munion of thy deare soÌ„ne churche yea of thy selfe so am I giltie of selfloue vnmercifulnes pride arrogantie forgetfulnes coÌ„tempt of thy children for els I could not but be other wise affected otherwise labour then I do Oh be mercifull vnto me good father forgiue me grauÌ„t for christs sake that as my tonge souÌ„deth this word our so I may in hart fele the true loye of thy blessed communion and the true loue coÌ„passion whiche thy children haue and fele towards their brethen that I may reioyse in all trouble in respect of that ioyefull communion that I maye denye my selfe to honour thy children vpoÌ„ earth and endeuer my selfe to doe them good for thy sake through Iesê° christ our lord I come onely to thee to giue me that which I cannot nor muste not els where haue and thou requirest it of me y t therefore I shuld as thy childe come and craue it to thy glory Which art in heauen AS by these words Oure father I am taught to glorie and reioyse for the blessed coÌ„munion which I am called to w t thee deare father with thy Christ and with thy holye church so also am I heare taught by these words Which art in heauen to reioyse in respect of the place and blessed Ioyes whereunto at the length in thy good tyme I shall come For now I may perceiue that as heaueÌ„ is thy home so is it mine also being as I am thy child through Christ although heare for a time I am bodely on earth and in miserie Againe by these wordes which arte in heauen I am admonished not onely to discerne thee from earthly fathers and to knowe
benefits giuen me in commaundinge men to care for me to praie for me to helpe me c. But alas how farre I am from true lamentacion and reioysing lorde thou knowest Oh be mercifull vnto me and help me forgeue me and graunte me thy holie spirit to reueale to me my nede ignoraunce great ingratitude contempt of thy mercies thy people and that in such sorte that I might hartely lament and bewaile my miserie and throughe thy goodnes be altered with thy people to mourne for the miseries of thy children as for mine owne Againe reueale to me thy goodnes dere father eueÌ„ in corporall things that I maye see thy mercy thy presence power wisedome and righteousnes in euery creature and corporall benefites and that in such sort that I maye be throughly affected truly to reuerence feare loue obey thee hange vpon thee to be thankfull to thee in all my nede to come vnto the not only when I haue ordinarie meanes by the which thou coÌ„monly workest but also when I haue none yea when al meanes and helpes are cleane against me Here remeÌ„ber the state of your children and familie also your parents neighbours kinse folkes also your frendes contrey and magistrates c as you shall haue tyme thereto and by goddes good Spirite shalbe prouoked ¶ Forgeue vs oure debtes as we forgeue them that are debtours vnto vs. BY oure Debtes are vnderstande not onely things we haue done â—ut the omissioÌ„ and leauing vndone of the good things we ought to doe By oure is not onely vnderstande the particular sinnes of one but also generally the sinnes of al and euery one of thy church By forgyuenes is vnderstande free pardon and remission of synnes by the merites and desertes of thy dere sonne Iesus Christe who gaue him self a raunsome for vs. By oure forgeuing of other mens offences to vs warde is vnderstand thy good wyll not onelye that it pleaseth thee that we shoulde liue in lone and amytye but also that thou wouldeste haue vs to be certayne of thy pardonynge vs of our synnes For as certayne as we are that we pardone them that offende vs so certayne shoulde we be that thou doeste pardone vs whereof the forgeuing our trespassers is as it were a sacrament vnto vs. So that by this petitioÌ„ I am taught to se that thy children althoughe by imputation they be pure from sinne yet they acknowledge sinne to be remaine in them and therefore doe they pray for the remissioÌ„ forgeuenes of the same Againe I am taught hereby to see how thy children doe consider take to hart not only the euells they doe but also the good thy leaue vndone And therfore they praye thee hartely for pardon Moreouer I am here taught to see that thy children are carefull for other meÌ„ and for their trespases and therefore praye that they mighte be pardoned in saing oure sinnes and not my synnes Besides this I am taught here to see how thy children not onely forgeue all that offende them but also pray for the pardoning of the offences of their enemies and such as offende them So farre are they from malicousnes pride reuengemeÌ„t c. Last of all I am taught to see howe mercifull thou art which wilt haue me to aske pardon wherof thou woldest that we shuld iÌ„ no point doubt but be most assured that for Christs sake thou herest vs and that not only for our selues but also for manie others for y â— doest not commaunde vs to aske for anye thinge thou wilt not geue vs. By reason whereof I haue greate cause to lament and reioyse To lameÌ„t because of my miserable estate which am so farre from these affections that are in thy children which am so ignoraunt careles of sinne not onely in leauing good vndone but also in doing euel and that dailie in thought worde and dede c. I speake not of my carelesnes for other folkes sinnes as of my pareÌ„ts children familie magestrats c neither of the sinnes of them to whom I haue geuen occasion to sinne To reioyse I haue great cause because of thy mercy in opening to me these things in coÌ„maundinge me to praye for pardon in promisinge me pardon and in coÌ„maundinge others to pray for me I ought surely to be perswaded of thy mercy though my sinnes be innumerable For I se not onely in this but in euerye petition howe that euery one of thy churche praieth for me yea christ thy sonne who sitteth on thy right haÌ„d praieth for me c. Oh deare father be mercifull vnto me and forgyue me al my sinnes and of thy goodnes geue me thy holy spirit to opeÌ„ mine eies that I may se sinne y â— better to know it y â— more truly to hate it most earnestly to striue agaist it that effectually both in my selfe and others Again graunt me the same thy holy spirit to reuele vnto me the remedie of sinne by christ only to worke in me faith to embrace the same thy Christ and mercies in him that I may henseforth be endued with thy holy spirite more more to beginne and obey thy good wil continually to encrease in the same for euer Here call to mind the special sinnes you haue committed heretofore Remember if you haue occasioned any to sinne to praye for them by name remeÌ„ber that gods lawe shuld be so dere vnto vs y â— the breaking thereof in others shoulde be an occasion to make vs to lament with teares c. Leade vs not into tentacion BEcause of our continuall great infirmities because of the greate diligence subtilties of our enemies and because y â— art wont to punishe sinne w t sinne which of all punishmeÌ„tes is y â— greatest most to be feared In this peticion y â— wouldest haue thy children to haue y â— same in remeÌ„beraunce for a remedy hereof y â— hast appointed praier So that y â— only cause why anie are ouercome led into tentation is for y â— they forget what they desire in y â— peticion going before this which shuld be neuer out of their memorie to prouoke theÌ„ to be more thaÌ„kful to thee more vigilant heedie herafter for falling into like perills For which to be auoided y â— doest most graciously set forth a remedy in coÌ„mauÌ„dinge vs to pray after pardon for oure sinnes past for thy grace to guide vs so that we be not ledde into tentacion but might be delyuered from euyll And because thou wouldeste haue all thy childreÌ„ to hange wholye vpon thee to feare thee onely and only to loue thee thou doest not teache them to praye suffer vs not to be ledde but leade vs not into tentation that I say they might onely feare thee certainly know that Sathan hathe no power ouer so much as a pigge but what soeuer thou geueste vnto him and of thy secret but most iuste iudgement doest appoint
