A sinfull mans solace most sweete and comfortable, for the sicke and sorowful soule: contriued, into seuen seuerall daies conference, betweene Christ and a carelesse sinner. Wherin, euerie man, from the highest, to the lowest: from the richest, to the poorest: and aboue all, the sorowfull sinner: maye take such sweet repaste of resolution, to amendment of lyfe, and confirmation of fayth: that (in respect of the heauenlie solace, therin faithfully remembered:) all the pompes and pleasures of this wicked worlde, shall be plainely perceiued to be meere miserie. Writcen [sic], by Iohn Norden.

THE THVRSDAY, or fourth daies Confe∣rence, betweene Solace and the sinfull Man.

VVherein the sinfull man confesseth his Fayth, and is instructed by Solace, what repentaunce is, and what are the fruites thereof, and the things that hin∣der it.

Solace.

WHere art thou man, that yester∣day, didst promise to be here: Come forth, attend, beleue in mee, let fruitfull faith appeare.

The sinfull man:

Oh, Solace, art thou here so soone, this day to meete with mee: Say what thou wilt, I doe beleeue, attendant here on thee.

Who as a iust reward they had, from their estate exile. And all that come of Adams line, through Adams sinne do fall: Deseruing death by due desert, and thus came first our thrall. And then our God of passing loue, most sory for our sinne: Did promise that the womans seede, should our saluation winne. And promised to Abraham, to giue his sonne to saue Mankind, from Sathans tyrannie as I beleeue he gaue. Thy selfe sweete Iesus, I beleeue, who were coequall than: With God thy father were content, to be both God and man: To come into this vale of woe, and walke amongst vs here: To shewe for our saluation, thy fathers wisdome clere. Borne of the virgine Marie pure, as was before decreede: That thou that shouldest saue vs all, shouldest come of womans seede. Whose Godhead and humayne state, should linke them selues in one: Inuisible and visible, and not be here alone.

The heauenly counsaile did decree, thy selfe as man to dye: And as a God againe for vs, exalt thy selfe on hye. And when thou here in earthly soyle, in humaine weedes belowe: Didst wander: I beleeue thee then, like other men to growe. To shewe thy selfe as man to vs, in humayne state to be: In eche respect a man in deede, from sinne yet onely free. And wast content, to beare reproch, to suffer cruell Iewes, To buffet thee, to spit at thee, and thee full vilely vse. Who sought by many wylie meanes to take thy life from thee, Procuring wicked ministers, to punish thee for mee. False witnesses vniustly came, accusing thee of ill: And thou a lambe most innocent, were well contented still. And when the time appointed came, wherein thou shouldest die: Thy torments were so terrible, were forst as man to crie. My God my God, in my distresse, why haste thou leaft mee thus?

No tongue can tell the great conflicts, which thou hadst then for vs. Wherein thou gauest vp the ghost, vnto thy father deere: Discending to the deepe of hell, to clense vs sinners here. The wrath of God thy father was, to Adams sinne so great: That nothing could but thou his sonne, his loue againe intreat. Who on the Crosse I doe beleeue, with heart and tongue confesse: That thou for all offenders then, didst purchase due redresse. For our offences wlllingly, thou didst accept to dye: And to be layd in graue as man, and seene with humayne eye. The third day after to aryse, againe out of the graue▪ And to ascend aboue the Skies, to whome, thy father gaue Thy former glory and the seate, at his right hand againe: Where thou as Lord of all and some, doste with him now remayne. And there a Mediator true, for sinners here belowe: Thy selfe in mercie merueilous, vnto thy father showe.

And when the time is full compleate, from thence I doe beleeue: In iudgement thou wilt come againe, to all mankind, to giue Their iust reward of life or death as they deserue to haue, Who then shall take the flesh againe, they caried to the graue. And those that doe remayne aliue, shall quickly changed be: The wicked to their endlesse woe, and iust shall goe with thee. Into that s••••te of passing blisse, that neuer shall haue end: And those that thou shalt find vniust thou wilt with Sathan send. The holy ghost I doe likewise,* 1.1 in heart confesse to be: Whome I doe faithfully beleeue, to be all one with thee. And with the father, who are three, in parson, but (in deede) In substance one, a Trinitie, in vnitie decreede. Which holy ghost doth sanctifie, thy chosen ones to liue: Assuring all men to be thine, that faithfully beleeue. And those to be an holy church, a congregation pure.

Whome Sathan can not with his wiles, from thy precepts allure. Dispersed through the world so wide, yet faithfully agree: In faith, in baptisme, and good will, vnited all in thee. As to their head and chiefe defence on whome they doe depend: And whome with mightie hand thou doste, most graciously defend. And they like faithfull children doe, communicate in one: And doe not vse thy benefites, eche man by him alone. But what thou dost on one bestowe he doth impart to all, And eche in godly loue supports another, least he fall. Whose sinne I faithfully beleeue is pardoned in thee, Who by thy death I doe beleeue: hast made mee likewise free. And that our bodies now corrupt shall rise againe in fine, In purerest wise, and them into thine hands againe resigne. And that our soules and bodies shall, the heauenly ioyes possesse: For euer more encrease my faith, that I beleeue no lesse.

Solace.

WEL then, if thine heart doe faithful∣ly beleeue those things which thou hast here confessed, & doe not swerue nor stand doubtfull of any one of these seuerall Articles, thou art in a good way, and shalt shortly feele in thy selfe a merueilous chaunge, through the working of this faith, whose ope∣ration and effect as I told thee yesterday, is wonderfull, and to conclude:* 1.2 looke vpon Gy∣dion, Barach, Sampson, Ieptha, Dauid, Sa∣muell, and the Prophetes, who, through the same faith, subdued kingdomes, wrought righ∣teousnesse, obteyned the promises, stopped the mouthes of Lions, quenched the force and vio∣lence of fire, escaped the edge of the Sworde: of weake were made strong, became valiant in battataile, and put to flight the Armies of the Aliauntes:* 1.3 It is (I say) the foundation and groundworke of all other vertues whatsoeuer, shewing it selfe by vnfained repentance, which is, an inward sorrowe for sinne, and a continu∣all godly care of the amendement of life,* 1.4 as thou shalt hereafter bee better instructed, if faithfully thou imbrace my sayings, and in∣cline thine eares to knowledge.

The sinfull man.

Increase my faith, I am corrupt, which keepes mee dull perforce:

* 1.5My flesh is fraile, my will is weake, good Solace shewe remorse: And what, as yet, doth want in mee, vnfold the same in hast: That I a sinner may repent, of all offences past.

Solace.

