The Mystery of Mankind, Part 3
GOD IVSTIFIed in the Spirit.
Explication.
GOD manifested in the Spirit, 3. The second day of the weeke.not as man iustified, whose sinnes are remitted for Christ his sake, whose vnrighteousnesse is couered with Christ his merits, whose wretchednesse is not imputed for Christ his obedience, as Saint Augustine diuinely discanteth vponupon the 32 Psalme but iustified in the spirit by diuine iustice, such as is properly to God only. In which sence his iudgements are sayde to bee iustified, that is, they are true and righteous al together, albeit to vsus they are secret and vnsearchable,
His wisedome is sayde to bee iustified of her children, that is, it is knowne to bee true and infallible wisdome.
In this phrase spake Dauid to God saying,Psal. 51. That thou mightest bee iustified when thou speakest, and cleare when thou iudgest, That is, that no liuing creature could taxe, implead, or touch the resolutions, and performances of Gods decrees with any the least preiudice or impeachment of iniquitie, for they were euer most iust, and sacred; albeit they are vnknowne to vsus, Is there any vnrighteousnesse with God, sayeth Paul.
In this phrase also Saint Peter vrgeth the Iewes, that they had denyed The holy one, and inst, Act: 2.and desired a murtherer to be giuen them.
The manner of this Iustification was in the spirit, that is to say; Hee was iustified in that, which was in his sacred person diuine, and aboue the humane nature. So S. Paul teacheth the Church of Rome, affirming, that albeit hee was the sonne of Dauid according to the flesh, yet was hee declared to bee the Sonne of God, with power according to the Spirit of sanctification, Rom. 1. 2.by the resurrection from the dead, which seemeth vntounto mee to intend two arguments to this purpose. The first is, that neuer any in our flesh liued spotlesse, and voide of sinne, but Christ onelyonly. There is the iustifying Spirite of Sanctification.
The second is, that neuer any of himselfe, but Christ Iesus loosed the bandes of death, and arose from the fetters of the graue. There is the Iustifying Spirite of power in the Resurrection; and euen in this very phrase Athanasins speaketh, to witte, That Christ was iustified, Non humano more sed diuina puritate.not after the manner of men, but by diuine puritie,
To this end, that he should bee honoured and worshipped, not as a meere man, albeit hee was truly man, but as the eternall God in our flesh. This therefore is the Catholique Faith which, whosoeuer doth not beleeue, cannot bee saued. That Iesus Christ is knowne by his power in the spirite, to be the very son of God against the Ma…cionites, Gods sonne by nature, not by grace against the Arrians, that hee was begotten of the Father against the Bonosians, & that frō euerlasting, against the Natiuitarians; that hee was God of himselfe, against the Donatists, and that hee was coequall with the Father, and consubstantiall against the Macedoans. This Iustification of the Sonne of God was declared in the spirit of power, and in the spirite of purity, as I hauehave sayde out of Saint Paul to the Romanes.
In the power of the Spirit it was declared against al the powers of darkenesse, which flesh and bloud could not abandon. For besides the generall cessation of Oracles at his comming, the particular Idols were eueryevery where defaced and confounded. Astorah of the Sydonians, Melchom of the Ammonites, Chemosh of the Moabites, Belzebub of Ekron, Remphan of the Sirians, Dagon of the Philistines, Moloch of the Egyptians, and many others, were in all places of the world put to vtter confusion: Because the God of this world, which is the diuell was cast out, and the strō ger man surprised the strong man, dispossessed him, dispoiled him, and vtterly vanquished him. Insomuch that the very diuels cry, Torment vsus not before our time: and aske leaue to goe euen into sordid swine. Thus was he iustified in the power of the Spirite, in …anquishing the powers of darkenes.
His Iustification was also declared by the spirit of power against his enemies, as appeared by the fower Herods, As…alonita, Archelaus, Antipas, and Agrippa, who being Tyrants, and persecutors of Christ in his infancy, and of some of his followers, there appeared vppon them the strong hand of God, that brought them to pittifull and lamentable confusions. But most notably and most notoriously the Iustification of the same God, Christ Iesus our Lord in the Spirit of power appeareth most euidently, euen at this day to the viewe of the whole christian world, in his continued iudgements vponupon the whole nation of the Iewes, who were subuerted, and vtterly ouerthrowne by the Romans, at the very time of the yeare wherein they crucified Christ, which was about Easter: For at that very time of their great festiuity, the Roman…s came, and besieged Hierusalem.
