A SOMMON to Repentance.

Giuen vnto Christians for a loking Glasse, wherin we may behold our owne deformities. and therein and thereby, we are not onley forewarned of our destructions, but we are learned to humble our selues in these daungerous dayes of wicked­nesse, before the throane of Gods mercy, that wee maye be preserued from the Lake of damnation, in the great and notable day of Christs comming to iudge­mente.

Published by J.P. student of Cambridge.

Math. 3. Repent and amend your lyues, for the kingdome of God is at hande.

AT LONDON, Imprinted by D. Jackson, dwelling in fleetestroete. 1584.

To the right Honorable Sir Ed ­warde Osbourne Knight, hir Maiesties Leifte­nante, Lorde Mayor of hir Highnes most ho­norable Cittie London, the right Worshipfull Knight Syr Rowland Haiward, Alderman of London, the right worshipfull Mayster Iohn Spencer Alderman and Shriue of London, and the right worshipful of the fraternitie, and mis­terye of Clothworkers. Iohn Phillip the sonne of Robart Phillip Clothworker disceased, wi­sheth the feare of God, peace and prosperitie in our merciful Lord and Sauior Christ Iesus. &c.

IF this small present right honorable and worshypful, rendered into your hands with all humility and reuerence, maye finde fauour in your sight, I shall not only accounte my selfe happye, but hereafter shew my selfe industerious to pleasure you wyth some other treatise, which with this shall redowne to the glory of god, your well liking, and the com­modity of my natiue cuntrimen. In the meane sea­son, I most earnestly besech your good Lordship, and euery of you, to pardon my boldnes, and to satisfie your mindes with this poore mite of mine, which to the comforte of the godly, and the refor­mation of the maleuolent is published, not doub­ting but as you are vertuous and godly affected, so [Page] your honor and euery one of you being patrons & members of this common weale, in as much as in you shal consist, will doe your indeuors to beate down syn, whose branches are so monsterous, that they begin to ouer shade vertue, the which thing to cal vnto our memories, is a thing of al things to be lamented: who heareth not in the Gospel how diligently our wickednesses cōmitted against the maiestie of eternal God are reproued? but who or where are they that conuert and turne to the Lord in this our last time of our age and calling? no, we glory in our iniquityes and hate to be reformed, and generally to speake the truth, we I say for the most part and greatest number of vs that professe the name of Christ, are rockt and lulled in the cor­rupt cradle of our owne securities, and therin we slepe so soundly, that neither can the remembrance of Gods graces, signes & tokens, his greuous threat nings and terrible comminations serue, to rouse vs vp out of the dangerous and most perrilous slum­ber of our iniquyties, & it cannot be chosen (right Honorable and Worshipful) but that the day of our visitation is at hand, and except we repent, we shal perishe in our wickednesses, for Gods heauie indig [...]tion is readie to enter into the gates of our Cities, the v [...]ols of his wrath are ready to be pow­red forth vpon vs, & our God is ready in the ful­nesse of his displeasure, to hew vs downe with the [Page] Axe of his vengeance for our ingratitude, to blo [...] our names out of the booke of lyfe, for the con­tempt of his commandements, and to leaue vs [...] pray for our abhominable actions, to our aunci­ent aduersarie sathan. I exhort your good Lord­ship therefore, and euery one of you, to whome God hat [...] giuen authority, in the bowels of Iesus Christ, to perseuer and go forward from vertue to vertue, & to the vttermost of your powers, to ba­nishe from your Cities and Townes, al the may­sters of misrule, that both contemne God, and de­spise good order. Thus shal you please God in discharging your dueties, and shewe your selues o­bedient subiects to hir excellent maiesty, that put­teth you in trust to bridle the outrage of the wic­ked, that range as gracelesse after their vncleanesse. Thus wishing you right honorable and euery one of you the feare of god, peace and prosperitye in Iesus Christ, I leaue you to his gracious & heauen­ly preseruation, beseeching him of his infinite good nes, whilst his mercy holdeth his indignation at a bay, to giue vs the grace with humble and contrite hartes, to prostrate our selues before him, to craue pardon at his fatherly hands for our offences, to weepe bytterly for our sinnes, and to bring forth the fruites of repentance, thus shal we pacifie hys heauy displeasure, conuerte his fury to fauor, his [...] to loue, and his conceiued wrath to comfor­table [Page] kindnes, the which we shal inioye in this life and after when the course of this our pilgrimage is fully finished, we shal stand before him in purity, be sanctified with his holynes, be crowned with honor and glory, and be made fellow heires with Christ Iesus of his celestial king­dome, the which God for hi [...] sonne Christ his sake graunt you and euery of you.

Your humble and faythful wel willer in the Lord.

Iohn Phillip.

❧ A Sommon to repen­taunce, giuen vnto Christians for a looking glasse.

IF wee woulde consider (deareThe [...] of Godmigh [...] s [...]ir vs vp to [...] and newn [...]s of life. christians) the in­estimable graces, of our louing God poured foorth vp­ [...]n vs, that haue little or nothing at all deserued his fatherlie fauor, it [...]ere a thing that might mooue vs sinfull and most wretched crea­ [...]ures, not onlie to walke as it becommeth [...]s in godlie integritie, and newnes of life, but therewithall we would like adopted sonnes, by his [...] grace, continew [Page] our obedience towardes him, that like a most carefull Father, and gratious God, s [...]keth all the meanes possible that [...] be to nourish and féede vs, both in so [...] and bodie, to euerlasting life and heauenly blessednes. In spirite and soule by the operation and working of a liuelie fa [...]th, through his diuine grace, we are prouidently f [...]d, [...]n the truth of his [...] The inn [...] ­cent [...] of Christ is the tood of the soule and his guitles blood the drinke spiritual, that quencheth the thirst, of the faithfull. testament, with the sweetest flesh, & drinke the d [...]rest blood of our immaculate and spotles lambe Christ Iesus, who giueth himselfe most willinglie to all those that constantlie beleeue, not carnallie but spirituallie to be fed vppon by faith, and fréelie [...] vnto vs his most precious blood (without our deserts) to aswadge the thirst of our soules, that SathanOnely by [...] in Christ Jesus we are deli­uered from the [...] of hell and [...], if we [...] constantly. through sinne had [...] to [...] death and destruction euerlasting, from the which by the vnspeakeable prouidence and inf [...]te wisedome of our omnipotent GOD, through Iesus Christ, we are deliuered, Si sumus fideles. And as by his grace we inioy this delectable foode and most [...] Nectar, to the comfort of [Page] our soules, so with these his deuine be­nefites,Gods tem­porall bles­sings are gi­uen vs [...] without our [...] for the nourishment of our carnall bodies. h [...] most louinglie inricheth vs with his temporall blessinges. For in bodie [...] our feeble and weake natures most carefullie, are by his one­lie goodnesse, fostered from his boun­tifull handes, with meate and drinke, and all other the glorious giftes of his grace, without the which wee coulde not continue. But (alas) neither the [...] w [...] con­t [...]ne the spirituall foo [...] of our soules, so do [...] we abuse these his tem porall bles­ [...] heaping [...] vnto our [...], ven­geance in the day of [...]. one, nor the other, is of vs accepted, and [...] of vs as it ought to bee, for as we enter into contempt of his graces, l [...]uinge carelessie, as men carnallie and worldelie affected, so loath [...] Christ JESUS, so cont [...]e wée in our actions, (as lip labourers) the Gospell of hys grace, and therewith­all wee despise Manna, I meane the Spirituall Lambe that f [...]th with hys blessed fleshe, and [...] with his guiltelesse bloode, o [...]re hungrie soules. The which thing to consider, is a thing of all thinges most lamentable and miserable, requiring for our deser­ued contempt, deserued punishment. [Page] But is this all? No, though we be christi­ans by name, we are contrarie to Christ inWe are verie readie talkers of Christ and his gospell, but we are o­uer [...]ll and slow walkers after his wil. deede, wee pro [...]esse him carnallie with wordes, but our hearts are alienated and far of him, we are busie talkers of his gos­gell: but we are ashamed to be [...]arnest walkers after his heauenlie will, we liue lasciuiouslie, prodigallie, and wantonlie: we that were contracted to Christ in our newe regeneration, are nowe wedded to our owne vntamed lusts, and straieng a­ffections: we that had vowed by an inuin­cible faith, to take our rest in Christ Iesus, haue giuen our consents to Sathan as the enimies of the lambe, and are [...]ulled fast a sleepe in the sinfull cradell of our owne se­curities. And thus, as people past grace,We haue for­saken Christ and giuen our consents to sathan as peo ple past grace and falsly for­sworne, neg­lecting our spirituall be­getting to God through Christ. we are become wilfull truce breakers of his holie commandements, contemners of his blessed co [...]enant, periu [...]ed people and creatures falslie forsworne, forgetting our newe birth and bearing againe to God, through grace in Christ Iesus, who hath made the attonement for our [...]ffences, ap­peased the furie of our creator, canceled the bond of our gu [...]tie trespasses, and bro­ [...] [Page] a sunder, yea, eu [...]n to verie péeceAs we [...]orget the rich gra­ces that our [...]ng God in Christ Ie­sus hath be­stowed [...] vs, so for the most part of vs do we cast from our me­mories the spiritual con­slict that he hath fought for vs. meale, the seale of our condemnation, which we deseruedly had heaped vp vn­to our selues, and that most worthelie, by the reason of our to mani [...]old sinnes and wickednesses, but as we forget these his great and inestimable rich graces, so d [...] we also cast from our memories (for the most part) his bloodie death and painefull passion, the triumphant conquest that hée hath made for our sinnes on the crosse. The sharpe and most [...] battle that he fought for vs against the world, sinne, death, sathan, and all the power of hell is of vs nothing at all remembred, and yet we will be christians by externall profes­sion and outward shewe, when as with­in we are full of all filthines, and repug­nant to Christ, but the greater shall bee our plagues in the daie of desolation. Thus as we perseuer and go forward in the waies of our vncleannes, soyling our selues both in bodie and soule, with the blemishes of our corruption, and as it were vtterlie despising of his celestiall graces, and contemning of his [...] [Page] [...]orments y• he su [...]ed on the crosse for ourAs we abuse his [...] [...]races, so [...] & d [...]s­pise we h [...]s [...] bene [...]ts. Mon [...]rous sinnes r [...]g­ning in co [...]n­terfait chri­stian [...]