haue betimes performed this duty priuately by themselues CAP. XVII Of singing Psalmes and reading the Scriptures in the family §. Sect. 1 That singing of Psalmes is inioyned in the Scriptures and practised by the faithfull VNto prayer we adioyne that holy exercise of singing Psalmes in the family which though it bee not in practice next in order according to ordinary vse yet I would not seuer it from the former seeing it is a religious duty and like vnto it being a notable meanes whereby wee praise God and render vnto him thankes for all his benefits And though it be not tyed vnto any part of the day nor yet euery day to bee necessarily performed and though in no family it be alwayes alike seasonable as in the time of mourning for some priuate or publike calamity but in the time of reioycing when we haue occasion to praise Gods holy name for his gifts and blessings conferred on vs according to the Apostles rule Is any man among Iam. 5. 13. you afflicted let him pray Is any merry let him sing Psalmes And though in some families it can seldome be done for want of leasure and opportunity vnlesse it be on the Sabbath and in some places not then for want of conuenient company to ioyne together yet where it may conueniently be performed in respect of company leasure and other occasions it is an excellent duty which is no wayes to be neglected For first it is inioyned in the Scriptures The Prophet Dauid in many places exhorteth to it O come saith he let vs sing vnto the Lord let vs make a ioyfull noise to the Psal 95 1 2. Rocke of our saluation Let vs come before his presence with thanksgiuing and Psal 100. 1 2. make a ioyfull noise vnto him with Psalmes Make a ioyfull noise vnto the Lord all ye lands serue the Lord with gladnesse come before his presence with singing Sing aloud vnto God our strength make a ioyfull noise vnto the God of Iacob c. Psal 81. 3. 47. 6. 68. 4. Esa 42. 10. Sing vnto him a new song play skilfully with a lowd noise So the Prophet Esay Sing vnto the Lord a new song and his praise from the end of the earth And Ieremy Sing ye vnto the Lord praise ye the Lord for he hath deliuered the Ier. 20. 13. soule of the poore out of the hands of euill doers The Apostle Paul likewise exhorteth vs to speake vnto the Lord in Psalmes and Hymnes and spirituall Eph. 5. 19. Iam. 5. 13. Songs singing and making melody in our hearts to the Lord. Of which wee haue the Saints of God in all ages examples for our imitation in the time both of the Law and the Gospell and in the purest ages of the primitiue Church who were complained on to the persecuting Emperours for their diligent performance of this duty day and night Yea our Sauiour Christ himselfe at the celebration of his last Supper is sayd with his Disciples to haue concluded that holy action with singing of a Psalme Which examples that we may imitate let vs further consider in the next place that it is a notable meanes to rowze vp our drowzie and dead hearts and by the sweete melody affecting our outward sense to rauish them with ioyfull delight and make them cheerefull in Gods seruice which was the cause why Elizeus being to prophecie and finding his Spirit dulled with the vnpleasing presence of the idolatrous King who together 2. King 3. 15. with Iehosaphat was to haue the benefit of his good indeuours desireth a Musician to play before him to stirre vp his heart vnto the more cheerefull performance of this duty Secondly it is an acceptable seruice vnto God as being a singular meanes to glorifie him when as our hearts are filled with thankfulnesse and our mouthes with his praises according to that of the Psalmist Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me the which in the Psal 50. 23. same Psalme he preferreth before oblations and burnt sacrifices Finally Vers 13. 14. Apoc. 5. 9. 14. 3. it is an heauenly exercise of the glorified Saints which we shall performe with them in that place of ioy and happinesse if wee take delight in it whilst we liue in the earth §. Sect. 2 How we may sing Psalmes in a right maner Now if we would performe this in an acceptable maner our care must be that it be done with our soules as wel as our tongue and lips And first with our minds both vnderstanding what we sing so as we may say with the Apostle I will sing with the Spirit and I will sing with the vnderstanding also and applying our minds vnto it with due attention not suffering them to be carried with wandring thoughts Secondly we must sing with our hearts also according to that of the Apostle Speake to your selues in Psalmes singing Eph. 5. 19. and making melody in your heart vnto the Lord which elsewhere he calleth singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord the which Dauid practised Col. 3. 