The Sonne of man came to giue his life a ransome for many Math. 20. 28. I lay downe my life for my sheepe Ioh. 10. 15. Feede the Church of God which he hath purchased with his owne bloud Acts 20. 28. He was deliuered for our offences and was raised againe for our iustification Rom. 4. 21. Being iustified by his bloud wee shall bee saued from wrath through him Rom. 5. 9. Who gaue himselfe a ransome for all to be testified in due time 1. Tim. 2. 6. How much more shall the bloud of Christ who through the eternall spirit offered himselfe without spot to God purge our conscience from dead workes Heb. 9. 14. His owne selfe bare our sinnes in his owne body on the tree that we being dead to sin should liue vnto righteousnes by whose stripes ye were healed 1. Peter 2. 24. The bloud of Iesus Christ cleanseth vs from all sinne 1. Ioh. 1. 7. Thou wast slaine and hast redeemed vs to God by thy bloud Reu. 5. 9. Thou art a Priest for euer after the order of Melchizedek Psal. 110. 4. It is Christ that died yea rather that is risen againe who is euen at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for vs. Rom. 8. 34. There is one God and one Mediator betweene God and man the man Christ Iesus 1. Tim. 2. 5. He is able to saue them to the vttermost that come vnto God by him seeing he euer liueth to make intercession for them Heb. 7. 21. Christ is entred into heauen it selfe now to appeare in the presence of God for vs. Hebrewes 9. 24. If any man sinne wee haue an aduocate with the Father Iesus Christ the righteous 1. Ioh. 2. 1. And he is the propitiation for our sinnes ver 2. Giue thankes ô Israel to the Lord from the ground of the heart Psal. 68. 26. It is a good thing to giue thanks to the Lord. Psal. 92. 1. O giue thanks to the Lord and call vpon his Name Psal. 105. 1. I will giue thankes to the Lord with my whole heart secretly among the faithfull and in the congregation Psal. 111. 1. He fell downe on his face at his feete giuing him thanks Luke 17. 16. There are not found that returned to giue glory to God saue this stranger ver 18. Giuing thankes alwayes for all things vnto God and the Father Ephes. 5. 20. Whatsoeuer ye do in word or deed do all in the name of the Lord Iesus giuing thanks to God and the Father by him wee giue thankes to God alwayes 1. Thes. 1. 2. In euery thing giue thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Iesus concerning you 1. Thes. 5. 18. What shall I render to the Loro for all his benefits Psal. 116. 12. 〈◊〉 Psal. 10. 7. 8. Psal. 116. 12. But ye are a chosen generation a royall Priest-hood an holy nation a peculiar people that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darknesse into his maruellous light 1. Pet. 2. 9. They that are with him are called and chosen and faithfull Reu. 17. 14. Ye haue not chosen me but I haue chosen you Ioh. 15. 16. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect Rom. 8. 33. According as he hath chosen vs in him before the foundation of the world Ephes. 1. 4. God hath from the beginning chosen you to saluation through sanctification of the Spirit c. 2. Thes. 2. 13. God created man in his owne image Genes 1. 27. Haue dominion ouer the fish â—f the sea and the fowles of the 〈◊〉 and ouer euery liuing thing that moueth vpon the earth ver 28. Thy hands haue made me and fashioned me Psal. 119. 73. Thou hast fashioned me behind and before and â—â—yed thine hand vpon me Psal. 139. 4. Thine eyes did see my substance yet being vnperfect and in thy book all my members written which in continuance were fashioned when as yet there was none of them Psal. 139. 16. Thou art worthy ô Lord to receiue glory and honour and power for thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created Reu. 4. 11. Thou hast redeemed me ô Lord God of truth Psal. 31. 5. Blessed be the Lord for hee hath visited and redeemed his people Luke 1. 68. Being iustified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Iesus Christ. Rom. 3. 24. Christ Iesus of God is made vnto vs wisdome and righteousnesse sanctification and redemption 1. Cor. 1. 30. Christ hath redeemed vs from the curse of the Law being made a curâ—e for vs. â—al 3. 13. In whom we haue redemption through his bloud the forgiuenes of sinnes according to the riches of his grace Ephes. 1. 6. Colos. 1. 14. By his owne bloud he entered in once into the holy place hauing obtained eternall redemption for vs. Heb. 9. 12. Ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as siluer and gold from your vaine conuersation receiued by tradition from your fathers 1. Pet. 1. 