A Godly Meditation, Title page
❧ A Godlye Medytacyon compoſed by the faithfull and conſtant ſeruant of God I. B. … laſtlye was burnte in … for the teſtimonie of Ieſus Chriſte, by the tyrannye of Antechriſte in his fyl… … members.
¶ Pſalme lxxix. O Lorde let the vengeaunce of thy ſeruauntes bloude that is ſhedde be openlye ſhowed vponupon the vngodlye in oure ſight. O let the ſorowful, lighting of the priſoners come before thee▪ and accordinge to the greatnes of thy power preſerue thou thoſe that are appoynted to dye.
O Almightye and euerlaſting Lord god the deer father of our ſauiour Ieſus Chriſt, which haſte made heauē, & earth, the ſea and al that therin is, whiche art the onelyonly ruler, gouernor, conſeruor, & keper of all thinges, together with thy deerly beloued ſonne Chriſt Ieſus our lord, and with thy holy ghoſte the cōforter. O holy, Righteous and wyſe. O ſtrōg, terrible, mighty and ferfull Lorde god, iudge of all men, and gouernour of al the whole world O exorable, paciēt, and moſt gracious father, whoſe eyes ar vppō the wayes of all men, and are ſo cleane, they cannot a byede impitye, thou ſearcheſt the hartes and tryeſt the verye thaughtes, and raynes of all men, thou hateſt ſin and abhorreſt iniquitie: for ſyns ſake thou haſte greuouſly puniſſhed mankind thy moſt dere creature as thou haſte declared by the penalty of death layed vpō al the children of Adam, by the caſtyng out of Adam & his of ſpring forth of Paradice, by the curſing of the earthe, by the drowninge of the world, by the burning vp of Sodom and gomor, by the hardning the harte of Pharao, ſo that no miracle could cōuert him, by the drowning of hym, and his people wt him in the red ſea, by the ouerthrowing of the Iſrahelytes in the wildernes, ſo that of ſyx hundreth thouſand, all onelyonly but two did enter into the land of promis, by reiecting kinge Saule, by the greate poniſhmentes vppon thy ſeruaūt dauid, not withſtanding his harty repētance by greuouſly aff…cting Salamon in him ſelfe, and in his poſteritie: by the captiuitie of the ten tribes, and by the thraldom of the Iewes, wherein vntill this preſent daye they continue a notable ſpectacle, of they wrath to the worlde agaynſt and for ſinne, but of all ſpectacles of thy angre agaynſt ſin, ye greateſt and moſte notable, is the death & bloudy paſſion of thy deerly beloued ſon Iheſus Chriſt. Greate is thine angre agaynſt ſyn when in heauen and earth nothing could befoūd which might appeaſe thy wrath, ſaue the bloudſheading of thyne onelyonly & moſte deerly beloued ſon, in whome was and is al thy delight, great is the ſore of ſin that needed ſuche a ſalue, myghty was the mallady, that needed ſuche a medicine. Yf in Chriſte in whome was no ſynne, thy wrath was ſo ferce for our ſinne, that he was conſtreyned to crye my god, my god why haſte thou forſaken me, howe greate and importable then is thyne angre agaynſte vsus whiche are nothinge but ſinfull. They that ar thy childrē through the contemplation of thyne angre againſt ſinne, ſet forthe moſt euidently in the death of Chriſt, Do tremble & ar affraide, lamenting them ſelues vppon him (and hartely cryeng for mercy) Where as the wicked, ar altogether careles & contemptuous, nothing lamenting their iniquities or crying to the hartely for mercy and pardō, amongſt whome we ar rather to be placed, then amongſt thy children, for that we ar ſo ſhameleſſe for our ſyn, and careleſſe for thy wrathe, which we may wel ſay to be moſt greuous againſt vsus, and euidently ſet forthe in the taking awaye of our good King and thy true religion, in thexiel of thy ſeruaūtes, pryſonmēt of thy people, myſery of thy children, and death of thy ſainctes. Alſo by the placinge ouer vsus in Aucthoritie thy enemies, by ye ſucceſſe thou geueſt them in all they take in hande, by the returninge agayne in to our countrey of Antechriſt the pope. All theſe as they do preache vntounto all the worlde (but ſpecially vntounto vsus) thy greuous wrath, ſo do they ſet before our eyes, our iniquities and ſinnes, which hauehave deſerued the ſame, for thou arte Iuſte and holy in all thy workes thy iudgementes ar righteous altogether, it is we, it is we that hauehave