16. I will praise thee saith he with my whole heart And this we shall doe if we Psal 138. doe apply and fit them to the matter of the Psalme and put on the same affection which Dauid had in penning them as humility in the confession of sinne feruencie of desire in petitions and suites alacrity and cheerefulnesse in prayses and thanksgiuings assent and beliefe in prophecies and predictions teachablenesse and willingnesse to learne in doctrines and instructions readinesse to obey in commandements and exhortations c. and at all times and in all things reuerence of Gods maiesty in whose presence we performe this duty In the meane time we must take heed that we doe not apply his imprecations which were vttered by a propheticall spirit against those who were desperate enemies to God as well as Dauid against our priuate enemies with a reuengefull desire that those euils may befall them seeing our Sauiour hath taught vs to pray for them But wee must either make vse of them for doctrine and instruction or if we apply them it must not be against particular persons but against all those whatsoeuer whom the Lord in his wisedome knoweth to be desperate enemies vnto him and his Church Secondly our care must bee that we doe not make it a bodily exercise singing Psalmes for recreation only and as wee doe other songs for meere pleasure and sensuall delight but we must performe it as a religious duty of Gods seruice and striue in it to please him rather then our selues We must not seeke to delight the eare and affect the heart with the ayre musicke and sweetnesse of the tune but that there being an harmony betweene it and the voyce we make sweete melody in Gods eares which if it be wanting our best musicke as one saith is no Aug. Confess lib. 10. cap 33. more acceptable to God then the barking of Dogs the lowing
Who maketh thee to differ from another And what haue we that we haue not receiued now if thou diddest receiue it why doest thou glory as if thou hadst not receiued it For who is proud of his debts or the more puffed vp the more hee is obliged to another And as we must in these respects in our greatest perfection bee humble towards God so also towards our brethren whom wee seeme to haue out-runne in the Christian race seeing we haue out-stripped them not in our owne strength for naturally we are alike dead in trespasses and Eph. 2. 1 3. sinnes and the children of wrath as well as they but it is Gods free grace that hath put this difference betweene vs which if we be humble and meeke in spirit he will daily continue with increase but if wee waxe proud of our gifts and progresse in the wayes of godlinesse and boast with the Pharise Luke 18. of our good deeds preferring our selues before others whom wee thinke doe come farre behind vs God who abhorreth pride aboue all other vices because it most impeacheth his glory can stint his bountie and withdraw his strength he can put a thorne in our foot which will stay our speed and cause the messenger of Satan to crosse vs in our course and by his buffettings 2. Cor. 12. 7. to hinder vs in our race till we haue learned to be more humble As on the other side hee can inrich those whom we haue most contemned with a large measure of sauing grace and put such vigour and vertue into them by his holy Spirit that they shall as much out-strip vs in the wayes of godlinesse as before we seemed vnto our selues to haue out-runne them §. Sect. 12 That we must propound Gods glory as the end of all our actions The last thing required vnto this godly life is that we propound Gods glory as the maine end of all our actions not doing them for worldly respects Rom. 14. 8. or our owne profit either temporall or spirituall principally but that Gods will may be done in them for he is the summum bonum and supreme end of all things and for his glory we were elected created redeemed iustified sanctified and shall be glorified And when we haue attained to heauenly happinesse and haue the possession and fruition of Gods euerlasting Kingdome the maine end of all our glory shall be to glorifie God who hath thus aduanced and glorified vs. For the foure and twenty Apoc. 4. 10 11. Elders in the Reuelation fell downe before him that sate on the throne and worshipped him that liueth for euer and euer and cast their crownes before the throne saying Thou art worthy O Lord to receiue glory and honour and praise for thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created The which their practice wee must imitate in the Kingdome of grace if euer we meane to raigne with them in the Kingdome of glory labouring to do Gods will in earth as it is done in heauen with all alacrity and cheerefulnesse speed and diligence that his name may bee hallowed and glorified and his Kingdome aduanced and magnified as we beg in the Lords prayer For as it is the subordinate end of our election that we may be holy so the maine and supreme end of this end is that our holinesse and glorification may be to the praise of the glory of Gods grace Eph. 1. 4 6. who of his free mercy hath sanctified and glorified vs. And therefore in all our actions we must propound Gods glory as the supreme end of them according to that of the Apostle Whether ye eate or drinke or whatsoeuer ye doe 1. Cor. 11. 