18. But rather the pretious bloud of Christ as of a lambe without a blemish and without spot v. 19. Thou wast slaine and hast redeemed vs to God by thy bloud out of euery kindred and tongue and people and nation Reu. 5. 9. I will call them my people which were not my people and her beloued which was not beloued Hos. 2. 23. I am not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance Math. 9. 13. Among whom also are yee the called of Iesus Christ. Rom. 1. 6. Whom hee did predestinate them he also called Rom. 8. 30. The gifts and calling of God are without repentance Rom. 11. 29. Walke worthy the vocation wherewith ye are called Eph. 4. 1. I presse toward the marke for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Iesus Phil. 3. 14. God hath not called vs to vn cleannesse but to holines 1. Thes. 4. 7. Faithfull is he that calleth you who also will do it 1. Thes. 5. 24. Zion shall be redeemed with iudgement and her Courts with righteousnesse Isa. 1. 27. By his knowledge shall my righteous seruant iustifie many for he shall beare their iniquities Isa. 53. 11. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiuen and sinne is couered Psal. 32. 1. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not iniquitie ver 2. It is one God which shall iustifie the circumcision by faith and vncircumcision through faith Rom. 3. 30. To him that worketh not but beleeueth on him that iustifieth the vngodly his faith is counted for righteousnesse Rom 4. 5. Whom he hath called them he also iustifieth Rom. 8. 30. Being iustified by faith we haue peace with God through our Lord Iesus Christ. Rom. 5. 1. Much more being now iustified by his bloud wee shall be saued from wrath through him ver 9. Being iustified by his grace we shall be made heires according to the hope of eternall life Tit. 3.
7. Purge me with Hysope and I shall be cleane wash me and I shall be whiter then snow Psal. 51. 7. I will purge away thy drosse and take away all thy Tinnâ— Isa. 1. 25. For their sakes I sanctifie my selfe that they also may be sanctified Iohn 17. 19. Being sanctified by the holy Ghost Rom. 15. 16. Such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified 1. Cor. 6. 11. That he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word Eph. 5. 26. For by one offering he hath perfected them for euer that are sanctified Heb. 10. 14. To them that are sanctified by God the Father c. Iude 1. 1. I know that my redeemer liueth c. Iob 19. 25. Though after my skin wormes destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God ver 26. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsell and afterwards receiue me to glorie Psal. 73. 24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast giuen me bee with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast giuen me Ioh. 17. 24. Come yee blessed of my Father inherit the kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world Math. 25. 34. Feare not little flocke for it is your Fathers pleasure to giue you the kingdome Luke 12. 32. If so be we suffer with him we shall also bee glorified together with him Rom. 8. 17. The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glorie that shall be reuealed in vs ver 18. Whom he iustifieth them also he glorifieth ver 30. Who shall change our vile bodie that it may be fashioned to his glorious body Phil. 3. 21. I haue fought a good fight I haue finished my course I haue kept the faith 2. Tim. 4. 7. Henceforth there is layed vp for me a crowne of righteousnes which the Lord the righteous Iudge shall giue me at that day and not to me onely but vnto them also that loue his appearing ver 8. Blesse the Lord ô my soule and forget not all his benefits Psal. 103. 2. Which forgiueth all thy sinne and healeth all thy diseases ver 3. O Lord thou hast brought vp my soule from the graue thou hast kept me aliue that I should not go downe to the pit Psal. 30. 3. The Lord killeth and maketh aliue c. 1. Sam. 2 6. It is God that girdeth me with strength and maketh my way perfect Psal. 18. 32. He teacheth my hands to warre so that a bow of steele is broken by mine armes ver 34. Which satisfieth thy mouth with good things and maketh thee young and lustie as an Eagle Psal. 103. 5. Come and let vs returne vnto the Lord for he hath torne and he will heale vs he hath smitten and he will bind vs vp Hos. 6. 1. I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which thou hast shewed vnto thy seruant for with my staffe I passed ouer this Iordan and now I am become two bands Genes 32. 10. Also the Lord gaue Iob twise as much as he had before Iob 42. 10. Charge the rich in this world that they bee not high minded nor trust in vncertaine riches but in the liuing God who giueth vs richly all things to enioy 1. Ti. 6. 