Christs prayer vpon the Crosse for his enemies Father forgiue them, for they know not what they doe / by Sir Io. Hayward ... Hayward, John, Sir, 1564?-1627. This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A02849 of text S122571 in the English Short Title Catalog (STC 12989). Textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. This text has not been fully proofread Approx. 86 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 77 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. EarlyPrint Project Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO 2018 A02849 STC 12989 ESTC S122571 24556410 ocm 24556410 27770 2240925497

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Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A02849) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 27770) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1853:12) Christs prayer vpon the Crosse for his enemies Father forgiue them, for they know not what they doe / by Sir Io. Hayward ... Hayward, John, Sir, 1564?-1627. [14], 138, [1] p. Printed by Iohn Bill, London : M.DC.XXIII [1623] Signatures: a⁸(-a1) A-H⁸ I⁶. Imperfect: tightly bound, with slight loss of print. Reproduction of original in the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery. eng Jesus Christ -- Crucifixion. Jesus Christ -- Prayers. Bible. -- N.T. -- Luke XXIII -- Criticism, interpretation, etc. eebo Christs prayer vpon the crosse, for his enemies. Father forgiue them, for they know not what they doe. By Sir Io. Hayvvard Knight, Doctor of the Lawes Hayward, John, Sir 1623 154 15825 21 0 0 0 0 0 13.27 C The rate of 13.27 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the C category of texts with between 10 and 35 defects per 10,000 words. 2004-01 Assigned for keying and markup 2004-02 Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2004-03 Sampled and proofread 2004-03 Text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-04 Batch review (QC) and XML conversion

CHRISTS Prayer Vpon the Crosse , for his enemies .

FATHER forgiue them , for they know not what they doe .

By Sir Io. HAYWARD Knight , Doctor of the Lawes .

Nemo beatus est , qui nescit contemnere & contemni .

LONDON , Printed by IOHN BILL , M.DC.XXIII .

TO THE HONORABLE AND VERTVOVS LADY , THE LADIE ANNE CAESAR , WIFE TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE , Ssr IVLIVS CAESAR KNIGHT , MASTER OF THE ROLLES , AND ONE OF HIS MAIESTIES MOST HONORABLE PRIVIE COVNSAILE .

Casta ad virum . matrona parendo Imperat. Pub. Mim .

TO THE READER .

AS Contemplation in generall , is a pure act of the soule ; so contemplation of diuine things , is most proper vnto it . This is the heauenly Manna , whereon it feedeth ; heereby it groweth , heereby it is loosened from the knots of flesh & blood ; heereby it mounteth aboue the narrow confines and limits , aboue the sordide things of this world , aboue either the threats or promises thereof ; and both returneth to the originall from whence it came , and applieth it selfe to the end whither with swift celerity it paceth . And this is an inuincible argument of the diuine nature of the soule , if it takes delight in matters diuine ; if it be busied therein , not as in other mens affaires , but as in the owne . Assuredly , in nothing else man is so much man , as in contemplation of heauenly things . Oh! how contemptible a thing is man , if hee aduanceth not aboue humane cogitations ?

But conceiue heere with ( gentle Reader ) that contemplation is but a fruitlesse action of the soule , vnlesse it be thereby enflamed to loue . Contemplation is a worke of the vnderstanding , & hath no perfection in it selfe ▪ but is a way and meanes to some degree of perfection , by eleuating the will to a diuine loue and vnion with GOD. The vnderstanding giueth not foode to the soule , but prepareth it onely for the taste of the will . Good is the proper obiect of the will . And therefore when the will findeth an infinite depth of goodnesse in GOD , it shal be exceeding icie , if it burne not like a Phoenix , in the fire of diuine loue , which by contemplation is therein kindled . Wherefore , if thou wilt contemplate sweetely and profitably , erect the forces of thy will , to loue that which thou doest vnderstand : for otherwise , thou shalt bee but a cold and curious speculator ; thou shalt neuer arriue at the true end of contemplation . For the end of contemplating is not in speculation of the vnderstanding , but in an ardent loue of the will .

Now because of all diuine things none is more Noble then the worke of our redemption ; none wherein GOD so much manifested his goodnesse , and consequently , none so fit to enflame our loue : I haue addressed my Sabbaoth exercises this present yere , to this prayer of CHRIST vpon the Crosse for his enemies . Hoping notwithstanding , that the residue of the penitentiall Psalmes , not yet comprised in my Dauids Teares , shall hereafter bee in the like manner prosecuted ; either by my selfe ( if life continue ) or by some other more happie and industrious hand .

Assuredly , man is too mortall , either to handle or to knowe things immortall : As wee know but in part , so wee can expresse but a part of what wee know ; and must haue many partners in our labours therein . A man should so endeauour to liue , as he may doe good to all : But if that cannot bee , yet to many : and if not that , yet to some : and if not that , at least to himselfe . My desire hereby is to doe good to all ; euen to him , whose prefrict malice hath much wronged both me and himselfe ; in case he hath either conscience or shame to bee wounded by a lasting memory of his dishonest dealings .

But albeit , I esteeme both these to bee almost impossible alike ; yet I make no doubt , but hereby I shall doe good to many : and the rather , because manie haue acknowledged to mee great good , which they haue receiued by my former writings in this kinde . But as in the same meddow , the oxe seeketh grasse , the hound a hare , and the storke a lizard : so I expect that in this worke some will hunt after conceits , some after cauils ; but many wil find good pasture for their soules . Of these I expect no other recompence , but their prayers for mee ; of which I acknowledge I stand much in need .

HOM. II. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 TAM grauis ille mihi nigri quam lim inaditis ; Ore aliud qui fert , aliud sub pectore celat . AS dale of death , so doe I hate that kinde ; whose tongue from thought , whose mouth dissents from minde .
THE PRAYER OF CHRIST VPON THE CROSSE for his enemies . Father forgiue them , for they know not what they doe .

WHen our Sauiour CHRIST had trauelled vp the high hill Golgotha , Christs trauailing vp the Mount . loaden with his ponderous Crosse ; his body much enfeebled with fasting & watching all the night before , & with the buffetting and scourging which hee endured : being much exhausted thereby , both of spirit and blood : heere the Iewes first vnburthened him of his Crosse , prepared the holes for fastening him thereto ; brought the hammer and the nailes before his face ; his enemies clustering the whilest about him , and not sparing to vexe him with many opprobrious and blasphemous speeches .

Then they hastily pulled off his apparell ; His stripping which cleauing fast to his body , by reason of the congealed blood that issued from him when he was scourged ; tore open his wounds , and rent away some part of his skinne and flesh . So hee stood naked and bloody a while ; and then they rudely threw him vpon the Altar of the Crosse lying vpon the ground . His nailing . And applying the backeside of one of his hands to a hole which they had prepared in the Crosse , Psal. 71. They smote the rocke and riuers gushed foorth : they nayled his hand to the Crosse , and blood streamed Abundantly from the wound .

One hand being thus fastened , they violently streyned the other , to a hole that had beene prepared on the other arme of the Crosse ; and there in like sort fastned it with a nayle . Then with great force they stretched his body downeward , vntill they had drawen his feet to the lower hole : and there in like maner they were fastned with a naile . How he was strained . By which strong strayning of his body , that of the Prophet Dauid was fulfilled : Psal. 21. I am powred foorth like water . That is , I melt away and dissolue with extremity of torments : I haue no more strength to subsist , then water that is powred foorth . And againe , All my bones are out of ioint ▪ they pierced my hands and my feet ; they haue numbred all my bones . For his calamity was so great , partly by his owne feeblenesse and ariditie , and partly by the cruell stretching of his members , that his ioints were loosed , and pulled from their firme fastnes and seates ; by reason whereof , his bones might haue beene numbred .

Then they took the woodden Altar charged with this bloudy sacrifice , The Crosse erected . and set the lower end to fall with the full weight , into a pit which they had prepared for erecting thereof ; by which fall , and by fasting it afterward , the body nayled thereto , was grieuously shaken . And so was the brasen serpent lift vp in the wildernesse ; Numb. 21. so were the sacrifices offered to GOD , Exod. 29. accustomed to be lift on high . Leuit. 23. And so was it fit , that hee should bee lift vp , who was appointed to be a mediator betweene GOD and man ; who was to reconcile heauen and earth together ; who was to cast about his eyes , in seeking his lost sheep ; and vpon whom we all should set our eies .

And they would not crucifie him alone , With whom he was crucified . but between two theeues , whereby their intention was to obscure his Name , to defile his credit ; to make him in stead of Messias , to bee reputed a prince of theeues : But our Sauiour turned this to another end ; namely , that hee died for sinners , and that he hath discharged the price of their sinnes . Doubtlesse he so loueth sinners , that he did not onely conuerse with them , during his life , but died betweene them , and will bee euer present among them ; to heare them , to pray for them , to pardon them when they call vpon him : not onely during the time of their liues , but vntill the last minute of their death . Yea after death he will bee ready to receiue them being penitent , into his glory .

