against enuenomed wounds Then would we as soone as we feele the sting of sinne in our consciences bruise the Serpent by true contrition destroy the sinne and apply the oyle of teares issuing from it to cure the wound before it festered But among other iust causes of teares this is not the least that wee misspend our teares and spill that heauenly dew and profane the Font-water of our second baptisme as Saint Cyprian calleth it Wee haue teares at our owne will in worldly losses but none at God's command for the losse of his grace Wee take on for the death of our friends departing frō vs but cannot wring out a teare for the spirituall death of our soules departing from God Yet all our fretting and vexing all our weeping and howling cannot fetch our friend backe againe or repaire our worldly losses whereas on the contrary as Saint Chrysostome piously noteth the afflicting of our soules and serious bewailing of our sinnes by God's grace shall reuiue our soules and recouer all our spirituall losses and that with aduantage What pittie nay what folly is it to powre costly eye-water out of a Venice-glasse into a vile pot or basen to wash our feete withall Do we not the like when we turne godly sorrow into worldly and abuse pretious teares to the bewailing of vile base losses haue we suchstore of them or such want of better employmēt for them See we not wrath is gone out against vs and the fire long agoe kindled and not yet quenched by our teares Lord thou hast shewed thy people terrible things thou hast giuen vs a drinke of deadly wine and hast caused vs to suck out the dreggs of it because we Moab like are setled vpon our Lees. As Pharaoh saw the hugh of his bloodie minde in the waters of Aegypt turned all redd as blood so we may see the crimson colour of our sins in the vialls of thy wrath powred of late vpon vs. We trade not spiritually for the pearle of the Gospell and therefore our Merchant's returnes faile Wee would not weepe for our sins and therefore the heauens did weepe for vs a long season in continuall showers We haue bin hard hearted and barren in good works and therefore thou madest heretofore the heauen aboue vs as brasse and the earth vnder vs as Yron By drunkennesse and gluttony by euill perswasions and worse examples one soule hath infected another and therefore thou hast sent a Plague whereby one body infecteth another Such a Plag◠as our ancients neuer heard of and our posterity will scarce belieue The chiefe of our Cities haue beene ploughed vp and sowed so thick with dead corps's that one could scarce lye by another Against this and all other iudgements which thy law threatneth and our sins prouoke wee haue no weapons to contend with thy iustice but prayers and teares We haue no meanes to clense the infected aire but our sighs and groanes O Lord remoue our sins as a clowde and iniquities as a mist and then this dreadfull bloodie clowde which lately powred downe but now onely droppeth will vanish of it selfe Consummate the worke of mercy thou hast begun and quite remoue this iudgement through thy tender compassion in the bowells of Christ Iesus wee beseech thee But remoue this iudgement in mercie not in iudgement Take not thy hand off of vs to fetch a greater stroake at vs. Deliuer vs not from one Plague as thou diddest Pharoh to send a worse in steede thereof Put vs not out of thine hands into which we are fallen to giue vs ouer into the hands of our enemies Saue vs not from the Sword to kill vs with Famine neither preserue vs from a corporall to starue vs with a spirituall Take not away one plaister to apply a smarter in the place but perfectly heale our wounds Bee absolutely reconciled vnto vs in him vpon whom thou hast already layed the chastisement of our peace O remember not our our old sinnes but haue mercy vpon vs and that soone for wee are come to great misery Helpe vs ô God of our saluation for the glory of thy name ô deliuer vs and bee mercifull to our sins for thy names sake O thinke vpon thy congregation and Mount Sion wherein thou hast dwelt Looke vpon the hands of many thousands that haue beene lifted vp to thee in Publike and many more in Priuate to iustifie thee in thy Iudgements and blesse thee for thy mercies and intreate thee for this Land and thy disconsolate Spouse yet weeping in teares of bloud in diuerse places To strengthen and support the weaker of these hands and fill their mouthes with continuall Deuotions I haue furnished and replenished this Manuel which I name THE HAND-MAID To PRIVATE DEVOTION to waite on her in her Chamber or Oratorie The purtraying of her Mistresse I leaue to the pensill of some Diuine Apelles whose taske will be the harder because she neuer commeth abroade All that my intention aimeth at and my endeauours promise is but to lay open a priuate way and set vp certaine Stages for thy holy race and pricke thee on forward in it Farre better helpes in this kinde the pious charitie and zeale of religious and learned persons hath afforded thee of whom yet I may truely say as Tully spake of the Emperours that dealt with Mithridates before Pompey Laudandum quod secerunt ignoscendum quod reliquerunt They are to be commended for that they haue done and pardoned for that they left What they haue left I labour to supply and if I cannot supply it yet I thought fit to implie and intimate that the Authors themselues or the Publishers of their workes might adde what they finde wanting First my thinkes I see in their