it is will worshipped in Spirit and Truth that is even to take the mâ—â— restrained Interpretation he is a spirituall nature and requâ—â— spirituall service but who denyes this but yet even this inâ—â— pretation is to be understood fundamentally not exclusively for the context will not endure any other sense because 〈◊〉 was a spirit from all eternity and ever since the Creation required spirituall worship even before that present houre spoken verse 23. and as spirituall worship was not then exclusive bodily worship so neither are they incompatible and inconâ—â— stent since that houre came or at this present houre now it 〈◊〉 man ever yet presumed that bodily worship was a duty unless offered with a true heart if it stood alone it was a meer mockery a perfect piece of hypocrisie and therefore those words 〈◊〉 not set in opposition to bodily worship but as to any obseâ—â— is evident from the context to the appropriating of it to fâ—â—â— fingalar place Jerusalem or that Mountaine now the time 〈◊〉 that every City is a Jerusalem every Oratory a Temple eveâ— separated Place a Mount Sion and every Land a lewry 〈◊〉 therefore he wills as afterwards the Apostle 1 Tim. 2.8 〈◊〉 â—en pray every where lifting up pure handt and this is a bodily exercise or posture which the Genevah note thus glosseth as â—estimonies of a pure heart and conscience The naturall then 〈◊〉 single meaning of these words is this God is to be worshipâ—ed in spirit that is heartily and devoutly and it excludes hypocrisie and indifferency in truth that is elearely and solely not by lying vanities phantastick representations false guises such as the sacrificing in mans blood and offering festivall lustâ— and uncleannesses in the solemne offices of Religion to the former the extreame is to worship God carelesly and negligently and so not in spirit To the second it is to mix impieties in Gods worship to worship him with a lye and so not in truth this no way proves that when we adore that 's bow we worship â—â—t in spirit and truth for even bodily worship is in this sense spirituall if it arise from accompany and follow the devotion of the heart this is to glorifie God both in bodies and spirits â—or they are Gods And so let us Pray The third Part. O Most holy Father God of infinite wercies of tender and never failing conpassions of great and unspeakeable goodnesse We blesse magnifie and gloâ—fie thee and blessed be God even â—he Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all â—irituall blessings in high places in Christ for that unwaluable â—lessing in giving thy well-beloved Sonne to take our nature upon â—im c in and through him adopting us to be thy Sent Heere 's â—f the blessing of an happy Eternity O blesse us with thy saving â—aces that we may by a regular constant course of holy living atâ—aine to that most blessed end and sanctisie all thy blessings unto 〈◊〉 that we be comented with thy allowances and blessings that 〈◊〉 never murmure at or envie thy blessings upon others but that 〈◊〉 patience we expect our portion in Heaven and so blessed Lord 〈◊〉 our hearts with the sense of the glories and perfections and 〈◊〉 fading nothingnesse and emptinessâ— of the creatures that with â—â—â—cere and ardent affections of obedience and love we may obey 〈◊〉 serve and worship thee with reverence and godly feare O let 〈◊〉 in our addresses and approaches to thy glorious Majesty seriously ineditate on thy presence glories and soveraigutly on 〈◊〉 merciet and goodnesse and not dare rudely and undecently to 〈◊〉 into the presence of the Lord of the whole Earth Then art 〈◊〉 Lord both of our soules and bodies to thee we offer both 〈◊〉 dies expect a portion and share in the rewards and blessing 〈◊〉 Religion with our soules O let them be yoked and joyned 〈◊〉 ther in the exercises and offices of Religion let us here live 〈◊〉 the unity of thy Catholique Church in the commantem of Saâ—â— worshipping thee in spirit and truth with an holy service in 〈◊〉 beauty of holinesse glorifying thee both in our bodies and soulâ—â— that when both shall be glorified with thee we may to all Eternity with the Heavenly Quire of Angels and blessed Spirits 〈◊〉 that Psame of blessing Glory Prayse Honour and Power 〈◊〉 unto him that sitteth on the Throne and to the Lambe 〈◊〉 ever and ever Amen IOSEPHS Memorandum's Heb. 11.22 By Faith Joseph when he dyed made mention of 〈◊〉 departing of the Children of Israel and gave commandment concerning his bones IOseph closeth up the Catalogue of the Patriarkes he is the last mentioned of them and the History of him conclude the first and choisest Monument of Antiquity the Booke 〈◊〉 Genesis the prime and principall Record of antient Church story This Joseph was famous and honourable for many excellent and eminent vertues as we reade at large in that Booke the most principall are those some summed up by Ambrâ—â—â— lib. 1. Off cap. 17. Humilis fuit usque ad servitutens verecundus usque ad fugam patiens usque ad carcerem remissor injuriae usque ad remunerationem his Humility Chastity Patience and Charity to which we may adde his singular Piety towards God Fidelity