wée may be able to bear it u u Mark 9.24 We belieue Lord help our vnbeliefe * * Esai 26.8 The desire of our soule is thy name and to the remembrance of thee x x Dan. 9.18.19 O our God encline thine eare and heare open thine eyes and behold our desolations and the City which is called by thy name for we doe not present our supplications before thée for our righteousnesses but for thy great mercies y y Eph. 3.20 Now vnto thée that art able to doe excéeding abundantly aboue all that we aske or thinke according to the power that worketh in vs z z Vers 21. vnto thée be glory in the Church by Christ Iesus throughout al ages world without end Amen Parent Thirdly I pray you giue vs two easie and plaine formes of thanksgiuing for our daily vse at euery meale the one before the receiuing of our food and the other after to be vttered by my selfe if I be present or by some other of my house in the name of all that partake of the same meale Pastor I will A forme of Thankesgiuing to be vsed of an ignorant familie before meales MOst gratious God we acknowledge thée to be the author of all good gifts and blessings wée humbly pray thée to forgiue vs all our sinnes Grant vs faith and sobernesse in receiuing these thy good creatures blesse them to our nourishment and stirre vs vp thereupon to serue thy holy maiesty with true thanksgiuing through Iesus Christ thy Sonne and our Sauiour by thy holy spirit Amen After Meales TO thee our most bountifull Father and gracious Lord who hast made redeemed and euer hitherto preserued vs and at this time fedde and refreshed vs with thy good gifts and creatures be all glory and obedience rendred of vs and of all other thy people both now and euermore God saue the Church vniuersall blesse the kings Maiesty continue thy Gospell make thy holy word effectuall in our hearts comfort all thy poore and afflicted seruants and giue vs thy peace and whole truth in Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Parent Fourthly I pray you giue vs some formes of prayer for morning and euening on the Lords day for the whole houshold as you haue done for the worke-dayes Pastor Nay I would rather exhort you to vse your best indeuours to conceiue prayers of your selues according as the spirit of God shall inable you and your estate shall require for on the Sabbath day you haue most time to labour in prayer if you will make conscience to redeeme your time and verily if you would set your selues vnfainedly to the studie heereof by your humble and constant crauing * Zach. 12.10 of the Spirit of Prayer at the Lords hands by a conscionable exercising of your selues in the holy Scriptures of a true purpose and holy desire to wrestle with God * Gen. 32.24 25 c. with Hos 12.3 4. as Iacob did in supplication to his glory the Lord will bestow this ability vpon you Howbeit if you desire any further direction to traine you vp in this duty of prayer you may profitably imploy your selues for some conuenient space on the Lords days in that singular help which the Lord hath prouided for you by the paines of Master Iohn Brinsley in his second part of the True Watch containing The perfect Rule and Summe of Prayer whereunto I referre you for this your fourth request Yet I will giue you a forme of prayer for solitarie vse vpon the Lords day morning I meane for each one by himselfe apart For although it bee a Christians part both to pray solitarilie euery worke day and also to ioyn with the whole familie in priuate prayer on the Lords day and the same more largely and oftner then on other daies yet there seemeth to bee speciall reason and need for euery particular person to call vpon God by himselfe alone for preparation towards the beginning of the Lords day Because I. God must be intreated by al manner praier and means possible to inable vs vnto the duties of this day Reasons for solitary or secret prayer in the entrance of the Lords day II. This solitary praying will occasion and further vs to seeke our neerer reconciliation with God which as at al other times so cheefly on that day we must giue greatest diligence to be sure of III. It is a speciall meane to make vs the more carefull both to bestow the more time and labour vpon Gods seruice and to profit the better thereby on that day IV. Euery one knoweth best his owne particular corruptions and wants in former abuse of the Sabbath whereof hee ought to begge forgiuenesse at Gods hands in secret and to seeke his owne particular healing and comfort V. Lastly consider I pray you how you know that your heart is sincere and earnest in seeking the Lord on his day and what sound comfort you can haue in your selfe against the accusation of hypocrisie or of vaine glory when Satan shall by anie meanes charge you therewith if you be cold in your secret and solitarie prayers on that day and specially if you neglect them thereon altogether