all the women went out after her with Timbrels and with Dances none being so scrupulous in those dayes as to take exceptions at them And Miriam said Sing ye unto the Lord for he hath criumphed gloriously the horse and his rider hath he throwne into the sea O what an excellent Emulation it is betweene men and women when they contend who may praise God most for his Blessings bestowed upon them In the same straine of praises is the consort of Deborah and Barak for the overthrow of General Siserah Judges 5. Praise ye the Lord for the avenging of Israel when the people willingly offered themselves c. In comparison of which piece the highest touch of Heathen Poetry sounds but flat and livelesse Neither must the good-wives of Bethlehems praising of God for the birth of Obed King Davids grand-father be thought not worthy to be imitated upon the like occasion Rut. 4.14 15 And the women said unto Naomi Blessed be the Lord which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman that his name may bee famous in Israel And he shall be thee a restorer of thy life and a nourisher of thine old age for thy Daughter in Law which loveth thee which is better to thee then ten sonnes hath born him Thankful Hannahs Hymn is tuned to the same key for the birth of her son Samuel And Hannah prayed and said 1 Sam. 2.1 My heart rejoiceth in the Lord my horn is exalted in the Lord my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies because I rejoice in thy salvation But eminent above all the rest is that Magnificat or Song of Praise and Thanksgiving of the most blessed Mother-maid Luke 1.46 retained in our Leiturgy to be alwayes repeated Wherein Humility in her greatest advancement referring all to Gods glory and reflecting still upon the Churches good is most lively set forth He hath looked upon me a poor wretch regarding the low and inconsiderable estate of his Hand-maiden passing by the flourishing Pomp of the rich and mighty He hath remembred his mercy for the redemption of Israel according to the promise made to our forefathers and therefore My soul doth praise and magnifie the Lord and my spirit rejoyceth not for any worth found in my self but in God only my Saviour O that the proud ones of these times would but think upon this This one patterne might be sufficient to take down their haughty looks and new fangled attires by minding them that the blessedst amongst all women was otherwise affected In the like straine is that Benedictus of holy Zachary Luke 1.68 Blessed or praised be the Lord God of Israel for hee hath visited and redeemed his people c. And that Psal 100. O be joyful in the Lord all yee Lands serve the Lord with gladnesse and come before his presence with a Song O go your way into his gates with Thanksgiving and into his courts with praise be thankful unto him and speak good of his Name And it is worth the noting that as the Book of the hundred and fifty Psalms begins with Blessed is the man or many blessings are upon that man that hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly but kissed the Son and ordered his walks to God to which the first fifty Psalmes especially lead him Neither stood in the way of sinners which the second fifty beats him from as most dangerous So the third fifty plucks him and his from the Seat of the scornful lift him up with Psalms of Degrees and Hallelujahs to thank and praise the Maker and Preserver of all things sealing all up with this conclusion Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Wherefore let not the Te Deum We praise thee O God we acknowledg thee to be the Lord or the Benedicite the following Canticle O all ye works of the Lord blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for ever be thought superfluous in our Leiturgy for not having that Canonical Authority which the former Scriptures have lest our Sermons and unpremeditated praises and prayers should be in that respect excepted against and so Preaching be discredited as bordering too neer sometimes upon Apocrypha Let it be sufficient then that such holy prayers have ground in Scripture from which as the Articles of our Creed they are deduced and framed to the capacitie and memories of all that cannot bee more edifyingly instructed So Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost so often repeated to uphold the Doctrine of the sacred Trinitg against the ancient and moderne Hereticks and that Angelical Rapture used after receiving of the Lords Supper Glory be to God on high and in earth peace good will towards men We praise thee we blesse thee we worship thee we glorifie thee we give thanks to thee for thy great glory O Lord c. are such collections whereby young men and maidens old men and children may praise the Name of the Lord Psa 148.12 as the Psalmist exhorts them to do With whom we may safely conclude in that which our Leiturgy takes up for an entrance Psalm 95. O come let us sing unto the Lord c. with the Postscript of that good wish Psal 40.19 Let all those that seek thee be joyful and glad in thee and let such as love thy salvation say alwayes The Lord be praised CHAP. VII Of Comminations or Cursings COmmination in our Leiturgy is a part of Church-Discipline whereby Gods judgments are denounced against notorious offenders to terrifie them from their desperate courses and to put a stop to others that they follow not them in their damned wayes which by their owne mouthes they have pronounced accursed This is grounded on the twenty seventh of Deuteronomy with little alteration of words or matter for the applying it to our time And to the same end serve the Woes denounced by our Saviour Matth. 