THY SAVIOR being thus mounted vpon the Crosse , Asoliloquie and fastned hand & foot for sacrificing of his life ; consider seriously ( O my soule ) what he did , what he said , in what thoughts he was busied . First consider his vnspeakeable torments , in that he was depriued of all comforts ; both externall from others , and internall within himselfe . If he stirred any part of his body , his wounds were thereby made more grieuous . If hee remained quiet , besides that immobility is a terrible torment , one of the torments of hel * * Bind him hand and foote , and cast him into vtter darkenesse . ; the very weight of his body did teare his wounds wider . Then consider how in those extremities , the first time he opened his lips , the first voyce which his tongue did forme , was in making intercession for his enemies : Father forgiue them , for they know not what they doe . They mocked , reuiled , blasphemed ; but hee prayed : the more they burned in hate , the more was hee enflamed with loue . Out of the aboundance of the heart the mouth speaketh : and from the aboundance of his loue did this prayer proceed .

But thinke not ( O my soule ) that these were all the words which IESVS spake , that this was all his prayer at large ; but rather a summary collection thereof . Heb. 5. 7. For the Apostle saith that he di● offer vp prayers & supplications with strong crying and teares . And therfore when he seemed silent , when his voyce was not heard , when happilie his lippes did not moue ; whilest the Iewes were busied , some in tormenting , and some in deriding him : conceiue ( O my soule ) that thy sweet IESVS , either as senceles , or as regardles heereof , was wholy attentiue in praying to his heauenly Father : for them , for thee , and for all sinners . And so , his members being strongly streyned vpon the Crosse , as the strings were on Dauids harpe , hee made such tunable harmony , as neuer before had been heard in the world ; sounding in this sort to the eare of his Fathers mercy .

HIS PRAYER EXTENDED .

O Most iust , most mercifull , His praying . most holy Father ! thou seest what a weighty worke I haue begun : and now I am entred into two of my great offices . The office of a Priest , as well in offering my body for a sacrifice , as in making supplications for the people : and the office of an Aduocate ; in pleading the cause of sinners before thee . In both these heare me , I pray thee . Heauenly Father , load this bruised body of mine with thy stripes ; powre foorth the full measure of thy wrath vpon it : I am ready to indure whatsoeuer charge it shall please thee to impose . But forgiue them , I beseech thee , for whom I thus suffer . Let mee not in this cruell maner lose my blood , and lose them also for whom I expend it : the price being paied , suffer me , I pray thee , to enioy my purchase .

O my eternall Father ! In recompence of my obedience to thy will , in recompence of my comming into the world to reconcile it to thee , in recompence of all my trauailes ouer-paced , in recompence of my present torments and death : I intreat nothing of thee , but that thou wilt pardon these mercilesse sinners . I am well content that thou wouldest not yeelde to my naturall desire when I prayed for my selfe , that this cup might passe from me ; but denie mee not ( I pray thee ) in praying for these . For I esteeme the benefit greater that they be forgiuen , then that this cup should haue passed from me ; I regard more the good that they liue eternally , then I regard the hurt that for the present I die . O my good Father ! there is a time to pardon , and a time to punish : but if euer there be a time to pardon , it is now . Euen now , when I aske forgiuenes at the very end of my life ; now whilest my blood freshly runneth for forgiuenes , whilest the sacrifice is in offring , for which thou shouldest forgiue . For now thou doest publikly proclaime thy pardon : mercy & truth , iustice & peace , do now embrace , and kisse kindly together . Thou didst once forgiue the Israelites , O my Father ! when Moses and Aaron offered a little incense for them ; and wilt thou not forgiue these for whom I wholly offer my selfe ? Thou didst once grant victory when Moses held vp his hands vnto thee ; and wilt thou nothing regard the stretching foorth of my bleeding hands ? Father ! I am come into the world , I now suffer death in the world to appease thine anger : but what profit will ensue of my comming and of my death , if men should be still charged with thy hate ? If my death cannot appease thy wrath , what then can doe it ? What then can make atonement betweene thee and sinners ? O my good Father ! when I came into the world by thy appointment , when by thy appointment I vndertooke to die : thou diddest promise that thy wrath should bee extinguished by my death ; that thy wrath and my life should determine together . Wherefore to discharge thy promise , and because my life is more precious to thee then thy wrath ; forgiue , I pray thee , and bee appeased . Loe heere I set my selfe in the breach ; Ezek. 22. loe heere I enterpose betweene sinners and thee .

BVT , O great Mediator ! wherfore doest thou so earnestly entreat for sinners ? What ease is this to thy torments ? what good to thy selfe ? In case thou wilt not reuenge thy wrongs , yet wherefore doest thou not leaue them to thy fathers pleasure ? wherefore should not Iustice run her course ? The Law sayth , Eie for eie , hand for hand , life for life ▪ And what auayleth it thee , that these offendours must now be forgiuen ?

O! YES : I am well content O my Father ! that thou load me with thine anger , in what measure thou thinkest fit : but so , as nothing may remaine vnreconciled to thee ; so as my redemption may not bee imperfect and maimed : so as there may remaine in man no fault to bee redeemed , and in thee no anger to bee appeased . O good Father ! Charge me freely ( I say ) with thy stripes , set them so surely and seuerely as thou wilt : but suffer not my sufferings to bee vnfruitfull ; doe not double my griefe , by causing me to lose the benefit of my grief . For it would be a greater griefe to mee that these sinners should perish , then are all the torments where with they teare mee : euen as a louing mother sorroweth more at the losse of her childe , then she did at her trauailes for his birth . By suffering and by pardoning the redemption of the world must bee wrought : and therefore pardon them , O good Father ! For whom I suffer ; or else no redemption can follow . And if the death which now I suffer , if the life which now I offer bee not sufficient , I will suffer another death ; I will offer another life ; I will doe anything , O my good Father ! wholly to appease thee .

BVt if thou wilt not bee absolutely intreated , yet forgiue them , His Pleading . I beseech thee , in regard of their ignorance . * * And now brethren , I know that through ignorance yee did it , as did also your Rulers . For niether this people , nor their Rulers doe dir●ctly know , either who I am , or what worke I haue in hand . Whereby it followeth , that they know not what they doe . Act. 3. 17. Blessed Father : thou hast made mee wiser then my enemies . For I know righ● well what I am about to doe ; b●● thou hast not suffered the diue● perfectly to know it ; much more is this vnskilful multitude inuolued in ignorance . And therefore I am so farre from desiring reuenge , that the more earnestly they endeauour with many torments to destroy mee ; the more earnest am I , both in praying and pleading for their saluation . For alas ! they are ignorant ; I pitie them with my heart , and from my heart desire thee to bee intreated for them . Giue them time and meanes to bee instructed ; open their vnderstanding to know mee , and to know themselues : but as the case now standeth , forgiue them , I pray thee ; for they know not what they doe .

And further , seeing I am ioyfull in receiuing these harmes , wherefore art thou displeased with those who doe them ? Seeing the party offended forgiue 〈◊〉 the wrong , at whose suit will thy iustice prosecute ? What hath Iustice to doe when no man complaines ? Thou knowest right well , that nothing can bee termed an iniurie , which is not done against our will . Seeing therefore I willingly suffer , and that in obedience to thy will and appointment , to performe a most necessary worke for the world : remaine not thou displeased with those , by whose hands my owne will is performed , and this great worke accomplished .

BVT happily it may bee said , Obiect . that as this action in it selfe is the most heinous sin that euer was committed ; so are these , in regard of themselues , the most vnworthy to be forgiuen .

Be it so . Answ. But O holy Father ! Do I die only for small offenders ? is not my death sufficient for all ? Doe I die for any other end , but that all offenders may bee forgiuen ? And wilt not thou regard more my sufferings , then any mans sinnes ? more my charitie in dying for my tormentors , then their malice in putting mee to death ? It is true indeed , that if thou wilt punish them according to their demerits , al the torments of hell are nothing neere sufficient : but therefore it is better freely to forgiue them . For as there was neuer sinne comparable to this , so shalt thou neuer haue the like occasion to manifest thy mercy . O my Father ! seeing my blood is shed by thy will , imploy the same to the best effect : let not any man be depriud of the benefit of that , which is amply sufficient for all . And fauour me also , O father ! since I needs must die , to make the best aduantage of my death ; to se● my life so well as I can . And therefore pardon those , I pray thee , who torment me to death . For the greater offenders thou pardonest for my sake , the better I shall thinke my life employed ; and it nothing auaileth that I die for sinners , if thou deniest to pardon sinners .