him to vse not as he will for then we were all loste but as thou wilt which canst wil nothing but that which is most iust As to geue them to the guidiÌ„g of Sathan which wil not be guided by thy grace as y â— diddst Saul c. Occasions to euell are in two sortes One by prosperitie successe another by aduersitie the crosse c. the euells coming of successe commoÌ„ly are vnthankfulnes prid securitie forgetting our selues forgetting of others forgetfulnes of god of our mortalitie c. The euells coÌ„ming of aduersytie commonly are impatiencie murmuring grutchiÌ„g dispayring contemning of god flattering of men stealing lieng c w t manye other euells wherto tentations will entise a man that is lefte to him selfe whereas to one that is guided with gods spirit tentacions are but trialls to the glorye of god comfort of the tempted and edifieng of thy church But as I saied yf a man be left alone tentacions entise euen to the deuyll hym selfe And therfore thy children pray to be deliuered from euill vnderstandinge thereby Sathan him self the sower and supporter of all euell And this thy children doe aswell for others as for them selues So that I maye learne hereout many good thyngs First to remember often our infirmitie and weakenes and the daungerous estate we stand in in the respect of our fleshe of the world which is full of euill of Sathan which seketh to sifte vs and as a roring lion to destroy vs of our sinnes which deserue all kindes of punishements and correction that I mighte with thy children feare thee watch pray and desire the daye of redemption from all euells Againe I may learne here that to auoide all dauÌ„gers euell is not in y â— power of maÌ„ but only thy worke By reason wherof I should consider thy great goodnes whiche hither to hast kept me froÌ„ so many euels both of soule body yea of name goods c as thou hast done in my infancy childhode youth middle age c. Thirdly I may learne here that I shuld be careful for others both that they might be deliuered froÌ„ their euells that they might be preserued froÌ„ tentatioÌ„ from being ouercome in the same and therefore y â— teachest me to pray not deliuer me froÌ„ euell simply but deliuer vs from euell Last of all I am taught hereby so see thy goodnes towards me which wilt deliuer me from euell and froÌ„ being ouercome in tentations For thou woldst not haue me to aske for that which I shoulde not loke for at thy handes certainely By reason wherof thou woldest haue me to be in a certaintie of saluatioÌ„ for euer For ells I cannot beleue my prayer to be heard if that finallye I should not be deliuered from euell And therefore thou ioynest hereto a geuinge of thankes whiche with thy Church I should saye For thine is the kingdome thine is the power thine is the glorye for euer By reason whereof I haue great cause to lament and to reioyce To lament because of my corruptioÌ„ infirmitie weaknes obliuion and carelesnes for thy people ingratitude c because of Sathans power vigilancie prudencie which hath ouercome most graue wise and holy men wherof some neuer recouered as Cain Cham Achitophel Saul â—udas c. To reioyse because of thy goodnes whiche teachest me this she west me the remedie commaundest all thy Church to praye for me 〈◊〉 wilt at length deliuer me from all â—uel and giue me glory But alas I â—m all together careles miserable Oh be mercifull vnto me dere father and for christs sake forgiue me al my â—innes Graunt me thy holy spirit to reuele to me mine infirmties weaknes perils dauÌ„gers c in such sort that as I may hartely lamente my miseries so I maye aske and obtaine thy grace to guyde me from all euill for euer more Againe graunt me the same thy holy spirite to reuele to me thy loue kindnes towards me and that in eternitie in such sort that I maye be throughlye perswaded of the same become thankfull vnto thee daily expecte and loke for the reuelacion of thy kingdome power and glory as one that foreuer shall haue the fruction of the same through thyne owne goodnes and mercy in Christ prepared for me before the beginniÌ„g and foundation of the worlde was layed Here cal to mind our securitie Sathans vigilancie oure negligence his diligence our infirmitie his habilitie oure ignoraunce his crafte and subtilitie c. Item call to mind how that he hath ouerthrowen for a time many of the deare Saintes of god to whom we are to be compared in nothinge aâ— Adam Eue Lot Iudas Thamer Moises Aaron Mirtan Sampson Gedeon Clie Dauid Salomon Ezechias Iosias Peter Thomas and innumerable moe Item call to minde the goodnes of god and of oure Shepeherd Christ whiche hathe kepte vs hitherto kepeth vs still teacheth vs here to know that he will kepe vs for euer For he wold not haue vs to aske for deliueraunce from euell if that he wold not we should certainely loke for the same If thou doubt of finall perseueraunce y â— dishonourest god Be certaine therfore rest in hope be stil in his word Se also how he hath commaunded his whole church and euery member thereof to praye for thee aswell as for them selues in these and all other thinges Now and then goe about to recken how manye and diuers kindes of euells there be that thereby as you may knowe you are deliuered from none but by gods greate goodnes so you may see that the number of euells that you haue are nothing to be compared to the multitude of euills wherwith yf your christ were not the deuil wold all to beraye and dawbe you But what are all the miseries and euels that can be to be compared to the least ioye prepared for vs in heauen Oh thinke of those ioyes and pray that when the tyde of death coÌ„meth we may hale forth of the hauen of this fleshe this world ioyefully In praieng this petitioÌ„ call to minde the euells you haue been in the euells you are in and the euells you may fall in if god shuld not preserue you that you might be stirred vp the more to thankfullnes to prayer to trust in god to modestie c. For thine is the kingdome thine is the power thine is the glory for euer AS in the beginniÌ„g of this praier by these words our father which art in heauen thy children are excited stirred vp to a ful confidence of obtaining the petitions folowing al things necessary So in y â— latter end y u hast added for the same purpose these wordes For thine is the kingdome thin is c Wherin I am taught these many things First that in prayer I shuld haue such consideration of thy kingdome power glory and eternitie that my mind shuld be striken w t an admiration of the same Secondly that
therfor am worthi to fele thee a iudge w t refuse to fele thee a sauior Now y ◠cause of al these things is vnbeliefe the which though it be naturall by reason of the corruption of our nature pet I haue augmented the same maliciously in not laborīg there against and continuing in al synnes and wickednesse by reason whereof I deserue most iustelye thy anger therevpon euen reiection frō thy face for euer Longe hast thou mourned euen w t displeasure anger the incredulity of my heart calling me there from and offering me thy grace which I haue neglected and reiected and therfore am neuer worthi to haue it any more offered vnto me muche more then I am vnworthy to haue grace gyuen me to receiue thy mercy Alas what shall I doe shall I dispraier or as long as I can kepe me vnmindfull of my mysery o sauiour Christ Iesu wilt not thou be mercifull vnto me thou diddest die for me when I deserued it not and nowe is thy mercye shortned wilt not thou geue me thy grace and take frō my hart this horrible vnbeliefe Shall I neuer loue the shall I neuer hath sinne shall I neuer as w t my mouth I say I beleue in Iesus Christ so in hart say the same shall Sathan possesst me for euer o christe Iesus whiche hast led captiuitie captiue what wilt not thou helpe me thoughe I desyre it not as I shuld yet giue me to desyre whan thou wilt Thou diddest appeare to destroye the worke of the deuil thou seest his worke in me good christ destroy his worke but not thy worke saue me for thy great mercies sake Geue me to beleue in thee in thy death resurrection ascension pardone me my sinnes and mortifye now in me my corrupt affections reyse me vp and iustify me regenerat me daily more and more geue me faith of immortalitie resurrectiō of this body geue me faith to ascend into heauen and to be certaine that thou hast already taken possessiō for me there Geue me to loke for thy comming and to be ready in thy cōming to find mercy to euerlasting life c. I beleue in the holy ghost c. O Holy spirite the third person in trinity whiche diddest descend vpon Christ our sauiour in hys baptisme in the likenes of a doue thy children know that with the father and the sonne thou madest and rulest all creatures visible and inuisyble they know thee in their redemption to be no lesse willing louinge then the father and the sonne for y ◠diddest alwaies declare Christ to be the sonne of god gauest testimony in wardly in the harts of thy elect to beleue and embrace the same outwardely by miracles and wonders they know thee to be the comforter and gouernour whom Christe dyd promise in his corporal absēce shuld teach rule kepe comforte and gouerne his church and people Againe as in the former parte of their beleife they cōsider the works of creatyon and redemption so in thys parte they consyder the place where the same is moste effectuall taketh place euen thy holy churche which is catholick that is extēding it selfe to all times to all places to all kinds of people For in this church only they know that as all things were made so the worke of redemption was taken in hand that y ◠blessed trinitye mightest in this church be praysed magnified serued worshipped for euer This church is nothinge ells but a communion and societie of saintes that is not onelye a societye of all such as be haue been or shal be thy people but also a societye or partaking of Christe Iesus whiche is the head of the same yea by him of thee oh blessed father which art y ◠head of Christ and of thee oh holy ghost whiche nowe shadowest and sittest vpon the same to hatch and cherishe it as the hen her chekins by the extending of thy winges not onely to defende them frō their enemies but also to couer their sinnes and to remitte them in this life beginning also here the resurrection of the fleshe and euerlasting life the which thou wilt in the ende of