bookes of Deuotion and prayers Salomon's temple without the gate called Bewtifull I meane exquisite meditations and orizons without an entrance thereunto by preparation With that part therefore I begin and it taketh vp the more roome in my booke because it hath beene so scanted for place or rather quite excluded in theirs In it if thou finde some tertnesse I intreate thee Courteous Reader to remember with me the precept of the Lord Iesu Haue salt and haue peace If I haue salt haue thou peace the rather because Hymnes Prayers and other religious exercises are spirituall sacrifices and euery sacrifice by the Law was to be seasoned with salt Et quoniam mel in Dei sacrificijs non offertur nimia dulcedo arte mutata est quâdam piperis austeritate condita apud Deum nil tantum suaue placet nisi quod habet in se aliquid mordacis veritatis It is S. Ierom's obseruation vpon the legall sacrifices that God neuer appointed hony to be offered vnto him And the morall truth vailed vnder that shadow was that in our spirituall oblations nothing pleaseth God that is onely sweete and hath not some smacke 〈◊〉 it of biting truth Next I haue much maruelled what the reason might be that they vndertaking
Christs bodie and bloud in the Sacrament no foode for children but men in riper yeares that can examine themselues 6 Bread and wine are designed and set apart for the holy Communion Christs body and bloud designed and appointed by God for man his redemption and satisfaction 7 Bread and wine layed vpon the Communion table Christs body and bloud layed vpon the Altar of the crosse 8 Bread and wine consecrated by the Priest and exhibited to the Communicants Christs body and bloud consecrated by the eternall Spirit and offered to his Father 9 Bread broken wine poured out Christs body bruised and torne and his bloud poured out 10 Bread and wine giuen by the Minister Christs body and bloud giuen by the Father 11 Bread and wine taken into the hands of the faithfull Communicant Christs body and bloud receiued by faith and applyed 12 Bread and wine eaten and drunke with the mouth Christs body and bloud fed vpon in the heart 13 Bread and wine vnited to the substance of our body and made one with vs. Christs body and bloud vnited to vs made one with vs by an vnspeakable and inseparable coniunction 14 Bread and wine sustaine and nourish the body to a temporall life Christs body and bloud nourish and preserue body and soule to eternall life 15 Bread and wine increase the substance of one body Christs body and bloud worthily receiued increase faith and all spirituall graces in the soule Short pravers to be vsed in the very act of receiuing or a little before Lord make me a worthy partaker of these most holy mysteries Prepare me before Assist me in Comfort and confirme me after the receiuing of this heauenly foode Lord 1 Renew my repentance 2 Confirme my faith 3 Perfect my charitie 4 Increase my knowledge 5 Fasten my intention 6 Quicken my deuotion Lord giue me I humbly beseech thee 1 Sorrow for my sin 2 Thirst of thy grace 3 Knowledge in thy mysteries 4 Faith in thy promises 5 Loue to thy members 6 Thankfulnesse for this inestimable fauour thou vouchsafest me inbidding me to thine owne Table A short thanksgiuing after the Communion to be vsed in the seate or at the Lords Table GRacious Redeemer I most heartily thank thee for these pledges of thy loue and tokens of thy fauour and seales of the generall pardon for all my sins And I vow by the helpe of thy strengthening grace from henceforth euer to abstaine euen from all appearance of euill neuer willingly to offend thee in thought word or deed How shouâ—â—â— sinne against thee who hast died for me and washed my sinnes in thy bloud which I haue now receiued to my vnspeakable comfort Another Affect me with a taste of this heauenly food and continue the rellish of it in the mouth of my soule make me for euer hereafter loath the worlds delicacies the fleshes baites and the diuels morsels especially the forbidden fruite of c. Here name thy secret and bosome sinnes which thou hast bene last or most ouertaken with Another Welcome blessed and heauenly guest my dearest Lord and bountifull Sauiour I bow the knees of my heart vnto thee I put my hands vnder thy sacred feete pierced with nailes for me I lay downe before thee the keyes of my euerlasting doore Enter high Lord of heauen and earth take possession of all my inner roomes Comâ—â—nd and rule all the faculties of my soule and members of my body especially the hidden roome of my heart Liue and dwell with me here below by faith till I come to dwell with thee for euer aboue in heauen So bee it How is it that my Lord is come himselfe to visite me Can a sinfull man expect of God such grace much lesse deserue it Wilt thou conuerse with Publicans and such sinners as I am Nay wilt thou not onely eate with them but suffer thy selfe to be eaten of them I am astonished at this thy wonderfull humilitie and vnconceiueable loue Lord make me for euer mindfull of it thankfull for it Amen Glorie be to God on high on earth peace and eternall comfort in my conscience I am fed now with thy body and my heart is cheared with the cup of the new Testament in thy bloud Now I am incorporated into thy mysticall body and am made flesh of thy flesh bone of thy bone Lord let nothing be euer able to separate me from this but sith all things worke for the good of thy chosen let all things more and more vnite me to thee that I may grow