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 Prayer tending to the obtaining of the king∣dome of God.

IT hath pleased Al∣mightie G••D in greate measure of mercye to call vs home vnto him, to confesse our sins, which although they be great & many, yet through the abundance of his loue, he hath taken them away through the me∣rits of his sonne. And onely cra∣ueth this, that we wil forsake our selues, and follow him: wherein we are mooued to seeke the Lord our God▪ and to frame our selues to that course that may bring vs wholy vnto him, being the foun∣taine of all goodnes, which we can receiue either in soule or body

And forasmuch as hee saw the corruptions of our heartes to bee such, as they brought forth often∣times, peruerse and contrarie de∣sires, tending most especially to worldly and fleshly things: He in fauour directed vs especially what to craue at his hands, namely, To seeke the kingdome of God & the riches and righteousnesse thereof. And then shall all things necessa∣ry both to body and soule bee ad∣ministred vnto vs. In so much as it appeareth that the foundation of al our petitions, tending to bo∣dily reliefe, must bee builded, not vpon our owne rash conceites, as to aske what our naturall dispo∣sition will lead vs vnto: But to seek the word of God, the know∣ledge of Christ, and the things of the body beeing of small moment, shall be cast vpō vs by the louing prouidence of our good God. Al∣though in deede the kingdome of God bee not meate and drincke, it cōsisteth not in the outward man, as in promotion, in riches, in beau¦ty, in honour, in health, in friends, nor in whatsoeuer pleasures of

flesh and bloud: no, not in cere∣monies and traditions inuented by man: not in the outward word, neyther in whatsoeuer is seene with the external eye. But it con∣sisting in spirituall feeling, taste, and vse, in the sincere and pure knowledge, exercise, and comfort of the Gospell of Jesus Christ, perfourming the will of God here in earth.

And heerein it is required,* 1.1 that we be poore in spirit,* 1.2 to hunger & thirst for righteousnes,* 1.3 to be meke to be mercifull,* 1.4 to be pure in hart, and gladly,* 1.5 Suffer persecution for righteousnes sake.* 1.6 We must be lo∣uing,* 1.7 liberall, pittifull, patient in troubles, and in all thinges wee must frame and conforme our wordes, workes and thoughts, to doe the will of our heauenly father.

To him we must fall downe to be strengthened in faith▪ without which we cannot reteine this king¦dome, the liuely and effectuall word: which that it may bee pure∣ly preached without fraud, deliue∣•••• without vaine glory: receiued

and practised, without faltring or fear we must pray vnto our God, who hath promised and will per∣fourme, to send vs his ayde, to keepe vs vpright in this glorious path to eternall life. And wee must pray vnto him, that hee will make our vnderstandinges ca∣pable of the trueth of his will, and what hee requireth at our handes in seekinge of this hys kingdome. That he wil frame our liues in all simplicity of faith, sub∣mitting our selues wholy vnto his word, casting downe our own imaginations, and euerie proude conceit of our selues: that through meekenesse, in true knowledge and obedience, we may be made meete partakers of the euerlasting king∣dome of God.

Hauing obtained this spirituall feeling of the will of God, in his word, and being sealed vp through faith in a longing desire▪ for al spi∣rituall perfection, let vs proceede to the execution of our callinges, which may aunsweare the com∣maundement of God heerein. Let vs continually seeke new and day∣ly

meanes by hearing the woorde preached, by stirring vp one of an other, and by giuing sacred ex∣amples of vertue and godlynesse, that our callings may bee made sure, to be founded and established in this kingdome.

Then may wee freely approach vnto our God, and he will receiue vs: we may cal on him, and he wil heare vs: we may beg of him, and he wil giue vs al things necessary for body and soule. Hee is our al∣mighty king, and he will defende vs: he is our mercifull God, and he will relieue vs: and hee is our, mercifull father, and he will feede vs, cloath vs, and teach vs. And at last, he wil crowne vs with the glorie of his sonne, hee will make vs as the saintes in heauen, and we shall receiue the inheritance of euerlasting blisse. And therefore let vs seeke and praie vnto him, that wee may obtaine this prin∣cipall and chiefe foundation of all true comfortes in this life, the kingdome of his Sonne Christ Jesus.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Luke. 6. 20.
• * 1.2

  Math. 5. 4.
• * 1.3

  Esa. 61. 2. 3.
• * 1.4

  Psal, 37, 11.
• * 1.5

  Psal. 24. 4.
• * 1.6

  Math. 5. 10.
• * 1.7

  2. Cor. 9, 5••