Furthermore remember that the Sabbath is the Bond of all Religion for which cause the Lord doth often stile * Esai 56.2 Lam. 1.7 Ezek. 20.11 c. his whole Religion by the name of the Sabbath and that therefore it is your part being a Christian Housholder as to haue a care of your selfe and of all your people for resorting vnto the publike worship of God with firme constancie and there to continue with reuerence from the beginning to the end of the whole so to call your selfe to a secret reckoning with God for your profiting that day and your people all togither before you inquiring of them one by one what they haue gained by ech Sermon and to teach them diligently labouring to haue conscience put vpon them by the Lord and to the same ends imploying your selfe and them more that day than any other in praiers and thanksgiuings singing of Psalmes and vse of the word in publike and priuate and * Psal 93. 107. throughout but specially v. 42 43. in a wise and holy obseruation and application of the workes of God For whosoeuer you be vnlesse you make conscience of all these things how can you expect Gods blessing vpon any publike exercise though neuer so holy in it selfe which you shall haue to doe withall on that day Therefore if you iudge this forme following fit for your estate vse it ech one seuerally by himselfe during your present ignorance and weaknesse A Forme of Prayer for the Sabbath day morning or the euening before to be vsed of a weake Christian by himselfe alone tending to his better preparation for the duties of the Sabbath A forme of solitarie prayer for the beginning of the Lords day a a Psal 21.1 VNto thée O Lord doe I lift vp my soule and
26. Mat. 28.19 As the very pledges of his loue the assurances and instruments of his grace and honourable badges to professe his name by Seruant And how doe you esteeme them in respect of your mind towards Christ Scholler d Acts 8 36 37 39. 1 Cor. 10.16 17 As the testimonies of my Faith receiuing his grace the tokens of my thankefulnes and the very bands of my duety both to him and his Church Parent Who hath authoritie from the Lord to administer the Sacraments Child e 1 Chron. 13.10 11. 15.12 13. 2 ChroÌ„ 30.3 35.3 6. Iohn 4.1 2. Exod. 4.16 Mat. 28 18 19 They only who are sent to preach the Word Parent To whom do they of right belong to be receiued Childe f Act. 2 38 8.37 1. Cor. 12 13. To sound hearted Christians Parent What then haue the wicked to doe with them Child g Act. 2.38 1 Cor. 11.28 Nothing at all till they be purged from their sinnes by Faith and Repentance Seruant But what if they presume to receiue them without faith and repentance Scholler h Deut. 23 21 22. 1 Cor. 10.1 2 3 c. with Exo. 14.27 28 29. Eccl. 3.4 Mat. 7.7 to 13 Yet they shall reape no benefit by them but rather increase their sinne and condemnation Seruant And what if they shall neglect or contemne them Scholler i Gen. 17.14 Num. 9.13 Luk. 7.30 They are then speciall enemies of Gods glory and of their owne saluation cutting themselues off from Gods couenant and Church and so they incur Gods heauy wrath vnlesse they repent * Oh coÌ„sider that the Lord Iesus himselfe was baptized ate the Lords supper and commanded both Seruant How is that proued Scholler k Exod. 4.24 25 c. 1 Cor. 11.25 26 c. Séeing God hath sharply corrected his owne children sound hearted and otherwise godly with sickenesse and weakenesse yea euen with death for some negligence or irreuerence about the Sacraments much more fearefullie will he punish the wicked and vngodly for their grosse abusing or refusing of them Parent After what manner are the Sacraments to be celebrated Childe l Num. 9.3 4 5 12. 1 Cor. 11.23 As is prescribed in the word of God Parent How many Sacraments be there Child Two m 1 Cor. 12.13 Baptisme and the Supper of the Lord. Parent Of what parts do they consist Child n Heb. 6.2 1 Cor. 10.16.17 Both of outward and inward things Parent What are the outward things Child The earthly creatures and certaine actions of Minister the and Receiuers about the same Parent What are the inward things Childe Christ himselfe his spirituall graces and workes and certaine spirituall actions of the Receiuers Parent What then is the benefite which the Faithfull receiue by the Sacraments Child o Mat. 28.19 1 Corin. 1â— 20 c. 12.13 Gen. 17.7 8. Ephes 5.26 They are confirmed in the vnion that they haue with Christ yea and with God the Father and with with God the holy Ghost through Christ Of Baptisme in particular Parent What is Baptisme Child p Mat. 28.19 The Seale of our Entrance and first admission into the profession of Christianity Parent What is the outward thing in baptisme Childe q Math. 3.16 28.19 Washing or sprinkling with water Parent What spirituall thing is meant thereby Child r Eph. 5.25.26 1 Iohn 1.7 Apoc. 1.5 Heb. 9.14 Math. 3.11 The bloud of Iesus Christ our Sauiour shed for vs yea whole Christ himselfe purging our sinnes Parent What is the worke of the Minister and the right forme of Baptizing Childe First Å¿ Math. 28.19 1 Tim. 4.5 to open the couenant of grace Secondly t 1 Tim. 4.4 5. Acts 22.16 Luke 1.59 to sanctifie the water to this holy vse by praier and thankesgiuing Thirdly u Mat. 28.19 with the water to baptize * That is into the Communion into the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost Parent What is the inward worke performed by Christ Child * 1 Cor. 1.13 14 15 16. 