the same inwardly which thou desirest to seeme outwardly And in the morning when thou comest againe I will proceede to direct thee to that repentance wherein thou must exercise thy selfe towardes the amendement of thy former life The sinfull man Would GOD the night were not so neere thy talke delighteth mee Encrease my fayth to morrowe I will waite againe on thee The ende of the VVednesdaye or third dayes Conference A PRAYER FOR the encrease of faith and for the direction of the holy spirite to frame our liues according to the rule which God the father in his sonne Christ hath prescribed vnto vs. OH God my God giuer of al good things and the sure defence and succour of all them that faithfully beleeue in thee Loe I thy silly creature the worke of thine owne handes who in my great darkenes and ignorance humbly craue of thee the light that shineth from on high that faith sweete Lord without the which no maÌ„ can please thee which proceedeth from the holy Ghost the most wholsome water of life whereof oh Lorde giue mee some taste some sparcle whereby I may come vnto thee wherby I may frame my life according to thy blessed and heauenly will and whereby I may truely serue thee and doe worship to thine holy name Vouchsafe oh Lorde vouchsafe in Iesus Christ thine onely and welbeloued sonnes name and for his sake to be mercifull vnto my wretchednes to forgiue my wickednes to strengthen my weakenes to pardon my dulnes and more and more to encrease my fayth and to vouchsafe mee perfect knowledge of goodnes and ablenes by thine holy spirit to follow thee to frame myne heart vnfaynedly to loue thee my will to seeke al my powers to doe their dueties to praise thee Lord increase my faith which is the principall meane whereby we take hold of thy most louing and most comfortable promises in Christ our Sauiour thyne only and welbeloued Sonne whome thou of meere loue of our saluation sentest into this miserable world here to suffer the opprobrious death of the Ctosse to appease thy wrath for our sinnes and to risâ— agayne for our iustification The worlâ—â—hereof sweete IeIesus thou hast not onely most willingly as an obedient sonne performed according to thy fathers will but hast reueyled and manifested the mystery thereof to all the worlde and trayned out the way that wee should walke in to come to that vnspeable happy habitation the endlesse blessings and passing ioyes whereof no tong can expresse Thou hast by thy death sweete Iesus purchased agayne for vs that which before we had lost in Adam Thou hast redeemed vs again out of the hands of death and raunsomed vs from the cruell bondage of Sathan that enemy of al mankind whose head although thou haue troden downe and payd the vttermost which could be demaunded for our redemption spoyled him of all his power and vnarmed him of all his weapons gotten the victorie ouer death and hell Yet such is our weakenes our corruption and the hardnesse of our beliefe in thee that he remayneth yet tyrannous diligently attending watching and seeking whom he may deuour whom he may leade with blindnesse into error and false religion into the wayes of wickednesse to destruction both of body and soule And we most wretched sinners prone to doe that which is contrary to thy will haue of our selues no power to â—â—thstand him no ablenes to auoyde his tyranny Wherefore most louing Iesus I the most wretched and sinfull the most ignorant and blind creature most humbly pray thyne ayde thyne assistance and gracious protection not onely to defend mee from the clawes of Sathan and his ministers the World and lustes of the corrupt flesh but also grace to guyde my life in fayth vnfeyned perfect loue and true feare of thee myne onely Sauiour and Redeemer hauing none other hold none other helpe strength defence or hope to be defended saufely conducted in a godly life and conuersation but thy selfe sweet Iesus thou inuincible captaine thou lambe of God who takest vpon thee the sinnes of the world whose will is that we should bee saued and be preserued from the hands of that cruell Aduersary the Deuill But alas good Iesus so blynded are we that we can not see the way to thee so deafe that we refuse to heare thee and so disobedient that we come not willingly vnto thee we haue not attended when thou hast taught vs but haue refused to bee instructed when thou hast directed vs. But most louing Iesus the cause is the want of that most excellent gift of thyne a true fayth which thou hast offered and I neglected and therefore haue I not hethertoo bene perfectly assured nor certeynly perswaded in heart of the performance of those most comfortable blessings which are promised in thee Oh sweete Iesus haue thou remorse of this my dulnesse plucke out of myne heart the Beame of vnbeleefe and voutsafe mee now the right vse of that most singuler meane of following thee the eye of a perfect and true faith and let naturall reason the Mother of error no longer deceyue mee or drawe mee into conceites contrary to thy most blessed will but being indued with thy gift of vnfeyned faith I may truely repent mee of all my former euils and so euermore hereafter euen to my liues end cleaue stedfastly to pure religion the true seruice of thee Oh Lord giue me one sparcle of this true fayth wherby I may be able to comprehend rightly to vnderstand what thy diuine will and pleasure is in all things That I may frame mine outward desires to the fulfilling therof and by thine holy spirit continually keepe downe the prowde attempts vnlawlawfull desires and carnall lustes of the flesh withstand the deuill in all his assaultes and manfully ouercome the vayne pleasures of this wicked world Oh giue mee the shielde of a true fayth and the brestplate of vnfeyned repentance to fight that good fight that happy fight whereby I may be crowned with the glorious crowne of victorie and whereby I may bee accepted into the number and societie of that holy congregation and fellowship of the faithfull the Catholique Church wherof sweete Iesus thou art the head and onely defence in whome whosoeuer ouercommeth thou hast ordeyned the Diademe of al true happines wherwith thou hast promised to crowne them and to set the title of triumph vpon their heads to place them in that heauenly countrie that celestial inheritance wherein there shalbe no more feare no more cares no more vanities or affliction of spirit but continuall peace vnfained loue vnspeakable ioyes and endles felicitie for euermore Wherefore sweete Iesu vouchsafe mee that spirituall weapon the shield of a true fayth that fighting therewith against all the assaults of sinne vnder the Banner of thy protection I may in the ende be crowned with the Crowne of Eternall life among the rest of thy chosen children sweete Iesu Amen Oh Lord increase my fayth And euermore
forâ—ed to cry with a lowde voyce My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Such were the cruel torments that I suffered for thee O sinfull man and for all mankinde as that by reason of the extreamitie thereof I thought my selfe euen forsaken of my father But so heauie was his displeasure against the sinne of all mankinde and all the punishment due for it layd onely vpon me that requisite it was that the stripes wherewith so great a disease should be healed should be grieuous and many And therefore thou must not thinke that I was forsaken of God though I were contemned of the world but highly in his fauour for it behoued that I should suffer and afterwardes enter into my Fathers glorie That I should fall into the handes of mortall men be crucified and made a Sacrifice for the sin of all mankinde that they might be made the righteousnes of mine heauenly Father in me who haue paid the rauÌ„some for all the posteritie of Adam and redeemed them out of the bondage of Sathan death and hell my death is to all beleeuers lyfe by my humilitie are they exalted by my contempt are thy made glorious by my pouertie are they made rich and by my miserie haue they eternall felicitie I descended also into hell to make man inheritor of heaueÌ„ So precious was my death and so glorious my conteÌ„pt that by death I haue not onely ouercome death but all men by me In my victorie consisteth thy victorie by my triumph all mankinde may iustly triumph I am the way the trueth and the life who so will goe to the Father must come through me who so will be saued must beleue in me and liue in me for to me hath mine heauenly Father giuen all power and aucthoritie both in heauen and earth that I might giue eternall lyfe to as many as he hath giuen me who as Ionas liued in the Whales belly three dayes and three nighces the third day was cast on land liuing So after my death being taken downe of the Crosse I was layd in the Sepulchre where I lay three dayes to accomplish the sayinges of the Prophets and to vereâ—ie that which was long before writen of me and that I rose againe the third day for the Iustification of all that beleeue shewing my selfe openly to my Disciples eating with them and talking with them and with a Clowd was taken vp into heauen and placed at the right hand of God mine heaueÌ„ly Father crowned with that glory honor and immortalitie wherewith I was indued before the fouÌ„ndation of the world who by my selfe haue purged thee from all thy sinnes and haue made free passage vnto mine heauenly Father for all theÌ„ that in a true faith followe me in life coÌ„uersation treading the steps of righteousnesse for whoÌ„ I remaine a continual intercessour Mediatour Aduocate vnto mine heauenly father for things necessary aswell for their bodies as their soules faithfully asking and praying for the same in my name yea y u maist not accept of any other meane or instrument to come vnto mine heaueÌ„ly father then my selfe for then doest thou greatly erre thou blasphemest mine heauenly father and dishonorest me for he wilbe serued honored praied vnto in mee and in the name of none other Thou must lay aside all prayers to Saincts and cast away all beleefe that there resteth in them any power to appease the wrath of mine heauenly father for thy sinnes or to procure thee helpe in thy necessities but must come in my name and then thou shalt be sure to be heard if thou beleeue yet not despising but faithfully imitating in good life and holy conuersation those blessed members of mine departed out of this life before thee As for all remission of sinnes al helpe and releefe thou must hoâ—e for and acknowledge to come froÌ„ mine heauenly father by my meanes onely and by none other Wherfore I say thou must beleeue in none other but in mee Iesus Christ crucified God and man sitting in heauen at the right hand of mine heauenly father and remayning a Mediatour betweene him and all those y t in faith come to mee Take hold of me therefore I say who am that Sonne of God and man that was borne of the Uâ—rgine Mary for the saluation of all mankinde who was conuersant here in this miserable worlde layde first in a Maunger most basely and wheÌ„ according to the course of other meÌ„ by sucking eating drinking I grew in stature I preached taught the will of my father glad tydinges vnto the world I was betraied and solde by Iudas I was bound and buffited I was rayled at and reuiled I was turned ouer from one to an other to Annas to Cayphas to Pylate to Herode to y e Hall held vp mine hande at Barre there falsly accused then scourged and caried to the place of Execution where I was most miserably tormented hanged on the Crosse then layd in the graue from whence I rose and now ascended aboue all heauens and al this for thy â—ake al this for no desert of mine but â—or the redemption of all mankinde â—rom the curse of the law for there is â—o coÌ„demnation to them that are in 〈◊〉 walking not after the flesh but â—fter the spirite The power of the â—pirite of life wich is in mee hath deâ—uered thee from the power of sinne â—nd death but he that hath not my â—pirite he is not mine but shall dye â—herefore must thou mortefie the â—edes of the flesh by the spirite that â—ou mayst liue Also thou must beâ—eue that as I ascended visibly into â—eauen with the very body wherein I suffered so must thou likewise beleeue that in the same body I shall come againe in great glory and magestie to iudge both the quicke and the dead at whose hands all meÌ„ shalâ— receiue rewarde according to their well and euill doing which Iudgement shalbe finall generall whereat all men shall appeare all men shalâ— giue accompt of their doinges yea 〈◊〉 euery idle worde and euill thought and that then shall those that hauâ— done good be set in peaceable possesâ—sion for euer of the vnspeakable ioyeâ— of heauen and they that be found iâ— the seruice of Sathan and caried 〈◊〉 way with y e cares of this worlde thâ— Couetouse persons the Drunkerds the Extortioners Lyers Usurers and al those that haue not obeyed thâ— worde of my heauenly father in 〈◊〉 but haue liued in sinne and haue 〈◊〉 truely repented such I say shall bâ— cast into vtter darknesse where shaâ— be coÌ„tinual sorrow no ioy al paineâ— and no pleasure all griefe no glaâ—â—nesse with such continuall and endles torments as the tongue of man cannot expresse with howling weeping gnashing of teeth where the worme of the conscience shall neuer dye Thou must also beleeue that the