to his Prince though one that knew not God his Clemency towards his Brethren His Chastity was so rare and is so famously known that all that know that History must acknowledge that never any escaped so great temptations with so much Innocency For his Piety it was sufficiently proved in every circustance of his life he depending on God for all receiving all from him referring all unto him and in all magnifying and celebrating his name as Gen. 39.9 Gen. 40.8.41.16 and 50 51.42.18.45.7 And for his Clemency pitty and goodnesse to his Brethren no example can match him and which was the crowne and complement of all he was faithfull to the end as he begun so he continued so he ended Qualis vita as he lived so he dyed living he exercised his Faith in the works of Naturall and Morall Religion and at his dying he manifested it by his fore-knowledge of the Israelites departure out of Egypt and his Precept to bury his bones in Canaan For. By Faith Joseph c. The first Part. 1. How was this memoriall an act of Faith Did not Joseph take it upon trust from his Fathers relation or was his Faith in this instance any better then an implicite Faith or founded on a humane testimony for that Jacob fore-told his Children what Joseph here mentions and brings to their remembrance is plain from expresse Scripture Gen. 48.21 But to this the answer is obvious that though Jacob did deliver this prediction before Joseph and his Brethren yet the same Spirit which dictated that revelation to Jacob might still reside with Joseph and perhaps did discover more to him then to his Father for in this particular Josephs Prophesie seems more cleare
restitution of the same in specie though that every respect may not be presumed or the reward commuâ—â— into Eternity And this holds in many dispensations of 〈◊〉 goodnesse without a removall to Heaven if God exalts 〈◊〉 understanding and spirits to strong and serious apprehensâ—â— and contemplations of his excellencies and perfections whâ— we are here in an otherwise sad and tragicall Estate as foâ—â— stance If he permits us to be indigent and sharpely neceâ—â—ous yet gives freely of the treasures of his Wisedome in Spâ—â—â—uall Understanding to make us rich in Faith and abound good Workes If he suffer us to be persecuted and afflicted aâ— yet affords peace of Conscience and joy in the Holy Ghostâ— in these interims the love of God be shed abroad in our heaâ— and we be rooted and grounded in our hopes If in ignomâ—â— and dishonour and yet the Spirit of God and Glory rest 〈◊〉 us If in maladies and bodily infirmities yet the distempâ— and diseases of our Soule be removed and cured and spiritâ—â— health and life substituted If dispossessed of our Inheritanâ—â— and yet we possesse our Soules in patience this is not to â—â—ceive hard measure at the hands of God but good measâ—pressed downe shaken together and running over God 〈◊〉 these dealings is not hard or austere but good and graciousâ— us And O that we had the spirits to discerne and the ligâ—â— to distinguish and hearts to come taste and see how graciâ—â— the Lord is Lastly Abrahams Heavenly mindednesse is considerable â— severall instances In Canaan he sojourned in Tents Ambâ—â—tory and uncertaine Lodging In Heaven he expected a City â— Mansion firme and immutable of perfect and lasting repose 〈◊〉 Canaan he lived in the open Ayre seperated from the soâ—â—ty of the Natives In Heaven he should finde a foundatâ—â— where are resident the innumerable company of Angels 〈◊〉 sanctifying Spirits the generall Assembly and Church of the â—â—rst borne the Tabernacles he moved in were the Workes â—f Mens hands of their composition and fashioning the Ciâ—y of the living God was his owne Fabricke God the Arâ—â—itect and Builder 2 Cor 5.1 So this City was not a terâ—ene Habitation subject to mutations and casualties by seâ—erall contingencies and modes of Governement but an heaâ—enly whose Foundations cannot be removed or shaken Here â—elow Cities are many times broken with divisions factions and Interests where we may not abide unlesse we be a parâ—y and there is hazard or newters and then we are liable 〈◊〉 be hated of all and to be abused by every prevailing factiâ—n This City of God is furnished with the peace of God â—â—aintained in a perfect and indissoluble unity of the holy â—aints and Angels O let the same minde be in us that was â—n Abraham despise the World because we thinke of Heaven not to be intangled with the lusts of the World because â—ere we are Strangers in vaine doe we look for a Mansion â—â—ere unlesse here as Strangers and Pilgrims we abstaine â—â—om fleshly lusts 1 Peter 2.11 Unlesse by Obedience and â—atience in well-doing we goe out of Babylon into the place which we shall after receive for an Inheritance Unlesse we â—voyd and flee from the occasions of sinne unlesse we deny â—ur selves and become Humble Patient Chaste Liberall Mercifull and Obedient Invitamur ergo à Deo Patre ut faâ—ice beata commutatione Patrâ—m Diabolum relinquamus If â—â—e come not or be not entertained when we come Perditiâ—â—ua ex te our destruction is of our selves The whole I shall