ſinned, & procured theſe plages we hauehave ben vnthankfull wretches, and moſte carnall goſſpelers therfore to vsus parteyneth ſhame, and nothinge elſe is due but confuſion. For we hauehave don very wickedly, we hauehave heaped ſinne vpō ſinne, ſo that the meaſure hath ouer flowed, and Aſcend…d vp to heauen, and brought theſe plages, which are but earneſt for greater to enſue, & yet alas we are altogether caerleſſe, in maner, what ſhall we doe? What ſhall we ſay? Who can geue vsus pen…ēt hartes? Who can open our lips, that our mouthes might make acceptable cōfeſſion vntounto thee. Alas of our ſelues we cannot thinke any good, muche leſſe wiſhe it, and leaſte of all do it, as for Angelles or anye other creatures, they hauehave nothing, but that which they hauehave receaued, & they ar made to miniſter vntounto vsus ſo that where it paſſeth the powre of the maſter, ſhe miniſter muſte nedes want, Alas then what ſhal we doe? Thou arte holy & we vnholye, thou arte good, and we nothynge but euill, thou arte pure, we all together impure, thou arte light, and we moſte darke darkenes, how then can ther be any conueniency or agremēt betwixt vsus, O what nowe may we doe? Diſpayre? no, for thou art god, & therfore good thou art mercyfull, and therfore thou forgeueſt ſinnes, wt thee is mercye and propiciation, and therefore thou arte worſhipped, when Adam had ſinned thou gaueſt him mercy before he deſyred it, & wilt thou denye vsus mercye whiche nowe deſyer the ſame, Adam excuſed his faulte and accuſed yt, but we accuſe our ſelues, and excuſe thee, & ſhall we be ſent emptye awaye? Noye founde fauor when thy fury a boūdyd and ſhal we ſeking grace be fruſtrate? Abraham was pulled oute of ydolatrye when the worlde was drowned therin, and art thou his god onelye? Iſraell in captiuitie in Egipt was gratiouſlye viſited and deliuered and deer God, the ſame good lord, ſhall we alwaies be forgotten? Howe often in the wildernes diddeſt thou defer, and ſpar thy plages, at the requeſt of Moyſes when the people them ſelues made no petition to thee. And ſeynge we not onelye nowe make our petitiōs vntounto the throughe thy goodneſſe, but alſo hauehave a mediator for vsus now far aboue Moyſes, euen Iheſus Chriſte: ſhould we I ſaye deere lorde, departe aſhamed? So ſoone as Dauid ſaid I hauehave ſinned, thou diddeſt forthe wyth anſwer to hym that he ſhould not dye, thou haddeſt taken away his ſinnes, And gracious god, euen the ſelfe ſame god, ſhal not we which now with Dauid gladlye confeſſe that we hauehave ſinned, ſhall we I ſaye not heare, by thy good ſprite, that our ſynnes be pardoned. O graunte that wt Manaſſes we maye finde fauor and mercye remember that thou haſt not ſpared thyne owne onelyonly dereſone Ieſus Chriſt, but geuen hym for vsus all to dye, for our ſinnes, to ryſe for our righteouſnes, to aſſend for our poſſeſſiō taking in heauen, and to appere before thee for vsus for euer, a high prieſte after the order of Melchiſadech that throughe hym we might hauehave fre acceſſe to come to thy throane, now rather of grace then of Iuſtice, Remember that thou by him haſt biddē aſke and promiſed that we ſhould receaue, ſaying aſke and ye ſhal hauehave, ſeke and ye ſhall finde, knocke and it ſhalbe opened vntounto you. O thou Dere god and moſte meke and mercifull father, we hartely beſeche the to be mercifull vntounto vsus, for this thy Chriſtis ſake, for his Deathes ſake, for thy promiſſe truethe, and mercyes ſake, hauehave mercy vponupon vsus, pardon & forgeue vsus al our Sinnes, iniquites, and treſpacis, what ſo euer we cōmitted agaynſt the, in thought word or Dede, euer or at any tyme hetherto by any means, Der father hauehave mercy vponupon vsus thoughe we be pore, yt our chriſt is Riche, thoughe we be Sinners yet he is righteous, though we be fools, yet is he wiſe, thoughe we be Inpure yet he is pure, and holye, for his ſake therefore be mercyfull vntounto vsus, Cal to mynde how thou haſte promiſed that thou wilte powre out of thy cleane waters, and waſhe vsus from our fylth, & clence vsus from our euilles, forget not that thou haſt promyſed to take from vsus our ſtony hartes, & Doeſt promis to geue vsus ſauft hartes, newe