17. Thou hast set me at libertie when I was in thrall Psal 4. 1. Cornelius a iust man and of good report Acts 10. 22. And these all hauing obtained a good report through faith receiued not the promises Hebrewes 11. 39. Oyntment and perfume reioyce the heart so doth the sweetnes of a mans friend by heartie counsell Prou. 27â—9 Then came to Iob all his brethren and all his sisters and all they that had bene of his acquaintance c. Iob 42. 11. Thou Lord onely makest mee dwell in safetie Psal. 4. 8. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide vnder the shadow of the Almightie Psal. 91. 1. Behold he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleepe Psal. 121. 4. The Lord shall preserue thee from all euill he shall preserue thy soule A preparatorie Hymne collected out of diuerse Psalmes where in the deuout soule desireth Accessea. Audienceb. Assistancec. Acceptanced. a Thou sayest seeke ye my face my heart said vnto thee thy face Lord will I seeke Psal. 27. 8. Hide not thy face farre from mee nor put thy seruant away in anger ver 9. Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy Spirit from me Psal. 51. 11. b Heare ô Lord when I crie vnto thee haue mercy also vpon me and answer me Psal. 27. 7. Ponder my words ô Lord consider my meditation Psal. 5. 1. My heart is enditing a good matter my tongue is the pen of a ready writer Psal. 45. 1. c O Lord open thou my lips and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise Psal. 51. 15. Let my prayer bee set forth before thee as incense and the lifting vp of my hands as an euening sacrifice Psal. 141. 2. Set a watch ô Lord before my mouth and keepe the doore of my lips ver 3. Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart bee acceptable in thy sight ô Lord my strength and my redeemer Psal. 19. 14. A preparatorie Prayer wherein all the conditions requisite in Prayer are expressed and prayed for HEauenly Father whose gift it is that I can aske any good gift at thy hands without whose grace I cannot desire thy healthfull and sauing grace Infuse into my heart the Spirit of supplication that in an awfull reuerence of thy Maiestie out of a true sence and feeling of my wants and infirmities and a liuely faith in thy promises I may with chearefulnesse of mind and feruencie of Deuotion and constant perseuerance lift vp a pure and plaine heart vnto thee at all times humbly intreating thy souereigne bountie for such things onely as thou in thy eternall wisdome hast pre-ordained to giue and calling vpon thee in such order and manner as thou hast prescribed me to aske in that absolute patterne of all prayer set downe in the Gospell by my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ. In whose name mediation and words I crie Abba Our Father which art in heauen hallowed be thy Name c. A preparation to the hearing of the word GOd in his infinite wisedome hath so disposed the meanes of our saluation that the soueraigne Antidote against sinne death is conueyed into the soule through the same passage whereby the deadly poyson first entered Death stole in at the eare by suggestion of the euill spirit and now life in the hearing of the word passeth in at the same gate of the soule by the operation of the holy Spirit Hast thou an eare ô Christian by thy profession for the diuell and none for God An eare to receiue poyson dropped in and not to
Church 8 Meditation vpon these heads especially 1 The infinitnesse of God's mercie 2 The price value of Christ's bloud 3 The efficacy of his intercession 4 The vertue of the Sacraments 5 The vniuersalitie and certaintie of Gods promises to the penitent 6 Exampls of mercy shewed to most grieuous sinners THE TEXTS ANd being in an Agonie he prayed more earnestly Luke 22. 44. Pray alwayes with all prayer and supplication in the spirit and watching thereunto with all perseuerance Eph. 6. 18. Be feruent in spirit seruing the Lord Rom. 12. 11. Reioycing in hope patient in tribulation continuing instant in prayer ver 12. Pray one for another that yee may be healed the effectuall seruent prayer of a righteous man auaileth much I am 5. 16. What prayer or what supplication shall be made of any man or of all thy people Israel when euery one shall know his owne griefe and his owne sore and shall spread forth his hands vnto thee 2. Cron. 6. 29. Then heare thou from heauen thy dwelling place and forgiue ver 30. Then Dauids heart smote him after he had numbred the people and Dauid sayd vnto the Lord I haue sinned greatly in this I haue done and now I beseech thee ô Lord take away the iniquitie of thy seruant for I haue done very foolishly 2. Sam. 2◠10. I make my bed to swimme I water my couch with my teares Psal. 6. 