23 against the hypocritical Scribes and Pharisees which will never be out of date as long as the same sins are fomented and thought good policie and not heartily repented of amongst Professors of Christianity With this Commination the Church-Excommunication hath a neer affinity whereby obstinate notorious offenders are excluded from the benefit of the Saints communion and delivered unto Satan as the incestuous Corinthian was by Saint Paul to the destruction of the flesh 1 Cor. 5.5 that the Spirit might be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus These warrantable practices of Primitive Discipline considered as they ought should breed a restlesse horror in the consciences of those that lye under such censures Gal. 6. For Be not deceived God is not mocked who will not have his Church neglected whose priviledges of binding and loosing here on earth are enrolled in heaven Mat. 18.18 And if we account it a slight matter to bee reckoned of Gods people as an Heathen or Publican at the last admittance of the faithful and obedient
trust ye not in any brother for every brother will utterly supplant and every neighbor will walk with slanders 6. Take heed and beware of covetousnesse Luk. 12.15 for the abundance that a man hath makes him not happy but the well bestowing of it which basely neglected proves oftentimes the bane of the owner and a booty for those that will wickedly set it packing 7. You that are better advised Take heed to your selves lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting or drunkennesse or cares of this life and so that last day come upon you unawares for as a snare shall it come on all them which dwell on the face of the whole earth But enough hath beene spoken if it be well remembred and practised But what wil Caveats Memento's or Edicts from heaven avail if we be wanting to our selves and bend not an ear to hear or a heart to entertain what the Spirit saith unto the Churches and in them to us in particular II. Here then come in these Excitations which among Divines are called Soliloquies in which by reflecting upon our selves in what condition soever we are we set the superiour faculties of our souls that is the Understanding and Will to comfort and cheare up our drooping senses and consciences upon heavenly principles that will never faile And herein a Lanthorn to our feet and a light unto our pathes we have the Prophet David in so many passages that it may distract us in which especially to instance Psal 27.2 In the midst of his devouring canibal enemies that came upon him to eat up his flesh how cheerfully doth he rowze up himself The Lord is my light and my salvation whom then shall I fear The Lord is the strength of my life of whom then should I be afraid Upon the scoffs of his Adversaries that having him at an advantage would cast him in the teeth Psal 42.12 Where is now thy God he reflects upon himself and without passionate retortion makes good his ground against them Ps 42.14 15 Why art thou so vexed O my soul and why art thou so disquieted within me O put thy trust in God Psal 43.5 6 for I will yet thank him which is the help of my countenance and my God Psal 103.1 Praise the Lord O my soul and all that is within me Psal 146.1 Praise the Lord O my soul While I live will I praise the Lord as long as I have any being I will sing praises unto my God Such a communing with her own heart hath the poor woman troubled with the bloody-issue Mark 5.26 Matth. 9.21 If I might but touch his garment I shal be whole And how calmly in this kind doth Job put off the losses of his goods and children Job 1.21 Naked came I out of my mothers womb and naked shall I return again The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away blessed be the name of the Lord. III. Last of all for inciting others not only all sorts of people must be called upon in these and the like terms O praise the Lord O give thanks unto the Lord O sing unto the Lord a new song which are as familiar as comfortable but also beasts and senselesse creatures must be fetcht in to bear a part Psalm 150 Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord is the close of the Psalms Let the sea make a noise let the floods clap their hands Let the Hills be joyful together before the Lord And O be joyful in the Lord all yea Lands serve the Lord. These and like select passages set in our Leiturgy made familiar to you and yours my Daughters may serve to make you heavenly melody in the greatest distractions and affrightments this world may put upon you Psal 94.13 14 for the Lord will not fail his people neither forsake his inheritance but give them patience in the time of adversity until the pit be digged us for the ungodly Bruised reeds shall not be broken Isai 42.3 smoaking flax shall not bee quenched Psal 34 Sheep shall find green pastures when lions hunger the meal shall not fail in the barrel 1 King 17. nor the oyl in the cruse until there appeare a more plentiful supply Cast your care therefore upon God my Daughters in all your exigencies for he careth for you 1 Pet. 5.7 and be content with what he bestoweth upon you for he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee And our Saviour who tels us that in this world we shall have tribulation Joh. 16.33 and be sharers with him in his fufferings cheers us up notwithstanding with this conclusion Be of good comfort I have overcome the world THE THIRD PART OF PRAYERS IN Publick Assemblies CHAP. I. Of Confessions PUblick Prayers are such as are celebrated solemnly by Congregations in appointed times and places according to set formes prescribed to Priest and people by particular Churches within their severall Jurisdictions Such was that of blessing the people by the Priest Num. 6.22 not in variety of formes and phrases as he thought fit but in such termes and words which are enjoyned by God himselfe