giuing thee whatsoeuer is necessarie for thee And for that cause oughtest thou to be subiect and obedient vnto his will in all thinges and to pray for the setting forth and sanctifying of his holy name which is to haue his word truely taught louingly imbraced diligently followed him to be worshipped according to the trueth thereof in all thinges And therefore when thou intendest to pray either for good thinges to bee giuen thee or euill things to be taken frō thee thou must haue a principal regarde to the magnifying of his holy name and to the setting forth of his most worthie praises for his mercies and goodnesse with ardent desire that his holy name may be hallowed and his kingdome come That is that his holy spirite would so direct thee in all thy doinges thoughtes and desires that thine heart varie not from his will but bee so setled in the performaunce thereof in all thinges that true humilitie vnfeyned loue vndoubted hope and constaunt faith may begin in thee that tranquilitie and peace of cōscience which may assure thee through me to bee the heire of his euerlasting kingdome to the ouerthrowe of Sathans rule and destruction of all his power whereby he endeuoureth to leade all mankinde into vtter destruction Pray therefore that his kingdome may come which is his holy spirite which hee hath promised to powre out vppon those that earnestly desire it which shall guide thee to the true seruice of mine heauenly father here in this world vntill such time as I shall appeare in the Clowdes to chaunge thy mortal body and place it in that kingdome wherein thou shalt remaine in blisse vnspeakeable for euer Thou must pray also that myne heauenly fathers will bee done in earth as it is in heauen that is that not onely thy self but all the people of the earth may doe that which in his worde is prescribed and commaunded to be done and that there may bee such obedience such loue such godly behauiour in this world amōg men as is required to be that as the Angelles in heauen are obedient vnto his will and cōmaundements whereby he is glorified there so he might be obeyed to the magnifying of his name here in earth And therfore art thou commaunded faithfully to pray vnto him that he would vouchsafe to gouerne all men as Princes Pastors and Teachers Gouernours and Magistrates that they may performe his will here in earth as it is done in heauen And that all men may execute their vocations truely to the praise of his holy name In which three former petitions thou hast to learne that it behoueth thee principally in thy praiers to regarde the glorie of God mine heauenly father And now attend and thou shalt perceiue that as thou art commaunded in the former petitions to haue respect onely vnto the honour of myne heauenly fathers name So art thou also louingly called to craue corporall blessings namely for such thinges as are necessarie and expedient for the maintenaunce of this life by this petitiō Giue vs this day our daily bread which comprehendeth in it not onely request for bread but for a competent liuing and good successe in thy vocation namely that hee will blesse it and make thy trauayle prosperous in such sort as by the fruites thereof thou mayst be able without vnlawfull meanes to liue and be rather helpefull then burdensome to others Yea thou hast warrant in this petition to craue all things belonging to this life not onely sufficiencie of foode and apparell but also health of body and other temporall benefites The Prophet declareth in the Psalmes that hungrie and thirstie soules wandring in the wildernes called vnto myne heauenly father and were releeued and sent away replenished Yea those rhat lye in prison and in the shadowe of death fast bound in miserie and iron without all hope of healpe calling vpon him in hearty and faithfull prayer are heard their prayers graunted and they deliuered Such also as are afflicted and pining away with sicknesse and heauinesse of heart humbling themselues vnto him in prayer are cured of their diseases When thou art therfore in such or any other afflictiō be it sicknesse imprisonment pouertie daunger of enemies or any other trouble whatsoeuer referre thee to the cōsideration of this petition and there shalt thou finde that thou hast sufficient warrant to flye vnto mine heauenly father in my name in heartie prayer for deliueraunce from thy distresse who is nere vnto all them that cal vpon him yea to all that cal vpon him in trueth he will fulfill the desire of them that feare him he will heare their prayers and saue them In this petition therefore it behoueth thee and all aswell the rich as the poore to consider that it is not great aboundaunce of riches and store of all worldly thinges nor the labour industrie and earnest diligence of their vocations but the onely blessing of mine heauenly father whereby their store is preserued and the labour of their handes so prospered as it serueth for the preseruation of their mortall liues And therefore all men ought so to referre them selues vnto mine heauenly fathers will bee they poore or rich in zealous and heartie prayer as that in the good successe both of their store and calling they may referre the glorie vnto him the aucthor of all their welfare and whose blessing it is that maketh rich and releeueth the poore Thou hast heard before that it behoueth thee in all thy prayers first to craue forgiuenesse of thy sinnes and reconciliation with God myne heauenly father through mee And in this former most excellent forme of prayer which must be thy direction to all thy praiers thou art warranted to aske for remission of thy sinnes But vpon this condition namely that thou forgiue freely and from thine heart all those that haue offended thee Wherein thou hast then to consider that if thou come vnto mine heauenly father endewed as before thou hast been taught with especiall loue of him and vnfeyned loue towardes all men come freely and boldly vnto him in the name of mee thy continuall Mediatour and craue in a true faith that for my sake hee will forgiue thy sinnes and receiue thee againe into his fauour assuring thy selfe that hauing mee the high Bishop praying for thee through whom thou being iustified by faith art at peace and at one with God mine heauenly father Thinke therefore diligently vpon the forgiuenesse of thy sinnes in me and whensoeuer thine owne vnworthinesse through feare so cloyeth thy poore conscience that thou thinke nothing but condemnation due vnto thee Cast the eyes of thine heart through a liuely faith vppon my merites standing at no time vppon thine owne deseruinges craue reconciliation and remission for my sake assuring thy selfe to bee heard and receiued into mine heauenly fathers fauour againe And beware thou stande not righteous in thine owne conceit for if thou
for his pride and tyrrannie for his striuing and presuming against the almightie God Sée then if he haue not spared the greatest and most mightie king of the world but punished him after so strange a fashion he will not spare thée There is no respect of persons with him But he that dooth his will and worketh righteousnes is accepted be he poore or rich high or lowe king or begger yea he rayseth the simple poore naked and néedie out of their miserie and trouble and plucketh downe the high the mightie and proud and sendeth those that accompt themselues rich and to haue no neede of his help them I say he sendeth captiue away he plucketh downe their proud Pecockes tayles and scattereth them in the imagination of their heartes and will feede the hungrie such as thou dispisest with good thinges And therefore once againe I say vnto thee that foolishly thou sayst vnto thy soul take thine ease or to thy body take thy rest I haue enough for my life I will goe builde c. When the Lorde of might can with the breath of his mouth shake those foolish buildings of thine in shiuers tumble them to y e ground make thy great aboundance nothing at all And therefore Saint Paul willeth Timothie to tell theÌ„ that are rich in the world that they should not be exalted with pride But contrarie thereunto It may be well perceiued how thou in thine aboundance beginnest to swell in contempt of other men through pride whereof thy wealth is the worker and pride the nurce of all other vices so that thou makest that the instrument of all euill which God hath ordayned to doe all men good How hast thou gone about to trample as it were poore Simple thy Tennant vnder thy feete Thou hast vtterly vndone him in taking his poore lyuing from him flattering him vntill thou hadst gotten him into thy spiders web then beganst to poyson him then beganst thou to threaten him so that the poore man may say that he sould his lybertie for a pound of flatterie But in déed tell me intendest thou to procéede in this péeuish purpose of thine Meanest thou to make such a mightie Mansion such a huge house with so many stories hye fearest thou not falling doest thou not know that he that climes highest is in most danger and hath the greatest fall let me aduise thée to frame thy plotte and proportion of thy building thus first for thy foundation digge the trench verie deepe euen to the verie roote of thine hearte search and see whitherâ— it be all firme ground there or not vpâ—n which thy building must be first founded and because it standeth so néere the sea side of Satan thou must take heede that there be no gulfes or quick Sandes therein driuen by the waues of wickednes whereby thy cogitations haue or hereafter may sinke into any mire or puddle of priuie conspiracie against thy soule which if thou finde thou muste ramme downe with the stampe of a good conscience as much Clay of true repentaunce as will serue the turne and then beginne the foundation with the Stones of a newe life hewen out with the Hammer of Gods word and layde by the dyrecte Line and leuell of a true fayth and the workeman of this building muste bee the holie spirite of God whome thou shalt finde if thou sake him with a singleâ—hart