THere be many that speak much of jesus Christ, and bear a fair show of his holiness and virtue: but none are able to conceive (much less to declare) the sweet comforts of his heavenly grace, saving such as hold faith in a good conscience, without hypocrisy, pride, and covetousness, and be reform in their lives with charity, peace, and unity. THE HEARTY CONFESSION OF A CHRISTIAN, Devised for his own comfort, written for his remembrance, and now published for the use of M. H. and others his faithful and private friends only. 1 Cor. 3. 18. Let no man deceive himself, if any man seem to be wise amongst you in this world, let him be (as) a fool: that he may be (come) wise▪ 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God, etc. The argument of the song. 1. COR. 1. 30. But you are of him in Christ jesus, who was made unto us wisdom from God, yea, and righteousness, & holiness, and redemption. 31. That, as it is written, he that boasteth, or rejoiceth, let him boast, and rejoice in the Lord. A spiritual song of thanksgiving, with prayer unto God, containing the full effect of true religion in a Christian. The forespeech with the drift and substance of the Song. THe some of all the comforts, which I find In holy writ to ease my troubled mind: Is this, that God * The uniting of two natures in the person of Christ, who is our Emmanuell, that is, God with us, very man as we are sin excepted. my nature did unite Unto his Godhead full of grace, and might? In Christ who standeth between God and me For ever more my Saviour to be. Ruling me, as my * The annexing of three offices in the person of Chest, namely of Prophet, Priest, & King, who is our full and perfect Saviour. Prophet, Priest, and King, On me bestowing every needful thing. Not only for my present consolation, But also for my eternal salvation. I will therefore sing of his wondrous praise For his exceeding love to me always. The Song. Doctrine by way of example. 1. WHere I by nature * Against our birth sin, commonly called original sin. through my parents fall, Am so distempered in my members all, And bend to ill (which beareth in me full sway) As from all goodness draws me guite away And thus in sin original am drowned: Christ is my * The proper remedy is, the uniting of two natures in Christ by his incarnation upon earth. perfect innocency sound: Him, as that brazen snake, if I adore, In me shallbe no sickness nor no sore. Application of the Doctrine prayer wise. O Christ forgive my natural infection, Which to thy law will not be in subjection, And so provoketh me to daily strife, Whilst I am nuzzled in this noisome life, And grant me thy * That is divine substance, majesty, or godliness: as, Mat. 5. 48. joh. 13. 15. and 17. 20. 21. 22. 1. Cor. 11. 1. Ephe. 5. 1. Colos. 1. 10. 1. Thes. 2. 12. Heb. 1. 3. 1. Pet. 1. 15. 2. Pet. 1. 4. etc. pure nature to express, Henceforth in my behaviour, more or less, Till flesh and blood by death thou shalt subdue, My state in heaven for ever to renew. Doctrine. 2. * Against all our other sins, commonly called actual sins, the proper remedy is the annexing of three offices in Christ by his heavenly dispensation. And first of his Prophecy. Where through my * Against our ignorance, which is the mother of all sin and mischief. folly, & mine own ignorance, I know not how God's glory to advance, Nor to dispose myself in any sort For others help, nor for mine own comfort: And thus am blind, and no truth I can see; Christ is most * The proper remedy is his wisdom, which is the root of all grace, and welfare. perfect wisdom unto me: Him, as that faithful guide, if I attend, I shall not need any way to offend. Application. O Christ forgive my judgement dark & weak, Which causeth me thy blessed Laws to break, And so provoketh me to daily strife, Whilst I do wander in this wavering life, And grant me thy deep knowledge to express Henceforth in my behaviour more or less, Till flesh and blood by death thou shalt subdue, My state in heaven for ever to renew. Doctrine. 3. * Further of his Priesthood. Where I * Against our unholiness, and breach of the first table. ungodly am, and superstitious, unreverent, profane, and irreligious, Leading my life after a worldly fashion Against the rule of my heavenly vocation, And thus am set in an ill-favoured case; Christ is my * The proper remedy, is his holiness. perfect holiness, and grace: Him, as that holy of holies, if I frequent, My blots, and blemishes shall soon be spent. Application. O Christ forgive my foul and ugly vice, Which doth my soul, and body both disguise, And so provoketh me to daily strife, Whilst I am foiled in this filthy life. And grant me thy fair beauty to express, Henceforth in my behaviour more or less, Till flesh and blood by death thou shalt subdue, My state in heaven for ever to renew. Doctrine. 4. * Moreover of his Priesthood. Where I am * Against our unrighteousness, and breach of the second table. toiled with care of earthly pelf, And do not love my neighbour, as myself: But hurt his state, life, bed, goods, and good name In thought, word, deed, and lusting for the same, And so am filled full of all iniquity: Christ is my * The proper remedy, is 〈◊〉 righteousness. perfect righteousness, and equity: Him, as that upright judge, if I obey, I cannot hurt my neighbour any way. Application. O Christ, forgive my violence and treachery, Which makes me offer others much injury, And so provoketh me to daily strife, Whilst I am carking in this careful life. And grant me thy high justice to express Henceforth in my behaviour more or less, Till flesh and blond, by death thou shalt subdue. My state in heaven for ever to renew. Doctrine. 5. * Lastly of his kingdoms 〈…〉. Where I am * Against our bondage & ●●sirie, which is the just punishment of all our sins. bondslave to all kind of misery, Sold under sin, and subject to all infamy, Falling down headlong to utter destruction, By natural, and actual corruption, And thus am feeble, frail, and transitory; Christ my * The proper remedy, is hi●●●demption and glory, wh●● the due reward of his e 〈…〉 ding mercy towards us. redemption is, and perfect glory: Him, as that Lord of hosts, if I do serve, From force of foes he will me sure preserve. Application. O Christ forgive my wretched imperfection, Which pulleth me from thine happy protection, And so provoketh me to daily strife, Whilst I do warfare in this weary life, And grant me thy * Namely by relieving of the needy, after thy Royal example, according to the power of thy grace in me. Io. 13. 14. 15. Rom. 12. 16. Ephe. 5. 21. Phi 2 5. 6. 7. etc. 1. Pet. 1. 17. 18. 19 Ephe. 4. 7. 8. jam. 2. 8. etc. free ransom to express Henceforth in my behaviour more or less, Till flesh and blood, by death thou shalt subdue, My state in heaven for ever to renew. Amen. FINIS. AT LONDON Printed by Thomas Orwin, for Christopher Hunt. 1593.