Heauen his Fathers bosome did the Lord Iesus behold the earth and had compassion vpon all the Sonnes of men 20 To heare and pitie the groaning of the prisoners such as did groane vnder the burden of the law and to loose and set at liberty by his passion and intercession those of the posterity of Adam that are appointed to suffer death for not fulfilling the same 21 To the end that they being so deliuered may declare and shew the power and the Name of the Lord which is Iesus the Sauiour in Sion his Church and magnifie and extoll his praise in Ierusalem his holy habitation 22 When the faithfull people which are yet dispersed ouer the face of the earth are gathered together and made one congregation and the Kingdomes of the earth which are yet in darknesse are instructed to serue thee the only Lord of Heauen and earth 23 He euen the Lord in the time of this expectation hath weakened and abated my strength so that I can doe no good of my selfe in the way of this my earthly pilgrimage he hath shortned and cut off my dayes by afflicting me for my sinne 24 I said yet in this weakenesse and anguish of my soule O my God withdraw not now thy mercy from me and take me not away out of this world in the midst of my dayes in the chiefe time of my strength as for thy yeeres as they are from all eternity so shall they endure throughout all generations euen for euer 25 Of old at the beginning of time hast thou of thine owne power layd and created the foundations of the earth the visible world anwd all things in it and the heauens and firmament thereof are the onely worke of thy almighty hands and power 26 They euen heauen and earth and all things in them shall passe away and perish from the forme they now haue but thou O Lord the creator of them shalt endure immutable Yea without all doubt all of them as thou hast decreed shall waxe old and consume with age like a garment long worne and as a vesture or garment shalt thou by the sound of the last trump change and dissolue them and they shall yeeld to thy power and be changed 27 But thou O Lord art the same alwayes vnchangeable and thy yeeres being from all eternity shall haue no end but continue for euer 28 The children and posterity of thy faithfull Seruants begotten by the seedes-men of thy Word shall continue in grace in this life and their righteous seed shall stand fast and be established for euer together with them in glory hereafter and enioy euerlasting happinesse before thee in thy blessed presence Glory be to the father c. 6 Psalme 130. 1 OVt of the depth of tentations dangers and sorrowes for my sinnes wherein my Spirit is almost ouerwhelmed haue I by feruent prayer cryed and called vnto thee O Lord who onely art able to giue me reliefe 2. Lord of thy mercy haste thee and heare my voyce and petition and deliuer me from my misery O my God Let thine eares of pitie and compassion be attentiue to consider and well weigh the lamentable voyce of my humble supplications and let not my prayer returne vnpitied or vnheard of thee 3 If thou Lord contrary to thy disposition shouldest be so exact and extreame as in the rigour of thy Iustice to marke the iniquities which we by our naturall corruption dayly fall into and punish vs accordingly O good Lord who none not the most vpright shall be able to answere one for a thousand or stand before thee without much horror at thy Iudgement seate 4 But for the comfort of poore wretched sinners and to keepe vs from vtter desperation we finde it recorded by the holy Spirit that There is forgiuenesse of sinnes and mercy towards sinners repenting with thee by Iesus Christ who came to saue sinners and yet this mercy of thine is tyed with such conditions that thou who also art Iust mayest be also feared lest thy lenity be abused 5 I for my part wait and confidently expect for the Lord to receiue mercy from him My sinfull but repentant soule doth wait to receiue consolation and in his Word whereby he promiseth mercy to repentant sinners doe I hope and place my whole confidence because I know that he which hath promised is Iust 6 My sinfull Soule in this expectation waiteth for the Lord and tarieth his good pleasure to comfort it more earnestly then they that in a disconsolate long night watch for the morning yea I say it againe more zealously then they that are weary of the night and watch for the light of the morning 7 Let Israel and all Gods faithfull people hope still and put their trust in the goodnesse of the Lord and not without cause For with the Lord though hee iustly take vengeance on vs for our sinnes yet there is euer was and will bee found Mercy towards penitent sinners and with him by Iesus Christ is not onely forgiuenesse for a few sinnes but plenteous redemption from the captiuity of the Deuill and sinne 8 And he euen Iesus Christ by his merits and intercession shall redeeme and saue Israel and each of his faithfull seruants from all his iniquities and the punishment due for them Glory be to the Father c. 7 Psalme 134. 1. HEare my earnest and humble Prayer O Lord which in misery I make vnto thee Giue eare and be not deafe to my supplications in the time of my distresse but in thy faithfulnesse and truth which endureth for euer answer me and grant my petition which I make not trusting in any merits of mine owne but in thy righteousnesse 2 And my further petition to thee is that thou enter not into the throne of thy Iudgement by strictly examining my misdeeds and dealing rigorously with me thy poore Seruant who hath misspent his talent for in thy all-seeing sight shall no man liuing in this vale of misery be iustified or found innocent 3 For the old enemie of mankinde the Deuill hath by his malice persecuted and sought to entrap my soule to separate it from the loue of thee he hath smitten and cast my life and soule downe to the ground and filled me full of earthly desires he hath made and caused me to dwell and take pleasure in the darkenesse of my sinnes as those that are without sence and haue beene long dead 4 Therefore O Lord considering my desperate estate is my spirit ouerwhelmed with griefe within me and my heart is disquieted within me and is also desolate and sore troubled 5 I yet in the midst of the sorrowes that are in my heart doe remember what I haue read and heard what thou hast done in the dayes of old how that thou hast beene gratious to the penitent and seuere against the vnrepentant sinner I meditate also on all thy workes but especially on that of thy mercy and I muse and exercise my selfe in contemplating on the worke
Heare my Prayer O Lord and with thine eares consider my calling hold not thy peace at my teares Psa 39.14 For I am a stranger with thee and a soâ—ourner as all my fathers were Psa 39.15 O spare me a little that I may recouer my strength before I goe hence and be no more seene Iob 13.23 Answer me O Lord How many are mine iniquities and sinnes make me to know my transgressions and my sinnes Iob 13.24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face from me and holdest me for thine enemie Iob 13.25 Wilt thou breake a leafe driuen to and fro and wilt thou pursue the drie stubble Psal 71.8 Oh cast me not away in my weakenesse forsake me not when my strength faileth me Though I be afflicted yet let me not be destressed Though in want of some of thy comforts yet not of all Though chastned yet not forsaken Psal 94.12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastnest O Lord and teachest him in thy law Psal 94.13 That thou mayest giue him rest in the dayes of euill Psal 119.67 Before I was troubled I went a stray but now I shall learne thy Word Psal 25.7 O Lord remember not the sinnes and offences of my youth Nor iudge me according to my workes For I haue done nothing worthy of thy sight but of eternall death Wherefore I pray thee Psal 51.1.2 blot out all my offences and wash me throughly from my wickednesse and cleanse me from my sinne Iob. 7.20 I haue sinned what shall I doe vnto thee O thou Preseruer of men Why hast thou set me as a marke against thee so that I am a burden vnto my selfe Iob. 7.20 And why dost thou not pardon my transgressions and take away mine iniquitie for now I shall sleepe in the dust and thou shalt seeke me in the morning but I shall not be Iob 10.20 Are not my dayes few cease then and let me alone that I may take comfort a little Iob 10.21 Before I goe whence I shall not returne euen to the land of darkenesse and shadow of death Iob 10.22 A land of darkenesse as darkenesse it selfe and of the shadow of death without any order and where the light is as darkenesse Psal 89.27 What man is he that liueth and shall not see death shall he deliuer his Soule from the hand of the graue Psal 55.4 The feare of death ouerwhelmeth me and my heart is disquieted within me for that I haue daily sinned and not repented considering that from the Infernall pit there is no redemption But be thou mercifull to O Lord and save me for thy Names sake and in thy strength deliuer and comfort me Psal 119.75 I know O Lord that thy iudgements are iust and that thou of very faithfulnesse hast caused me to be troubled Oh let this light affliction which will quickely be gone cause vnto me afterward a more excellent and eternall waight of glory 2. Cor. 4.17 Psal 94.19 In the midst of the sorrowes that are in my heart let thy comforts O Lord refresh my Soule Iob. 10.8 Thine hands haue made me and fashioned me round about yet thou dost destroy me Iob. 10.9 Remember I beseech thee that thou hast made me as the clay and wilt thou bring me into the dust againe Iob. 10.10 Hast thou not powred mee out like milke and crudled mee like a cheese Iob. 10.11 Thou hast cloathed mee with skinne and flesh and fenced mee with bones and sinewes Iob. 10.12 Thou hast granted me life and fauour and thy visitation hath preserued my Spirit O Lord thou numbrest my Iob. 14.16 steps and dost set a watch ouer my sinne Iob. 17.1 My breath is corrupt my daies are extinct the Graue is ready for me Iob. 14. I haue said to corruption thon art my Father and to the worme Thou art my Mother and Sister Iob. 7.1 Is there not an appointed time to man vpon earth and are not his dayes as the daies of an hireling Iob. 9.25 My dayes are swifter then a Post they flee away and see no good Iob. 30.23 I know that thou wilt bring me to death and to the house appoinfor all the lining Woe is me therefore O Lord that I haue sinned What shall I doe whither shall I flie but to thee O Lord my God Be mercifull to mee in the last day My soule is very much disquieted within me but Lord I require thy aidee and comfort Bee mindefull O Lord of thy Psal 119.49 Word wherein thou hast caused mee to put my trust and let thy mercy come vnto me according to thy Promise For thou art my maker and I am the worke of thy hands Deliuer me O Lord from eternall death in that day wherein Heauen and Earth shall be dissolued when thou comest to Iudge the Earth I am affrighted when I consider that day the day of thy wrath the day of misery that great and exceeding bitter day O Lord in that day where shall I hide my selfe from the face of thine anger O Lord when thou comest to Iudgement condemne mee not I beseech thee but deliuer from the gates of hel my poor soule which I commend vnto thee Acknowledge then O Lord thy Creature not made by any strange gods but by thee the true and liuing God Make my Soule ioyfull with thy presence and remember not my sinnes but according to thy great mercy thinke vpon mee in that day for the merits of my Blessed Sauiour Iesus Christ Amen A Prayer for the Sicke ALmightie and most mercifull Lord God who by the infirmities of this life dost put vs in minde of our mortalitie and by these outward afflictions dost call vs to inward Repentance I crie vnto thee with my whole heart Psal 6.1 Rebuke me not in thine anger neither chasten me in thy displeasure Psal 6.2 Haue mercy vpon me O Lord for I am weake O Lord heale me for my bones are vexed Thou art He O Lord a Iob. 5.18 That woundest and healest againe b 1. Sam. 2.6 that killest and reuiuest that leadest to the gates of Hell and bringest backe againe If this my sickenesse O Lord be not vnto death helpe me on this my bed of infirmity and strengthen me If thou thinkest expedient rather that I should die then liue doe with me according to thy good pleasure and receiue my Spirit to thy peace which I commend into thy hands who liuest and raignest God of all mercy world without end Amen Or thus O Mercifull Lord God who of thy great mercy dost forgiue the offences of those who truely repent mercifully looke vpon me thy poore Serand hearken vnto me who humbly craue of thee remission of my sinnes Renew O Lord in me whatsoeuer is corrupt and decayed by the Deuils malice or mine owne frailtie Pitie my sighes pitie my teares pitie my groanes vouchsafe to be reconciled
