The burthen of a loaden conscience: or the miserie of sinne set forth by the confession of a miserable sinner.

IF God will not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his name in vaine, what shall be∣come of me, who haue all my life time most grieuously taken his name in vaine, euery kind of way. For first, I professed my selfe a Christian; that is, a child of God, thorough Iesus Christ, but indeed I haue been hereto∣fore the child of the deuill: because I haue done his will, and not Gods will. Secondly, I tooke vpon me to be a minister of Christ; that is, a messenger sent of God to ioyne with the holy Ghost in trayning people to be children of God; but indeede I ioyned in worke with the deuill to make people his children. The verie name, and word of God I vsed vainely, rashly, vnreuerently, and vndiscreetly, to glorifie and please my selfe, not to glorifie and please him.

All Christians, take heede to your selues;

if you weare the Kings liuerie, serue not the Kings enemie. You were christened in the name of the father, and of the sonne, and of the holy Ghost: therefore serue God, and not the Deuill, least it be prooued against you at the day of iudgement, that ye tooke Gods name in vaine, and so ye be found guilty. At that daie neither shall the onely preaching, nor the onely hearing of Gods word be allowed: for both take the name of God in vaine, because the one preacheth, and practiseth not; the other heareth, and doth not the will of God; therefore both shall be cast away with this grieuous sentence, I knowe you not;* 1.1 awaie from me, ye workers of vnrighteous∣nesse.

Therefore frame your selues to be obe∣dient vnto your Lord God, and doe not think, speake, write, heare, or professe his name, or his word without due discretion, and groat reuerence.

Doe not make so light reckoning of your God, as to vse his name, or his word in idlenesse.

It is idle to call vpon the name of God without good cause, and reuerent manner; as some will say, O God, what a iest is this!

O Iesu! who euer hard the like! In any such speaking, you are too bold with your God.

It is also a vaine taking of Gods name, to praise him in scorning, or blaming o∣others; as some will not be content to say of an idle bodie, he liueth idlelie; but they will say, God be thanked he liueth idlelie. O doe not thank God for any sinne, because you should so doe him great wrong; and of all things he cannot abide it to be noted as the cause of sinne, which is farre from his most holy nature. Be not a common swearer: for a man giuen to swearing, shall be filled with wickednesse. You ought not to call God to witnesse, vnlesse there be great neede, and none other meanes to make the truth knowne. O how grieuous it is to heare people, old and yong sweare by God, without feare of his displeasure. Some swear not by God, but by their faith, and troth; by the masse; by some Saint; by golde, and siluer, and many others waies. But doe not you so:* 1.2 for it is displeasing to God to sweare by that which is not God.

It is called swearing, when any say, Gods woundes, Gods blood, Gods heart; Gods nailes, Gods foote, &c. but you shall heare

what Christ will call it, when he cōmeth to iudgement. In the meane time vse no such raging speaches; for they grieuously take the name of God in vaine.

Blesse your selfe from cursing and ban∣ning: for cursing is the vengeance of God.* 1.3 He that wisheth vengeance to fall vpon his verie enemie, had neede to be well adui∣sed what spirit is within him. Take heede how you heare the word of God, that you be not negligent, nor contentious, nor dain∣tie, nor vaineglorious; but diligently hunger and thirst for the pure, and plaine word of God, which if you receiue it in meekenesse, is able to saue your soule.

Some make iestes of Gods word; but doe not you so. For it is ill iesting with edge tooles.

Doe not alleadge any part of Gods word but to a good, and godly ende; and in the feare of God.

Take heede how you make any vowe to God, or how you promise any thing with an oth; for whē you haue vowed, or sworne, your soule is bound. Therefore before you vowe, consider whether it be pleasing to God, and in your power to performe: and when you haue made such a vowe, rather

loose your life, then breake it. Iesus Christ keepe you from beeing a vow-breaker, as I am.

Mocke no bodie with their pouertie, lamenes, blindenesse, or with any thing, which they cannot helpe; least you take the name of God in vaine. For Salomon saith, he that mocketh the poore, reprocheth his maker.

It is a most horrible thing to blaspheme almightie God; that is, to thinke, or vtter any thing dishonourable vnto him. It is dangerous in some things to speake that of God, which is true. Because our blinde vn∣derstanding is not able to see the depth of his wisdome, and righteousnesse. There∣fore it is your safest waie, to be thorough∣ly perswaded, that God in whatsoeuer he doth, or suffereth to be done, is most per∣fitly wise, and righteous; and to refraine your minde from prying into the high questions of Gods fore-knowledge, and predestination: for the more you look vpon the sunne, the worse you shall see, and the more you seeke into the secrets of God, the weaker will your vnderstanding be.

Whatsoeuer calamitie, or miserie falleth vpon you, acknowledge your selfe to haue

deserued it, yea, and much more. Submit your heart wholly to God, and praise him as well for aduersitie, as for prosperitie; for that is meete, and right; So you shall best please him, and most ease your selfe. They that wickedly blame God for any thing which commeth to passe, do both wrong his blessed maiestie, and hurt themselues. Al∣though all things goe crosse, and contrarie vnto you, yet praise and blesse the name of God continually, yea to the death, and in dying. Neuer despaire of Gods goodnesse, but confesse his righteousnesse, and your owne vnrighteousnes, and so yeild your selfe to his good pleasure.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Matth. 23. Luk. 13 27.
• * 1.2

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 7.
• * 1.3

  Luk. 9.51, 52, 53, 54.