MEDITATIONS VPON THIS Prayer .

O PRECIOVS prayer ! fit onely to proceede from our All-mercifull Redeemer : who , as he taught vs to loue our enemies , to pray for them that curse vs ; so heere , by his example hee confirmed the same . O meeke SAVIOVR ! what inflamed charity did sparkle in thy speeches ? how truely had the Iewes saide of thee before : Neuer man spake , as he speaketh ? For let all the prayers bee powred foorth that euer were made , and wee shall find none parallell to this . Many haue prayed for themselues , many for their friends : but who euer before in this sort prayed for his enemies ? Many haue forgiuen offences after they haue beene done ; when the paine is past , and the offender happilie displeased at what hee did : but whilest the mischiefe is in action , and before it bee accomplished ; in the very height of madnesse and malice ; to see thee not onely forbeare to hate thy enemies , but ardently to loue them ; to heare prayers for them flowing out of thy mouth , with teares and groanes , whilest thy blood was running out of thy veines ; to heare thee plead for them , who wouldest not open thy mouth to speake for thy selfe . What shall wee say ? but that pity and cruelty , iniury and mercy , anger and patience , hate and loue , did here meet and contend together .

O milde IESVS ! O the glory of my soule ! what humane iudgement ? yea , what vnderstanding of Angels is able to apprehend , that thou shouldest not only patiently endure , but thus earnestly pray for thy mortall enemies ? Thy smart , thy fainting , the streames of blood which freshly flowed from thee , might haue put thee in minde both of their malice and of their iniustice : and yet wert thou wholly busied in procuring pardon , both for that & for all their other sinnes . O euerlasting goodnesse ! what a maruellous example hast thou giuen , both of patience and of loue ? Thou didst release those who fastened thee ; plead for those who did accuse thee ; intreat for those who did reuile thee ; acquite and discharge those , who are in hand to kill thee : they will not returne into the City , before thou art dead ; and thou wilt not die vntill thou hast obtayned their pardon . O Redeemer of soules ! thou didst neuer either doe iniury to any , or blame any for doing iniurie to thee : All thy actions and words tended to teach vs patience , pity , humility , gentlenesse , and all other goodnesse . Albeit thou haddest many enemies in this world yet didst thou neuer term : any man enemy ; all were esteemed friendes , because thou wert a true friend to all .

Thou hadst been formerly presented before the high Priest and Elders , before Pilate , and before Herode ; in whose presence for the most part thou wert silent : but beeing presented before thy Father on the Crosse , thou didst first open thy lippes to speake for thy tormentors . O vnspeakable charity ! How inestimable was thy loue towards miserable man ? When thou wert accused before worldly Iudges , thou wouldst not spend one word for thy selfe ; but when thou didst addresse thy selfe to craue of thy Father , wherefore doest thou not intreat him , either to mitigate or shorten thy paines ? Wherefore hast thou no pitie vpon thy innocent flesh ? thy martyred members ? Wherefore seemest thou so little to regard thy life ? or wherefore seemest thou to neglect thy mournefull Mother ? thy dispersed Disciples thy heauie followers and friends ? and disposest thy selfe to pray for thy enemies . Wherefore intreatest thou without intreatie ? Wherefore crauest thou forgiuene●● without either satisfaction or submission for their offence ?

O sweete and onely Sauiour ! How fierie is the force of thy Spirit ? how hast thou verified that which before thou didst say ; that thou wert not sent but to the los● sheepe of the house of Israel what thou camest not to call the righteous , but sinners to repentance ? All thy life time thou diddest conuerse with sinners , both by exhortation , & by example to conuert them to thee ; & now at thy death thou prayest for them . The condition of Caluary changed . O Caluarie ! how is thy condition suddenly changed ? Before this time thou wert a place where Iustice was executed vpon infamous offendors ; but now thou art consecrated for a place of oblation and intercession for them . It was not meete that Oblation should goe single without Intercession : and therefore , as our great Priest made heere his Oblation for sinne , so here also did hee make Intercession for sinners . And O you stiffe necked Iewes ! See how our blessed Lord hath requited your dealings . You turned his house of prayer into a denne of theeues ; and hee hath turned your denne of theeues into a house of prayer . Teaching you , as before he had told , Iohn 4. that the houre was then come , when neither at your temple in Ierusalem , nor at the mountaine in Samaria the Father should bee worshipped ; but hee should bee worshipped in spirit and trueth .

O crucified IESVS ! The great mercies of GOD. O delight of my soule ! What shall wee say of thy exceeding goodnesse ? with greater reason may wee now demand , Where is thy ancient wrath ? then the Prophet Dauid once demanded , Where are thy ancient mercies ? O my soules safety ! who can despaire of thy goodnes ? who dares distrust it ? Thou didst pardon those who would not be pardoned , & shall pardon bee denied to those who ardently desire it ? Thou didst pray for those who tormented and blasphemed thee ; and wilt thou not pray for those who pray vnto thee ? O blessed SAVIOVR ! when thou wert on the Crosse all things forsooke thee , The patience and loue of CHRIST . except onely thy patience and thy loue . By thy patience thou didst endure all extremities of torments ; by thy loue thou didst offer vp supplications with strong cryings and teares . The Iewes prouoked thy Father to take vengeance vpon them , in saying , His blood bee vpon vs : but thou didst pray him to remit that vengeance , because thy blood was shed for them . They caried thee before the high Priest , and before Pilate to haue thee condemned ; but thou didst present them before thy Father , that they might bee pardoned . They cried against thee , Let him be crucified ; but thou prayedst for them , Father forgiue them . Certainly , O my SAVIOVR ! It is so great a mysterie that thou didst pray for those who did blaspheme thee ; that thou didst pardon those who tormented thee to death , without sorow , without intreatie ; and that thy prayer , Father forgiue them , should preuaile against their praier , His blood bee vpon vs ; that albeit wee must beleeue it , yet we cannot comprehend it .

And thou , The true Mediator . O heauenlie Father ! Ezek. 22. seeke no more for a man who should make vp the breach , and stand in the gap betweene thee and the Land . Loe , this is he ; this is the true Mediatour betweene thee and vs : raised between heauen and earth , to reconcile both together . And because nothing can serue for a fit meane to combine two contraries , but that which participates of the nature o● both : Loe , this Mediatou● participates of thy nature being perfect GOD ; and of our nature , beeing perfect man : and therefore is a fit meane to ioyne , to fasten , to vnite both together . A fit meane , I say , vpon whom man may discharge all his sinnes , and GOD discharge all his anger : who like a strong and impregnable wall , may keepe our sinnes from approaching to GOD , and GODS vengeance from approaching to vs .

BVT O my soule ! do not runne ouer this banquet in haste ; take a more exact haste of euery dish ; meditate and ruminate vpon these things as a cleane beast cheweth the cud . Consider first , the principall circumstances of this prayer ; then exactly weigh euery worde thereof .

THE PRINCIPALL CIRCVMSTANCES OF This Prayer .

WHo then was it that thus did pray ? Who prayed . The sonne of GOD , who was most worthy to bee heard . To whom did he pray ? To whom . To GOD the Father , who was most powerfull to grant . For whom ? For whom . not only for his tormentors , not onely for the people of the Iewes ; but for all sinners for whom hee died ; for all men whose sins were the proper cause of his death . Euen for those who little regarded themselues ; yea , for many who then were not , he earnestly prayed : for vnlesse CHRIST first prayeth for sinners , they shall neuer bee able to pray for themselues . Where was it ? Where . Vpon the Altar of the Crosse. When ? When. In time of his extreame torments , and of his drawing neere to death . How ? How . His hands stretched ( like another Moses ) to heauen ; and all his body imbrued with blood . In what manner . In what manner ? O! in a most perfect forme . Heb. 5. For the Apostle saith , that he offred vp Prayers & supplications with strong cryings and teares . His Prayers were many , formed in manner of humble supplications ; with cryings , with valide and strong cryings , and with teares . And therfore the matter of the prayer being of great piety and merit , it is no marueile that the Apostle added , that he was heard .

By this strong crying thou must vnderstand , His strong crying . that with a most forcible affection , with deepe groanes , with a violent intention of desire and will , hee offered vp his supplication to GOD. For hee is saide to pray aloude , whose soule is fired with feruent deuotion and desire ; whose thoughts are neither distracted nor remisse , but both entirely and earnestlie attentiue to the businesse in hand . The cry of sins is exceeding strong , & yet the eare perceiueth no noise ; but the feruent cry of deuotion is much stronger , albeit no voyce bee outwardly heard . There is no strong crying to GOD , but through aboundance either of loue or of griefe : both which were most forcible in our SAVIOVR vpon the Crosse. Loue , for compasion towards others ; griefe , for the passion which hee felt in himselfe . He was enflamed to loue , by his mysticall members ; his naturall members enforced him to griefe . From this loue and this griefe his crie must needes bee exceeding strong . And besides ; it must bee a violent voyce that was heard for all men ; that did silence and drowne the clamour of all sinnes . For it was not for his tormentors only , but it was for all men that he then prayed : hee who died for all , prayed for all .