our Neighbour And in these two words is the Summe of the Gospell contained In Father our Faith In Our our Charity Which art in Heauen There are Earthly Fathers These leaue and forsake vs Their hands bee shortned Wee call not to them but to thee which art in Heauen Esa 66.1 Mat. 5.34 Psal 19.1 Heauen is thy Throne The Heauens declare the Glory of God Not that thou art only included in the Heauens for as Solomon said the Heauen of Heauens cannot containe thee 1. King 8.27 but as if that were thy Royall Palace where the Elect shall enioy thy Blessed presence Thou art euery where By thy presence Ier. 23.23 Esa 66.1 In Heauē By thy excellence Jn Heauen A word of Hope For if thou be our Father and Lord and King of Heauen then our hope is that our Inheritance is there also That thou wilt not denie vs an Inheritance that hast vouchsafed to vs the Title of Sonnes Let vs therefore take the wings of the Eagle and bee lifted vp in our meditations to Heauen being made heires thereof Let vs looke vp to Heauen while we are on Earth By Hope By Meditation Psal 25.1 Vnto thee O Lord doe I lift vp my Soule Psal 121.1 123.1 I will lift vp mine Eyes to the hills whence cōmeth my helpe Psal 130.1 Out of the deepe haue I called to thee O Lord. A word of Power Jn Heauen For thou art in that place from whence at all times Thou canst send vs helpe in danger good things in our need plagues for our offences Let vs therefore be respectiue of his awfull Maiestie and make our petitions to him in feare and trembling in all humilitie and reuerence And let vs not beerash with our mouthes Eccles. 5. nor our hearts hastie to vtter any thing before him for God is in Heauen and we poore creatures vpon earth which is but his footestoole Hollowed be thy Name Being thus intituled and dignified with the Honour of Sonnes wee ought presently to consider our Duties what we should render backe And what can a Son desire more then the Honour of his Father Blessed bee thou our Lord who hast giuen this power to men To Hallow To Magnifie To Glorifie Thy Name which in it selfe is Holy Which all thy workes in generall doe sanctifie Psal 103.22 104.31 145.10 Esa 43.20 Psal 97,5,6 Which all the vnreasonable Creatures doe hallow and praise Which all reasonable Creatures as Angells and Men doe glorifie The Angels and hosts of heauen Esa 6.2,3 Psa 103.20,21 Men. In Heauen already In Earth By their works Mat. 5.16 In the Congregations In Afflictions Iob 1.20 Let vs therefore doe it And that not contemptibly or sleightly but Holily and Carefully in Thought Word and Profession Thine And Lord Ezech. 36.23 let thy Name bee sanctified by others beside vs dilate this Power of Sanctifying thee communicate thy Name more and more to the Gentiles Exod. 9.16 make thy Gospell to spread to the ends of the earth from the rising of the Sunne to the going downe of the same let thy Name be great among the Gentiles Psal 115.1 Not to vs Lord not to vs but to thy Name be the Glory Thou art worthy O Lord to receiue Honor and Glory Reuel 4.11 And thy Name ought to bee sanctified by vs aboue all things for all other things are for vs and we for thy Glory only Not that God shall get any thing thereby or that hee hath neede of our sanctifying But in regard of the Benefit which will accrew to vs by it for this honour will be an honour to him that giueth it Them that honour me I will honour 1. Sam. 2.30 saith God 2. Thes 1.12 Thy Kingdome come In this Petition wee pray First for the comming of Gods Kingdome That hee only may rule ouer vs. Secondly for the destruction and euersion of the kingdome of Sathan The Kingdome of God is threefold First of Glory Secondly of Grace Thirdly of Power 1. Of Glory hereafter which indeede should bee the scope of our desires for wee ought so to liue here that we may desire without feare the comming of this Kingdome So to be affected at our death that we may say Lord now lettest thou thy Seruant depart in peace Luc. 2.29 So to bee affected in our life that we may often say when shall I appeare before the Lord I desire to bee dissolued and to bee with Christ Phil. 1.23 Come Lord Iesus come quickly Reuel 22.20 2. Of Grace in this life in vs. Luc. 19.11 That wee be not of their mindes who said wee will not haue this man raigne ouer vs. But subiect vs O Lord to this Kingdome that easie yoake of thine that in all things wee may be obedient to thee Gouerne vs and raigne in vs that Sathan or sinne raigne not in our members If thou be pleased so to rule in vs here wee shall raigne with thee hereafter 3. Of Power for there are many Rulers in this world which oppose thy Kingdome Arise O Lord and take the Rule into thine owne hand Raigne thou ouer vs. Gouerne vs within and without Let thy Kingdome come and that it may come in vs let it come into our Rulers Make them like to thee in their gouernment Let them rule to thee not to themselues Let thy Kingdome be in them And because when this earthly Gouernment is at the best it is laborious and vnperfect Hasten thy Kingdome of Glory wee beseech thee in which will bee no cause of complaint but all things will be absolute and perfect To which all the Creatures together with vs Rom. 8.18 earnestly waite euen with groanes For all the votes and desires of the a Esa 64.1 Luc. 10.24.2.19 Old Testament were pitched vpon the first comming of Christ and all of the b 2. Tit. 13. New vpon the second looking for that blessed Hope 2. Tim. 4.8 and Glorious appearing of the great God Reuel 22.20 and our Saniour Iesus Christ Come Come to vs but not vpon vs. Certainely it will come will we nill we Let it come to vs not against vs. Let vs feele the happinesse of it O Father in comming not the violence of it in rushing vpon vs. In the meane time let it come to vs here though not in the full fruition yet in the certaine hope and expectation say vnto each of our soules Psal 35.3 I am thy saluation Thy will be done Thy absolute and Eternall Will which none can oppose or withstand Esa 14.24,27 Thy reuealed Will which wee may contradict Let both be done Let vs shew our obedience to thee here Psal 103.20 as the Angells doe in Heauen All other Creatures obey thy Will Mat. 18.10 only Man is disobedient to it Thy Reuealed Will which commandeth vs to be humble in conuersation firme in faith
prescribe vnto his Disciples a forme of Prayer to be offered vp to thee and hast deriued the same from them to vs. Behold me most wretched sinner wholly depraued and corrupt intreating thee by the same Sonne that for his sake thou wouldest infuse thy holy Spirit into mee which may adopt me into the number of thine Elect that it may teach me how I ought to pray according to thy Holy Will that it may allay all troublesome and wandering thoughts in me while I offer vp my prayers and praises vnto thee Suffer me not to serue thee with my lippes and be absent in heart from thee but create a right spirit within me that I being sensible of all thy graces and comforts may with ioyfull and holy zeale performe my dutie to thee that so my prayers and desires may appeare before thee and in thy Sonnes Name I may effectually be heard and my petitions may bee granted to the glory and honour of thy most Holy Name and the endlesse comfort of mine owne Soule through the same our only Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ Before a Sermon O Most louing SAVIOVR I most humbly intreat thee that rhou wouldest be pleased at this time to enlighten my vnderstanding and to open my inward eares with the grace of thy holy Spirit that I may heare the Sacred VVord with an humble heart and reioyce in it in the obedience of the Spirit that I may be fully instructed thereby how to doe good and auoid euill and bring forth the fruite thereof in my life and conuersation that thy Honour and Glory may bee thereby increased the Deuill and all other the enemies of my soule may bee vanquished my Soule may bee saued and at the last I may appeare with boldnesse before thy Tribunall and receiue the reward of a good and faithfull seruant euen his Masters ioy euerlasting Blessednesse and that by thy merits onely O Blessed Sauiour Petitions for Temporall Blessings In which we are to desire of God THat he would be pleased to continue vnto vs The Blessing of a good King iust and religious To giue vnto vs Magistrates and Iustices vpright and carefull to see good Lawes duely executed Teachers to direct vs in the Truth That he would blesse vs with Length and goodnesse of Dayes Health of Body Contentednesse of Minde Competencie of Estate Foode and Rayment Conueniencie of Dwelling Wholesomenesse of Ayre Fruitefulnesse of Cattell That he would make vs happy In Wedlocke In Children In Faithfull friends In Peaceable louing neighbors In Honest Seruants In Skilfull Phisicians That hee would preserue Our Goods Good Name Our Senses and vnderstanding That he would protect vs From Trouble From Enemies From Dangers From Losses From Sicknesses That he would giue Peace To all Nations To our Land In our priuate dwellings Rules to be obserued in the Morning WHen thou awakest in the Morning shut and close vp the entrance to thy heart from all vncleane prophane and euill thoughts and let the consideration of God and goodnesse enter in When thou art arisen and art ready retire thy selfe to thy Closet or other priuate place and offer to God the first fruits of the Day and in praying to him and praysing him remember 1. To giue him thankes for thy quiet rest receiued for deliuering thee from all dangers ghostly and bodily and for all other his benefits to thee 2. Offer vnto him thy selfe and all things that thou dost possesse and desire him to dispose of thee and them according to his good pleasure 3. Craue his Grace to guide thee and to strengthen thee from and against all Tentations that so thou mayest doe nothing the day following contrary to his will 4. And lastly beg of him according to the Rules before prescribed all things needfull for the Soule and Body To which purpose pray as followeth Morning Prayer I Thanke thee O Heauenly Father LORD of Heauen and Earth for all thy Blessings which I vndeseruedly haue receiued from thee that thou gauest me a being from honest Parents and in that part of the world where thy Sonne Christ Iesus is purely professed that thou didst endue me with reason and vnderstanding and didst also giue mee perfect members and sences that thou hast preserued me since my birth and vouchsafed me health and liberty and a competencie of meanes to maintaine me and those whom thou hast placed vnder me that thou hast Elected me in thy Loue Redeemed me by thy Sonne Sanctified me by thy Spirit and kept me this night past from all perills of body and Soule and giuen me a sweete and comfortable rest O Lord I commend into thy hands my soule and body thoughts words and actions and humblie beseech thee that thou wouldest guide and order them all to thy honour and glory and my endlesse and eternall happinesse Enlighten my minde that the Darkenesse and cloudy mists of mine offences being dispelled I may walke before thee in my vocation without offence as in the day cleane vnspotted and vnblameable Giue vnto me thy Holy Spirit which may bridle my vaine cogitations and head-strong desires and order thou I beseech thee my words and rectifie all my actions O Lord as thou hast of thy bounty raised vp my body from sleepe so stirre vp my drowzie soule from the sleepe of sinne and carnall securitie Let my body be euer assistant to my soule in all good actions in this life that they may both be partakers of life euerlasting Thou O Lord hast promised to those which shall faithfully aske all things necessary for this life giue I beseech thee vnto mee if it seeme good vnto thee such a competent estate as shall be expedient to support my life in a ciuill modest and religious manner Giue vnto me that which shall be conuenient but especially O Lord 1. Tim. 6.8 a heart and minde contented with whatsoeuer thou shalt be pleased to allot vnto me Grant O Lord that in thy Name I may cast forth my net into the Sea of this world and diligently carefully and with an vpright conscience follow that vocation in which thou hast placed me that by thine aid and assistance I may prosper and haue good successe in all my affaires Blesse O Lord the Kings Maiesty gouerne his heart in thy feare and guide his vnderstanding to doe those things which shall be acceptable to thee and profitable to his kingdomes Giue him louing and loyall Subiects and suppresse his open and secret enemies And together with him blesse his Queene make her as the fruitfull Vine on the house top Psal 128.3 Blesse all the estate Ecclesiasticall and Ciuill from the highest to the lowest Comfort the comfortlesse and helplesse Bring all Trauellers to their owne beings in safety and direct all vpon the Seas to their safe Ports Shew the light of thy Truth to those which wander out of the right way Giue to all sinners true and hearty repentance strengthen those which haue begun well and giue them thy