from grace to grace and strength to strength till I come to the fuu measure of thy perfect age Amen I haue now eaten of this bread and drunke of this cup according to thine holy ordinance Lord grant that I may feele in my soule the effect of this spirituall refection by the confirming of my faith assurance of my hope enlargement of my loue and my increase in spirituall strength against all tentations At my conception and birth thou gauest me my selfe ô Lord and now according to thy promise in the Sacrament thou hast giuen me thy selfe and by faith I haue receiued thee I can do no lesse and I would I could do more then giue my selfe wholly vnto thee Refuse me not who hast giuen thy selfe for me and vnto me Take me into thy fauour and seruice Keepe mee in thy Church which is thy house continually and protect me against all my bodily and ghostly enemies A larger forme of Thanksgiuing after thou returnest to thy house or chamber from receiuing the Communion I Yeeld vnto thee ô most bountifull gracious and euerliuing Lord and Sauiour the greatest thanks my heart can conceiue or tongue expresse for this inestimable fauour that thou vouchsafest to bid me to thine owne Table and there hast feasted my soule with the true Manna that came downe from heauen the foode of Angels thine owne blessed body and bloud O knit my heart and affections for euer vnto thee who hast substantially and inseparably vnited thy selfe vnto mankind by taking flesh from vs in thine incarnation and giuing vs thy flesh in this sacred institution What shall be able to separate me from thee or from thy members who by thy Spirit and vertue of this Sacrament am truly incorporated into thee and made a member of thy mysticall body How can I question thy loue who hast giuen me this pledge of thy fauour How can I forget thy bitter death and passion whereof thou hast instituted so liuely a memoriall How can I doubt of thy promises whereof thou hast giuen such a seale How should I distrust my future inheritance whereof thou hast giuen me this earnest I know thou wilt denie me no good thing who hast giuen me thy selfe I know that I shall liue eternally and blessedly because by thy faith working in and through this Sacrament I receiue the seede of immortalitie I am truly made partaker of thy naturall yea and a liuely part
by the prayer ensuing The Hymne for Ascension-day Wherein all parts of Christ his glorious returne in tryumph into heauen are prophetically expressed as 1 His lifting a vp himself from the earth 2 The cloudes receiuing b and carrying him 3 The Angels c meeting him 4 The heauens d opening to him 5 God the Father's enthronizing him into his euerlasting kingdome GOD is gone vp with a merrie noyse and the Lord in the sound of the Trumpe Psal. 47. 5. Be thou exalted Lord in thine own strength So will we sing prayse thy power Psal 21. 13. Set vp thy selfe ô God aboue the heauens and thy glory aboue al the earth Ps. 108. 5 b O sing vnto God sing praises vnto his Name magnifie him that rideth vpon the heauens or cloudes by his name IAH and reioice before him Psal. 68. 4. In thy Majestie ride prosperously because of truth meeknes and righteousnes and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things Psal. 45. 4. The Chariots of God are twentie thousand euen thousands of Angells the Lord is among them as in Sinai in the holy place Psal. 68. 17. d Lift vp your heads ô yee gates and be yee lift vp yee euerlasting dores and the King of glorie shall come in Psalm 24. 7. Who is the King of glory It is the Lord strong and mightie euen the Lord mighty in battel ver 8. Lift vp your heads ô yee gates and be ye lift vp ye euerlasting dores and the King of glorie shall come in ver 9. Who is the King of glorie Euen the Lord of Hosts he is the King of glorie ver 10. e I haue set my King vpon my holy hill of Sion Psal. 2. 6. Aske of mee and I will giue thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the vttermost parts of the earth for thy possession ver 8. The Lord shall send the rod of thy power out of Sion bee thou Ruler in the middest among thine enemies Thou shalt bruise them with a rodde of Iron and dash them in pieces like a Potters vessell The exhortation for Ascension DAIE Wee ought to set our affections on things aboue 1 Because there is the source of our Soule which is of a heauenly and diuine nature 2 Because there is our Head 3 Because there is the nobler better part of our bodie 4 Because there is our abiding Citie 5 Because there is our mansion house 6 Because there is our hope inheritance 7 Because there are no true ioyes nor durable riches but there GOD created man in his own Image Gen. 1. 27. God formed him of the dust of the earth and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life Gen. Then shall the dust returne to the earth as it was Eccles. 12. 7. The spirit-returneth to God that gaue it Ibid. We had fathers of our flesh which corrected vs shall we not be much more in subiection to the Father of spirits and liue Heb. 12. 9. Exceeding great and precious promises are giuen to vs that by these wee might bee partakers of the diuine nature hauing escaped the corruption that is in the world 2 Pet. 1. 4. He was caried vp into heauen and sate at the right hand of God Mat. 16. 19. Whom the heauens must containe Acts 3. 21. I saw the â—eauen opened and the Sonne of man standing at the right hand of the Father Acts 7. 56. I goe out of the world to the Father Ioh. 13. 