6. And hee went out and wept bitterly Mat. 26. 75. He shall restore that which hee tooke violently away or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten or that which was deliuered to him to keepe or the lost thing which he found Leu. 6. 4. Or all that about which hee hath sworne falsly hee shall restore it in the principall and shall adde a fift part more thereto v. 5. If I haue taken any thing from any man by false accusation I restore him foure fold Luke 19. 8. Goe thy way bee reconciled to thy brother and then come and offer thy gift Mat. 5. 24. Agree with thine aduersarie quickly while thou art in the way with him ver 25. Forgiue and ye shall be forgiuen Luke 6. 37. If ye forgiue not men their trespasses neither will my heauenly Father forgiue you Mat. 6. 15. If thy brother trespasse against thee seauen times a day and seauen times a day doe returne vnto thee saying I repent thou shalt forgiue him Luke 17. 4. Be yee kinde one to another tender hearted forgiuing one another euen as God for Christ's sake hath forgiuen you Eph. 4. 32. And his Lord was wroth and deliuered him to the tormentors til he should pay all that was due vnto him Mat. 18. 34. So likewise shall my heauenly Father doe also vnto you if yee from your heart forgiue not euery man his brother their trespasses v. 35. O King let my counsell be acceptable vnto thee and breake off thy sinnes by righteousnesse and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poore Dan. 4. 27. Many sins are forgiuen her for she loued much Luk. 7. 47. Giue almes of such things as ye haue and behold all things are cleane vnto you Luk. 11. 41. Sell that ye haue giue almes prouide your selues baggs that waxe not old and a treasure in the heauens which faileth not Luk. 12. 33. Lay not vp for your selues treasures on earth where rust and moths doe corrupt and where theeues breake through and steale Mat. 6. 19. But lay vp for your selues treasures in heauen where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt and where theeues doe not breake through nor steale v. 20. And I say vnto you make vnto your selues friends of the Mammon of vnrighteousnesse that when yee faile they may receiue you into euerlasting habitations Luke 16. 9. While ye haue time doe good vnto all men but especially to them of the houshould of faith Gal. 6. 10. Charge the rich in this world 1 Tim. 6. 17. That they doe good that they be rich in good workes ready to distribute willing to communicate v. 18 Laying vp for themselues a good foundation against the time to come that they may lay hold on eternall life v. 19. To do good and to communicate forget not for with such sacrifice God is well pleased Heb. 13. 16. His soule draweth nigh to the graue and his life to the destroyer Iob. 33. 22. If there bee a messenger with him or an interpreter one of a thousand to shew vnto him his vprightnesse ver 23. Then he is gracious vnto him and saith Deliuer him from going downe to the pit I haue found a ransome ver 24. He will pray vnto God and he will be fauourable vnto him hee shall see his face with ioy v. 26. Is any man sicke among you let him call for the Elders of the Church and let them pray ouer him I am 5. 14. And the prayer of the Faithfull shall saue the sicke c and if hee haue committed sinnes they shal be forgiuen him ver 15. Verily I say vuto you whatsoeuer ye shal bind in earth shall be bound in heauen and whatsoeuer yee shall loose on earth shall bee loosed ia Heauen Matth. 18. 18. And when hee had sayd thus he breathed on them and sayd vnto thē Receiue the holy Ghost Ioh. 20. 22. Whosoeuers sins ye remit they are remitted vnto them and whosoeuers sinnes ye retaine they are retained verse 23. Thy mercy is great aboue the heauens and thy truth reacheth to the clouds Psal. 108. 4. The Lord is gracious and full of compassion slow to anger and of great mercy Psal. 145. 8. The Lord is good vnto all and his tender mercy is ouer all his workes Psal. 145. 9. Thou Lord art good and ready to forgiue and plenteous in mercy to all them that call vpon thee Psal. 86. 5 Thou O Lord art a God full of compassion and gracious long suffering plenteous in mercy and truth ver 15. O giue thanks vnto the Lord for he is good and his mercy endureth for euer Psalm 136. 1. 116. 1. 107. 1. 118. 1. In whom we haue redemption through his blood according to the riches of his grace Eph. 1. 6. By his owne blood hee entered once into the holy place hauing obtained eternall redemption for vs Heb. 9. 12. The precious blood of Christ as of a Lambe without blemish 1 Pet. 1. 19. This is the Cup of the New Testament in my blood which is shed for you Luke 22. 10. The Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood Act 20. 28. Much more being now iustified by his blood we shall bee saued from wrath through him Rom. 5. 9. Ye are made nigh by the blood of Christ Eph. 2. 13. For he is our peace v. 14. If the blood of bulls and of goates and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the vncleane sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh Heb. 9. 13. How much more shall the blood of Christ who through