IF thou bee so well disposed, and so readie in heart, truely to turne vnto mee, & vnfeinedly to repent, as by outward shewe thou seemest, I wil proceede, to shew thee how thou must finish y^e good desire of thine, to obteine eternall life.

The sinfull man.

Say on (good Solace) I attend, I long in heart to heare: The course of this thy purpose pure, which is to mee so deere.

Solace.

THen vnderstand thou, that when I walked in this vale of miserie, in the similitude of mortall man, healing all deseases and bodily infirmities,* 1.6 I required for my rewarde of those that were healed, and as a fit preseruation for them onely, that they should amend their liues and sinne no more, and to leade innocent and godly liues: and because that I would moue them the more to a zealous and godly careful∣nesse, to keepe them selues from thence forth,

from wantonnes and sinne,* 1.7 I gaue them this caueat, that they should beware that they retur∣ned not to their old filthines, least a worse thing should happen vnto them afterwarde. Nowe therefore, for asmuch (oh sinfull man) as I haue shewed thee and ministred vnto thee a medicin,* 1.8 for a farre more daungerous desease then can possesse the bodie, an inwarde euill, a spirituall malladie, which had taken deepe roote in the bowelles of thine heart, and festered it in such sorte, as it was almost vncurable, and haue now brought it to such perfection, as there is some likelihoode of speedie cure, if thou wilt bee ru∣led and aduised by my directions. Thou kno∣west, thou canst not denie, that the couetouse de∣sires & foolish phantasies of this wicked world, had so blinded thee, and the pernicious deuices of subtile Sathan so lulled thee a sleepe, that thou knewest none other happinesse, but thine aboundaunce: none other comforte but thy cof∣fers of gold & siluer: no pleasure but thy pomp: nor fearest any other paine but pouertie, and not moued with pittie, didest pinch thy poore Tenant, and wert altogether ignoraunt, what was the commoditie of the sacrifice of my bo∣die vpon the Crosse, or to what purpose was my death and most bitter Passion, placing al thine affections vpon transitorie toyes, rūning head∣long into thine vtter destruction, without re∣demption, had not I awakened thee, out of that

deadly slumber, reclaymed thee from thine er∣ror, brought thee out of that darkenesse, and she∣wed thée light: searched thine heart, being so in∣fected with this daungerous desease, thou hadst neuer beene healed, but hadst dyed in vtter dis∣payre, and so haue beene damned for euermore. Now, if bodily infirmities and corporall desea∣ses are to be preserued,* 1.9 by such a due regarde of keeping them selues pure and vndefiled, by a∣uoyding wantonnes and amending their liues, how much more hast thou cause to looke vnto thy selfe? to keepe watch and warde night and day, least (vpon this thy recouerie, that veno∣mous serpent Sathan, who first poysoned thee, seeking yet still by all meanes to renue thy de∣sease) should finde the doore of thine affections open,* 1.10 thrust in newe venome, newe inchaunt∣ments, and newe meanes to hinder thy curing, and to make a newe wounde vncurable, and so thine ende be worse then thy beginning. Ther∣fore, so much the more must thou bee carefull and circumspect, for the preseruation of thine health, begun, for the saftie of thy poore soule, to amende thy life and to sinne no more: which is,* 1.11 thou must speedely rid away and cast out all the euill within thee, by the hande of a liuely faith, ioyned with an vnfeyned sorrow, and true repentaunce, which is a vertue much pleasing mine heauenly father:* 1.12 for that it is an inwarde godly lamenting and mourning of the heart,

for things committed and done, contrary to the blessed wil and holy commaundements of mine heauenly father, a detesting and vtter abhorring of all vngodlinesse, of all thinges whereby the displeasure of God may be prouoked or his loue abated: a godly and zealous endeuour to doe well, and a fearfull trembling to do euill, wher∣by euery sinner returning vnto God, acknow∣ledgeth his offences, condemneth himself, and confesseth himself guiltie, and iustly deseruing punishment, casting himself downe in his owne conceipt, in such remorce of conscience, as hee seeketh and by all meanes possible endeuoureth himself to make amendes for his offences past: framing his life so strictly, and so sincerely in all his doinges, as it may outwardly appeare, and his conscience beare witnesse inwardly that he vtterly abhorreth sinne, and coueiteth to leade a newe life.* 1.13 And therefore▪ Iohn Baptist when hee Baptised in Iordan, Baptised none but such as repented and confessed their sinnes. Wherefore (I say) repent, and sinne no more, that thy wickednesse may be forgiuen thee, and thine infirmities be cured. Learne of Dauid,* 1.14 who when he was reproued of the Prophet Na∣than for his sinnes, cryed out against himselfe, confessed his sinnes: and not like an hypocrite feynedly before men, but in great bitternesse of heart inwardly, cryed out and said: Lord I haue sinned against thee,* 1.15 I haue done amisse in thy

sight, and as one wounded and throughly gree∣ued, for prouoking Gods heauie displeasure so against him, that hee most earnestly prayed for mercie: whose sorrowe was according to that that mine Apostle speaketh of,* 1.16 causing repen∣taunce vnto saluation. The sorrowe whereby the lost Sonne obteined his fathers fauour and pardon againe: Such sorrowe had Peter when he had denyed me: wherein he repenting, wept bitterly.* 1.17 Such a godly sorrowe had Iob: who rent his cloathes and shoare his head, and cast himselfe vnto the grounde.* 1.18 Thou must beware that thy sorrowe be not as Esaus, as Iudas, and as Caines was,* 1.19 who were also greatly gree∣ued, and inwardly pinched, at y^e feeling of their offences, but not in respect that they were in a∣ny mislike with their sinnes, but being rather hardened, and as it were inwardly set against God mine heauenly father, kicking against his mercie and louing promises,* 1.20 fell desperatly frō him: their sorrowe was not of faith, and therfore caused not repentaunce vnto saluation, but augmented their sinnes.* 1.21 True repentaunce, is altogether to put of the old man, and not to ful∣fill the lustes of the flesh, but euen to forsake thy selfe, and to be renewed in righteousnesse: not onely in outwarde apparaunce, but euen in the very intentions and inwarde affections of the heart, putting on the newe man: which is new∣nesse of life, being throughly perswaded of the