. iniquities, so like shaml [...]s Ep [...]ures and bea [...]lie b [...]lly gods, we abuse his terrestri­all giftes and benefites. Measure is s [...]l­dome or in anie place obserued. Ryot euerie where and in all places ruffleth as maister of misrule. Sobrietie is for­saken, drunkennesse imbra [...]ed. H [...]mili­tie is cast downe, arrogancie aduaunced. Uertue is defaced, monstrous vice flou­risheth.Charit [...]e for­g [...]ten, cr [...]lty [...]. Chastitie is disdained, incon­tinen [...]ie esteemed. Truth is oppressed, [...]atterie vpholden. Simplicitie is bani­shed, [...] well welcommed. A golden meane is vtterlie vanquished. Coue­ [...]ousnesse hath gotten the preheminence. Charitie as conuinced quaketh▪ hir [...]ointsHospit [...]litie murthered by [...]. are benummed with colde. Crueltie is wrapped in his furres. Liberalitie is not able to stirre for lamenesse, an inmea­surable nigardise hath neither left him handes to distribute to the poore, [...]eete to go to the sicke, nor yet eies to beholde the indigent. Hospitalitie is verie faint and so [...]eeble that he [...]are not peepe abroade nor be seene, and all by the reason of pro­ [...]igalitie, [Page] who I feare me hath [...] True friend­ship banished by [...] ­tion. him to the death. True friendshippe a­amongst mortall men is neglected, dissi­mulation is so deepelie harboured almost in the hearts of all estates and degrees. Just dealing is an outcast, bribes are taken to betray the innocent. Neighbor­li [...] God by the exercise of our outragious sinnes is greatly disho­nored. loue is no more thought vpon, God is greatlie dishonoured, Mammon is high­lie worshppied, and to conclude, enui [...], ha­tred, wrath, oppression, and the filthie fruits of all vncharitablenesse reigneth ge­nerally in all places & ages of this our last time. ( [...]las) what a whirlepoole of wic­kednesse doe wee continue in? What aSinne pla­ [...] vs by these our [...] acti [...]s vnto the bottom­les take of perdition. filthie sincke of Sodomitrie doe we wal­lowe in? What a perillous puddle of vn­cleannesse and corruption doe we plunge our selues into of a set purpose? Or into what a stincking channell of all kindes of impieties determine wee to cast ourselues headlong? Is God deli­ted thinke we with these o [...]r outragious sins, wil he be pleased with vnsauery coc­kle in the day of the great & mighty haruest [Page] when he looketh for good & perfect wheat?The Lord of the har [...]st commeth [...]or wheat he wil not be pl [...]sed w [...]th the c [...] ­kle of cor­ruption. Will we giue him course branne, when [...]e commeth for fine flower? O what shal become of vs then? Uerilie we shall lose the diademe of life, the eternall crowne of glorie, t [...]e comfortable fruission of hisEuery one o [...] vs o [...]ght to examine our selues dilige [...]tlie whether we doe those things that God hath [...] vs, or whe­ther we doe them not at al, and when we finde our imperfecti­ons to be such that we canno [...] doe that we shold let vs not cea [...]e to cra [...] assist [...]nce of [...]ur [...] father by [...]. glorious pre [...]nce, and be throwne as most miserable outcasts to the dungion of hell, wherewith Sathan and his an­gels, we shall be tormented euerlasting­lie. Let vs therfore euerie one of vs from the highest to the lowest, whilest we hau [...] time, enter into our owne consciences, and by a deepe and earnest confidence of our selues, let vs behold diligentlie whe­ther we doe those things that God com­maundeth we should doe, or whether we leaue them altogither for the most part of vs vndone, and then when that we find & feele our imperfection to be such and so great, that we cannot perform that thing which God by his word and will hath ti­ed and bound vs vnto, let vs not cease by the in [...]ocation of his holie and blessed name, to craue and desire the assistance of his holie spirit with humble and contrite [Page] hearts, that by the effectuall and liuelieThe righte­ou [...]nes [...] our sa [...]or Christ shal [...]ouer our imperfecti­ons, if we be­leeue, and sin death and hel shal die in vs, and wee shall liue for euer. working thereof, we may inde [...]or our selues to walke in the light, to shun the darkenesse of death, to liue as it becom­meth godli [...] affected christians, to [...]ast of the olde Adam and to cloth our selues with Christ the newe and heauenly Adam, and then his grace shall supplie our wantes, his righteousnesse shall co­uer our imperfections, finne, death, and hell, shall die in vs, and we shall liue to him, by whose blessed merites we are sanctified, for euer and euer. But if wee will harden our harts in our wickednes­ses, and stande vp in our sinnes against the Lord, as our forefathers haue done, that wilfullie rebelled against his maie­stie, we shall not onely with them in [...]r his heauy displeasure, but sodeinly with his mightie arme be confounded in the i­maginations and deuises of our owne harts. Let vs see what God requireth ofNote what thing God requireth of vs his cr [...] ­tures. vs his creatures. First & aboue all other thinges, hee hath giuen vs an especiall charge, to serue, honor, worship, prai [...]e and glori [...]e his holie nam [...], and as God [Page] is truth, so looketh he to be worshipped of vs in spirite and truth solely, onelie and alone, neither may wée giue or attri­bute that praise honour and reuerence that to him belongeth to anie other, for the Lorde ou [...] God is a great, a mightie and gelou [...] God, his wisedome is [...], and his kingdome hath no ende, the scepter o [...] his seate is a righteous sc [...]pter, and his dominion shall indure for euer.The Lord our God is without be­ginning and ende. This our God was and is without be­ginning, and ending, and this our God in puritie and holinesse must be worship­ped of vs from the beginning of our [...]ais euen to the finishing and ending of our liues, for gratious is the Lord our God, and his truth shall continue for euer. Let vs therefore if we will w [...]ship theIf we will worship the Lorde our God we must walke before [...] in inno­ [...]. Lord our God truelie, walke before him in innocencie, continu [...]llie stand in aw [...] of his displeasure, humble our selues with reuerence before the throne of his grace, co [...]e before his presence with ioie and [...], shew our selues glad in him with psalmes, and alwaies and euer let vs speake good of his name, [Page] [...]r he by his wisedome of nothing hath [...]ade all things, & the seate of our God is [...]e glorious heauens, he sitteth betwene [...] Cherubins, his chariot is the wings [...] the winds, and the whole earth is his [...]otstoole, and other gods besides this our [...]od there is none, his name be blessed, &The [...] of the proude Phara [...]cs ought not to receiued of godly affected c [...]ristians, [...], [...] we m [...]st d [...]re of God for Christ [...]is sake to be made new [...] do [...]gh. [...]aised for euer & euer. If we will wor­ [...]ip this our God, namelie, the Father, [...]onne, & holie Ghost, three persons in tri­ [...]itie, & one onlie God, we must [...]denor [...] cast away far from vs the lothsom lea­ [...]en of the proud pratling Pharasies, that [...]asted of their owne righteousnesse and [...]stification, and wée must earnestlie [...]ire of God, and that vnceasantly with [...]mble and contrite harts, that wée may [...] made new dough, that is, that our con­ [...]ences, our minds, & soules may be tho­ [...]wly seasonned with the most pr [...]ious [...]me of his grace, by the power wherof [...]rough Jesus Christ, & the comfortable [...]iding of the holy Ghost, we may be di­ [...]edThe holie Ghost is the director of the faithfull. into all truth into al truth, & therin by his proui­ [...]nce we may be so stronglie confirmed [...]at neither the temptations of sathan, [Page] the sinfull suggestions of the fleshe, [...] pollicies of his disceaueable minister that are possessed with the spirit of lie [...] False teach­ers are the ministers of [...]than. teaching their owne traditions contr [...] rie to Christ, neither yet the vaine a [...] fading corruptible pleasures of thi [...] worlde, may be able to preuaile to wit [...] drawe vs from the worship of our Go [...] Christians [...]ust go for­ [...]ard from vertue to vertue. but that we may as it becommeth godl [...] and true regenerate children, perseu [...] and go forwarde from vertue to vertu [...] and constantlie continue with clea [...] harts, vndefiled consciences and purifi [...] soules in the blood of our sauiour, the se [...] uice of our God, and then he will beco [...] Christ will [...] our [...] heard and we shalbe the [...] of his [...]sture. our shepherd, and we shall be the sh [...] of his pasture, he will remaine our gra [...] ous and louing father, and we shal be th [...] children of his blessed inheritance, th [...] which our Christ hath purchased for [...] those that beleeue with the prise of h [...] hart blood. If we will worship God w [...] must loue him, bicause he is the founta [...] of loue, and loued vs from the beginni [...] Oc [...]sions to [...]ue vs to the worship­ [...]ing of God. euen when we were his enimies. F [...] what loue could be greater than this, [...] [Page] [...]at he gaue his onelie begotten sonne [...]hrist Iesus to suf [...]r for our sakes al the [...] that could be deuised: to beare [...] our sakes being forlorne for our sins, [...]he altogither holy & innocent, the heauy [...]rthen of his fathers displesure, & ther­ [...] we beleuing stedfastly in him to make [...] that were the children of death, the [...]ires of life and saluation. O inestima­ [...]e loue and aboundant kindnesses gran­ [...]d vs frely without our deserts through [...]ace in Christ Iesus, euen when wee [...]ere the children of damnation and the [...]rie fire brands of hell, who for this his [...]ceeding loue and grace would be so vn­ [...]nd but to loue him againe, that for all [...]ese his bountifull bestowed benefites [...]ueth nothing at our handes but that [...]e loue him as he hath loued vs, conti­ [...]allie,Note and consider ou [...] frowardne [...] against the Lorde our God. and that without feining? Naie, [...]ho forgetteth not this his great loue, [...]d recompenseth him that hath loued [...] with monstrous ingratitude? Who [...]orshippeth him in hart and mind as he commanded? nay who prophaneth not [...]s honor and [...]lorie? Who is chedient [Page] to his blessed wil & heauenlie ordinan [...] The fruits of [...] neglected. Naie who impugneth not his statutes breaketh not his commandements. [...] these the fruits of gods glorio [...]s [...] that he requireth at our hands: Do [...] we are commanded? Do we our [...] to [...]oath & adorne our selues [...] the [...] o [...] his holy name, or by [...] hearing of his heauenly word, with [...] spirituall Adam Christ? Nale do we [...] [...] are wor­shippers [...]f God with o [...]r externall [...], but our [...]rts are far from him. [...]ather deuise to re [...]est & couer our [...] with the transgressions of our olde [...] rentes, to the co [...]demnation of our [...] dies and soules eter [...]ally? Thu [...] throu [...] the hardnes of our harts that worship [...] God with our lips, and denie him in [...], y• [...], is [...] and mightie in all abhomination, read [...] to [...] the worke [...] of [...], leaue the worship [...]f our God, & to ser [...] our [...] aduersarie [...] the [...]