Promises Ceremonies and the Law it selfe were fulfilled and ended 1 The Promises As Gen. 1.15 the seed of the woman shall breake the Serpents head Gen. 22.18 In thee shall all the Nations of the Earth be blessed 2 The Ceremonies The Priesthood by his eternall Priesthood Psal 110.4 The Sacrifices by his owne Oblation Heb. 7.27 Circumcision Luc. 2.21 3.21 by his Circumcision and Baptisme Passeouer by the Eucharist Mar. 14.22 3 The Lawe By his satisfaction and absolute fulfilling of it in whom was no sinne nor spot Cant. but an absolute and perfect Righteousnesse which Righteousnesse hee hath of his free will and mercy imputed to vs and made ours if with a liuely Faith we apprehend him and beleeue on him And in this respect it may be said that he obserueth and fulfilleth the Law of God who not trusting to himselfe or his owne workes commendeth himselfe wholly to the Grace of God Rom. 8.3.4 2. Cor. 5.21 and seeketh all his righteousnesse by Faith in Christ Iesus So that wee are to rely on those words which Saint Paul spake in his Sermon at Antioch Bee it knowne vnto you therefore Act. 13.38 men and brethren that through this man Christ Iesus is preached vnto you the forgiuenesse of sinnes And by him all that beleeue are iustified from all things from which you could not be iustified by the Law of Moses But yet wee must take this along with vs. That this Faith whereby we beleeue that Christ satisfied the Lawe and is become our Righteousnesse and Perfection is meerely by Gods Grace and Fauour infused into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which stirreth vp in vs a loue and desire to keep the Law of God which though the same desire neuer attaineth to perfection while we liue in these earthly tabernacles for the frailtie and indisposition of the Flesh yet God in his mercy accepteth the same for Christs sake For the better conceiuing of the drift and scope of these Commandements wee are to take notice of two things 1 Whereas in euery Commandement the grossest sinne tending to the breach of that commandement is only forbidden by name yet wee are to conceiue that all sinnes of that nature though lesser in degree and not named togither with the prouocations thereunto are likewise inclusiuely contained in that prohibition 2 And where any Vertue is commanded to be obserued there all the Vices and Sinnes contrary to that Vertue are forbidden And where any Vice is prohibited there all opposite Vertues to it are enioyned Meditations of Death THat all men must dye being long since enacted by Statute in the Parliament of Heauen vnrepealed and the knowledge of the day of Death being by God kept from vs Aug. in Psal 34. Conc. 1. lest we should promise to our selues any thing for future time I shall not neede to spend many words to proue either the absolute necessitie of the one or the vncertaintie of the other Only giue mee leaue to conclude this worke with a few meditations and Prayers which may serue as well for those who feele the hand of God by sickenesse as for those which are in perfect health to meditate and thinke vpon that they be not taken vnprouided And this exercise of Meditation of death and resolution to die ought not to seeme strange or hard to Christians For the Philosopher in his time accounted all dayes spent without serious consideration of our end to be but fondly consumed and affirmed that the whole life of a wise man Plato was nothing but a meditation of death And therefore it hath been obserued that Abraham Gen. 23.3 19. when he was in the Land of Canaan purchased no more Land then would serue to bury his dead To teach vs that we should not fixe or fasten our mindes upon the transitory things of the World but haue our affections bent vpon another world and meditate vpon the day of our death which bringeth two benefits with it first it deliuereth vs out of many cares and troubles and secondly it leadeth vs to ioyes vnspeakeable The first of these benefits the Heathen man could see Artabanus to Xerxes Herod l. 7. by the light of Nature when hee said that No man liued in so flourishing estate who if not often yet once iâ— his life did not desire rather to die then to liue For the vnauoidable calamitie and greeuous diseases incident to this life doe so often disquiet and vexe a man that notwithstanding our life is naturally short yet sometime it seemeth ouer long vnto him And therefore saith he Death is the most acceptable and wished for Sanctuary and place of refuge for a life full of misery and griefe And for the second take amongst many that of Saint Cyprian Cypr. Wee passe by death to immortality neither can wee come or attaine to eternall life but by leauing this life Nor is our corporall death to bee accounted an end or period of life but a passage to a better for by this temporall journey wee passe to Eternitie For this separation of the soule and body commonly called Death if we consider the true scope and aime of God in it is not inflicted by him as a seuere Iudge to punish the Elect but as a most mercifull Father who only calleth his Children from a dungeon of misery to a place of all felicitie and happinesse And this is that which hath alwaies made the Godly to leaue this life with such willingnesse and ioy and to endure with so great courage and constancie all their greatest agonies Meditations for the sicke Set thy house in order for thou shalt die Esa 38.1 Iob. 19.25 I Know that my Redeemer liueth and that he shall stand at the latter day vpon the earth Iob. 19.26 And that I shall be againe cloathed with this skin and in my flesh I shall see God Iob. 19.27 whom I my selfe shall see and mine eyes shall behold This hope is laid vp in my brest Lord let me know mine end and the number of my dayes that I Psal 39.5 may be certified how long I haue to liue Psal 39.6 Behold thou hast made my dayes as it were a span long and mine age is as nothing in respect of thee and verily euery man liuing is altogether vanity Psal 39.7 For man walketh in a vaine shadow and disquieteth himselfe in vaine he heapeth vp riches and cannot tell who shall gather them Psal 39.8 And now Lord what is nay hope truely my hope is euen in thee Psal 39.9 Deliuer me from all mine offences and make me not a rebuke to the foolish Psal 3911. Take away thy stroake from me for I am consumed by the meanes of thy heauy hand Psal 39.12 When thou with rebukes dost chasten man for sinne thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moath fretting a garment euery man therefore is but vanity Psal 39.13
assisting grace that they may perseuere in goodnesse To all my friends kindred and enemies and to those which pray for me giue all thy good blessings Keepe vs all from all euill and make vs to continue in thy Seruice to our liues end and after the course of this miserable life ended bring vs to thine euerlasting Kingdome through Iesus Christ our Lord. Or thus ALmighty and Euerlasting GOD I praise and blesse thee from the bottome of my heart that of thy infinite goodnesse thou hast preserued me this night past and hast with the impregnable defence of thy Prouidence defended mee from the power and malice of the Deuill and kept me both in soule and body from all his deuices and snares and raised me from sleepe the Image of death and not left me to be stifled in the darknesse of my sinnes but hast giuen me a longer space to repent me of them I humbly intreat thee that thou wouldest not withdraw thy hand of Protection from me but take mee into thy Tuition Watch ouer me with the eyes of thy mercy and direct me in the way of thy Commandements Endue me with those graces of thy Holy Spirit which may assist me to passe this day and the rest of my life to the praise and glory of thy holy Name the benefit of my Neighbour and the saluation of my sinfull soule Keepe me O Lord from all sinne bridle and mortifie my flesh that I offend not nor fall into any transgressions which may prouoke thy wrath against mee Direct my soule and body my words and actions according to the rule of thy Will Diuert my heart from fastning too much on transitory pleasures and conuert it to the delight of eternall ioyes And because I am not worthy O Lord that thou shouldest heare me poore wretched sinner behold I set before thee the merits of thy only Sonne who is the propitiation of our sinnes looke vpon him and for his Righteousnesse pardon the offences of thy Seruant and grant to me Those things by thy mercy which by the strict Rule of thy Iustice are not due to me Defend me O Lord from all mine enemies Arme me with thy Spirituall weapons put on me the Clothing of wisedome and strength Ephes 6. the Brestplate of Righteousnesse the Helmet of Saluation the Shield of Faith and the Sword of the Spirit that in this earthly Pilgrimage I may manfully oppose the enemies of my Soule the Concupiscence of the Flesh Tentations of the World and Malice of the Deuill that so hauing finished valiantly the course of this Terrestriall warfare I may hereafter praise thee in thy Celestiall Kingdome And thou O Lord who giuest food to euery liuing Creature Psal 147.9 and feedest the young Rauens which call vpon thee be mercifull vnto me in the supply of those necessaries which I dayly want Preserue mee in health 1. Tim. 6.8 giue mee foode and rayment and sufficient to maintaine me in that course of life to which it hath pleased thee to call mee that hauing sufficient in all things I may abound in good workes And grant that I may leade a quiet life in all Godly conuersation that hauing and vsing thy blessings worthily I may passe this life with ioy and comfort till it please thee to call me to a better Giue thy blessings to the Kings Maiestie the Queene and the whole estate of this Kingdome and grant that we all may bend our thoughts and studies to please thee that at the last by the merits and intercession of Iesus Christ we may bee receiued to thy Heauenly Kingdome Amen Or thus O Almighty Lord God which day after day dost minister to sinfull man infinite occasions whereby hee may be stirred vp to praise thy holy Name and art most plentifull in pittie and fauourable to those which with pure hearts and vnfained faith call vpon thee behold me thy poore vnworthy seruant with the eyes of compassion that at this time aâ—… bold to offer vp vnto thee a morning Sacrifice of praise and thankes for all thy blessings and amongst the rest for that thou hast vouchsafed after a sufficient and quiet sleepe to raise me safe from my bed againe which fauour thou hast not affoorded to many others who in farre greater measure haue deserued it then my selfe for which mercy of thine I am not able through my insufficiencie and weakenesse to giue vnto thee due praise and thankesgiuing I pray thee therefore in thy deare Sounes Name In whom thou art well pleased to accept these poore and weake thankes and for his sake also to be further aiding and assisting vnto me this day following in whatsoeuer I shall take in hand For thou knowest O Lord how feeble mans nature is insomuch that if he trust to his owne strength of necessitie he must fall into many miseries errors and dangers Haue mercy therefore vpon mine infirmities and be propitious and helping to me that by thine Illumination I may discerne and perceiue good from euill and by thy leading and direction may follow the one and auoid the other Lord so guide me with thy Holy Spirit that I may neither doe speake nor thinke any thing this day contrary to thy holy Will Behold O Lord I offer my selfe a Liuing Sacrifice to thee and humbly pray thee to aceept it Good God direct my soule in the way of thy Commandements increase my faith strengthen my Hope enlarge my Charitie and infuse all the good graces of thy Holy Spirit into me Giue me grace so to remember my sinnes as that thou mayest forget them and so to forsake them as that thou mayest forgiue them Instruct me in all goodnesse and giue me the grace of Perseuerance that I flye not backe from any good courses in this life but that I may goe forward and continue in them to the end of my dayes O Lord who hast promised the necessaries of this life to those which shall first seeke thy Kingdome I humbly intreat thee to giue vnto me this day all things necessary for my sustentation as foode rayment health of body ioy of heart peace of conscience and a blessing to all my endeauours giue me a minde contented with that which shal be sufficient and not desirous of that which is superfluous that I may passe the rest of my dayes on earth religiously honestly and soberly as becommeth thy seruant to thy honour and my endlesse comfort Bee gratious to the Kings most excellent Maiestie his Royall Queene the whole Estate Cleargie Nobility Gentry Magistrates and Commons giue vs all grace in our seuerall places to doe our Duties as in thy sight that at the last by the merits of Iesus Christ our Sauiour we may receiue the reward thereof in thy Eternall Kingdome where thou raignest together with the same our Lord Iesus Christ and the Holy Spirit World without end Morning Prayer for a Family O Almighty Lord God heauenly Father we giue thee most humble and heartie thankes in that thou