â—hut 〈◊〉 with Saint Augustines words lib. Serm. de temp Serm. 68 Novum hoe probationis geâ—â—â— habenti propria exiâ—ia iudicere peregrina ingerere laborem itineris quiescenti imâ—erare penuriam possidenti tantarum facultatem Domiuâ— nâ—â—issiâ—atem imponere peregrinandi Libenter tamen fides accepit quicquid arduam videbatur incredulis sententiam Dci tanâ—uam qui optare videretur accepit fidelis And thus I passe to the third Part. The third Part. The Prayer O Incomprehensible Immutable and All-sufficient Lord Gâ—â— whose wayes are in the great Deeps and whose Foot-sâ—â— are not knowne who by secret methods of mercy ordereth 〈◊〉 saddest contingencies to the advantages of thy Servants and 〈◊〉 thy Wisedome and Power bringeth good out of evill We glorâ— thy Wisedome celebrate thy Power magnifie thy Mercy 〈◊〉 thy Goodnesse admâ—re thy Providence and doe most humbly 〈◊〉 plore thy Grace and assistance that we with great attention 〈◊〉 devotion and much humility may hearken to thy Heavenly 〈◊〉 the expresses of thy Will and the motions of thy Spirit and 〈◊〉 as ready to Obey as Heare that at all times we may expresse 〈◊〉 obedience by an effectuall dereliction of our sinnes and moreâ—â—tion of our lasts and when thou pleasest we may with a qâ—â— and week Spirit be contented and resigned in all changes of Pâ—â—son and condition and when thou callest reddily forsake all 〈◊〉 naturall Interests Relations and Converâ—ences Let 〈◊〉 our lâ—â— to our Worldly endearements or the feare or losse of our Eâ—â—â— thy Possessions be ever able to dispossesse 〈◊〉 of our hopes of Hâ—â—ven Let us never practise any indirect or unwarrantable â—onses either to procure or preserve an Estate that we being â—â—grims and Strangers here in affection as well as condition 〈◊〉 long after and labour for a continuing City demeaning our seâ—â— as Strangers in all modesty and sobricâ—y acting as Strangers moving homewards to our Countrey the Heavenly Jerusaleâ—â— over-looking the presect and eâ—â—ing the future the Heaven Maâ—sions not made with hands the Inheritance incorruptible 〈◊〉 defiled that fâ—deth not away eternall in the Heavens Abraham bâ—somâ— the place of â—ost to the Sonnes of Abraham to live foâ— ever with the God of Abraham To which God Father Soâ—â—â— and Holy Ghost be all Glory Honour and Imâ—â—tality 〈◊〉 and to all Eternity Amen SARAHS Seed Heb. 11.11.12 Through Faith also Sarah her selfe received strength to conceive Seed and was delivered of a Child when she was past Age because she judged him faithfull who had â—ramised c. SArah was formerly Abrahams consort in his Exile shee is now his Partner in the Promised Seed they were conjoyned by God in holy Wedlocke they are not separated or divided in their holy Faith and so as neer as might be â—he Apostle joynes them in his discourse for honoured Examâ—les of Faith and Magnanimity Abraham followed the Voyce â—nd Call of his Lord and God Sarah followes the example of â—er Lord and Master for so she acknowledged him 1 Pet. 3.6 â—nd is therefore the immediately following Example here and â—ndeed for the Honour of her Sex is put into the Gatalogue even that Sex though the weakest may for all that be strong in â—aith and therefore it is emphatically expressed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and also for the encouragement of the Hebrew Women that they would submit to any conditions with their Yoke-fellows and not through softnesse delecacy or wantonnesse decline â—opartnership
is not onely basenesse and covetousnesse but also profanity and irreligion and to detainâ— alienate what God hath proportioned for publike Ministery Sacriledge Mal. 3.8 4. It was not onely of the Fat but of the Firstlings of 〈◊〉 Flock the first fruits of our life the prime years of our agâ— while vigour and strength is full are to be Consecrated to aâ—â— employed in Gods service We are to sow our Seed in thâ— Morning To remember our Creator in the dayes of our Youâ—â— to beare his yoake from our Childhood to goe into his Vinâ—yard at the first houre and continue till the twelfth to seâ—â— him early in the height and excellency of our dayes not 〈◊〉 our declining dawning dotage the services of old age aâ—â— death-bed resolutions and performances are lame sick Sacrifices Mal. 1.8 God will not be thus served 3. From Gods Acceptation 1. Abel Offered to God of his own gifts and for this he 〈◊〉 famous to all generations God honoureth them who honoâ—â—â— him though the World deride and maligne them yet he wâ—â—â— procure them a name and memory in his Church though theâ—â— be for a while overclouded with a storme yet their righteouâ—nesse shall appear as the Sun at Midday 2. It is not the applause or admiration of men but Goâ—â— testimony and approbation which will yeeld solid comfort anâ— content the good word of men is as uncertain as themselves its Hosanna to day Crucifie to morrow But he who receive honour from God holds it for eternity his testimoniall hâ— Letter Patents are never out of date vainly and ambitiously 〈◊〉 covet the prayse of men is Pharisaicall hypocrisie Ioh. 5 4â— a touch of infidelity which when