. Thus our innocent soules the [...] rie and tr [...] [...]age of God, is by the [...] [...] m [...]n desir [...] [...] innocent [...]. [...] of our [...]dies w [...]nded [...], to [...]ternall dea [...], she mourn [...] [...], but who rega [...] [...] soul [...] [Page] [...]. The outwa [...]de man is gi­ [...]en to pleasure and ease. The soule is [...]inched with penurie and paine, and ne­ [...]erA compari­son betwixt the flesh and the soule. can haue rest. The soule through [...]he actions of the fleshly m [...]nded man is [...]isgarnished of the vesture of gods grace, [...]hough the man of sinne be pranked vp [...]n menstrous pride. The flesh is stout and sturdie, the soule is saint and feble. The flesh is lustie and healthie, poastingBodie and soule through [...]nne, detested in the cies o [...] the Lord. [...]fter pleasure: The soule is sicke and so­ [...]owfull for want of the feeling of gods [...]race: The flesh is affected to all kinds of [...]niquities, and therby the soule is dange­ [...]ously wounded with transgression so [...]hat both body and soule is become most [...]onstrous in the eies of the Lorde our God, and al bicause we will not learne t [...] [...]orship him, nor to walke in his waies, [...]ut who is he y• considereth these things? [...]aie who is not rather delighted toAll men haue erred and [...] astraie in the sight of the [...]rd, no good nesie among the sonnes [...]. worke wickednes & to do euil in the sight [...]f the Lord our God? Uerily all haue [...] from the highest to the lowest, and [...] be short God hath from his dwelling [...]lace looked down to the face of the earth [Page] and knoweth that there is no goodnesse among the sons of men: who hasteth the to shroude himselfe by an earnest deplo­ration of his sinnes vnder the couert ofThe cōming of Christ to iudgement from our me­mories. the glorous wings of Gods grace? Naie, rather who wandereth not wide from his heauenlie veritie, and setteth not by the continuance of his euill, to heape vp vengeance to himselfe in the daie of wrath? who is he that prepareth himselfe to watch and kéepe warde for the com­ing of Christ in the clouds? Nay, who isThe [...] of the flesh [...] and not subdued. he that slepeth not soundly in the vnclen­nes of his own hart? Who is he that stri­ueth in these dangerous daies of wicked­nes, to vanquish & subdue the loathso [...] lusts of his owne flesh? Naie, who is he that hath not agréedie and an inordinat [...] desire to thrist & hunger after his owneWho conti­nueth the battel against the world the fleshe and sa­than vnder the standerd of Christ Iesus. filthinesse, and none the waie to wor­ship God? Who is he that fighteth like [...] good souldier, manfullie vnder the [...] captaine of our Sauiour Christ Ie­sus, against the worlde the flesh and th [...] diuell? Naie, what is he that flieth [...] like a cowarde from the battell, [...] [Page] [...] ouer the [...], forsaketh not the field, [...]efuseth not his redéemer, eleauing to the world, pampring himselfe in all kinds of [...]ncleannes, yéelding himselfe most wil­ [...]nglie a pray to sathan? The which to cal [...] our remembrances is a thing most [...], (alas) is this the glorie wée giue vnto our God? (O sinful wretches) [...] your selues in your [...] wickednesses, against the Lorde of [...] power and maiestie? What deserueThe paines that Christ hath suffered on the crosse for our re­demption can not pearce our flintie harts. we in this doing, any other than eternal death and destruction of bodies & soules. O that the painfull passion, and the [...] woundes that Christe suffered on the crosse for our [...]nnes, cannot pierce our [...] and stony hearts. (Alas wret­ [...]es that we are) doe we forget howe [...] he hath paied the price of our [...]demption? O what shal become of vs, that go about to tread she blessed blood of our Messias vnder our miserable [...]éete? [...]hal not the [...]iols of his wrath, be pou­ [...]ed foorth vpon vs or euer we be aware, [...] that vnlooked for? Yes [...]. For [...] the Lord, and his iudgements are [Page] true. Whilest we haue time therfore [...] vs conuert and turne vs wholie to the Lorde our God, for he is mercifull and full of compassion and louing kindnesse. Let vs no longer remaine the seruauntsThe seruants of sin continue their wicked­nes, the ser­uants of christ are make and [...]umble. of sinne, but doe our indeuour with all humilitie, to serue with feare and reue­rence the Lord our God. And then shall we to the comfort of our soules, in [...]oy the chéerefull light of his glorious counte­nance, we shall gratiouslie be deliuered from the snares of death, be set free from the captiu [...]tie of Sathan, and be restored to his fauor and grace, who is more rea­dy to heare than we are to cal. More wil­ling to open vnto vs the rich storehouse of his mercie, then we are to knocke at the gates of his grace with the hammer of an inuincible faith. And more desirous to find vs that are lost shepe, then we are to séeke after the shéepeherd of our soules Christ Iesus. For the Lord our God is slow to wrath, and readie to accept the [...] broken and brused h [...]t is [...] sacrifice ac­ceptable to God. oblations of our sorrowfull [...]earts, for a broken hart, and mourning soule is the sacrifice that pleaseth God. Neither hath [Page] [...]he Lorde pleasure in the death of a sin­ner. It is his ioie and sathans foile, sor­rowe,Repentance grounded on a [...] saith is sathans [...] and ouer­throw. and ouerthrowe, when wee con­uerte from our euill, and bring soorth the fruits of repentance. For Christ himselfe hath giuen vs this gratious aduer­tisement, to our exceeding ioie, comfort and consolation, saieng: there is greater solace among the Angels in heauen, ouer one person that heartelie artelie and earnestly conuerteth from his sinne, than there is ouer ninty and nine iust persons that ne­uer did offend. (O happie and blessed sai­ [...]ng)Christ calleth sinners to re­pentance. He that hath eares to heare let them heare, and let him whose consciences is ouerladen with sinne, craue of the grati­ous caller Christ Iesus, with weeping eies, heauie harts, and groaning soules, that it woulde please him to continue this call: Come vnto mée you that la­bour, and are heauie ladden, I will re­freshe you, my yoake is easie, and my burthen verie light. If thy sinnes be as redde as scarelet, tome vnto mee, I call thee saieth Christ, hearken to my [...], [...] will make thée whiter than [Page] snowe, what would [...] thou haue more [...] my hands, are thy sinnes innumerable?The compas­ [...]on and pitie that Christ extendeth to the vnfeined [...]. Surmount they in thy sight the [...]ands of the seas? despaire thou not, for my mereies excell thy [...]ins a thousand fold. Hast thou broken the will of my father & thy God? come vnto me, though thy offences be ne­uer su great, I haue for thée fulfilled th [...] lawe, my righteousnes shall be thine, I wil heale the sor [...]s that sathan hath made into thy soule through [...]inne, and by [...] thou shalt be accepted, where thou wast refused? Hast thou spent thy patri­monie [...]? Hast thou gone [...] De [...]y [...] ­eth [...] & deferring of r [...]pentance br [...]geth Gods indig­ [...]. whooring after strange gods? Linger not the time, neither put it off from daie to daie: I call thee nowe, sa [...]e not thou to morrowe, but come now thou art called, though thy sinnes be gréeuous, I will ease thée of the burthen of thy wicked­nesses, that are readie to presse th [...] downe to the dungeon of hell stre, yea, I will louingli [...] if thou come at my call, lift thée vp from the daungers of the se­cond death, and giue thee life and endless [...] glorie in the kingdome of heauen. O lo­uing [Page] Lord what canst thou doe more for vs? Hast thou broken thy vowe in wed­locke? Hast thou liuedin adulterie? Did not I by my grac [...] couple and wedd [...] thée to my selfe? And hast thou made the members of my glorious bodie, the members of a shamelesse strum­pet?The [...] of christ Ie [...]us. Labour to come vnto me by faith, and earnest repentance, I will release thée from the burthen that gréenously op­presseth thée, and pardon and forgiue thoe all that is past, I will release thée in my death and blood, I wil couple thee to my selfe with the yoake of my fauour, my burthen is light, thou maiest easely beare it, it shal not be troublesome to thée, come quicklie, come, my grace shall cleanse the corruption of thy conscience, and heale thy leaperous soule, I will abide in the temple of thy bodie, and thou shall haue thy dwelling in me. O swéete Christ that thus louinglie callest vs home to thy selfe? Hast y• [...] my name? Hast thou delighted in theft? Hast thou [...] a bearer of false witnesse against the in­nocent? [...]ast thou defeated the widowe [Page] of hir dowrie? Hast thou robbed the fa­therlesse of his right? Hast thou broken my Sabbaoth, which I commanded to beChrist Iesus is the heauen lie [...] and Phisi­cian of our soul [...]