fatherly loue and louing promises of mine hea∣uenly father: for otherwise, it is impossible to yeeld thy self in vnfeined repentaunce vnto his mercy, or endeuour thy selfe truely to turne vn∣to him, as he desireth all men to do: not wishing any to perish in his sinnes, but most louingly calleth he all men: not only by me his Sonne,* 1.22 but by his messengers, the Prophetes, and true Preachers of my worde,* 1.23 to returne from their wicked waies and bee saued. Returne, returne therefore, euery one from his euill waies, from the wickednesse of your inuentions,* 1.24 and put not of from day to day: for suddainely commeth the wrath of God vpon the children of vnbeleefe, vpon the stubborne and stifenecked. Repent, I say, repent, and dye not in thy sinnes:* 1.25 seeke mine heauenly father in me, and thou shalt finde him, and for my sake shall he pardon thee: he shall be mercifull vnto thee, and shall rid thee out of all thy troubles, and defend thee from all miseries:* 1.26 As he did Roboam, who after he had offended, humbled himselfe, and obteined fauour. Manas∣ses likewise an Idolater, hauing by his dissobe∣dience, procured the wrath of God against him, was taken prisoner, and of his enemies was bound in fetters: but vpon his true repentance,* 1.27 humbling himselfe in prayer, obteyned not on∣ly deliueraunce, but pardon for his offences. The Isralites, in their great daunger, repented their sinnes, fell prostrate vnto God in true re∣pentaunce,

and were deliuered.* 1.28 Mary Magda∣line, vpon the like repentaunce, humbled her self, and I forgaue her sinnes. The Niniuites, a rebellious and obstinate people, at the com∣ming of Ionas, preaching repentaunce, repen∣ted in Sackcloth and Ashes,* 1.29 and were saued. But the old world, whose hearts would not re∣lent, nor turne from their wickednesse by the preaching of Noe, were they not suddainely ta∣ken and drowned in the great Flood, Noe with a small number of persons excepted? The So∣domites and men of Gomorrha, who would not repent at the message of my father,* 1.30 were burnt with fire and Brimstone suddainly from heauen. Such was the vnbeleefe and careles wretchednesse of those of Ierusalem, whose dis∣sobedience was great, & would not repent, had the sentence of destruction seuen yeares before pronounced against them, and yet runne on still in their wickednesse, were besieged and entren∣ched with their enemies Tytus and Vespatian: who battered their walles, sackt their Citie, burned their houses, and themselues in such mi∣serie, that for meere famine were driuen to eate their owne children, and things clene contrary to the nature of men: such is the iust iudgement of mine heauenly father against such as wil not ••e warned at my worde,* 1.31 the Gospell of trueth: such as neglect and contemne my messengers, and set at naught the preaching of my will.

Wherefore, I say againe vnto thee, and not to thee only, but to al in general, rent your hearts and not your garments, and returne speedely vnto him,* 1.32 whose hands of mercie are now exten∣ded, ready to receiue them that truely turne to him: and his vengeaunce and wrath ready to be powred out vpon the rebellious people, vpō the sinfull and wicked ones, that without regard of his mercie, or feare of his Iustice, imbrace wic∣kednesse, & lock vp vanitie in their chestes, euen with gréedines:* 1.33 for which cause the wrath of my heauenly father is inkindled, wherein he deli∣uereth the offenders into the hands of their ad∣uersaries that shall destroye thē. And yet such is his mercie, and his loue so vnspeakeable, that at what time soeuer they shall vnfeinedly repent them of their sinnes, when soeuer they shall in heart returne to him, he shall receiue thē in mer∣cie, and with his merueilous louing kindnesse shal he defend them as with a shield. Wherfore, I say vnto thee, & not onely vnto thee, but to all those that haue their affections set on the things of this world: Mortefie your members,* 1.34 which are on the earth, fornication, vncleannes, the in∣ordinate and vnbrideled affections of the heart, euill concupiscence, and couetousnesse, which is Idolatrie, which is now adaies most greedely imbraced: But be assured, and let no man (nei∣ther thine owne peruerse imagination) deceiue thee, that neither Whoremonger,* 1.35 neither vn∣cleane

person, nor he that supposeth his safetie to consist in his riches, an Idolater, shal haue a∣ny parte of the inheritaunce of my Kingdome. Among whom thou thy self hast walked, and which things thou hast sometimes been defiled with,* 1.36 fulfilling the desires of the corrupt flesh, wherby the wrath of mine heauenly father was bent against thee.* 1.37 But of my rich grace, if thou repent and beleeue, thou shalt be saued. Wher∣fore, beware thou harden not thine heart in e∣uill, returne without delay, be warned & runne not headlong into newe euilles, as the corrup∣tion of thy peruerse nature prouoketh thee, and whereby Sathan seeketh to drawe thee, either into a careles going forward in euill, or els into that false and damnable kinde of sorrow, where∣into he drewe Caine,* 1.38 Esau, and Iudas: whose sorrow was not to repentaunce vnto saluation, (as thou hast heard before) but wherby they ag∣grauated and encreased the displeasure of God against them: and into the same sorrowe he be∣gan to draw thee, when thou were first touched with y^e knowledge of thy sinnes, of which kinde of sorrowe thou must beware, and prepare thy heart to that sorrow of Dauids: of Mary Mag∣dalines,* 1.39 and of the Theefe that was executed with me: whose sorrow was vnto saluation, not vnto death: vnto amendement of life, not vnto perseueraunce in wickednesse: vnto righteous∣nesse, not vnto sinne. Thou must search thine

owne conscience, and roote out of thine heart al hypocrisie, al vnbeleefe, all hawtines and pride, and in al humblenesse and lowlinesse of minde, prostrate thy selfe before the tribunall sea••e of God the father, making humble confession of thy former euill life, and in an vnfeyned faith crye out, that for my sake he will bee mercifull vnto thee, that hee will forgiue thy sinnes and pardon thine iniquities:* 1.40 who is readie in great mercie to returne to him, that seeketh him by me with his whole heart: who eschueth euil and doth the thing that is good: that cleaueth vnto righteousnesse, and auoydeth all occasions to doe euill. And that with Dauid considering his waies, turneth his feete vnto my testimonies, and not to Couetousnesse: chastizing himselfe with true mortification, and casting away all impediments, that may hinder or let the precee∣ding to the amendement of his sinfull life. For, he that will come vnto mee,* 1.41 must bee contented to take in good parte, to forgoe the pleasures of this world, to bee of small reputation here, to bee hated, reuiled, persecuted, yea, and to suffer death for my sake.

The sinfull man.

All this I can, and will performe,* 1.42 yea, what thou wilt I shall: I yeeld my self with wil••ing mind, for thee to beare it all.

Solace.