And the Lord spake unto Moses saying Speak unto Aaron and his sons saying On this wise shall ye blesse the children of Israel saying unto them The Lord blesse thee and keep thee The Lord make his face to shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee and give thee peace And they shall put my Name upon the children of Israel and I will bless them This name some would have to import the blessed Trinity by reason of the word Jehovah or Lord here thrice repeated to which that Blessing is well conformed which is imparted usually by most parents to children In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost And in the same form precisely all children of Christians are commanded to be baptized Mat. 28.19 In like manner it was not at the choice of him that presented his first fruits to acknowledg his thankfulnesse in what termes or variations he conceited but Deut. 26.5 Thou shalt speak as the Text commands thee and say before the Lord thy God A Syrian ready to perish was my father and he went downe into Egypt and sojourned there with a few and became a Nation great mighty and populous and the Egyptians evil entreated us and laid upon us hard Bondage And when we cryed unto the Lord God of our fathers the Lord heard our voice and looked on our affliction and our labor and our oppression And the Lord brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand and with an out-stretched arm and with great terribleness and with signes and with wonders And he brought us into this place and hath given us this Land even a Land that floweth with milk and honey And now behold I have brought thee the
herein I shall divide this ensuing Discourse into three parts whereof the first shall be concerning the due preparations to Prayer the second of Prayer in private and the third of praying in publick Assemblies wherein it were fruitlesse to heap together all that may be said the best Teacher hath left us a pattern to respect our Auditors capacities I have many things to say unto you Joh. 16.12 1 Cor. 3.2 Heb. 5.12 but you cannot bear them now Milk therefore must be the Childrens diet until their stomacks be fitted for stronger meat The Preparation comes here first to be thought on Wherein these particulars are especially to be observed 1. The Necessity of prayer 2. To whom our prayers are to be directed 3. What we are to ask 4. What gestures are most beseeming our Devotions 5 The impediments that are most likely to frustrate or disturb our petitions 6. What Helps may most stir us up to further them 7. The waiting for a gracious answer from God and the surest tokens to discern it In none of which my Daughters you must expect what might be gathered by me from divers Authors with my own additions but such touches only as you may best remember to put in practice When our Saviour had instructed his Disciples to pray and shewed how prevalent it is with God if it be continued with importunity interposing therewith a Miracle in casting out a dumb Divel which he shewed his calumniatours that he did not by Inchantments but by the finger of God a certaine woman of the company is said to have lift up her voice by way of applause Blessed is the Womb Luk. 11.27 that bare thee and the paps that thou hast sucked But what was the answer she received for so hearty an expression yea rather saith our Saviour Blessed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it It is not the applauding of the Preacher but the edification and practice of the Hearer that finds acceptance at the Throne of Grace This therefore we should especially drive at which is informed and made effectual by continual prayer The Necessity of which in the first place is duly of you to bee considered CHAP. I. Of the Necessity of Prayer OF all Christian duties wee finde none so much urged in Scripture as Prayer Luk 21.36 1 Th. 5.17 Pray alwayes saith our Saviour continually saith the Apostle which convinceth its Necessity And Experience informeth us that there were never any so brutish who acknowledged a God but also concluded upon it that hee must be sought unto by prayer We therefore that from heavenly Institution have surer grounds to build upon 1 Pet. 2.19 may 1. From the command of the Father 2. From the seconding of the Son 3. From the inforcing of the Holy Ghost 4. From the honour given to them in Scripture that have been eminent in prayer As also 5 From the wonderful effects of prayer And 6. From the freedom of it that cannot be hindred as other duties may And last of all for that it is the only meanes that forceth as it were the Almighty and the special Engine that terrifieth and routeth Satan and all his Adherents may wel I say more peremptorily inforce the Necessity of it to be such that as outward works of our vocation cannot bee performed without Light the night cometh saith our Saviour when no man can work Joh. 9.4 so no action of ours can be acceptable to God or profitable for our selves except it be seasoned with the salt of prayer 1. For the first inducement Call upon me saith the Father in the time of thy trouble and I will hear thee Psal 50.15 and thou shalt praise me For the second Ask and it shall be given you they are the words of the Sonne seek and ye shall finde Matth. 