standing readie but not idle in the Market place of true religion working in the newe buildinges of such as vnfaynedly intende to become newe men But his hire will be â—omewhat hard he will not work bâ— the daye neither by the moneth nor by y yeare but wil couenaunt for al thy life and thou shalt couenaunt with him to giue all that thou haste at his disposition which couenaunt if thou breake yea when the building is euen finished he will cast it all to the ground againe and where thou hast promised thy soule and bodie to liue at rest and to take their ease thou must breake promise with them for this worke-man will haue thy selfe vnder him to be the principall ouerseer and surueyer to watch night and daie least a worke-man of a contrarie building plucke downe what he settes vp and destroy what he hath made but he will instructe thee and direct thee hereafter what thou shalte doe in this busines and how thou shalt proceede in this buiâ—ding if thou wilt frame thy fancie to follow it this buildinge will be so stately and high that if thou fall it will crush all to péeces and yet so precious and glorious that thine eye hath not séene thine eare heard neither can thine heart conceiue the precious and beautifull furniture and ornaments thereof But a hard péece of worke for a naturall man too curious to thy crooked conceite which I doubt will be hardly drawen from thy former follie from procéeding to finish another peece of worke whereof the wicked workman that I earst spake of is the aucthor and prickes thee forward to goe in hand with thine intended enterprice thy sumptuous Pallace which is for princes thy curious caruings haughtie hangings goodly gallaries pleasant walkes stately standings and princely prospectes to see abroad the Haukes to flie the houndes to runne And within thy rare Iewels of gold thy Cubbords of plate thy Cofers full whatsoeuer else delightsome vnto thee he perswades thee to be all good But alas he dooth but deceiue thée For God by the Prophet cryeth out â—ond saith Woe be vnto you that glorie in your vanities ioyning house to house and land to land The earth is full of golde and siluer there is no ende of their treasures I am angrie with their couetousnes saith God I will strike their iniquitie and not suffer such as thus glorie in their goods and the vaine pleasures of the world to haue any certaine rest But I will put a worme in their conscience which shall torment them with continuall anguish and perplexitie yea howsâ—euer the world goeth with them for such is the inextinguishable fire of vnsaciable couetousnes that it euer desireth and is neuer satisfied no although it obtaine as much to daie as it wisheth for to morrow it desireth as much more like an vnsatiable Sea and the fire that hath neuer enough But setteth as it were the end of sacietie in thinges wished and hoped for not in that which he hath haue it neuer so much And therefore it is sayd that desire of mony increseth as much as mony it selfe meaning that the more a man hath the more he coueiteth Whereby he offendeth God iniureth himselfe dooth wrong to his neighbour he dooth not his duetie to God he withholdeth things necessarie from himselfe and helpeth not his neighbour when he needeth he is to God vnthankfull to him selfe cruell to his neighbour froward And therefore Iohn in his first Epistle
faithfulnes how to flye him and to followe me to eternall saluation whereof if thou frame thee faithfully to my wordes I will assure thee Heare me The sinfull man Oh what should I poore sinner doe whose sinnes surpasse the sand In number which the surging seas and waues haue cast on land No wit no wisedome or good will doth rest within my brest Thy wordes are all in vaine to me I am bereft of rest And know not how to winne again thy fauour which is lost In dolefull plight I striue in vaine to yeeld vp guiltie ghost That earth might passe to earth againe of which it first begun My soule where it deserues to be an wofull ghost vndun Solace Wilt thou oh man continue still so hard of heart in woe Refusing so the fruites of grace that from my mercie floe Whereby thou mayst at libertie be set from force of foe Reclaimd from sinne and Sathans will to rest no more in woe Repent therefore I say repent turne thou to me in haste Giue eare vnto me once againe be yet reformde at last Thou shalt perceiue that I forgiue all sinners when they crye Not wishing any sinfull soule in such dispaire to dye ALL the Prophetes beare me witnesse tha◠through my name all that beleeue in me shall receiue remission of sinnes Iohn sayth 〈◊〉 any man haue sinned he hath an Aduocate wit◠the father Iesus Christ the Righteous he i◠the propitiation for our sins I am that Christ of whom Osee testifieth and sayth in that I haue conquered Sathan already O Death I wilbe thy death O Hell I wilbe thy destruction I haue as Dauid sayth lead captiuitie captiue when I ascended into heauen in ouercomming the Deuill Sinne Death and Hel enemies to the soule of man These that were long before me haue testified of me whose testimonie of me is true And my father in the beginning promised that the seede of the woman should tread downe the Serpents head I was that pure seede of the Uirgine of whom the Prophetes spake long before and I haue performed it vppon the Crosse and thus doth the spirite testifie in the hearts of all the Children of my father Now if these witnesses cannot moue thee to beleeue beleeue my father in heauen who testifieth of me saying This is my welbeloued Sonne heare him My father hath sent into the world eternall life and that is by me his Sonne Well then come vnto me al ye that labour are heauy laden with the burthen of sinne come vnto me I will ease you Art thou loden therefore poore man ye more then loden thou art prest downe not to the ground but to y e very gulfe of hel thou maist thanke thy master Sathan for it who being pittilesse presseth downe with the weightie burthen of all wickednesse such as yeeld him seruice He will promise at the first nothing but ease nothing but pleasure but in the ende he lodeth with labour and paieth your hire with paine thou that hast had the tryall of it excuse him if thou canst no thou canst not nor thy self Wherfore I say defie him and condemne thy self who hast gone astraie who hast wrought wickednesse euen with greedinesse And I see that he hath led thee into such a Laberinth into such a deepe Dungion of dispaire that it wilbe hard for thee to winde thee out againe But I will worke thee such a way as if thou bee aduised by me if thou followe my counsayle and walke the way that I will shewe thee thou shalt spite of his heart breake his fetters in peeces get out of his prison and defie him and all his wicked retinue euen to their faces The sinfull man Oh Solace doth thy mercy so abound to pardon me Although like stinking filthie cloath my life appeare to thee If Sathan held me not in band fast linckt in fetters fell Who roares like raging Lyon whē I doe determine well Full faine I would returne to thee whose mercy now I see And do perceiue that Satan seekes the meanes to murther me Solace YEa that is his occupation he hath nothing els to liue by nor to maintaine his kingdome withall He first allureth men to al kinde of vice he stirreth them vp to rebell against the will of mine heauenly father and as much as in him lyes reteineth them therein but when they be somewhat touched with the knowledge and feeling of their error when the spirite beginneth to groane vnder the heauie burthen of sinne and sommoneth them to the leading of a new life and they begin to fall from him then beginnes he to bestirre himself then he begins to cogge and to lye then he renues the Commissions of his officers and wicked ministers to lay a newe assault to their soules who with great diligence execute their masters will in perswading the poore sinner that he beginnes to take an ill course if he decline from his wicked way when he refuseth to doe ill and chooseth to doe good when he leaueth darknesse and betakes him to the light of trueth He tolde Iudas that he was not wise if he would followe me but if he would forsake me and betray me then did he well But when he had performed his commaundement and done as he was bid what did that master of his for him for sooth for feare least he should haue truely repented and haue vnfeynedly returned to me againe he put such a pricke into his conscience that he neuer left him till he had hanged himselfe Such conflictes maketh hee in the mindes of men that haue once yeelded vnto his pestilent motions and obeyed his wicked will without remorse of conscience feare of death or loue of mee and that will not be in time reclaymed from their wickednesse whome the wordes of my mouth will not mooue nor the feare of hell fire fraye from their filthinesse these I say when they heare the iudgements of my Father against them for their sinnes he to the ende he may hold them still in blindnes fearreth them with threates and ouercommeth their wittes with most horrible and blasphemous perswasions that there is no saluation or hope of helpe in me in so much as he laboreth by all meanes and vseth all his pollicies to bring them to destruction resisting them alwayes from doing any good as he stoode at the right hande of Iehoshua to let him when hee prayde vnto myne heauenly father for the state of the people So hee endeuoureth to take my worde out of thine heart least thou shouldest beleeue and be saued yea he desireth to winnow those that will come forwarde to godlines as Wheate as he sifted Peter myne Apostle who perswaded him selfe to be able to stand strongly but loe euen with the feare that Sathan stroke him with he denied me three times but he repented went out and wept bitterly And afterward resisted him manfully nay he was not
mee in mercie hold mee vp that I fall not suppresse all vngodly motions in mee dryue all dulnesse from myne heart darkenesse from myne vnderstanding make mee subiect vnto thy will in all things and assure mee of saluation Let thine holy spirite woorke vnfayned beliefe of all thy louing promises and driue away all doubtes of thy blessed fauour for most louing Iesus my redeemer and daily mediatour such and so many are the pernicious sleightes and mischieuous deuices of that subtile serpent whereby he neuer ceasseth but continually seeketh to torment the troubled consciences of those that he hath wounded with the Darte of sinne working in them a lothsome desire to liue and a great desire to die pricking them forwards to many mischieues drawing them into many daungerous and noysome conceits to cast themselues away and to seeke death before their due time So hath hee sought sweete Iesus to intangle mee to mooue mee to cast away my life whereby ariseth in mee such a conflict betweene him and thine holy spirite that it euen bringeth me into the dungion of vtter dispaire Oh good Iesu helpe mee good Iesu comfort mee sweete Iesu defend mee from his tyranny Come thou vnto mee shewe thy selfe in me that the filthy feend may see and perceiue that a stronger then hee keepeth the house of my poore soule Oh most inuincible Iesu let him knowe that I serue vnder the banner of that most mightie Captayne that ouercame him long agoe and conquered all his kingdome Oh sweete Iesu leaue mee not depart thou not from mee but let thy grace remayne in me as a sufficient Buckler against that ougly Serpent that olde Traytour Sathan who neuer ceasseth to assault mee heare mee oh sweete Iesu and giue me strength Amen Oh Lorde increase my fayth THE VVEDNESday or third daies Conference betweene Solace and the sinfull man