hartes & to put into the middes of vsus right Sprites, Remember thy couenate namely howe thou wilt be our god and we ſhall be thy people, forgette not the partes of it, that is to put owte of thy memory for euer all vnrighteouſnes, and to write in our myndes and hartes thy lawe and teſtymonyes, Remēber that thou doeſt ſtreightly charg vsus to hauehave none other godes but the, ſaying that thou art the lord our gad. O thē declare the ſame to vsus all, we hartelye nowe beſeche the forgeue vsus our ſinnes, forget our iniquitis, clence vsus frō our filthines, waſhe vsus frō our wickednes, powre out thy holy ſprite vpō vsus, take frō vsus our harde harts, our ſtony harts, our impenitēt harts, oure diſtruſtinge and doubtfull harts, our carnal our ſecure, our ydle, our beaſtlye hartes, our impure, malicious, arrogant, enuious, wrathfull, impatient, couetous, hipocriticall and epicuriall hartes, & in place thereof geue vsus newe hartes, ſaft hartes, faithful hartes, mercifull hartes, louing, obediēt, chaeſt pure, holy, righteous, trewe ſimple, lowly, and patient hartes, to feare thee, to louelove thee, truſte in thee for euer, write thy lawe in our hartes, graue it in our mindes, we hertely beſeche the geue vsus that ſprite of prayer, make vsus diligent & happy in the workes of our vocation, take in to thy cuſtody and gouernaunce for euer, our ſoules and bodyes, oure lyues, and all that euer we hauehave, tempt vsus neuer further, thē thou wilt make vsus able to beare, & what ſo euer thou knoweſt we hauehave nede of in ſoul or body, deer god and gracious father, vouchſafe to geue vsus that ſame in thy good tyme and alwayes, as thy children guide vsus, ſo that our life maye pleaſe the and our deathes prayſe the through Ieſus Chriſt our lorde, for whoſe ſake we hartely praye the to graūt theſe thinges thus aſked, & al other things neceſſary for ſoule and bodye, not only to vsus, but to all others alſo, for whome thou woldeſt that we ſhoulde praye, ſpeciallye for they children, that be in thraldom, in exyel, in priſon, miſery, heauines, pouertye, ſycknes. Be mercifull to al the whole realme of Englād graunte vsus al trewe repentaūce, mitigation of our myſerye, and yf it be thy good will, thy holye worde and Religion amongſt vsus once agayne, pardō our enemies, perſecutors, and ſlaunderers, and yf it be thy pleaſure, turne their hartes, be mercyful vntounto our parentes, Brethern and Siſters, frendes, kinſfolkes and famelis neighbours, and ſuche as by any meanes thou haſte coupled and lincked vsus by louelove, or otherwyſe, and vntounto vsus pore ſinners here gathered together in thy holy name, graunt vsus thy bleſſing and holy ſprite to ſanctify vsus, and dwel in vsus, as thy dere childrē to kepe vsus, this day and for euer, from all euill to thy eternal glory, and our euerlaſting comfort and the profet of thy churche, which mercyfullye, maynteyne thereſhe and comforte, ſtrengthning them that ſtonde, ſo that they neuer fall, liftinge vp them that be falne and kepe vsus from fallynge, from thy truthe, throughe the merites of thy deerly beloued ſonne Ieſus Chriſt our onelyonly ſauiour, which lyueth and Reigneth with the & the holy ghoſt, to whom be all praiſe and honor both nowe and for euer. Amen.
¶When you awake out of your ſlepe pray thus.
OH moſte dere father of our Sauioure Ieſus Chriſte, whome none doeth know but of thy gift graunt that to the manyfolde greate benefytes of thy goodnes geuen to me, this whiche of all other is moſte, m… be added, that like as thou haſte awaked my body from ſlepe, ſo thou woldeſt throughlye awake yea deliuer mi ſoule frō the ſlepe of ſin and darknes of this world and that whiche now is awaked out of ſlepe, thou wouldeſt, after deathe reſtore to lyfe for that is but ſlepe to the whiche is death to vsus, Deere god I moſte hartely beſeche, and humbly pray thy goodnes, to make my body ſuch a companiō, or rather a miniſter of godlynes, to my ſoule, in this preſent lyfe, that ī the life to cum it may parte take with the ſame euerlaſtinge happines by Ieſus Chriſt our Lorde. Awake thou that ſleepeſt and ariſe frome the deed, and Chriſt ſhal ſhewe light vntounto thee. Epheſians. v.