. kept holie? O come, come vnto me, set a side all dangerous doubtes. I will heal [...] all your infirmities, sinne shall not harme you, death shall not greeue you, neither yet shall your aduersarie sathan, nor all the power of hell be able to pre­uaile against you, for I my selfe will not faile you, I will be with you to the ende, and in the ende. O come vnto me, come vnto mee, there is none that can helpe you, or doe you anie good but my selfe, no not one, you are sinful Samaritanes.We are [...] Samaritanes I see the condission and estate that you remaine in. You are fallen into the handes of hatefull theeues. You are wounded with the [...]erie dartes of the deuill. You are compassed rounde a­bout with the snares of death. You are bound fast hand and foot, with the chains of damnation▪ And there is no remedie left for you, except I take you in hande. For neither can y• Priest nor the Leuitè doe you anie good. I call come vnto me? [Page] I will cure the [...] vlcers of your ini­quities. I will heale the festred sores of your wickednesses. I will willingly takeThe great mercies of Christ set foorth [...] com­fort and strengthen our [...]bicili­ties. awaie from you the gnawing canker of you corruption, and there shall no euill happen vnto you, for I will deliuer you, as adopted sonnes by grace, a sacrifice of sweete smelling incense, into the hands of my father, and your God, with whome you shalt after this your transt­torie pilgrimage, liue in continuall ioie, perfect peace, and lasting blessednesse. But if we refuse the calling of our saui­our, that came louinglie, not to call the righteous but sinners to repentaunce, we doe nothing but desceiue our selues, incurre vnto our selues his heauie displeasure, make our selues the ser­uants of sinne, the slaues of death, and the heires of eternall damnation. God therefore who is the Lorde of time, to whom al times are in subiectiō in this time tie vs to the time of our caling. For delaye bringeth daunger, and daunger in time bringeth death. Nowe is the accptable time of repentaunce, come [Page] therefore with a penitent hart, and a con­triteWe are called now to coin to Christ put it not of til to morrow spirite to Christ, and put it not off till to morrowe. Nowe is grace offered thee, and all wretched creatures, pro­strate thy selfe before the throne of gods mercie, and by a liuely faith, and earnest repentance, receaue it with reuerence, praise, and thankesgi [...]ing, and sith thou nowe maiest be released freelie from theChrist g [...]th about to cou­ple and ioine v [...]to himselfe the faithfull [...]. intollerable burthen of thy sinnes, refuse thou not the inestimable grace and fauor of the Lorde Iesus, who willinglie and gladlie goeth about to yoake and couple thee to himselfe, for the greatnes of his mercies shal be a sufficient bulwark and a strong fortresse of defence for thee, to stande safelie and surelie against all the assaultes of sathan. Therefore sith thouGod the lord of time will not be tied to thy appoin­ted morrowe, come nowe therefore [...]ith thou art called. art vncerteine of thy time, continue not thy sinnes till to morrowe, for he that of­fereth thee remission of all thy offences nowe, may refuse and forsake thee to morrowe. For the Lorde thy God will not be inio [...]ed to [...]ary thy appointment, therefore come now, repent and amend, [...]arken to the curteous call of [...] redee­mer, [Page] worship and serue the Lord thy God this day with f [...]are & reuerence, for thou knowest not whether thou shalt liue to [...]ee thy prescribed and appointed morrow. [...]f thou die in thy sinnes and wickednes­ [...]es, thou in his exceding iustice as the s [...]r [...]ant of si [...]ne, shalt be confounded and o­ [...]er thrown. And is this all? No, for after [...]his thy bod [...]y deth, the pains wherof in­ [...]re but a while, the worme of thyn [...] [...] conscience shall torment thee, yea, [...]hou shalt become subiect to the secondeWe [...] consider the ioies of hea­uen, nor yet dread [...] torment [...]s [...] [...]ell [...]. [...]eath, the torments wherof are endlesse, [...]nd shall contine we for euer in the dun­ [...]eon of hell, whereas the fire remaineth [...], and the flame neuer go­ [...]th out. Beware therefore that thou con­ [...]emne not the riche graces of GOD, [...]hen they are laied forth before thee, for [...]o sinne wilfully and wittingly against [...]he Lord thy God in hope of his mercies, [...]s a thing of all things most odible and [...]etested in the eies of his diuine maie­ [...]tie. But these things are nothing at all [...]onsidered among vs, for generalli [...] [...] we be [...] called home to the [Page] shéep [...] folde of his aboundant grace, y [...] We are di­ [...] caled but we haue made deaf our [...] and [...] [...]ur [...]arts in such sort that woe will not heare nor conceaue the voice of the caller. haue we hardened our hearts, with o [...] forefathers, and murmur with the [...], [...] disobedient rebels against the Lorde o [...] God? We haue made deafe our [...]res [...] this ende and purpose, that we will n [...] ther heare the [...] swéete and gentle [...] of vs home to himselfe in his Gospe [...] nor yet enter into the déepe considerat [...] on of his terrible threatnings, and gr [...] uous comminations pronounced again [...] vs for the exercise of our manifold wi [...] kednesses. And is this all? No, we ha [...] most [...] blinded our wr [...] Neither can g [...]ds merci [...]s nor his com­ [...]inations driue▪ vs to a­mendment of our liues. ched eies, with the vale of our own [...] rity, so that we stand sturdie in our ow [...] conceits, rather prouoking the Lord o [...] God in his iustice to hasten our spéedi [...] destruction, then otherwise to moue hi [...] maiesty, by earnest repentance to stret [...] out the s [...]luered septer of his excéeding [...] uour and loue towardes vs. (O [...] creatures that we are) though we sée an [...] heare that Christ our Sauiour is readi [...] at all times to open and stretch forth th [...] armes of his compassion [...]nd pittie t [...] [Page] [...]rde vs, and to imbrace vs louinglie,Though Christ be red­die to [...] vs yet we wil not come to him. yet will we not come neere him, no wée runne farre off from him, we are so in­ [...]med with the loue of this wicked and wretched world: We are earthlie affec­ted:We are erthly minded and not spiritual­lie affected. We regard not heauenly felicity: we [...]re grose & carnally minded. We are not [...]piritually inclined: Wee are adicted to [...]orldly pleasures: We weigh not y• ioiesWordlie ho­nor is more desired then heauenly glo­rie. [...]lestiall: We striue here in this vaine & [...]ansitory life. for worldly promosiō: We [...] not, whilst we haue time most mi­ [...]erable wretches, to be vessels of honourThe treasu­res of this world are set by before the celestiall trea­ures of Chistes king­dome. [...]ith Christ in the kingdome of heauen, [...]ee seeke to accumelate, gather and [...]eape vppe vnto our selues worldelie [...]iches, which are vncertaine, and in­ [...]re but a while: Wee haue no care [...]t all for the inestimable treasures of [...]he heauenlie kingdome. Wee are well [...]leased to walke in the broad way of our [...]erdission, but the narrow way that lea­ [...]eth to life, is to heard for vs to finde. (A [...]mentable case) that we will not come [...]hen wee are called to Christ Iesus. A grieuous thing it is to consider that [Page] we will not relent and fall downe [...] [...] thing most dangerous to [...]. fore the Lord our maker. And a thing [...] dangerous it is to consider, that we [...] ther can nor wil learne to serue and w [...] ship the Lorde our God with [...] and namelie in spirite and truth, as [...] hath commanded in his lawe? (Ala [...] The [...] of Adam hath polluted our conscien­ces, and the taste of the forbidden ap­ple [...] still [...] o [...] mouths. what sho [...]ld I saie? The guiltines of [...] dam whose children we are hath poll [...] ted our consciences. The suggestions [...] the enuious serpent stickes still in o [...] hartes. The flatteriss of deceitfull [...] our grandmother in Adam, hath vtter [...] bewitched our vnderstanding. And [...] tast of the forbidden fruit remaineth [...] in our mouthes. Thus our contempt [...] vertue is mightilie increased, our d [...] [...]ll f [...]re of God is [...]ani­shed from our memories. bedience greatly multiplied, and in m [...] ner all feare of God is banished our m [...] mories. Who indeuoreth to serue. [...] with innocent Abell? Naie who [...] cruell Cain couetteth not to hate [...] the Lord, and to bath their handes in [...] Noah coulde not reclaime the old world from [...]. blood of the faithfull? Would the [...] world be reformed by Noah to conue [...] from their s [...]s and wick [...]nesses▪ [...] [Page] [...]itted against God? no they hardened [...]eir harts in their iniquities. And doth [...]ot this newe worlde the like? yes veri­ [...]e. Was the olde world vtterlie destroi­ [...] for the continuance of their euils? and [...]ll not this newe worlde perish think [...] [...]e that surmounts the old worlde in all [...]omination and vncleannesse? Yes [...]erily▪ Could the preaching of Lot rouse [...] the Sodomites, and the Gomorians [...] Gomora de­ [...]. [...] their [...] filthines? No. No [...]ore wil our great Cities and Townes [...] conuerted by the Patriarks, the Pro­ [...]ets,A [...] thow [...] of our Citties [...] them in [...] and ex­cept we re­pent, we also shall perish. Iesus Christ himselfe, nor his A­ [...]stles. Were the [...] Citties destroted [...]om the heauen with fire and brimstone [...]r the contempt of Gods great graces? thowsand thowsand of our Cities that [...]ound in all kind of euill shall likewise [...]rish and be destroied vnles we repent. [...]od therefore whilst we haue time giue [...] the grace to conuert [...], for [...] daie of our visitation is at hand, and [...]ot farre off. Were the I [...]wes the pecu­ [...] and chosen people of God? yea vert­ [...] Did they rebell and murmur in the [Page] [...]ildernesse against him, and doe not [...] Gentiles the like? had the Iewes a long­gingThe Iewes lusted after quailes and the Gentiles wax [...] ot Manna. after quailes? Were they wea­rie of Manna, and doe not the Gentiles gréedilie hunger after Pharo his [...] pots? Wax they not weary of the [...] & begin they not the gentils to loath [...] euerlasting Manna of ye Gospel? Had [...] The Iewes were distroied whilst the me [...]te was in their mouthes and God in his Iustice will destraie the Gentiles that hunger [...]fter [...]. Iewes their desire? Let the Gentils take heede by them, that God giue them not o­ner to followe their owne affections? Did not manie thousandes of them pe­rish whilest the meat was in their mou­thes? And shall not he in his iustice de­stroie and consume vs that longe after [...], and are wearie of the truth? [...] that the remembraunce of these thinges could take déepe roote in our hearts. [...] that these examples & spectakles of [...] These exam­ples are of no force to terifie our giltie con­sciences. iustice might suffice to [...] our guilty consciences, & inforce vs to crie out and wéepe bitterlie with the Prophet Dauid, for our manifolde sinnes committed a­gainstWe will not goe forward with Lot in g [...] [...]