ALas poore sillie man, thou shewest thy selfe very valiaunt before the battaile, and very coragious before the combat,* 1.43 thou canst stande fast before thou be shaken: as though thou were of thy self of power to doe what thou oughtest, and to abstaine from doing that thou oughtest not to doe: as though thou hadst no neede of my helpe, nor wāt of the aide of the holy Ghost: or had such perfection alreadie, as now there wanted no more in thee. Beware of this pre∣sumption, for it is a meane to quēch true zeale, and a great hinderaunce vnto the worke of true repentance.* 1.44 It is the dregges of Satans poy∣son that yet remaine in thy corrupted minde, wherewith thine heart yet swelleth against in∣struction, with a vaine conceipt of sufficient a∣bilitie, to doe good and to eschue euill, and to beare the heauie burthen of death for my sake: when in deede, thou art not yet healed of thine olde sore, but refusest (as it were) to receiue the medicine, which for thine eternall health I mi∣nister vnto thee. Sathan telleth thee that thou art able alreadie to worke miracles, and to doe wonders, and that thou knowest all thinges al∣readie, wanting nothing, and why? because he would keepe thee still in ignoraunce, and from comming to knowledge.* 1.45 It is his endeuour, not in thee onely, but he worketh to the same ef∣fect in many, whom he withdraweth from hea∣ring

my ministers & messengers, to pronounce my Gospel, as he seeketh to withdrawe thee frō hearing mee: saying to some, why, what wilt thou stande hearing of this man to prate in the Pulpit? he hath no learning, he hath no vtte∣raunce, he hath this imperfection, or that, and so pluckes thē by the sleeue, to goe gad, to walke, and to wander in their wonted wātonnesse and wicked waies, in such abhomination, as the stincke of their filthintsse hath infected many. Some he sendeth to the hearing of the worde, but why? to heare for profite? no, but to cauell and to descant vpon the Preachers words,* 1.46 and interpretation of this worde & of that sentence, & so fall into a deuillish disputatiō, wresting the trueth to their owne corrupt imaginatiōs, brin∣ging into the Church scruples, & doubtful que∣stions,* 1.47 as the ministers of Satan to be stūbling blocks, & lets vnto y^e passage of the deuine mes∣sage of my heauenly father: whereby hath gro∣wen so many Sects, Scismes, Heresies, false constructions, and deuillish doctrines, that my Church is nothing so great, as the most damna∣ble Chappell of Antechrist. And I see that of set purpose to hinder thine amendment hath he whispered thee in the eare,* 1.48 and tolde thee that thou art cunning enough, and that thou maist worke and accomplish al things by thine owne free will. But thou art greatly deceiued: for I will be knowne to be only righteous, & thy self

to be ful of wickednesse, not knowing what my righteousnesse is, and yet takest vpon thee most arrogantly a perfection of wisedome and abili∣tie, to know and doe all good thinges, when in deede thou art mere foolishnesse and corruption it selfe.* 1.49 Wherfore (I say) cast downe thy self in thine owne conceipt, put of al presumption and hope of thine owne strength: hearken not to Satan, but consider that thou hadst vtterly pe∣rished in thy sinnes, and beene quite and cleane cast away by reason of thy desease, hast thou not had this meane to bee healed, and to be purged and made cleane by my blood. And therefore, I say againe, be warned, and looke vnto thy selfe, be watchfull to the ende, least thou growe ouer∣bolde, and so heape a more horrible vengeaunce of my heauenly father vpon thee.

The sinfull man.

Alas what must I sinner doe? whereto poore wretch must I Imploye my self? I thinke there be no shift but I must dye. I will like wofull wight in hast, of hayre-cloth make my bed: * 1.50And clad my carefull corps in sacke, and cast dust on my head. In mourning wise to pas my daies, and pinch my self with fast,

As my forefathers did, that I may purchase blisse at last.

Solace.

IN deede, that hath bene the maner in the olde world, as ceremonies vsed, as shewes of great heauinesse, and argumēts of humilitie,* 1.51 and out∣ward tokens of repentance. But consider this, that these outward shewes, are not alwaies ac∣companied with that inwarde working which cauleth repentaunce vnto saluation, but rather a worldly shew of sorrowe vnto death: for that, that vnder this kind of disguising,* 1.52 & outwarde shew, there may lurke deepe dissimulatiō & hi∣pocrisie, making an outward shew of heauines, and yet not ceasing inwardly to laugh & to re∣teine their former wanton desires:* 1.53 like a theefe that when he is brought before y^e Iudge or Ma∣gistrate, vpon hope to be acquitted, can crye out and make a great shew of outward lamētation, kneeling, crouching, and other hypocriticall meanes, to be discharged: and when he hath his libertie, he cā fal to his old wickednesse a fresh: like vnto the sturdie Begger, that feineth him selfe lame, his armes mayned, & his body crip∣pled in this warres, or in that worke, by such a mishap, and halting before men in hope to be re∣leeued with other mens sweate, shewing him self impotent: who when he hath obteined his purpose, and gotten his game, he can turne his

face, and fleere to his fellowe hipocrites, leape, and skippe like lustie Uagabondes, and vnder colour of this hypocrisie, not onely deceiueth many with the outward dissembling shewe,* 1.54 but when he seeth a bootie and oportunitie serueth, hee can play the kindly Ruffian, and take it by violence: whose dissimulation deserueth dubble punishment. Thus thou seest that the outwarde shew is often deceiuable,* 1.55 but the true sorrowe, the acceptable repentaunce, is inwarde, accor∣ding to the wordes of the Prophet Ioell: who cryeth out and sayth, Rent your hearts & not your garments and turne to the Lord your God:* 1.56 and not to looke outwardly sowre as hy∣pocrites, disfiguring your selues with this or that kind of outward Ceremonie, that the shew of your repentaunce may appeare more out∣wardly, then (in deede) it is inwardly: to which words of Ioell is added, that it must be with fa∣sting, weeping, and mourning, in Sackcloth and Ashes, prostrate on the grounde: which in those daies was in deede a testimonie of repen∣taunce:* 1.57 yet that outward shewe without the in∣ward compūction, and renting of the heart, with a godly and continual sorrowe, and zealous la∣mentation for sinnes, was mere hipocrisie. And yet, were not this visible shewes of Sackcloth and Ashes, with many other like rites and cere∣monies to be condemned in those daies: for that they were giuen and accustomed, not y^t through