VVhereas the sinfull man was yesterday striken with dispayre of being saued by reason of his manifold offences which Solace proued and his conscience confessed him to bee guiltie of receiuing some comforte againe by the sweete counsaile of Solace Now Solace beginneth to prescribe him the way that he must begin to take to become a newe man The sinfull man LOe Solace here I am to day as thou appointest mee Thy counsaile is so passing sweete I long full sore for thee Solace Then here am I attend giue eare imbrace my counsaile deare If thou be sorie for thy sinne it will full soone appeare And doe with faithfull heart beleeue the Solace which I showe Repenting truely all thy sinnes on me lay all thyne woe And cast the burthen of thy sinne on me without delay Be strong in faith attend to me and gad no more astray The sinfull man Oh Solace art thou readie here loe I attend thy will But for repentaunce and for faith as yet doe passe my skill Solace THou must learne them then for they are things most necessarie Faith and Repentaunce are the very beginning the foundation and ground-worke of a new life and are so lineked and vnited together that the one cannot work effectually in thee without the other And for asmuch as thou sayst thou art ignoraunt in them I will shewe thee what they are and how they worke if thou wilt attend a little while The sinfull man Yes with good wil good Solace shew at large what thou hast sayd Proceede to finish in mine heart the plat which thou hast layd Solace WEll sith then thou desirest to be instructed in the path that leadeth vnto amendement of life knowe this that Faith is the ground of all goodnesse whatsoeuer and whatsoeuer proceedeth not of Faith is sinne And therefore wil I shew first what Faith is which must be the foundation of thy true repentance Faith as mine Apostle Paule in the 11. to the Hebrewes by the instinct of my grace hath rightly defyned it is a certaine and sure beleefe of the obtayning thinges alreadie hoped for and an euident feeling of the manifold promises which God mine heauenly father hath made vnto thee touching thy saluatiō in me his Sonne And whereby also thou maist inwardly taste of the vnspeakeable ioyes whereof thou shalt be made ful partaker hereafter in heauen The sinfull man Oh rare and passing thing is this a glasse of heauenly skill Whereby on earth I may behold in thee thy fathers will Solace SO it is in deede and without it it is impossible to please mine heauenly father or to take any benefite of that sacred counsaile which I haue before giuen thee Thou must therfore remember that as I haue rowsed thee out of the sleepe of this sinful securitie and redeemed thée out of the clawes of Sathan so to stand vndoubtedly perswaded that I had such an especiall care of thy saluation as through the free fauour and mercy of mine heauenly father thou art by my blood shedding without any desart or merite of thine at all vpon thy true and vnfeyned repentaunce freely pardoned of all thy sinne As Mary Magdaline a most sinfull woman out of whom I cast seuen deuills through this faith was attentiue vnto my wordes and grewe into such a loathing of her sinnes and griefe of heart for her iniquities that she truely repented fell prostrate on y e knees of her heart wept and washed my feete with her teares and wiped them with the heire of her head this was the working of a true faith Whereby mine Apostle Peter also confessed me to be very Christ the Sonne of the liuing God and that I was eternall life By this faith also did Abraham beleeue the promises of mine heauenly father and refused not to sacrifice his owne sonne Isacke to fulfill the will of the Lord and by reason of his beleefe was accompted righteouse Mary the blessed Uirgin the minister by whom I was borne in the flesh beleeued the message of the Angell Gabriell and was blessed The Eunuch by this faith beleeued the preaching of Phillip that I was the Sonne of God who desired and was Baptised Mine heauenly father through the earnest and faithfull prayer of Elisha discōfited and strake with blindnesse his enemies that came to take him With this weapon did Ionathan with a yong mā his Armour bearer discomfite put to flight a great Garrison of the Philistines Dauid when he was a poore Sheepheard by faith ouercame y e great and mightie Gyaunt Goliah and thereby discomfited all the host of his enemies The three Children by this faith were deliuered out of the hot burning Furnace and the ministers of Nabugadonazer consumed with the same fire Eliah in the Wildernesse in his great distresse of hunger was by faith fed twise euery day with the bread and flesh that was brought him by the Rauens sent by y e prouidence of mine heauenly father And by the same faith restored frō death to life the widowes sonne of Zarephath and so increased and multiplied her Oyle and
thy soule shal dye y e euerlasting death Wherfore let not Sathan I say ouerrule thee to drawe thine affections with the force of worldly reasons into the gulfe of dispayre againe as he hath indeuoured heretofore for thou must renounce al pollicies al forecasts al whatsoeuer reason teacheth thee and with the foote of a true faith staÌ„pe it to peeces only setling thine heart and whole mind to performe that in all thine actions thoughtes which the eye of faith shall see poynted out with the finger of myne holy Spirite for thy comforte and vndoubted saluation Wherefore let the eyes of thine heart bee alwayes open and the shielde of a true faith alwaies readie to see and strongly to withstande the deceiptes and errours of Sathan least hee dazell thyne vnderstanding and quench the good motions of the spirite with the vanities of the olde man and so take this shielde of faith from thee and make thee vnable to take holde of those thinges the beleefe whereof leadeth vnto eternall blisse the vnbeleefe turne to thy destruction Thou must beware I say of naturall reason in causes touching thy saluation for Sathan manie times layeth it as a block for the children of God to stumble at as an hindrance of their faith wherby he went about to quench the faith of my disciples and to driue them to think it impossible for me te feed foure thowsand men with seuen loaues and a fewe fishes The woman of Samaria being led by reason could not perceiue what that water of lyfe was which I promised her but when she had pluct away the vaile of reason and felte a sparkle of saith she perswaded her selfe that I was Christ the Sauiour of the world This reason could not perceiue how Abraham that was so long before mee could sée my dayes to see mee in the flesh which in deede he sawe a farre of with the eyes of an vndoubted fayth the eye of which fayth taketh his lighte of y e word of mine heaueÌ„lye father the writinges of the Prophets and of the Gospell of trueth and by that eye he sawe me so long before and by that eye must thou direct all thine affections and measure all thy desires For the eye of reason taketh her light from worldly and naturall wisdome which is foolishnes before me for the naturall man cannot comprehend my doctrine he knoweth not what God mine heauenly father is neither can he vnderstand what his will is when he is in 〈◊〉 and when he is in error when he is in light and when he sitteth in darknes he cannot â—aste of the word of trueth but remaineth in voluntarie blindnes and to such is the preaching of the sacrifice which I offered once for all vpon the Crosse foolishnes But vnto such as beléeue in faith it is the power of God my father vnto all nations wherfore be not ashamed of my Gospell for it is the very instrument of saluation to all that beleeue for thereby is the righteousnes opened which if thou attaine vnto by proceeding froÌ„ faith to faith thou shalt appeare in the last daye among the number of them that shall liue for euer Shut vp therefore the eye of reason wherewith thou hast bin so long led into error and vanities And haue the eye of faith opened whereby thou mayest be guided to true beléefe in the liuing God mine heauenly father who made thee in me his Sonne who haue redéemed thee and in the holy ghost who hath sanctified thée and all those that are appoynted to eternall Saluation wherein consisteth the whole summe of all that which thou arte bound to beleeue to be saued The sinfull man Oh Solace should my whole beleefe be grounded on you three Then shewe I pray thee more at large what my beliefe must bee I doe alreadie vnderstand that faith must be the eye Whereby I must expect to haue saluation from on hye I doe belieue helpe vnbeliefe and shewe thy selfe to mee I doe repose my confidence and all my trust in thee Solace Well then for as much as I sée thée desirous to be more fully instructed and to haue thy fayth more strongly confirmed towchinâ— the Trinity THou must first beleeue there is a God one in essence three in person namely the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost which three persons thou must vndoubtedly belieue to be one very God of an vndeuided and vnseparable substance without beginning or ending who hath made heauen earth and all things contayned in them he hath made thee to his owne image and lykenes not to liue onely in this world to thy selfe namely to fulfill thine owne desires but to glorifie him to beleue in him to serue him and to hope for the inheritance of his kingdome and to be partaker of the glory and blisse which I haue purchased by my bloud Thou must beleeue that hee is the creator of all thinges visible and inuisible reasonable and vnreasonable man and beast whose power is infinite whom thou must onely serue onely loue onely worship and to whome thou must praie in the time of thy necessities â—aithfully beleuing that he it is that helpeth thee feedeth thee defendeth thee froÌ„ whom proceedeth all thinges that are good and nothing that is euill in him is all light no darknes all righteousnes and abhorreth sin And therefore must thou verily beleue that in the beginning he made Adam the first man according to his owne image and lykenes and placed him in Paradice the garden of happines there to haue continued in ioy without sorrow in comfort without care in ease without labor and in a blessed estate had he not by his owne Freewill which then he had yeelded vnto the deceitfull allurings of y e serpent eating of the fruite of the tree which was forbidden him the tree of the knowledge of good euill where in obeying that subtill Sathan he lost the benefit of the garden was driuen froÌ„ thence by y e Angel of mine heaueÌ„ly father And where the serpeÌ„t falsly perswaded them that in eating of y e forbidden tree they should be as Gods knowing good and euill they were as Deuills doing nothing that was good at all but insteade of knowledge became starke Fooles in stead of happines purchased vnhappynes not onely to them selues but to all their posteritie for euer in whome by reason of their rebellion there resteth no will to doe good but a desire to doe euill forsaking their Sauiour and cleauing to Sathan disobeying God and obeying the Deuill of a free man be come a captiue and bondslaue sould vnder sin By whose transgression and disobedience thou must beleeue that all his posteritie which is all men in generall my selfe the promised Sauiour excepted became disobedient sinners in such sorte as all men are corrupt vnperfect vniust lyars and rebels against God