1. Go to my Father Ioh. 15. 10. Our conuersation is in heauen from whence also we look for the Sauiour the Lord Iesus Phil. 3. 20. If ye be risen with Christ seek the things that are aboue where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God Col. 3. 1. Set your affections on things that are aboue and not on things on the earth ver 3. Yee are come to the generall assembly and Church of the first-borne which are written in heauen and to the spirits of iust men-made perfect Hebrewes 12. 23. Now yee are no more strangers and forreiners but fellow Citizens with the Saints and of the houshould of God Ephesians 2. 19. For here we haue no continuing Citie but wee seeke one to come Heb. 13. 23. For this we groane earnestly desiring to bee clothed with our house 1. Cor. 5. 2. Arise and depart for this is no rest for you Mic. 2. 10. They confessed that they were strangers and sought a Citie whose builder and maker is God Heb. 11. 13. I beseech you as strangers and pilgrimes abstaine from fleshly lusts 1. Pet. 2. 11. I am a stranger and soiournet as all my fathers were Ps. 39. 14. In my Fathers house there are many mansions I goe to prepare a place for you Io. 14. 2. If our hope were in this life onely we were of all men most miserable 1. Cor. To an inheritance incorruptible and vndefiled and that sadeth not away reserued in heauen for you 1. Pet. 1. 4. Lay vp your treasure in heauen c. Mat. 6. 19. Look not on things which are seene but on things which are not seene for the things c. 2. Cor. 4. 18. Vanitie of vanities c Eccles. 1. 2. Whom haue I in heauen but thee c. Psal. 73. 24. The Prayer for Ascension Day GLorious and gratious Redeemer Lord Iesus Christ who humbledst thy selfe didst become obedient to death euen the death of the Crosse and therefore thy Father highly exalted thee aboue the graue in the resurrection aboue the earth in thy Ascention aboue the heauens in thy session at his right hand and then he gaue thee a name aboue al names that at the name of Iaesus euery knee shall bow both of things in heauen and in earth and of things vnder the earth I humbly bow the knees not onely of my body but of my heart and soule vnto thee I neuer heare of thee or remember neuer thinke or speake of thee but with greatest reuerence and loue that heart can conceiue or tongue expresse I admire the mystery of thine incarnation I tremble at the horror of thy passion I adore the power of thy resurrection and I triumph in the glory of thine Ascension My God and my Lord make me wholly thine as thou art mine Thy birth was my life thy life my merit thy death my ransome thy resurrection my deliuery out of the prison of death when thy father layed thee vp for my debt thy Ascension my assurance and takingp ossessioÌ„ of an incorruptible and vndefiled inheritance reserued in the heauens O Sauiour if thou haddest not been born I had neuer been borne anew if thou hadst not dyed for my sins I had dyed in my sins If thou hadst not risen from the dead my soule might haue bin with thee in Paradice but my body should not haue rested in hope neither should I haue euer seene God in my flesh if thou hadst not ascended I might haue bin freed from hell but I should neuer haue
endure the iust reproofe of them by his Ministry and loue him for it and amend by it Open my heart that I may attend to those things that belong to my peace Endue me with wisdome and spirituall vnderstanding that I may descerne those things that differ and try all things and hold that which is good and apply it to my selfe for the subduing of my fleshly members and affections and building me vp in the most holy faith of thine Elect. Quicken me with thy spirit that I may cheerefully and willingly and constantly listen to the voice of the heauenly charmer that hee may kill the venome of sinne in my soule Let the words of thy Preacher drop as raine and distill as deaw vpon me and into mee to make my barren heart fruitfull in holy affections desires my minde in heauenly thoughts and conceptions my tongue in wholsome words and graceful speeches my hands in all manner of good workes that I proue not an idle hearer but a doer of the Word constant practicer of al holy duties to the honour of thy holy and blessed Name and the saluation of my soule in the day of the Lord Iesus To whom with thee and the holy Ghost c. The Preparation to the receiuing of the holy Sacrament IT being reuealed to aged Simeon that hee should see his Sauiour in the flesh before hee rendered vp his owne Spirit when hee came into the Temple of the Lord and there found the Lord of the Temple hee was so ouer-ioyed there with that hee tooke the babe into his armes embraced it and began his Swan-like song or Nunc dimittis saying Lord now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace for I haue seene the Prince of Peace Mine eyes haue seene thy saluation and I desire to see no more Into thy hands ô sweete babe whom I hold in mine arms I commend my fainting Spirit Embrace my soule with thine armes of mercy as I embrace thy body with these arms of flesh This singular prerogatiue of Simeon or rather a farre greater the Lord vouchsafeth thee ô deuout soule when he biddeth thee to his holy Table euen to take into thy hands thy Sauiour To see with thine eyes handle with thy hands yea and taste with thy mouth the Word of life For by with the sacred elements though not in or vnder them thou partakest of the flesh and bloud of the Son of God spiritually for his words