the world consūmate so that they shall not nede to be couered for sinne for then shall they be pure and haue gtoriouse bodies immortall and spirituall the which shal haue the fruition of eternal ieye life euerlasting and glory suche as the eye hathe not sene the eare hath heard nor the hart of man can conceiue For then christ Iesus shall geue vp his kingedome to god the father that god may be al in all concerning the gouernaunce of it by the ministration of his word and other meanes wherby now he gouerneth it that it maye be his fathers kingdome we beig become like vnto him that is as to the manhod of Christ the godhead is vnited and is al in al without any other meanes euen so god shalbe in vs assuminge then not only in the person of christ the humaine nature but also al the humaine nature of his church which be members of Christ the wicked reprobate being separate then from this cōmunion cast into eternall perditiō with Sathan antichrist there to be in tormentes and horrour for euer By reason of this their faith they are thankfull to the o holye spirite whiche hast taught them this gyuen them to beleue it By reason of this faith they singularly praye loue helpe thy church here militāt labour to be holy 〈◊〉 By reason of this faith they cōfesse them selues sinners they desire and beleue pardone of their sinnes they are rysen and ryse daily concerning the inwards man and doe feele the life eternall begone in them more more laboringe praying wishings and desyringe for the same whollye and perfectly Where as oh lorde god and most graciouse holy spirit thou knowest that it is otherwise w t me I doe but bable w t my lippes in saying I beleue in the holy ghost for I am vnthankful for calling me into thy church I doe not liue holely I confesse not I lament not my sinnes I pray not for remission of them I stand in doubte thereof as I fele not my selfe rysen from a sinnefull life as I should be or as I fele not life begone in me as it is in thy deare children so doe I doubt herof whether I haue pardon of my sinnes whether I am regenerate whether I fele truly euerlasting life the which thinge doth most displease thee and yet w t my tonge I saye I beleue in the holye ghost Oh I besech thee good holy spirit for thy loue sake which moued the to agree and be willinge to patifye and open thy goodnes not only in the worke of creation for thou dyddest lye vpon the waters and as the benne her chickins dyddest as it were hatche the worke of creatiō but also in the worke of redemption and therefore diddest descend and abide not onely vpon Christ in his baptisme but
transgressor of this lawe but also at this present doe so horriblye and hipocriticallye offende thee in takinge thy name in vaine that so many waies in praying and not praying in reading and not readinge in speakinge and not speaking not coÌ„fessig simply froÌ„ my hart thy doctrine trueth name but regardinge mine owne name farre aboue it Shall I file froÌ„ thee then vndoubtedly I am more gilty and more shall disobey this thy holy precept adding sinne to sinne where as y â— woldest I should call vpon thy holy name deare lord which hast geuen thy deare sonne Iesus Christ to be a mediatour for vs that thorowe him we might finde not onely grace for the pardone of our sinnes paste but also for the obtaining of thy holy spirit as well the better to vnder stande as also the better and more frankely to obey this thy holye precept for euer For his sake therfore dere god pardone my sinnes paste present wherof this law doth accuse me and graunt moste graciouse father that I may be endued with thy holy spirit to know and loue thy holy name word and trueth in Iesus Christ that I maie be zelouse wise and constaunt and that my tounge maye be sanctified henceforth guyded with thy holye spirite and grace to publishe confesse and teache after my vocation to others as occasion is offered thy trueth and gospel to call vpon thy name in al my nede to geue thankes vnto thee prayse thee magnifye thee and to sanctifie thy holy name as a vessel of thy mercy for euer and euer Remember that thou kepe holye the Saboth day c. AFter thou hast told me howe in the external seruice of thee graciouse lord thou wilte haue my tonge vsed so doest thou now teach me how thou wilt haue min eares all my whole body occupied namly in sanctificacion and holines that is in those thinges which thou pecularly hast appointed to be meanes immeditately to helpe to that ende As in hearing thy word preached vsing the ceremonies of thee appointed eueÌ„ as y â— hast commaunded For the which thinges to be exercised of thy people thou at the firste dyddest appoint a certaine daye namely the seuenth daye whiche therefore thou calledst thy Sabboth that thereby they with their childreÌ„ and family resting froÌ„ all exerior labour which hindreth the meditacioÌ„ of the mind might not onely be more able to goe on throughe with their trauell and labour for withoute some reste nothing can endure in respect whereof thou woldest the very beastes which in laboure were exercised shoulde haue the priuelege of this Saboth but also and muche rather that thy people might with their family and children be instructed and taught first by the miuistery of thy word in preaching and catecchising secondly by the vsyng of thy sacramentes appointed after thy commaundement and institution they might be assured of thy promises thirdly by praiyng they might be augmented in al godlines and last of all by their metting together exercisinge all these thy workes of sanctification they might increase in loue and charity one towards another as members of one body and fellowes of one inheretaunce and thus by meeting together praying and vsing thy sacramentes they might be instructed in thy lawe and of that Saboth wherinto thou thy selfe dyddest enter after thou hadst made the world ceasing from thy workes not of conseruation but of creatioÌ„ into the which as after this life and the workes of this time they should enter so now they beginne spiritually to enter in restinge from their owne workes whiche the olde man moueth thom vnto not that good lord thou woldest these workes appointed for the Saboth day should not be exersised at any other time but onely on the seuenth day but because y u dydst as wel ordaine theÌ„ for a pollicie to endure till the comming of Christ as also according to the reuelacion or thee in that time didst open thy self beginning then in figures and shadowes whose verifieÌ„s in thy tyme were to be opened therefore it pleased thee to appoint then the seuenth day which seuenth day although by reason of the policie being by thee be streied and by reason of Christ the veritie and body of all shadowes if be abrogate from vs yet standeth this commaundemeÌ„t in force aswell for the workes of santificacion that is for preaching thy word comming to heare it for praying vsynge thy sacramentes and coming together to that ende as also for those dayes which by commoÌ„ order and on good grounde are ordained and receyued howbeit with this libertie that necessitie of our faith and sanctificacioÌ„ and charitie may dispeÌ„se therwith occasion of wilfull and wittinge offence being aduoided c. So that hereby I perceyue thy will and pleasure to be that I shuld at al times as much as charite and necessitye wyll permytte geue ouer my self and cause all other ouer whoÌ„ I haue charge so to doe especially on the sondaies and other holye dayes being receyued and to that ende appointed to the resorting to the temple and places appointed to praier to here with meknes thy holy word and vse thy sacraments and ceremonies as thou hast commaunded and to exercise all thinges which might be to the confirmacion propogacion of thy holy religioÌ„ or make to the encrease of loue and charite as geuing to the pore reconciling such as be in variaunce visiting theficke eueÌ„ as it were beginning that â—abboth wherof Esay speaketh By reason whereof I haue greate cause to thanke thee most gracious father that thou woldst appoint me to be in this time wherin thou hast more plentifully reueiled thy selfe then thou dyddest not onelye before Christes comminge but also synce Christs assensioÌ„ Neuer synce England was England dyddest thou so manifestlye reueile thy trueth as y u hast done in these daies Great cause I haue to thanke thee that y u woldst institute the ministery of thy worde and sacramentes as meanes wherby thy holye spirite is effectuall to worke in oure hartes sanctification Great cause haue I to thanke thee that thou woldest kepe the bokes of the prophetes Apostells vntil this time Greate cause haue I to praise thee that thou woldst geue me such knowledge in them as y u hast done of thy greate mercye Greate cause haue I to thaÌ„ke thee for the good true ministers and preachers of thy worde which thou hast sent amongs vs and geneÌ„ me grace to here them Great cause haue I to thanke thee that in this religion thou hast geuen so longe quietnes and harboroughe to thy church Great cause haue I to thanke thee for that thou woldeste make me suche a man in whom thy holye spirite mighte worke Greate cause I haue to thanke thee whiche woldeste call me into thine eteruall Saboth and rest full of all ioye such as the eye hathe not sene the pare hath not harde Greate cause haue I to thanke thee that so manye dayes are