mine heauenly father yea all they that came of y e stock of Adam are all become abominable and of none abilitie to doe good there is none that worketh righteousnes no not one my selfe excepted who according to y e promise of mine heaueÌ„ly father in the beginning made to Adam y t the seede of the woman should tread downe the Serpents head who was also promised to Abraham Isaak and Iacob where it was foretold that in their seede should all the kingdomes of the earth be blessed therefore must thou beleue that y e originall corruption which proceeded froÌ„ Adam remaineth yet in all flesh in generall whose reward is death But my father hath reserued vnto himselfe a certaine number knowne onely vnto himselfe which in my bloud he hath sanctified vnto eternall life whom by the holy Ghost he elected and chose out before the foundation of the world to be his childreÌ„ adopted and vnited into his fauour and mercie againe by me his onely sonne who in the time from the beginning of the world limited by the holy Prophets foreshewed came into the world in the very shape forme of a man and in all thinges lyke vnto a man sinne excepted conceiued in the wombe of a virgin whose name was Marie by the holy ghost and was incarnate and tooke substaunce of her bodie and borne into the world and growing in the fleshe according to the manner of sinfull men yet without sin according to the worde of the Prophetes And that I was y e Messias so long before promised who should bring ioy glad tidings vnto all the world and to set those at libertie that were in the boÌ„dage of Sathan sould vnder sinne and to giue light to them that sate in darknes and in the shadowe of death who haue bin from the beginning of the world begotten before all creatures and consecrated of mine heauenly Father to be the onely Hye Priest that should offer the Sacrifice that should appease his wrath for all the sinnes of the worlde to be the king to defend his people and the Prophet to shewe them his will and to guide their feete vnto the way of peace Who by offering vp my body in sacrifice once for all through the eternall spirite without spotte or sinne purged the consciences of men from dead workes to serue the liuing God mine heauenly Father and that for that purpose I lefte the heauenly Cittie the bosome of mine heauenly Father and being Lorde of all became a subiect and seruaunt to all laying aside all glorie and put on the base attire of mortall man being indued with two natures Deuine and Humaine without which the will of my Father could not haue bin executed according to his diuine prouidence for in my humanitie I was in this worlde parsonally dwelling among men eating and drinking among men and was verie man of the promised seed of Dauid and yet as touching my Godhead I was nothing inferiour to mine heauenly father but coequall with him and coeternall yet was I coÌ„tent to humble my selfe obey his will and to shewe his vnspeakeable loue and ardent desire he had of the redemption of mankinde wherein he gaue me his onely sonne to dye for the sinnes of the world who according to his determinate will did most willingly imbrace euen the death of the Crosse to redeeme them from death that were iustly condemned performing the message of mine heauenly father in all things doing nothing but what was decreed before the beginning of the world by the eternal counsaile I became poore to make thee rich and to be a meane to bring thee into the fauour of mine heauenly father againe I became bond to the will of mortall men to make thee free with the imortall God I became a straunger and a Pilgrim in earth to make thee a Citizen of heauen I became the sonne of mortall man to make thee the childe of the liuing GOD I suffered the paynes of Hell to purchaze thee heauen I was content to sufter the cruell death of the Crosse to procure thee lyfe eternal Thou must therefore faithfullie belieue that I am that Christ that true Messias that was promised to be the Sauiour of the world who was annoynted with the oyle of grace and was indued with all spirituall heauenly giftes here in earth aboue all others and that my flesh was so sanctified with my Diuinitie and Godhead that it could not suffer or see corruption Thou must belieue also that after I had preached the will of my father in Iudea and Galile in great humilitie where both by word and miracles I shewed my selfe to be the sonne of God as also by the preachings of the Prophets The Iewes by all meanes sought to take me but could not before my time was come and when the howre came when I should be deliuered into their hands according to the will of my Father I was vniustly accused of y e chief priests who consulting how they might haue me taken procured Iudas falsly to betray me promising him a bribe who although I could haue preuented him betrayed me with a kisse And then the chiefe Priestes bound me and brought me before Pylate and had prouided false witnes to accuse me wicked ministers to scourge me scoffers to deride me condemning me most vniustly to dye and to be hanged vpon the Crosse betweene two theeues as a principall malefactor and yet pure and altogether without spotte or sinne where most ignominiously and cruelly I was crowned with a Crowne of thornes in dispitefull and disdaynfull manner saluting me by the name of the king of the Iewes who being thirstie they gaue me most sharpe vinegar mingled with gall to drinke all which I most meekely and willingly suffered tooke all their torments patiently their raylings and reuilings mildlie their buffetings spittings at me meekelie longing for the redemption of mankinde to be baptized with that baptisme of so greeuous a death and to offer vp once for all the sacrifice of my bodie to reuiue them that were dead in sinne and to obtaine pardon for their transgressions euen the tender loue I had to the saluation of their poore soules by which oblation I haue purchased full satisfaction for the sinnes of the whole world that whoe so beleeueth in me should not pearish but should obtaine eternall lyfe Thou must verely beleeue also that I dyâ—d vppon the same Crosse and euen giuing vp the ghost into the handes of mine heauenly Father I indured such agonie due for the sinne of mankinde which aunswered the Iustice of mine heauenly Father in so heauy exceeding manner in respect of mine humanitie that the verie anguish and conflict of the flesh and spirit I sweat water and â—loud and was
holy Ghost being y e third person of the Trinitie is a diuine person coessentiall and coeternall with my father me who proceedeth from mine heauenly father and mee It is the comforter and spirite of trueth the very pledge and earnest penye of thy saluation whereby thou art sanctified and assured in thy conscience that thou art the child of mine heauēly father and heire of eternall life and by it dwelleth mine heauenly father in thee It is the directiō to all goodnesse whatsoeuer whereby the Prophets haue prophesied mine Apostles preached all auncient Fathers written and al godly men tasted of the sweete and comfortable message which I haue brought into this worlde It is the water of life which by no meanes will flowe into the hearts of the wicked nor abide in the hearts of y e vnbeleuers but delighteth to rest in the hearts and to guide the soules of thē tha beleeue and cleaue vnto righteousnesse and thereby mayst thou answere the aduersaries of my worde and Gospel It is the holy Ghost that calleth men from darknesse to walke in light that procureth newnesse of life and that mortefieth the old man the world and the flesh and maketh thee strong against sinne death and Satan and that giueth knowledge of the trueth and power to imbrace it and which maketh my yoke easie and my burthen light that strengtheneth the weake hearts and feeble consciences to serue mine heauenly father whereby thou art conducted and guided the way that leadeth vnto the blisse that neuer shall cease It measureth all thy doings by the rule of my worde reformeth errors and reproueth the world of sinne of righteousnesse and of Iudgement and beareth witnesse in the hearts of all beleeuers that their sinnes are freely forgiuen thē in me It was the guyd whereby mine Apostles folowed me without the which no man can say that Iesus is the Lord. Thou must also faithfully beleeue in one Catholique Church vniuersall dispersed throughout the whole worlde being the whole companie of the faithfull beleeuers in mee who notwithstanding they are not of one vnite companie in bodily societie yet in respect of their mutuall and ioynt agreemēt of their faith of their life their Baptisme their holy Table and true Religion they are one Church and Cōgregation of those y t of the free grace and mercy of God mine heauenly father are chosen and predestinat to eternall life of which Church Congregatiō I am the head and whom the holy Ghost hath sanctified made holy and whome I commende vnto mine heauenly father to enioye that inheritaunce which I haue purchased with my blood who as long as they are conuersaunt in this miserable worlde and beare about them the heauy burthen of the flesh cannot do that which they should and therfore cannot be of such perfection nor be so purged from their originall corruption and infirmities which abideth in all flesh as is requisite vntill such time as I their head shall appeare whē they likewise shal appeare with me in glorie which Church godly Cōgregation y u must likewise beleeue to be so knit vnited together in the band of mutuall loue godly agreemēt that whatsoeuer good gift mine heauēly father bestoweth vpon them perticulerly they imploye it to the cōmon behoofe of all in generall And that as this Church and Congregation of al faithfull beleeuers in me is the true Catholique and apostolique Church so for them I haue purchased free forgiuenes of al their sinnes and that of y e mere loue of mine heauenly father and mine obedience vnto the death and nothing of their deserts in so much as there remaineth none other satisfaction or attonemēt to bee made with mine heauenly for the sinnes of y e world but my self only that none can obteine remission of their sinnes but such as bee made true mēbers of the same Church by me for besides the same Congregation there be none but such as work iniquities to whō I will say depart from me I know you not for whom there is a place of endles woe prouided Also thou must beleeue that although the corruptible bodies of mākinde must perish putrefie returne againe to dust of which it was first created yet that in the last day they shal rise again with the same bodies and couered with the same skinnes which now they haue and which thē shall be renewed and glorified they that are departed this life alreadie shall take againe their owne bodies which then shall bee of farre greater glorie then either in this life they were or that any heart can imagine And those that at my comming shall be founde liuing in this worlde shall suddainely bee chaunged and those that bee of this Congregation the true members of this Church shalbe placed in the vnspeakeable ioyes of eternall blisse but those that haue giuen them selues in this world to the fulfilling of the lustes and desires of the flesh liued in wantonnes chambering the Couetouse persons the Usurers Drunkardes Gluttons and vngodly persons shall not enioy the benefite of that sacrifice which with mine owne body I offered on the Crosse once for all but shalbe cast into vtter darkenesse where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth THese things must thou faithfully and vndoubtedly beleeue to be the very trueth and groūd of true religion which who so beleeueth not is no true member of that holy Catholique Church which is predestinate to be saued And therefore by a firme and constaunt faith thou must take holde of these things which I haue declared vnto thee being the ground of thy saluation freely promised in me of which faith the holy ghost is y e giuer who frameth the hearts of all men to beleeue the promises of my heauenly father touching their saluation in mee sealeth vp the sam◠promises in their hearts whereby they perswade themselues to be members of the same true Church and of the company of those that are predestinate to be saued which fayth bringeth forth the fruites of a godly life the beginning whereof as I sayde before is vnfeyned repentance grounded vpon this true and vndoubted fayth in which two Faith and repentance is conteined the whole summe of my Gospell wherefore as thou hast heard what this faith is howe it worketh and what it should bee exercised in So must thou reteine it and bring foorth the fruites thereof that it may appeare a liuely an effectuall and not not a dead fayth And forasmuch as the night is so neere I will for this day here make an ende And in the meane time woulde haue thee to meditate of my former wordes not forgetting them but diligently inclyning all thy studie will and whole heart effectually to followe that which may testifie in thy conscience that thou art