31. doe all to the glory of God So our Sauiour commandeth vs that our lights should to this end shine before men that they seeing our good workes may glorifie Matth. 5. 16. our Father which is in heauen And the Apostle Peter exhorteth vs to haue our conuersation honest among the Gentiles that whereas they speake against vs as 1. Pet. 2. 12. euill doers they may by our good workes which they shall behold glorifie God in the day of visitation And if thus by our godly liues wee glorifie God on earth he will glorifie vs in heauen but if in leading these liues we Pharisaically Matth. 6. 2. aime at our owne glory we haue all the reward which we can expect or if neglecting this maine end we principally aime at our owne good which should be subordinate vnto it as the satisfying of Gods iustice for our sinnes to be registred in the Calender of the Saints or to merit and purchase for our selues the Crowne of eternall blessednesse we shall hereby derogate from the glory of Gods free grace and the all-sufficient merits and satisfaction of Iesus Christ and so after all our paines and labour be vtterly frustrate of our hopes CAP. III. Of the maine matter of a godly life namely that it must be framed according to Gods will in holinesse righteousnesse and sobriety §. Sect. 1 That wee can no otherwise please God then by framing our liues according to his will WHat the person must be that is to leade a godly life and how he ought to bee qualified that must offer vnto God any acceptable seruice wee haue shewed in the former Chapter And now it remaineth that we intreate of the latter part of the description wherein the actions which in this life are to be performed are generally expressed And heere two things are to bee considered first the matter of this godly life or the maine duties which are to be performed and secondly the forme and manner how they ought to be done The matter is either generall or more speciall Generally it is required that we please God in all things conforming our wills and actions our thoughts words and workes in all holy obedience to his will leauing and forsaking whatsoeuer is displeasing vnto him and repugnant to his holy will and commandement and contrariwise imbracing and practising whatsoeuer is acceptable in his sight for his will is the perfect rule of righteousnesse and whatsoeuer agreeth with it is iust and good but whatsoeuer swarueth from it either on the right hand o◠the left is crooked euill and wicked and consequently odious and displeasing in his sight And therefore if we would please God we must in the first place deny our selues and our owne wills saying with our Sauiour Not my will but thine bee done neither must we aske counsell of carnall reason nor when we know Gods will dispute with flesh and blood whether it be fit or vnfit profitable or vnprofitable reasonable or against reason to doe that which God commandeth but we must yeeld vnto it absolute obedience doing Gods will as the Saints and Angels doe it in heauen cheerefully and readily without gainesaying doubting or replying For if earthly Princes will not indure to haue subiects scan their Lawes nor examine
losse but neglect our owne particular when as it will not stand with the publike and generall good Thirdly we must in all our labours ayme so at our owne profit as that we ioyne therewith the welfare and benefit of our neighbours whom by the Law of charity wee are to loue as wee loue our selues and not raise our gaine out of their losse and disaduantage as it is the common custome of the world But as wee professe our selues members of the same body so must wee as becommeth members ayme chiefly at the preseruation of the whole and then at the ioynt good one of another not thinking those goods well gotten which are raysed and gayned out of our neighbours losse §. Sect. 6 That the duties of our callings must bee performed after a right manner and first with heauenly mindes And these things are to bee obserued in the labours of our callings in respect of their causes both efficient and finall In the next place our care must be that we performe them after a right manner vnto which is required that wee be exercised in our earthly businesse with heauenly mindes and affections and not suffer our worldly imployments so wholly to take vs vp both in soule and body as that thereby wee should bee hindred from hauing our conuersation in heauen But like Citizens of heauen and pilgrims on earth whilst our bodies are trauailing in worldly imployments we must haue our mindes hearts and affections lifted vp in spirituall and heauenly meditations and desires contemplating and longing after the ioyes of our owne countrey and not so much minding the things beneath as the things aboue where Christ sitteth at the right Phil. 3 20. Col. 3. 