GODLIE meditations vpon THE LORDES PRAYER THE beleefe and ten commaundementes with other comfortable meditations praiers and exercises Whereunto is annexed a defence of the doctrine of gods eternall election and predestination gathered by the constant martyr of God Iohn Bradford in the tyme of his imprisonment The contentes wherof appeare in the page nexte folowyng POST TENEBRAS LVX AFTER DARKNES LIGHT Nowe fyrst prynted by Rouland Hall dwellyng in gutter lane at the signe of the halfe Egle and key the. 12. of October 1562. A TABLE OF THE CONTENTS of this boke Instructions concerning praierr A meditation vpon the lordes praier A meditation vpon the beleife A meditation vpon the x. commaundementes A meditation concerning praier A breife paraphrase vpon the lords praier A meditation of the comminge of Christe to Iudgement c A meditation of the sobre vsage of the body and pleasures in this life An other meditation to the same effecte A meditation for the exercise of mortificatiōs A meditation of the prouidence of god A meditation of the presence of god A meditation of gods power c. A meditation of death A meditation vpon the passion A confession of synnes An other confession of synnes A praier for the remission of synnes An other praier for remission of synnes A praier for deliuerance from synne c. A praier for the obtaining of faith A praier for repentance A communication betwene Sathan and oure consience A defence of predestination A treatise of election and freewill A sūme of the doctrine of election and predestination TO THE READER HEre hast thou good reader suche godlye meditations praiers and other exercises of that worthye witnes of god Iohn Bradford as god by his singuler prouidence hath betherto preserued and now at the length broughte to light for thy comsort and commoditie Daylye and howerlye was this his exercise to talke with god by faithfull and hartye meditation and praier with power pearcynge the heauens and many suche godlye exercises dyd he leaue behinde him which either time hath consumed or elles suche as keepe them in store to their owne priuate vse doe little consider what benefite they withold from the church of god whiche if they shall yet brotherly communicate there shall not lacke good will and diligence to set them abroad In the meane season let vs with thankfulnes receyue reade and practise these as meanes to quicken our spirites to stirre vp our dulle hartes to a more feruenre inuocatiō of gods holy name Which howe farre it is frō that it shuld be in vs and what nede we haue thereof if oure deade senses cannot feele here may we see and perceiue Here may we learne to flee vnto god by praier that we runne not on still with this vnthankfull world into forgetfulnes of his great benefites powered vpon vs especially for the libertie of his gospell which we in muche mercye restored nowe vnto vs againe so vnthankfully receaue so vngodly neglect so wickedly abuse God graūt vs his good spirit to work in vs this good work to loke about vs in time to consider our state past and presēt as in deed we haue great cause to do so with hartie praier flee vnto god to preuent the plagues that are at hand lest with double woe we find the later ende worse then the beginning Instructions to be obserued concernynge Prayer There be nyne thynges that pertayne to the knowledge of trew prayer FIrste to knowe what prayer is Secondlye howe manye sortes of praier there be Thirdlye the necessitie of prayer Fourthlye to whom we ought to pray By whom we must pray Where to praye and what to praye The excellencye of prayer What we must do that our prayers may be hearde What prayer is PRaier is a simple vnfained humble and ardent openinge of the heart before God wherein we either aske thīgs nedeful or giue thankes for benefits receaued Paull in y e first to timothe 2. Chap. calleth it by fowre sōdrie names in one sentence to witte praier supplication intercession and thanks geuing In latyn Deprecatio Obsecratio inte recssio et gratiarum actio Wherof the first is for the aduoiding and preuenting of euil the second is an earnest and faruent calling vpō god for any thing y e thirde is an intercession for other the fourth is a praisinge of God for thinges receaued ¶ There be .ii. maner of waies how we shoulde praye 2. First publikly and that is called comō praier and priuatlie as when men praye alone and that is called priuat prayer and howe bothe these two are allowed before god y e scripture beareth testimony by the example of all the holye men and women before and after Christ ¶ Of the necessitie of praier 3. There be .iiii. thinges y e prouoke vs to pray first the commaundemēt of god secondlie sinne in vs whiche driueth vs of necessity to god for succor life mercy thirdlie our weake nature being vnable to doe any good requireth praier to strengthen it euen as a house requireth principal pillers for y e vpholding of it fourthlie the sutteltie of the enemye who priuilie lurketh in y e inwarde parts waitinge to ouerthrowe vs euen in those things which we thinke to be best done styreth vs vehementlye therevnto ¶ To whom we ought to praie 4. Thre thinges pertaine to hym that must be praied vnto first that he haue such eares as may heare al the worlde at ones secondlie that he be in al places at ones thirdlie that he haue such power that he may be able to helpe and such mercie that he wil delyuer By whom we shoulde praye 5. Christ only is the way by whom we haue free accesse vnto the father and for whom our praiers are accepted our infirmites notwithstāding withoute whom al oure prayers are abhominable Where to pray and what to pray 6. As touching the place where we should pray seyng al places are one there is none forbidden onelye the cōmon praier must be made in what place so euer the congregatyon of Christ doth assemble 7. What to praye lyeth in the necessitie of euery man for as muche as we nede both spirituall and corporall things we may bouldly aske thē both For as to aske spiritual giftes it is profitable commaunded so to aske corporall it is necessarie and allowed Of the excellencie of prayer 8. The worthines of praier consisteth in .ii. thinges in the dingnitye of the commaunder who is god the fountayne of all goodnes who also commaundeth onely good thinges and in the effect y e foloweth it which is the obtaininge of whatsoeuer we desire faithfully according to y e will of God What to doe that we may be heard 9. First we muste put of oure owne rightuousnes pride and estimation of our selues and put on christ with his rightuousnes secondlye an earnest faith and faruent loue with the putting of all rancnor malice enuie is required finally trewe repentaūce knitteth vp the knot for in
effectually my miserable estate condicion my ignoraunce peruersitie my carelesnes for thy true honor dishonor in such sort y ◠I may hartely lament these euills haue them pardoned taken frō me through iesus christ our lord Againe good father giue me y ◠same thy holi spirit to reuele to me thy name word gospell y ◠I maye liuely knowe thee vnfainedly loue thee hartely obey thee and aboue all thinges desire and labour by all meanes lawfull that al godlines in doctrine and conuersation may be exercised both in me and in all others for whom y u woldest I shuld pray Heare thinke vpon the state of religion and the life of the professours of the gospell that you may lament some pray for some and giue thankes for some Let thy kingdome come THy kingdome is in .ii. sortes to be consydered vniuersally and particularly Uniuersally according to thy power wherewith thou gouernest all thinges euery where in earthe heauen hell deuilles Angells men beasts foules fishes all creatures animate inanimate sensible and insensible Of this kingdome spake Dauid when he sayde thy kingdome ruleth ouer al. Particularly thy kingdome is to be considered according to thy grace wherewith thou raignest only in thy churche and elect people ruling and gouerning al euery mēber of thy churche to thy glory their eternal comfort not that out of this church I exclude thy power for as therewyth thou defendest thy people so thou punishest thy enemies but because thy grace is specially cōsidered being as it were the verye keper that kepeth and guydeth thy people The tyme wilbe when this kingdome of grace and power now being as distincte shalbe vnited made one kingdome of glory which wilbe when Chryst shal giue vp his kīgdome into thyne handes that is in the resurrection whan deathe the last enemye shalbe subdued and thou shalt be all in all In the meane season this kingdome of grace is miraculously mightely propagated enlarged and gouerned by y ◠true ministery of thy word and Sacraments thorow the working of thy holy spirite And this is the meane and way wherby as thou didest firste plante so doest thou enlarge amplifie and preserue y ◠same This kingdome of grace begon continued enlarged by the true preaching of thy gospell and ministratiō of thy Sacramentes