6.11 12.13 Mat. 3.11.12 Iohn 17.21 22 23 24 26. He putteth away my sins and giueth me a new life thereby making mee one with himselfe and with his Church vnto my certaine assurance of eternall life Parent How doth Baptisme represent the putting away of your sinnes by Christ Child x Act. 2.38 22.16 1 Ioh. 1 7. Rom. 6.6 Col. 2.11 12. Psal 32.5 Euen as the water sprinkled by the hand of the Minister washeth away the filth of my bodie so the bloud shedding of Iesus Christ layed hold vpon by the hand of faith cleanseth me from all my sinnes and that not onely by forgiuing mee both the guilt and punishment but also by mortifying sinne in me Parent How doth Baptisme represent the giuing of a new life vnto you by Christ Childe y Mat. 3.11 Mark 1.4 Acts 15.9 1 Pet. 3.21 22. Tit. 3.5 6. Euen as water maketh that faire which before was foule so the holy Ghost purifying my heart by Faith both iustifieth me before God in the imputation of Christs righteousnesse and sanctifieth me to lead a holy life who before was vnholy and vncleane Parent What is the outward worke of those that are to be baptized Childe z Math. 3.6 Act. 8 36 37 38. Confession of their sins of their faith and of their repentance and readily to receiue baptisme in forme aforesaid Parent And what is their inward action Child a Gal. 3.27 5.3 1 Pet. 3.21 22. To put on Christ by faith vnto newnesse of life Parent Why then should infants bee baptized which can doe none of these things Childe First b Gen. 17.7 Mark 10.14 Act 16.15 23 1 Cor. 7.14 because they belong to the Couenant of Gods grace and vnto his kingdome God himselfe saying I am God vnto thée and to thy séed after thee Secondly c Gen. 17.11.12 13 14. Exo. 12.48 Col 2.11 12.13 compared they haue as good right to Baptisme as the infants of the Iewes had to circumcision Parent What is the duety of children after baptisme Childe First d Heb. 8.11 Psal 110 27 33 to learn the waies of the Lord and to kéepe his statutes Secondly e Ephes 4.1 2 â— 4 5 6 Acts. 2.41 c. to kéepe a holy fellowship with Christ and his Church Parent When may you haue true comfort by your Baptisme Childe f Câ—â— 2.12 13. Tu. 3.5 2 Cor. 5.17 When I feele my selfe to be regenerate or sanctified Parent What May you feele your selfe to be regenerate Childe g Rom. 7.14.15 c. Ps 119.93 94. Yes verily if I be regenerate indeed Parent How may you know that you are regenerate indeed Child h Ephes 5.26 1 Pet 1.23 2.1 2. 2 Tim. 3.5 Psal 119.40 If I can find that the light and efficacie of Gods Word shining and burning in my hearts hath truely killed
THE COVNTRY-MAN WITH HIS HOVSHOLD Being A familiar Conference concerning Faith towards God and Good Workes before Men fitted for the capacitie of the meanest By R. S. Preacher of the word at ARLEY See the Contents more particularly before the Booke IOSVA 24.13 But as for me and my house we will serue the Lord. 1 PET. 2.17 Feare God NEHEM 1.11 Desire to feare him Imprinted at London by Edward Griffin for Ionah Man at the Talbot in Pater-noster Row 1620. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE SIR WALTER ASTON KNIGHT OF THE BATHE BARONET AT THIS PRESENT LORD AMBASSADOR FOR HIS MAIESTIE TO THE KING OF SPAINE AND TO THE LADY GERTRVDE HIS MOST VERTVOVS AND BELOVED WIFE R. S. CONSECRATETH THESE HIS MEDITATIONS TOGITHER WITH HIS BEST WISHES AND SERVICES An Admonition to the Reader I Presume thou knowest very well good Reader that as the gifts of Teachers in deliuering are diuers so are those of the Hearers for conceiuing and profiting For which cause the Christian Scribe must as the great Diuinitie-Reader teacheth a Mat. 13.52 bring forth out of his treasure things both new and olde that is as I vnderstand it fit his setting forth of sauing truth after sundry good sorts to the estate and capacitie of the Learners b Phil. 3.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. minimè lubricum and for them it is safe to write the same things vnto them Thinke me not then to tautologize ouermuch in this Booke neither yet blame me for lacke of exact method therein For besides that a familiar Conference especially of the Country-man with his Houshold for whose sake chiefly I publish these my country-meditations is not so absolutely freed from the one nor so strictly tyed to the other note I pray thee that my studie and endeuour herein hath beene purposely to convey the truth to the more ignorant and ruder sort in such forme and so many words as I supposed them able to receiue it c Esai 28.9 10 11. 