the visible and externall shewe onely, (which was but the shadow) could sufficiently appease the wrath of mine heauenly father, but that ther∣by, they might so much the more eleuate,* 1.58 and lift vp their mindes aboue the thing seene, to a further and more higher consideration, both of their owne corruption, weakenesse, and blind∣nesse, and of the mercies and most louing pro∣mises of God mine heauenly father: of which faithfull consideration of the visible shew, grew an inward godly sorrowe, causing repentaunce vnto saluation: but the externall Ceremonie,* 1.59 without faith in God mine heauēly father, was then not only not auaileable, but very abomina∣ble.* 1.60 But since the sacrafice of my body vpon the Crosse for sinne once for all was offered, that outwarde Ceremonie is not materiall: who by my death haue fulfilled and performed y^e whole somme of all the lawe: And therefore, not onely such ceremonies as haue been in the old world, but peeuish Pilgrimages, Ceremonies, Pe∣naunce, and such like foolish fantasies, are now of none effect, and are no parte of that true re∣pentaunce, which I require of thee, to be an in∣ward renting of the heart, and an vnfeined con∣tinuall godly griefe for thy sinnes, and a faith∣full endeuour to frame thy life according to the wil of mine heauenly father. Now, as touching fasting,* 1.61 knowe that the true fast is a member of thy true repentaunce, wherein it behoueth thée

to haue great regarde,* 1.62 being a work as it is ne∣cessarie, so (not seldome) abused: as of hypocri∣tes, who chastice their bodies, and afflict their so••les, for a day, bowing their heads like a Bul∣rush, and making their bed with Sackcloath and Ashes, (as afore is said) standing vpon their cinceritie and strickenes of life, euen to the face of mine heauenly father: saying, we haue fasted and thou hast not seene it, we haue pinched our Carcasses and thou hast not regarded it: as though by the outward punishment of the flesh onely, they shewed themselues sufficiently pe∣nitent, when in deede they feede the olde man, and mainteine their wonted wantonnesse, with the crummes of a careles life, and striking their fellowes with the fist of all kind of wickednesse and couetous desires. Wilt thou now call this a fasting, or a repentaunce acceptable to God? Uerely, such Hypocrites haue their rewarde. But to fast truely,* 1.63 thou must wash thee and make thee cleane, thou must cast away and ba∣nish from thine heart all euill desires, and lay al the works of wickednesse out of my sight: thou must leaue to doe euill and learne to doe good, seeke iudgement, releeue the oppressed, and de∣fende the fatherlesse:* 1.64 thou must giue thy bread to the hungrie: harbour the poore and harbor∣lesse: clothe the naked, and doe wrong or op∣pression to no man. This is the fast most accep∣table, to which mine heauenly father hath pro∣mised

many and great blessinges: namely, that thine infirmitie shall speedely bee healed, thy soule comforted, thy righteousnesse appeare before God and man, and the mercies of mine heauenly father: in mee imbrace thee on euery side, and thou shalt want no maner of thing that is good: of which fast, proceedeth by meanes of a firme faith, that sorrowe (for the sinnes which proceede of the corruption of the olde man, whereby the wrath of mine heauenly is incen∣sed against thee) causing repentaunce vnto sal∣uation. This fast, this sorrowe, and this repen∣taunce, builded vppon the vnmoueable rocke of faith, must bee the beginning of thy newe life.

The sinfull man.

But must I not sometimes abstaine my careles corpes from meate? Or is it lawfull when I list, all kindes of meate to eate?

Solace.

AS for meates,* 1.65 thou needest not to put any difference betweene them: for that God my heauenly father, hath created and ordeined all thinges for the vse of man, and those may euery one y^t beleeueth lawfully receiue,* 1.66 with thanks∣giuing to the heauenly creator, who hath made all thinges good, and nothing to bee refused.

Wherrein notwithstanding is a godly absti∣nence, and meane to bee vsed: namely, not to ex∣ceede in the greedie receiuing of those crea∣tures:* 1.67 as in Gluttonie, in Drunkennesse, and belly cheare: whereby commeth not only sick∣nesse, and daungerous deseases vnto the bodie, but stirring vp the same to wātonnesse, and ma∣ny noysome desires, procureth the wrath of my heauenly father.* 1.68 It was one of the sinnes of Sodome, whereby being puffed vp, fell to wan∣tonnesse, and committed abomination before mine heauenly father, for which they were de∣stroyed. This excesse is also an enemie to the studie of the holy Scriptures: and especially to earnest and deuoute prayer: for the fulnesse and ouercharging the stomacke, quencheth the god∣ly affection, and stoppeth the zeale of the heart, so, that it cannot so effectually open it self to the comfort of the soule, as in a moderate and com∣petent diet,* 1.69 it can, and as is requisite it should doe, to serue the liuing God. Wherefore, thou must beware of this excesse, and imbrace not onely this kinde of abstinence, but absteine also from Fornication and vncleannes, from fleshly lustes,* 1.70 which fight against the soule, and keepe thy bodie from being defiled with euill concu∣viscence, as a vessel of holinesse, submitting thy selfe to all maner ordinaunce of man, for my sake, whether it bee vnto the King, as vnto thy Superiour, or vnto other Gouernours and

Magistrates, as vnto them that I haue sent, for the punishment of them that doe euill, and praise of them that doe well.* 1.71 Take heed there∣fore of this leauen of the Pharasies, which is hypocrisie, whereby many seeme outwardly as Angels, but inwardly are deuills. Such a one was Iudas,* 1.72 who vnder colour of a kisse (which is a token of loue) betrayed mee. Such hypo∣crisie had Pharoah, Saule, and Achan,* 1.73 and ma∣ny others, who had Honie in their lippes, and Gall in their hearts: such I say come nere mee with their mouthes, and honour me with their lippes, but their hearts are farre from me: but they shall haue their rewarde, their fayned fa∣sting shall be turned into their vtter confusion, their wisedome into mere foolishnesse, and their vnderstanding shall perish. Wherefore, that thy repentaunce may both outwardly appeare to good example, and inwardly to thine owne saluation,* 1.74 thou must (as it were) reuenge thy selfe of thy sinnes: that is, thou must bridle thy corrupt flesh: namely, if thou haue offen∣ded in Gluttonie, to chastice thy bodie with godly abstinence and fasting: if in whoredome, thou must bridle thine appetites with a conti∣nuall continencie:* 1.75 and as thou hast imbraced Couetousnesse, vsed Usurie, and pilled the poore for lukers sake, thou must not onely, not hereafter vse it, but thou must make penitent restitution, which is a speciall fruite of repen∣taunce,

including a certaine due consideration of thine estate, what it hath beene, how it is, and how thou hast behaued thee in the same, and by what meanes thou hast made thy selfe so rich, whether with thine owne, or the sweate and la∣bour of other men, whereof thou canst not clere thee: for me thinkes, I heare the voyce, not on∣ly of Simple thy Tenaunt, but of many poore men more, crying out and saying, that thou hast vndone them. Wherefore, I say, looke to thy selfe, and discharge thy conscience, for a guiltie conscience, cannot stande in the last daye, to pleade for his discharge, but shall re∣ceiue his rewarde among the wicked in vtter darkenesse where shall bee weeping and gnas∣shing of teeth.* 1.76

The sinfull man.

