A progresse of pietie. Or the harbour of heauenly harts ease to recreate the afflicted soules of all such as are shut vp in anye inward or outward affliction. By Iohn Norden.

A motion to a Prayer for the forgiuenes of our sinnes.

HAuing thus cast our selues downe before our God in true hu∣militie, wherein wee haue acknowledged that we are so polluted with sins, and so tyed with the chaines of death, that there is no euasion or meane in our selues, or by our selues to escape the snares of Sa∣than, that lurketh lik a roaring Ly∣on seeking whō he may deuoure. We must now endeuor to findout the meane, how to be made at one

with,* 1.1 and be reconciled vnto our God againe. Wherin thus much we are first to consider, that as by Adam all men haue sinned, and haue deserued death by sinne: euen so by Christ we are clensed from sinne, and stand againe in the fa∣uour of God, the father by faith in him: Whom also we haue to be an Advocat to God our heauenly fa∣ther, and he it is that obtaineth pardon for all our sinnes.* 1.2 It is the passion and most innocent death of Iesus Christ, the immaculate Lambe, which is a sufficient recon∣ciliation for our offences. And therfore he saith, If any man sinne, he hath an Advocate with the fa∣ther, euen Iesus Christ the righte∣ous. That is, if any man acknow∣ledge his offences truely before God, and that he is sinfull, impure and corrupt, and doeth faithfullie submit himselfe vnto the fauour of God in Christ, without standing to iustifie himself righteous.* 1.3 Such a one hath the benifite of Christes death, and such a one shal be parta∣ker of the deserts of Christ: wherin he shall obtaine pardon for all his

sinnes. But he that will not thus throw himselfe downe before the Lorde, and crie out against his owne vnworthynes, and say that he is a sinner, and vnable of him∣selfe to obtaine remission of sins, there is no place of mercy for such a one. For Christ came to call, not y^e righteous,* 1.4 such as were in their owne conceit,* 1.5 holy, pure, iust, and without sinne, but sinners (such as did so confesse & acknowledge thē selues) to repentance.* 1.6 Such sin∣ners as are sorie for their sinnes, & repent them of their euils: such Christ himselfe calleth, saying Come vnto me Al ye that labour, and are heauy laden,* 1.7 and I wil ease you. Our God is patient, and wold haue no man perish, but woulde that al men shuld come to repen∣tance. And therefore, hee sent his sonne Christ Jesus,* 1.8 to giue him∣selfe a ransome for all that repent and truely beleeue in him.

We were in bondage and capti∣uitie,* 1.9 and he most franckly tooke vpon him to ransome vs with a great price,* 1.10 euen his bloud, which bloud he shed for many, for the re∣mission

of sinnes: not for all, but for such as truly repent & amend their liues:* 1.11 for they that runne on still in their sinnes, howsoeuer they flatter themselues, they are left vnto themselues, and the me∣rits of Christ worke not for them: his death to them is none aduan∣tage. And we therefore must take heed, left that we deceiue our selues with this,* 1.12 that he is the Lambe of God that taketh away the sins of the world And that thereby euery man in the world is so included, & euery mans sins by him so taken away without repentance,* 1.13 that we haue scope to sinne, because hee ta∣keth it away. But wee must take hold of his merits by faith, which faith will worke in vs a detestati∣on of sinne, and ade••••re to, reforme euill in our selues, and to be recon∣ciled vnto God in amendment of lyfe. For it appeareth that the whole world was polluted and de∣filed with sinne,* 1.14 and that the whol world naeded a meane to be cured of that great miserie, and to that end came Christ, men to saue all that repent and beleeue the Gos∣pel:

to such is the glad tidyinges of saluation sent, as well vnto the Gentile as to the Jewe, to the bond,* 1.15 as to the free, to all people and nations of the world, Where∣in appered the vnspeakeable loue of God, not that we loued him first but that he loued vs, and sent his sonne to be a reconciliation for our sinnes,* 1.16 It was he that bare our sins in his body on the tree, that being dead to sinne, should liue in righ∣teousnesse,* 1.17 by whose stripes wee are healed.

Being then healed of this dead∣lie euil, euen of death it selfe, let vs speedily repent vnto our good God in hartie repentance,* 1.18 casting aside, and g••uing ouer all the de∣ceitfull workes of darkenesse: and let vs pray that he will vouchsafe vs forgiuenes of our sins, wherein of long time we haue liued. Let vs be earnestlie sorrie that wee haue spent the time past of our liues, af∣ter the lusts of the Gentiles,* 1.19 licenti∣ously and wickedly, in wantonnes, in lusts, drunkenesse, gluttony; co∣uetousnes; & in abhominable I do latrie. To day if we will heare his

voice let vs not harden our hearts: But hauing laid open our weak∣nesse and infirmities, with an ar∣dent desire to reforme our liues:* 1.20 let vs boldly approch vnto our merci∣full God, who seeing vs a farre of, namely, vnfainedly purposing to amende our liues, hee will come with his spirit and meete vs,* 1.21 and will imbrace vs with the armes of his loue, and will put on vs the robes of his owne righteousnes. Loe his mercie is from gen••••••tion to generation to them that feare him.* 1.22 And therefore let vs feare no more, for we are freely iustified by grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Iesus, whome God hath set foorth to be a reconciliati∣on through faith in his blood,* 1.23 to declare his righteousnes by the for giuenes of our sins that are passed.

O let vs not therefore despise the riches of his bountifulnesse and pa∣tience, and long suffering,* 1.24 knowing that the bountifulnesse of God lea¦deth vs to repentance.* 1.25 Let vs fall downe before him therefore, and he will heare vs vp; let vs crie out, and he will hea••e vs, let vs fly

vnto him, & he wil come & meet vs & imbrace vs. If you sins were as red as skarlet, he wil make them as white as snow. Therfore wil eue∣ry man that is godly make his prai∣er vnto him,* 1.26 in a time whē he may be foūd.* 1.27 The Lord redeemeth the soules of his seruants, and none that trusteth in him shall perish.

I should haue fainted, but that I belieued to see the goodnes of the Lord in the land of the liuing. Psa. 〈…〉〈…〉.

Notes

• * 1.1

  We must seeke howe to be re∣conciled to God.
• * 1.2

  Christ re∣concileth vs to God our osten∣ded hea∣uēly father.
• * 1.3

  ••ho hath the benefit of Christs death
• * 1.4

  Mat. 19. 13.
• * 1.5

  1. Tim▪ 15
• * 1.6

  Whome Christ came to cal
• * 1.7

  2. Pet. 3. 9.
• * 1.8

  Mat. 2. 28
• * 1.9

  Christ is our ransom
• * 1.10

  Mat. 26. 28
• * 1.11

  They that runne on stil in sinne haue no profite of the merites of Christ.
• * 1.12

  Ioh. 1. 19.
• * 1.13

  The effects of faith
• * 1.14

  The whole world was dead in sin.
• * 1.15

  All are cal∣led to sal∣vation.
• * 1.16

  1. Ioh. 3. 1••.
• * 1.17

  1, Pet. 2. 22.
• * 1.18

  How we must repē••▪
• * 1.19

  1. Pet. 4. 1.
• * 1.20

  God is rea∣die to re∣ceaue vs if we vn∣fainedly repent.
• * 1.21

  Luk. 15. 20.
• * 1.22

  Luk. 1. 50.
• * 1.23

  Rom. 3, 24▪ 25
• * 1.24

  Rom. 2. 4.
• * 1.25

  Gods rea∣dinesse to receiue vs
• * 1.26

  Psal, 326
• * 1.27

  Psal, 34, 22,