hast not only of nothing created vs after thine owne Image Gen. 1.9.6 but also hast from time to time most gratiously preserued vs euen to this present Morning from all dangers and terrors and hast giuen vs this night past sweet sleepe comfortable rest whereby we are refreshed and fitted to our bodily labour We thanke thee O Lord for all thy spirituall blessings for our Regeneration Iustification Sanctification in some measure and our Redemption by Iesus Christ We praise thy Name for thy bountifull supply of all things necessary for this life as also for thy patient and long expectance of vs in our Conuersion O Lord we confesse that wee haue beene so farre from the serious consideration of thy fauours to vs and from rendring due thankes vnto thee for them that in stead thereof we haue continually grieuously offended thy Maiestie with most abominable and vile sinnes notwithstanding thou hast sought to reduce vs to thy obedience by the good motions of thy Holy Spirit As often O Lord as we looke about vs either with the eyes of our bodies or mindes so often doe thy fatherly and innumerable benefits appeare vnto vs. For all which wee render againe and againe from the bottome of our hearts infiuite thankes vnto thee and humbly desire thee for thy mercies sake in Christ Iesus to pardon all our ingratitude and rebellions Englighten vs we pray thee with thy holy Spirit that we may see our imperfections kindle our zeale towards thee rule and gouerne our mindes wils affections and actions that we may not willingly offend thee any more And giue vs Grace that we may alwayes thinke speake and doe whatsoeuer shall be pleasing vnto thee and abstaine from all things which shall displease or offend thee It is more then enough O Lord that we haue beene hitherto so rebellious against thee It is too much that we haue beene so negligent to serue thee and so ingratefull to thee for all thy blessings Let all euill and wickednesse now depart from vs and let new manners new affections and new hearts be renewed in vs. We commit our selues O Lord wholly into thy protection this day and the rest of our liues and most humbly desire thee of thy infinite goodnesse that as now thou hast put good thoughts into vs thou wilt bee pleased to perfect them in vs so that being led by thy holy Spirit we may do that which is acceptable to thee and loue serue honour and praise thy holy Name all the dayes of our liues And for as much O Lord as thou hast promised to those that loue thee all things necessary for this life wee call and cry to thee O our Father which art in heauen to Giue vs this day our daily bread euen whatsoeuer is needfull and expedient for our sustentation Giue vs O Lord sufficient for our maintenance lest wee take euill and indirect courses or blaspheme or murmure against thee and not too much lest we forget from whose hands wee receiue it Giue not only that which shall be necessary but contented mindes also with it Blesse O Lord the labor and worke of our hands blesse vs at home and abroad and grant that euery one of vs may truely as in thy sight walke in our seuerall vocations and diligently and carefully intend the same making a conscience of all our waies that by thy gracious fauour and our owne endeuours wee may haue prosperous successe in all things which we shal vndertake Continue O Lord thy Gospell among vs. Blesse our gratious King with the Queene the Prince Palatine and the Lady Elizabeth with their Princely Issue the whole Land and all sorts and conditions of people in it Blesse all that trauell by Sea or Land and take into thy protection all Orphans Widdowes and all that suffer wrong Giue health and strength to the sicke and weake and ioy and comfort to the sorrowfull and afflicted Blesse vs O Lord with healthfull and sound bodies keepe our good names vnspotted and vnblemished Blesse the fruites of the earth and giue vs wholsome peaceable and seasonable times These and all other thy blessings which thou knowest better to giue then we to aske vouchsafe if it seeme good to thy Maiestie to giue vs for the worthinesse of thy Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord in whose blessed Name and absolute prayer wee close vp our imperfect prayers and say as he hath taught vs. Our Father c. Rules for Euening and Night As we vsually twice a day at the least take our bodily sustenance so should wee be no lesse carefull for the refreshing of our Soules but twise a day likewise Morning and Euening if not oftner dispose our selues to Deuotion and Prayer When thou therefore retirest thy selfe as in the Morning remember 1. To giue God thankes that hee hath deliuered thee from the dangers of the day past prospered thee in thy affaires and giuen thee necessaries for thy sustentation 2. Examine thy Conscience narrowly and consider wherein thou hast the day past offended God either in thought word or deed and hauing set thine offences before thee confesse them to him and in the bitterenesse of thy Soule repent thee bee sory for them and craue Pardon for them and Grace that thou offend no more in the like 3. Pray to God to continue his care ouer thee the night following and to defend thee from all perills and dangers So that going to thy rest with these good actions and thoughts thou shalt doe the like to those which rake vp fire in the Embers ouer night that they may the more readily find it in the morning In the Night WHen thou awakest in the night call vpon God likewise for the night was not made wholly for sleepe praise him contemplate and meditate vpon his workes Sometimes weepe for thy sinnes according to the practize of Dauid For as the nightly Dew refresheth and tempereth the Earth Psal 6.6 so doe our nightly teares asswage our concupiscences And sometimes reioyce in the Lord according to that of the Psalmist for the great benefits thou hast receiued from him Psal 149.5 By these meanes keeping thy selfe to one holy exercise or other thou shalt be sure to auoide the Deuils tentations whose chiefe time of setting vpon vs fitteth best with his works which are vsually stiled the works of Darkenesse Euening Prayer Psal 42.10 The Lord hath granted his louing kindnesse in the day therefore in the Night will I sing of him and make my Prayer to the God of my Life O Lord God Father euerlasting I yeeld thee most humble and hearty thankes that thou hast not onely auerted thy punishments from me which my grieuous sinnes haue deserued but instead thereof hast preserued me from all dangers and supplied me with all necessaries of this life O Lord I confesse that I haue so highly offended thee this day that all the punishmēts which may be inflicted vpon vile and miserable sinners are due to me I confesse
O Lord that I haue offended thy Maiestie in Repeat the sinnes thou canst call to minde And not onely these doe I acknowledge but all the rest which I haue committed from my Infancy to this present houre wittingly or ignorantly in thought word or deed against Thee my neighbour and my selfe O Lord I confesse my weaknesse I doe not that which I should Rom. 7.19 and would doe but that which I should not and am vnwilling to doe I doe not regarding or fearing thy incomprehensible glory venerable presence terrible power exquisite Iustice nor thy goodnesse vnspeakeable for which if thou shouldest enter into iudgement what would become of me But O Lord for as much as thou art a Father of mercies and dost not desire the death of a sinner if hee returne vnto thee by vnfeined repentance I most humbly in the Name and Mediation of our blessed Sauiour Christ Iesus craue pardon for them Lord I repent helpe my impenitencie and heare my request Be mercifull to mee a sinner and pardon all my offences whereof thou O Lord knowest me to be guilty And I beseech thee O Lord for the time to come to mollifie my heart water it with the dew of thy heauenly Grace that I may not alwaies bring forth Thornes and Weedes fit for nothing but the fire Conuert me O Lord I shall be conuerted open mine eyes direct my heart and wayes Draw me after thee and being conuerted suffer me not to returne againe with the Dogge to his vomit 2. Pet. 2.22 And for as much O Lord as thou hast appointed the Night to refresh our bodies I humbly pray thee to defend mee as well sleeping as waking from the snares of the Deuill Psal 31.5 O Lord into thy hands I commend my Spirit which thou by thy pretious death and passion hast redeemed Suffer it not to sleepe in sinne and in it to lie languishing vnto death and so be buried in the graue of thy Iudgements but watch ouer it I beseech thee and defend it vnder the shadow of thy Wings Let me not be oppressed with vnnecessary sleepe but raise me in due time to thy Seruice and Praise Thou knowest O Lord that of my selfe I haue no strength waking much lesse when I sleepe I humbly therefore pray thee to defend my soule body goods and all things which thou hast bestowed vpon me this night from all euill and damage and so to dispose of me that I bee not troubled with any terrors terrified with any vaine phantasies weakned by any sicknesse or impouerished with any casualties or crosses Keepe me O Lord from all euill dreames and vncleane thoughts and compasse me with a wall of thy mercies that the Tempter approach not to my Bed so that being preserued by thy protection and refreshed with comfortable rest I may arise and offer vnto thee my daily bounden duty and seruice euen praise and thankes to thy most Holy Name Or thus O Blessed Lord Iesus Christ to whose inexhaustible bounty we owe all honour and praise I giue thee all possible thankes that thou hast vouchsafed to keepe me this day from all euill so that none of thy fearefull Iudgements to which I was iustly lyable haue fallen vpon me but of thy vnspeakeable mercy thou hast preserued mee from them and hast also liberally and with a bountifull hand supplyed me with the necessaries of this life notwithstanding my great and manifold sinnes committed against thee O Lord I confesse that I haue wasted the time which thou hast giuen mee for repentance altogether idely vainly and vnprofitably not so much as considering or taking notice that this day might haue beene the last of my life but haue added and heaped vp sinne vpon sinne in thy alseeing sight as if I had stood in no feare of thee at all dayly renewing as much as in me lay thy torments and passions for which I haue deserued that the earth should open vnto me and hell deuoure mee and which that it is not come to passe I ascribe withall thankefull acknowledgement to thy infinite mercy and goodnesse O Lord I acknowledge that it is of thy goodnesse alone that I am thus preserued from al thy iudgements seeing that many calamities haue befallen diuers others who haue lesse deserued them then my selfe That therefore some haue perished by water some by fire some by sword others by sudden and violent death and that I liue that some haue beene taken blinde some lame some distracted in their sences that others haue sustained much damage in their worldly estate and I haue escaped and not been punished in any of these kindes to what shall I ascribe and attribute the cause surely to thy mercy alone for which I cannot giue vnto thee sufficient thankes But O Sweete Sauiour as thy mercy exceedeth so doe our necessities increase thou canst not want matter for thy mercy to worke vpon by reason of our inabilities to helpe our selues wherefore I further pray thee that this night following may be also safe and prosperous vnto me that by a sweete sleepe and comfortable refreshing I may be fitted when I awake to serue thee with a thankefull and chearefull heart And because O Lord that this life hath not one certaine houre Psal 13.4 I beseech thee to enlighten mine eyes that I sleep not in death and grant that after I haue rested quietly I may by thy grace and mercy arise to serue thee in singlenesse of heart Lighten O Sauiour my darkenesse and mercifully keepe me from all dangers of this night Saue mee waking and keepe me sleeping that I may watch in thee and rest in peace There is nothing that more resembleth our life then the Day nor Death then the Night nor the Graue then our Beds O Lord therefore when I am laid downe and by sleepe made vnable to helpe my selfe being like vnto a dead man defend me then by thy power from the crafts and assaults of the enemy that he doe me no harme so that though my body sleepe my soule may watch vnto thee and contemplate of the life to come And graunt that hauing passed the night quietly I may arise as well from the sleepe of sinne as from my naturall sleepe and with all alacrity passe the day following in thy seruice and in the end of my pilgrimage by thy merits receiue the Crowne which thou hast promised to those that loue thee in that day which no night shall follow and in that heauenly Kingdome where thou raignest togither with the Father and the Blessed Spirit world without end Euening Prayer Psal 141.2 LEt my prayer O Lord be set forth in thy sight as the incense and let the lifting vp of my hands be an euening Sacrifice Psal 55.18 In the Euening Morning and at noone day will I pray and that instantly and thou Lord shalt heare my prayer Psal 91.5 Blessed be thou O Lord who hast preserued me from the arrow that flyeth by day and