is the thynge which Christ teacheth here thy children to pray for that it might come that is to say that thy gospel might so mightely purely plentuouslye be preached maugre the head of all thyne enemies that the numbre of thine elect might be brought in and so the kingdome of thy glory myght appere So that as I see thy chidren desire pray labour y ◠thy gospell might be truely preached hard and liued in themselues in others so they lament the not preaching refusing the not liuing vnbeleuing thy gospel yea they lament the ling ring of the coming of thy christ for in his coming they know thei shalbe like vnto him and hauing this hope they purifie thēselnes as he is pure By reason hereof I see first that I am farre from this desire and lamenting which thy children haue I see my ignoraunce of thy kingdome and power euery wher of thy grace only in thy church of thy glorye when all the enemyes of thy grace shalbe cast downe thy glorye and power shall embrace eche other I se my ignoraūce how acceptable a seruice to thee is the true preaching the hearig of thy gospell for els y u hadst not neded to haue placed thys petition next to the petition of the sanctifiing of thy name Againe I see here my vnhablenes to enter into thy kyngdome and to attayne to it For ells what nede shuld I haue to praye for that to come from thee which other wise maye be archeiued Thirdly I se also my peruersitie contempt of thy kingdome grace For although I se my want yet I wold not desire thy kingdome to come if y u didest not commaunde me to praye so for yf I wold haue praied for it y u woldst not haue cōmaūded me Last of all I see thy goodnes which wilt bringe thy kingdome that as generally by sēding forth ministers to preach truli so particularly by regenerating me more and more and by geuing me as grace here so glorye els where for thou woldest not I shoulde praye for that whiche thou wylte denye So that I haue great cause to lamēt and reioyse To lament because of my miserable estate and condition because of my sinne ignoraunce rebellion peruersitie Satans power contempt of thy grace thy gospel ministerie here or ells where To reioyse because of thy goodnes and great mercy which hast brought me into thy church kepest me in it and wilte doe so still also because of the Ministerie of thy worde and Sacramentes by which the holye ghost is and wilbe effectuall and finally because of y ◠great glory whervnto y u hast called me now wilt giue vnto me asking the same But alas how vnthankfull I am sorowles lorde thou knowest for my hart is not hid from thee c. Oh be mercifull vnto me and forgiue me good father and graunte the Spirit of thy children to reueale vnto me my ignoraunce of thy kingedome my pouertie and peruersitie that I maye lament the same and daily labour for thy helpe and thy holy spirit to suppresse the kingdome of sinne in my self and in others Againe graūt me that same thy holy spirit to reueale to me thy kingdome of power grace and glory to kindle mine affections to regenerate me more more to raigne in me as in a pece of thy kingdome to giue to me to desire to pray and to labour for thy kingdome both to my selfe and to others effectually to thy glory to assure my conscience of thy goodnes that thou wylt giue me grace and glory c. Here cal to mind the state of the ministerie ministers the light and life of gospellers therrours heresies which mē be entangled withal Thy will be done AS thy power is infinite so is thy wisdome accordingly Wherby as we maye perceyue that nothinge is or can be done against thy power or otherwise then by it so is there not nor cannot be any thinge done against or otherwise then by thy omnipotent secret will which is alwaies as thou art good holie and iuste howe far so euer it seme otherwise to oure folishe reason and indgemēt And therfore here we are taught to pray that thy wil may be done here wythoute synne on mans behalfe as it is on the Angells behalfe in heauen Againe for asmuch as thou art incomprehensible of thy selfe as well concerning thy power as cōcerning thy wisdome we may not according therto search thee but rather adore and worshippe thy maiestie tremble at thy Iudgements and
appointed for this ende that we shoulde meete together to here thy worde and receiue thy sacramentes Greate cause haue I to thanke thee for the institution of thy sacramentes which thou hast ordained as thy visible and palpable lordes to the obsignation and confirmacion of the faithe of all suche as vse the same after thy commaundementes But infinite are the causes for the which I ought to gene thee thankes for thys commaundement But alas I am not onely vnthankfull but also a most miserable transgressour of it I wil not now speake of my transgressions past coÌ„cerning this commaundemente presentlye they are so many that I cannot For y u knowest howe I doe not onelye at conuenient times on y e worke daies kepe my selfe awaye from common praiers in the congregacioÌ„ assemble of thy people and froÌ„ hearing of thy worde but also on the Sabboth dayes to ryde or goe aboute this or that worldely busynes I am verye prest to sitte down at this tauerne and to goe to that mans table I am readye at the first vydding but alas to resorte to the table of thy sonne receyue with thankfulnes the sacrament of his body and bloud for confirmation of my faithe that 〈◊〉 to learne spiritually to taste Christs body broken and his bloude shedde for the remission of my synnes so doe this oh how vnwillig am I To goe to masse and sacrynges with suche like Idolatrye I haue been a greate time more readie then now I am to heare thy word vse thy sacrameÌ„ts as I shuld doe thy ministers I pray not for thy church I am not careful for no not nowe good lorde when wicked doctrine most preuaileth Idolatrye supersticion and abominacion aboundeth the sacrament and sacrifice of thy deare sonne Iesê° Christ is blasphemiusly corrupted wheÌ„ for preaching there is nothing but massing for catechising sensinge for reading of the scriptures belleringing for syngynge of Psalmes and godly songes to our edificacion all is don in laten with such Notes Tunes ditties descantes that vtterly the mynde is pulled from the consideracion of the thinge if men did vnderstande it vnto the melody Al which my wickednes hath brought in my prophaning of this coÌ„maundement and my not praying Thy ministers are in prison dispersed in other contries spoiled burnt murdred many fal for feare of goods lyfe name c from the trueth they haue receyued vnto moste manifest Idolatrie false preachers abounde amongeste thy people thy people dearely bought euen with thy bloud are not fedde w t the breade of thy worde but with swyllings antichrist wholy preuailethe and yet for all this alas I am to carelesse nothing lamenting my sinnes which be the cause of al this O dear father forgeue me for christs sake and be mercifull vnto me and as of thy mercye thou dyddest geue me time to repent so geue me repentaunce Graunt me thy holy spirite to open to me this thy lawe so that I may knowe thy will in it loue it and alwaies obey it thy good spirit sanctifye me and worke in me a true taste of eternall life and pleasure in the meditation of it geue me gracious good father one litle mouthfull of the breade that y u feddest Helye w t all geue me that with him I maye come into mounte horeb Helpe thy church cherishe it and geue it harbo routh here and els where for christs sake purge thy ministery from corruptioÌ„ and false ministers send out preachers to fede thy people destroy antichrist all his kingdome geue to such as be faulleÌ„ from thy trueth repentaunce kepe others from falling and by their falling doe y u the more confirme vs confirme the ministers pore people in prisoÌ„ exile strengthen them in thy trueth deliuer them if it be thy good will geue them that with conscience they may so aunswere their aduersaries that thy seruantes maye reioyce and the aduersaries be confounded auengeÌ„ thou thy owne cause Oh thou god of hostes and helpe all thy people me especially because I haue moste nede Honour thy father and mother that thou mayst lyue longe c. AFter that thou haste tolde me good lord thy will concerning the seruice whiche thou requirest inwardly and outwardly to be geuen vnto the now doest thou begin to tel me what thy wil is that I shuld do leaue vndone for thy sake vnto man And first y u settest before min eies them whoÌ„ y u for ordres sake and the more commoditie of man in this life hast set in degre and authoritie aboue me coÌ„prehending them vnder the name of father mother that I might know y t as of thee thei are commaunded to beare towards me a faithfull loue and a motherly care in the very names of father and mother wherwith y u honorest them so am I coÌ„mauÌ„ded of thee to do that which is most equall iuste as the very brute beasts doe teach vs that with childly affection and duetye I shuld behaue my selfe towards theÌ„ that is I shuld honor theÌ„ which coÌ„prepheÌ„deth in it loue thankfulnes reuerence and obedience that not so much because they be my pareÌ„ts and in their offices are carefull for me for it maye be they will neglecte the doinge