And as from Mount Oliuet they apprehēded Christ; so from that Mou…t was their City entered, and surprised: And as they hurried the Lord Iesus from Pilate to Herod; so they were hurried vp and downe during the siege, from Iohn to Simeon, and from Simeon to Iohn, two notable villaines that did mutinize within the City to their vnspeakeable torment, vexation, and vtter subuersion. And as they whipped the Lord of Life, and attired him in despicable maner, in contempt and scorne; Euen so they were whipped vp and downe the holy City in great villany and reproach by the Romane souldiers.
And as the Lord Iesus was solde for thirty peeces of siluer by Iudas a Iew; euen so thirty of the Iewes in the sacking of the City were solde for one peece of siluer by the Souldiers. And euen yet the hand of Gods power to iustifie his sonnes innocency, is not shortned, but stretched out against them still.
The holy bloud of Christ crying against them, and against their children (as they themselues desired) for vengeance. They liuing as a forlorne and scattered people vponupon the surface of the earth without Priest or Prophet, King or Scepter, comfort or compassion.
In a word tell me, who did euer striue against the Messias and did prosper, or band himselfe against Christ, or Christian, and was not confounded? Christ was also iustified by the spirit of sanctifying puritie; beeing pure, and spotlesse in himselfe, both in body and soule, for there was not any guile in him, and also pure in his redeemed people effectually. In himselfe pure, his conception pure by the holy Ghost, his birth pure of a Virgin, his life pure, both in word and deed, in life and death pure, for hee offended not, no not so much as in his tongue, and he is perfect that so offendeth not.
In his redeemed people pure, by the effects of the same iustifying spirite: For whereas all the whole world else is set vponupon wickednesse, hunting eyther with profite, as with a bloud-hound, or else beeing befooled or besotted with pleasures, as theyr Helena (these two beeing, as it were, the two Poles wheron the whole world else is turned) the spirite of Christ hath wrought in those that are his, …uch a measure of sanctification, that they minde and breath nothing but Heauen, and heauenly things. If it thūder that (say they) is the voyce of our heauenly Father; If they cast their eyes to those visible heauens, there (say they) is the curtaine, or base court of our inheritance among the Sa…nts.
If they heare musicke, Oh (say they) what harmony do the Angels make in Heauen? If they behold the earth and the glory therof, they say,
If God hauehave prouided such a place of pleasure for vsus on earth in this our prison; What glory is that hee hath layde vp for vsus in heauen.
In all occurrences of their life, they sauour nothing but of God and goodnesse. In a Word, they liue not, but Christ liueth in them. Gal. 2. 20.For this is indeed the true beeing of Christians, wholy to giuegive ouer themselues to bee guided by Gods holy iustifying Spirite.
Their life is to liue in the Spirite, their passages are to walke in the spirite, If they resolue, their station is in the spirite. If they bee deuoute, They pray in the Spirite.
Al their whole seruice of God,Iohn 6. is to Worship him in spirit and truth. Otherwise, those that hauehave not this spirite, that is, are not guided thereby, are none of his: Rom. 8.For as in the creation of the World,Gen. 1. The spirite of God moued vponupon the waters; So certainely now in the Regeneration, and new birth of the Christian World: the Spirite of God moueth vponupon the affections of our harts, to turn the riuers in the south, that is, to turne the streame of our actions and courses of our life to the Ocean, the liuing God, For hee hath made vsus for him selfe, and therefore our hearts are neuer quiet,Aug. lib. 1. Confess. vntill wee returne vntounto the Lord our God againe.
When Christ therefore speaketh,Application hee speaketh by the spirit to the Churches for the Scripture sayth,Apoc. 3 Let him that hath an eare to heare, heare what the spirite sayth to the Churches.
The Comforter also of Gods Church is the spirite, which is Gods gift vntounto his, and doth Witnesse with the spirite, Rom. 8.That wee are the sonnnes of God.