O Lord. Psal 119.31 Put me not to shame Psal 119.39 Turne away reproch from me Psal 25.2 Let not mine enemies triumph ouer me Psal 27.12 Deliuer mee not ouer to their will Psal 64.1 Preserue my life from them Deliuer me O Lord From Eph. 4.19 hardnesse of heart to impenitence Act. 28.27 Grossenesse of heart Prou 7.13 Impudence of countenance Esa 48.4 Hardnesse of countenance From a seared conscience Tit. 1.16 A reprobate minde 1. Ioh. 5.16 Sinne vnto death Viz. Mat. 12.32 against the holy Ghost From Ia. 1.21 all superfluity of naughtines Heb. 12.1 The waight of sinne 1. Ioh. 2.16 The lusts of the flesh and eyes and pride of life All wicked vaine desires Hurtful vncleane thoghts Desire of Vaine-glory From a deceitfull tongue Mat. 6.2 Ecclus. 51.5 Vnpure lips Hands stretched out to couetousnesse Feet swift to euill Eyes open to Vanity Eares open to Toyes From blindnesse of heart Inconstancie of minde Scurrilitie of speech Intemperance of the belly From desire of Riches Reproch of my neighbours Contempt of the poore Oppression of the weake Rancor of minde Roote out of me O Lord. Prophanenesse and Superstition Pride and Vndecency Anger and Contention Swearing and Cursing Passion and Corruption Fraud and Rapine Lying and Slander Enuy and Malice Take from me The sinne of Gluttony Giue to me The Vertue of Abstinence Take from me The spirit of vncleanenesse Giue to me The Loue of Chastitie Take from me The Desire of the World Giue to me Content of Minde Take from me The heate of Anger Giue to me The spirit of meeknesse Take from me The Care of this Life Giue to me Thy SPIRITVALL Ioy. Take from me Haughtinesse of Minde Giue to me Compunction of Heart Deliuer me O Lord From All euill and mischiefe All noysome diseases All things hurtfull to my Soule Health Estate Quiet From all Scandall Griefe Infamy From all enemies Secret Open Crafty Potent From Sudden death Violent death In all my Prayers and petitions Distresses and dangers Infirmities and neede Tentations and tribulations Good Lord deliuer me and helpe me From the Terrors of Hell Eternall Damnation Apo. 6.6 The angry countenance of the Iudge The fearefull sentence of Mat. 25.41 8.12 Depart from me into vtter darknesse Iude. 6. The chaines of euerlasting darknesse The Apo. 20.10 Lake of Fire and Brimstone The Apo. 14.11 smoke of the torment which ascends for euer Good Lord of thy great mercy deliuer me In Affliction MOst mercifull Redeemer alwaies louing to vs whither thou sendest vs heauinesse or ioy for thy mercy is great whilest by afflictions as by bitter pilles thou curest the inward diseased man and by temporary troubles thou preparest vs and makest vs fit for Ioyes Eternall Grant O Sweete Sauiour that I may drinke of this cup of aduersitie and all others as reached to me by thy hand Thou knowest O Lord that they are bitter to flesh and blood yet withall I know that thou didst endure farre greater things for mee and that I haue deserued to suffer much more then thou hast laid vpon me O Lord thou knowest also the weakenesse and frailtie of mans nature and therefore I doe assuredly beleeue that thou the good Samaritan wilt not only cleanse the woundes of my sinnes Luc. 10.33 with the sharpe Wine of thy Iustice but wilt also adde the oyle of thy Mercy and comfort whereby I may be strengthned againe If thou thinkest not yet sufficient or that enough which thou hast laid vpon mee yet adde patience I beseech thee to my further griefe and grant that these thy punishments may prouoke mee to true repentance whereby I may by thy merits obtaine remission of my sinnes But if thy Fatherly clemencie shall be contented with this gentle and milde chastisement take off thy corrections and heauy hand from me that so I may for both thy mercies to me praise thy holy Name as well that thou hast so gently dealt with me in amending me so vnprofitable a Seruant as that thou hast in time taken of the bitternesse of affliction and not vtterly confounded mee in the first of thy workes of mercy respecting my Necessity and in the last not forgetting my Infirmity To thee O Sauiour with the Father and Holy Spirit be all Praise Laud and Glory now and euermore Amen In time of Pestilence O Lord God who reiectest none that trusting in thy goodnesse and beleeuing in thy promises come to thee for succour and helpe Behold wee beseech thee with the eyes of compassion and mercy thy poore sinfull and miserable people who now are much afflicted and visited with the Plague of Pestilence with the scourge of thine angry hand Our streets are full of griefe and our houses are filled with heauinesse and all our ioy is turned into mourning by reason of thy heauy wrath and hot displeasure which now is gone out to destroy and consume vs from the face of the earth Wee confesse O Lord it is but iust that all thy Creatures should rebell against man and oppose themselues against him who hath so desperately rebelled against thee his Creator for they are all obedient to thee only Man sinfull and wretched Man is continually stubborne and rebellious dayly abusing thy Blessings and hourly transgressing thy Commandements not leauing his euill waies for feare of thy threates nor being allured to goodnesse with the hope of thy promises We daily heare by thy messengers and read in thy Sacred Word what thou hast threatned of old to thy rebellious people and in them to vs. How that if they kept not thy Commandements thou wouldest send vpon them the Sword Leuit. 26.25 to auenge the quarrell of thy couenant and when they should be gathered in their Cities Ierem. 14.12 thou wouldest send the Pestilence among them and they should be deliuered into the hands of the enemie and yet wee haue hitherto beene so sencelesse thereof that wee feare not to adde sinne to sinne and to multiply iniquitie vpon iniquitie And now O Lord we reape the iust reward of our impiety and feele too soone that we are iustly plagued for our disobedience O Lord we confesse that thy Iudgements are iust and withall humbly acknowledge our misdeeds and heartily repent vs of them and earnestly beg and craue that thou wouldest in mercy pardon them and remit the punishment which in Iustice is due vnto vs for them O Lord In thy iust anger remember thy mercy encline thine eare and heare open thine eyes and behold our desolations and vpon our repentance and humiliation remooue this thy punishment which in thy displeasure thou hast begunne to inflict vpon vs. Command thy destroying Angell to spare vs Ezech. 9. and not to strike vs to vtter desolation Be mercifull vnto vs who are euery houre in danger of thy heauy Iudgements Take away the vnwholsomnesse of the ayre and purifie our
dwellings vnto health and safetie Keep those which are well and release those vpon whom thou hast laid the rod of thy afflictions Thou hast promised O Lord that if at any time thou sendest the Pestilence among the people 2. Chro. 7.13 14. If that people doe humble themselues 1. Kings 8. and pray and seeke thy presence and turne from their wicked waies thou wilt heare in Heauen and be mercifull to their sinne and heale their Land wee humbly pray thee O Lord to make good thy promise and ease vs of our afflictions For behold O Lord wee humble our selues vnder thy mighty hand we bewaile and lament our sinfull liues past and humbly beseech thee to giue vs thy assisting Grace that we may henceforth order our waies to please thee Then shall no Contagion hurt vs Dan. 9.18 but we shall liue to praise thy Name and all the world shall know that thou art our God and that thy Name is called vpon by vs. Heare vs O Lord and be mercifull to vs euen for Iesus Christs sake the Righteous To whom with thee and the Blessed Spirit be ascribed all honour and zpraise now and for euer Amen Confession of Faith Mar. 9.24 Lord I beleeue Helpe thou my vnbeleife In God The father Almightie Maker of heauen and earth In which words I consider his naturall affection his sauing power his Prouidence in disposing preseruing gouerning all things Eph. 1.10 Who in the dispensation of the fulnesse of times will gather together in one all things in Christ both which are in heauen and earth In Iesus Our Sauiour Christ The Anoynted His onely Son Euen of God the Father Our Lord By creating and redeeming vs. 1. Who was conceiued by the holy Ghost To purge the vncleanesse of our conception 2. Borne of the Virgin MARY To purge the vncleanenesse of our Birth 3. Suffered vnder Pontius Pilate Those thinges which wee should haue suffered that we might not suffer them 4. Was crucified To take away the Curse of the Law 5. Dead To take away the Sharpenesse of death 6. Buried To take away the corruptiō of the Graue 7. Descended into Hell Whither wee ought to haue gone that we might not goe thither at all 8. The third day he rose againe from the dead That hee might raise with him our nature being made the first fruites of them which sleepe 1. Cor. 15.20 9. He ascended into Heauen To prepare vs a place whereto we had no right 10. Hee sitteth at the right hand of the father Incessantly to intercede for vs. 11. From thence he shall come To receiue vs 12. To iudge both the quicke and the dead Euen to the consummation of all things In the Holy Ghost In whom I consider a power sanctifying frō aboue and quickening to immortalitie working powerfully and inuisibly in vs. By the Illumination of knowledge Luc. 12.12 And Infusion of grace 1. Ioh. 2.27 b Io. 16.8 In reprehending things euill in vs c Io. 14.26 Teaching vs things we know not Suffering and forbearing vs. d Gen. 20.6 Preuenting vs from doing euill Ro. 8.26 Encouraging vs vs to doe good Assisting vs in our Prayers Striuing for our good Ioh. 14.16 Comforting vs in our necessities  All these being Graces and fruits of the Holy Spirit 4. The Holy Catholique Church Which is the mysticall body of the head Christ Iesus composed of all people throughout the World which are called by the Spirit to the Beleife of Diuine Truth and holinesse of Conuersation And of all these members of his body there is a reciprocall participation to the Communion of Saints and Forgiuenesse of Sinnes For the present To the hope of The resurrectiō of the body and Life euerlasting hereafter Lord I beleeue Helpe the defects of my faith That I may loue thee as a Father Reuerence thee as Almighty Commend my selfe to thee as to a faithfull Creator That I may be mindefull to giue thankes to Thy only Sonne As to the purger of our nature In his Conception and Birth As to our deliuerer In his Passion Crosse and Death As to the triumpher ouer Hell In his Descension Ouer death In his Resurrection As to our fore runner In his Ascension As to our Aduocate In his Session As to the establisher of our faith In his Second Comming That he may be fashioned in me That I may be made conformable to him To his Conception To his Natiuitie In Workes In Faith In Humility That for his Passions 1. I may Sympathize with him as with one that suffered for me and be ready to suffer of him and for him when it shall be his good pleasure 2. I may haue an Antipathie with sinne as being the cause of his Sufferings and bee Reuenged of Crucifie Mortifie Bury Sinne in my selfe 3 I may conforme my selfe 1. To his descension into Hell By often descending thither in meditation 2 To his Resurrection By rising to newnesse of life 3. To his Ascension By sauouring and seeking those things which are aboue and neerer to my Saluation 4. To his Iudgement By Iudging my selfe least I bee condemned with the World That when I am cold in Prayer and want any Spirituall grace or comfort I may remember thy Session and Intercession And when I am feruent in any euill affection or concupiscence I may not forget thy fearefull and terrible Iudgement Seat and the sound of the last Trump That for thy only Son Christs sake I may also receiue thy Vnction euen thy sauing grace the vnspeakeable guift of the Holy Ghost and neuer a 1. Thess 5.19 extinguish b Eph. 4.30 grieue c Act. 7.51 resist or d Mat. 12.32 reproach it That so I may bee called into thy Catholique Church where I may be partaker of the Persons Actions prayers and Examples of Saints To the assured beliefe of Remission of sinnes To the hope of Resurrection and Translation to Life euerlasting Lord increase my Faith Luc. 17.6 Mat. 17.20 as a graine of mustard seed Not Dead Temporary or Hypocriticall But a 1. Tim. 1.5 Pure and vnfeigned most b Holy c Eph. 3.11 Liuely and d Ia. 2.26 working by Charity Confession of Faith O Almighty and Eternall Lord God I poore vnworthy and wretched sinner and bold to renew that couenant of Faith which in my Baptisme I made vnto thee I beleeue and confesse that all those things which thy most beloued Sonne Christ Iesus did suffered and taught while he was conuersant in the Flesh here vpon the Earth are most most true and certaine I professe that I beleeue all the Articles of the Apostles Creed and the Holy Gospell of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ which is preached through all the World To this Faith I binde my selfe and purpose Gods grace assisting mee neuer to depart from it and acknowledge that without beleeuing thus I cannot be saued I am heartily glad O Heauenly Father euen in my