amendment of their liues Death contrarie to their expectation hath summoned them to depart by and by whose long flattering themselues in their follie hath bin the cause of their sodaine destruction as to the Sodomites and men of Gomorra to those of Ierusalem and them that perished in the flood and so diuers others whose harmes may be a sufficient spectacle to see and plainely to behold the end of all senceles securitie But thou wilt pechaunce say why I haue séene many that for their wicked liues were euen markes for other men to poynt at with their fingers and they haue made godly ends and haue departed the world very deuoutly by which showe of repentance thou thinkest their sins forgiuen them but I say vnto thée that whoso goeth on still in his wickednes presuming to haue time enough in the end to cry for mercy he may cry and not be heard make no tarrying therefore to turne vnto the Lord let true repentance be thy dayly and continuall exercise examine thine own conscience search and see whether Sathan haue not thruste into thine heart this presumption if so cast it out speedely and follow not the greater number to doo euill accustome not thy selfe to sinne trusting in thine aboundance but imbrace my former counsaile stande not in a foolishe hope to repent at last be not deceiued let not Sathan hinder thée with his subtle deuices but resist them all manfully for I know thou canst not saye mine hearte is cleare from them canst thou speake thy conscience The sinfull man Alas my conscience dooth accuse me guiltie of them all I must confesse my carelesse life hath well deserued thrall But loe in hope I hold by thee my sinnes I will declare To thee who dooth already see that they corrupted are Wherein I liued long secure bewrapt in wealth at will I runne a race that now I rue and lingred long in ill Uouchsafe that I with heart hand may now restore againe The things which I by fraud haue had of any man for gaine And shewe what further dooth belong to traine me to thy blisse Uouchsafe to shew that I may come where all true Solace is Solace SEing then that thou doest confesse that thou hast bene hindred by these deuices and lets of Sathan and hast nowe a feling of thy corruptiō former wicked life beware thou giue not place herafter to his wiles but by a firme faith and confidence in mee withstand him and his ministers the world and the flesh for as the wickednes of the wicked shal not hurt him whensoeuer he truely vnfaynedly repenteth so shall not the righteousnes of the righteous auaile him whensoeuer he offendeth Repente thée therefore of thine offences past and from henceforth kéepe thee vpright in all thy dooings that there maye be ioye in heauen for thy repentaunce And for as much as the daye is so farre spent and the nighte so néere and that thou haste promised to make restitution of the things which thou hast wrongfully gathered go thy wayes performe it accordingly and beware of kéeping backe any thing leaste thou be taken in thine hipocrisie and rewarded with Annanias and Saphira who for kéeping back some of the price of their owne field were striken with present death how much more then shall mine heauenly father punish thée if thou keepe any thing backe that is none of thine owne In the morning I will be here againe in the meane time be carefull of thy promise finish it faythfully and too morrow will I further direct thée in the residue of thy course to eternall life The sinfull man Then will I hasten me away to finish it in haste And in the morning hasten me againe to thee as fast The end of the Thursday or fourth dayes conference ¶ A prayer for true repentance OH Lord my god father of meruailous louing kindnes who in my greate slumber and sleepe of sinfull securitye hast awakned me and by thy sweete and welbeloued Sonne Iesus Christ called me out of darknes to light out of errour to the trueth and haste opened the eyes of mine hearte to see mine owne corruption vouchsafe oh Lord for that thy sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christes sake that as hee hath called me to the ende I should giue ouer the wayes of wickednes to walke in thy wayes and lawes to for sake sinne cleaue vnto righteousnes slye Sathan follow thee I moste humbly beseech thee to accept mee againe for his sake into thy fauour who long haue erred and gone astray to forgiue mee who haue offended thee and who am moste ignoraunt how truely to return to the and to repent my former corrupt and most sinfull life But vnto thee most mercifull Lord god in the name of Iesus Christe thy deare Sonne I prostrate my selfe in all humblenesse of heart bewayling my filthines and lamenting the frowardnes and corruption of my former life humbly appealing vnto thy mercies as one who haue rebelled moste traiterously against thee and most wickedly and wilfully transgressed thine holy precepts and will And yet suche is thine vnspeakeable mercy that thou hast most louingly warned mee to forsake mine euill and peruerse wayes and vntoward imaginations which I haue heretofore accompted most right and deare And which now by the light of thy counsailes I vnderstand to be altogether wicked altogether frowarde foolishe and meere vanitie it selfe I now feele mine owne corruption swete Iesu mine owne blindnes and error and perceiue thy wisdome which is infinite thy mercies vnspeakeable and loue aboue measure whereby sweet Iesu I am striken with a desire to be vnburdened of the weight of this mine obstinat errour which by the illusion of mine aduersarie Sathan I haue followed with such greedines that without thy meere mercies I haue no hope of saluatiō Extēd therfore o father of mercy for Iesus Christes sake thy fauour vnto mee againe and deale not in iustice as my deedes haue deserued but giue me that godly sorrow that true and vnfayned sorrow for my sins which may mooue in me repentance vnto saluation which may kill and speedely mortefy all euill desires all the corrupt affections and vngodly motions of the world and flesh the deceites of subtle Sathan whoe goeth about lyke a Lyon seeking whome he may keepe back from that most acceptable worke of true repentaunce And thou good Iesu knowest what and how manie and great are the letts and wiles which he vseth in laying stumbling blockes before the feete of those that endeuour thēselues to returne to thee And my wil which is peruers ready to yeeld vnto him slacke in comming vnto thee pulleth me often-times backward and suffereth me not to doe that which I should but thrusteth me forward to doe that which I should not to followe darknes and to forsake the light so louingly profered Oh good Iesu consider these conflictes of mine Looke vppon the want which I haue of thine holy spirit without the
wretchednes and senceles running headlong from vanitie to vanitie from euill to worse Insomuch as in steade of lighte I haue followed darkenes in steade of the trueth imbraced errors insteede of vertue loued vice and insteede of dooing good I haue followed iniquitie euen with greedynes The dregges oh Lord of Sathans transgression haue so ouercome mee and taken such deepe roote in mine hearte and taken such sure holde of my corrupt flesh that it bringeth continuallye foorth the fruites of an euill life mine owne conscience accuseth mee and standeth as many witnesses againste mee feeling my selfe euen pressed downe with manye sinnes with innumerable transgressions against thy maiestye the leaste whereof I acknoweledge to be able iustlye to condempne mee Oh Lorde my tongue my lippes and mine hearte haue rebelled against thee my thoughtes haue beene euill my wordes wicked and deedes abhominable beefore thee yea from mine heade to my foote there is no parte oh Lorde that can cleere it selfe of offending thee wherefore oh Lorde here doe I acknowledge not onelye with myne outwarde voyce but with an inward feeling of the hearte that I haue highly displeased thee and wrought that which in thine eyes is abhominable wherby I haue deserued thine heauy displeasure againste mee in somuch as thou mayest iustly turne mee away thou mayest cast mee off and forsake mee I am not worthy to be called thy sonne Oh Lorde I nowe feele mine owne wretchednes and the allurements of the flesh and Sathan I confesse to be altogether deceitfull and wicked which I haue esteemed and helde so deare and acknowledge all trueth all help comforre and consolation and the true solace to proceed from thee the fountayne of all happynesse Who in mans greatest wretchednes euen of meere loue and vnfayned zeale of their saluation haste sent a remedy to cure their curssednes thine owne Sonne Iesus Christ who hath taken away the punishment which I haue deserued for breaking of thy wil In whose nam and for whose sake haue compassion vpon mee laye not my sinnes vnto my charge whereby I haue deserued eternall damnation Oh Lorde vouchsafe that although I haue iustly deserued to dye by reason of my greeuous sinnes turne thy face in mercy not in iustice towardes mee Respecte not mine offences but looke vppon that sacrifice that oblation which was offered vpon the crosse for the reconciliation againe of those vnto thee which come vnto thee through him Through whome oh Lord I come vnto thee and for whose deserts I craue pardon disclayming altogether mine owne merrites Oh remember thy moste louing promise that thou wilte accept his death and his bitter passion as a full recompence for all mine offences and a sufficient ransome for all my former euils lette thine anger oh Lorde through him be appeased thine heauye displeasure qualified and loue renewed That from hence foorth in a true and vndoubted fayth I maye take holde of the remission of my sinnes through him and beleeue vnfaynedly that the obedience of him thy sonne Iesus Christ is made mine attonement with thee that by his death I am made aliue and by his resurrection I am made rightuous in thy sighte Let thine holy spirite oh blessed Lorde God assure me through the same fayth that I am indeede receiued into thy fauoure and loue againe That being thereby truelye comforted I may enioye the liberty of a free minde wherin I may serue thee wherin I may obey thee and whereby I maye growe into a godlye hatred of the olde man and into a true and vnfayned loue of rightuousnes So that from hencefoorth I maye in newnesse of life diligently imploye my selfe to the Execution and continuall woorkynge of those thinges that maye witnesse outwardly to the Example of other men what I beleeue inwardly casting