There is the certainty of the subiect of our Faith, The spirite doth make intercession for vsus, with sighes vnutterable.
There is the breath of our prayers, and doth helpe our infirmities, There is the stay and pillar of all our happinesse,Cor. 15. The first Adam being a liuing soule, but the second Adam a quickning spirite: For they are quickned, in whom this blessed spirite dwelleth, both toward God in the spirite of faith, and holy vnion, and in the spirite of zeale being rauished for the hope of Heauen, as appeared in the blessed Martyres, and also quickned towardes others in the spirite of charity, keeping the vnity of the spirite in the bonde of peace, in the spirit of meekenesse, and placabilitie being easie to bee entreated for Christs sake. Quickened in themselues in the Spirit of sanctification,1 Ioh. 3. purging themselues for their assured hope of Heauen, and in the spirit of sinceritie,Mich. 6. Doing iustly in all their actions with all men.
To this purpose, the earnest of the Spirit is giuen the Elect, euen in this life, neuer to be taken away, but to bee made vp (for that is the … of an earnest) and the pledge of the spirite, as an hostage to secure them; the seale of the promise to sanctifie them, and the spirit it selfe being the Doctor of trueth, to leade them into all truth, that their sensuall part may bee guided by right reason, theyr reason ordered by faith, and their faith illuminated, sanctified, and ledde on by the Spirite of God. Indeede to them that seeke, not after God, this directiō of his most holy spirite is hateful, and the reason is very plaine. Euen because this sacred spirite of the eternall God,Iohn 16, Rebuketh the world of sinne, of righteousnes and of iudgement.
It rebuketh the world of sinne, because the wicked world beleeueth not, which is the Sinne of Sinnes, as I may so say, but is fraught with furious spirits of blind ignorāce, and desperatefolly, which cast thousands into fires, and waters of misperswasion, and misbeleefe, and these worldlings are caught away with vnpure spirites of sensuall security; which possesse them both with dumbnes & deafenesse, that they can neyther speake of God, but in their blasphemous cursinges and swearings, nor heare of God, without great wearisomnesse and discontent,
This sacred spirite also rebuketh the world of righteousnesse, because, sayeth Christ, I goe the right way vntounto the Father; but the world is ledde by witte worshippes, will worships, and other such deuises of singularity & conceited righteousnesse of mans many inuentions.
Some with Anabaptisme,Eccles. 7. which is the diuell in an Angell of light, and some with Iesuitisme, which is a subtil & slie Antichrist in the Church And this holy spirit rebuketh the world of Iudgement, because the Prince of this world is iudged already, and the vnbeleeuers his vassalls, and slaues, are iudged with him, and are reserued for the further iudgement, and vtter darkenesse of these vnpure spirites, that are already in chaines to be brought forth in the great audite of Christ, and end of the world. For what deuoute soule trembleth not? yea shuddereth not with horror, to know that Sathan is the God of this world,2 Cor. 4. 4. and to conceiue that seuen spirites of euil, yea Legions of vncleane spirites. may obsesse, possesse, and hellifie the soule, and bodie of one man, or of one woman.
I wonder that the whole frame and fabrique of nature, shaketh and quaketh not to beare, and heare those hellish and diuelish miscreants, that when the seruants of GOD preach solemnely, soberly, & seriously, in the power, zeale and abundance of their spirit, say to them, as Festus sayd to Paul, This man is beside himselfe, much learning makes him mad; and say to others, as the Iewes to the Apostles, when they had receyued the gift of the holy spirit.
These men are drunke with wine; or else take vponupon them in the diuelish and damnable pride of their owne hearts, to direct the whole world, in the misperswasion of their own singular and priuate spirite, not in order to God, as they pretend, but in confusion to the diuell, as the ende shewes.