7.7 knock and it shall be opened unto you Ask by prayer seek by reading or hearing knock by doing good works And as though all this had been too little in regard of our dulnesse to have once said the word hee reinforceth it again with a promise renewed for every one that asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth Ver. 8. and to him that knocketh it shall be opened And further lest this large proffer should make the promise suspected he backs it with an instance pickt out of our naturall corrupt affections What man is there so perverse among you saith he whom if his son ask for bread Ver. 9. will he give him a stone or if he ask a fish will he give him a serpent And that we neglect not or misapply the inference by our untoward Logick he adds for a right application If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts to your children Ver. 10. how much more shall your father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him 3. For the third Would the Spirit think you when we know not what we should pray for as we ought Rom. 8.26 help our infirmities and make intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered if prayers were not necessary for the Saints according to the will of God 4. In the fourth place Psal 99.6.4 that passage of the Psalmist Moses and Aaron among his Priests and Samuel amongst them that call upon his Name and that of the prophet If these three men Noah Daniel Ezek. 14.14 and Job should be intercessors for the putting by of a determined famine and spoil by beasts sword or pestilence for the wickedness of the people they only should save themselves what may it intimate unto us but the prevalence of such mens prayers where any hope is left and the hainousnesse of continued abominations have not quite excluded pardon Fifthly the wonderful effects of prayer are sufficiently set forth in that of Joshua Jos 10.12 Sun saith he stand thou stil upon Gibeon and thou Moon in the valley of Ajalon which was no sooner asked then had so that there was no day like before it or after it that God thus hearkned unto the voice of a man But if this may seem too extraordinary Elias saith the Apostle was a man subject to the like passions as we are and he prayed earnestly that it might not raine Jam. 5.17 and it rained not on the earth by the space of three yeares and six months and he prayed again Ver. 18. and the heavens gave raine and the earth brought forth her fruit And this makes both for prayers necessity and excellency Which sixthly may be further thought on that whereas other duties of preaching Sacraments visiting the afflicted giving of Alms or the like may through pressing distractions want of ability or opportunity of time and place be wholly hindered no time no place no calamity whatsoever can prohibit us from the practice of praying Daniel in the lions den Jonas in the Whales belly Acts 5.16 25 Paul and Silas in the stocks howsoever imprisoned find
a Spirit Joh. 4.24 and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and Truth Those that tell you that Statua's and Images are good memorials to mind us what we should worship you may answer Psal 19. That the Heavens declare the glory of God and all other Creatures his handy works direct us to the worshipping of him that made them Thus shall ye say unto them as the Prophet charged the Israelites to tell the Idolatrous Chaldeans in their own language The Gods that have not made the heavens and the earth Jer. 10.12 even they shall perish from the earth and from under those heavens Images for Worship saith another are but Teachers of lies Hab. 2.18 and the promoters of the Doctrine of Divels 2 Tim. 4.1 They may otherwise have an Historical use and adorne buildings but for Worship we have the Words direction not a painted Crucifix to set before the foolish Galatians Christ crucified Gal. 3.1 And for Remembrance of our Saviours Passion why should not the Breaking of bread and drinking of wine in the Sacrament of his last Supper be accounted the best Art of Memory seeing hee himself hath taught us Do this in remembrance of me Luk. 22.19 And would not any wise man take the Sermons of our Saviour and the Writings of his Apostles to be better Relicks then a chip of the material Crosse or the shewing of Saint Peters Chaines to inform us what they taught for our salvation or did for our imitation Last of all Against the Proctors for praying to Saints or Angels that which our Saviour replyed to the Lawyer may be well made use of Luk. 10.26 What is written in the Law how readest thou Can you shew me any Precept or Example of such prayer throughout all the Old or New Testaments Or can wee think in reason that Saints will bee more readie to hear or tender our wants or promote our Petitions then our blessed Redeemer and our only Mediatour and Advocate Christ Jesus The Woman of Canaan found small comfort upon earth of Saints Intercession Mat. 15.23 Send her away say they for she cryeth after us Wee believe the Saints are most happy in heaven and honour their persons and memory here on earth in appointing Holy-Dayes wherein their Doings and Doctrine are commended to our Assemblies for their pious Imitation But what they know of us or may do for us by way of Intercession in heaven is not revealed unto us Build you therefore upon certainties my Daughters Christ hath taught you to say Our Father which art in heaven and the Church wherein you were borne and baptized teacheth you accordingly That when you direct your Prayers severally to any of the Persons in whose Names you were baptized or jointly to the Blessed Trinity you direct them to One God which is Three in One and One in All. And as many as walk according to this Rule peace be on them and mercy Gal. 6.16 and upon the Israel of God which prevailing with God they shall the more comfortably and assuredly enjoy if they take with them as an Antidote Saint Johns conclusion Little children John 5.13 keep your selves from Idols CHAP. III. What wee are to ask in our prayers TO know the Necessity of Prayer and to whom we are to pray will but little avail if we are not well advised what to ask Joh 21 22 Peter may enquire what shall become of John but receive a check What is that to thee Inquire not after that which belongs