1 2. hand of God Especially we must not neglect in the middest of our ordinary businesse to lift vp our hearts often vnto God either crauing his blessing in the beginning of our worke or giuing him thankes and praise in the end and not suffer our thoughts to be so wholly set vpon our bodily imployments and earthly obiects as not sometimes to fixe them vpon spirituall and heauenly things For it worldlings and citizens of the earth are seldome or neuer so intent vpon their workes and present imployments but that their minds and hearts will take liberty of wandring after those carnall pleasures wherein they most delight let it be a shame for vs who professe our selues Citizens of heauen so wholly to mind earthly obiects as neuer to finde leasure to thinke of the ioyes of our owne Country or of the spirituall meanes whereby wee may be inabled to attaine vnto them As therefore we are to auoide Monkish sloth and idlenesse giuing ouer the painefull labours of our callings vnder pretence of contemplation so are we with no lesse care to auoyd the contrary extreme of turning worldlings and being earthly-minded hauing our mindes and hearts so wholly fixed vpon worldly things as that we can finde no leasure to thinke vpon those which are spirituall and heauenly But we must be so imployed in the duties of our callings as that we neglect not the generall duties of Christianity and the exercises of Religion in their due time nor be so intent and earnest in pursuing momentany gaine and worldly profit as that in the meane time through spirituall sloth we suffer any of Gods sauing graces heauenly thoughts or holy affections and desires to bee cooled and quenched in vs. Wee must so play the good husbands as that we doe not forget Christs counsell First seeke the Kingdome of God Mat. 22. 2 3 4. and his righteousnesse and not be so taken vp with our Oxen farmes and earthly matches and marriages as to neglect the meanes whereby wee may bee fitted to come as worthy ghests to the marriage of the Kings sonne Wee must chuse with the Philosopher rather to neglect our Aristippus apud Plut. de tranquil animi farmes then our soules and suffer some weedes to grow in our fields rather then to haue our mindes ouergrowne with vices or to lose any good opportunity of weeding them out or of sowing in them the seeds of Gods graces §. Sect. 7 That the duties of our callings must be sanctified by the Word and prayer Secondly vnto the performing of the duties of our callings after a right manner there is required that we sanctifie them by the Word and 1. Tim. 4. 5. prayer The former is done when as we doe nothing but that for which we haue our warrant out of the holy Scriptures and vse them as the rule and squire according to which we frame all our actions doing that which the Word of God requireth and leauing that vndone which it forbiddeth and condemneth The which is to be obserued both in respect of the matter and workes themselues and also the manner and circumstances doing all things both in substance and forme as it requireth and directeth The latter is performed when as by prayer wee desire Gods blessing vpon all our labours and render vnto him praise and thanksgiuing when wee haue obtained it and haue succeeded and prospered in the workes of our hands And this the Apostle requireth in all our affaires Whatsoeuer yee doe in word or deed doe all in the name of the Lord Iesus giuing Col. 3. 17. thankes to God and the Father by him The necessity whereof will plainely appeare if we consider that it is Gods blessing onely which maketh rich and causeth vs to thriue and prosper in all the vvorkes of our Pro. 10. 22. hands That it alone inableth vs to build goodly houses and causeth our Deut. 8. 13 18. heards and our flocks our siluer and gold and all that wee haue to multiply and that hee onely giueth vs power to get wealth That it is he vvho at his pleasure giueth and taketh away maketh poore and rich bringeth low and lifteth Job 1. 21. vp raysing the poore out of the dust and lifting vp the begger from the dunghill to set them among Princes and to make them inherite the Throne of glory 1. Sam. 2. 8. Psal 113. 7. As we see in the example of Abraham and Lot who by the blessing of Gen. 13. 5 6. God vpon their labours waxed so rich that the land was not able to beare them that they might dwell together and of Isaac who being a soiourner and stranger in the land prospered in all his labours and sowing the ground receiued in the same yeere an hundred fold because the Lord blessed him And in Iacob who passing ouer Iordane like a poore Pilgrim Gen. 26. 3 12. with his staffe in his hand at his returne backe againe was multiplyed in Gen. 32. 10. wealth Whereas contrariwise if Gods blessing be wanting as wee are not likely to haue it vnlesse we craue it all our labours and indeuours will be spent in vaine For except the Lord build the house they labour in vaine Psal 127. 1 2. that build it except the