So did Iohn of Leidon, Nipper Doling, Chreiton, and others of that crew of wretched miscreants, who at Munster in their enraged and rebellious route cryed out (being led by a cursed spirite of their owne) nothing but Depose, kill, murther, meaning those sober and moderate Christians, that withstoode their brainesicke fury, and Anabaptisticall fanaticall folly, and in all that outrage pretended nothing; but that they were guided thereunto by the spirite. So doe those that are engaged into the spirite of Antichrist, and enraged with the poysoned cup of the strū pet of Romish Babylon, her spiritual fornication, who speak, write, and practise prepensed wickednesse, as did Cardinal Como to Parrie the traytor,This Record remaines in the acts of Parrie his arraignmēt. what time hee intended; nay receyued their consecrated host with the saide Cardinall to kill our late Queene Elizabeth of pretious memorie, signifying by letter vntounto him, that the then Pope Gregorie the thirteenth, as by the Credentiall note included in the letter, he might see, doubted not but that the same spirite, which moued him to so good a worke, as to kill the Queene, would certainely assist him to the performance thereof.
Oh barbarous spirite of brutish Popery, So do those that scoffe at the gifts of the Spirite in their brethren, saying to those whom they see reuearing, and yeelding obedience to the power of Gods grace, and counselling others to be guided & gouerned thereby. Oh Sir, you are so full of the spirite that it runs out of your nose. Oh sir, the spirite moueth you.
This and the like hellish language, I say, is an amazement vntounto good men, to thinke there should be any fo damnably prophane, and so desperately wicked, especially among Christians, who professe in their holy Creede, to beleeue in the holy spirite, and acknowledge that in the power of that spirit, They liue, moue, Act 16.and hauehave their being, yea and they feele themselues oft times quickned from the dulnesse of sinne by the same spirit, vntounto the motion, and life of grace,Rom. 2. wherby they are made vnexcusable.
And professe further, that they beleeue that they shall bee raysed vppe out of their dust, and from the bands and fetters of the graue, by the operation of this powerfull and blessed spirite vntounto eternall glory, by that mighty working whereby it is able to subdue allPhil. 3. things vntounto it selfe.
This (I say) is a great consternation and amazement vntounto a Christian heart, and causeth oft times many good soules to quake and shudder to see, and behold such desperate scornings, and reprochful contumelies among such, as professe they beleeue in God.
The serious consideration whereof (I am perswaded) would eftsoones trouble the mindes of many other, with grieuous distractions and disturbances, had not the holy booke of God in two most pregnant places of the new Testament, set foorth to the life, both of the Apostacie of faith, and irregularity of good manners, which the spirit of God prophesyeth should happen in these last and worst ages of the world. For Saint Paul teacheth the Bishoppe of Ephesus, That the spirite speaketh euidently,1. Tim. 4. 1. That in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, and shall giuegive heede to spirites of error, and doctrines of Diuels.
The spirites of error are such, in whome there is no sound trueth of GOD, but mingled and mangled with humane traditions, no conscience of good, but iustifyings of their owne inuentions.
The doctrines of diuels are prohibitions of marriage, and superstitious abstaining from meates, as the Text speaketh, And I take those spirits of errors, and doctrines of diuels, are no where to be foūd in the Christian Church more pregnant, for we must not looke for them among Turkes and Pagans, because this Prophesie reuealeth what shall happen in the Church, and amongst professors of Christ, but in the Papacy only, which in the later times, that is, some sixe hundred yeares agoe, or thereaboutes, vtterly fell away from the verity of the faith of Christ, and gaue heede to the spirites of errors, & doctrines of diuels, intending nothing else thereby but the subuersion of the Primitiue purity of Religion, and conuersion of the internall beauty of the Church of Christ, into an externall, and pompous lustre of humane policie.
And againe Saint Paul sheweth by the euidence of the same spirite,2. Tim. 3. That in the last dayes, which are these worst dayes of ours, should come perillous times, wherein men should bee louers of themselues, couetous boasters, proud, cursed speakers, disobedient to parents, vnthankefull, vnholy, without naturall affections, truce breakers, false accusers, intemperate, fierce, no louers at all of them that are good, traytors, beady, high minded, louers of pleasure more then of God, hauing a shew of Godlinesse, but hauehave denied the power thereof, from which Saint Paul counselleth to turne away.
These (Men and Brethren) These, I say, are the faithlesse and fruitlesse spirites of vanity, the dissolute children of disobedience, and cloudes without water, who despite the spirite of grace, Quench the light of the Gospell, Act. 19.and know not whether there bee an holy Ghost or no.