the secrets of all counselâ— shall be discovered will bring with it shame and confusion 〈◊〉 face before God and his Angels but that prayse which is of God is a tended with honour glory immortality eternall lifeâ— Observe Saint Pauls Exhortation Phil. 4.8 and obey it and you shall obtain Abels reward and honour Gods testimony For certainly if we by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory we shall finde it If as Abel we Sacrifice and suffer for it doe well and are persecuted for it the blood of sprinkling which speaketh better things then the blood of Abel will consecrate and sanctifie all our Sacrifices services and sufferings and make them accepted for that Sacrifice which Jesus Christ the first borne of every Creature offered to God the Father on the Crosse for the Salvation of Men. Neque enem in sacrificiis quae Abel Cain primi obtulerunt munera eorum Deus sed corda iutuebatur Abel pacificus justus dum Deo sacrificat innocenter docuit cateres quando ad Altare munus offerunt sâ—â— venire cum timore Dei cum simplici corde cum lege justitia cum concerdiae pace Cypr. Serm. sext de Orat. Domin 3d. Part which contains a Prayer or Meditation O Eternall Lord God who dwellest in the highest Heavens in hat light which is inaccessible yet admits thy sinfull creatures he e on earth to have accesse unto thy Throne of Grace by humble Prayers and Supplycations O thou Infinite all perfection and all sufficiency who art cloathed with Majesty and Honour yet gracioâ—sly accepts the Oblations and devoirs f tâ—y faithfull servants though accompanied with many imperfections and weakenesses pardon and remit we beseech thee the infirmities and defects of our holy things and let the Words of our Mouthes and the Meditations of our hearts be alwayes acceptable in thy sight O Lord our strength and our redeemer Compose our minds and frame our hearts into such a temper of spirit that with devotion of spirit with submission and reverence of affections with holy and heavenly resolutions of obedience we may serve and worship thee that our Sacrifices be living our services reasonable such as may advance thy glory and expresse our sincere repentance and holy Faith We renounce all sufficiency in our selves all merit in our workes and have recourse to thy mercy and thy Sons merits for the acceptance of both We humbly confesse our persons are burdened with an infinite guilt which our wounded spirits cannot of themselves sustaine O holy Jesuâ— who was wounded for our transgressions and bore all our iniquities disburden and cleare us from the weight of our sins take us into the armes of thy mercy beare our griefes carry our sorrowes that we sincke not into perdition Master save us else we perish Sonne of God Lanâ—s of God then that takest away the sins of the World take away our sins protect us from thy Fathers wrath and reconcile us into his favour Our Natures are deeply infected with an over-spreading Leprosie ô thou the great Physician of our Soules wash and cleanse the plague of our hearts with thy blood and by the vertue of that precious application cure all our distempers heale all our infirmities our sinnes are in number and quality above measure sinfull O holy Redeemer absolve us from them by the Oblation of thy Soule offered for sinne expiate them with thy satisfaction kill them by thy death and let thy righteousnesse be unto us for a garment of salvation Our Services Prayers and Religious duties are defective and blemished O all-sufficient Saviour by thy Incense and Intercession supply all their defects sanctifie all their adherent corruptions and present them as acceptable Sacrifices to thy Father Suffer us not O omnipotently gracious and graciously omnipotent Lord God when we are called as Abel was to suffer for thee and for righteousnesse sake to fall away from the steadfastnesse of our Faith strengthen us with all might by thy glorious power unto all patience and long suffering with joyfulnesse Let thy holy Spirit be our instructer and comforter that we never Sacrifice to any strange Gods that we never swerve from the rules of Piety and Justice alwayes obeying thy will alwayes submitting to thy will The Lord heare us in the day of trouble the name of the God of Jacob defend us fend us help from his Sanctuary and strengthen us out of Sion Remember all our Offerings and accept our Sacrifices O let us alwayes offer and doe thou gratiously accept and when thou pleasest let us chearefully suffer and doe thou gloriously reward Whatsoever thy dispensations shall be let them be in love and mercy to us and let our demeanour under them be as becommeth the Gospell of Christ Jesus if they share out unto adversity let us take up our crosse and follow thee resigne our selves offer up our wills and affections to thy infinite wife and good providence If thou portion out unto us prosperity let us not dare to Sacrifice unto our own nets ascribe it to our own wit or industry or carnally glory in our own wealth or power but to offer and returne to thee all we have and enjoy in a gratefull acknowledgement receiving all from thee depending for all on thee enjoying all in thee referring all