1 Cor. 3.1 2. 9.22 Heb. 5.11 12 13. and if they should not rightly conceiue and lay hold on the truth in one place speech or passage of the Booke yet in another they might attaine to it if it shall please the Lord. To which end I haue retained chiefly in the weightiest principles some common phrases and kindes of speech vsed in Catechismes because I take them to be plainest more generally knowne Namely I haue here and there vsed some answers out of Master William Perkins of worthy memorie his Catechisme And in some three or foure places also I haue imitated others a litle in some respects The reasons against Transubstantiation and many of those Questions and Answers about fit and worthy Receiuers and some few about Receiuing worthily are the labours of that judicious man and mine especiall frend Mr A. N. All the rest so far as I remember * Neither yet hath my paines beene the lesser in those few things that I haue taken from others as the discreet Reader may easily perceiue by my manner of vsing them are my poore indeuours togither with the frame of the whole so shaped as I thought fittest for my purpose Indeed when I began with this Worke I intended onely some briefer thing as a short Catechisme but afterwards partly considering the great and manifold necessities of the ignorant and partly following the aduise of diuers godly persons whom I consulted withall I haue inlarged my selfe to so many matters as you may see The doctrine and substance I assure my selfe is sound and I am priuie proceedeth from a heart that is willing to promote the common saluation d vers 3. as Iude calleth it Let it not want therefore judicious Reader thy Christian good word at least let it be free from thy blame though it may be there shall be found some shew of Reason for such censure considering not onely my defence premised but also the cause and honour of Him who is too often pierced through the sides of his poore seruants and fearing the offence of the weake who God knoweth are soone turned out of the way Albeit I take it had bin no great difficultie for me to haue made it both shorter and more methodicall saue that if I do not mistake I iudge this often repeating the surest or likeliest way to effect my intent and desire And if God shall moue any few of those Housholders hearts who haue hitherto vsed litle or no meanes in this behalfe to vse this so that it be with conscience I haue inough And why should they alwayes e Psal 2.3 breake Christs bands asunder and cast away his cords from them Now the Lord of his deere mercy conueyed vnto vs by the blood of of his onely Sonne by his all-working Spirit blesse my simple labour thy fauourable allowance and euery ones Christian vse of it vnto his owne praise in the building of his Church Amen Thine in the Lord R. S. The Table of the Contents THE drift of the Author in this Booke and concerning the instructing and reforming of the Country-mans-houshould in generall and particularly some directions and formes of teaching Children so soone as they can speake and such as hauing spent a great part of their time in ignorance carelesness can repeat some things as the Creed the Lords Prayer c. but yet vnderstand little or nothing thereof and therfore cannot put what they say to any good vse pag. 1. to 59. I The First part Concerning the Law of God contained in the tenne Commandements which are summarily expounded and the vses of the Law in generall briefly set downe pag. 59. to 79. II The second part Concerning the Gospell where the Creed is explaned pag. 79. to 111. III The third part concerning the Meanes of Grace in generall And first of the Word of God and of the Exercises thereof pag. 111. to 115. Secondly of Prayer Where 1 An Exposition of the Lords prayer pag. 115. to 126 2. Two formes of Prayer for the vse of the Country-mans-Household on worke-daies the one for the Morning the other for the Euening pag. 126. to 148. 3. Two formes of Thanksgiuing the one before meat the other after meat pag. 148. to 149. 4. A forme of Prayer for one in priuate for preparation to the Sabbath pag. 150. to 161. 5. Certayne godly Hymnes or Psalms for priuate vse pag. 167. to 174. IIII The fourth part Of the Sacraments of the New Testament p. 174. to 178 1. Of Baptisme pag. 178. to 182. 2. Of the Lords Supper pag. 188. to 194 where of fit and worthy Receiuers c. p. 194. to 206. V The last Part where 1. Of the Practise of the Communion of Saints pag. 206. to 110. 2. Of the Effects of the foure meanes of Grace both in good and bad p. 209 to 211. 3. Of the consideration of Gods works pag. 211 to 212. 4. Of Christs Protecting of his Church pag. 212 to 213. 5. Of Christs Disposing of