our heads are not vexed with carking cares nor our hearts affrighted with the terrours nor gnawed on with the worme of an euill conscience But of this I haue spoken largely in another place Fifthly we must possesse our soules Christian warfare 2. part l. 2. cap. 19. with patience if we will as we ought walke in the duties of our callings for besides that our labours in themselues are tedious and troublesome we are daily subiect to many crosses and mis-carriages in them which will discourage vs from going on or if we doe being constrained by necessitie yet with much discontentment and disquietnesse of minde murmuring and repining if we be not armed with patience and resolution to suffer with meekenesse whatsoeuer God shall be pleased to send Sixthly we must haue our hearts replenished with thankefulnesse vnto God and bee ready at all times when we obserue his loue in blessing our labours to lift Gen. 32. 10. them vp rendring vnto him praise and thankesgiuing And acknowledging that we are lesse then the least of Gods mercies we must giue him the whole glory of them and not sacrifice vnto our owne nets nor attribute our well-proceeding and good successe to our owne policie and skill industry Hab. 1. 16. and abilities but knowing that whatsoeuer we haue we haue receiued it from God wee must take all occasions of rendring vnto him the praise 1. Cor. 4. 7. which is due vnto him Seuenthly wee must performe the duties of our callings with alacrity and cheerefulnesse and whatsoeuer we doe we must doe it heartily as vnto the Lord and not vnto men who will richly reward our labours Col. 3. 23 24. with an heauenly inheritance For as he loueth a cheerefull giuer so also a cheerefull labourer in all things more respecting our inward affections then our outward actions And as it is acceptable to God so will it bee most comfortable vnto vs making all our labours easie when our hearts and hands are conioyned in doing them Eighthly we must obserue Iustice in all the duties of our callings doing nothing in them but that which may aduance our neighbours good as well as our owne And this will make vs auoyd all vniust and vnlawfull courses which are commonly vsed to gather wealth all fraud and deceit extortion and oppression 1. Thes 4. 6. all vnprofitable labours which tend to the hurt rather then the good of the Common-wealth and deceitfull dealing in those that are lawfull Finally by this Iustice wee shall bee mooued to giue euery man his due and to doe no man wrong in the carriage of our callings but so deale in them with others as we would haue others in their callings to deale with vs. CAP. XIX Diuers reasons which may perswade vs to be faithfull and diligent in duties of our callings §. Sect. 1 That God hath ordained man to labour and hath in many places of the Scriptures strictly inioyned it NOw when we are thus qualified with these vertues and graces the last thing required in the duties of our callings is that we walke in them with all painefulnesse and diligence which because it is tedious to flesh and blood and men are naturally giuen to ease and liberty desiring no calling at all or if any bee put vpon them by necessity rather then choyce to walke in them with as much sloth and negligence as desire of their gaine and aduantage will permit and few of many that are painefull are diligent in their callings in obedience vnto God or out of conscience of their duty or any other religious consideration labouring no otherwise in them then Infidels and Pagans onely for worldly benefit and earthly respects Therefore it will be profitable to propound some reasons out of the Scriptures both to incite vs to honest labour in the workes of our callings and to make vs auoyd sloth and idlenesse First then let vs consider that God hath ordained man as naturally to labour as the sparkes to flee vpwards and Iob 5. 7. Gen. 2. 15. in the state of innocency would not indure that man should be idle but made his labour easie and comfortable that he might labour with delight And therefore much lesse will he now suffer man vnpunished to liue at his ease seeing he hath imposed it vpon him as a penalty for his transgression that in the sweate of his face he should eate his bread and hath purposely Gen. 3. 19. cursed the earth with barrennesse without tilling and manuring being content that it should want its naturall fruitfulnesse rather then that man should want necessary cause and occasion of labour And though hee would haue his Saints in heauen to keepe vnto him a perpetuall Sabbath not that they should be idle but wholly intent to his prayses yet prescribing a Law vnto sinners on earth he appointeth but one day for rest and sixe for labour to shew vnto vs that in this world he will bee serued not onely with religious duties but in the greatest part of our time by walking faithfully and conscionably before him in the duties of our callings expressing and exercising our inward graces and religious vertues in our vocations and the outward duties required in them And this Law hee hath backed with many speciall commandements and testimonies of holy Scripture requiring at our hands that we should daily exercise our selues in the duties of our callings Thus Salomon sendeth the sluggard to Pro. 6. 