of conuersation teach transgressors how they shall keepe thy waies and commandements and by that meanes thy Grace assisting they which now are sinners shall forsake their wickednesse and shall bee truely conuerted to thee 14 Deliuer me and quit me from my former bloody offences and keepe mee henceforth from blood guiltinesse and carnall corruptions O God my protector Thou God which art my Redeemer and Author of my Saluation and all the dayes of my life my tongue for ioy thereof shall sing vnto thee and that aloud and cheerefully and praise thy Name by extolling of thy righteousnesse who dost iustifie sinners and art mercifull to the penitent 15 O Lord who giuest wisedome to the simple Open thou my lippes which are closed by sinne from doing any seruice vnto thee and then with boldnesse my mouth shall vtter and shew forth thy praise for to thee alone belongeth all Honour and Glory 16 For thou O God desirest not that I should offer the Sacrifice of Goates and Calues to expiate my offences else would I willingly giue it and lay it on thy Altar but thou hauing by sending thy Sonne Christ Iesus abrogated the ceremonies of the Law delightest not any longer in burnt offerings but in obedience to thy Commandements 11 The Sacrifices accepted of God and whereby wee are in Christ reconciled to him are a broken and humble Spirit deiected with the sight of sinne a broken and contrite heart truly mortified and repentant O God thou hast promised that thou wilt not despise but louingly accept 18 Doe good O God in thy good pleasure and be fauourable and gratious vnto Sion thy Catholique Church Build thou vpon a sure foundation of religion and establish the hearts of thy Saints and Seruants the walles of thy Church Ierusalem 19 Then shalt thou in Christ Iesus be pleased with vs and with the Sacrifices of Righteousnesse in thy Congregation And with burnt Offerings and Oblations of our hearts Then shall they thy Seruants thus established offer bullockes the Sacrifice of praise vpon thine Altar in thy presence to the honour of thy most holy Name Glory be to the Father c. 5 Psalme 102. 1 HEare my prayer which in the bitternesse of my soule I make to thee O Lord whose mercy is the Sanctuary of distressed sinners and let nothing stand betweene that mercy and me which may hinder my cry to come to thee 2 Hide not thy face turne not away thy countenance from me as if thou wert offended at me but rather in the day of aduersity when I am in trouble and sorrow encline thine eare of pitie vnto me and that right soone and speedily 3 For my daies which I haue mis-spent are cōsumed away like smoke which for want of substance resolueth to nothing and my bones which by my broken spirit are dried vp are burnt vp as a firebrand 4 My heart is deiected and smitten with the thought of thy Iustice and it is withered with remembrance of thy Iudgements like grasse without iuyce or sap so that in this anguish of soule I forget and loath to eate my bread 5 By reason of the grieuous voyce of my groaning sighes and teares I am so consumed away that my bones for want of flesh cleaue to my skinne and I am nothing but skin and bone 6 I am for shame that I haue offended thee become in condition like a Pellican that liueth solitarily in the Wildernesse and I am like an Owle not daring to be seen but that auoideth the light and is continually in the desert shunning the company of other birds 7 I watch and sleepe not for the thought of my sinnes and am as a sparrow that caring for no company sitteth alone making grieuous lamentation in a mournfull note vpon the house top 8 Mine enemies seeing mee thus penitent reproach mee with opprobrious speeches all the day continually deriding mee and they that while I was their companion in sinne applauded mee are vpon my conuersion mad against me and doe combine and are sworne to doe me mischiefe and to that end set themselues against me 9 For this cause taking no pleasure in this world I haue eaten ashes and fed vpon course meate like as if it were fine bread and dainty fare and I haue mingled my drinke with teares weeping and lamenting for my sinnes 10 Because of thine indignation at me for them and thy wrath against my life past all this euill and more hath befallen me for thou hast lifted mee vp very high and from thence hast cast mee downe that my fall might be the greater 11 My dayes few and euill are passed like a shadow vpon a Sun-diall that declineth toward the euening and I that lately seemed to flourish am withered and dryed vp like grasse without sap for want of thy comfort 12 But thou O Lord which wert and art shalt continue immutable and shalt endure for euer while all transitory things passe and come to nothing and thy glorious workes shall be had in remembrance vnto all generations euen vnto the end of the world 13 Thou O Lord who seemest to men to sleepe shalt arise in thy strength and haue mercy and compassion vpon Sion thy Church militant now oppressed with the tyranny of Antichrist for the time to looke vpon her and fauour her is at hand yea the set time which thou hast decreed for her deliuerance is or will not be long ere it come 14 For they which bee thy true and faithfull Seruants take pleasure and delight in her stones their fellow Seruants and are glad when they see them prosper and fauour and pitie the very dust and ruines thereof when they see them vnder persecution 15 So that when they shall be deliuered from their misery the very heathen shall feare and tremble at the Name of the Lord and be conuerted to him and all the Kings and Potentates of the earth which now oppose the Truth shall acknowledge thee O Lord to be King of Kings and Lord of Lords and be afraid at the greatnesse of thy Glory and Maiestie 16 When the Lord by his almighty power shall build vp Sion and repaire the ruines of his Church he shall then to the confusion of his enemies appeare in his glory which they shall not be able to endure 17 He will then in mercy regard and hearken to the prayer of his poore seruants and the destitute of his helpe and not any longer seeme to turne away his face from them nor despise their prayer and earnest supplications 18 This mercy of his shall then be recorded and written as a remembrance for the generations to come euen to the end of the world which shall attempt the like against his Church and the people yet vnborne that shall succeed and be created in ages to come shall praise and magnifie the Lord which only doth marueilous things 19 For hee hath in mercy by sending his Sonne Christ Iesus looked downe from the height of his Sanctuary his holy place euen from
be repelled for want of a wedding garment Mat. 22.22 euen the garment of a Sanctified soule For my whole life hath beene so wretchedly and lewdly spent and my dayes haue been so wickedly wasted that I hourely seemed to renew thy passion Many a time Mat. 26.14 I haue with Iudas sold thee for a small summe of pleasure or profit and now in comming to receiue thee vnworthily what doe I else but with him betray thee with a kisse How then shall I dare to receiue thee Mat. 26.26 in so desperate and wicked estate How canst thou abide or dwell in so loathsome a Dungeon wherein there is no part roome or corner cleane O Lord I acknowledge mine vnworthinesse and yet with all thy mercies are not hid from me and by them I am encouraged to come with confidence vnto thee for by how much the vnworthier I come vnto thee by so much the more will thy mercy bee glorified if thou doe not reiect mee Lord thou art not wont to put sinners backe but to call and set them forward to repentance Wherefore O Lord animated by thy calling and inuitation I come vnto thee ouerburdned with the waight of my sinnes hoping to finde ease and releife of thee Thy custome while thou wert vpon earth was to receiue sinners Luc. 15.2 and to eate with them and thy delight was to be with the Sonnes of men If thou O Lord bee still pleased with such guests behold one heere at this time of that kinde a notorious sinner I verely beleeue that thou tookest more pleasure in the teares of the sinfull woman then in the great feast of the proud Pharisee Luc. 7.38 and for a few teares of hers didst forgiue many sinnes vnto her Luc. 7.47 Behold O Lord new matter offered for thy great mercy to worke vpon Here lyeth a sinner who hath many more sinnes then shee but fewer teares by many who though he hath more grieuously offended yet doth more carelesly bewaile his offences then shee did She was neither the first nor the last who thou in thy mercy didst receiue to fauour O Lord let me also be one of the Subiects of thy mercy and although I haue not teares sufficient to wash thy feet yet thou hast shed droppes of blood more then sufficient to cleanse my sinnes I read O Lord in the Gospell that all that were diseased flocked to thee Luc. 16.17.18 and by that Vertue which came out of thee were healed and I verily perswade my selfe that thy Nature is not changed for in thee is and will be to the end of the world health and remedy for all griefes and thou art readier to make vs whole then wee are to aske health of thee I know O Lord that this Sacrament which I so earnestly looke after is not only meate for those that are in health but Physique also for the sicke and doth not only refresh the Righteous but cleanseth those that are Sinners also If I bee weake by it I shall be strengthned if in health in health by it I shall be preserued and if dead in sinne by it I shall bee reuiued I humblie therefore intreat thee O Father that as Dauid did admit Mephibosheth to his table 2. Sam. 9. for his Fathers sake so thou wouldst suffer mee to bee partaker of thy Heauenly Table for thy Sonnes sake who with so great labour and sorrow did regenerate vs by his death on the Crosse who liueth and raigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit for euer Prayers before the Communion O Almighty Lord God Father of all mercies and consolation I humbly beseech thee to behold with the eye of pitie my poore and wretched soule which though thou didst create after thine owne Image and washedst with the blood of thy deare Sonne yet I haue so abominably defiled and defaced with the staine of sinne that it can hardly be knowne O Father I was thy Sonne whom thou didst so louingly imbrace and loade with blessings and who was in thy house in great honour and dignity In the Sacrament of Baptisme thou didst adopt me and gauest me the inheritance of a Sonne and heire but I vnthankefully and prodigally by my euill life haue wasted my Patrimony I haue wickedly abused the flower and prime of my youth and the good parts and faculties of my soule and body with the pleasures of the flesh pride surfetting enuy lust couetousnesse idlenesse rebellion and disobedience and now at the last I finde that all the temporall delights of the flesh and the World are altogether vaine and vanish like smoke For all flesh is grasse Esa 1. Pet. 1.24 and all the Glory of man is but like the flower of the field and is suddenly gone He that is rich to day to morrow becommeth poore and miserable hee that walketh in health and strength of body to day to morrow is by sickenesse made feeble and weake hee that liueth to day the next day dieth and he which to day glorieth in the greatest pompe to morrow is laid in his Coffin and carried to his Graue Therefore O Lord consider the weaknesse and frailtie of man and turne away I pray thee thy face from my sinnes and remember not them so in thine anger that thou forget either thine owne mercy or my weakenesse By mine owne fault I confesse O Lord and by my euill couersation I haue made my selfe vnworthy of thy fauour and by my euill concupiscences I haue grieuously wounded my conscience I haue often grieued thy Holy Spirit by not hearkning to the good motions thereof but yeelding to my sensuall lust and beastly appetite Yet O mercifull Father cast me not vtterly from thy sight for from the beginning of the world it was not heard that thou didst reiect any sinner that with a contrite heart came vnto thee Behold I come vnto thee in great necessity and cast my selfe at thy feete confessing thy greatnesse and multitude of my sinnes They haue brought me into that euill state and condition that I am not worthy to be called thy Sonne Lue. 15.21 yet I pray thee receiue me into the number of thy hired seruants Giue mee grace heartily to repent me of my sins feede and cherish mee with the bread and drinke of the body and blood of thy Sonne Christ Iesus that by thy mercy I may be receiued to grace and restored to the former dignity from which I am worthily cast and to the inheritance of thy euerlasting kingdome through the same our Sauiour Iesus Christ Another O Blessed Sauiour I poore vnworthy sinner haue a great desire and earnest longing to come to thy Table but considering my many and grieuous sinnes tremble and feare to approach vnto it For when I consider thy words to thy Disciples Except ye eate the flesh of the Son of man Ioh. 6.53 and drinke his bloud ye haue no life in you And on the other side the words of the Apostle Whosoeuer shall eate