But O good IESV ! His teares . O the solace of my soule ! who could be worthy to stand so neere thy Crosse , as to see blood streame from thy flesh , and teares from thy eyes ; to see thy blood mixed with teares ; to see , that , as with sweat and blood thou begannest thy passion ; so with teares and blood thou diddest conclude it ? What adamant heart would not breake ? what leaden eyes would not melt into teares ? what earthy spirit would not be moued , as the whole earth was ? to see thy sacrifice sprinkled , or rather imbrued with blood , and thy prayers watered with teares ; to see thy teares beautified with blood , and thy blood washed with teares ? to see thee at once to smite thy Fathers cares with thy prayers , and to mollifie his heart with thy sighes and grones ? O blessed Redeemer ! Albeit thou didst pray to thy Father for the greatest matter that euer was demanded of him ; yet if thou hadst desired a greater , thy blood was so abundant , thy cries so strong , thy teares so plentifull , and the loue from whence they flowed so ardent ; that thy loue , thy blood , thy teares and thy cries must haue obtayned it .

O sinne ! How offensiue sinne is . How offensiue art thou to the heauenly Father ? how deepely dangerous to the state of our soules ? seeing this expiation was necessary to abolish thee ; seeing pardon for thee could not be obtayned , but by these cruell sufferings , by these bloody teares of our Reedemer . And thou ( o my soule ) crie hideously when thou praiest to the Lord , and weepe abundantly for thy sinnes : sigh , groane , teare bloody teares from thy soule when thou askest forgiuenesse ; seeing thy Sauior thus cried and wept when hee made intercession for thee . For what reason or iustice is it , that thy Sauiour crie and weepe for thee , and not thou for thy selfe ? Attention in prayer . Or if thou canst not weepe in thy prayers , yet be earnest & attentiue , let not thy thoughts be either scattered , or heauy and dull : for if thou be not attentiue to make thy prayers , the Lord will not bee attentiue to heare them . Whose sinnes we must lament Learne also to lament , not onely for thy owne offences , but for the sinnes and miseries of others ; euen as the Prophet Hieremie lamented for the calamity of his people when he sayd : Oculi mei defecerunt prae lachrymis . My eyes faile and are dimme with weeping . For albeit true charity beginneth alwayes at our selues , yet must it extend vnto all : there is no truer token of true charity , then when it doeth extend vnto all : not onely in shewing compassion for their miseries , but especially in crauing pardon for their sinnes . Ioy at the good which happeneth to other men , and greeue at their euill : and so shalt thou make profit of euery mans conuersation .

OF THE SVBSTANCE OF THIS Prayer .

BVT proceed , O my soule ! to the substance of this praier , and obserue well euerie word therof ; for there is not one word therein that is not of weight .

FATHER .

FIRST he began with the sweet word FATHER . Hee did not terme him LORD ; for that was a name of seuerity and iustice ; but FATHER , which is a name of pity and mercy . If he had sayd , LORD , forgiue them , as Saint Stephen prayed afterward ; it might haue seemed that hee had referred their pardon to the curtesie and iudgement of iustice . But FATHER is a name of compassion , a name of the new Testament . A name which by the blood and merits of our IESVS , we may challenge to vse towardes hm . That , as he pleased to bee our brother : so hee would thereby make vs the sonnes of his FATHER . And therefore hee vsed the same worde in praying for vs , which hee did in praying for himselfe : For as he prayed for himselfe ; Father into thy hands I commit my spirit : so he prayed for vs ; Father forgiue them . As if he should haue said :

O my Father ! acknowledge me now for thy Sonne , thy onely Sonne , thy Sonne in whom thou art well pleased , thy Sonne to whom thou wilt denie nothing : for as I am obedient to thee , as to my Father ; so I expect to bee heard of thee , as thy Sonne . Father , I am therefore come into this world , that sinners also should be receiued for thy sonnes ; and therefore heare mee now in praying for them . If euer thou wilt heare them praying to thee in my Name , heare now my owne prayer for them . So deare a Sonne as I am to thee ; so acceptable let my prayer be to thee . If thou hearest not the prayers of thy Sonne , whose prayers then wilt thou heare ? If thou reiectest my prayers , thou doest more torment mee then doth the Crosse. The Crosse I patiently endure to abolish a greater euill : that is , to appease thy wrath , and to make sinners accepted for thy sonnes . But fauour these torments of thy Sonne , that they be not endured in vaine . Fauour thy Sonne , not to double his terments , by denying him his charitable request . Thou doest amply reward the trauailes which any man shall performe in thy seruice : Now thy Sonne requireth no recompense for himselfe : for all my trauailes , for all my torments in obedience to thy will , I require no other recompense , but that thou wilt grant my request for miserable sinners .

FORGIVE

BY this word our Lord discharged the office of a Priest , in praying for the sins of the people : for which hee cryed , not onelie as a Priest , but as a sacrifice ; which neuer demandeth free forgiuenesse , but bringeth satisfaction with it . And not only he cried with his mouth ; With how many mouthes CHRIST craued forgiuenesse . but his wounds cryed , his blood cryed , his defilements cryed , his torments cryed , al his members cryed : Forgiue . So many wounds as he receiued , so many griefes as he endured ; so many mouthes hee opened , with one voyce intreating .

Accept these sufferings for the sinnes of all men , for wee doe pay thee whatsoeuer they owe . Wee giue thee blood and smarte for ransome , life for satisfaction , body and soule for sacrifice : Let there now bee mercy with thee , Psal. 130. for this is a plenteous redemption . It is a hard thing indeed which is demanded ; namely , that a most indulgent Father should forgiue and forget the cruell death of his only Sonne , his entirely beloued Sonne . But the sonne himselfe demands it : he demands it with his blood , with his wounds ; with all his sufferings he demands it .

Not vnder any condition , Not conditionally but absolutely . as hee prayed for himselfe in the garden ; If it be possible , If thou wilt , If it may be : but positiuely and absolutely he prayeth thee to Forgiue . His owne passion hee left to thy will ; but thy pardon hee doth absolutely intreat . He put it to thy pleasure whether hee should die or no ; but he leaueth no consultation , no choice for thy granting of forgiuenesse : his prayer for forgiuenesse is so absolute , as it may not be denied .

Hereby thou mayest learne ( O my soule ! ) that remission of sinnes , and all diuine graces are to be desired of GOD without condition ; because this prayer is alwayes referred to the honour of GOD. Also , that whensoeuer thou forgiuest thy enemies , thou doe it absolutely , without reseruation . Neuer accompt it a Christian forgiuenes , when it is with exception ; that thou wilt not speake to him , that thou wilt not conuerse & be familiar with him . For thy SAVIOVR did not pray for his enemies vpon condition , or in part : hee prayed absolutely for all , and for all offences of euery one . GOD also is so noble in pardoning , that hee cannot forgiue one sinne , either alone , or in part : hee neuer pardoneth to halfes ; he cannot but either wholly pardon , or wholly punish : If any one sinne be vnpardoned , the sinner must be charged with all . O gentle IESV ! thou didst absolutely pray for all sinners , and therewith offer thy blood , as a sufficient ransome for all sinnes : For all sinnes might bee numbred , but thy precious blood could not be valued .

And it was not onely absolutely , Presently . that thou diddest pray to thy Father , but also that hee would presently forgiue : thou wouldest not giue day , it must bee foorthwith : remission must bee granted without intermission . Thou wert then neere the point of thy death : but thou wouldest not die vntill pardon was granted : thou wouldest not make paiment of all thy blood , vntill thou hadst thy bargaine in hand ; vntill peace were composed betweene GOD and Man . Thou art not like many worldly Parents , who leaue small inheritances to their children , intangled many times with debts , suits , or other incumbrances : but for the heauenly inheritance which thou hast giuen vs , thou hast made ready payment , cleared all reckonings , remooued all difficulties and charges , and concluded perfect peace with thy Father before thy death ; saying vnto him , FORGIVE ! and that presently , O my Father ! for euen now is the time arriued to forgiue . This is the houre of sacrifice , the day of satisfaction , the day of remission , I am euen now readie to lay downe my life , and I make now my last petition ; my last suit to thee shall bee this ; FATHER forgiue . O heauenly FATHER , as thou louest thy Sonne , so hold him no longer in torments ; for I must not die vntill thou forgiue .