* 1.77Alas must I restore againe the things I doe possesse, Which I haue gotten heretofore, or am remedilesse? Then, woe is mee, I am vndone, my state, will then decay: Good Solace pardon that, and I will all things els obey.

Solace.

AH, are you the man, who ere while promised to beare all thinges for my sake? And to be readie to performe whatsoeuer I willed thée, towardes the ob∣tayning of eternall lyfe? and that for my sake thou wouldest be contented to suffer death? I tould thee, thou were valiant before the cumbat, and wouldest stand fast before thou were shaken: is this so sharpe a blast vnto thée, that thou art forced through weakenes to runne vnder the defence of thine olde aduersarie, who (as I tould thée,) is so loth, to let thée goe out of his captiui∣tie, that he séeketh many meanes to kéepe thée in awe of him? If this shake thée so sore, what would my crosse doe? What would death doe?* 1.78 But now are my words of the scripture verified: That it is hard for a rich man to enter into the kindome of heauen, yea, as impossible, as for a Camell to goe through a néedles eye: And why? for that he putteth greater delight in his wealth, then in my counsailes: he hath greater pleasure in riches, which endure but a while then in the ioyes of heauen, en∣during for euer: because he feareth not the destruction of the wicked,* 1.79 nor longeth for the saluation prouided for the godly: O miserable estate of the wicked Rich-men,

that repose their confidence in their muck, and hazard their soules for the wealth of the world. But awake, awake thou foolish man, that slumbrest thus in sinne, looke vpon that godly Zacheus:* 1.80 set him as a glasse wherein to behold the paterne of perfit re∣pentaunce, who being verie rich, was voluntarily contented, to restore not one∣ly, fowerfould that which he had wrōgfully gotten, but to giue the halfe of his goodes to the poore, who had saluation for his re∣ward. Consider this O foolish man, and refuse not to make restitution of thine indi∣rectly gotten goods: And of that which thou hast then left, be thou liberall, in so much as if thou sée thy poore brother to want, that, wherewith thou hast to relieue him, thou maist not withhold it.* 1.81 And let not the vnsatiable desire of momentanie plea∣sures to choake thine vnderstanding, that my wordes can not reuoke thée from thy disobedience, to a spéedie sorrow, causing repentaunce vnto saluation: walke not thus in a shadow,* 1.82 disquieting thy selfe in vaine, reposing thy trust in casuall riches, whereof thou hast boasted thy selfe hereto∣fore, as though it could redéeme thy soule in the last day.* 1.83 Wherefore, I say be war∣ned, least thou be destroyed for euer, least thou be pluckt out of thy foolish earthly ta∣bernacle,

and quite and cleane rooted out of the land of the liuing: which the righ∣teous shall sée and laugh at, and shall say: Behold the man that tooke not God for his strength, but trusted in the multitude of his riches, which now, (not onely) auaileth him not in the day of the Lords wrath, but hath heaped vpon himselfe vēgeance,* 1.84 for his reward. Naball, a very rich man, refusing (of his increase & store) to releeue the young men whom Dauid sent, who in his coue∣tousnes said. Shall I take my bread & my water, my flesh & substaunce, which I haue gotten together, & giue it to them I know not? But he was rewarded with death. Wherefore, I say, consider this and turne vnto me in newnes of lyfe,* 1.85 and in righ∣teousnes, which shall deliuer thée from death: Set not thine affections altog••ther thus on worldly thinges,* 1.86 which I per∣ceaue hath made thée so druncken, that thou perswadest thy selfe, that thy pro∣speritie, (which is the nurce and foun∣dation of all other vices, and the ground of all impietie, and disobedience against God mine heauenly Father) is the mo∣ther of true happinesse: Beware of that error, for Dauid,* 1.87 when he was in pro∣speritie, hauing all thinges at will, fell to Adulterie, and murdred an innocent man.

But he scaped not scotfrée, he was plagued with his owne sonne Absolon, who rebel∣led against him: so daungerous is the estate of prosperitie, and so iust is the iudgement of mine heauenly Father, against such as doe not bestowe his giftes, to the helpe, and reliefe of his poore brethren: but who, in stead of reléefe, vse for their owne priuate gaine,* 1.88 violence, & oppression: Wherefore (I say,) stand vp with Zache, be merciful, and helpefull, vnto thy poore and needy bre∣thren, according to thy power, and as thou hast plenteous,* 1.89 giue plenteously, turne not thy face, from him that asketh of thee: and what thou hast had of any man wrongful∣ly, restore it againe willingly: be ready to giue, and glad to distribute, and what thou layest out,* 1.90 mine heauenly Father, shal paye it thee againe in heauen, and shall defend thee in time of thy necessitie. Trust not in vncertaine riches which hath already de∣ceiued thee, but in the liuing God, mine heauenly father, who performed his pro∣mises for euermore, who shall make thee so rich in good workes, that in me, and for my sake,* 1.91 thou shalt obtaine eternall lyfe.

The sinfull man.

Then loe I will restore in hast, the landes and Graunge againe:

To Simple: and no other man, shall losse by me sustaine.* 1.92 But will the poore, and needy man, releeue that are opprest: And then I trust, I shal possesse, at last eternall rest.

Solace,

IF this restitution of thine, procéede of an vnfained fayth: and the residue of thy doings, tend to the amendment of thy life, assure thy selfe of eternall saluation: yet not in respect of thine owne good works,* 1.93 be they neuer so manye: but for my sake who (as thou haste heard) haue purchased the same, for all them that vnfainedly re∣pent and turne from their wicked waies: for when thou of thy selfe, hast done al that thou canst, yet arte thou an vnprofitable seruant: therfore must thou quite and clean disclaime thine owne worthines:* 1.94 for in the sight of mine heauenly father, shall no man liuing be iustified. But if thou be ouerbur∣dened with the weight of thy sins come vn∣to me, lay all thine offences in true repen∣tance on me, who continue an aduocate in the sight of mine heauenly father,* 1.95 making continuall intercession, for as many as faythfully beleeue: whome I will cloathe with the weedes of righteousnes, that they

in the last day may appeare without spot, and receaue the reward of eternall life.