6. learne of the silly Ant diligence and industry in his labours that at least shame might driue him to the performance of his duty when hee seeth himselfe a reasonable man who hath so many motiues to induce him and ability to propound so many good ends vnto his paines to bee exceeded heerein by a silly creature who hath no other helpe nor inducement but the instinct of nature So the Apostle Paul requireth of all men that they 1. Thes 4. 11. studie to be quiet and to doe their owne businesse and condemneth them who worke not in their owne callings but busie themselues in other mens matters as inordinate persons adiudging them to this punishment that if they would not worke neither should they eate because they haue no right vnto it before they haue laboured for it but are theeues who liue by the sweate of other mens browes and like idle drones vniustly deuoure the fruit of their labours And this the Apostle implieth where hee first requireth them to worke with quietnesse and then to eate their owne bread for if earning it by our labours make it our owne then it is not our owne before we haue earned it neither will free gift of friends or inheritance giue iust title vnto it vnlesse we strengthen it by performing obedience to that first Law after the fall In the sweate of thy face thou shalt eate thy bread And therefore the Apostle seemeth to make stealing and not labouring to be all one Let him saith he that stole
for their sinnes and all others who should beleeue in him And such a solemne thankesgiuing was made by Deborah Iudg. 5. and the people for their victory ouer Sisera and their freedome from the tyranny of Iabin King of Canaan who had long oppressed them By Dauid when as God had deliuered him out of the hands of all his enemies and especially out of the hand of Saul and by Hester Mordecay and the Iewes Hest 9. of the Captiuity from that feareful conspiracy of Haman who had plotted the destruction of the whole Nation And such a feast of thanksgiuing we worthily celebrate vpon the fifth of Nouember for that maruellous and almost miraculous deliuerance of our King and State from that horrible and vnmatchable Powder-treason by giuing wisdom to our gracious Soueraigne to interpret their darke riddle as he did somtime to Daniel for the expounding of Nebuchadnezzars dreame when the wisedome of the wisest in the Land could not vnfold it Of the other we haue an example in Abraham who made a solemne feast that he might render vnto God Gen. 21. praise and thankesgiuing for giuing vnto him contrary to all hope a son in his old age of whom should come that promised seed in which both himselfe and all the Nations of the earth should be blessed §. Sect. 2 When this solemne thanksgiuing is most seasonable how it differeth from that which is ordinary and the kinds of it Which examples we ought to imitate consecrating vnto God some day for solemne thankesgiuing whensoeuer wee receiue from him any great and extraordinary benefits either priuatiue consisting in deliuerance from some imminent or present euill or positiue when as he vouchsafeth vnto vs some great and vnexpected blessing But aboue all other times we must performe this duty when wee celebrate the Sacrament of the Lords Supper in remembrance of that inestimable benefit the great worke of our Redemption wrought by the death and Passion of Iesus Christ whereby we are deliuered out of the hands of all our spirituall enemies The which is called the Eucharist or a Sacrament of thankesgiuing because therein wee doe in a solemne manner render vnto God thankes and praise for Christ and all his benefits the pardon of our sins and that great Charter of our peace sealed first by his blood and now by this Sacrament instituted to put vs in remembrance of it and as it were afresh to renew his Couenant and to put our Pardon into our owne hands Now this extraordinary thankesgiuing to bee vsed vpon such speciall occasions differeth from that which is ordinary not in the matter which is one and the same but in the manner and measure which according to the occasion ought to be extraordinary in quantity and degree For our hearts must be more then vsually inflamed with the apprehension of Gods loue and goodnesse and inward ioy in the speciall fruition of his singular blessings which must affect them with extraordinary zeale to glorifie and praise him and to expresse our thankfulnesse by renewing our couenant with God binding our selues by firme resolution that in sense of his present fauours wee will be more deuout and zealous in all duties of his seruice for the time to come then euer we haue been in time past And by continuing our thankesgiuing in a solemne manner for a longer time then ordinary setting it apart as a Sabbath of rest from all our worldly labours that it may be wholly spent in Gods praises and in testifying our loue and inward ioy and reioycing in him by outward feasting and more liberall vse of meates and drinkes and all other comforts of this life and in shewing our loue and bounty in obedience to God by entertaining