c Rom. 4.1 13 16. the father of the faithfull and the Heire of the world and in making him great promises to the same and other purposes and repeating them often vnto him chiefly concerning the Messias who should proceed of d Math. 1.1 2 c. Gal. 3. 4. with Gen. 12.15.17 22. chap. 2 Chron. 20.7 him and of his posteritie according to the flesh concerning himselfe and his seede both by nature faith and by faith I say both of Iew and Gentile temporally and eternally All which God hath performed and will accomplish to the full in Christ the blessed seed And of Abrahams Faith and Thankfulnesse on th' other part His Faith in giuing full trust and credit vnto Gods loue and promises His Thankfulnes in behauing himselfe as the speciall friend of God and of his glory throughout his whole drift and course labouring to promote and maintaine Gods name and seruice vnto the vttermost For Abraham e Gen. 12.1 4 5 c. 17.23 c. 18.19 22.1 2. c 12. 24. Ios 24.14 15. Esai 41.8 Iohn 8. Heb. 11.8 15. Jam. 2.23 approued himselfe to be the worthy and trustie champion propagator and maintainer of Gods glory and honor by his faithfull cleauing vnto God his vprightnesse his carefull shunning of defection impugning of Idolatrie and abhorring of all iniquitie This then was the speciall frendship betwixt God and Abraham which was sealed on both parts f Genes 17. by the Sacrament of Circumcision giuen and receiued as also by other diuine signes amongst which that was not the least that God gaue Abraham g Gen. 21.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. a Sonne in his old age and Abraham h Gen. 22. would haue offered him willingly in sacrifice to the Lord at his commandement Secondly i Philem. v. 17. 1 Sam. 18.3 20.14 15 16 17. speciall inward friends do count ech others friends and enimies common as we see not onely amongst those that are meerly naturall but also with those that haue beene the children of grace Now this we finde also betwixt God and Abraham For the Lord out of his speciall loue made this promise to Abraham and to his true seede after him k Genes 12.3 I will blesse them that blesse thee and curse him that curseth thee and euermore duly kept it both towards him and his wife and towards his children l Gal. 3.7 of which sort are all they which are of faith For God did manifestly reueale what reckoning he made of Abraham and Sarah his wife their friends and enimies first m Genes 12.17 19. by his seuere plaguing of Pharaoh the Aegyptian King his house for taking Sarai into his house though none of them abused her for the Lord preserued her being his Friends wife from their filthinesse And afterwards by his jealous and sharpe n Gen. 20.3 7 17 18. Psal 105.15 rebuking Abimelech King of Gerar for the like cause telling him that He and all His should surely die vnlesse he restored vnto Abraham his wife yea and striking his wife maid-seruants with barrennesse but in conclusion o Gen. 20.13 14 15 16 17 18. after that he had restored vnto Abraham his wife vndefiled and shewed other kindnesses both to him and her the Lord at this his great Friends request healed Abimelechs wife and maid-seruants so that they bare children And as for Abrahams children the Faithfull the holy Scriptures and all experience doe euidently shew the like dealing of God for them Againe Abraham declared his loue to his best Friend the Lord in hating Gods enimies as if they had bin his owne and so in entertaining reuerencing and succouring the friends messengers and seruants of the Lord as his owne or rather aboue his owne all which things we read p Genes 14. in the storie of Abrahams slaying Chedarlaomer and the Kings that were with him who were not onely his owne enimies but also of Melchizedec the Priest of the most High God of Lot and others of Gods Church and consequently of God himselfe q Gen. 24.3 in the storie of his auoyding the mariage of the daughters of Canaan with his sonne Isaac for the Canaanites being out of the Couenant of God were to be reckoned amongst his enimies and r Gen. 14. in the stories of his rescuing Lot paying tithes to Melchizedec Å¿ Genes 18. entertaining the Angels and praying for what righteous persons he supposed were in Sodom Gomorrhe Lastly Great and speciall friends are wont to resort and continue much togither and therein to conferre familiarly of their most weighty and secret matters and occasions And I pray you how many apparitions did the Lord vouchsafe to Abraham How familiarly did the Lord conferre with him at sundry times And how weightie and secret were the occasions which they did communicate th' one to th' other As namely concerning Abraham and his estate his wife and progenie the blessed seed CHRIST IESVS and all others of Abrahams seede the matter of Sodom and Gomorrhe Abrahams prayers and thanksgiuings which vndoubtedly were many and feruent and finally his meditations vpon the