are spirit and life yet truly and in very deede for hee is the liuing bread that came downe from heauen his flesh is meate indeede and his blood is drinke indeede As at sumptuous feasts where curious seruices are thou seest the proportion and shape of the Deere or Fowle set out in gold and colours on the outside or lidde of those baked meates which are truly contained vnder it and to bee eaten So vnder the holy formes of bread and wine thou feedest on thy Sauiour That which is represented in the signe to the eye of the body is presented in the thing signified to the eye of the soule and hand of thy faith what is shadowed in the Sacrament is truly also exhibited by it Qui credit edit If thou belieuest that thou eatest thou eatest that thou belieuest let no hereticall Harpyes pluck from thee thy heauenly dish or meate as Celaeno did Aeneas's Beware of two sorts of Hereticks especially which seeke to beguile thee in the Sacrament or rather of it viz the Sacramentaries Papists the one denyeth the signe the other the thing signified The one offereth thee a shadow without the body the other the body without the shadow and consequently neither of them giueth thee the true Sacrament which in nature and substance cosisteth of both The Sacramentary would robb thee of the Iewell the Papist of the Casket Lay thou thine hands on both hold both fast as thou seest the verity and substance of the one so beleeue that verity and substance of the other As thou takest the one receiue the other As thou handlest the one apprehend the other As thou feedest with thy mouth on the one feede in thy heart on the other And as truly as the one nourisheth thy body to a temporall so the other shall preserue thy soule to eternall life For it is the tree of Life which growes in the middest of the Paradice of God his Church on earth The way to the mysticall tree in Paradice was guarded by an Angel wauing a flaming sword The way to this in like manner is fenced There stands an Angell at the Table Gods Minister brandishing the sword of the Spirit and forbidding vnder paine of death any to eate of this fruit that haue their teeth set on edge with the apples of Sodome and grapes of Gomorrah Other fruits and meate are prepared for vs but we must be prepared for this before we eate it The bread of the earth cannot feed when thou eatest it till it bee changed into thy body because thou art more excellent then it but this bread which came downe from heauen is more excellent then thou art and therefore thou must be changed into it before it nourish thee All other meate is receiued as it is in it selfe and no otherwise but this is diuers as it is receiued Other meate affecteth and altereth the taste but heere the taste altereth the meate For if it be worthily receiued it is the body and blood of Christ if vnworthily it is but bare bread and wine If it meete with a spirituall taste and appetite stomack purged and prepared it proueth the food of life nay of immortality if otherwise it turneth into deadly poyson for hee that eateth and drinketh vnworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himselfe not discerning the Lords body A learned Physitian that tendreth the health and life of thy body will neuer minister strong physick that will amend or end thee before hee prepareth thy body accordingly This Sacrament is not onely foode but also physick to cure thy soule yea such strong physick as will worke effectually one way or other to thy health and saluation or to thy death and damnation Bee carefull therefore before thou takest it to prepare thy selfe for it and for thy helpe peruse the Admonition Hymne and Prayer following The admonition before the Communion THE ANALYSIS The due preparation to the Sacrament is by 1 Examinatiō whether thou hast 1 A feruent desire to partake of this holy table 2 Competent knowledge in this high mysterie 3 Faith in Christs incarnation death and affiance in the merits of both 4 A conscience cleansed by true repentance 5 An heart free from malice and all vncharitablenesse 2 Prayer THE TEXTS Let a man examine himselfe and so let him cate of that bread and drinke of that cup. 1. Cor. 11. 28. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousnesse sake for they shall be satisfied Math. 5 6. Ho euery one that thirsteth come
ye to the waters Isa. 55. 1. Giue vs euermore of this bread Ioh. 6. 34. For he that eateth and drinketh vnworthily eateth and drâ—nketh damnation to himselfe not discerning the Lords bodie 1. Corinth 11. 29. I am the bread of life hee that cometh to me shall not hunger and he that belieueth in me shall neuer thirst Ioh. 6. 35. Christ dwelleth in vs by faith Ephes. 3. 17. I will wash mine hands in innocencie and so will I go to thine altar ô God Psal. 26. 6. To the impure all things are impure Tit. 1. 15. If thou bring thy gift to the Altar and there remembrest that thy brother hath ought against thee Math 5. 23. Leaue thou thy gift before the Altar and go thy way be reconciled to thy brother and then come and offer thy gift ver 24. Wee being many are one bread and one bodie for we are all partakers of this one bread 1. Cor. 10. 17 A preparatory Hymne to bee vsed before or at the receiuing of the blessed Sacrament wherein the deuout soule expresseth her a Desire of the foode of life b Hope that she shall obtaine it c Thankes for it a As the Hart panteth after the water brookes so panteth my soule after thee ô God Psal. 42. 