. gainst the Lorde our God. I woulde [...] God that wich Lot we wold go for [...] in godlie zeale, perfect puritie, and [...] [Page] glenes of hart, but it will not be. We areWe are loo­kers backè with Lots wife to beast­lie Zodoma. wilfull lookers backe with his wife to beastlie Zodoma. I would to God that with Lot we woulde faithfullie credite and beleeue, that the almightie bath spo­ken, and is fullie determined in his ex­céeding iustice, to bring to passe: butWith Lots wife we were [...] but in dis­trusting God we vtterie de­ceaue our selues. with Lots wife we are incredulous, we are become turne backs, & begin to awel in distrust with hir, thinking that the maiestie of our God is insufficient, to bring to effect y• thing which prouident­ly he hath decréed to bring to passe. But with Lots wife we do altogither disceue our selues, for heauen and earth shall perishe, but the worde of the LordeIn [...] a most dange­rous▪ sinne. shall endure for euer. Alas, there is no one thinge more abhominable vn­der the Heauens, than is the inter­tainemente of infidelitie and vnbée­liefe. For where this monstrous euill is redsydent, there is no hope of sal­nation, no feare of GOD abyding, nor no kinde of goodnesse to bee ex­pected, for Infydelles and vnbelce­ [...] the LORDE God will iudge. [Page] This infidelitie flourished in the heart of [...] king of Egypt in­credulous, and woulde not listen to the Praphet Moyses, [...] nor to­kens nor yet [...] plages could inforce him to let go the lords people. proude Pharo, who regarded not the sai­eng of the Prophet Moyies, but hardened hishart in such condission and estate, that neither the messenger of Gods signes and tokens were of him esteemed nor re­garded, and albeit God sent sondrie and diuers plagues among the Egiptians to make his power knowne, yet would not Pharao let go [...] the Lordes people: such and so great was the infidelitie and in­creasing contempt of malicious Pharo. But God the Lorde of hostes heard the groninges of his peculiar people, that were by the cruell Egyptians diuerslie afflicted, and with a mightie and out stretched hande he deliuered them from the hands of their enimies and lead themYet the Lord heard their gronings de­liuered them through the red se [...], wher in Pharo and his host were [...]rowned. safelie through the red [...]e seas, wherein Pharo and his host perished. Lo here an especiall token of Gods fauor shewen to his people, whom in mercie he gratious­lie preserued from danger. And an exce­ding note worthie to be considered of his diuine iustice, wherein to the comfort of the faithfull, he in the fulnesse of his dis [...] ­pleasure [Page] confoundeth there ennimies. This in [...]idelitie, for all the good that theInfidelitie florished in the [...] people of God, in that they contem­ned his sta-tutes, & made them a gol­den [...], which they worshipped in Horeb. Lorde God had done for his people Is­raell, crept into the very intrales, and throughly pearced the harts of them, so that they became wilfull contem­ners of his statutes, truce breakers of his couenants, forsakers of his lawes, and followers of their owne imagina­tions. For they set vp a golden calfe in Horeb, and worshipped the same as God. This infidelity made bloodthirstyInfidelitie increased mightilie in Iezabell, but hir rewarde was shame and confu­sion. lezabel to fauor & conceaue no smal de­light in the blasphemous priestes of Baall, and to perfecute, afflict, and put to the edge of the sworde the Lords pro­phets, and those that scared the Lorde: but God in his iusti [...]e rewarded hir, she was throwne from the toppe of an high towre, brake hir necke, and the [...] did eate hir flesh, and lapped vp hir bloud, according to the saieng of the prophet. Thus we sée that mightie is the Lord ou [...] God, and his iudgementsA [...] perished in hir infidelity. are true. This infidelitie made A tha­ [...] [...]ecome a worshipper of straunge [Page] gods, and to ren [...]unce the liuing Go [...] of Israell, but hir ende was shame and confusion. This infidelity made Dauid D [...]ids dis­trust in num­bring his people. to distrust in the Lord, and to affie him in his owne strength, in that he num­bered his people, but the plague of pe­stilence tooke awaie threescore and ten thowsand of them in thrée daies. This in [...]delitie made Nabuchadnezer to e­rect [...] throgh [...] set vp a golden [...]age. and set vp a golden image, to bé [...] worshipped as God himselfe of his peo­ple: but Sidrack, Misaell, and Abed­nego woulde not consent to fall from the Lorde God of hosts, neither would they giue the glorie of the Lorde their God to a [...]lthy idoll. Nabuchadnezer herewith not a litle displesed, cast them into a fierie furnace, but the Lord pre­serued them to their comfort, and the [...] contempt and infidelitie. confusion of their [...]. This infidelitie made proude Antiochus to enter into an horrible contempts o [...] GOD and his lawe, [...]hose peo­ple hee ceased not to vexe and afflicte daie and night, but hée escaped not [Page] [...] free, the Lorde GOD had a care for his Church, preserued his people, the foulde of his inheritance, and sent his Aungell to correct this Tyraunt, as hee was ryding in his Chariote, and that in such sorte,Antiochu [...] plague and ouerthrow [...] ▪ that the wormes fell foorth of hys fleshe, hee béeing alyue. And was this all? No, the fylthy stench of his infection was such, and so loath­some and vnsa [...]erie in the nostrels of his owne seruauntes, that they were vnable to abide his presence. A notable example of Gods i [...]steInfidelitie i [...] bl [...]od thirstie and mischie­uous [...] punished. iudgementes. This infidelitie made blood thirstie Nero, cruell Domi­sian, monstrous Heliogabalus, and tyrrannous Tragian, to persecute CHRIST in his members, to kyll hys Apostles, to contemne the [...] of his Gospell, to worshippe straunge and vnknowne Gods, and and to glorie in their owne wicked­nesses and abhominations, but their ende was shame and vtter confusion▪ [Page] And I feare me that this monstro [...] Infidelitie [...] a­mong coun­terfait chri­stians. sinne is not a little fauoured of vs, that professe the glorious name of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ, for who seeth not that we for the most part of vs, are not great [...]aggers of the Gos­pell of our saluation? But where are the fruites that hee expecteth and requireth at our handes? Is it suffi­cientTo talke of Christ with our carnall lips, and to denie him in our deedes, is a thing m [...]st dangerous. for vs thinke we to talk of Christ with our carnall and fleshlie lips, and to denie him in our deedes? What greater offence can there be committed or done against the eternall maies [...] of God? Is it not a grosse kinde of infide­litie thinke we, that posesse [...]h our [...] A grosse kind of infi­delitie. consciences, that we not [...] hate to be reformed, but herewithal al­so, we s [...]orne to walk in the waies that the Lorde our God hath appointed vs, and yet we will be compted christians by name, but infidels in our actions. To talke of Christ being carnally af­fected, and not heauenlie minded, is a thing of all ▪other most dangerous, [...] ▪ acknowledge him to be the Sonne [...] [Page] God in our wordes, and not to [...] Usur [...]ing christians that propha [...] the name of Christ, agree with [...] for he as they doe, consessed Christ to be the sonne of God. his testimonies, is a thing most diue­lish, and sathanicall, for the [...] did the like in the desertes, when he tempted the Lorde of life, that Iohn baptized in Iordan, and then if we bée faithlesse, as I feare me the greatest number of vs are, that remaine in this our last time of calling, what differ we from sathan that vnrighteous prince of darknes. And is this the way do we cō ­i [...]ture with our selues to please God, when in not regarding the price of our redemtion accomplished by Gods eter­nall decree, freelie by and through the working of his [...]serued grace in the spotles and immaculate lambe? No, weIn abusing our [...] we tr [...]d his blessed blood vnder our feete, and there withall we [...] to our selues vengeance in the day of wrath. vsurpe the name of Christ in this do­ing▪ we deceiue our selues, we tread the blood of him that hath redeemed vs vnder our feete, and to concl [...]de, wée aggreuate & heape vp vnto our selues the heauie and intollerable curse and indignation of the a [...]ightie, and ther­withall vnlesse we conuert from the [...] waie of our abhominable wicked­nesses, [Page] the destruction of our bodies, and soules euerlastinglie. But who is he that will enter into his owne consci­ence, & examine himselfe, whither he beConsciences wounded with [...]in co­n [...]t not com­fort from Christ. giltie of these causes or not? or who is he that finding his conscience woūded with the deadlie dart of his own trans­gression, & ouerladen with sinne, will learne to acknowledge his owne wic­kednesses, to humble himselfe with Da­uid, before the thron of gods mercies, & to saie, Lord haue mercie vpon me, and according to the multitude of thy mani­folde mercies blot out all mine iniqui­ties out of thy presence: verelie in this age there are few or none that indeuor to bring forth the fruits of repentance, for the confidence that we haue in ourThe confi­dence that we haue in our selues is a distrust in God. selues, the great distrust that we haue in God, in neglecting his commande­ments, the loue that we haue to this transitory world, the slender care wée haue to Christ & his Gospel, the dange­rous delight we conceaue in our owne force, & contrarie, the vtter forgetting of gods graces bestowed vppon vs, a [Page] proue vs rather to be the children ofAn absur [...]e thing to vs but a most prebable and certain thing to be veri [...]ed of vs. darknes, then the sonnes of light. were it not an absurde thing for vs to be cal­led in this our last age, wherein Christ is sencerely preached to be [...] for our sins, the enimies of Chist and the friends of Belial? who would not think he had iniury being baptised, to be cal­led sath [...]n? But what redéemed whome Christ hath raunsomed, not with golde nor siluer, but with the price of the hart blood of our redéemer, will at all times ingraue or print into his remembrance the painful torments that Christ hath suffred for the sins of the whole world?The [...] of Christ is forsaken o [...] cowardlie christians, who rather [...] to sinne than they [...] to resist sathan. nay rather who flieth not from the en­signe of his capteine Christ Jesus, and yeldeth not himselfe a bondslaue to [...]in, a seruant to sathan, & a pray to eternall damnation, & hel? If God haue cōm [...] n­ded vs to serue, honor & obey him, to de­dicate and offer vp our selues into his holie handes, to depende wholie, onely and solie vpon him, to put our whole trust and confidence in him, and to continue his worshippe in feare, [Page] and reuerence? Why doe we scorne hisWe rather desire to please men then to serue the Lord our God. commandements? Why yeelde we not our selues to obedience? Why are wée become men pleasers? Or why go wée about of a set purpose to displease our creator, knowe we not that we are in his heauenly hands, as the clay is in the hands of the potter? & will we become vessels of dishonor, in dishonoring him, that of dutie we are bounde to obey? Are our hearts so hardened, that wée thinke him insufficient to punishe vs, that without ceasing prouoke him to displeasure? or are we become so farreSelfe loue maketh vs to [...]