come then that which is in part shall be abolished 1 Cor. 13. 10. Loue doth neuer fall away though that prophecying be abolished or that tongues cease c. ver 8. I pray that they all may be one as thou O Father art in me and I in thee euen that they may be also one in vs c. Ioh. 17. 21. An Hymne for the Sabbath Euening REturne to thy rest O my soule for the Lord hath dealt graciously with thee Psal. 116. 7. In Gods Word will I reioyce in the Lords Word will I comfort me Psal. 56. 10. The words of the Lord are pure words like as siluer which from the earth is tryed and purified seauen times in the fire Blessed are they that dwell in thine house they will bee alway praysing thee They will goe from strength to strength and to the God of Gods appeareth euery one of them in Sion Psal. 84. 47. I will giue thankes to the Lord in the Congregation from the ground of the heart Psal. 68 26. Vnto thee ô God I will pay my vowes vnto thee will I giue thanks Psal. 56. 12. Shew the light of thy countenance vpon thy seruant and teach me thy Statutes Psalme 119. An Euening Prayer for the Sabbath HOly holy holy Lord God Almighty which was which art and which art to come hallow my nature that I may hallow thy Name As thou impartest thy goodnes to me whereby I liue and moue in thee so I beseech thee communicate to mee some measure of thy holinesse that I may liue and moue to thee Let thy Spirit of grace possesse my body and soule that the desires of my minde and thoughts of my heart and words of my lipps may be holinesse vnto thee Sanctifie me that I may glorifie thee And first with ioy and thankfulnesse I acknowledge it a special testimony of thy loue that thou hast giuen me liberty and meanes to keepe a holy Sabbath vnto thee to meete in thy House to offer vp my ioynt-prayers and thanks-giuing with thy holy congregation to confesse my sinnes to professe my faith to lay open my wants to cheere vp my selfe by singing the sweete songs of Sion to heare thy sacred Word read and Preached whereby my faith hath beene strengthened in the misteries of saluation my hope established in the promises of thy Gospell and my life set forward in a setled course of holinesse and righteousnesse whereby the Kingdome of sinne and Satan is beate down and destroyed and the Kingdome of Christ built vp in me By this thy Word the carelesse sinner is admonished the ignorant instructed the presumptuous terrified and the penitent comforted the power of sinne is abated the force of temptations weakned the motions of the spirit quickned grace reuined and my Election assured by these insallible Marks and tokens thereof set before me in holy Scriptures Blessed bee thy Name for it this day thy Word hath dwelt with me richly in all wisedome The dispenser of thy misteries hath scattered many Doctrines like so many pearles among thy people Lord grant that with Mary I keepe these and all thy sayings in my heart and make vse of them in my life and receiue comfort from them at my death And here I would proceed to intreate at thy hands the continuance and increase of thy spiritual and temporall blessings vpon mee but my sinnes lye at the doore of my conscience and affright mee My heart smites mee for my failings in the performance of the duties of thy Sabbath My deuout Meditations haue bin stefled in the wombe that bare them my prayers haue not beene without distractions my hearing without wearisomenesse nor my almes-deeds without grudging Pardon deare Father my want of preparation before I come to thine house of intention and Zeale at thy seruice and want of Meditation and Application of those things which I heard there since I came thence Bury I beseech thee these slips and all other my sins especially of this weeke and day in the night of eternall obliuion Ease me of the burden of them that I may more securely repose my body and soule vpon thy gracious protection to take their naturall refreshing by sleepe whereby I may bee enabled and strengthened to doe thee better seruice the next day in walking carefully diligently conscionably and constantly in the waies of thy commandements and the duties of my calling The close out of Scripture Now the very God of peace sanctify mee throughout and I pray God that my whole spirit and soule and body may bee kept blamelesse vnto the comming of the Lord Iesus Christ Amen THE PRACTICE of Extraordinarie DEVOTION In the Religious obseruation of Christian Feasts as namely our Lords Birth Circumcision Epiphanie Resurrection Ascension Sending downe the Holy Ghost Fasts as namely Ashwednesday Good friday By Daniel Featly Doctor in Diuinity LONDON Printed by G. M. and R. B. for Nicholas Bourne and are to be sold at his shop at the South Entrance of the Royall Exchange 1626. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE and Religious Ladie the Countesse of DENBIGH May it please your Honour YOur conference with me about my conference with the Iesuites and your gracious acceptation of the relation and defence thereof left in me such an impression of the Character of your Noble and Religious disposition that I euer since desired the aduantage of some good opportunitie to testifie my dutifull respect to your Honour The truth of God receiueth not onely support but great honour from the patronage and countenance of great Personages and she much glorieth in finding so strong a Champion euen in the weaker sexe Albeit the Sun-beames are alwayes most bright in themselues yet they neuer appeare so glorious to vs as when they fall vpon crystall glasse or pretious stones In like sort Religion and vertue the raies of diuine light in the soule although they shine alwayes brightly in themselues yet they neuer seeme so conspicuous and resplendent as when they receiue some luster from the subiect when Nobilitie of birth and minde concurre when ornaments of bodie and soule meete when eminencie of grace eminency of conditions toyne in one and reflect mutually each on the other And verily if your more then or dinarie fauour and respect to the Ministers of the Gospell and to my selfe in particular had not made this my voluntarie oblation a necessarie obligation to your Ladiship yet your constancie in the truth and loue to Sion and her solemne and sacred assemblies might iustly challenge to your Honour the Dedication of this part of my HAND-MAIDES Taske which is to furnish Christian fastes and feasts with proper MEDITATIONS HYMNES and PRAYERS As our bodie liues to the soule by which it liueth so our soule should liue to God by whom it liueth And no otherwise is the life of the bodie preserued by heate and moisture then the life of the soule is maintained and kept by the heate of diuine loue and radicall moisture of teares bedewing the heart
houlding thy deere purchase O let not thy hate of sinne extinguish thy loue to thy creature Let not any thing that I haue done preiudice thee in the merit of that which thou hast suffered for me My sins deserued eternall wrath of thy Father but thou hast borne it My wonton delights and impure pleasures deserued stripes and wounds but thou hast receiued them My hainous crimes deserued death but thou hast suffered it for me This day my first parent Adam was made a liuing soule and this day thou the second Adam wert made a quickning Spirit This day he sinned in a garden and this day thou sorrowedst in the garden This day he tooke the fruite of the forbidden tree and this day thou wert hung vpon the accursed tree This day he was cast into a dead sleepe and his side opened and his wite Eue formed of his ribbe was flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone this day also thou wert cast into a deadly sleepe and thy side opened and thy Spouse the Catholicke Church brought foorth not by water onely but by water and bloud the water of regeneration and bloud of explation and sanctification This day Adam brought the curse vpon himselfe and all his posterity this day thou prouidedst an euerlasting blessing for thy selfe and all thy members That which he lost thou hast regayned with aduantage that which he did thou hast suffered for that which I owed thou hast discharged on the very day by taking all his and our debts vpon thee and laying downe an al-sufficient price to satisfie for them O giue me an hand of faith to receiue so much of this infinite sum as may discharge my debt and strengthen this my hand that I may hold it fast and tender it to thy Father and receiue from him an absolute and generall acquittance signed with thy blood and sealed with thy Crosse bearing date the very day of thy consummation of all things at thy death If thou bad'st required a greater thing we should haue done it for what will not a man doe for his life How much more when thou â—arest belieue and liue cast your selues vpon me and I will saue