of theyr dueties towardes me but because thou commaundest me so to doe howe so euer they do So that by thys commaundement I perceiue that thou woldest I shuld consider them whoÌ„ thou hast placed in auctorite and superiour degre as pareÌ„ts maiestrats masters or such like and accordingly behaue my self toward them honour them that is to say loue them be thankfull vnto them reuerence them and obey them for thy sake so loÌ„g as they pass not their bounds that is so longe as they requyre not otherwise then y u hast geuen them commission or permission to doe And for as much as thou seest their care and offyce is greate and oure corruption to obey is very muche as wel to encorage them in their vocation to be diligent as to enflame me to humble obedience vnto them therthroughe to make them more willinge to sustaine cares for me y u addeste a promise that is longe lyfe which so farre as it is ablessing froÌ„ thee y u wilt endue vs w t all Wherby we may gather that a ciuel life doth much please thee and receiueth here rewards especially if we lead it for conscieunce to thy lawe And on the contrary part a disobedient lyfe to them that be in auctorite wil bring the soner thy wrath and vengeaunce in this life All whiche worketh muche to the commendation of the state of politike ciuell maiestrats By reason hereof deare father I se my self much boundeÌ„ to praise thee and hartelye to obey thys thy commaundement For in it by it y u declarest thy greate loue towarde vs which euen in this present life our pylgermage and passage to oure home woldst haue vs to enioye the benefite of peace and moste
thirdly that willingly perfectly perpetually they might study to do yea do in dede thy wil with thy holy heaueÌ„ly angels spirits These thinges they seke pray for namely thy kingedome thy rightuousnes before any worldly benefite After which petitioÌ„s because al things yea euen y e benifits of this present life do come from thee they doe godlye desire the same vnder the name of daily bread being instructed of thy wisedome that after smal benefites to aske corporall is not vnsemely to thy children which know both spirituall and corporal to come from thy mercy In the other peticions they pray for thinges to be takeÌ„ from them beginnig w t forgeuenes of sinnes which were impudentlye praied for if y e their hartes were not so brokeÌ„ that they could forgeue all things to al meÌ„ for their part They adde their profession y â— is charitie wherby they professe that they haue forgeuen all offences done to them Howbeit because it is not ynough to haue pardon of y â— whiche is past except thei be preserued froÌ„ new offiÌ„ces they pray thee not to lead theÌ„ in 〈◊〉 teÌ„ptations by permitting them to the peruerse suggestioÌ„ of SathaÌ„ but rather to deliuer them from hys importunitie and power by euel vnderstaÌ„dinge Sathan the authour of all euell Oh deare god that y â— woldest endue me w t thy spirite of grace and praier with thy children accordingly to make this praier alwayes whensoeuer I doe pray As for outward euills so longe as they doe not as it were inforce thy people to sinne in that christen professioÌ„ doth accompte them amongst thy benefites thy sonne hathe not taught thy church to pray for the taking away of theÌ„ in this praier for here he hath coÌ„tained but those thinges for y e which al Christians generally and particularly may of faith pray at all times It often commeth to passe that exteriour euilles because they be not euells in dede that is they are not against goddes grace in vs therefore they cannot of faith be praied for to be taken away for thy childreÌ„ y â— haue faith do alwaies preferre thy Iudgement before their owne the which Iudgement wâ—en thei know by that which hapneth to them they submite themselues ther to wholly although the spirit make his vnspeakable gronings to helpe their infirmities by prayer not to haue them taken awaye but y â— they might haue strenght and pacience to beare the burtheÌ„ accordingly which burden if it be to heauy in the better sense and feling therof they in their praiers doe complaine some thyng rather then pray to haue it taken away as oure sauiour did in the garden wheÌ„ he added to his complainte not my will but thy wil be done So do thi people in al their complaints adde not as we wil but as y u wilte for they are taught by thy spirite no otherwise to praye for the takynge away of corporall euelles either froÌ„ them selues or from others onlesse they by the same spirite doe certainly se the same to make to thy glory as dyd thine Apostles and seruantes when absolutly without condition they dyd aske health or miracle for any wheÌ„ they healed or raised the deade by prayer for they know nothinge can be better than when it is according to thy wil. Oh that I might alwaies know thy wil in al things and for euer applye me self therto Hereof it commeth that thy saynts and deare children which loue their neighbours as theÌ„selues do yet notwithstaÌ„ding in their praiers aske vengeaunce of some as we may reade in the psalmes of Dauid because in prayinge talking with thee they se by thy holy spirit for w tout it is no true praier sometimes thy Iudgements vpon some whiche they perceiue to sinne to death and therfore ought not to be praied for but rather to be praied against because thy glory caÌ„not be set forth as it shuld be without their destructioÌ„ thy will is alwayes best the thing wherto they frame all their desires Therefore when they perceiue it decreed with thee suche and suche by theyr destructyon to set fourthe more myghtelye thy glorye howe should they but desire and praye for the same write it as Dauid hathe done that the godly in readinge and waying such praiers might receiue comfort and the vngodly be afraied ells when that they perceiue not so manifestlye the determened Iudgement of god they in their praiers do most hartely praye for them as Samuell did for Saule Moyses for the Israelites Abraham for the Sodomites Oh good faher for thy mercyes sake geue me the trews loue of mankinde but yet so y t I maye loue maÌ„ for thee and in thee and alwaies preferre thy glory aboue al thinges through Christ our lord Now though thy children do know that thy wil cannot but be done and nothinge can be done but that thou of thyne owne will hast determined to do although no man shuld desire the same yet are they earnest and frequent in praier fyrst to render obedience to thee whiche requyreste praier as a spirituall seruice to thee secondly because thou hast ordained praier to be as an instrumente and meane by the which thou workeste thinges with thee already decreed determined Thy children doe vse prayer to offer thee their seruice if it shall please the to vse the same As they doe eate and drincke whiche is a meane ordayned of thee for the coÌ„seruation of their life not lookynge hereby to lengtheÌ„ their daies aboue their bouÌ„ds which already thou hast appotnted but as becometh them to vse thy meanes which thou hast ordained to serue thy prouidence So do they herein as men not curiouse to knowe thy prouidence further then thou reuaiâ—est it vse praier as a meane by y â— which thou art accustomed to worke many of thy chidrens â—eâ—re that according to thy good wil thou maiest vse the same they doe not thinke a mutabilitie in thee for y â— art god arte not chauÌ„ged wyth thee there is no variablenesse and therfore they pray not as meÌ„ which would haue thy determinations and ordenaunces which are in most wisdome and mercy to be altered but rather that they might submitte their willes to shine make them more able to beare thy will and pleasure They knowe thou haste promysed to helpe them callinge vpon thee wherfore thei doubt not but thou so wilt doe and therefore praie accordingly They loue thee hartely and therfore thei cannot but desire much â—s talke with thee that is to praye euen as a wel manered and lauinge wife will not take vpon her to aske anye thinge of her husbande at all but that she hopeth he wolde take in good parte and doe of his owne fres wyll althoughe she had spoken nothing therof When she knoweth what her housbands will is in thinges she gladely talketh with hym thereof and accordingly as she seeth he is purposed to doe she will often desire him to doe it euen