not to thee do that I bid thee Follow thou me And when the mother of Zebedees children became a suiter for the preferment of them to that which they were uncapable of Mat. 20.20 wee know what a cold satisfaction they obtained from our Saviour Mar. 10.35 Ye know not what ye ask Neither the joint petition of the Apostles afterwards concerning an earthly Kingdom found better successe Acts 1.7 It is not for you to know the times and seasons which the Father hath put into his own power Those therefore that trust to speed must petition only for those things which may be convenient for them to receive and for God to grant as the entrauce to our Liturgy tells us They must ask those things which are requisite for the soul and body Otherwise their prayers may be turned into sin Psa 109.7 and instead of an expected Blesing a deserved curse may fall upon them Gen. 27.12 The caveat therefore of the preacher as well for the mouth as for the foot is to be observed of all suiters that shall present themselves before the throne of grace First learne by hearing what to doe before thou tender a fooles sacrifice without consideration in hope to obtaine Eccles 5.1 and be not rash with thy mouth and hasty with thy heart to multiply many words where few would be more to the purpose and better accepted for how can it chuse but prove lost labour to beg that of God which may not be granted by reason of his revealed will to the contrary Hence the salvation of Judas and damned spirits the foreknowledg of the day of Judgment and secrets of God in election or reprobation of this or that party must not come within the compasse of our petitions And if the tree must lye where it falleth Eccles 11.3 and the condition of the dead from worse to better be unchangeable those Masses dirges and prayers for any friend departed may very well be spared which some are so missled to purchase and others to sell at so dear a rate for who hath required this at your hands Isa 1.12 Psal 49.8 It cost more to reedem a soul therfore that must be let alone for ever upon the same ground Samuel might not pray for Saul nor Jeremiah for preventing Judahs captivity where the immutable purpose of God was once made known unto them Things then spiritual which concerne our salvation and temporal that make for our preservation in the condition God hath put us or furtheering us to a better according to his good will and disposition not our restlesse and itching ambition must bee the line and compasse of our approveable devotions And this brings in that confidence the beloved disciple speaks of That if we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us Joh 5.14 and if we know that he heareth whatsoever we aske wee know wee have the petition that we desired of him Many scruples are here suggested whether we may pray for one blaspemously sinning to death or obstinately standing excommunicate or rebelliously persecuting the Church and State seeing the petition of the Psalmist is expresse Stand up O Lord God of hostes Psal 59.5 thou God of Israel to visit all the heathen and be not mercifull unto them that offend of malicious wickednesse But the Prophets prayer runs against those that God shal find so not against such as we
in passion may censure to be so for we are to hope the best of all and condemn not Luk. 6.37 lest we be condemned May not a persecuting Paul become an Elect vessel Act. 9.15 and a forsworn Peter go out and weep bitterly But of this more when we shall speak of execrations herafter What wee are to pray for Sufficient limits may be found in that heavenly pattern which our Saviour hath left for that purpose Mat. 26.75 consisting of a Preface petitions and a conclusion In the preface the first word as we have it Our minds us of unity and respect to our brethren as well as of our selves excluding dissention that frustrates our best intentions as also respect of persons in preferring the rich before the poor and censuring others as being not capable of Gods mercies equally with our selves The second word Father assures us of acceptance tells us we are all brethren and that we need not to make our addresses for our wants to others whom we may not term fathers he having will and power to supply us and dislikes that we should seeke further in hope of speeding better for wee have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear Rom. 8.15.16 but we have received the Spirit of Adoption wherby we cry Abba Gal. 4.6.7 Father This Spirit it selfe bearing witness with our spirit that we are the children of God That which followes which art in heaven makes pilgrimages to shrines and reliques superfluous and superstitious Psal 25. Psal 121. Psal 122. For it lifts up our hearts to heaven and heavenly things as the Psalmist teacheth us I lift my heart to thee and unto thee do I lift up mine eyes O thou that dwellest in the heavens Ioh. 17. Which our Saviours practice confirmeth These words spake Jesus and lift up his eyes to heaven and said Father the houre is come And tells us moreover that wee have an overseer who looks into all our thoughts words Ps 113.5 and works Who is like unto the Lord our God who hath his dwelling so high and yet humbleth himselfe to behold the things that are in heaven and in earth The Petitions that succeed are by some made but six but without quarrelling may be reckoned seven In which the order of them shew that spiritual things are to be first looked after Mat. 6.33 and prayed for before temporal according to that of our Saviour first seek the Kingdom of God Mat. 6.33 and the righteousnesse thereof and then temporal matters shall be added as an advantage In which respects Solomons choice pleased God in praying for wisdome 1 King 3.11 before riches and honour for what