. past feare, that we will not stande in awe of his iudgementes? Hath Ladie selfeloue made vs so wilfullie affected, that we wil stand thus sturdely against the Lord and his annointed, or hath the inordinate desire of our priuate gainePriuate gaine hath made vs to [...] Christ Jesus from our me­mories. in this world of wretchednes, so déepe­lie possessed our harts, that we vtterlie cast Christ Jesus our high and mightie Lorde treasurer, and the vnspeakeable treasures of his glorious kingdom frō our memories, alas if wee will cocke [...] [Page] our selues in our vncleannes heape vpTo [...] our selues in our own con­ceats, is [...] thing of all things most miserable. sinne vpon sin, glorie in our vnclean­nes, and giue our consents to worke e­uill in the sight of the Lorde our God. We are not members of Christ, sons of adoption and grace, but children of the diuell forlorne and cast away ba­stardes. If we wil become wilful wan­tons, stragling Goates, refuse the good sheephearde and cleane vnto the hired seruant, shall not sathan the wilie wolfe deuoure vs both in body and soule? If we will liue [...], liftTo liue se­curely in the contempt of Gods iustice, heapeth vp vengeance in the daie of desolation. vp our selues against the Lord, stande stiffe in our owne securities, and growe in the contempt of Gods eter­nall iustice, shall not hee in his hea­ [...]ie displeasure, with the heauie Axe of his vengeance, cut vs downe in our sinnes, and then after this temporall death, shall not the seconde death of bo­die and soule, which shall endure for e­uer, vexe and torment vs in the dun­gion of hell. Oh that we would record and call these thinges to our remem­brances: O that we woulde ponder in [Page] our owne consciences, how heauie andIt is a [...] ­lous thing to [...]all into the iudgements of God. dangerous a thing it is to fall into the iudgements of the Lorde our God. O that we would diligently cōsider with our selues that as God is mercifull, lo­uing & amiable, to those that loue himAs God is mercifull to those that do beleeue, so is he most terri­ble to the vn­ [...]. and kéepe his commandements, so is he iust, terrible, and displeasant, to those that continue their wickednesses. The [...] tree that was barren was accur­sed, and thinke we that are fruitlesse to be blessed? Can not the good seede of the Gospell sowne in the stoni [...] grounde of our stintie harts take no root at al in vs, shal the filthy furrours of our cankred consciences, in stead of good and perfect graine, bring foorth vnsanerie darnell? when the Lorde of the haruest commeth for perfect wheat, will we render him chaffe? (a­lacke then most miserable is our con­dission and estate) for hee then that hath his fanne in his hand, wil purge his floure, gather his wheate into the glorious g [...]rner of his grace, but the chaffe he will burne with an vn­quenchable [Page] fire. These thinges mightOccasions whilst we haue time, to moue vs to turne to the Lord our God. forewarne vs in time, while wée haue time, to turne to the Lorde our God, and to bring soorth the fruites of repentaunce. But wée generallie for the most part, here and euery where rather like beastlie Epicures, then godlie affected christians, wallowe in the myrie soyle of our vncleanesse and putrefaction, expecting nothing so much as we doe our ease, wherin wée she we our selues to be more laisie loyterers, then louelie labourers in the Lordes vineyarde. For let vs e­uenWe are [...] loiterers and not carefull labourers in the Lords vineyard. from the highest to the lowest, from the eldest to the yoongest, from the wisest to the fondest, and from the learnedst to the vnskilfullest, behold our selues in our owne imperfections in our owne impurities, and in our [...]lthy actions, and we shall sée that wee are not onelie incloased in the snares of hell, fettred with the chains of damnation, and caste awaies from Gods fauor, but also therewith all, wée haue iustly deserued the heauy [Page] sentence of condemnation, and that not for a daie or yeere, but euerlastinglie. To sp [...]ake of our abusions, to touch the canker of our corruptions, to vn­couer the vgly vlcers of our vnclean­nes,Tr [...]h may be blamed and not sha­med. to set abroach the monstrous sores of our sinnes, and to rip vp the blanes and botches of our iniquities, I should rather displease then content: offende than delight, and heape vp vnto me for good will deserued, an vndeserued ha­tred.It is better to please God than [...]. But may this abashe me? should this hinder me, or daunt me in so good a quarrel to keepe silence, or cause me to holde my peace? no, God forbid, and Lorde let it be far of from me, for if temporall minded men, that heare their Lordes and Maisters ill spoken and [...], abused and defamed, will stande vp and defende to the vt­ter most they can, the cause and case ofNote this [...]. their superiors. How much more ought the seruants of Christ Iesus to stande vp and speake in his cause, whose wor [...] is contemned, whose name is propha­ned, & whose graces, are ouer stender­lie [Page] regarded. These causes c [...]nsidered, it beséemeth euery christian to speake in the defence of so good a captaine, as hath done all the good that may be ac­complished and brought to effect, for our vtilities. But are not these things quight cast away from our memories?The seruice of Christ is giuen ouer for the seruice of fil thy Mammon. What are they that haue not giuen o­uer the seruice of Christ, and are not become the seruitours of Mammon? Where is not couetousnes hatboured? Or who though he hath neuer so much thinketh himselfe satisfied? verely few or none, for the loue of golde hath so blinded our eies, that we cannot find [...] the waie to Christ Iesus. The im­moderate desire, the vnsatiable lust, and the vnstanchable appetite that we haue to gape after worldly rule, Lordlie dignities and promotions carrieth vs awaie with violence from the seruice of God, to the sincke of per­ [...]. Thus filthie auarice the canker of all corruption, causeth vs to fall from God, to [...]istrust in God and to put our confidence oftentimes in [Page] worldlie ryches, which shall waste and weare awaie, as the moth fret­teth and consumeth a garment. But whereas this greedie moiling desire of golde, and this filthy longing after our priuate gaine is esteemed, there [...] feare [...] r [...]garded. the feare of GOD is not regarded, compassion is closed vppe in prison, neighbourlie loue is banished, hatred flourisheth, oppression ruleth, arro­gancie is aduaunced, and in fine to conclude, all grace and goodnesse is [...]rodden vnderfoote. And yet for all this the greediest cormoraunt that is will bee a christian: the vildest ex­ [...] will bragge of the Gospell: and the most monsterous vsurer that liueth will acknowledge Christ to [...] the sonne of God, but all in vaine. For to call Christ Lord, Lorde, [...] not, neither yet appertaineth that kingdome that Christ hath pur­chased with his heart bloode, to such proude pratling Phare [...]s, but that [...] place of ioie and glorie be­longeth to those that doe the will of [Page] God, and truelie indeuour through the working of his grace to walke in integricie and newenesse of life.Strange [...] ma­keth [...] proude per­sons and the children of [...]. The straunge disguisings that at this daie wée put in practise approueth our selues to bee the children of Lu­cipher, the babes of Beliall, and the verie [...]re brandes of hell. Newe fa­shions are fauoured: the ItallianA [...]omina­ble abuses practised and suffered at this daie in Englande vnpunished. cut is set by: Beautie must haue a peacokes tayle to keepe hit from the sunne burning: men are become ef­femina [...]e, manhoode is not thought vppon: the launche and the sheilde are nothing esteemed: carpit knights must lull them in their ladies lappes. O loathsome worlde wherein iniqui­tie aboundeth. O wordlinges that wallowe in all kindes of wickednes fashioning most diuelishly such orna­mentes as rather make you vnreaso­nable monsters, then resonable men, such roisting & reuelling in your french ruffes, such bumbasting of dublets, that make you bellies like bumbards. [Page] I thinke was neuer seene, such curi­ous painting of crabtrée faces, such ta­uerne bushes worne in womens heds, was neuer before this frequented, suchThe maintei­ [...]ance of s [...]e is the decay of vertue, the like sinne ne­uer practised [...]mongst pa­ [...] as are [...] in [...] of bragging christians. disceit, such falsehoode, such briberie, such polling and pilling, such swearing and tearing of God for tri [...]es, such lea [...]ongring, such inhansing of rents, such oppression, and extortion, such whooredome and dronkennes, such wil­full periurie, and false witnesse beare­ing, such detracting, backbi [...]ing and flandering, as remaineth amon̄g chri­stians, I coniecture, nay I am rather [...]llie perswaded was neuer put in practise among the verie infidels and pagans, that neuer had any knowledge of God and Christ, but it shall be easier for them then for vs, in the daie of ou [...] resurrection. At what time the Lord shall come with power and glorie to iudge the quicke and dead. But such is the cor [...]uption of our natures, that the remembrances of these things cannot take anie roote in our heartes, re­ [...]tance [...]epentance is not reg [...] ­ded, neither can the terror of Gods iu­stice driue vs to the amend­ment of our liues. is deferred from day, to day, [Page] neither can the terror of gods iustice driue vs to amendment of our liues, nor his ma­nifold mercies cause vs to humble our sel­ues before the Lord. Signes & tokens gi­uen vs from beauen, to put vs in minde of gods indignation, are taken for trif [...]es, prodigious monsters brought foorth con­trary to nature, in the course of concepti [...] cannot awaken vs frō our wickednesses, neither thinke we that the heauens when they threaten vs for [...], doe presaidge our destructiō. And in these points [...] me how much do the [...]aine glorious gentils differ from the vnbeleuing Iewes: God be mer­ciful vnto vs, & spare vs from those plages that we haue most iustlie deserued, giue vs grace to conuert and turne vs wholie from the perilous paths of peruerse impl­etie, ye we may bee saued from vengeance in the day of wrath. But there be diuersImpedi [...] [...]