Neither did hee pray to the Father to forgiue the sinnes only which then had been committed , For all sinnes past , present , and to come . but simply to forgiue ; euen those sinnes also which afterward should be committed . For his persecuters had not then satisfied themselues with blasphemies and scornes ; they had not then offered him a spunge dipped in vineger ; they had not then opened his side with a speare ; they had not then feasted their eyes with sight of his dead bodie : and yet he prayed as well for these as for all the cruelties which before they had done : Yea , for all sinnes , not onely past and present , but to ensue , hee powred foorth this prayer ; Father forgiue . Teaching vs thereby , not onely readily to remit all wrongs receiued , but to stand resolued nothing to regard whatsoeuer iniuries shall afterwards bee offered ; and to make diligent search , that no secret desire of reuenge , doe secretly rankle and fester in our soules .

But O meeke IESV ! Wherefore he prayed to his Father to forgiue , and did not forgiue them himselfe , O the hope of my soule ! what is the reason that thou doest pray to thy Father to forgiue ? Hadst thou not power in thy selfe to pardon sinnes ? Couldest not thou as easily giue as aske ? One word from thy selfe might haue serued the turne : wherefore then didst thou intreate thy Father to forgiue ? O my soules solace ! was it to declare thy selfe to bee a perfect Priest , in furnishing thy sacrifice with prayer ? for a Priest did offer , not onely sacrifice , but prayer : hee was not onely a sacrificer , but an intercessour for the people . Or was it to shew , that thou madest greater reckoning of the iniurie done to thy Fathers glorie , then of the violence vsed against thine owne life ? Or lastly was it to manifest , that thou wert so intentiue to the redemption of the world , that thou wert not offended with any thing they did ? that thou tookest all in good part ? that thou didst not esteeme them malefactors to thee , but benefactors to all the world ? regarding more the good that the world was redeemed , then the hurt that thou didst die ? As if in other words thou hadst said . FATHER , These men haue broken thy Law , discredited thy truth , violated thy Temple , blasphemed thy Name ; and therefore thou art hee who must forgiue them . I haue no cause to forgiue , because I am nothing grieued ; I am well pleased with my death ; I esteeme my life well bestowed ; seeing by this meanes the world is redeemed , and heauen furnished with new glorious guests .

When losephs brethren feared that hee would reuenge their violence , hee sayd vnto them : When ye thought euill against me , Gen. vlt. GOD disposed it to good ; that hee might bring to passe as it is this day , and saue much people aliue . Feare not therefore , I will nourish you and your children . Much more truely may our SAVIOVR say to those who crucified him ▪ You entended much euill against me ; but loe , all is turned to my glory , and to the good of many . You thought by taking away my life , to extinguish my power : but loe , I liue , and haue all power in heauen and vpon earth . There neuer was , nor can bee done a more wicked act , then the taking away of my life ; and yet neuer did so much good follow any act ; namely , the saluation of much people aliue . And now feare not my reuenge : I haue prayed to the Father for you , I haue obtained your pardon , I haue obtained , not onelie that you be not charged with the euill , but that you may enioy the benefit of my death .

Which example if thou wilt follow ( O my soule ) If thou wilt regard more the good then the euil which ensueth euery action ; if thou wilt ( which is a property of GOD ) draw good out of euill ; thou shalt neuer hate any enemie , but rather loue him for the good that hee worketh . A great mans son will wel endure to be taught and reproued by his schoolmaster : But there is no better schoolemaster then an enemie ; who beareth an eie ouer thy actions , and wil be nimble to reprooue thy faults . If thou wouldest liue warilie and in good order , pray to GOD to send thee an enemie , and thou shalt need no schoolemaster ; hee will spare thee that stipend . An enemie is the bridle , a friend is the couer of sinne . Friends puffe vs vp ; but enemies humble vs , and make vs vigilant and wise . Hee who hateth his enemie , striketh one that is sicke ; killeth a dying man . Triacle is made of poison . Take the malice of thy enemie , temper it with loue to him , and with the works of charitie towards him ; and thou makest an excellent preseruatiue for thy soule .

THEM .

BVT O gracious Sauiour ! who were they for whom thou diddest pray ? what them didst thou meane ? what them wouldest thou haue forgiuen ? were they thy cruell crucifiers ? wherefore then diddest thou not terme them bloodsuckers , paricides , sacrilegious hangmen , or whatsoeuer other name either cruelty or impiety could deserue ? For two especiall causes . One , to instruct vs , that wee abstaine from reprochfull speeches ; The other to declare , that he esteemed no man to bee his enemy . Vndoubtedly , the Sonne of GOD did not accompt his executioners for his enemies , but for his friends , for his brethren , for his owne flesh and blood : and therefore hee preached vnto them during his life , and at his death prayed for them . They hated him indeed ; but in so doing , they hated the most louing friend they had in the world : one who could not bee angrie with them , whose loue could not be , either withdrawne , or abated from working their good . In case he disliked any thing they did , it was not in regard of himselfe , but of his FATHER : and therefore he prayed his FATHER to forgiue them . He who was nothing offended with iniuries against himselfe , as regardlesse both of torment and scorne ; was most sensible of the iniuries and despite which reached to his FATHER : not to haue them punished , but forgiuen .

Also he vsed the generall word them , not onely for them , who were the present actors of his death ; but for all them besides , who by their sins gaue cause to his death . And thou , O my soule , art included in this prayer , whose sinnes also are included in the cause of his death . Thou hast thy part in his prayer , thy part in his remission : especially if thou adioyne thy prayer with his . For if his prayer was profitable to them , who neither prayed with him , nor intreated him to pray for them ; it will bee profitable for thee , in case thou doest both . For verily his prayer was profitable to those who desired no pardon , who did absolutely refuse it . For how could they desire to bee pardoned , who would not acknowledge that they did offend ? who cast all the blame vpon IESVS ? who held him to haue deserued worse then he suffered ? Those excommunicate Iewes were so farre out of their wits , that they did not onely forbeare to aske pardon for their offence , but repelled pardon so much : as they could : being not onely not sorrowfull for the mischiefes they did , but grieued because they could doe no more . They were not content to goe without pardon , but they demanded vengeance for that which they did : His blood be vpon vs , and vpon our children .

O sottish Synagogue ! wherefore doest thou desire that the blood of CHRIST , appointed to redeeme thee , should bee turned to condemne thee ? O vnfortunate Iewes ! O cursed people ! if the Sonne of GOD had allowed your demand . But hee appealed from it , hee would not consent to your reprobate request : he would in no case consent , that his blood should be shed against you , but for you . You called vpon you the most cruell curse that could bee ; his blood be vpon vs ; but he encountred it with his mercifull prayer , Father forgiue them . It hath beene often seene that a man will not hurt his enemy , that he will pardon him if hee repent ; but who but IESVS did pardon them , who would not be pardoned , who despised pardon ? who would not pardon him by whom they were to be pardoned ? who would pardon Barrabbas , a murtherer among them ; but not IESVS who came to saue them ?

O infinite goodnesse ▪ what wit is able either to acknowledge , or apprehend such exceeding loue ? Thou diddest cleanse those who would be vnclean : thou diddest set those at liberty , who would be in restraint : thou didst vnburthen those , who would bee ouercharged : thou didst saue those , who would bee damned . O my soules safetie ! If thou didst pardon those who desired no pardon ; wilt thou not pardon him , who with sorrow and teares entreateth thy pardon ? Thou didst meet them who came to apprehend thee ; meet me then O good IESV ! who come to intreat thee . Thou diddest defend thy cruell tormentors , who scorned thy defence ; who acknowledged no fault : defend him , I beesech thee , who flieth to thy defence , who is much displeased that euer hee did offend . I am not yet amended , I confesse : but it grieueth me that I am not amended ; and with teares I entreat thee that I may amend .

Create in mee a cleane heart , and renew a right spirit within me . O great GOD ! the heart which I brought from my mothers wombe is so vncleane , that I dare not offer it to thee ; it dares not appeare in thy presence . It is polluted with many foule sins , it is loaden both with delights and cares of this world . But create in mee a cleane heart , fit to receiue thee ; infuse into it a right spirit , fit both to loue and to praise thee . O gracious GOD ! giue mee a new spirit , for mine is olde and vnpleasant : giue mee a cleane heart , for mine is impure : If thou doest not this , if I bee not so changed , no prayer of mine shall euer be heard .

FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY doe .

BVt O mighty Redeemer ! was it not sufficient , either that thou didst pardon their sinnes ? or that thou diddest both absolutely and earnestly intreat thy Father to pardon ? but thou must also plead their cause before him ? Oh! how great was the worke of the Redemption of the world ? far greater then was the worke of creation . The reason is plaine : Because there is not so great a distance betweene nothing and nature , as betweene sinne and grace . For as grace is exceedingly aboue nature , so is sinne exceedingly beneath nothing . Nothing giues no offence : but sinne offendeth infinitely . And therefore GOD produced all things out of nothing , only by his word : but to reduce sinners to grace , all these great actions were required . To teach vs thereby , no lesse to abhor sinne , then we would abhor thus cruelly to intreate our SAVIOVR ; thus carelesly to put him to all these performances againe .