at our table and by sending gifts and rewards vnto our poore neighbours that they also may reioyce with vs. And this solemne feasting and thankesgiuing is according to the occasion of it publike or priuate Publike for some publike benefit which concerneth the welfare of the Church or Common-wealth which is to bee appoynted onely by the publike authority of Christian Magistrates and is to be celebrated in a most solemne and publike manner all sorts and conditions of men assembling together in the Church to magnifie and praise Gods holy name and to craue the continuance of his loue and fauour The which prayers and prayses are profitably conioyned with the preaching of the Word for the stirring vp of the whole Assembly to extraordinary thankfulnesse when as thereby the greatnesse of the blessings receiued and the inestimable mercie of God is set forth vnto them Priuate for some speciall benefits bestowed either on a particular person or a whole family which is to bee solemnized by singing of Psalmes prayer and thankesgiuing reading of some portions of holy Scriptures fit for the present occasion holy conferences whereby wee are to magnifie Gods mercies and to recount and tell what great things hee hath done for vs and also expressing our inward ioy by a more free and liberall vse of Gods creatures whereof wee must also cause our poore neighbours to haue some taste The which kind of feasting and solemne thankesgiuing is a notable helpe vnto true godlinesse as it worketh our hearts to a more liuely sense feeling of Gods loue stirreth vs vp to more zealous performance of all religious duties vnto him who hath been so gracious and good vnto vs and as it giueth vs occasion to renew our couenant with God and to confirme our resolution that wee will be more diligent and zealous in doing all things which may please and glorifie him CAP. XXXIIII Of the second extraordinary meanes which is solemne fasting §. Sect. 1 What a true fast is and how it differeth from all other fasts THe other extraordinary meanes of a godly life is an holy fast of which it is my purpose to speake briefly though the vse and benefit of this duty is so great that it well deserueth a more full discourse because it is already so excellently and exactly handled in diuers Treatises purposely written of this argument and especially in one which is called The holy exercise of a true fast and in another intituled The Christian exercise of fasting written many yeeres since by the right Reuerend Father and my most deare brother that nothing materiall can be added vnto it And therefore I will content my selfe to set downe after mine owne manner some of those poynts briefly which are most essentiall and necessary vnto this exercise for how should I in a Chapter expresse all fully which would require a whole Treatise referring the Christian Reader vnto those learned Treatises if he desire more thorow satisfaction and particular direction in any of them And first that wee may begin with the description of this duty A fast as we here vnderstand it is a voluntary religious and solemne action vndertaken vpon some extraordinary occasion wherein we seriously humble our selues before God in the sight and sense of
this day and euer preserue me with thy prouidence from all dangers vphold me with thy Spirit that I fall not into sinne Direct me with thy Wisdome and strengthen me with thy power in all my thoughts words and workes that they may be acceptable in thy sight Blesse and assist me in the generall duties of Christianity and in the speciall duties of my calling that they may haue good successe and wholy tend to the aduancement of thy glorie the edification of my brethren and mine owne spirituall and euerlasting good Blesse thy whole Church and euery member thereof especially this in which I liue with all the Magistrates Ministers and people this Family and all to whom I am bound in any speciall bond of dutie beseeching thee to giue vnto vs all according to our seuerall necessities all those gifts and graces which thou in thy wisdome knowest needfull euen for Iesus Christ his sake to whom with thee and thy holy Spirit I ascribe all glorie and prayse power and dominion both now and for euermore Amen A Prayer for the Family in the Morning O Lord our God who by thine infinite wisdome and power hast created all things in heauen and earth and by thy gracious and all-ruling prouidence dost continually sustaine and preserue them wee thine humble and vnworthy seruants doe here in the mediation of Iesus Christ prostrate our selues before the Throne of Grace acknowledging that vnto thee belongeth all glory and prayse but vnto vs shame and confusion of face for whereas thou diddest create vs according to thine owne Image in wisdome holinesse and righteousnesse we haue falne in the loynes of our first parents from this blessed estate by transgressing of thy Commandement and thereby haue defaced thy glorious Image in vs depriued our selues of all happinesse and become liable vnto