1. My soule thirsteth for God euen for the liuing God ver 2. My soule thirsteth for thee my soule longeth for thee as a drie and thirstie land Psal. 63. 1. I will blesse thee while I liue I will lift vp my hands in thy Name ver 4. b My soule shall be satisfied with marrow and fatnesse and my mouth shall praise thee with ioyfull lips ver 5. Thou preparest a table before me and my cup runneth ouer Ps. 23. 5. The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup. Psal 16. 5. I will take the cup of saluation call vpon the Name of the Lord Psal. 116. 13. c I will pay my vowes vnto the Lord now in the presence of all his people ver 14. I will offer vnto thee the sacrifice of thanksgiuing and will call vpon the name of the Lord ver 17. saying The Prayer before the Communion GRacious Redeemer who out of thy pierced side openedst to all that thirst for thy grace a double fountaine for sinne and vncleannesse the one of water the other of bloud the one to purge the guilt the other the filth of sinne and hast sealed these inestimable benefits of sanctification and redemption vnto all beleeuers by the Sacraments of Baptisme and of thy holy Supper assist me by thy Spirit in the sanctified vse of these holy Mysteries and Symholls of thy most blessed bodie and bloud Most louing bountifull Lord who hast prepared such a table for me giue me a mouth and stomacke according that I may worthily receiue these heauenly dainties to the glorie of thine infinite goodnesse and the euerlasting comfort of my soule Cleare the eyes of mine vnderstanding from all mists of hereticall fancies carnall imaginations that I may rightly distinguish the signes from the things signified by them and also discerne thy bodie from common meate Sharpen my appetite that I may hungrily feede vpon this bread of which whosoeuer eateth shall neuer hunger and stily drinke of this cup of which whosoeuer drinketh shall neuer thirst O thou true foode of my soule receiue me who am now to receiue thee Quicken me with thy Spirit who wilt feede me with thy flesh vouchsafe me thy grace who communicatest to me thy nature that as in and by these holy Mysteries I receiue life from thee so I may also receiue by them grace to liue to thee not seeking mine owne pleasure nor doing mine owne will but deuoting the remainder of my life to thy seruice and yeelding my selfe wholly to the power of thy sanctifying grace to worke in me alwaies that which is pleasing in thy sight So be it Amen Religious duties to be performed at the time of the receiuing the Communion 1. Prepare thy body by a decent gesture 2. Recollect thy mind and fixe thy thoughts wholly vpon this most sacred action stir vp in thee 3. Stirre vp in thee 1 An holy feare out of this consideration that God is there present in a speciall manner and his Angels attending on him and obseruing thee Say to thy selfe in the words of Iacoh O how fearefull is this place it is no other then the house of God and gate of heauen 2 An holy astonishment or admiration out of this consideration that the Lord thy Maker and Redeemer and the high possessour of heauen and earth so farre humbles himselfe as to bee thy guest Say to thy selfe in the words of Salomon Is it true indeed that God will dwell on the earth Behold the heauen and heauen of heauens cannot containe him how much lesse the narrow roome of my soule 1. King 8. 27. 3 An holy abashment or confusion out of this consideration that so vile a worme and sinfull wretch as thou art should haue so infinite a Maiestie and holy God to come and sup with thee Say to thy selfe in the words of the Centurion Lord I am not worthy that thou shouldest come vnder my roofe or with S. Peter Depart from me for I am a sinfull man 4 An holy sorrow out of this consideration yâ— thy sins did put thy Sauiour to these torments which are signified and liuely represented in this Sacrament Say to thy selfe in the words of Ieremiah O that mine eyes were a fountaine of teares to bewaile those sinnes which drew so much bloud from my Sauiour 5 An holy ioy out of this consideration that the infinite debt of thy sins is discharged and the acquittance deliuered into thy hands Say to thy selfe in the words spoken of Zacheus This day saluation is come into mine house 6 An holy desire of expressing some kind of thankfulnesse to God out of this consideration that together with the SacrameÌ„t thou receiuest Christ himselfe and all the benefits of his passion Say to thy selfe in the words of Dauid What shall I render vnto the Lord for all his benefits that he hath done vnto me I will take the cup of saluation and call vpon the name of the Lord. 4 Ioyne the signes with the things signified Take Feede on bodily Bread Wine ghostly Bodie Bloud 5 Obserue meditate vpon the resemblances betweene them 1 Bread and wine true and in substance not in appearance onely Christs bodie a true bodie his bloud true bloud not in shew onely as some Hereticks haue imagined 2 Bread one bodie or lumpe made of many graines wine one liquor or drinke of many grapes Christ his body one of many members vnited together 3 Bread and wine an entire repast Christs body and bloud the perfect refection of the soule 4 Bread and wine strengthen and comfort the heart Christs body and bloud est ablisheth the heart and comforteth the conscience 5 Bread and wine the common foode of men not children