the humble and they which are any way deiected when they shall heare thereof how gratious God hath beene to me shall in hope of the like mercy to them reioyce and be glad also 3 O ye whosoeuer haue felt Gods fauour as I haue magnifie and extoll the mercies of the Lord with me for his goodnesse and let vs ioyfully with one accord exalt and praise his Name together 4 I my selfe when I was in trouble sought the Lord by praier and humiliation and hee reiected not my petition but graciously heard me and granted it yea and he not only deliuered me from the danger I was in but from all my feares also which I conceiued at it 5 They also that liued in former Ages our Fore-fathers whensoeuer they were distressed looked vp and cryed vnto him and were releeued by his mercy and lightned by his grace and their faces were not any whit ashamed because they did put their trust in him 6 This poore man euen my selfe cryed by their example in my distresse and the Lord plentifull in compassion gratiously heard him and caused and deliuered him immediately out of all his troubles and calamity 7 The good Angell of the Lord deputed by him for each mans protection encampeth and fortifieth round about them that with an vnfeined heart feare and serue him which Angell preserueth them in all their wayes and deliuereth them from all the machinations of the Deuill and his Angels 8 O taste ye therefore and see make experience and you shall soone finde that the Lord is good and louing to those that faithfully call vpon him and you will also confesse with me and say Blessed and happy is the man that layeth aside all confidence in himselfe and that in all his necessities trusteth in him and his protection 9 O feare reuerence and loue the Lord all ye that by truely beleeuing in him become his Saints and obserue his Commandements for take this as an infallible truth that There is no want to them they shall lacke nothing that is needfull for them that with an vpright heart feare and serue him 10 The young Lyons and mightie men of this world although they thinke themselues happy yet doe they lacke true peace of conscience and suffer hunger and want that which is truely good but they which with a pure heart and humble spirit seeke the Lord and desire to please him shall not want any good thing when the Lord in his Wisedome shall thinke it needfull for them 11 Come therefore O ye children that desire to be informed and with attentiue mindes hearken and giue good eare vnto me that am experienced in the mercies of the Lord and I will teach and instruct you in the feare of the Lord which is the beginning of wisedome 12 What man is he among the sonnes of men that desireth to liue a good life and loueth to spend many dayes so in this life that he may see and enioy good and happy dayes hereafter 13 Keepe first of all thy tongue from speaking euill let that member doe no man wrong and preserue thy lippes from speaking guile or that which is false though it be to thine owne preiudice for the Lord abhorreth lying lippes 14 Depart from euill auoid all things which thou knowest displeasing to God and yet thinke not that sufficient except thou also apply thy selfe to doe that which is good and acceptable to him Seeke peace betweene God and thy selfe thy selfe and thy conscience thy selfe and thy neighbour and if thou shalt finde that peace in any of these particulars shall fly from thee pursue it with all thy might that thou mayst recouer it 15 The prouident eyes of the Lord for thy comfort in taking this course are euer fixed vpon the righteous to preserue them from all euill and to confirme them in all good and his eares of compassion are alwayes open vnto their cry to deliuer them from all distresse 16 The face of displeasure and the angry countenance of the Lord on the contrary is set and bent against them that forsake good and doe euill without remorse of conscience to cut off and root out not only such wicked persons themselues but the very remembrance of them from the face of the earth that there shall remaine no memoriall of them 17 The righteous in their affliction crye and flie vnto God for succour and the Lord in mercy heareth their prayer yea and in his good time deliuereth them out of all their troubles either by aiding them with spirituall comfort that they faint not vnder them or by remouing their afflictions from them or them from their afflictions by taking them into Heauenly ioyes 18 The Lord who hath a continuall care ouer his elect is euer nigh vnto them in comfort that are of a broken and humble heart and alwaies saueth such and no other as are of a contrite and bruised Spirit that they fall not into desperation 19 Many in number and great in waight are the afflictions and troubles of the righteous for they that will liue godly in Christ must suffer persecution but the Lord of his infinite goodnesse forsaketh him not but deliuereth him in due time out of them all that they shall not bee able to doe him harme 20 He euen the Lord keepeth and preserueth all his bones which though the wicked goe about to breake yet notwithstanding all their attempts not so much as one of them is or shall bee broken by them and not only so but the haires of his head are numbred also 21 Euill on the other side shall slay the wicked and turne them to destruction and they whosoeuer they be that hate the righteous whom the Lord loueth shall be desolate and depriued of the comfort of Gods Holy Spirit 22 The Lord by his power and goodnesse redeemeth and saueth the Soule of euery one of his Seruants from all euill and none of them that put their trust and confidence in him and his mercy shall bee left desolate or without consolation Glory be to the Father c. 4 Psalme 103. 1 BLesseâ— and magnifie the Lord thy Creator O my soule for all his mercies and fauours extended to thee and all that is within me holy and pure giue praise vnto and blesse his holy and great Name 2 Blesse the Lord O my Soule I say againe as well for thy creation as for all his other great and glorious workes and at any hand take heed that thou be not ingratefull to him and forget not nor let slip out of thy remembrance all or any of his benefits not only in forming thee after his owne Image as in his continuall care and preseruing thee from many dangers 3 Who only by his power can and of his meere mercy and goodnesse forgiueth all thine iniquities pardoneth all thy sinnes as well actuall as originall how great so euer how many so euer as often as with a pure heart and humble spirit thou repentest thee of them Who like a good Phisitian
such wisedome and power that they ought to bee remembred and his Name to be celebrated for them And as hee is omnipotent so the Lord is also gratious and louing to his Seruants and full of compassion plenteous in mercy to euery repentant sinner 5 He hath of his prouidence and bounty euer giuen meat and all other necessaries to them that feare and serue him yea and he as hee hath formerly so will he euer to the end of the world bee mindefull of his Couenant of Grace to his seruants 6 He hath shewed and manifested to his people his elect the power and efficacy of his great workes not only in the creation but in the Redemption of mankinde that hee may giue vnto them that are in Christ the heritage of the heathen according to the promise made to our forefathers 7 The workes of his hands all his actions are done in verity and Iudgement and all his Commandements are sure iust holy and worthy to be obserued 8 They stand fast and are setled firme for euer and euer to the end of the world and they are done and commaunded vpon good grounds in truth and vprightnesse as being enioyned by the author of truth and equitie 9 Hee in the fulnesse of time sent Redemption and Saluation vnto his Elect People by Iesus Christ hee hath commanded his Conenant of the new Testament for euer to be obserued by them and it concerneth them carefully to keepe it because hee which commanded it is a iealous God and seuere to transgressors and Holy and reuerend is his Name 10 The filiall fe are of the same holy and reuerend Lord is the beginning Basis of all true Wisedome which who so euer hath not attained to is not really wise how so euer he may be esteemed by the world but a good and perfect vnderstanding haue they and they are truely wise indeed that doe his Commandements and keepe his precepts his praise and remembrance endureth for euer and continueth throughout all generations Glory be to the c. 6 Psalme 138. 1 I Will praise and blesse thee O Lord with my whole heart with all my strength yea before the Gods in the presence of thy holy Angels will I sing praise and laud vnto thee 2 I will worship in feare and reuerence towards thy holy Temple dedicated to thy honour and seruice and I will praise thy holy and great Name for two of thy blessings especially namely for thy louing kindnesse in comforting distressed sinners and for thy Truth in performing thy promises for thou thy selfe hast preferred and magnified thy Word of Truth abone all the attributes of thy Name else whatsoeuer 3 In the day and time of my affliction when I cried vnto thee by earnest prayer thou didst not stop thine eares but gratiously answeredst me yea and strengthnedst mee with thy Grace and strength in my soule 4 All the Kings and mighty men of the earth bee they neuer so high in condition shall and may worthily praise thee without disparagement to themselues when they by the preaching of the Gospell heare the words of thy mouth which are nothing but Truth 5 Yea they shall sing and reioyce in exercising themselues in the waies and Commandements of the Lord for great and vnutterable is the Glory and Maiestie of the Lord of Hosts 6 Though the Lord our God be high and his Maiestie bee aboue all things yet in his abundant mercy hath hee respect vnto the lowlie in their owne eyes and the more humble they are the more he regardeth them but as for the proud and those which exalt thhmselues hee despiseth them and knoweth them as it were a farre off 7 Though I walke and liue in the midst of trouble and sorrow and in the shadow of death yet when so euer I call vpon thee faithfully thou wilt I know reuiue and raise me vp thou shalt also stretch forth and reach vnto me thy hand of power against the wrath and malice of mine enemies and bridle their furie and thy right hand of omnipotence shall saue me from all their enterprizes 8 The Lord of his goodnesse will perfect and finish that which concerneth me and my Saluation thy mercy and louing kindnesse O Lord neuer faileth but endureth from generation to generation euen for euer withdraw not therefore that mercy of thine from me O Lord and forsake not thou the worke of thine owne hands not made by any strange God but by thee the only and true God Glory be to the Father c. 7 Psalme 145. 1 I Will extoll and praise thee my God and Creator O King of Maiestie and Glory and I will blesse and magnifie thy Name O preseruer of mankinde for euer and euer euen all the daies of my life 2 Euery day not a day shall passe ouer my head but I will blesse thee and be speaking of thy mercies and I will praise and giue thankes vnto thee and to thy Name for euer and euer as long as I liue 3 Great and glorious is the Lord farre exceeding all the false gods of the heathen and greatly is hee to bee praised for all his workes and his greatnesse hath neither end nor beginning but is vnsearchable and past mans finding out 4 One generation and age shall praise and leaue the memory of thy goodnesse and thy workes of power wisedome and mercy to another succeeding generation and shall declare to posterity the remembrance of thy mightie acts 5 I my selfe as well as I am able will as I haue good cause speake of and extoll the glorious honour and the exceeding greatnesse of thy Maiestie and tell vnto the people the excellencie of thy wondrous workes 6 And not only I but all other Men shall be forced to confesse and speake of the exceeding might and the wonderfull effects of thy terrible acts against thine enemies and I according to my poore abilitie will declare vnto posterity thy Greatnesse and Maiestie 7 They euen all people which are gouerned by thy power and satisfied with thy goodnesse shall abundantly vtter and continually with praise acknowledge and keepe the memory of thy great and superabundant goodnesse and mercy and shall in all assemblies and congregations sing and reioyce because of thy Righteousnesse when thou rulest and disposest all things 8 The Lord our God notwithstanding our grieuous sinnes is gratious and louing yea and full of compassion by nature euermore slow and vnwilling to wreak his anger vpon vs it being an act contrary to his disposition and in stead of punishing he is of great mercy and ready to pardon the repentant 9 The Lord is also good and gratious not to any particular person or people only but to all that turne vnto him and if wee shall consider his tender mercies to the sonnes of men they are ouer and exceed his Iustice and all his other workes 10 All thy workes and creatures shall therefore praise and magnifie thee O Lord in generall and aboue the rest thy Saints and
Seruants to whom in particular thou extendest thy mercy shall blesse and continually praise thee for the same 11 They especially shall not bee silent but speake of and declare vnto those that haue not knowne thy Name the Glory and Maiestie of thy Kingdome which is aboue all the kingdomes of the earth and shall wheresoeuer they come talke of and set forth thy mightie power which no potentate is able to resist 12 To make knowne and to make manifest thereby to the sonnes of men euen all the gratiousnesse to come his mightie and wonderfull acts which he hath done in our time and in the ages foregoing and also the glorious Maiestie and super-excellency of his Kingdome and power 13 Thy kingdome O Lord is not temporary or of short continuance but it is an euerlasting Kingdome was without beginning and neuer shall haue end and this thy dominion and rule endureth firme stable throughout all generations to the end of the world 14 The Lord in his mercy vpholdeth and lifteth vp all those that fall by frailty and weakenesse and raiseth vp by the grace of his holy Spirit all those that be deiected bowed and cast downe with the thought of their sinnes 15 The eyes of all creatures waite and are fixed vpon thee as vpon their carefull father for sustenance and helpe and they no sooner call vnto thee but thou of thy prouidence suppliest their wants and giuest them their meate and all things necessary for them not onely in due proportion but in due season and time also 16 Thou openest thy hand of bounty and satisfiest the insatiable desire of men which nothing but thy selfe can satisfie and of euery other liuing thing besides 17 The Lord is only righteous iust and vnreproueable in all his wayes and actions and it is hee only that is holy and pure in all his workes 18 The Lord is nigh and ready at hand vnto all them that in distresse call vpon him and seeke vnto him for helpe Yea to all without respect of persons that call vpon him in truth faith and vprightnesse of heart 19 He is so gratious that he will not only heare them but grant their petitions and fulfill and satisfie the desire and request of them that feare and serue him he also will heare their cry in time of affliction and will saue and deliuer