shall be best for us we shall not want if we prefer the first petition the Hallowing of Gods Name before all temporalities Of this Moses and St. Paul were so tender that the one wished to be blotted out of Gods booke of life Exod. 32.32 Rom. 9.3 The other to be accursed from Christ rather then an aspersion should be cast on God either of impotency in not being able or breach of promise as not performing what he had of his free bounty undertaken for his Church to bring to passe The Hallowing therefore and glorifying and extolling above all things of the infinite Majesty of Gods Name is the thing that we are to esteem of above our own salvation And Name here which signifies Gods Essence Attributes and Commands must be conceived to be no other but that which wee were baptized in including both Father Sonne and Holy Ghost who being of one essence must needs by the same Act of ours equally be honoured or dishonoured The second petition Let thy Kingdome come Instruct us that next after Gods glory the good of his Church must be respected and prayed for that being militant here as it ought it may triumph hereafter as it expects Any thing therefore that may derogate from this must be so far from our prayers that it be rejected as the subject of our chiefest detestations Thirdly Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven guideth all our desires and petitions to be regulated by Gods will revealed in his word the resisting or declining from which must not once come within compasse of our thoughts much lesse of our petitions And now when we descend to beg for supplies in our own behalfe The fourth Petition Give us this day our daily bread how in every word doth it lesson us to exclude exorbitances Give not as due but of thy meer bounty not to one that hath of his own but to those that of unfained necessity are forced to beg with us not for themselves only but for their brethren too who must do the like for them also rich and poor are at Gods gate of mercy must be equally supplicants and that for present supply This day our daily bread must be conferred on us by a continued liberality where under the name of bread are contained apparel dwellings all things necessary to teach moderation to be used in all Gods blessings so that superfluities make not up any part of our petitions And that these blessings be not hindered by our sins The fifth petition puts in a caveat forgive us our trespasses as wee forgive them that trespass against us The condition here expresses the obligation that lies upon us of forgiving others if wee hope to be forgiven of God our selves I say therefore saith our Saviour blesse them that curse you Mat. 5.44 do good to them that hate you pray for them that despightfully use you and persecute you So that an irreconciled petitioner in Gods Court of Requests is like as you see to find no audience And as not for the remission of his own debts so neither to be freed from the assaults and hazards of ruining temptations which makes up the sixth request to be granted of him that only can keep us from and deliver us in the strongest combates of the World the Flesh and also against the most impetuous incursions of the Divel himself desired in the seventh and last Petition All these shew so sufficiently what wee are to ask that wee need not cast about what besides wee should pray for for the Articles of the Apostles Creed shew but the condition of that Kingdome whose coming and prosperity we pray for in the second Petition And what is the loving of God above all things and of our neighbour as our selves but the substance of the ten Commandments that wee desire in the third Petition That the will of God may bee done by us here on earth as it is in Heaven by the Saints and Angels For the more assured obtaining of all which petitions the Conclusion adds this confidence For thine O Father is the Kingdome therefore thou wilt the Power therefore thou canst the Glory therefore in honour thou art in a sort by thy selfe engaged to tender the prayers of thy children subjects and
humble Supplicants and dismisse them with the Seal of Amen set to their just requests You cannot therefore my Daughters be ignorant what to pray for or what to decline as impertinent to your Devotions being so compendiously instructed by our Saviours owne heavenly Directory It will do well therefore in the next place to take some notice what Gestures in our Prayers may be most conveniently used CHAP. IV. Of External Gestures beseeming Religious Devotions HOwsoever Superstition as praying in an unknown tongue upon Beads before a Crucifixe or the like be as wild Goards 2 Kin. 4.40 that throwne in among good herbs makes the pottage deadly yet a distinction must be ever made between that and due reverence This is required not only of the mind but also of the Body Exod. 4.5 Josh 5.15 Moses and Joshuah must put off their shooes when they approach near to have conference with God Job Job 42.6 that was somewhat too forward upon his integrity when the Lord had schooled him was quickly brought to professe that he abhorred himself and repented in dust and ashes And it may well be thought that the heavy doome pronounced against the Intruder at the Kings Marriage Supper for his Son Mat. 22.13 without a Wedding garment was especially inflicted upon him for his irreverence in that behalf For would an earthly Prince endure a Tradesman invited by him to a Feast to come regardless out of his shop in his worst Apparrel without respect of the Person or place or honor of his Superiour that vouchsafed so much to owne him Joseph must not be presented to Pharaoh without trimming Gen. 41.74 and changing his rayment And what adoe was there with the Purification of the Virgins Esth 2.12 before they