O fountaine of Loue ! Albeit , Our Sauiour would not bee all power is giuen thee both in heauen and vpon earth ; ye twouldest not thou heere susteine the office of a Iudge . Albeit , A iudge . these intolerable both iniuries and indignities were heaped vpon thee , yet wouldest not thou beare the part of an accuser : An accuser . but thou wouldest bee a Mediatour . But a Mediatour . Two offices of a Mediatour . Now , to a Mediatour two offices do properly pertaine : either to present supplication , or to make some defence . The one our SAVIOVR did , in saying ; Father forgiue them ; the other , when he added ; for they know not what they doe . By the first hee was an Intercessour ; by the second a Patron or Aduocate ; by both a most perfect Mediatour . The Iewes before had sought after many accusations against IESVS , but could find none : and now innocent IESVS seeketh how to excuse them . Noe defence for the lewes but ignorance . And verily this sinne was of so high quality and nature , that besides ignorance , nothing could bee brought , either for excuse or for extenuation thereof . The grossenesse of their ignorance . And yet it seemed that their ignorance was not onely grosse and supine , but voluntarily affected : euen as if a man should willingly couer his eyes , because hee will not see who it is , whom hee intendeth to smite or kill . But assuredly they knew not , either what good they did to CHRIST , or what euill to themselues . They knew well enough what euil they did ; but they knew not what euil they did thereby deserue .

But where art thou ? Ignorance cannot be alleadged for vs . O my soule ! In what estate esteemest thou thy selfe , whensoeuer thou doest voluntarily aduenture to sin ? what shall thy SAVIOVR say for thy excuse ? For it seemeth that thou art in worse case , then were the Iewes who tormented him to death . For ignorance was alleaged for them ; but that cannot possibly be pleaded for thee , because hee is more clearly reuealed to thee then he was to them . Thou knowest right well , both what thou doest , and what is to ensue . Yet some defences may . But O saluation of soules ! If in the sharpest sence of thy torments , thou didst extenuate thy tormentors sinnes , wilt thou not now in thy seat of glory , alleadge something to thy Father for those , who with faith and with griefe implore thy defence ? It is true indeed , that ignorance cannot bee pretended for mee . But hast thou but one blessing , Gen. 27. O my SAVIOVR ! hast thou but one defence for all sinners ? Defend mee , euen me also , O my SAVIOVR ! say I was weake , or inconsiderate , or suddenly surprised . Say what thou wilt , O my SAVIOVR ! so I be not banished from thy defence . And yet in very trueth it may be said , All sinners are ignorant . that all sinners are blind , that they know not what they doe . For if they knew , with what impietie they violate the goodnesse , and dis-esteeme the iudgements of GOD ; with what defilements they deforme the beauty of their soule ; what losse they incurre of eternall glory ; what penalty of eternall torments awaiteth for them : they would rather aduenture vpon a thousand deathes , then vpon one sordide and slauish sinne .

O incomprehensible loue ! The loue of CHRIST . Thy members ( O my SAVIOVR ) were racked on the Crosse : thy ioynts opened , thy nerues crackt , thy hands and thy feet were painefully nailed ; on euery side thou wert assailed with blasphemies and scornes ; all which thou didst beare off with thy loue . Thy loue did not permit thee either to complaine , or to be angry ; thy loue made thee sencelesse of griefe ; thy loue made thee forgetfull of thy selfe , and mindfull of nothing but of mercy for thy enemies ; and to appease thy Fathers wrath against them . O louing IESV ! what charitie burned in thy diuine breast ? that almost at the instant of thy death , thou wert more regardfull of thy enemies , then either of thy selfe , or of any thy friendes . For thy mother and some other thy friends stood sorrowing and weeping neere the Crosse ; thy enemies did most bitterly blaspheme ; and doubtfull it is , whether the heauinesse of the one , or the malice of the other did most exceed : and yet thou wert not so intentiue to comfort the first , as to prodcure pardon for the last .

Assuredly , It is not CHRISTS will that wee forbeare to weepe . O my soule ! it is not our Lords minde to drie vp thy teares , to asswage the sorrow which thou shouldest expresse , in regard of his sufferings . It pleaseth him well , that his friendes should freely spend teares for his torments ; but he cannot endure , that sins by his torments should not be pardoned . As hee died for pardon of sinnes , so was hee most carefull to vse all meanes , to obtaine the same . He came not into the world to drie mens eyes from weeping , but to saue mens soules from perishing : as this was his principall worke , so his principall words were directed to this end .

O bottomlesse depth of charity and goodnesse ! neuer exceeded , neuer equalled . Verily , O good IESV ! as thou saidest at thy last Supper , I giue you a new commandement : so mightest thou haue said vpon the Crosse ; I giue you a new example ; A new example . not onely to pardon , but to pray for our enemies ; and in the best manner that you can to excuse them . And that at the very instant of offence , before it be fully accomplished : before either intreaty , or time , hath either worne out , or any deale abated our griefe . For whilest their malice was hottest in action , whilest with many cruelties they tormented thy body , whilest with high blasts of blasphemy they vexed thy soule , thou , as if thou hadst beene . depriued , both of sence in thy selfe , and respect towardes thy friendes , didst wholly bend thy selfe to obtaine their pardon . Thy griefe was greater without comparison , that thy enemies should perish , then that thy friends did lament ; or that thy selfe didst endure a most sharpe and shamefull death .

Verily , Prophesies fulfilled . O meeke IESV ! now was that verified which had beene prophesied of thee long before : Isa. 53. He made intercession for the transgressors . And againe : Psal , 109. For the loue that I had vnto them , loe , they take against mee ; but I giue my selfe to prayer . The charity of CHRIST For thy charitie was so great , that it would not suffer thee to complaine of thy torments : Yea , it enforced thee to pray for thy tormentors ; yea , to excuse them . Euen as a man will easily , not only pardon , but excuse him ; by whom he is cut , lanced , seared , or otherwise grieued ; either for preuenting or curing some dangerous disease . As before thou hadst taught vs to loue our enemies ; so here thou diddest giue example , how farre wee should loue them : How far to loue our enemies . euen to pray earnestly for them ; to bee sorry for their offences , and rather to qualifie and couer , then either to aggrauate or display them . Hee that thus loueth not his enemy , doth not beare true loue towards thee .

For the loue of GOD is so ioyned with the loue of our neighbour , The loue of GOD ioyned with the loue of our neighbour . that they cannot be separate . They both spring from the same roote ; they both flow from the same fountaine ; they are , as it were , twisted into one threed : insomuch as with the same habituall loue where with wee loue GOD , we loue also our neighbour . As all the lines of a spheare which touch the Centre , touch also one another ; so whosoeuer loueth GOD , loueth also his neighbour : & thou canst not separate from thy neighbour , vnlesse thou also separate from GOD. The Commaundement to loue , Not so hard to loue , as to hate . seemeth to be no hard Commandement because it is to doe that whereto we are inclineable by nature . If GOD had commanded vs to hate our neighbour ; it seemeth to haue bin more hard ; because it is more agreeable to our nature , to loue , then to hate . Albeit thy neighbor be troublesome and hard ; A troublesome neighbour must be loued , yet loue him not the lesse . If it bee hard to loue thy neighbour , it is more hard to bee hated of GOD.

THE FATHERS ANSWERE .

NOW , albeit the FATHER did not foorthwith answere the Sonne in an audible voyce ; albeit a voice did not sound from heauen , at the death of IESVS , as it did at his baptisme : Matth. 3. This is my beloued Sonne , in whom I am well pleased : yet , as the Apostle said , Heb. 5. that his prayer was well heard ; so there is no doubt , but it was effectually answered . For as IESVS prayed much more then hee was heard to pray ; so was his prayer answered , when no answere was heard . But GOD doth not alwayes answere prayers by words , How GOD often answereth . but for the most part by effects . When the Father denied his Sonnes prayer in the garden , he answered by an Angel in words ; but when he granted his prayer vpon the Crosse , hee answered not by wordes , but by effectuall workings ; which is a most powerfull answere . The effectuall answere of the Father . First , therefore by vertue of this prayer , one of the theeues crucified with him , conuerted to him ; and desired to be remembred by him . Then the Centurion , who was appointed to guard him , did openly confesse him to be the Sonne of GOD : and others also , who stood by , smote their breasts ( their hearts being smote before ) and returned into the city . Afterwards at the Feast of Pentecost , three thousand were conuerted at one Sermon , and fiue thousand at another . Also by merit and power of this prayer , Saint Stephen was called ; Saint Paul conuerted ; Saint Matthew elected ; and generally , all our prayers are heard , all our sinnes remitted , in case we repent . Wherfore conceiue , O my soule ! that GOD the Father answered his Sonne , not by externall voyce , but by tacite and internall consent ; in maner as followeth .