away all dissimulation and Hipocrisie the Cloake of sinne spending the residue of my daies in a pure and sincere conuersation brynging foorth the fruits beelongynge to amendement of life That after this life ended I may through the merittes of that thy Sonne our onely Sauiour and Aduocate Ihesus Christ for euermore possesse the Ioyes of eternall life Amen ¶ Oh Lorde increase our Fayth The Saturdaye or sixth Dayes Conference betweene Solace and the Sinfull man Wherin Solace sheweth him what is to bee done and what left vndone to attaine to the perfection of Christianytie The Sinfull man GOOD Solace loe here I attende as one that longes to heare What I must doo and leaue vndone I giue attentiue eare Solace IF thou dilligently attend this Day and reteine in memorie those thinges that I haue heeretofore declared vnto thee thou shalt perceiue the Summe of thy Duetie towardes mine heauenly father as also thy duty towards other men whereby y u maiest liue an vpright and a godly life to the seruyce and honour of God profitte of thy neighbour and saluation of thine owne soule to the vanquishing of Sathan dispising of the world and to the mortifying of thine owne flesh So that the Deuill shall not fray thee the worlde deceiue thee nor thy flesh annoye thée The sinfull man Good Solace then proceede in hast true comforte now appeares This comforte doth abandon woe and wipe off all my teares Solace IN deede so it will if thou attentiuely heare it faithfully beleeue it and truely followe it But thou hast heard before that it is not enough for thee to say with the mouth thou wilt or confesse with thy lippes that thou hast offended but thou must performe in deede and reforme thy conuersation yea thou must haue thyne heart fraughted with such godly cogitations and vertuous desires as maye bring foorth the fruites of that sorrowe which as before is sayd causeth repentaunce vnto saluation that thine actions outwardly and thine affections inwardly may appeare to bee grounded vpon that true faith which is the fountaine of all good works whatsoeuer without y e which thy workes are not only vnprofitable but meere abominable By which faith thou must beleeue the promises touching thy saluation to vee wholy accomplished and performed through my death and passion onely and not in respect of thyne owne good workes be they neuer so many And yet art thou bounde by all meanes possible to endeuour thy selfe to doe good vnto all men and to decline from euill And for that purpose haue I called thee from that error wherein thou walkest deceiuing thy selfe with vaine and transitorie pleasure of this worlde to bring thee vnto the light of trueth to drawe thee from thine Idolatrie wherein thou gauest worship as it were vnto thy greate aboundance esteemyng thy golde as thy GOD to serue myne heauenly father thy liuing GOD and louing Creatour to followe that which is god and to eschue and auoide that which is euill onely to worke the will of myne heauenlye father which is sette downe and declared in the two Tables containing tenne precepts wherin as in a glasse thou mayest beholde what thou oughtest to doe and what to leaue
loue wherewith thou must loue him with all thine heart with all thy strength and with all thy soule which is an acceptable worshipping of him for he that loueth him with all his heart reserueth no loue for an other in respect of any hope remayning in his heart to be reléeued by any other meanes theÌ„ by him alone to which loue is ioyned the doing of such thinges as are acceptable and pleasant in his sight which are conteyned in his worde the rule of the true worshipping which is the doing of that which pleaseth him and the leauing vndone of those thinges which displease him for it is the second poynt of the true worshipping of God to kéepe his Commaundements and to serue him according to the prescript rule of his word and not by such blinde deuotion as is not warranted by the same and which is not grounded vppon the alone loue of mine heauenly father nor flowing from the fountaine of that holy spirit whereby the children of myne heauenly father crye Abba father and which beareth witnesse vnto their spirites that they are adopted and made y e children of him through that faith which worketh by loue and from whence doe flowe al good workes as a badge whereby the true worshippers are discerned and knowne to which effect doth mine Euangelist Iohn testifie saying He that loueth God keepeth his word But he that imparteth the worship of him with any other he affirmeth with his owne mouth that he loueth him not but hateth him on whoÌ„ hee hath decreed to take vengeaunce in his posteritie in many generations Wherefore if thou haue heretofore by prayer or otherwise worshipped or serued any together with myne heauenly father or by bowing thy selfe to Images or by any other Supersticious maner not warranted by his worde perswaded thy selfe to haue pleased him thincke thy selfe not onely deceiued but thereby to haue deserued the curse which hee hath pronounced against Idolaters in their posteritie many generations nowe therefore examine thy selfe and and see whether thou haue serued myne heauenly father only in this loue and done all that which he hath commanded thee in the Lawe to doe And thou shalt see thy selfe yet vnder that heauie curse for not performing that which is commauÌ„ded the what is there then to be done thou must presently mortifie and keepe downe those affections which draw thee into this disobedience and come neerer vnto mine heauenly father in performing those dueties which are enioyned thee by his word which thou must set before the eyes of thine hearte as a profitable rule or scholemaster to direct thee vnto me on whome thou must take hold by fayth in loue as the true and onely mediatour meane to bring thee vnto mine heauenly Father without the ayde or assistance of any other insomuch as thou maist stand assured in me that thou art freely acquitted and discharged of that curse through the meere mercie of mine heauenly father which without mee threatneth destruction not onely vnto thy selfe but to thy posteritie by many generations whereby thou mayst perceiue that where the law openeth vnto thee nothing but thy corruption as the ministerie of death thou hast yet neuerthelesse saluation promised in me through faith whereby thou mayst apprehende and take holde thereof to thine vnspeakeable comforte acknowledging thy selfe onely beholden vnto mee for the same and to none other no not to thine owne good works The third Commaundement prohibiteth and forbiddeth thee to take the name of myne heauenly father in vaine which is that for as much as he is thy God and hath prescribed vnto thee in his worde the maner and meane how thou oughtest to worship him and truely serue him which is as before 〈◊〉 said to loue him and to keepe his Commaundements thou art by this commaundement enioyned to performe it accordingly and not to omit this true worship or to ioyne the same with any other not agreeable to his worde for that it is a derogation of his glory and a taking of his most glorious name in vaine when thou obseruest not his wil in performing his precepts in such sort as his name may bee honoured thereby And thereby thou maist perceiue that such as liue in this world carelesly and without feare of transgressing his will are by this CoÌ„maundement vnderstood to take his name in vaine As also those that as soone as by reason of any sâ—ight occasion their natures are stirred vp to a certeine choloricke humour or their affections moued fall by and by into most horrible and blasphemous othes in such outragious vnseemely maner that sighting as it were against his most glorious Maiestie they seeke to trample his due honour vnder their feete And that not onely such periured and forsworne persons as either for their owne lucre for the auoyding of punishment or shunning of shame feare not to make myne heauenly father the author of all trueth the defence of their most abominable and false lyes But those common swearers whose mouthes by reason of custome runne ouer as it were most vnreuerently euen in coÌ„mon speech with most blasphemous and vndecent othes which who so vseth beare he otherwise neuer so fayre a shewe of liuing vprightly in his vocation dishonoreth his maker and heapeth his displeasure against himself against the day of vengeaunce for it is no excuse to sâ—y why although my tongue vse now and then to swerue it is but a custome mine heart standeth as it ought and rightly affected towards God Assure thy selfe this excuse is vâ—ine for such filthinesse proceeding out of the mouth bewraieth the heart to bee vncleane and very vnreuerently disposed Wherefore if thou haue bene or be now thus corrupted with the dregges of such blasphemie cast it out cease to sweare vainely or vntruely by mine heauenly father or by mee his Sonne who am one with him or by any other thing and say not tush it is but a foolish custome or smal matter beware I say beware for it is no small matter for mine heauenly father will not holde him guiltles that thus abuseth his holy name But such is the slender credite now adaies remayning among men that the one will not beleeue the other without pauning his faith and his troth in buying in selling in gaming and euen in familiare conference a greeuous and a lamentable thing for which such blasphemers shall not escape vnpunished Thou art also forbidden by this Commaundement to sweare by any other thing theÌ„ by mine heauenly father and that in matters wherein an oth is tollerable and commaunded much lesse in friuolous and vaine causes for that thou takest to record and referrest y e iudgement of the cause to him by whom thou swearest and therefore if it bee by any besides mine heauenly father thou takest away his honour and giuest it to an other and so intitulest the creature with that superioritie which is due only vnto thine euerlasting creator Wherby