God t is an infallible signe we are in Christ we have trâ—â— Faith as Noah had who obeyed Gods order beleeved his prâ—mises feared his warning for these were the results of Noah Faith which first moved him to feare and afterwards to obey 〈◊〉 and this leades me on to a further Observation 5. Noah feared a most genuine and direct act of Faithâ— for that he feared the Deluge at that distance proceeds from his Beleife of the warning the rest of the World beleeveâ— it not took not the warning held it a superstition or a weakenesse or a madnesse to beleeve it and therefore they feared it not Infidelity is the root of all sinne Faith the originall of all Piety and certainly Noah had a large measure of Faith which coulâ— work this motion of spirit in him in opposition to all thâ— World and in despight of his naturall infirmities that harâ—â— threat I will Destroy might perhaps at the first strike him inâ— to a Passion but then the protraction of the sentence aftâ—â— the prediction might easily have seduced and betraied him into â—â—relesnesse and forgetfulnesse as naturally we have experimented â—â—ough we all know we must dye yet all of us almost think and â—â—nceit with our selves not yet not yet when there is yet dayâ—â— occasion of the feare of the approaches of Death For Tarde quae credita laedunt â—edimus and then we are most apt to forget what pleaseth not â—â—sh and blood besides the disadvantage of time which eates â—â—t the memory of such predictions But Noahs Faith Time â—â—uld not devoure would not suffer him to forget or be secure â—â—t like a faithfull remembrancer puts him in minde of the â—â—arning keeps him in feare and expectation of the event and â—â—akes him both wise and active Doubtlesse true Faith and â—â—ue Feare are compatible in the same subject Noah beleeved â—â—erefore he feared and so all they who doe beleeve doe feare â—â—nd none truely feares but they also beleeve not as the Devils â—â—eleeve and tremble for they hate what they beeleeve and â—â—emble at but as Gods children who love and affect what they â—â—eleeve and feare and is alwayes in conjunction with boldâ—esse and confidence That Son which is naturall and ingeâ—uous the more hopes and assurances he hath of his Fathers â—â—vour which are the supports of boldnesse the more reveâ—ently will he demeane himself towards his father the more cauâ—â—ous and timorous to displease him and it is knownly exâ—â—erimented that where mens chiefest hopes and dependancies â—â—es there they reserve their respects and endeavours to please which are the proper issues of feare from whom we expect â—othing them we value not their displeasure we feare not â—ut on whom we depend we feare to lose their favour and â—his makes us both ingenuous and diligent to preserve it The Master of the Sentences and with him generally all the Schoolemen out of Austine demonstrates this by the similitude of a tender Wife who both loves and feares her Husband â—eares his absence feares his displeasure feares the losse of his company respects and honours his presence and is sollicitous to please him in every respect and so omnis pius sollicite â—ius for when I feare I feare him not as I feare a wilde beast hate him and fly from him but I honour him as my naâ—â— rall superiour 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Clem. Alexand. l. 〈◊〉 Strem. for this feare is not a naturall effect but a supernaturâ— habit a gift of the holy Ghost Is 11.2 opposite to hardneâ—â— of heart Prov. 28.14 and is the great stay and strengthâ—â— Religion that men neither irreverently and rudely rush iâ—â— Gods presence in the offices of his service as the horse rushâ—â— into the battell Eccles 5.1.2 nor carelesly neglect or neâ—genly performe the work of the Lord for by feare we are 〈◊〉 structed as the same Clemens expresseth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to maâ— our addresses to God with reverence humility submissionâ— affection or devotion of spirit then we truely worship and seâ—â— God when we feare him insomuch that his worship and 〈◊〉 feare are the same Es 29.13 Mat. 15.9 If God had not 〈◊〉 his feare into the hearts of the Sons of men they would hâ—â— had no heart to seek God and they that feare him not pâ—â— formes to him if any none but dull and flat services Heâ—â— Davids resolution Psal 5.7 and our Saviour himselfe thâ—â— whom I presume none can be more bold with God the Fathâ—â— presented his Prayers and was heard 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 5. â— for his piety or that he was affected with feare and it s the observation of learned Camerarius on these words Certe qui 〈◊〉 metuunt neque precantur neque inter precandum exclamanâ—â— and Lectantius is full to the same purpose lib. de ira Dei capâ—â— Quomodo saith he ipsa religio sine metu teneri aut custediae poteâ—â— Quod enim non metuitur contemnitur quod contemnitur utiqâ—â— non colitur And the Apostle resolves us if our latria worshâ—â— of God be acceptable it must be done with reverence aâ—◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 