had a place prepared for mee in heauen O Lord when thou camest to vs on earth Iohn was thy forerunner but thou wert my forerunner in thy returne into heauen Iohn prepared the way before thee on earth but thou preparedst away before me into heauen That way those regions in the aire which Lucifer defiled cursed by his fall through them from heauen thou hast clensed and blessed by the marching tryumphantly through them into heauen O blessed Creator and repairer of nature in thee not onely all the kindreds of the earth but all creatures vnder the cope of heauen are blessed and therefore they sigh and grone together with vs desiring feruently thy second comming The earth was blessed and sanctified by thy birth and thy treading vpon it The water by thy descending into the riuer Iordan at thy baptisme and walking on the Seas Now the ayre likewise and fire expected an honour and a blessing from thee and both receiued it the ayre by thy ascending through it the fire by sending downe the Holy Ghost in the likenesse of fierie Clouen Tonguer O Lord my Redeemer how excellent is thy Name in all the world Creatures without voice praise thee as the heauens and earth without vnderstanding knowe thee as the starre that lighted the Sages to thee without will obey thee as winds and Seas without eares hearken to thee as the figtree which thou cursedst and it withered without naturall affection bemoan thee as the stones that claue the vale that rent the earth that quaked at thy passion without will voluntarily offer thee seruice the Foale to beare thee the Doue to manifest thee the Fish to discharge thee the Sunne to hide thine ignominy among men and here the cloude to vaile thee from mortall eye and transport thee into heauen O Lord my Redeemer how excellent is thy name in al the world who makest the light thy garment the Angell thy messenger the aire thy race the cloudes thy charriot and flyest vpon the wings of the winde into heauen Thou art ascended vpon high thou hast led captiuity captiue In thy Passion thou wast Death's death killedst it In thy buriall thou wast the Graue's graue and destroyedst destruction and now in thy Ascension thou conquerdst conquest it selfe and ledst captiuity captiue and receiuedst gifts for men for the whole Church and euery Belieuer O Lord bestow these gifts liberally vpon me that I may grow in grace and the knowledge and loue of thee This day thou liftedst vp thy body from the earth lift vp my heart from it This day thou transportedst thy body to heauen transport my desires thither This day thou setledst thy selfe in thy Throne at the right hand of thy Father fixe my thoughts and settle mine affections on thee in heauen and on heauen for thee Amen The Feast of the comming downe of the Holy-Ghost or Whitsun-daye's Deuotion The ground of this Feast In the old Testament Prophecies Types In the new the Promises Performance of sending the holy Spirit PARALELL Prophecie I will powre out of my Spirit vpoÌ„ all flesh and your sons daughters shall prophecie c. Ioel 2. 28. Historie These are not drunken as ye suppose Act. 2. 15. This is that which was spoken by the Prophet Ioel ver 16. And it shal come to passe in the last daies that I wil powre out my Spirit vpon all flesh ver 17. Type He took vp the mantell of Eliah that fell from him and when the sons of the Prophets saw him they sayd The Spirit of Eliah doth rest on Elishah 2. King 13. 5. Accomplishment And they were filled with the Holy-Ghost c. Acts 2. 4. God sent the Spirit of his Sonne into your harts Gal. 4. 6. Promise Ye shall be baptized with the holy Ghost within these few daies Acts 1. 5. Performance They were filled with the holy Ghost c. Acts 2. 4. He shall baptize you with the holy Ghost and with fire Mat. 3. 11. There appeared to them cloueÌ„ tongs like fire and it fate vpon each of them Acts 2. 3. These signes shall shall follow them that belieue They shall speake with new tongues Mar. 16. 17. And they began to speake with other tongues as the Spirit gaue them vtterance Act. 2. 4 THE HYMNE FOR Whitsunday Wherein is expressed the holy Ghost's a 1 Sending b 2 Comming downe 3 Workes In generall c Creation d Renouation In speciall e Inhabitation f Inspiring Ministers Inclining the minds and wills of the people O Lord how manifold are thy workes In wisedome hast thou made them all the earth is full of thy riches Psal. 104. 24. So is the great and wide sea also wherein are things creeping innunâ—erable ' both small and great beasts verse 25. These waite all vpon thee and thou giuest them their meate in due season verse 27. a Thou sendest forth thy Spirit they are c created and thou d renewest the face of the earth verse 30. Thou hast asended vp on high thou hast led captiuity captiue and receiued gifts for men yea euen for the rebellious that the Lord God might e d well among them Psal. 68. 18. Hee bowed the heauens and b came downe Psalme 18. 9. Hee rod vpon the Cherubins and did flie hee did euen fly vpon the wings of the b winde verse 10. The Lord gaue the Word great f was the company of the Preachers or of them that published it Psal. 68. 11. The people shall come g willingly in the day of thy power or at the time of thy Assemblies in the bewty of holinesse from the wombe of the morning thou hast the dew of thy youth Psal. 110. 3. AN EXHORTATION to obey the motions of God's holy Spirit THE ANALYSIS The motiues to obey the motions of the Spirit are 1 Gods strict Commandement 2 The Saints continuall practice 3 The Spirit 's excellency who is the 1 Fountaine of grace 2 Lord of life 3 Comforter of the Elect. 