. that let and withholds vs from hart [...] repentance. lets to withhold vs frō hartie repentance, the diuel, the world, and the flesh are our enimies, the loue of cōcupiscence, the vaine [...]lurements of worldly delectation, and the [...]ordinate hunting after worldlie trea­sure, are dangerous impediments to kepe vs from hartie contri [...]on, and sorrowfull [...], for the exercise of wickednesses, the [Page] loathsomnes of the Gospell of grace, the grosse and carnal fulnes of our corrupte [...] humors, that cannot be purged from the filthines of the olde Adam, nor yet learne to digest the veritie, but onlie by the inuo­cation of Gods sacred and holie name, and the diuine working of his singuler merci [...] and grace, are most greuous stops to kep [...] vs from repentance. And as a liuely faith through the fauor of Christ is the groundA frutefull faith hath no beeing in the children of [...]. of contri [...]iō, so as neither this faith groun­ded on Christ his bloodlie death and passi­on, nor this compunction or [...] sorrow can haue any place in the [...] of vn­beléefe, which harden their hearts in all mischéefe and wickednesse, no more can neither of these excelling [...]ertues haue their [...]eing in our carnal & contemptuous gospellers, which rather make a scorne of Christ Iesus, then honour him in their harts. But this in [...]incible faith g [...]unded [...] commeth not of our selues, but by grace and faith in Christ Iesus on the touchstone of truth, and this vn­fein [...]d repenta [...]ce, through the which by grace in Christ Iesus, the olde man is dead and buried from [...]inne, and this con­tri [...]on and hartie sorrowe where with all our consciences are touched, not for de­ [...]tes, but fréely by gods inestimable lou [...] [Page] and kindnes, commeth not of our selues, but procedeth towards vs, from the father of light, and these his singuler graces are pertinent, and belonging to the children of beleefe, that are truelie regenerate, be­gotten & borne againe to God the Father, not by water, but in the pretious death and bloodshedding of the innocent lambe Christ Iesus. This faith, and this repen­tance, [...] pro [...]table to Dauid, but discommo­dious to Saule bi­cause he wa [...] ­ted faith. was profitable to the prophet Da­uid, when he felt in himselfe the sorrows of his hart, and confessed himselfe to haue [...] displeased the maiestie of the Lord God, saieng, I will acknowledge mine vnrighteousnesse against my selfe, O Lorde, and thou forgauest the vngodlinesRepentance [...] to Pe er, but nothing be­ne [...]ciall to Iudas, for want of fait [...] for as Christ had Peter in cure [...]or his [...] sorow, so sathan had Iudas in possession [...]or [...]acke of [...]. of my sinnes, and as his submission was found acceptablein the sight of the Lorde GOD, so Saule wanting a liuely faith and impenitent, what could his con­tri [...]on auaile or pro [...]t him? This faith was s [...] setteled in the Apostle Peter, that when he had denied his Lorde and mai­ster, Christ Iesus, looking back vpon him, the sillie cocke became a preacher vnto him, & thervpon calling vnto his remem­braunce the wordes of his louing Lorde, hee went foorth of the doores and w [...]pt [Page] bitterlie for his trespasse, thus his repen­tance obteined mercy at the hands of god, & found fauor bicause that he grounded o [...] faith. Contrarily this repentance nothing at all a [...]ailed Iudas, and why? bicause he was faithles. Thus as Peter purchased remission by faith & earnest repentance,More despe­ [...]ate Iud [...]ses in this last age, then [...] Pe­ters. so Iudas drowned in infidelity, sathan pos­cessing him, most desperately hanged him selfe, and did heape vnto himselfe the vt­ter condemnation of bodie and soule, and I feare me, that in this our last age we haue a far greter number of desperate lu­dases, than faithful repentant Peters, God turne our harts, and giue vs his holie spi­rit, by the power wherof sin shall cease in vs, and we shal liue to Christ Iesus. But if we will with an vpright and single [...] The condissi­ [...]n of worldly christians dif [...]er frō Christ behold the maners of wicked wordlinges, we shall finde them so far dissonant from Christ as light is from darkenes, and yet most shamelessie he that is most wicked, &Difference in seeking [...]fter Christ, The three wise men sought Christ to wor shippe him, Herode to [...]stroy him. he whose actions are most detested in the sight of the Lord God, wil not stick to say, they are folowers of Christ, and it may be so, that they both followe and seeke after him, but howe? not with the thrée wise men, to serue and worship him in spirite [Page] truth but with bloodthirsty Herode to kil and cruci [...]e him afreshe in his members. They mind not with Nichodemus to seke the Lorde Christ by daie, nor yet by night to learn of him as his disciples, that which may benefit them to euerlasting life, but they seeke and followe after him with theNicodem [...] [...]ought Christ by night to learne of him, the Scribes and Phare­ [...]es to tempt him. subtill Scribes, the proud Phar [...]sies, and the deceitfull Sa [...]uces to intrap him in his talke, and to tempt him with a p [...]nny, but they are sent away, not without an­swere, for Caesar must haue that which to him belongeth, & God must haue his glo­rie. These vsurpers of Christ his holie name, these wicked and impudent crea­tures come not to the lambe of God, withThe Centu­rion sought Christ by faith, for the health of his daughter, but we will not seeke him for the safegarde of our soules that woulde [...]aue vs to come vnto him. the beleeuing Centurion, neither wil they repose such confidence and trust in Christ as he did for the r [...]couery of his daughters health: no they will not come to him, that like a good and louing Phisicion woulde cure their sicke soules, purifie their [...] hearts, and cleanse them from all the [...]oares of sinn [...], and yet with the Lawier that came to Christ to know y• way to life, they can brag they haue kept the cōman­ [...]ements, and al necessary things for their [...]aluation, but with the Lawier they go [Page] awaie ashamed, for these iustifieng felow [...] of themselues keepe backe with the lawi­er, neither will they consent to sel all that they haue, and giue it to the poore, no they will followe Christ in no such order. Iu­das was a follower of Christ, Iudas gaueIudas was [...] follower of Christ, but Zacheus fol­lowed him by faith, but Iu­ [...] to betraie [...]im. Christ a discembling kisse, but wee haue many Iudases, but the faith of Zacheus is forgotten of these counterfeits, they will not s [...]e Christ in spirit and truth, but after their owne affections, this is the manner of the maleu [...]lent, that thinke them­selues searchers after CHRIST, when they being carnallie affected, rather shew themselues blind at noone [...]aies, then to haue or inioie their perfect sight, for they grope as graceles, for him that they can­not finde. But contrary the little fold, the members of the church militant, the faireThe faithfull members o [...] the church m [...]tant seeke Christ by fai [...] and they [...]nd him to [...]he comfort of their con­ [...]. daughter of Siō, y• perfect spous of Christ and the faithful louers of the gospell, they seeke for Christ spiritually, and how, by a fruitful faith and an earnest repentance, & they find him to the comfort of their cōsci­ences, the ioie of their troubled harts, & to the exceding comfort of their soules, they sée & find him, y• both is delighted to dwell with them, & in them, & they in him, haue [Page] their being, so that by his especiall grace [...] fauour they are puri [...]ed in the blood of the lambe from al the spots of their sins, & the deformed wrinckles of their wickednes­ses, this is the meane of godlie christians that seeke and search for Christ, by an im­moueable faith, and beartie sorrowe for their sinnes, and they are certeine to find him, and why? bicause he hath promisedChrist is in the middest of them that [...]re gathered to­ [...] in his holie name. that when so euer two or thrée be assem­bled and gathered togither in his name he will be in the middest of them, and this is the hope of the faithful, this is the grea­test ioie that belongeth to the children of beleefe, this is [...]he comfort of each and e­uerie constant christian, and yet they canThe faithful doe fall into the las [...] [...]f sin they cannot stand of them selues, but like prodi [...]all sonnes, their cons [...]ence is touched with the [...]nger of gods grace, they mourne and weepe bitterly for their [...]. not stand of themselues, but when they fal into the laspe of sinne, they confesse their iniquities, and forthwith they being tou­ched with the finger of Gods grace, they like prodigall sonnes that [...]aue wandered from the sheepefolds of the true and verie Emanuell, crie out and returne to their father againe, for want of whose fauour, they being readie to pine, were glad with the swine that wallowe in the stincking [...]ncks of sin, to eate y• corrupt cods of their vnclennes, but being as they were vnder [Page] the curse of the lawe, subuerted by gods eternall iustice, to eternall death and damnation, they feeling the gnawing worme of their owne conscience to vexe and tormente them, and therewith all, they beholding the horror of their wic­kednesses committed against the Lorde their God, they seeke to bee ridde of this hellish slauerie, they counte to shake of this heauie and intolerable burthen of their iniquities, and to be released from the bondage of hell, the [...]ting of the second death, and the ceaseles torments of that euerlasting fyrie flame, wherein the god­les shall be punished and tormented euer­lastinglie. But howe or by what meanes they trust not to their owne strengthes,The meane and way that the godly and faithfull re­ [...]tant vse to come vnto [...]