giue ouer the opiniō of thine own good works and cleaue vnto the mercies of mine heauenly father in me and so much the more by howe much nowe thou maiest see thine vtter decaye without me But thou maist beware that thou in respect of thy saluation promised in mee neglect not these dueties enioyned thee towards mine heauenly father and thy neighbor as hath bene tolde thee before but so much the more endeuour thy selfe to performe thē that louingly and faithfully not in the outwarde shewe onely but with the inward affection of the heart imbracing that with a godly desire which thou art commaunded and hatefully eschewing that which thou art forbidden to doe assuring thy self by a liuely and working faith that thou art sealed with the holy Spirite proceeding from my father and mee freely by my merrits without any deseruings at all of thine owne to eternall saluation The sinfull man Now doth that Solace sweet appeare which thou hast promist mee And that mine owne deserts are not the meane to come to thee Thy merites are mine onely stay thy mercie meere extende Let faith in thee direct my life my words and thoughts amend The darkesome night is come I see there is no longer stay Tell mee good Solace neede I not come yet an other day Solace THou seest that I haue spent these sixe daies in calling thee from thine error and instructing thee what thou oughtest to doe to reforme thy wicked life yet remaineth there some thing els for thee to be exercised in to mayntaine that fauour of mine heauenly father towardes thee which I haue purchased for thee And therefore although to morrowe bee the Sabboth day which as thou hast learned it behoueth thee to sanctifie with ceasing from all worldly labors and to giue thee to deuine exercises yet for asmuch as all mine endeuour tendeth to the safetie of thy soule I would haue thee to repaire hyther againe to morrowe when I will declare vnto thee the residue breefly that belongeth vnto thee and that behoueth thee to learne to the finishing of all the course of thy life that after this life ended through my merites thou mayst enioye eternall saluation The sinfull man With willing minde I will attende mine heart doth long to see Those heauenly ioyes wherein I trust at last to liue with thee The ende of the Saterdaies Conference betweene Solace and the sinfull man A PRAYER TO God the Father for pardon in Iesus Christ for transgressing his Commaundements for grace to bee directed to the true fulfilling of the same OH God my God oh fountaine welspring of al mercy louing kindnes vouchsafe fauourably to looke down vpon my corruptiō and wickednesse and set before the eyes of thy Iustice the merites of thy Sonne Iesus Christ for whose desertes and due obedience sake leaue to be angrie and turne to me in loue take away the curse which is due for my transgressions and wilfull disobedience Alas what should become of mee if I should receiue according to my desertes for which there is nothing due but the iust reward of death For merciful Lord God when I compare the whole course of my life past with the righteousnesse of thy deuine institutiōs and most sacred Commaundements I find my selfe a very Traytour a most monstrous Rebell against thee the God of my welfare Oh Lorde when the Iustice and iust iudgements of thy deuine Maiestie shew themselues vnto my deserts wherby my conscience accuseth mee to haue deserued eternall death I cannot but fall into vtter dispayre of being acquitted before thee Only herein a◠I comforted sweete Lord that I haue pardon promised in the death and merites of thy deare Sonne mine onely Sauiour and Redemer Iesus Christ in whose name I here present and prostrate my self vnto thee and for his sake most humbly pray thee to forgiue my transgressions and to pardon al my sinnes vouchsaueing me grace from henceforth faithfully and truely to frame all my desires vnto the fulfilling of all thy most godly Commaundements and that in vnfeyned loue of thee aboue all things and to shew the same outwardly to the performāce of my duety to my neighbours whom thou hast cōmaunded me to loue succour helpe releeue and doe vnto as I would that other men should doe vnto me Graunt me sweet Lorde for Iesus Christes sake grace to doe that which I am commaunden in thy lawes and carefully to shunne and auoyde that which I am herein forbidden that I may keepe not onely mine handes but all mine actions and doinges yea mine heart and thoughtes free from displeasing thee And for asmuch as my corruptiō keepeth doune mine vnderstanding and will so that I am not able to performe that which I ought but am ready to do that which I ought not vouchsafe to accept the merits of thy Sonne Iesus Christ as a sufficient discharge for that which I cannot do and for his sake to forgiue mine insufficiencie to performe thy will Sweete God Amen THE SVNDAYE and last dayes Conference betweene Solace and the sinfull Man VVherein Solace directeth him in prayer which is the principall and last work belonging to the attainement of eternall life by faith in Christ. Solace WHat art thou so earely here this morning oh man thou shewest thy selfe now to bee very desirous of my solace as it seemes by thy diligent attendaunce this morning The sinfull man Ye Solace loe I looke for thee mine only comfort deare Whose comfort now I find in deed proceede from heauens cleare And therefore I attend on thee mine only guide and stay Whom thou doest call I see cannot gad like a wretch astray Mine heart is set to secke the way through thee y t guides to blisse Whereby I shall at last possesse the ioye that perfect is Which I in heart by faith doe feele though in this vale of woe Where Sathās forces fell abound and sinnes by custome growe Which vale I long to leaue in haste to take my rest with thee In heauens hye where only ioye and nothing els can bee Solace THou doest well to bee wearied and greeued at the vewe of those abuses and daylie offences which thou perceiuest in the world to moue mine heauenly father to displeasure which in deede are many and greate and to haue a longing desire to leaue them and to giue them ouer to the end thou mayst the more freely come vnto me But thou must beware thou kicke not nor murmur against mine heauenly father in respect of any miserie temptation or trouble to befall thee here in this world and to be discharged or vnburdened thereof to wish for death but referring thy cause vnto his omnipotent and mercifull prouidence in heartie and faithfull prayers through me Waite his good pleasure arming thy self manfully to fight against Satan and his wicked ministers assuring thy self through an vndoubted faith that whatsoeuer thou shalt aske my heauēly father in my name he shall giue it thee I am thy
ayde whereof I can not truely turne to thee Assist me therefore sweete Iesu that I may now as I haue promised forsake sinne and cleaue vnto righteousnes mortesie the old man and be renued â—nto thee forsake Sathan and follow thee that vnto my liues ende I maye flye and eschue whatsoeuer worketh to true repentance that as thou hast sayde there may be more ioye in heauen for mee faythfully rereturning vnto thee then for many that neede no repentance And in the ende I may enioy that heauenly inheritaunce which by thy blood-shedding thou hast purchased for all such as in a true fayth follow thee Graunt this oh God mine heauenly father for Iesus Christes sake AMEN Oh Lord increase my Fayth The Fryday or fifth dayes coÌ„fereÌ„ce between Solace and the sinful man That where the sinful man being yesterday perswaded to redeliuer those things vnto Simple his Tenaunt which he had by flatterye threatning gotteÌ„ of him As also to make restitution of all his wrongful gotten goods to other men hee did it accordingly And wheâ— been had giuen euerye Birde his Feather hee became so naked and his estate so bare that for his suddayne chaunge he cryeth out in great heauines on this wise Solace comforting him and willeth him to beare the matter with patience and to confesse his sinnes c. The sinfull man ALas the life that late I did in precious price imbrace Is past and gone and poore estate hath taken riches place My Peacocks plumes are pluct full loe that flickred erst so hie Mine hautie harte in heauie chere doth wonted ioyes deny Where riches did ere while abound and bagges of golde were store Now want hath wonne the field again wo worth me wretch therfore Solace What is the matter oh sinfull man that this morning thou beginnest thus as a man bestraughted shewing thy self yet subiect to frailty which thou yesterday diddest promise manfully to withstanay The sinfull man Oh Solace helpe I am vndone now past are pleasant daies What thou didst will is done nowe my stately state decaies My substance all alas is gone now Simple and the rest Haue had their shares of all my store my share alas is least I am vndone I know not how to maintaine mee and mine I doubt I shall be sore opprest with poore estate in fine And that my Children shall be forste for want to begge their bread Why should we liue in this distresse wold they and I were dead This hard estate of mine I know would break an hearte of stone For that in my distresse I haue no wher to make my mone For those that did before acquaint themselues as friends to be Will now disdaine my poore estate and looke awry on mee Unles it be for my reproch to say loe this is hee That was aloâ—t but now is lowe what shall mine answere bee Solace AS for thine answere what it muste be to such as shall dyspise thee in respect of thy decaied estate take thou no greate care thou shalt hereafter vnderstand by the examples of such as haue bene aflicted with farre greater extremeties then thou arte how they haue borne the burden both of pouertie and other myseries and the contempt of men with pacience but first thou must aunswere to another question and that is where thou cryest out in such heauinesse and takest on as one ouer-flowne with the streame of vtter dispaire beinge out of all hope of helpe fluttering like a foolysh flie in the Cobwebs of Sathan from whence I deliuered thée ere while why hast thou so soone intangled thy selfe againe in his most venimous snare reteyning such a desperate sorrow for restoryng that which thou canst not denie but thou hadst wrongfullie gotten of other men wherby thou madest thy selfe rich and them not able to liue thy selfe to be of estimation and them to be contempned And now as thou saiest euery Bird hauing his feather y u art left halfe naked thy state decaied wherby it appereth that thou madest thy selfe a proud peacockâ— with the plumes of other Birds But this kind of Bird is not rare there are so many péeuish Buzzardes now a dayes that are deckt vp w e Peacocks feathers But weare their fethers restored froÌ„ whence thei were sinisterly and wrongfully taken their gallant shewes would be turned into simple attire their flagrant hue into adurtie dunghill and themselues in another likenesse as may appéere now in thy selfe who feelinge the want of that that before thou didste wrongfully possesse thou appearest in thy likenesse that is where thou madest a show to bée a profitable Bée to gather Honnye for y e CoÌ„mon-wealth thou appearest a very Droan deuouring that y e other meÌ„ gather yea a verie Catterpiller eating vp y e fructs of y e sweat of other mens labors But such Peacocks such Droans such Catterpillers and such hipocrites shal haue their reward And though they appeare not for a publike example as y u doost but passe their dayes in iollytie liue in worldly estymation great credit I say vnto thée y â— vnles they repent they shal perish be cast off in y e last day to receiue their reward among y e wicked But this sodain change froÌ„ welth to waÌ„t I perceiue is not a litle gréeuous to thee it hath giueÌ„ thée such a knock in the head y t it hath almost astonished thee yet y e blow thou gauest poore Simple thy tenant such like thou feltest not no such knocks aswere for thy benefit thou thoughtst to be swéet smoothings louing strikings y e other men delited to haue at thine hands thou were sure y t Simple wold not refuse to plesure thée to forgo al y t he had that wer y e coÌ„teÌ„t to take but his want was not thine wo it was thy welth his sorow was thy ioy his sighs wer â—allets in thy dish peÌ„ce in thy purs whilst y u were in the sunside there was no shadow whilst y u wer warm ther was no cold thou being ful faring daintily thoughtst not of huÌ„ger no y u thoughtst neither of heauen nor hell runnyng headlong as it were arme in arme with Sathan the prince of this world who prouided for thée also such pleasaunt companions to keepe thee companie with their pleasaunt conceites to egge thée forward to vtter destruction as thou were almost past all recouerie thy iornie was so pleasaunt to thy worldly eyes that thou were loth to returne But being now sumwhat reclaimed thou must turne a cleane contrarie way into another countrie heauenly Ierusalem in which iornie it behoueth thée to procéede without looking backe and to refuse and auoyde the companie of thy woonted companies as drunckerds gluttons coueitous men Idolators extortioners vserers and coueitous persons who are the subiects of Sathan prince of darknes and now must frequent and desire the familiaritie and society of the godly sober zealus deuout and men of