you from drowning in euerlasting perdition receiue the price of your ransome and bee freed When thou holdest out the golden Scapter of thy grace if wee will not take hold on it wee deserue double dâ—mnation for refusing so easy a meanes of saluation Adam belieued Eue and Eue the Serpent to her and our ruine why should not I much rather belieue thy Church thy Spouse and thy Spouse thy Word to saluation What should with-hold my faith from apprehending my hope from exâ—ecting the promises of thy Gospell confirmed by so many miracles testâ—fied by the Church in all Ages signed with the blood of so many Martyrs and 〈◊〉 to my soule and conscience by the holy Spirit Doth it shake and stagger my faith that thy workes recorded in holy Scriptures so farre transcend nature and the mysteries of sauing truth soare aboue humane reason But this demonstrateth rather faith to be faith and thee ô God to be true God Faith is not faith if reason comprehend it God cannot be God if nature limit him Am I the more auerse from embracing thy Gospell because it crosseth and checketh my naturall dispositions and in clinations But the cause is most euident thy Law is iust holy and pure but I am wicked prophane and impure The physick is for the most part the better which the patient liketh worst because it exasperateth the paine for the time Haue I the lesse loue and liking to the most holy faith because it restraineth my carnall liberty and abridgeth mee or altogether depriueth mee of worldly comforts and contentments But am I not spirit as welâ— as flesh Haue I not a Law in my minde controlling the Law of my members Is it not much better to sowe vnto the Spirit that I may reape peace ioy and life euerlasting then sowe to the flesh and of the flesh reape nothing but corruption Thy Gospell ô gracious God restraineth my carnall but enlargeth my spirituall liberty it denieth mee sinfull but it promiseth me holy delights and pleasures it moderateth the desire and vse of temporarie comforts and ioyes but assureth mee that my heart shall be filled with eternall Am I ready to be beaten off from my holy profession and beliefe by blowes and strokes persecutions losses imprisonment banishment scorne of the world and disgrace This should make mee hold it the faster for the Gospell foretelleth that these things should befall true bâ—lieuers and it is an honour to mee to beare the â—adge of mâ—â—profession and to drinke with thee my Sauiour in thine owne Cup. It is my profession to be thy Souldier and he is no Souldier that endureth not hardnesse I can expect no crowne without a Conquest no Conquest without a battaile no battaile without blowes and wounds and what are these light and momentary afflictions to an eternall weight of glory Thus doth thâ— Word conquer my reason and yet it will not yeeld I resolue to belieue Lord strengthen my resolution I doe belieue Lord helpe mine vnbelief All things past haue so come to passe as the Oracles of thy truth fore-shewed they should and how then can I doubt of things future reuealed in them The deluge was foretold 120 yeeres before and at the prefixed time it ouerranne the whole world Thy peoples bondage in Aegypt for 400 yeeres and their after deliuery is no otherwise described by Moses then it was in a dreame many Ages before deliuered to Abraham Thou calledst thy Shepheard Cyrus and thine annointed Iosias by name to their functions long before either of them or their forefathers were conceiued The 4 famous Monarchs pictured out in Nebuchadnezzars Image succeeded in their order The Assyrian represented by the golden head the Persian by the siluer armes and shoulders the Grecian by the thighs of brasse and the Romane by the leggs of yron And do we not see at this day the stumpe of that Image and the feete partly yron in the Turkish and partly of clay in the Germane Empire Thy Birth and Death ô Sauiour was fore shadowed in Types and fore-spoken of by Prophets euer since the world began and since thy comming into the flesh and finishing all things at thy death in Ierusalem Not a syllable or one iot of any of thy words haue passed without their accomplishment Ierusalem is destroyed the Temple made euen with the ground and neuer could be built againe The Iewes are dispersed into all nations The Gospell is preached through the whole world the man of sinne is euery day more and more discouered and why should I not then belieue as certainly that the heauens shall passe away shortly with heate and the elements melt with fire and thy signe bee seene in the clowdes and those that are in their graues be awaked with the sound of the last Trumpe and meete thee in the aire