¶Occaſions to meditate.
HEre call to minde the great myrth and bliſſednes, of the euerlaſtynge reſurrection, Alſo remembre to muſe vpō that mooſte cleare lyght and brighte morenynge, and new clearenes of oure bodyes after the longe darkenes it hath ben in, all then ſhalbe full of ioye.
❧ So ſoone as you beholde the daye lyght pray.
O Lorde thou greateſt and moſte trewe light, whence this lyght of the day and ſunne dothe ſprynge, O lyght whiche doeſt lyghten, eueryevery manne that commeth in to this worlde, Oh lyght whiche knoweſt no nyght nor eueninge, but art alwayes a midday moſt cleere & fayre with out whom al is moſt darke darknes bi whō albe moſt ſplēdent O thou wiſdome of the eternall father of mercis, lighten my mind that I maye onelyonly ſe thoſe thinges that pleaſe the, and maye be blinded to all other thinges.
Graunte that I maye walke in thy wayes, and that nothing els may be light and pleaſaunt vntounto me. Lighten mine eies, Oh lord, that I ſlepe not in deathe, leaſte myne enemies ſaye I hauehave preuayled agaynſt him.
¶Occaſions to meditate.
MVſe a little how much the light and eye of the minde and ſoule is better then of the bodye. Alſo that we care more for the ſoule to ſe well, then for the body. Thinke that beaſtes hauehave bodely eies and therwith ſe, but men hauehave eies of the minde and therewith ſhould ſee.
¶When you ariſe pray.
OVre fyrſte father tombled downe him ſelfe, frō a moſt excelent high & honorable eſtate into the miex of miſery, and depe ſea of ſhame & miſcheffe, but Oh Chriſt thou putting forthe thine hand dideſt raiſe hym vp, euen ſo we except we be lift vp of the, ſhall lye ſtyll for euer. O good Chriſt our moſt gratious redemer, graūt yt as thou doeſt mercifully, reiſe vsus now this my bodie and burden, euen ſoo, I beſeche the raiſe vp my minde and harte to the lighte of the trewe knowledge of the louelove of thee, that my conuerſacion may be in heauen wher thou art. Yf thou be riſen, with Chriſte thinke vpō thoſe thinges that be aboue.
¶ Occaſions to meditate.
THinke Sum thynge howe fowle and filthye that Adams fal was by reaſon of ſynne, and ſo of euerye one of vsus from the heigth of goddes grace Againe thinke vponupon the greate benefite of Chriſt, by whoſe help wee doe daylye aryſe from our fallynges.
¶When you Apparell yourſelfe Praye.
O Chriſt cloeth me with thin owne ſelfe, that I maye be ſo far from makynge prouiſion for my fleſhe to fulfyll the luſtes of yt, that I maye cleane put of all my carnal deſiers, and crucefy the kyngdom of ye fleſhe in me, Be thou vntounto me a wede to warme me, from catching the colde of this world, yf thou be a wai frō me (dere lord) al thinges wilbe vntounto me forthwith colde, weake dede. &c. But yf thou be with me al things wilbe warme lyuelye, freſhe. &c. graunt therfore that as I compas this my body with this cote, ſo thou woldeſt cloth me wholy (but ſpetiallye my ſoule) wyth thyne owne ſelfe. Put vponupon you as the elect of god, bowelles of mercy, mekenes, louelove, peace. &c.
❧ Occaſions to meditate.
CAl to mynd a lytle how we are incorperate into chriſt, againe how he doeth cloth vsus noriſh vsus vnderunder his wings, ptettiō, & prouidēce, preſerue vsus. &
¶ When you ar made redy, to begyn the day wythall praye.
O God and mercyful father thou knoweſte and haſte taught vsus to knowe ſumthyng, that the weaknes of man is much, and that withoute thy grace and vertue, he can do nor thinke no good thing, HaueHave mercy vponupon mee, I humbly doe beſeche thee whiche am thy moſte vnworthye, and mooſte weake childe, O be gracious and tender towards me, lightē me that I maye with pleaſure looke vpō good thinges onelyonly, exhorte me that I may couet them carefully leade me that I may folow and at the length attaine them, I diſtruſting my ſelfe altogether cō mende and offer my ſelfe wholy ſoule, body, life &c. Into thy handes. Thy louing ſprite leade me foorth vntounto the lande of righteouſnes.