death of body and soule Yea wee haue deriued from our first parents not onely the guilt of their sinne but also the corruption of their nature which hath so ouerspred all the powers and parts of our soules and bodies that they are vtterly impotent and insufficient to performe any duties of thy seruice for which end they were created but most forward and cheerefull in the seruice of sinne and Satan From which roote of originall sinne wee haue brought forth those cursed fruits of actuall transgressions which we haue multiplyed against thy Maiesty by breaking all and euery of thy Commandements in thought word and deed euen from the beginning of our dayes to this present time Many haue beene our secret sinnes of which thou alone and our owne consciences haue beene witnesses and many haue wee committed in the view of the world to the dishonour of thy blessed Name and slander of our Christian profession Many haue beene our sinnes of ignorance the which vnto vs are vnexcusable because thou hast reueiled thy selfe and thy will so clearely vnto vs and many likewise haue beene our sinnes against knowledge and conscience and the good motions of thy holy Spirit Oftentimes haue wee sinned through frailty being surprized vpon the sudden with the violent and subtill tentations of our spirituall enemies and oftentimes wilfully aduisedly and deliberately after many vowes and promises of repentance and amendement We haue sinned against thee before our conuersion when as Satans throne being set vp in our hearts wee performed vnto him in all things cheerefull obedience and suffred sinne to raigne and rule in vs without any gainesaying or resistance and since wee haue beene called to the knowledge of thy Truth though wee haue submitted our selues as subiects of thy Kingdome to be gouerned by thy Word and Spirit yet haue we much failed in yeelding that obedience which is due vnto thee being so led captiue by our corruptions that wee could neither doe the good we would nor leaue vndone the euill we would not and though by thy holy Spirit wee haue cast Satan out of his Throne and vanquished the flesh with the lusts thereof so as they could not reigne ouer vs as in former times yet these enemies of our saluation doe still fight against our soules and being not quite cast out are as thornes in our sides and as prickes in our eyes disturbing continually our peace wounding our consciences and leading vs captiue vnto sinne And hereof it is that wee haue so often and vpon such slight occasions vtterly neglected the duties of thy seruice and when we haue set our selues about them haue done them so coldly and carelesly and discouered therin so many wants and weakenesses imperfections and corruptions that if thou shouldest deale with vs according to thy righteous Iudgement euen the best duties that euer we performed could not escape vnpunished O Lord our God make vs truely apprehensiue of our sinne and misery that we may humble our selues vnder thy mighty hand and turne vnto thee by vnfained repentance and not onely bewaile our sins past with vnfained sorrow but amend our liues for the time to come and so accept of vs in thy Best-beloued and whilest we are returning vnto thee meete vs in the way and like a tender Father imbrace vs in the armes of thy mercie Doe away all our sinnes and blot out all our iniquities and so wash and purge our defiled soules and bodies in the precious blood of thine innocent Sonne from the guilt and punishment of all our sins that they may neuer be layd to our charge neither in this world nor in the world to come Yea Lord let vs not only haue the benefit of thy grace in thy free pardon but also the comfort and peace of it by hauing it sealed through the inward testimony of thy Spirit in our hearts and consciences and for our better assurance let vs finde and feele the power and efficacie of Christs death and Resurrection thereby applied vnto vs as effectuall for our Sanctification as for our Iustification and for our freedome from the corruption of sinne that it may haue no longer dominion ouer vs and spirituall renuing vnto newnesse of life as well as from the guilt and punishment It is enough Lord and too much that Satan and sinne haue thus farre preuayled not onely for the bringing of vs into the state of death and condemnation but also for the condemning and crucifying of the Lord of life the nayling of his innocent body to the Crosse and the shedding of his precious blood Now Lord reward them as they haue deserued and pay them double into their bosome Breake the head of the old Serpent that though he hisse against vs with his tentations yet he may not hurt vs nayle our body of sinne vnto the Crosse of Christ and by vertue of his death crucifie our flesh and the lusts thereof that they may no longer haue dominion ouer vs but may like slaues be held in perpetuall subiection to our spirituall part Yea subdue the power of sin in all the faculties and parts of our soules and bodies Mortifie the corruption of our mindes and