But (Men and Brethren) Hearken, whosoeuer offendeth of infirmity, offendeth against God the Father, who is power and strength, and whosoeuer offendeth of ignorance, sinneth against God the Sonne, who is wisedome, and these finnes are pardonable, but who so sinneth against the Holy Ghost, the spirite of truth and charity, his sinnes are irremisible.
Let him therefore that hath an eare, heare what the Spirite sayth vntounto the Churches: For the Spirites of the Prophets are subiect to the Prophetes. Bee men neuer so profoundly learned, or so well conceyted of themselues.
Christ Iesus who was our Reconciliation on earth, by his Incarnation, Life, and Passion, is now our Aduocation in heauen, at the right hand of God the Father, by his continual Mediation, and is our dayly Comforter, (as Saint Bernard speaketh) by mouing,In occulto, ait Bernard. stirring, and inclining our harts to beleeue, and our wils, and consciences to the obedience of faith, and to the endeauour, care and study of all sacred duties. Are not they then in a most desperate and wofull estate and condition, thinke you, who despise and despite this Reconciliation, Aduocation, Mediation, & Consolation of Gods spirit, who continue in that sinne, for which there is neyther sacrifice, no… oblation to bee offered, that can doe them, or theirs any good who resist the Spirite of Christ, albeit it stand at the dore of their hearts and consciences, and craue for entrance, who grieue the spirite of God by their vile and beastlie liuing, and quench out the light thereof by their ouer-flowings of malitiousnesse, which otherwise would shine and glitter, like the sparkles of a diamond in the middest of our naughtie Natures; and in a word, who hauehave in them no gifte, grace, condition, qualitie, sparke or resemblance of Gods spirite whatsoeuer they may brag, and boast thereof, out of their owne deceiueable seemings, but only this, that their goodnesse, so Anabaptistically are they besotted, cannot be seen as the holy Ghost is inuisible.
And no lesse lamentable are the cauils of those which obiect, That the Iesuites (whom wee so vilifie) boast also that they are led by the spirite, as if most damnable heretiques did not make the same plea; but the practise of the Nobles of Baroa is a satisfactory answere for that, and all other cauils of that frie: for they searched the Scriptures:Act. 17. To see whether or no the thinges were so that they heard the Apostles preach; but the spirite of Iesuitisme dare not abide that triall, nor any other like spirit of error.
Another saith, there bee so manie that vaunte of the spirit, that I knowe not which I should adhere vntounto, but Saint Paul giueth a rule for that. Neuerthelesse (saith he) wherevnto wee hauehave already attained, Let vsus march by the same rule, Phil. 3. 16.(which is the sacred Scriptures) that wee may minde the same thing.
This plainely sheweth vsus, that we must adhere to none, for our direction to God, but such as adhere to Gods Oracle, the Sacred scriptures, and are guided thereby.
Yea, but another vrgeth further (and saith) wee see that those that professe themselues to bee guided by the Scriptures, and by the spirit thereof, doe differ. What then? All men hauehave not Faith, albeit in number and profession they be of the Church, (as S. Austine speaketh:) & hence it is that they cannot accord: For what communion hath light with darknes…: or Faith with infidelitie? Yea, euen amongst them that hauehave Faith, some hauehave a greater, and some a lesser portion thereof, according to their knowledge, by Gods dispensation: & hence it is oft times that they cannot accord in all things, at all times, for there is a procession from faith to faith, yet all may holde the Fundamentall grounds, and principles, in blessed diuinitie: albeit they differ in some particulars, because some hauehave already attained to that measure of grace, which another… may attaine vntounto in some time after.
This therefore is an infall… ble rule of S. Iohn: 1. Ioh▪ 4.We are of God, hee that knoweth God, heareth vsus: Hee that is not of God, heareth not vsus: Hereby knowe we the… spirite of Error, and the spirite of Truth. That is as S. Augustine expounds it, If any man take vppon him to expound the scriptures, A se.albeit it bee euen by himselfe, with inuocation of GOD, who assists by his holie spirite, and the spiritual man discerneth all things,1. Cor: 2. the internall vnction, directing him in all things, and leading him into all truth: To this man wee are bound to hearken, and his doctrine to embrace, albeit thousands gaine say it, as the Councell of Nice hearkened to Paphnutius being but one man against the whole route, and rabble of Pseudo Catholiques.