will of God to him reuealed which in the secret of his soule he spiritually talked of vnto God For seeing he had that zeale holinesse and loue that he did pray so long and so earnestly for the wicked and filthy Sodomites we may easily iudge how plentifull hee was in his consultations and supplications with the Lord for himselfe and the rest of Gods Church and to conclude what a heauenly fellowship and holy commerce was exercised between them Parent But what vse is there of all this to vs Pastor Very great both for our instruction and comfort For if we be faithfull as Abraham was we ought to be certainly perswaded that the Lord is the same God to vs as he was to Abraham though we haue not the like extraordinarie signes and testimonies The proofes whereof are cheifly two First t Act. 10.34 35. Rom. 2.10 11. 1 Ioh. 1.3 4. 4.15 16 17. Ioh. 17.20 21 22 23 24 25 26. Gods loue is one and the same towards all his people and seruants in Christ Iesus whom he gaue vnto the death aswell for euery one and the least of them as for any one and the greatest of them And secondly the Lord telleth vs in generall that u Rom. 15.4 whatsoeuer things were written aforetime were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might haue hope yea and specifieth this thing expresly saying * Galat. 3.9 they which be of faith are blessed with faithfull Abraham and to put vs out of all doubt he giueth all true beleeuers as friendly and gratious speeches as he did to Abraham both in the Old and New Testaments In the Old thus he vttereth his minde x Zechar. 2.8 he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of my eye In the new thus
to know that all things worke togither for good to them that loue thee to bestow vpon vs all things needfull and conuenient for this present life so as we may be best fitted to liue to thy praise our owne soules eternall comfort and to the spirituall profit and aduantage of others in thy Church and especially to the better releefe and refreshing of thy poore afflicted seruants vnto the which ends also we pray thee blesse and prosper vs in the right vse of those thy good gifts which we presently enioy And forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. But mercifull Father howsoeuer thou deale with vs for worldly benefits we most hartily desire thée to forgiue vs all our sinnes that are passed iustifying vs in the righteousnes of thy Sonne Iesus Christ And that we féeling the comfort of thy loue in our hearts by faith may for thy sake vnfainedly forgiue them that haue offended vs and by the same grace get stronger assurance to our owne soules that thou Lord wilt in thine infinite mercies forgiue vs all that great and manifold debt of ours And lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill And for the time to come we entirely beséech thée to let vs sée the deepe deceitfulnes of our owne fleshly hearts and our corrupt inclination whereupon the Deuill for the most part worketh and withall doe thou stir vs vp to fight continually against the same euen against our euill and wretched lusts the vile fruits of our vnbeléefe and to watch against the Deuill who walketh about as a roaring Lyon séeking whom he may deuoure and like a subtile Serpent studying to deceiue O Lord grant he may neither bewitch vs in prosperitie as that we should denie or forget thée nor make vs froward in aduersitie Mortifie our corrupt nature the rotten and lothsome fountaine of our manifold sins and quicken vs in newnesse of life and in the studie of true godlinesse Which grace of Sanctification and a godly life we do the more earnestly beg at thy mercifull hands because thou hast taught vs plainly that without the same thou wilt not heare vs when we call vpon thée as also for that thou wilt not vouchsafe thine effectuall grace vnto any but vpon their strongest endeuours And so O gratious Lord we do most instantly beséech thée to saue vs from our sinnes to cast vs downe vnfainedly in the féeling of our spirituall miserie and vilenes to lift vs vp in the assurance of thy Sonne Christs merits and to make vs far more laborious for grace for our soules then for earthly fauour for our bodies For thine is the kingdom the power and the glory for euer Touching all which our requests we doe ground our Faith for obtaining them only vpon thée who hast sole right authoritie and power ouer all and who wilt do all things vndoubtedly vnto they owne glory euermore and wilt cause the spirit of glory to rest vpon vs that on our part do glorifie thée And therefore we doe promise to render vnto thée most harty thanks at all times for all thy mercies and fauours plentifully bestowed vpon vs in Iesus Christ and most of all for our Redemption in him beséeching thée to inable vs to praise thée the King of Kings and Lord of Lords in doing those good works which thou hast ordained that we should