at rewarde pampering vp the seruaunt to oure shame Oh therfore good lord that it wold please thee to opeÌ„ this geare vnto me and to geue me eyes to consider effectually this my bodie what it is namely a seruant lent for the soule to soiorne in serue thee iÌ„ this life yea it is by reasoÌ„ of sinne y â— hath his dwelling there become nowe to the soule nothing els but a prison that most straite vile stinking fylthy and therfore in daunger of miseries to many in al ages tymes places till deathe hathe turned it to duste whereof it came and whether it shall returne that the soule maye returne to thee from whence it came vntil the day of Iudgement come in the whiche y u wilte reise vp that body that then it may be partaker with the soule the soule with it inseparably of weale or woe according to that is done in by the same body here nowe in earth Oh that I could consyder often and hartely these thinges then shoulde I not pamper vp thys body to obey it but brydle it that it might obey y â— soule then should I flye the paine it putteth my soule vnto by reason of synne and prouocation to al euyl continually desyre the dissolution of it w t Paul y â— deliuerance froÌ„ it as much as euer dyd prisoner his delyueraunce out of prison for alonelyr by it the deuyl hath a dore to tempt and so to hurte me in it I am kepte froÌ„ thy presence and thou from being so conuersant with me as els y u wouldeste be by it I am restrained from the sense and feeling of all the ioyes and coÌ„fortes in maner which are to be taken as ioyes and comfortes in dede If it were dissolued and I oute of it then coulde Sathan no more hurt me then wouldest thou speake w t me face to face then the conflicting time were at an end then sorow would cease and ioye woldencrease and I shuld enter into inestimable reste Oh that I considered this accordingly AN OTHER mediation to the same effecte THE begynning of al euyl in our kind of lyuinge springeth oute of the deprauatyon and corruptnes of our Iudgement because our wil alwaies foloweth-that whiche reason Iudgeth to be folowed Now that which euery man taketh to be frendly and agreing to his nature the same doth he Iudge necessarely to be good for him and to be desyred This is meate drinke apparell riches fauour dignitye rule knowledge and suche like because they are thought good and agreing either to the body or to the minde or to both for they helpe either to the coÌ„seruatioÌ„ or to the pleasure of maÌ„ accompted of euerye one amongest good thinges How beit suche is the weaknes of our witte on y â— one part the blindnes and to muche rage of our lustes on the other part that we being left to oure selues cannot but in the desire of thinges which we iudge good and agreinge to oure nature by the Iudgement of our senses and reasoÌ„ we cannot I say but ouer passe the boundes wherby they might be profitable vnto vs and so we make theÌ„ hurtful to vs whiche of the themselues are ordained for our health What is more necessarye then meate and drinke or more agreing to nature but yet how fewe be there which de not hurt theÌ„selues by them In like maner it goeth w t riches estimatioÌ„ frendes lerning c. Yea althoughe we be iÌ„ these most teÌ„perate yet wheÌ„ there wanteth y â— spirit our regeneratour we are so drouned in theÌ„ 〈◊〉 we vtterly neglect to lift vp our miÌ„ds to the good pleasure of god to the ends we mighte imitate and folowe god our maker by yelding our selnes oiuer dulye to vse his giftes to y â— common priuate vtility of oure neighbours But now goÌ„d only is life cternity cannot but demaund of vs his handiworke y â— we should render â—ure selues al we haue to the ende wherfore we were made y â— is to resemble for our portion his goodnes as those which be nothinge els but witnesses instrumeÌ„ts of his mâ—â—â—y So y â— when we wholly do naturally â—â—riue agaiÌ„st y â— kind of life wherto he hath creat vs by seking alwaies ourselues what other thing ought to ensue but y â— he shuld again destroy vs take away his notable gifts wher w t be endued vs y â— by al kind of wel doing we shuld resemble his image yea what other this may ensue but that he shuld leaue vs y â— eternally y â— we might fele by experieÌ„ce proue how bitter a thing it is to leaue y â— lord 〈◊〉 whoÌ„ is al goodnes Oh y â— therfore I might finde such fauour in thy sight dere father y â— y u woldest worke in â—â—e by thy holy spirit a true knowledge of al good thinges and harty loue to the same through Christ Iesus our lord and only sauiour Amen A MEDITATION FOR THE exercyse of true mortification HE that wilbe readye in weightie matters to denie his owne wâ— to be obedient to the wyl of God the same had nede to accustome him selfe to deny his desyres in matters of iesse weyght and to exercyse mortification of his owne wil in trisles For if that 〈◊〉 affectioÌ„s by this daily custome be not as it were half slaine surely surely when they lunge shal come we shal fynd the more to doe If we cannot watch with christ one howre as he saieth to Peter we vndoubtedly can muche lesse goe to death with him Wherefore that in great temptacions we may be ready to say with Christ not my wyll but thine be done in that this commoÌ„ly commeth not to passe but where the rotes of our lustes by thy grace dere father are almost rotten and rooted out by a daily deniall of that they desire I humbly besech thee for christs sake to help me herein First pardon me my cherishing as it were watering of mine affections obeyinge them in theyr deuyses and superfluous desyres wherthroughe in that they haue taken depe roote and are to liuely in me I secondly do besech thee to pul them vp by the rotes out of my hart and so henceforth to order me that I may coÌ„tinually accustome my self to weaken the principal rote that the byrotes braunthes may lose al their power GrauÌ„t me I besech thee y â— thy grace maye daily mortifie my coÌ„cupisceÌ„ce of pleasant things y â— is of wealth riches glory libertie fauour of meÌ„ meats drinks apparel ease yea life it self y â— the horror and impaciencie of more greuous things may he weakened and I made more pacient in aduersytie Whervnto I further desire pray thy goodnes deare father that thou wilt adde this namely that I may for euer become obedient ready to thy good wil in al things hartely willingly to serue thee doe whatsoeuer mai please the. For doutles
therfore to thee dere father I come through thy sonne our lord mediatour and aduocate Iesus christ who sitteth on thy right hand making intercession for me praye thee of thy great goodnes mercye in christ to be merciful vnto me that I may feele in dede thy swete mercy as thy childe The time oh deare father I appoint not but I pray thee that I may w t hope stil expect loke for thy help I hope that as for a litle while y u hast left me thou wilt come and visite me and that in thy great mercie whereof I haue nede by reason of my great miserie Thou arte wont for a litle season in thine anger to hyde thy face from them whom thou louest but suerly oâ— redemer in eternal mercies y u wilt shewe thy compassions For when thou leauest vs oh lord y u doest not leaue vs very long neither doest y u leaue vs to our losse but to our lucre aduantage eueÌ„ that thy holy spirit with bigger porcion of thy power vertue maye lighten and cheare vs that y â— want of feeling to our sorow maye be recompenced plentifully with the liuely sense of hauiÌ„g thee to our eternal Ioy and therfore thou swarest that in thine euerlastiÌ„g mercy thou wilt haue coÌ„passioÌ„ on vs. Of which thiÌ„g to thende we might be most assured thin oâ—he is to be marked for y u saist as I haue sworne y â— I will not bring any more the waters to drowne the world so haue I sworne y â— I wil neuer more be angry with thee nor reproue thee The mouÌ„tains shal remoue y â— hils shal fal downe but my louing kindnes shall not moue y â— bond of my peace shal not faile thee thus saiest y u y â— lord our merciful redemer Dere father therfor I pray thee remeÌ„ber eueÌ„ for thine owne trueth mercies sake this promise euerlasting couenaÌ„t w t in thy good time I thee to write in my hart that I may know thee to be the only true god and Iesus Christe whom thou haste sent that I maye loue thee with all my harte for euer y t I may loue thy people for thy sake that I may be holy in thi sight through Christ that I may always not only striue against sinne but also ouercome the same daily more and more as thy children doe aboue all thinges desiringe the sanctification of thy name the comming of thy kingdome the doyng of thy will here on earth as it is in heauen c through Iesus Christ our redemer mediatour aduocate Amen AN OTHER PRAIER FOR remission of sinnes O Gracious god which sekest all meanes possible how to bring thy children into the feeling and sure sense of thy mercy therfore wheÌ„ prosperitie will not serue then sendeste thou aduersitie graciouslye correcting them here whoÌ„ y â— wilt shal with thee ells where lyue for euer we poore misers geue humble praises and thankes vnto thee deare father that thou hast vouched vs worthy of thy correction at this present hereby to worke that whiche we in prosperity liberty did neglect For the which neglecting and manye other our greuous sinnes wherof we nowe accuse oure selues before thee most mercifull lorde thou mightest most iustely haue geuen vs ouer and destroied vs bothe in soules and bodies But suche is thy goodnes towardes vs in Christe that thou semest to forget all our offences and as though we were farre otherwise then we be in deed thou wilte that we shuld suffer this crosse now laied vpon vs for thy trueth and gospelles sake and so be thy witnesses wyth the prophets apostles martyrs and confessours yea with thy dearly beloued sonne Iesus Christe to whoÌ„ thou doest now here beginne to fashion vs like that in his glorye we may be like him also Oh good god what are we on whoÌ„ thou shouldest she we this great mercy Oh louing lorde forgiue vs oure vnthankfullnes sinnes Oh faithfull father geue vs thyne holy spirit