But if any man vndertake to doe it of himselfe, of his owne priuate, and singular spirite without warrant, and directiō of Gods spirit which counselleth and guideth by the word onelyonly: It is the Spiders webbe, the Cockatrice egge, the fome of the sea, the fume of the bottomlesse pitte, & wee may vndoubtedly disauow it, and defie it.
I conclude then, that this foundation standeth firme & sound, and may satisfie the soule of any beleeuer, to wit, that God is manifested in the flesh, by beeing baptized as man: Iustified in the Spirite, by forgiuing sinnes as God: Manifested in the flesh, by being tempted as man, Iustified in the spirite, as God by ouercomming for vsus the world, the flesh and the Diuell.
Manifested in the flesh, by beeing hungry as man, Iustified in the spirite, as God, by feeding thousands aboundātly with a very small pittance: Manifested in the flesh, by enduring thirst as man: Iustified in the spirite, as God, by calling those that are thirstie vntounto the waters of Life, that they might neuer thirst any more. Manifested in the flesh, by praying as man, Iustified in the spirite, by hearing the prayers of others as God. Manifested in the flesh, by weeping as man: Iustified in the spirite, by wiping all teares f…om our eyes as our God. Manifested in the flesh, by being sold for thirty peeces of siluer, as a man, Iustified in the Spirite as God by redeeming the world with his bloud, a price pricelesse, peerelesse. M… nifested in the flesh, beeing led as a sheepe to the slaughter, as man, Iustified in the spirite, by triumphing ouer death and hell, and by leading captiuity captiue, as God… Manifested in the flesh, by dying as man, Iustified in the spirit, as God, by rising againe from the dead, by ascending into heauen, by sitting at the right hand of the Father, whence we expecting him to come againe in the end of the world with Maiestie and great glory, to iudge both the quicke and the dead.
Come Lord Iesus, Come quickly. O holy spirit of purity and power, assist my weake and feeble spirit, to bee lift vp vntounto thee in prayer.
Oh righteous God,Inuocation. and most merciful Father in Iesus Christ, to whome the spirites of the iust are always, and eueryevery where lift vp, remember mee in thy great goodnes. For I acknowledge and confesse vntounto thee my many and manifolde infirmities, wretchednesses, and wickednesses, both in the sinnes of my body, and also in the sinnes of my soule.
Now a long time O Lord I hauehave bin grieuously tēptead with the spirits, not of infirmitie only which dwell in my flesh, but with foule & filthy spirits, of pride, ambition, enuie, worldly pollicie, & other vile & vaine deceitfulnes of mine own heart, and oft times with lothsom and vgly spirits of lust, adultry, gluttony, drūkenes, wantonesse, & many other such like euills, which haunt me daily eyther in thought, word, or deed, and seeke to har…our, in my polluted flesh, giuing me no rest, nor respite, but are still seeking, and daily assayling to ruinate and run ouer me: and are dayly fighting and troubling me. I hauehave sinned O Lord, I hauehave sinned, I hauehave done euil in thy fight, and these euills are punishments vntounto mee for the same.
It is I Oh Lord, it is I, and it seemeth to me that it is none but I that euer sinned so hainously against thee, I seeme to my selfe of all others to be the most miserable, most distressed, and most wretched creature on the earth.
What shall I doe, O Creator of heauen and of earth? Thou preseruer of mankinde, whether shal I flye from these vgly Monsters, that thus pursue my soule, and daylie seeke to preuaile against me? I know not where to be safe from them, but onelyonly to flye vntounto thee, Oh Lord, who onelyonly canst still the raging and the roaring of the great waters when they arise and swell: who onelyonly canst chaine the Diuell when hee is …rampant, and ready to deuoure; and who onelyonly canst cast out the vncleane spirite with a worde, that they neuer enter any more.