walke in them and specially the duties of our callings and degrées wherein thou hast set vs. Amen For these and all other necessarie graces and blessings we doe not onely most feruently desire them but also do verily beleeue and desire to beleeue that thou hearest vs alwaies Beseeching thee to giue vs grace to striue against doubting and vnbeleefe and confirme our faith that we may come often vnto thee with all cheerefull willingnes and sound delight and may continue knocking for thy mercy without wearinesse vntill thy Sonne Iesus Christ shall come to dissolue vs and to crowne his owne grace in vs with eternall glory And here confessing thy free and gratious goodnesse in preseruing protecting vs this night past we pray thee teach vs to vse well thy mercy all this day to loue vs still to direct and blesse vs in our honest labours and businesses and so giue vs more and more cause to sing praise and giue thanks vnto thee and to liue and die to thy glory And make vs alwaies mindfull of that great gift of thine Christ and his Gospell to the end we may giue vp our selues to walke with him in deeds and sufferings and séeke our owne and others saluation with holy feare and trembling Finally let not thy word depart out of our mindes neither let vs goe astray from thy commandements And though we be thy most vnworthy and vnprofitable seruants yet be pleased to grant our suite and accept our sacrifice sith we come vnto thée in the onely mediation and intercession of thy blessed Sonne and our Sauiour Iesus Christ And therefore * * 2 Cor. 13.14 the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ and the loue of God and the Communion of the Holy Ghost be with vs all Amen Parent Secondly I pray you giue vs a forme of Prayer for the worke-day euening and let it be such as consisteth altogether of the phrases and sentences of holy Scripture to the end we may take the better delight in calling vpon God for we finde our hearts dull and our flesh vnwilling oftentimes for this high seruice but we haue had experience by our vsing those very words which the Holy Ghost hath indited in the Bible that we haue beene quickned and made willing cheerefull and reuerent in our supplications thanks-giuings vnto the Lord. Pastor You may vse this following if you please A Forme of Euening Prayer on the worke-day for the whole Familie A prayer for the Familie on worke-day euening a a Esai 6.3 HOly holy holy b b Revel 4.8 Lord God Almightie which was and is In this forme I haue strictly followed the last translation of the Bible done by his Maiesties speciall commandement appointed to be read in Churches and is to come the whole earth is full of thy glory c c Psal 19.14 Let the words of our mouth and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in thy sight O Lord our strength and our Redeemer d d Psal 32.5 51.3 Wee acknowledge our sinnes vnto thee and our iniquities wee will not hide for they are euer before vs. e e Rō 5.12 19. For by one man sinne entred into the world and death by sinne and by his disobedience wee are made sinners f f Psal 51.5 Thereupon wee were shapen in iniquitie and in sinne did our mothers conceiue vs. g g Esai 64.6 So wee bee all of vs as an vncleane thing and all our righteousnesses as filthy rags Thence it is that wee haue actually h h Dan. 9.5 9. sinned against thee
glory of his power with the Deuill and his Angels euery one according to the diuers measures of the deserts of their sinnes Seruant Why is the day of iudgement concealed from all Angels and men Scholler r Mat. 24.36 37 38 39 40 41 42 c. Mark 13.33 37. Luk. 21. 34 35 36. Both to preuent all curious inquiring and also to make vs the more watchfull Seruant Why what neede haue we to watch seeing some signes that must go before that day are not yet fulfilled as besides others there ſ Math. 24.23 24 25 26 27 28. Mark 13.21 22 23. must be False-Christs and False-Prophets shewing great signes and wonders Scholler For two reasons cheifly First t Job 33.23 24 25 26 27 28. Eccles 9 10. Ps 89.10 11 12. 90.12 115.17 Hebr. 3.15 1 Thess 5.1 to 12. Rev. 14.13 compared because our death is to vs as the last iudgement shall be to them that then shall be found liuing forasmuch as they are both alike vncertaine and vnknowne and we may be yea and are often deceiued for the time of death as much as any shall be for the time of the last iudgement And séeing the last iudgement shall finde vs in that state whether for grace or sinne wherein death leaueth vs wherefore we must necessarily watch and prepare for death as for the last iudgement Secondly u Mar. 13.32 33 34 35 36 37. Luk. 21.34 35 36. 