Where thou hast (also) diligently, to beware, that seeing saluation, and re∣demption, to come onely by my death, and by sacrifice of my body on the Crosse, once for all the sinnes of the world, and that I continue a mediator and aduocate vnto mine heauenly Father, for thée for euer: and that I am full of mercie, slowe to wrath, and ready to forgiue. Take héede, I say, least the prince of this world thy woonted aduersarie Sathan, put in∣to thine heart a presumption of these mer∣cies of mine,* 1.96 perswading thée that there is no doubt of saluation, because that I haue promised, that weare thy sinnes as redde as Scarlet, I will make them as white as Snowe, and so hold thee still, to fight against all goodnes, and godlynes, and to stand stoutely, (as it were) in de∣fiance of my louing calling, and dispise the riches of the grace and mercie of God, mine heauenly Father, purchased by my bloud, wherein I louingly call thée now to repentaunce,* 1.97 wherein thou must vn∣fainedly returne to me, and that spedily: not driuing off from day to day, saying, as the wicked, (when they be reprooued of their sinnes, accustomably doe,) That they

know they shall haue time enough to re∣pent ere they dye, which is another stop,* 1.98 and stumbling block, that Sathan layes before them that are called, that they should not repent, but dye in their sinnes. So tels hée thée, and perswades thée, that death shall not be so cruell vnto thée, but shall spare thee, and afoord thée time e∣nough to say (euen at the last gasp,) Lord haue mercie vpon me, Lord forgiue me my sins, and so forth: which, as he tels thee, shall be sufficient for thée: Thus he séeketh to stay thy true repentaunce eue∣ry way, and in this foolish imagination, of crauing pardon at the last, while, manie haue delayed the amendment of their liues,* 1.99 Death (contrarie to their ex∣pectation) hath summoned them to de∣part by and by, whose long flattering themselues in their follie, hath bin the cause of their sodaine destruction, as to the Sodomites, and men of Gomorra, to those of Ierusalem, and them that pe∣rished in the flood, and so diuers others, whose harmes, may be a sufficient spec∣tacle, to see, and plainely to behold the end of all senceles securitie. But thou wilt pechaunce, say, why? I haue séene many, that for their wicked liues, were euen markes for other men to poynt at

with their fingers, and they haue made godly ends, and haue departed the world very deuoutly: by which showe of repen∣tance, thou thinkest their sins forgiuen them: but I say vnto thée, that who∣so goeth on still in his wickednes, pre∣suming, to haue time enough in the end to cry for mercy,* 1.100 he may cry and not be heard: make no tarrying therefore to turne vnto the Lord, let true repentance, be thy dayly and continuall exercise, examine thine own conscience, search and see whether Sathan haue not thruste into thine heart this pre∣sumption: if so, cast it out speedely, and follow not the greater number to doo euill, accustome not thy selfe to sinne, trusting in thine aboundance, but imbrace my for∣mer counsaile: stande not in a foolishe hope to repent at last, be not deceiued, let not Sathan hinder thée, with his subtle deui∣ces, but resist them all, manfully: for I know thou canst not saye,* 1.101 mine hearte is cleare from them: canst thou? speake thy conscience.

The sinfull man.

Alas my conscience dooth accuse, me guiltie of them all: I must confesse my carelesse life, hath well deserued thrall.

But, loe, in hope, I hold by thee, my sinnes I will declare To thee, who dooth already see, that they corrupted are. Wherein I liued long secure, bewrapt in wealth at will. I runne a race, that now I rue: and lingred long in ill: Uouchsafe that I with heart & hand, may now restore againe: The things which I by fraud haue had, of any man for gaine. And shewe what further dooth be∣long, to traine me to thy blisse: Uouchsafe to shew that I may come, where all true Solace is.

Solace.

SEing then that thou doest confesse, that thou hast bene hindred, by these deuices and lets of Sathan, and hast nowe a fe∣ling of thy corruptiō & former wicked life, beware thou giue not place herafter to his wiles: but by a firme faith and confidence in mee, withstand him and his ministers, the world and the flesh: for as the wicked∣nes of the wicked, shal not hurt him, when∣soeuer he truely, & vnfaynedly repenteth,

so shall not the righteousnes of the righte∣ous auaile him, whensoeuer he offendeth. Repente thée therefore, of thine offences past, and from henceforth kéepe thee vp∣right in all thy dooings,* 1.102 that there maye be ioye in heauen for thy repentaunce: And for as much, as the daye is so farre spent, and the nighte so néere, and that thou haste promised to make restitution, of the things which thou hast wrongfully gathered: go thy wayes▪ performe it ac∣cordingly, and beware of kéeping backe any thing, leaste thou be taken in thine hipocrisie,* 1.103 and rewarded with Annanias, and Saphira, who for kéeping back some of the price of their owne field, were stri∣ken with present death: how much more then shall mine heauenly father punish thée, if thou keepe any thing backe that is none of thine owne? In the morning I will be here againe: in the meane time, be carefull of thy promise, finish it fayth∣fully, and too morrow will I further direct thée, in the residue of thy course, to eter∣nall life.

The sinfull man.

Then will I hasten me away, to finish it in haste:

And in the morning hasten me againe to thee as fast.

The end of the Thursday or fourth dayes conference* 1.104

Notes

• * 1.1

  Beleefe in the holy ghost▪
• * 1.2

  Heb. 11.32. The operatiō of faith is wonderfull.
• * 1.3

  Faith the foundation of all other vertues.
• * 1.4

  Faith must be accompanied with repen∣tance.
• * 1.5

  The flesh is fraile.
• * 1.6

  Amendemēt of life, the chiefest re∣medie for the sicknesse of the soule.
• * 1.7

  A good caue∣at.
• * 1.8

  Those that are lulled a sleepe tho∣rowe the al∣lurements of Sathan, in the pleasures of this world, thinke none other happi∣nesse but worldly feli∣citie.
• * 1.9

  The sicknes of the soule much more to be respec∣ted then the disease of the body.
• * 1.10

  we must haue regard, least the doore of our affectiōs open to en∣tertaine the intisements of Sathan.
• * 1.11

  We must a∣mend our liues & sinne no more.
• * 1.12

  The difiniti∣tion of true repentance.
• * 1.13

  Mat. 3 2. Iohn Baptist baptised none but such as repēted their sinnes.
• * 1.14

  Psal. 51.4. Dauid repen∣ted at the war¦ning of the Prophet Na∣than.
• * 1.15

  True confes∣sion.
• * 1.16

  2. Cor. 7.10. Godly sor∣rowe.
• * 1.17

  Iob. 1.20.
• * 1.18

  Gen. 4.13. Mat 27.5.
• * 1.19

  The sorrowe of Esawe Iu∣das & Cains Euell.
• * 1.20

  Act. 1.18.
• * 1.21

  That sorrow which is not of faith, cau∣seth not re∣pentance vn∣to saluation. What true re∣pentance is.
• * 1.22