now to crie in our harts Abba dere father to assure vs of our eternal elections in Christ to reueile more more thi trueth vnto vs to coÌ„firme strengthen and stablishe vs so in the same that we may liue and die in it as vessells of thy mercy to thy glory and to the comoditie of thy churche Indue vs with the spirit of thy wisdome that with good conscience we maye alwaies so answere y â— enemies in thy cause as maye turne to their conuersion or confusion and our vnspeakable consolatioÌ„ in Iesê° christ for whose sake we besech thee hence forth to kepe vs to geue vs pacieÌ„ce and to will none otherwise for delyneraunce or mitigation of our miserye then maye stande alwaye wyth thy good pleasure and mercyful wil towardes vs. Graunt this deare father not onely to vs in this place but also to all other ells where afflicted for thy names sake through the death and merites of Iesus Christ our lord AmeÌ„ A PRAIER FOR DELIVERANCE from sinne and to be restored to goddes grace and fauour againé OH almightie and euer lasting lord god which hast made heauen earth c oh incoÌ„prebensible vnitie oh alwaies to be worshipped most blessed Trinitie I humbly beseth thee and pray thee by the assumption crucifyed humanitie of our lord Iesus Christe that thou wouldest enclyne and bowe downe the great depth of thy deitie to the botomeles pitte of my vilitie driue froÌ„ me al kynde of vice wickednes and synne and make in me a newe and cleane harte and renewe in me a right spirit for thy holy names sake Oh lord Iesu I besech thy goodnes for y â— excedig great loue which drew thee out of thy fathers bosome into the wombe of the holye virgin and for the assumptioÌ„ of maÌ„nes nature wherin it pleased thee to saue me to deliuer me from eternall death I besech thee I say that thou woldest drawe me out of my selfe into thee my lorde god and graunte this thy loue maye recouer againe to me thy grace to increase and make perfecte in me that which is wantinge to raise vp in me that which is fallen to restore to me that whiche I haue lost to quicken in me that whiche is dead shuld liue that so I may be come conformable vnto thee in all my life and conuersation thou dwelling in me and I in thee my hart being soupled with thy grace settled in thy faith for euer Oh y u my god lose set at libertie my spirit from al inferriour things gouerne my soule so worke that both in soule and body I may be holy and lyue to thy glory world with out ende Amen A PRAIER FOR THE OBTAIning of faith O Mercifull god and dere father of our lord sauiour Iesus christ In whom as thou art wel pleased so hast thou commaunded vs to heare him for as muche as he often biddeth vs to aske of thee and therto promiseth that thou wilt
how that thou art almightie present in all places and of most puritie to coÌ„firme therby my faith to be prouoked y e more to feare thee to reuerence thee c but also I am admonished to iudge of thy fatherly loue by heauenly benefites and not by corporall simply and alonely for often times the wicked prosper more in the worlde and haue more worldly benefites then thy children So that by this I see thou woldest pul vp my minde from earth and earthly things to heauen and heauenly thinges and that I should see further by corporall benefites thy heauenly prouidence for me For if y u place me thus on earth and thus blesse me as thou doest hitherto hast done from my youthe vp in that thou art nothing so careful for my body as for my soule how shuld I but thinke much of thy prouidence for it in thy home where is such glory as y t eie hath not sene c. of which thinges these corporall benefites of thine giuen me on earth should be as it were inductions and the taking of them away admonitions to be more mindefull of permanent thinges and lesse mindefull of transitorie thinges By reasoÌ„ hereof I haue great cause to lament and to reioyce To lameÌ„t because I am so earthly minded so litle desirous of my home so vnthaÌ„kfull for thy prouidence and fatherly correction here on earth To reioyce because of my home and the greate glory thereof because thou doest so prouide for me here because thou doest so correct and chasteÌ„ me c. but alas I am altogether a wretch earthlie vnthankful not onely for these corporall benefites health ryches frendes fame wisedome c for thy fatherly correction sicknes temptacion c but also for thy heauenly benefites for Christ Iesus for the promise of thy spirit for thy gospell c. Yea euen for heauen it selfe and thy whole glorye as the Israelits were for the land of Canaan therefore neuer enioyed it but perished in the wildernes I am proude in prosperitie and forget thee waxing secure careles c I am impacient in the crosse and to much consider worldly discommoditie Oh deare father forgiue me for thy Christes sake all mine vnthankfulnes loue of thys world contempt and obliuion of thy heauenly benefites and graunte me thi holy spirit to illuminate the eies of my minde with the light and liuely knowledge of thy presence power wisdom goodnes in thi creatures but specially in christ iesus thy soÌ„ne so by the same spirit enflame mine affections that I may desire nothing in earth but thee and to be present with thee that my conuersacioÌ„ may be in heauen coÌ„tinually FroÌ„ whence graunt me stil to loke for the lord Iesê° to make this my vile body like vnto his owne glorious and immortal bodye according to his owne power by whiche he is able to doe all things As y u hast giueÌ„ me to be thy childe so I praye the giue me these things which be y e properties of thy childreÌ„ giuen froÌ„ y â— in thy good time Halowed be thy name THy name is that wherby thou art knowen for names serue to discerne and knowe one thinge from an other Nowe thoughe thou art knowen by thy creatures yet in this our corrupt estate thei serue but to make vs excuseles Therfore properly most liuely and coÌ„fortably y u art knowen by thy holy worde and specially by thy promise of grace and freely pardoning and receiuinge vs into thy fauour for christ Iesê° sake For the which goodnes in Christ y u art praised magnified accordinge to thy name that is so much as meÌ„ know thee in Christ they magnifye thee praise thee which here thou callest halowing or sanctifieng not that thou arte the more holye in respect of thy self but in respect of meÌ„ who the more they knowe thee the more they cannot but sanctify thee that is they cannot but as â—n them selues by true faith loue feare and spiritual seruice honour thee so also in their outwarde behauour and wordes they cannot but liue in such sorte as other seing them maye in and by their holines godly conuersatioÌ„ be occasioned as to know thee so to sanctify thy name accordingly And therfore thou settest forth here vnto me what is the chiefe and principall wyshe and desyre of thy children and people namelye that thou in Christe mightest be truelye knowen and honored bothe of them selues and of others inwardlye and outwardly By reasoÌ„ wherof easely a man may perceiue by the coÌ„trary y â— the greatest sorow greife thy people haue is ignoraunce of thee false seruice or religion and wicked conuersation Against the whiche they pray and labour diligeÌ„tly after their vocations as they for the obtaining of the others both to others and to them selues doe take no smal payne in praier studie and godly exercise By reason hereof I se that I am far from this desyre and lamentation which is in thy children I see myne ignoraunce of the true knowledge of thee and thy name for ells it had not neded thee so by thy worde to haue reueled thy self I see also mine ignoraunce of the excellencie of the same For els woldst y â— not haue told me that the sanctifinge of thy name is the chiefest thing y u requirest of euery maÌ„ Again I se my great want of holines for els thou nedest not to teach me to seke pray for y â— I want not Moreouer I se my great peruersitie whiche woulde not seke at thy hands for sanctification although I se my nede therof For els y u woldest not haue coÌ„maunded me to pray for it if I seinge my want wolde haue praied vnto the therfore Last of al I see thy wonderfull goodnes whiche wilt vndoubtedly giue vnto me sanctification holynes for y u woldest not that I shuld aske for that thing that y u wilte not giue me So that I haue great cause to lament and reioyse To lament because I am so farre from this desire and lamentacion which thy chyldren haue also because of my ignoraunce pouertie peruersitie vnthankefulnes c. but most of all because thy holye name worde and religioÌ„ is so blasphemed both in doctrine and in liuing of many especially in thys Realme To reioyse I haue greate cause for thy exceding goodnes and merry which woldeste so disclose thy selfe by thy workes word gospel which woldest opeÌ„ these things thus vnto me and also giue vnto me others sanctification in thy sight by saithe in the sight of men by purenes of life godly conuersation But alas I doe hartely neither the one nor y â— other that is lameâ— or reioyce as y u father which serchest my hart doest righte well know Oh be merciful vnto me and forgiue me yea giue me of thin owne pitie thy holy spirit to reuele opeÌ„ to my mind