againe godly feare and the reason is subjoyned Pâ—â— our God c. Heb. 12.28.29 O then let not us provoâ—â— him to jealousie not slubber over his service nor throng inâ—â— his holy assemblies rudely and undecently nor behave our selvâ—â— irreverently but let us sadly remember that this God whâ—â— we serve he and he onely is to be feared and therefore thâ—â— we offer no service present no suite tender no duty but wiâ—â— bowed hearts broken spirits and humbled soules this oâ—â— feare hath a speciall influence not onely in our services of Goâ— but in the whole course of our life Gen. 20.11 it preserves 〈◊〉 from Apostacy from Schisme and uncharitablenesse which we â—â—ay safely conclude from that remarkable passage Ier. 32.39.40 I will put c. and it is thus Interpreted by Aug. de bona perse â—ap 2. Talis tantus erit timor meus quem dabo in cor eorum â—t perseveranter mihi adhaereant Hence Saint Cyprian l. 2. Ep 2. calls it fidelis innocentiae custos And the Psalmist intimates thus much Psal 36.1.2 The wickednesse of the wicked â—ith that there is no feare of God before his eyes Hence the Schooles resolve In tantum timemus in quantum amamus as our love is perfected so is our feare and as our love shall last when our Faith shall cease so our feare shall endure which they gather from Psal 19.9 here we live by love and hope and because we love therefore we respect because we hope for good from God therefore we feare him lest by neglect of him we â—â—se that good we expect from him and hereafter our feare of him shall accompany our love and be compleated with it even â—he holy Angels all his Saints which are or shall be shall feare him to all Eternity Non quidem secundum eum actum quo
our God and whensoever we make â—ur addresses to thee let us fall low on our knees before thy footâ—oole with such humbled spirits and devout postures as may best expresse our conceits of thy greatnesse our reverence to thy presence and our own unworthynesse to appeare before thee Move â—s to serve thee in feare and plant the reverence of thy Name and Laws in our hearts that we may walke in all thy wayes with much diligence great observation and gedly jealousie over all our actions Let the dread and reverence of thee thy justice and thy power thy thrcats and iudgements deelared from Heaven and many times on Earth executed upon disobedient condemners of thy words make us to tremble at the recognition of our sinnes and in consideration of our guilt and demerits and then O Lord let the contemplation and meditation â—f thy sure mercies and gratious promises keep us in a uniforme constant course of obedience let us thus passe from Faith to Feare from Feare to Love from the apprehensions of of thy wrath to the sense and comforts of thy mercies Let thy â—eare take such full possession of our Spirits that we Feare nothing but thee we feare not poverty shame the power and malice men nor any outward disadvantages and discomforts that 〈◊〉 shall not feare though the Earth be moved and the Hills be carried into the midst of the Sea though the waters thereof raâ— and swell and the mountains shake at the tempest of the same for his salvation is nigh them that feare he hath an Arke bâ— holy Church to preserâ—e and keep them alive O holy Jesâ— preserve and keep this Church which thou hast founded on tâ— selfe save and deliver this Arke of thy strength from the strâ— vings of the people and the insurrections of evill doers defenâ— her in peace adorne her with holinesse build her up in unity maintain her in safety in all stormes-and against all temptation and enemies that she be not pestered with Heresie Schisme 〈◊〉 Scandall O deliver her from private interpretations innovations of holy things doting about questions and making endless strifes strange Doctrines and the Doctrine of the unlearneâ— and unstable O thinke upon the Congregation which thou haâ— purchased and redeemed of old unite all her members in the bands of Faith Hope and Charity and when thou thinkest first of externall communion Let the dayly Sacrifice of Prayer and Sacramentall Thanksgiving never cease let the Order of thy Ministers which serve at thy Altar stand in Power and senâ— thou forth Labourers into thy Harvest such as have Calling aâ— Aaron and Noah make them farthfully to declare thy Will to the People rightly to dispense thy Sacraments and acceptably to entercede with thee for thy People Preserve thou those whom thou hast placed in the Highest Order of thy Church that they lay Hands suddenly on no Man but on such whose Lips may preserve knowledge and whose Lives adorne the Gospel of Jesus and grave blessed Lord that though the Floods of Persecution and worldly interest have lift their Waves to overwhelme thy Arke yet doe thou Coast her in security over these Seas and Pilot her in safety into the place of thy rest O preserve thou 〈◊〉 in the union and communion of this Church let us have Noahs Preachers of Righteousresse orderly called and fitly qualified for the Function let us still injoy the freedom of thy Gospel the Food of thy Word the sweetnesse and refreshings of thy Sacraments holy