  2. Pet. 3.9.
• * 1.23

  Iet. 3.1. Hos. 14.2.
• * 1.24

  Ier. 3.14. & 18.11.
• * 1.25

  We must spee¦dily repent, least we dye in our sinnes.
• * 1.26

  Deut. 4.29. 2. Cron. 12.12. Roboam re∣pented. 2. Cron. 33.12.13.
• * 1.27

  The repen∣tance of Ma∣nasses. Iudith 4.9.10. The children of Israell re∣pented.
• * 1.28

  Marie Mag∣daline. The nini∣uites.
• * 1.29

  Men of the old world not repenting at the prea∣ching of Noe wee drow∣ned.
• * 1.30

  The Sodo∣mites and mē of Gomorra burned with fire & brim∣stone. Ierusalem de∣stroyed.
• * 1.31

  The iudge∣men••s of God great against such as neg∣lect his word.
• * 1.32

  God is readie to receiue them that truely turne to him.
• * 1.33

  Iud. 2••.14.
• * 1.34

  Col 3.5.6. We must mor¦tifie our euill affections.
• * 1.35

  Ephe. 55.
• * 1.36

  Ephe. 2.3.
• * 1.37

  If we repent and beleeue, we shal be sa∣ued.
• * 1.38

  The sorrowe of Esau, Cain and Iudas, damnable.
• * 1.39

  A godly sor∣rowe.
• * 1.40

  God is redy in great mer∣cie to imbrace them that truely turne to him.
• * 1.41

  He that will come vnto God must forsake the 〈…〉〈…〉 of the world.
• * 1.42

  We may not presume of our selues to doe any g••o•• thing.
• * 1.43

  We can stand fast before we be shaken.
• * 1.44

  Presumption is a meane to quench true zeale.
• * 1.45

  Sathans de∣uices to de∣taine vs from hearing the word of God.
• * 1.46

  Some come to heare the word for ca∣uelations sake.
• * 1.47

  The begin∣ning of scis∣mes, is the misconstruc∣tion of the Scripture.
• * 1.48

  The Church of God cals them the chapple of Antichrist. Mat. 7.13.14.
• * 1.49

  We must cast our selues downe in our owne con∣ceites.
• * 1.50

  The death of Christ tooke these cere∣monies away
• * 1.51

  The outward showe of re∣pentance is not alwayes accompanied with inward contrition.
• * 1.52

  Dissimulation odious be∣fore God.
• * 1.53

  The maner of sturdie beg∣gers, hypo∣crisie.
• * 1.54

  Dissimulatiō deserueth double pu∣nishment.
• * 1.55

  Ioel. 2.13.
• * 1.56

  Mat. 6.17.
• * 1.57

  The outward showe of re∣pentance meere hipo∣crysie with∣out inwarde punction.
• * 1.58

  In the old world the outward ce∣remonies were helpes to repentance
• * 1.59

  Dan. 9.3.4.5.
• * 1.60

  The external shewe with∣out faith more abomi∣nable.
• * 1.61

  True fasting.
• * 1.62

  Esa. 18.5. The true fast consi∣steth not al∣together in the abstinēce from meates.
• * 1.63

  Mat. 6.••6. What true fa∣sting is. Psa. 1.16.17. Esa. 58.7.
• * 1.64

  many bles∣sings promi∣sed to true fasting.
• * 1.65

  Rom. 14.1.3.14.
• * 1.66

  All meates to be taken with thankesgi∣uing.
• * 1.67

  Luke 16.19. 1. Pet. 4.3.4.
• * 1.68

  Excesse to be auoyded Ezek ••6.4••. Gluttonie, one of the sinnes of So∣dom••

  Excesse in ea∣ting an ene∣mie to studie and prayer.
• * 1.69

  1. Thes. 4.34. ••. Pet. 2.11.12.
• * 1.70

  We must o∣bey those or∣dinances of man, that tend to the glory of God.
• * 1.71

  Luke 12.1. Hypocrysie the leuen of the Pharysies.
• * 1.72

  Mat. 2.27.3. Exod. 8.8.
• * 1.73

  1. Sam. 15.13. Ioh. 7.20. Esa. 29.13.
• * 1.74

  We must re∣uenge our selues of our sinnes.
• * 1.75

  To make re∣stitution of our goods ill gotten, is a speciall fruite of re∣pentance.
• * 1.76

  A guiltie cō∣science shall condemne it selfe in the last dry.
• * 1.77

  An hard sen∣tence for the couetouse men.
• * 1.78

  Luke, 18, 22. Mat, 19.20. Hard for a rich man to be saued.
• * 1.79

  The state of wicked, Rich men, very miserable,
• * 1.80

  Luke, 19, 2. to 11. Zacheus a pa∣terne of re∣pentance.
• * 1.81

  Prou, 28.8. We must re∣leeue our poore bre∣thren.
• * 1.82

  Psal. 39.6. & 49.6.
• * 1.83

  Psal· 52.6.7.8.
• * 1.84

  1. Sam. 25▪ The reward of Naball for not releuing the young men that came from Dauid.
• * 1.85

  Pro. 11.4.
• * 1.86

  Prosperitie the nurce of vice.
• * 1.87

  1. Sam▪ 12.13· Dauid in pro∣speritie fell to vice.
• * 1.88

  Luke. 19.8,
• * 1.89

  ••ob. 4, 8.9. As we haue plentie, we must giue plentifully.
• * 1.90

  God rewar∣deth those that giue to the poore. Prou. 19, 17. Psal 41.1.
• * 1.91

  1. Tim. 6.18.
• * 1.92

  We must not onely say we will, but we must doe thus
• * 1.93

  We may not not looke for saluation in respect of our owne works, but in the merite of Christ.
• * 1.94

  1· Iohn. 2 12. Iud••. 21. We must dis∣claime our owne wor∣thines. Psal. 1.43.2.
• * 1.95

  1. Ioh. 2.1. Heb. 9.24· Rom. 8.34.
• * 1.96

  We may not so presume vppon the mercies of Christ▪ as to neglect our owne inde∣uours to doe well.
• * 1.97

  Rom. 2.4,
• * 1.98

  We muste take heede of driuing off from day to day, to re∣pent.
• * 1.99

  Manie be o∣uertaken with death, while they defer their repentaunce from day to day.
• * 1.100

  We may not deferre our true repen∣tance, but spedely to re∣turne vnto God.
• * 1.101

  No man can say my hearte is cleare frō sinne.
• * 1.102

  Luke. 15.7. Ioye in hea∣uen, for a sin∣ner that re∣penteth.
• * 1.103

  Act. 5.5·10. The hipocri∣sie of Anna∣nias and Sa∣phira rewar∣ded with death.
• * 1.104

  The ende of the fourth dayes confe∣rence.