were thought fit to come into Ahasuerus his presence To this purpose God himself lessoneth grieved Aaron for the unexpected death of his two rash sons Nadab and Abihu I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me and before all the people I will be glorified It is a plot of Satan to brand due reverence of the body with the scandal of Superstition Bowing at the name of Jesus standing up at the Creed kneeling at the Receiving of the Blessed Sacrament of the Lords Supper must be held with some Superstitious to smel of Popery as though it were too much for him that created the body aswel as the soul to have the due reverence from both And because Papists are too peevish in over acting we should performe nothing at all That mean therefore must be kept between warrantable Ceremonies and superstitious fooleries that in detesting the one wee prove not profane in the other Herein our Church hath been very careful and judicious in giving a reason of Ceremonies in a Preface to our Leiturgy why some be abolished and some retained which those that dislike will dislike any thing that comes not out of the forge of their owne fancies and that most commonly as our fashions endures no longer then the starting up of another whimzy whose noveltie takes more with the people Jude such clouds without water fruitlesse trees raging waves of the sea foaming out their owne shame gifts without grace shifts withont blushing drifts without the least touch of conscience and Christianity our late experience hath taught us how ruinous they prove to Church and Commonwealth The smarts whereof should rather make us to recollect our selves and recover that we have lost both in external and internal Devotions then to proceed in such dangerous wayes which in the end must needs undo us for this falleth in with that of the Prophet Jer. 18.15 16 17. Because my people have forgotten me they have burnt Incense unto vanity and they have caused them to stumble in their wayes from the ancient paths to walk in paths in a way not cast up to make their Land desolate and a perpetual hissing Every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished and wag his head But mark the issue if timely repentance prevent it not I will scatter them as with an East wind before the enemy I will shew them the back and not the face in the day of their calamity Amendment therefore for the present and prevention for the future will prove at this time especially more seasonable then complaints for that which is past and cannot be recalled That which the Apostle requireth 1 Cor. 14.40 Let all things be done decently and in order is of a large extent and hath a more evident reflex in our devotions upon the outward postures of our body then the inward affection of the mind Such Gestures therefore as these 1. Casting our eyes on the earth and smiting our brests as unworthy to behold heaven by reason of our false-hearted exorbitancies 2. Standing up at the Creed in token of our free profession of it and resolution ever to stand to it 3. The lifting up of our eyes and hands to heaven as to the Mercy-Seat of that only God to whom only our prayers are to bee directed 4 Strong cryes and tears Heb 5.7 which make our Supplications prevalent with him that puts them in his bottle and is able to save us from death provided they be as well meant as they are oftentimes expressed 5. Bowing of the head and body 6. Kneeling on the knees 7. Prostrating our whole body upon the earth have pattern and warrant in Scripture and may be used of us in our private or publick devotions as variety of occasions shall be offered 1 For casting down the eyes to the earth as unworthy to look on heaven and smiting his brest Luk. 18.13 were the penitent Publicans postures that went home more justified thereby then the self-pleasing vaunting Pharisee 2. Ps 106.30 Phineas stood up and prayed therewith executing judgment the word bears both senses and so the plague ceased Judg. 3 26 Eglon the fat King of Moab had so much goodness in him as to rise from his seat when he was to hear a Message from God And may Christians hold it superstitious to rise up reverently when their Faith is to be professed And Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost in acknowledgment of the blessed Trinity to be given unto God 3. Moses holding up his hands that purchased victory against Amalek Exod. 17.11 Davids practice and prayer I have lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help Psal 123.1 Psal 141.2 And let the lifting up of my hands be as the evening sacrifice Our Saviours confirmation in that excellent prayer for his disciples These things spake Jesus Joh. 17.1 and lift up his eyes to heaven and said are uncontrollable patterns for the lifting up of our eyes and hands to God in prayer 4. And he that observeth Davids watering his couch with tears by night Psal 6.6 and mingling his drink with weeping by day Psal 102.4 Jeremies wishing his