discipline publique Communion in thy Church and the benefits of the society of the Saints O let not our sins cause 〈◊〉 to remove the Candlepick from us to give away thy Arke to â—at thy Vineyard to other Hâ—shandmen lest we be condemned and â—sh with the unbeleeving World but doe thou preserve us in times â—â—blike-calamities that we may passe over the Waves of this trouâ—â—some World and be harboured in rest O support us with thy â—d that when the foundations of the Earth be out of course â—n the Nations of the Earth are divided and moved so that the â—rts of men shake at the tempests thereof our hearts may be setled thee and thy sure mercies and never-failing compassions thy Spirit move upon these Waters that the Streames goe not â—r our soules the overflowing of ungodlinesse make us not afraid 〈◊〉 the great Waters of persecution or any other affliction drowne not O thou whom even the Windes and the Sea obey now when Ship of thy Church is tossed with tempests covered with Waves â—se and rebuke these Winds and these Seas and let there be a at calme a blessed and universall Peace throughout the Christian â—rld that we may delight and rejoyce in the promised blessings of Gospel our Swords may be converted into Plowshares and our â—ares into Pruninghooks And that we may be prepared for these â—rcies frame our hearts to an holy obedience to thy whole will make Heare 's of righteousnesse which is by Faith and as beâ—ommeth use who look for that inheritance Teach us by thy grace to dense the World and worldly things to lay up our treasure in Heaven â—charity and actions of Religion that when thou shalt call on us deposit these honses of clay our earthly tabernacles which we now try about us we being Heires of Righteousnesse may dye in the aâ—tuâ—â— Communion of thy one holy Catholique Church and after death â—ter into our Masters joy and at the Resurrection of the just be â—ly possessed of that Kingdome which thou hast prepared for all at love and feere thee and wait for thy comming Grant this 〈◊〉 Heavenly Father for thy mercies sake and for his sake whom â—ou hast appointed Heire of all things Jesus Christ the Righteous who hath given unto us his Spirit the earnest of our Inheâ—â—ance who make h intercession for us and by whom we cry 〈◊〉 Father To this Blessed Holy and undivided Trinity be Prayse Glory Worship and Thanksgiving now and ever Amen ABRAHAMS Exile Heb. 11.8.9 By Faith Abraham when he was called to goe into a plâ—â— which he should after receive for an inheritance obey and he went out not knowing whether he went c. ABraham succeeds Noah in the Catalogue of Beleeve but in the instances and expresses of his Faith he was fore him and all his Progenitors upwards to Adam aâ—â— all that succeeded him till our Lords Incarnation him it is remarkable That through those many darkenesses aâ—â— at such a distance he saw his Lords Day and he rejoyced him for the transcendency of his Faith did that Title of Honâ— belong The Father of the Faithfull he only of all of the first timâ— merited that stile and to him it is attributed indefinitely Father he was to all his believing fore-fathers and all his aâ— their following Posterity and consequently upon the same â—â— count to him the highest blessing which mortality was capaâ—â—â—â— of was assigned and assured and that by a thrice repeaâ—â— grant and confirmation In thee
prevailing party Peter notwithstanding his doubting is in the account of Beleevers Why doubtest thou O thou of little Faith God will not quench the smoking flax nor bruise the broken reed Faith even to the pittance and proportion of a graine of mustard-seed shall be accepted with him whose property is to be easte entreated And hereupon he entitles himselfe The good Shepheard because he taketh the weake Sheep in his armes and the weake Beleever is received though not for his weakenesse yet even for that a Beleever Rom. 14.3 God hath received him he is Gods servant verse 4. Sarahs infirmities are covered her Faith commended her vertues extoled her defailings not mentioned Gods goodnesse and long-suffering coloured and concealed Jobs impatience and though â—e murmured yet it is said expressely He sinned not because of his sincerity and faithfulnesse Indeed the Law requires perfect unsinning obedience and approves no Act but what in â—â—â—bus numeris in every circumstance good without the least â—esect or imperfection bonum est ex integra causa but the Gospel offereth more grace accepts the weake if sincere enleavours of Beleâ—vers Psal 103.13.14 Mal. 3 17. O then happy we if we but faithfull servants if our workings be buâ—â—ordiall and upright no evill adhering circumstance shall be ever able to condemne us O that we would imitate this goodnesse of God it s the fashion of the world to extenuate or conâ—eale our neighbours vertues to proclaime their bad which â—roceeds from a spirit of Pride Se fe-love Envy Detraction or Malice The Character of our Heavenly Father is the Lord good and gracious long-suffering and of great goodnesse pardoning iniquities transgressions and sinnes not imputing covering them O that we were