Minister. I have spoken that which God out of his holy word hath opened unto me, if you find any help thereby, give God the praise therefore, & carry this with you for ever,1 that by many afflictions both in the body and the mind you must enter into the kingdom of heaven. Raw flesh is noisome to the stomach, & is no good nourishment before it be •odden:2 and unmortified men and women be no creatures fit for God: and therefore they are to be soaked and boiled in afflictions, that the fulsomeness and rankness of their corruption may be delayed, and that they may have in them some relish acceptable unto God. And to conclude, for the avoiding of all these temptations, use this sweet prayer following which that godly Saint Master Bradford made.
Oh Lord God and deer father, what shall I say that feel all things to be (in manner) with me as in the wicked? Blind is my mind, crooked is my will, & perverse concupiscence is in me, as a spring of stinking puddle. O how faint is faith in me? how little is my love to thee or thy people? how great is my self love? how hard is my heart? by reason whereof I am moved to doubt of thy goodness towards me, whether thou art my merciful father, and whether I be thy child or no: indeed worthily might I doubt, if that the having of these were the cause, & not the fruit rather of thy children. The cause why thou art my father, is thy merciful goodness grace & trueth in Christ Jesus, which cannot but remain for ever. In respect whereof thou hast borne me this good will to bring me into thy Church by baptism, and to accept me into the number of thy children, that I might be holy, faithful, obedient and innocent: and ⟨p. 674⟩to call me divers times by the ministry of thy word into thy kingdom: besides the innumerable other benefits always hitherto poured upon me. All which thou hast done of this thy good will which thou of thine own mercy barest to me in Christ before the world was made. The which thing as thou requirest straightly that I should believe without doubting, so wouldest thou that I in all my needs should come unto thee as to a father, & make my moan without mistrust of being heard in thy good time, as most shall make to my comfort. Lo therefore to thee dear father I come through thy son our Lord, our Mediator, and Advocate Jesus Christ, who sitteth on thy right hand making intercession for me;
Minister. I haue spoken that which God out of his holy word hath opened vnto me, if you find any helpe thereby, giue God the praise therfore, & carrie this with you for euer,1 that by many afflictions both in the bodie and the minde you must enter into the kingdome of heauen. Raw flesh is noysome to the stomack, & is no good nourishment before it be •odden:2 and vnmortified men and womē be no creatures fit for God: and therefore they are to be soaked and boyled in afflictions, that the fulsomnes and rankenes of their corruption may be delayed, and that they may haue in them some relish acceptable vnto God. And to conclude, for the auoiding of all these temptations, vse this sweete praier following which that godly Saint Master Bradford made.
Oh Lord God and deere father, what shall I say that feele all things to bee (in manner) with me as in the wicked? Blind is my minde, crooked is my will, & peruerse concupiscēce is in me, as a spring of stinking puddle. O how faint is faith in me? how little is my loue to thee or thy people? how great is my selfe loue? how hard is my heart? by reason whereof I am mooued to doubt of thy goodnesse towards me, whether thou art my mercifull father, and whether I be thy child or no: indeed worthily might I doubt, if that the hauing of these were the cause, & not the fruit rather of thy children. The cause why thou art my father, is thy merciful goodnes• grace & trueth in Christ Iesus, which cannot but remaine for euer. In respect whereof thou hast borne me this good wil to bring me into thy Church by baptisme, and to accept me into the number of thy children, that I might be holy, faithfull, obedient and innocent: and ⟨p. 674⟩to call me diuers times by the ministerie of thy word into thy kingdome: besides the innumerable other benefits alwaies hitherto powred vpon me. All which thou hast done of this thy good will which thou of thine owne mercie barest to me in Christ before the world was made. The which thing as thou requirest straightly that I should beleeue without doubting, so wouldest thou that I in all my needs should come vnto thee as to a father, & make my mone without mistrust of beeing heard in thy good time, as most shall make to my comfort. Loe therefore to thee deare father I come through thy sonne our Lord, our Mediatour, and Aduocate Iesus Christ, who sitteth on thy right hand making intercession for me;
- 1Act. 24.•2.
- 2Hooper.
