Babington - Houston-Packer Collection BV4655 .B23 1615

>t .Command. vpon the Comm andements. Alas Lorde,what fhall I fay of the ref' of the branches of this Commaunde- ment named euen now ? Am I perfe&er in them,then in theft? No,no, I baue finned again'' thee in them all , and that moil grituoufly : So that if there were no moe of thy Commaundements,but seen this one,the firfi Of all, yet doeth my confcience tell mee, I am before thee guiltie, and good Lorde moll mercifull to be touched. But there are nine moe, fpreading out theyr brannches to all fince- ritie and holines, both in body and minds, toward çoD and Man,with threat -, ned curies to all Flefh that doe contrarie. And therefore when I viewe my coerfe , euen at the firfl to bee fo crooked, ô Beare Father,what (hall I thinke It will appeare,whcn I (hall be iudged in them all ? Shall I boatle of merites, and keepe no tittle of thy Commaïmdements? Shall I challenge faluation for my works,and euery braunch of thy Law Both call me curled, becaufe I haue fo foully, and often broken the fame? No,good Fa- ther, no ; this little viewe of my obedience to thy hefles doth plainely tell mee, I haue no merites or good works to come before theewithall,much leite am I a- ble to doe workes of fupererogation ; That is, more then I neede to doe, but of finnes and coin workes, alas I fee a number. With Dautd may I Brie, They are more then the hsyres of my head, and my heart fai- Pu1.g 3F leth mee. I may trucly fay with the prodigall Sonne, I hauefinnedagatnf heauon, and againfl'thee,and I am notworthy to becalledthy Childe. I may fay with the Tub- /is-an, god bee mercifullvntomee a fiinner: And adde therevnto,a great and grieuous Sinner : I may fay with Ieremie , O Lorde, though mine iniquities te37i mee, yet deals, thouwith meeaccordingto thy Name ,formyrebelltons are many. And with lob,. I hauefneed,whatfballI doe to thee: othosepreferteerofmen? Yea, well may Ifay, rob. 7. I lye donne inmyconfufan,andmyfhame conereth mee: For I hatee finnedagainfi the Lord -ivy God , from myyooth vptilI this day, and hale not obeyed his veyce. To conclude, I may looke about me,and from a wounded foule cric unto thofe that can giue me counfell In refpe& of my finnes,Men and Brethren what (hall I doe? And fee, how neuer the Lorde forfakcth chofe that want his helpe and aide. Doc I not wen now remember what he aduifeth mee and all tanners in mycafe to doe ? Heethaat htdcth -h s fnnes(fàith the Lord by Salomon) fall nor prober: but he that confeffeth h.n fnne, andforfaketh it, f all haue mercie. And fee in Daniel the proofe Prou: so.8. and trial' of it. For when I helde ?ny tonQue(faith he)my heart confumed,or when Iroared all the day. For thy hand is heauie vpon Mee day & night,andmy moyfiereie turned into the Pfalro.;a; drought ofrummer. Then I acknowledged my finne veto thee ,neither hid I mineiniquitac. For 1 fad 1 will cenfefe ggainff my felfe,and thou forgauet mee the puni/bment ofmyrune. Therefore I harken to thy counfell,and though I haue finned abone the number ' of the lands of the Sea, as plainely I fee I haue,if I becharged with euery branch of thy:Commaundements,howc I haue kept them, though my tranfgreflons bee multiplied, and are exceeding manie ; So that I am notworthie to beholde the height ofHeauen,for the multitude of my vnrighteoufnes : yea (I fay) though I haue prouoked thywrath,and doneeuill before thce,and not kept any ìoteof thy Commandements fo fully as I ought ,yet knowing thou del reflthe death of no finner,but rather that he (huid repent &.be laurel, an-d haft (hewed thetrurhther- of in forgiuing Dautd,and many moe çonfeflìna theyr finnes before thee :There- fore ô good Lord and Tweet Refuge,full of mercie,ptne,and compaflion,Ibowe the knees of my heart with king cí`12anafes, and all forrowfullfnners, and begge thy mercie. I haue finned,ô Lord, I acknowledge my tranfgreffions,but I hum - blybefcecch thee fcrgiue nice; ôLorde forgiuemee, and dearoy thee not, as I baue deferued. Bc not angrie with mee for euer, by referuing to mee cui!!, ney_ ther eondemne me into thelower partes of the .earth. For thou art the God,euen the God of all them that repent,aud on mee thou wilt fbewe merde. My forrow good Lorde, Alas I know is not great inough,neyther anfwereth it the greatnef a of my finne, but thou canfl glue greater,if it pleafe thee. O deare

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