like him in Charity if we were then our Charity would cover a multitude of faults 4. Sarah and many Propheresses the Virgin Mother and many other holy Women recorded for followers of Christ have sufficiently honoured that Sex for their Piety and there hath been from Age to Age such of them as have remonstrated their magnanimity and sincerity Saint Basil relates That â—an Honourable Matronâ— immediately before her Death used this Exhortation to those of her Sex who were Spectators of her sufferings Remember saith she it was not onely the flesh of Man was taken to make in Women but his bone also so we being bone of his bone have received strength spirit and conrage with and from him which we also should imploy in the â—â—â—â—râ—ises of our holy Faith 5. Sarah received strength What is it that thou hast which thou hast not received It is God which raiseth Families anâ— gives Children Psal 127.3 and if God give them it is 〈◊〉 just and congruous we returne them to him consecrate theâ—â— to God traine them up in his discipline and if he remanâ— them and call for them as many times he doth freely 〈◊〉 surrender and resigne them 6. God afforded not this happinesse to Abraham and Sarah till their Old Age God many times communicates 〈◊〉 his Grace to us till our strength faile us not that we shâ—â—â— presume that God will doe so because he may and sometiâ—â— doth but that we should not at any time diffide his merâ—â— or driven into despaire Some he calleth at the eleveth hoâ—â— and one Theife upon the Crosse But we must beware 〈◊〉 there is danger in all delayes and no estate more dangeroâ—â— then to deferre Repentance till Old Age or the Death-Bed maâ—â— us unserviceable for the World and unable for the prosecuâ—â—â—â— of its lusts For though it be certain that true Repentanceâ— never too late yet it is also most true that late repentance â— seldome or never 〈◊〉 7. Sarahs Wombe receiving life and strength to Conceiâ—â— represents unto us the manner of our conversion to God Thâ— Soule naturally is dead in sinne till by Faith in Christ Jesus 〈◊〉 receives life and strength to bring forth fruits of Righteousness there is a plastick fermative vertue in the Immortall Seâ—â— 1 Peter 1.23 which begetteth in us the new Man which â—â—ter God is Created in Righteousnesse and true Holinesse Anâ— as Isaac had not his being from his Parents by their naturaâ— generative faculty but by a supernaturall assistance and therefore he is said to be not the Sonne aftâ—â— the Flesh but after the Spirit and of Promise Gal 4.23 So it is not by Naturâ—â— but by a Power from Heaven that Christ is formed in 〈◊〉 and he dwelleth in our hearts by Faith Iohn 1.13 Who 〈◊〉 borne not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will Man but of God The third Part. The Prayer O Omnipotent Lord the God of all consolations and Father of all mercies who gavest new strength and abilities to the deâ—ayed bones and impayred members of Abraham even as dead evâ—ve our dead spirits give a spiritâ—all being to our natures â—ead in sinne Create cleane hearis and renew right spirits withâ—â— us that we may dye unto finne and live unto righteousnesse Thou who gavest power to Sarah to conceive and bring forth a â—â—ly Seed rayse us by thy mighty power from the corruption of â—ur natures to the renovation of our mind that through the â—â—mortall Seed planted and watered in our hearts by the blessed â—pirit we may receive strength and ability of spirit to conceivâ— and fâ—rmâ— Christ within us to resist sinue and adhere to godlinesse and notwithstanding the barrennesse and weakenesse of our â—â—ture to be inabled in the inner to performe all holy daties to â—hoâ—nd and be fruitfull in all good Workes We beseech thee most gracious God to extend thy goodnesse to thy whole Catheâ—â—ne Church deliver her from those oppressors that seeke to deâ—oure her comfort all her desolations make her Desert like Eden and her Wildernesse like the Garden of the Lord to bring â—orth holy Plants iâ— flonrish in the House of God and to Worship â—iuâ— in the beauty of holinesse let joy and gladnesse be found â—â—erein prayse and the voyâ—e of singing Rayse up unto her nuring Fathers and nursing Mothers and strengthen her to Conâ—â—eâ—ve and bring up as many as the Starres of the Skiâ— in mulâ—itude and as the Sand of the Sâ—aâ—shâ—re which is innumerâ—ble â—o offerâ—up unto thee the dayly sacrifice of prayse and thansgiving and after to sing uncessantly holy holy holy Lord God Almighty which was which is and which is to coâ—e Blessing â—â—onour and glory be unto him that fitteth on the Thrâ—â—e and to the Lambe and to the holy Spirit now and for ever Amen ABRAHAMS Offering Heb. 11.17.18.19 By Faith Abraham when he was tryed offered up Isaâ—â— and be that had received the Promises offered up 〈◊〉 onely begotten Sonne c. THis is the tenth and last tryall of Faithfull Abraham Paraâ—â— hath Observed from the Hebrews but of others the most grievous dangerous and uncourteous the â—â—lusion and complement of them all and though each of thâ— was sufficiently sad and dismall and required great abilitieâ— Faith