O My Sonne ! I see thy sufferings , and I see the loue wherewith thou sufferest . The loue wherewith thou so imbracest thy paines , that it will not suffer thee to bee angry for thy paines : the loue whereby thou art , both ready and desirous , to suffer more paines then thou doest . Loe now , I accept thy sacrifice , burning in the bright flames of thy loue : loe , thy teares , groanes , sighes and cryes , haue preuailed with me , and obtained thy desire . Loe , my Sonne , I grant thy petition , I heere lay downe my wrath ; I shut the floodgates of my fury , and open the fountaines of mercy to all . I offer grace , iustice , remission of sinnes , adoption to bee children ; aswell to those who thus rage against thee , as to all other sinners , in all ages , and of all countreys ; whensoeuer they haue beene , or shall be , or wheresoeuer they are , or howsoeuer they haue offended . All this , my son , I freely grant by the merits of thy passion ; but so , as they reiect not this mercy offered ; so , as they but open their armes to embrace it : GOD doth not absolutely compell . But I will compell no man against his will . For , as when thou diddest open the eyes of the blinde , it was their owne eyes whereby they did see : so when the will of sinners is both enlightned and enabled by grace , their proper will must then fall to worke . And therefore let all sinners but resort vnto me ; let them with humility in themselues , and faith in thee , sue forth their pardon ; let them take out this my grant vnder seale of the Sacraments ; and we will bee all friends : they shall be my sonnes , and thy fellow heires in my kingdome of Heauen .

MEDITATIONS vpon the same .

O HOLY FATHER ! how great are thy mercies towards miserable sinners ? giue me thy grace both by vnderstanding to know , and by loue to admire them . How much more forcible was this prayer of thy sonne vpon the Crosse for sinners , Christs prayer more powerfull for sinners , then for himselfe . then was his prayer in the garden for himselfe ? When hee prayed in the garden , prostrate on the ground , bathed in a bloody sweate , thrice for himselfe , thou wouldest not heare him : but when hee prayed on the Crosse for his mortall enemies , thou diddest grant his prayer at the very first word . O infinite goodnesse ! that had more pity on the miseries of sinners , then on the flesh of thy only sonne And because to thy diuine eie nothing is past , nothing to come , All things present to GOD. but all things are present ; because with thee there is neither yesterday nor to morrow ; because thou neither foreseest things to come , nor remembrest things past , but beholdest all things with one act of thy diuine knowledge : because things which are not only far off in regard of vs , but happily are not , are present to thee : it followeth , that thy sweet sonne still hangeth crucified before thee betweene heauen and earth ; Christ still crucified . still bleedeth and praieth for sinners ; Father forgiue them . Forgiue thou , I pray thee , by vertue of this prayer , the sinnes of thy suppliant : which alas ! I haue almost forgotten , but are all present before thee , and cry to thee for iustice . For if this powerfull prayer was heard for his professed and malicious enemies , who neither desired nor regarded his prayer ; shall it not bee heard for those who ioyne with him , both in prayer for forgiuenes , and in teares , to extinguish thy anger against them ? Heauenly Father ! I haue nothing of my owne which thou canst accept : but I heere present to thee , An oblation . the merits and obedience of thy only Sonne ; all the labors and griefes which in this world hee endured for sinners . For this is our stocke , this is our treasure , this is the inheritance which he hath giuen vs , and wherof he hath made vs heires by his last will and testament : and this is rightly ours . Because it is no lesse ours which is freely giuen vs , then that which wee purchase by our owne endeauours .

And , No want if we haue Christ . O blessed SAVIOVR ! what can I want if I haue thee ? If I haue thee , I haue my part in thy prayers , in thy teares , in thy blood , in thy death , in all the merits of thy sufferings , and shall haue my part in thy glory . Thou didst not only pray for sinners on the Crosse , but continually praiest to thy Father for them ; that hee will vouchsafe to forgiue them , to impute their offences to thee , and to impute thy righteousnesse to them . A prayer . O bowels of mercy ! cease not , I beseech thee , often to repeat this paryer to thy Father for mee ; Father forgiue him . For because by sinning I often become thy enemie , I often crucifie thee : what should become of me , if thou shouldest not often pray to thy Father to forgiue me ? And therefore , O my sure Saluation ! so often as either by my owne infirmity , or potency of my enemies , I slippe into sinne , so often say to thy Father for me , Father forgiue this sinner : Father , for my sake bee not displeased with him . The greater our offences are , the greater is GODS glory in pardoning . And wherefore . And the greater my offences shall be , the greater shall be thy glory in procuring my pardon .

For because of all attributes to GOD , goodnesse , after our manner of vnderstanding , is the most excellent ; and that wherein hee glorieth most , and that for which hee is most praysed both in heauen and vpon earth ; it followeth , that the more goodnesse hee expresseth in any action , the more glory he acquireth thereby . And therefore as generally GOD hath not manifested so great goodnesse in anie worke , not in all , as in the worke of our Redemption ; wherein he both did and suffred so many things to make vs good : as thereby in generall , the passion of our SAVIOVR , is so farre from being ignominious , that all the workes of GOD layd together , doe not beget to him so great glory : so in particular , the greater the sinnes are that thereby are remitted ; as they manifest the greater goodnesse , so the glory which they rayse must be the greater .

IN WHOSE Presence this Prayer was made .

ALL this was done in the presence of his blessed Mother , and of diuers of his dearest friends : As calling them to be witnesses of this Generall pardon ; as calling them to be witnesses , that as all were redeemed , so all might bee pardoned by his death . Teaching them also , first , to forgiue iniuries done personallie to themselues ; secondly , that albeit they were permitted to weepe for his death , yet they were not licenced either to seeke , or to desire reuenge , Lastly , to enioyne them to ioyne with him in this charitable prayer ; Father forgiue them , for they know not what they doe . Our SAVIOVR would not lay downe his life , vntill he had made a most perfect knot of amity and peace ; A perfect peace-maker vntill he had reconciled man with GOD ; vntill he had reconciled his enemies with his friends . For in that he intreated his Father to forgiue , he commanded his friendes neuer to accuse . For what iustice could bee required against those who were pardoned ? How should man be offended , when GOD is appeased ? As he left them a passion to weepe , so did hee enioyne them a compassion to forgiue .

O most happy and holy-day ! A great holy day . wherein the sonne praied , the Father pardoned , and men were reconciled . And this was the peace , O great Redeemer ! which was sweetly published by heauenly voices ( as by thy herehaults ) at the time of thy birth . Luk. 2. 14. On earth peace , good will among men . This was the gift which in thy last Sermon , thou didst leaue to thy Disciples : Peace I giue vnto you . Ioh. 12. 27. And thus at thy death in praying for thy enemies , thou didst seeme in this sort to speake to thy friends .

LOe , The great peace of the world concluded . my friends , I am now concluding the great peace of the world . I haue reconciled you to my Father ; I haue vnited you to my selfe ; and doe enioyne you to bee at amity with all men . As I die in loue with all men , so must all hate extinguish by my death , among those that are mine . Alasse ! what should beco0me of you and all mankinde , If I should now die in displeasure or discontent ? Assuredly , you should not then be reconciled to my Father ; you should not then bee vnited with me . And verily so often you fall from this reconcilement , so often , you breake this vnion , as you be at enmity with you brother . When you are at mutuall contention your enemy the diuell in like fashion looketh on , How the Diuell eyeth contentious persons . as an Eagle eyeth a Cock fighting or a Wolf the rude encountering of Rams : intending to make you all his prey . In case you fall into hatred together , you thereby strike into variance with me .

O blessed Peace . Maker ! who shall dare to take reuenge of light iniuries , seeing thou didst pray for those who tormented thee to death ? Seeing thou madest no reckoning of the nailes which pierced thy handes and thy feete , shall I make account of an angry or disgracefull word ? How shall I desperately dare to esteeme any man my enemy , seeing thou wouldest bee a friend and brother to all ? Verily , thus much may any man borrow of his owne weakest reason ; By hating others , wee loose GODS loue . that by hating others , I loose thy loue ; because I hate those whom thou louest , and for whom thou ceasest not to pray . A short Prayer . O my soules health ! Leaue me not , I beseech thee , either out of thy prayer , or out of the reconcilement which thou hast made : seeing I can haue no benefit by the one , but I must bee included in the other . And seeing the sinnes wherof I desire to bee pardoned , are infinitelie hatefull to thy Father ; let me not esteeme the iniuries intolerable , which any man shall doe vnto me ; let me be no lesse vnwilling to reuenge the one , then I would be to bee punished for the other . Yea , let me be no lesse carefull to pray for the offences of others against my selfe , then I would bee to intreate pardon for my offences against thee .