. they put no confidence in man, they stand not sturdie in their owne conceits, neither yet builde they on their owne desarts, no they stande not to reason with the Lorde as though they would iustifie themselues, but they feeling the miserie of their lan­guishing soules, they flie vnto the Lord by a liuelie faith, they are ashamed of them­selues, they are heartelie sorie for their sinnes, they weepe and crie out bitterlie for their iniquities saing, O father we are [Page] not woorthy to be called thy children, [...]orTheir hum­ble [...] is accepted, and they [...] recea [...]ed to gods fauor and grace. we haue sinned against thee, and are not worthy to be called thy children. This humble submission of theirs, this hartie sorrowe of theirs, is not onely accepted, but the Lorde himselfe appea [...]ing his furie with the outstretched armes of his com­passion and pittie, receyueth them to his fauor, and giueth vnto them the fat kidde Christ Iesus, on whom by faith they féede, and haue their fill, to their excéeding io [...]es, and to the saluation of their soules. This is the difference betwixt the faithfull and the vnbeléeuing. This is an especial token howe and in what kinde, the children ofAn especiall note [...] the children o [...] light and the children of darknes. light are, and may at all times easelie bée discearned from the children of darkenes. This is an especiall note for vs to consi­der howe, and in what manner the church millitant may easelie be disciphered fromMarkes to knowe the church mili­tant, the true spouse of Christ, from the church malignant, the proude [...] of [...]. the church malignant, for as the members of the true church of Christ, continuallie trauell vnder the crosse, & are at warfare, and their fight is endles against [...], death, hell, the flesh, this wicked worlde, sathan, and all the powers of hell. So this malig­nant church, this synagogue of the diuel, this proud painted strumpet of Babylon [Page] [...], in all [...], glorieth in all vncleannes, loueth this world, pearch­eth for promotion, and princelie digni­tie, and that most [...], pampereth it selfe in fleshly & filthie lust most shame­lesselie, soyleth it selfe in all notoriousIt hath [...] an old [...], and long vsed that [...] hath had his church, the diuell hath had his chi­ [...], but it may now be said in this age, that whereas Christ hath his chappell the diuell hath his church. sinnes and euils most abhominably, and to conclude, Lucipher the prince of pride [...] y• ringleder of this mischieuous church, contrary the mihtent church hath learned of hir louing [...] Christ Iesus, to be hū ­ble, lowly, meeke, gentle, patient, readie to suffer affliction, willing to [...] vnder the baner of hir head, & to continue con­stant in time of their trial. The children of this church are not ashamed of y• truth of the Gospel. The children of this church are readie at al times to giue a reckoning of their faith before princes. The children of this church are redie to suffer imprison­ment, reuiling, persecution, and willing­lie they agree to giue their liues for the testimonie of Christ. Contrary the church [...] malig­nant church [...] selfe a­ [...] nst God & [...]: they [...] are the [...] of [...] church [...] to [...] stroy the Lords vine▪ [...], but the Lord vphol­deth their cause [...] the [...]. malignant most arrogantlie lifteth it [...] against the Lorde, against his [...], and the true [...] of his blessed name, they resist the Lords armie of his saints, they in their kinde as the [...] [Page] members of the verie diuell him­selfe, doe all, and that with one consent toile without ceasing to destroie the lords vineyard, to batter downe the walles of Sion, and to ouerthrowe the pillers of the Lords house, but he most [...] bee­ing the founder and builder of his church, [...] the same, mainteineth his cause against the vngodlie, and breaketh the iawe bones of the malicious a sunder. Thus dealeth the Lord our God with hisThe blood of the [...] that are [...] for the loue and truth of Christ [...] the [...] of the church. people, and yet sundrie and oftentimes he suffereth the woolfe to crushe the tender lambes of his fould, but the blood of the martirs that are persecuted for the truth of the Gospell, is the seede of his church, which bringeth foorth such increase, that all the tirants of the worlde shall neuer bee able, [...] what [...] they can, to roote vp, deface, or irradicate his church. That same God that spake vnto Saule when he had receaued letters of the high priests, to persecute his saints at Damasco, speaketh vnto them that make hauocke of the foulde of his inhe­ritaunce, and sheweth them that it shall be as hearde for them as it was [...] Saule to kicke against the pricke, it is all [Page] in vaine therefore for mortall men [...] what condition soeuer they be to standeAs the [...] cannot [...] ­troule the [...], no more can man that is but [...] clod of [...], [...] the ma­ [...] of God. vp against the Lorde, for he is the Lorde of all power, the God of all wisedome, and as the pot cannot controule nor check the potter, no more can man that is but a clod of claie, and the handie worke of his creator resist, nor withstand that the Lord of hostes hath purposed to bring to effect.Sathan [...] forth his ministers to all mischiefe, [...], perse­cute an [...] the godlie. Yet where sathan is the ringleader of this disordered [...], and shameles rable, hee in such sort pricketh them forwarde, that they [...] no small felicitie and de­light, to whet their tuskes, to make sharp their [...], to this very purpose, that they may spoile and [...] the Lords fould, but he that is mightie often and sundrie times confoundeth them in the imaginati­ons of their owne [...]! [...] vs therefore [...] more that we are [...], for [...] Christ, the [...] we [...] and [...]. in time of our triall continue constant, let vs in time of our affliction, indeuour to beare the crosse with patience, for the sharper that in this life our torments are or shal be for the testamony of a good con­science, the greater shall be our glorie in time to come in the kingdome of heauen. The more that we are reuiled, ill spoken of, & [...], for our Lord and [...] [Page] Christ Iesus, the more better shall we be accepted and well welcomed, accounted of, blessed, and receaued of Christ our sa­uiour, to his euerlasting kingdome. If therfore we will be his disciples, we must learne of him to follow his steps, to walk in holinesse and righteousnesse of [...], toThe schol­lers of [...] must conti­nue their studies in [...] his truth. dedicate our selues wholie vnto his ser­uice, we must like good & skilful schollers continue our studies in the nourserie of his eternall truth, and craue of him that through the asistaunce of his holie and blessed spirit, we may learne to vnderstād the blessed [...] conteined in his holy law, & to walke continuallie in his sight, as it becommeth godlie and faithfullThe [...] we haue to [...] maketh [...] of God. sonnes, adopted by grace to life euer­lasting. But as I haue saide before, so saie I againe, the loue of this worlde so [...] in vs, that the loue wee ought to beare vnto Christ is forgotten, the desire we haue to [...], and the con­tinuance of our euils, maketh vs [...] ­ned of God, and beloued of the dyuell, whose seruice we continue, to the great dishonouring of the lambe Christ Iesus, and to our vtter confusion euer lastinglie. Let the auaritious minded [...] forget [Page] his [...]lthy auaries, & learne to be contented [...] from sinfull impietie, and the fruits of [...] vnclean [...]es by the exercise whereof we prouoke God to disple [...]sure [...] vp vnto out sel­ [...]es eternall condemn and, let vs there­fore from the highest to the lowest bring foorth the fruits of re­pentance, and the Lorde out God will bee mercifull vn­to vs, he will heale out of­fences, and continue his gratious co [...] ­tenance vnto vs his people, and then at y• last whē we shall giue an account of our steward­ships we shall [...] before him in inno­cencie, and be crownd with glorie. with a meane: let the proude man giue o­uer his strange disguisings, let ancient cu­stom in appareling our bodies beat down our masquing robes, let vs not be proude in our conseats, but humble & méeke in all our actions. Let the beastly epicure that glorieth in excesse, forget to make his belly his God. Let the vsurer, that eateth & de­u [...]ureth vp yoong gentlemen, & poore arti­ficers aliue, learne with Zacheus, to make restitutiō of their wrong gotten goods. Let the whore [...]onger and adulterer, learne to giue ouer his beastly whoredome, & filthy fornication: Let the drunkard y• glorieth in his corrup [...]on forget & giue ouer his vn­resonable quaffing. Let y• gréedy landlord indeuor to forbeare the practise of pouling his poore tenant, & to conclude, let vs all in­generally, frō the hiest to the lowest of vs, come before y• Lord our maker, with hum­ble & contrite harts. Let vs wéepe & waile, cry out & morne biterly for our sins, & then the Lord our God in y• fulnes of his mer­cies wil heale our offences, cleanse vs frō our sins, purge vs frō our iniquities, and wash vs from our wickednesses in y• blod of the lamb, yea the Lord our God wll be­come [Page] vnto vs a shelter & a shield against all our enimies, yea he wil fight for vs against al those that maliciously seke to assaile vs, he wil turne towards vs his gratious counte­nance, continue our peace, blesse our anoin­ted Debora, our virgin Quéene, y• handmaid of the lord, continue hir highnes helth to our cōforts, conuert or else vtterly confound the power of al hir enimies, forren & domestical, blesse our land, spare vs frō those plagues y• we haue most righteously deserued, & at the last when it shal plese him to cal vs vnto an account & reckoning of our bailiwéekes and stewardships before his tribunal thron, we shall stand before him in innocencie & holi­nes of life, & here him pronounce to our end­les comforts this hapie sentence. Come you blessed of my father, enter into y• kingdome prepared for you, from the beginning of the world. To the which most gratious God & louing father mercifully conduct vs, for thy sonne Christ his sake, to whom with thee & the holie Ghost the spirit of all truth, vnitie and concord, thrée person, & one eternall and euerliuing God, be rendred all laud, glory, honor, praise power and dominion for euer, Amen.

FINIS.

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