Now therefore come I to thee, O King of Saints, shewing to thee my malady, my misery, my mo…rning, how I lye here among the graues of the deade, and torment my selfe, being possessed with the rage, and hell of my misdeedes, and crie after thee, O sonne of Dauid, hauehave mercy vponupon mee, and deliuer mee by the power of thy might, by thy stretched out arme, and by one touch of thy sacred goodnesse, that it may dispossesse Sathan, the strong man of his hold, that it may heale me, and cast out the vncleane spirites, and may vtterly abandon sinne, shame and Sathan farre from me, and from my dwellings.
Take from mee for Christ his sake mine owne wretched spirit of infidelitie, pride, mallice, and vnconstancie, and grant vntounto me O Lord, in steed thereof thy blessed spirit of truth, humilitie, charitie, and perseuering constancy. Oh take from me, O Lord, mine owne spirit of vncleanenesse, couetousnesse, flouthfulnesse, and bestow vponupon me in steed thereof, thine holy spirit of purenesse, liberalitie, and of all carefull, and Christian circumspection.
Take from me, deare Father, mine owne spirit of crookednesse wherwith I hauehave beene vexed, and bowed together for many yeares, and grant mee thy Spirit of power to raise me vp, and thy strength that I may resist sinne in these dayes of my combating, that I may so resolutely deuoute my selfe to the…, and to thy sacred seruice, that I may neuer more hearken to subtill and enticing spirits of pleasure, of errors, of impietie. O sacred spirit that didst moue vponupon the waters in the creation of the world, now moue the streames and fountains of my life, in my regeneration, and new birth.
Shake the very foundations of my soule, that the image of Christ Iesus may bee repayred in me, which I vile wretch by my sinnes hauehave miserably deformed and defaced O blessed spirit help mine infirmities, heale my imperfections, compassionate my miseries, and make intercession for me, with sighes vnutterable, which will hauehave no nay. That I may feele my selfe comforted by thee, the spirit of consolation in all the wayes of godlinesse, that I may perceiue my selfe to bee led on into all truth and veritie and may at the last assure mine owne spirit by thy blessed testimony, that I am a child of thy gratious adoption.
O blessed Iesus that wast declared mightely to be the son of God, by the powerfull spirit of sanctification, and by rising from the dead, that didst vanquish & vtterly abandon all the powers, all the houres of darkenesse, and spirits of error and misbeleefe, remoue farre from mee all heathenish, Pagan, and Popish idolatrie, all confidence in any creature, all flattering of mine ownselfe, that the pure light of thy reuealed truth may shine into my heart, that I may euer worship thee in spirit and truth, as thou hast commanded. And, O God, make my life holy, innocent, modest, and honest in thy sight, that I may see my heart repayred, and renued by thy spirit of grace, to walke before thee in godly and sincere integritie of conuersation, all the remainder of my wretched dayes. So am I assured Sathan shall neuer circumuent me, nor the world deceiue me, or mine owne flesh intice mee, or enforce me from thy holy and sacred directions, but if I fall, I shall rise againe, if I turne away at any time, I shall returne againe. So shall I euer magnifie thy name, and multiplie prayses vntounto thy maiestie, and ascribe vntounto thee honor, and praise all my life long.
Grant these mercies vntounto me O father of comfort, and power, for thy couenants sake made vntounto mankinde in the iustification of thy Sonne Christ Iesus, both for the sanctitie of his life, for the suffering of his death, and for the continuall intercession, and mediation of his eternall priesthood, hee now sitting at thy right hand for vsus in Mai…stie and great glory, and remaining a Priest for euer after the order of M…lchisedech.
Behold vsus wretches, O holy Ghost, whose soules cleaue vntounto the ground, quicken vsus with thy might, and lift vsus vp from the grossenesse of our corruption, to our spirituall beeing in Iesus Christ, that wee may liue in the spirit, louelove in the spirit, pray in the spirit, and bee led thereby continually into all good actions, being thereby purged and purified, both in our spirits, soules, and bodyes, from all dead and damnable workes of the flesh, the world and the diuell. That so at the last wee may through thy fauour, O God, bee perfectly vnited vntounto thee in the spirit of sanctification, in this life, and in the euerlasting spirit of thy power be brought to our glorification in the other life, through Iesus Christ our Lord, Amen.