head to be a fountain of tears Jer. 9.11 St. Peters bitter tears Luk. 7.38 and Marie's bath of tears for our Saviours feet and towel of her locks to wipe them must acknowledge that tears with prayer make a happy mixture to procure pity from him who shed tears over Jerusalem and wept in compassion with the sisters Luk. 19.41 Joh. 11.35 that lamented their dead brother Lazarus For bowing the knees and body that humble posture of the afflicted Israelites when they received the hopefull message of their deliverance may be a lending case to bee imitated when they heard that the Lord had visited the children of Israel and that he had looked upon their affliction Then they bowed their heads saith the Text and worshiped Exod. 4.31 And what can be the meaning of that prohibition from falling down and worshiping images or any other similitudes in the second commandment but that God hath retained unto himself such a religious worship of the body Those that make scruple of such kneeling in prayer must needs set themselves against that solemne proclamation of the King of heaven I have sworn by my selfe the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousnesse Isa 45.23 and shall not return That unto mee every knee shall bow and every tongue shall swear The same posture when we find allowed to our Saviour incarnate that at Phil. 2.10 or in the Name of Jesus every knee should bow of things inheaven and things on the earth and things under the earth confirmeth the Onenesse of the Son with the Father which novellists now question and make it their glory to cavil at where confutation is impossible 1 King 8.54 Solomon with these now masters for kneeling on his knees and spreading of his hands toward heaven in his dedication prayer of the Temple Dan. 6.10 shall be held unwise Daniel for praying on his knees three times a day shall be scarce thought worthy to be beloved And Saint Paul might save his labour for bowing his knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Ephes 3.14 Christ in the behalfe of the Ephesians because sitting as many doe at Sermons with their heads covered would be farre more easie and in those mens discipline doe as well And last of all when I find my Saviour falling on his face Matth. 26.39 and praying O my Father if it be possible let this cup passe from me neverthelesse not as I will but as thou wilt I should hold him far from superstition that in time and place and where it may be fitly performed shall prostrate his whole body or doe more if it were possible put his face between his knees as Elias did on mount Carmel in adoring him in whose book are all our members written 1 King 18.24 and day by day were fashioned when there was yet none of them Psal 139.16 With great judgment therfore is the 95 Psalm set in the fore front of our leiturgy as a preface to the ensuing devotions wherein that passage O come let us worship fal down and kneel before the Lord our maker consorting with that in the 132. we will go into his Tabernacle we will fall low before his footstoole should shame the irreverent behaviour of too many in the house of prayer which Turks and Infidels would hold abominable to be used in their Idoll Temples Moreover wherein women most offend Gods house is not a place for the displaying of plaited hair 3 Pet. 3.3 or wearing of gold or putting on of apparel or out-vying one another in more then the 24 fashions of the daughters of Sion taxed particularly by the prophet but for meek and quiet spirits Isai 3.16 to humble themselves before God to set forth his most worthy praise to hear his most holy word and to aske those things that be requisite as well for the body as the soule And that is not to be slighted 1 Cor. 11. which the Apostle reproves in the Corinthian Assemblies that men presumed to pray with their heads covered and women with their heads uncovered I would have you my daughters so to look to your feet when you enter into the hous of God that your devotions through irreverent unseemlinesse prove not the sacrifice of fools It was the modesty humility of some of your fore-mothers not to seat themselves in the Church before they had performed a reverent respect to the Minister then officiating which howsoever the high spirits of these times hold derogatory to their greatnesse yet the Son of God will take it as done to himself if it be done to the meanest of his Matth. 10.41 for his sake And the B. Virgin his mother will informe the stateliest that God will exalt the meek and humble when the mighty shall be put down from their seat Luk. 1.52 and the rich sent empty away This submisse and religious deportment of the body in Gods worship hath been too shamefully neglected amongst us surely such that slight Gods Ministers so much would hardly be induced to wash their Masters feet with their tears Luk 7.38 and wipe them with their curled locks but those that have ears to hear will hear 1. Bowing of the head And 2. The body to the earth Gen. 24.26 52 Psal 9 6. 3. Kneeling 4. Prostration or falling on the face 5. Lifting up of the eyes to heaven 6. And spreading forth the hands to the same place Mat. 26.39 Jo. 17.1 as also 7. Smiting of the brest with the penitent publican are postures of the body warranted to be used by precept and practice 1 King 8.22 out of the word of God which if they were seasonably and devoutly frequented more of us Luk. 18.13 in our private and publick prayers according to the example of our religious predecessors Mat. 23.6 would better then any Jewish phylacteries or fringes put us in mind of the weight of the business we are about set an edge on our dulnesse Deut. 6.8 and stirre up others to offer violence as it were and take by force the kingdome of heaven Jam. 5.16 Mat. 11.12 but this sacred fervency will meet with many Impediments to be considered in the next place CHAP. V. Of Impediments that disturb or frustrate our Prayers PRayer is so effectual against Satan and all his drifts and depths that he sets his utmost plots and stratagems to frustrate or hinder it and therefore he that seriously composeth himself to prayer shall bee sure to meet with a world of Impediments Amongst which these especially may be taken notice of to be carefully opposed 1. Wandring thoughts 2. Presumption 3. Ostentation 4. Superstition 5. Bosom sins retained 6. Irreconciliation 7. Despair 1. Concerning wandring thoughts we should eespecially attend that caveat of the Apostle Jam. 1.5 If any man ask wisdom let him as kit not by by Intercession of Saints or Angels but of God himselfe that giveth