them out of all their trouble 20 The Lord by his omnipotent power preserueth and keepeth all them that loue him sincerely and obey his Commandements but as for all the wicked and vnrepentant obstinate sinners those will he destroy from the face of the earth 21 My mouth shall as long as I haue any being speake of and declare the praise and Maiestie of the Lord most mightie and as I doe so Let all flesh people nations and kindreds from the rising of the Sunne to the going downe thereof blesse land and magnifie together with me his holy and great Name euen for euer and euer from this time forth for euermore Glory be to the father ' c. Imprecation THis part of Deuotion or of zeale as I may call it although it seeme harsh and not well to stand with the Charitie of a Christian yet in these Cases it hath beene and may be lawfully vsed 1 When the Church of God in any part of the World lyeth as it were at the stake and groaneth vnder the burden of Persecution and the enemies thereof are incorrigeable and not to be reconciled in this case not onely a priuate man in his Deuotions but the Church also in generall may vse these Imprecations to the end that the Church may by these kind of Prayers and Gods assistance recouer its former peace and quiet 2 When as a Christian man shall perceiue that his enemies ayme altogether against the Rules of Charitie at his vtter subuersion both in Body and Soule in this case also a man may without breach of Charitie vse these Imprecations And in either of these Cases if the children either of Gods or our owne enemies shall ioyne assist or persist maliciously in the steps of their Parents they are in our estimation to be accounted of no better nay not so well as the very Heathen who haue not knowne the name of God at all And to this end I haue onely giuen you a taste of some of the zealous wishes and earnest desires or Imprecations of some Holy men Prophets and Apostles which are set downe in sacred Scripture and left no doubt for our imitation in the seuerall Cases before named Imprecations against the enemies of God and his Church REspect not thou their offering Num. 16.15 The Lord shall trouble thee Ios 7.25 Destroy them Psal 5.10 let them fall by their owne counsels Breake the arme of the wicked Psal 10.15 Breake their teeth O God Psal 58.6 Let them be scattered Psal 68.1.2 Let them flee Driue them as Smoake melt them as waxe Powre out thy wrath vpon them Psal 79.6 Make them like a wheele Psal 83.13 and as the stubble before the winde Burne them as the fire burneth the wood Psal 83.14 Persecute them with thy tempest Psal 83.15 Fill their faces with shame Psal 83.16 Let them be confounded and troubled for euer Psal 83.17 Let them be as grasse on the house top Psal 129.6 Grant not their desires Psa 140.8 Let the mischiefe of their owne lips couer them Psa 140.9 Let burning coales fall vpon them Psa 140.10 Let them not be established vpon the earth Psa 140.11 Let euill hunt them If any man loue not the Lord Iesus Christ 1. Cor. 16.22 let him be Anathema Maranatha If any man preach any other Gospell Gal. 1.9 c. Let him be accursed I would they were euen cut off Gal. 5.12 Against the enemies of our Soules Let them be confounded and put to shame Psal 35.4 that seeke after my soule Let them be as chaffe before the winde Psal 35.5 Let the Angell of the Lord chase them Let their way be darke and slipery Psal 35.6 Let the Angell of the Lord persecute them Let Destruction come vpon them Psal 35.8 Let them be confounded and ashamed Psal 40.14 Let them bee driuen backward Let them be desolate Psal 40.15 Let death seize vpon them Psal 55.15 Let them go downe quicke to Hell Let them be couered with reproach and dishonour Psal 71.13 Set a wicked man ouer him Psal 109.6 Let Satan stand at his right hand Let his prayer become sinne Psal 109.7 Let his daies be few Psal 109.8 Let his children bee fatherlesse Psal 109.9 and his wife a widdow Let his children be vagabonds and beggers Psal 109.10 Let the extortioner catch all he hath Psal 109.11 Let there be none to extend mercy to him or his children Psal 109.12 Let his posteritie be cut of Psal
to me that haue confidence in nothing but thy meere mercy O Lord it griueth me that I haue offended thy Maiestie and it grieueth me much that I can grieue no more then I doe And I humbly pray thee by the Death Passion and Intercession of thy Sonne Christ Iesus to pardon my offences promising that if I recouer my former health thy grace assisting me to abstaine from displeasing thy Maiestie hereafter I willingly O Lord and freely from my heart for thy sake forgiue all offendors and offences against me and I heartily desire all those whom I haue any way offended to forgiue me O Lord though my naturall man trembleth at the thought of death yet I professe that I am willing to die if it be thy good pleasure I haue receiued life and all the blessings of this life from thee what shall I render backe to thee for them I will willingly receiue this Cup of death and praise thy Name Psal 31.6 I commend into thy hands my spirit and whither thou disposest of me to liue or die I resigne it to thy good will and disposition and humblie pray thee that if thou seest it good for mee to prolong my dayes on earth that thou wouldst renew my conuersation by the direction of thy holy Spirit that I may passe those dayes in thy feare if thou be otherwise pleased to dispose of me take mee I beseech thee into the armes of thy mercie for Iesus Christs sake my only Sauiour and Redeemer Or thus O GOD of all consolation who hast promised to heare all those that faithfully call vpon thee and not to reiect any that with a contrite heart and penitent soule shall humble himselfe before thee I humbly intreat thee in the name and mediation of thy Sonne Iesus Christ that thou wouldest bee pleased to bee mercifull to mee thy poore Seruant at this time afflicted with sicknesse O Lord pardon forget and blot out of thy remembrance whatsoeuer I haue committed against thee in the whole course of my life Seale and confirme vnto me by thy Spirit a pardon vnto me for all my offences that I may thereby receiue such comfort in my soule that I may with all ioy and willingnesse depart out of this life vnto thee Let me be certified that there is Rom. 8.1 no condemnation to those which are vnited and engraffed into Iesus Christ by Faith that I may be confident 32. that neither my sinnes death the Deuill nor ought else can draw me away or separate me from thee and that I may be assured that thy Throne will not be to me a Barre of seueritie but a Hauen of safety and a sure Sanctuary and refuge for mee to flie vnto Strengthen this Faith in me which may serue as a Buckler to defend me from all tentations and that forsaking the confidence or strength of all other things I may flie wholly to thy mercy in Christ Iesus whereby I may be protected from the Terrors of thy Iudgement Grant vnto mee distressed sinner these graces euen for the same Iesus Christ his sake who with thee and the Holy Spirit liueth and raigneth for euer Or thus ALmightie and euerlasting God whose yeares faile not and who hast determined the daies of man which he cannot passe yet thy selfe endurest for euer and thy Throne from generation to generation Remember that I am but dust like grasse and my dayes as the flower of the field which flourisheth in the morning and in the euening is dried vp and withered Psal 39.5 O let me know my end make me mindefull of my mortalitie Psal 39.14 I am a stranger with thee and a soiourner as all my fathers were and cannot promise my selfe one houre much lesse any dayes or yeares in this my Pilgrimage Psal 6.2.3 I am like a tottering wall and a broken fence giue mee grace therefore that I trust not in the vncertainty of this life like the rich foole in the Gospell but that I may euery houre Luc. 12. prepare my selfe in thy feare to passe out of this fraile mansion and to expect thee with a solid faith and firme hope waiting cheerefully for the day and time of my dissolution Tit. 2.13 And looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of our Saniour Iesus Christ Make me like the faithfull and wise seruant euer ready and prepared for the comming of my Lord lest being suddenly preuented I bee taken like a Bird in the snare of the Fowler O Lord thou hast by this gentle correction put me in minde of my mortalitie giue me also Grace that I may make good vse of it that I may cast of all the cares of this world and wholly betake my selfe to make my peace with thee And I humbly pray thee that thou wouldst not forget me in my paines and miseries in all my infirmities be not farre from me when by reason of the terrors of death and assaults of the enemie I shall haue most neede of thy helpe but strengthen my soule with thy holy grace against all tentation that my Faith faile mee not but that thy holy Spirit assisting me I may ouercome my spirituall enemies and at the houre of death Lord I beseech thee let thy seruant depart in peace according to thy Word Luc. 2.29 Or thus BLessed Lord Iesus Christ the only comfort of the liuing and the eternall life of those which dye in thee I wholly submit my selfe to thy blessed Will whether it please thee to suffer my soule any longer to liue in this earthly Tabernacle to serue thee or to haue it depart out of this transitory world being certainely assured that it cannot perish being committed to thy keeping O Lord I put of this fraile flesh with a willing minde in the hope of the Resurrection of it at the last day togither with my soule when it will become much more glorious and happie then now it is I beseech thee O Lord Iesu strengthen mee with thy Grace against all temptations and defend mee with the shield of thy mercie against all the assaults of the Deuill I know that of my selfe I haue no strength wherefore my whole confidence is in thee I haue no merits of mine owne to alleadge for I see many yea too many of my sins to stand vp against me but by thy mercy I trust that thou wilt repute â—…e amongst the Iust Thou wert borne for me didst hunger thirst fast and pray for me thou didst many good workes and sufferedst many bitter things for my sake Let thy blood wash away the spots of my offences Let thy Iustice couer my vnrighteousnesse and thy Merits plead for me before the great and seuere Iudge And as my sicknesse encreaseth let thy Grace encrease that my faith faile not my hope wauer not nor my loue to thee waxe cold Let me not bee cast downe or deiected with the terror of death but when death shall seize on the eyes of my body let the eyes of my soule looke to thee and when the vse of my tongue shall faile me let my heart crie vnto thee Psal 31.6 I commend my spirit into thy hands O Lord who liuest and raignest c. Psal 23.4 Although thou kill me yet will I trust in thee and though I walke in the midst of the shadow of death yet will I not feare because thou Lord art with me A short Table of the chiefe Heads contained in this Booke A Generall Exhortation to Prayer page 1 In regard of Gods Precept 2 Promise 3 Christs example ibid. The Necessity ibid. The Dignitie 4 The Benefit 5 Directions how to Pray 1. To God only 8 2. In Faith 9 3. In Hope 10 4. In Charitie ibid. 5. In Humilitie of Spirit 12 13 Of Body 14 6. In Perseuerance 15 with feruency and attention 17 The Time for Prayer 20 The Place for Prayer 21 How to pray aright 22 Prayer diuided into Parts 25 The vse of the Lords Prayer 28 The Lords Prayer analysed 32 Petitions for spirituall Graces 68 A Prayer before Prayer 78 Before a Sermon 80 Petitions for temporall blessings 82 Rules for the Morning 84 Morning prayers priuate 85 For a Family 97 Rules for the Euening and Night 102 Euening prayers priuate 105 For a Family 116 Prayers For a married man 121 For a married woman 124 For a Childe 126 For a woman with Childe 128 For a young man or maid 129 For a Seruant 132 Before a Iourney 133 After a Iourney 135 Intercession 137 Deprecation 140 In affliction 145 In time of Pestilence 147 The Creed analysed 152 Confession of Gods Glory 164 Motiues to Repentance 169 The Dutie of Repentance 175 Confession of sinnes 179 Seuen Penitentiall Psalmes analysed 218 Direction before the Sacrament 259 Meditations and Prayers before the Sacrament 263 Meditations and Prayers after the Sacrament 276 Motiues to Thankesgiuing 285 Thankesgiuings 289 Seuen Psalmes of Thankesgiuing analysed 305 Imprecation 345 The Tenne Commandements analysed 350 Meditations of death 384 Meditations for the sicke 387 Prayers for the sicke 395 FINIS Faults escaped Page 38. line 16. in the margent reade Hallowed p. 80. l. â—… r. thou p. 97. in the mar r Gen. 1.26.9.6 p. 114. l. 7. r. seuenty times seuen p. 116. l. 9. r. sleep in peace p. 119 l. vlt. r. powre p. 130. l. 1. r. selfe be able to get p. 144. l. 13. r. sentence Depart p. 156. l. 9. put out vs. p. 164. l. vlt. r. bosome p. 169 l. 9. r. who p. 178. l. 5. r. Repentance p. 190. l. 6. r. I haue brought forth p. 211. l. 15. r. art patient p. 267. l. 16. r. long p. 271. l. 6. r. the greatnesse p. 291. 17. r. damnation p. 297. l. 16. r. Iust man of a sinner p. 307. l. 23. r. thy vicegerent p. 309. l. 15. r. triumph p. 314. l. 8. r. to the end that all p. 323. l. 17. for not onely r. as well p. 328. l. 23. r. felt p. 329 l. 7. r. with p. 340. l. 13. r. wherewith p. 341 l 26. r. generations p. 345. l. 14. r. incorrigible p. 374. l. 10. r. beatificall