1 Thess 5.1 2 3 4 c. although wée should not be deceiued for the time either of the one or the other yet the danger of securitie whereby men are hardned to their owne destruction can be by no other meanes preuented nor auoyded but by watching the onely remedie against it Seruant Wherein consisteth this so needfull a Grace of Watchfulnes Scholler Both in shunning all the occasions of securitie and in vsing all the meanes of a speciall preparation or readinesse Seruant What occasions of securitie do you meane must be shunned if we will watch Scholler * Luk. 21.34 35 36. Not only voluptuousnes couetousnesse worldly carefulnesse ambitious desires and the like which are grosse sinnes x Luk. 17.26 27 28 c. 14.18 19 20. 1 Cor. 7.24 35. Esai 22.12 13 14. But also all abuse and excesse yea and the vnseasonable vse of things that of themselues are necessarie warrantable as eating drinking buying selling planting building marrying and giuing to mariage recreating c. as when men do giue themselues ouer to these things which are so much the more pernicious to the soule because they are not ordinarily condemned amongst men Seruant What meanes of speciall Preparation or Readinesse must wee vse Scholler First y 2 Cor. 13.5 Revel 21.27 wée must diligently examine our selues whether we haue the Faith Repentance and Sanctification which lead vnto saluation Secondly we must be carefull z Mat. 25.14 15 c. to 31. Dan. 5.18 to 24. with 4.24 25 26 27. 1 Cor. 10.31 1 Pet. 4.10 11. of the talents that is of those gifts and graces both of minde bodie which God hath distributed to vs to vse them to his glory and to the good of his Church yea and that others also may be stirred vp to séeke and serue the Lord which likewise turneth to Gods aduantage in the end Thirdly a 1 Thess 5.17 18 19 20 23. Psalm 16.1 Luk. 21.36 Mark 13.33 34. Revel 22.20 we must set our selues in most serious manner as to all the exercises of Piety so specially to Prayer that God would preserue vs from falling away that he would hasten his comming to Iudgement and fit vs thereunto Seruant How shall one know whether he haue the true grace of Faith that leadeth to saluation Scholler Besides other notes which I haue declared * Part. 2. and Part. 5. aboue one may try himselfe whether he hath true sauing Faith by these two First b Rom. 5.2 3 c. Heb. 10.34 35. 1 Cor. 3.21 23. when he can rightly reioyce and glory in God comfortably depending vpon him in all necessities feares and dangers yea euen in the midst of his greatest tribulations and tryalls vpon this ground of assurance that all things are his he Christs and Christ Gods Secondly c 2 Tim. 4.6 7 8. 1 Ioh. 5.4 when his heart reioyceth at the very remembrance and consideration of the day of Iudgement because he is priuy to himselfe that he hath fought the good fight of Faith against all his temptations and hath also kept the same in a good conscience Seruant And how shall one perceiue in himselfe true Repentance and Sanctification Scholler First more generally d Math. 11.12 1 Iohn 3.2 3 8 10. Phil. 3.10 11 12 c. Psal 119.6 Matth. 16.23 Act. 5.3 Zach. 3.2 Rō 16.10 1 Ioh. 2.13 14. Ephes 4 26 27. 6.13 when one fully purposeth in his heart and applieth his whole strength powring forth his prayers incessantly vnto the Lord both to be throughly purged from all his sinnes without exception because where any one knowne sinne raigneth there Satans throne is and also to walke with God purely in the obedience of all his commandements all his dayes and most of all in such duties as God doth specially require at his hands for the magnifying of his power and grace ouer Satan and Sinne and specially at what time he is most strongly tempted to euill or opposed in that which is good Secondly more particularly by the graces of humility and mercie Seruant How may we perceiue the soundnesse of our repentance and sanctification by the grace of humility Scholler e Rom. 11.20 22. Pro. 15.33 Luk. 17.10 1 Cor. 4.5 6 7. Iob. 31.13 14 34. 2 Sam. 12.7 8 c. 13. with Psal 51 141.5 144.3 1 Tim. 1.15 Ephes 3.8 Esai 40 17. When in all our waies and euen in our greatest earthly prosperitie we doe carrie our selues with lowlinesse and feare both before God and Men as being euer in Gods sight onely vpholden by his grace hauing nothing but what we haue receiued and that of his frée goodnesse onely which he might haue giuen if he had pleased to any others though neuer so vnworthy as well as to vs and of sinners that shall be saued the chéfe but lesse than the least of all Saints in one respect or other if not in many And séeing all people and nations of the whole world are counted to God lesse then nothing and vanitie how little iudge you is each particular person if so he knew himselfe aright in his owne eyes To conclude it is a good note that wee haue humilitie the ready way to glorie when we can patiently and thankfullie in the secret of our hearts heare our reproofes and holilie profit by them Seruant How by Mercy Scholler f Mark 3.5 Luk. 19.8 41 42 43.44 Act. 9.36 10.1 c. Gal. 6.10 Psal 16.2 3. 35 13 14. Heb. 6.10 13.3.16 Iam. 2.13 Mat. 24.34