A CONCLVDING Thankesgiuing , Payer and oblation .

I Adore , laud , and glorifie thee , O LORD IESV CHRIST ! I blesse thee and giue thee thankes , O Sonne of the liuing GOD ! for that thou wouldest not onelie permit , but submit thy sacred members , to be thus cruelly both tormented and deformed for mee . And now I lowly blesse and salute them all , for the loue and honour which I am bound , both to beare and to expresse towardes thee for this benefit . I salute and kisse thy blessed feete ; which had trauailed many iourneys , and at last waded to death for mee in thy blood : leauing markes behinde them , in what footstepps I should treade , I salute thy knees , which were often bowed to the earth in prayer , and often wearied with trauaile for mee . I salute thy blessed breast ; inwardly inflamed with loue , and outwardlie deformed with knotty scourges . Haile sacred side which was opened ; gentle and sweet heart which was pierced for mee with a speare . Haile battered backe of my Redeemer , plowed and furrowed with grieuous lashes . Haile holy armes , spread at the largest length to embrace all sinners ; and most bountiful hands in distributing the treasure of thy blood among them . I salute thy glorious countenance defiled with spittings ; which thou hadst neither lust nor leisure to wipe away . I salute thy mellifluous mouth , and all thy instruments of speech ; which could not bee stopped by a spunge filled with vineger , or by any other meanes from praying for mee . And you gentle eares , filled for my sake with blasphemies and reproaches ; you amiable eyes , which for mee haue powred forth many showers of teares , I reuerently salute you . I salute thy royall head , most cruelly goared and gashed with thornes ; to adorne me with the crowne of glory . Most meeke IESVS ! I salute thy whole body , which was scorned , scourged , crucified ; which died and was buried for my saluation . Haile rosie wounds , and most precious bloode , which was offered to thy Father for me . Haile most noble soule of my SAVIOVR , which was vilely vexed and crucified to death , to procure for mee eternall life . I confesse , O louing LORD ! that since I was brought forth into this sinful world , I haue brought forth a world of sin . Therefore I beseech thee by the sufferings of thy most sacred members , to clense all my members from the corruptions wherewith I haue clogged them ; and to sanctifie them with the merits of thy passion . I beseech thee ( O LORD ) fauourably to forgiue mee what I haue done ; and liberally to giue mee what I could not deserue .

AND O most mercifull FATHER ! most mighty creator of heauen and of earth ! albeit I am of all sinners the most vnworthy ; yet doe I offer to thee the most precious death of thy onely sonne , for all the sinnes that I haue done , and for all the benefits that I desire . Behold , O most pitifull Father , what impieties were dealt vpon thy most pious sonne for my sake . Behold the torne coat of thy son Ioseph , dropping with blood ; and see if thou knowlest it to bee his garment . Verily he is fallen into the power of some wicked beast , which thus hath torne it , and trampled it in his blood ; and altogether deformed it with the filth of our sinnes . O distributer of grace ! cast the eies of thy maiestie vpon the vnspeakable worke of thy mercy : behold , I pray thee , who it is that thus hath suffered ; and fauourably regard him for whom he hath suffered .

Behold , O glorious FATHER ! the members of thy sweet childe , cruelly racked vpon the crosse ; and fauourably regard what my substance is . See his bleeding hands nayled to the crosse , and bee pleased to remit the bloody sinnes which my hands haue committed . See his naked side pierced with a speare , and renue me with the blessed fountaine which flowed out of that wound . See his vnspotted feet struck through with rough and rigid nayles ; and enable mee by the fastning of them to the Crosse , to run constantly the way of thy commandements .

Obserue , O eternal Father ! thy deare Sonne , in the fairest flourish of his age ; how his necke bowed , his head declined ; how his whole countenance was deformed . Behold , how his starry eies are sunke and set in his head ; how his nose growth sharp , his lippes pale , his eiebrowes hard , his cheekes shrunke and wane : behold his breast swolne , his side bloody , his bowels drie , his armes and legges stiffe : Beholde his whole body resolued into death . Behold my Priest , who need not bee sprinkled or sanctified with other blood , but gloriously glistereth in his owne . Behold , my pleasing and perfect sacrifice ; odoriferous and acceptable to thee . Behold my Aduocate whome I haue directed to plead my cause before thee . Heare him , I pray thee , and regard the defence that hourely hee maketh for me . Grant , O pitifull FATHER ! that I may alwayes haue him for my Aduocate , whom by no merit of mine , but by thy pure grace thou hast giuen for my Redeemer .

O omnipotent FATHER of my LORD ! what I could find most precious , most highly to bee esteemed , I haue deuoutly presented to thee : Compose thy selfe now , to dispose thy grace and mercy towardes mee . And albeit I am vnworthy of thy rich fauours , in regard of my merits ; yet remember thy mercies , remember thy promises , remember the inestimable merits of my Redeemer : remember what hee hath done , and what he hath suffered , euen from his Cratch to his Crosse ; not for himselfe , but for me . All which I heere offer to thee , most gentle FATHER ! as a sacrifice for my sinnes , and for all my necessities : for whatsoeuer I require of thee , it is in his name , and for his sake ; it is for the loue thou bearest to him , and for the loue that hee beareth to thee .

Thou hast promised to honour fathers in their sons , and sonnes for their fathers . O fauourable LORD ! honor now thy onely Sonne , by doing good to moe , for the loue thou bearest to him . For he is my FATHER , my second Adam ; and I am his sonne , albeit vndutifull ; yet because , in trueth , I am his sonne ; for the loue thou bearest to him , be fauourable to mee . For assuredly , he hath payd for mee much more then I owe . No offence can bee so grieuous , for which his sorrowes , his sufferings , his obedience , and aboue all his profuse loue , hath not amply satisfied : which his large riuers of blood cannot wash away ; which may not bee drowned and deuoured in his death .

O heauenly FATHER ! there is nothing in my selfe , which I dare presume to present vnto thee . For what can proceed from this carion , which is not noisome ? what fruit canst thou expect from this earth , which thou hast cursed from the beginning , but thornes and briers ? And therfore I offer this my SAVIOVR and Redeemer , thy most blessed Son ; and the vnmeasurable loue whereby thou didst send him into the world , apparelled with my flesh , to free mee thereby from eternall death . Beseeching thee , to accept his humble and feruent prayers , for my dry and dull deuotions . Accept his teares , for the torrent of teares which I should powre foorth ; but by reason of the hardnesse of my heart , I cannot . Accept his incomprehensible dolours and torments , which thou onelie perfectly knowest ; for the sorrow & contrition which I am bound to performe . Lastly , accept his sharpe and penurious life , with all his trauailes and exercises of vertue ; accept his cruell death , and all his passions , as a sacrifice to thy glorious Maiesty ; for all the euill workes which I haue done , and for all the good workes which I should haue done .

Feede mee with his flesh , inebriate me with his blood : let his griefe enter into my soule , that I may bee resolued wholly into his loue . Away all forraine loues ; away with the multitude of worldly phantasies and dreames : let me be crucified with him to the world ; let me so die with him , that my life may bee layde vp in thy diuine treasury . Thy Apostle compareth all worldlie things to dung : and may bee likened to the swallowes dung , Phil. 3. which fell vpon the eyes of Tobias , and made him blinde . For we cannot see spirituall things , so long as our eyes are daubed with this dung . Diuites eguerunt , & The rich haue wanted , and suffer hunger ; Psal. 34. but they who feare the LORD want no good thing . The things of this world doe not fill ▪ but inflate ; euen as the Prophet sayd of Ephraim : Hos. 12. Hee feedeth on winde . They are like sharpe liquors , which doe not satisfie , but prouoke hunger . They are like salt water , to quench thirst ; or oyle to extinguish fire .

O my life ! O desire of my soule ! hide mee from the world ; obscure me from the fawning fauours thereof , and take me into the secret retreits of thy bosome to dwel . One thing is necessary ; and that doe I desire . My beloued is one . Cant. 6. My CHRIST IESVS , my GOD , my spouse is one , and my only loue . O heauenly FATHER ! let nothing be sweet , nothing sauourie vnto mee ; let nothing affect mee , but onely IESVS CHRIST . Let him bee wholly mine , and I wholly his . Cant. 6. Let mee neither loue , nor know any thing but him , and him crucified . To whom with thee and the holy Ghost be all honor and prayse for euer . Amen .

Praise , and Glory , and Wisedome , & Strength , Dominion , Riches and Power , bee vnto our GOD , for euermore , Amen .

FINIS .

LONDON , Printed by IOHN BILL . M.DC.XXIII .

Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
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