4 Teacher of the Church 4 The benefits of obeying them 5 The danger of resisting them WAlke in the Spirit Gal. 5. 16. If we liue in the Spirit let vs walke in the Spirit verse 23. Grieue not the holy Spirit of God whereby yee are sealed to the day of redemption Ephes. 4. 30. Quench not the Spirit of God 1 Thes. 5. 19. Yee stiffnecked and vncircumcised in heart and eares yee doe alwaies resist the holy Ghost There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus who walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8. 1. That the righteousnesse of the Law might be fulfilled in vs who walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit verse 4. Ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit if the Spirit of God dwell in you verse 9. As many as are led by the spirit of God are the Sonnes of God verse 14. Declared to be the Sonne of God according to the Spirit of Holinesse Rom. 1. 4. The Law
vnto you good measure pressed downe and running ouer Luke 6. 38. Whosoeuer shall giue to drink vnto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a Disciple verily he shall not lose his reward THE PRAYER FOR Wednesday morning composed of 1. Petitions sutable to the worke of the day 2. Motiues to workes of mercy agreeable to the precedent exhortation O Lord what is man that thou art so mindfull of him or the sonne of man that thou so regardest him Thou madest so much of him that thou madest all creatures for him the Fowles of the Aire Fish in the Sea and Beasts of the Field to furnish his Table and clothe his nakednesse and serue his vse The earth thou createdst to sustaine him the water to wash and coole him the aire to breath him the fire to warme him the Flowers to refresh him the Herbes to cure him the Fruits and Graines to nourish him the Mines to inrich him the precious Stones to adorne him yea the glorious Lamps of Heauen The Sunne and Moone to light him the one in the Day the other in the Night and both to measure his time to direct his husbandry to recreate him in his trauells to ripen his fruits and increase his store Nay which farre surpasseth the glorious beames of the Sunne and his comfortable light thou gauest him a sure light of prophecy before the day dawne and the day-starre arose in the Firmament of the Church and afterwards causedst the Sunne of righteousnesse to arise vpon him to shine in his heart in this life by grace and in Heauen by glory for euermore Shall I not reioyce in this light Shall I not open all the Casements of my soule to let it in Shall I not account their feet beautifull and the ground happy on which they tread who bring me tidings of this wonderfull Light Shall I not loue thee aboue all things who hast preferred mee aboue all things Shall I not serue thee with all the faculties of my body and soule who makest all thy Creatures serue me What pretext can I haue for my ingratitude and disobedience to thee so gracious a Lord and Master I cannot pleade ignorance of thy Deity for the Heauens declare thy glory and the Firmament sheweth thy handy-worke I cannot pretend ignorance of thy Law for thou hast put thy Word into my mouth and written thy Law in my heart I cannot alledge that I neuer heard of or saw the Light of thy Gospell for the light came into the world and shined in the darkenesse and the darkenesse comprehended it not Neuer had any Nation a more bright Sun-shine of the Gospell then ours But we loue darkenesse more then light because our deeds are euill And because we loue darkenesse more then light thou mightest most iustly haue already cast vs into outward darkenesse But there is mercy with thee that thou mayest be feared there is Balme in Gilead to cure cur deadly wounds there is Vnctim in Christ there is saluation in Iesus there is redemption in his bloud there is satisfaction in his death there is merit in his perfect obedience there is hope in his resurrection and ascension and euerlasting comfort in his sitting at the right hand of his Father to make intercession for vs. O Eternall Aduocate pleade my muse Thou who out of thy pierced side openedst to all the inhabitants of the earth a Fountaine for sinne and vncleannesse wash mee from my wickednesse and clense me from my sinne grant me thy peace which thou promisest thy chosen that my heart bee not troubled Make an atonement for mee and bring me into fauour with thy Father and my Father thy God and my God And because all my hope is in thy mercy Lord let me imitate that vertue in thee which I implore Let mee patterne that grace in my life which saueth my life Let mee from my heart forgiue my brethren their trespasses compassionate their infirmities relieue their necessities ease their crosses and beare their burthens Let the hungry haue neuer a iust action against me at thy Barre for not giuing them meate nor the thirsty for not giuing them drinke nor the naked for not clothing them nor the sicke and imprisoned for not visiting them nor the fatherlesse and widowes for not protecting defending them Let me who need abundant mercy shew abundant mercy Let me mete such measure to my brethren as I expect from thee As a good childe let mee follow the example of my heauenly Father who as on this day caused the Sunne to rise vpon the Iust and the vniust So let the light of my knowledge and heat of my loue be extended to all but especially to those of the houshold of faith And as the Sun shineth vpon my body so make thy countenance shine vpon my soule As the Sunne draweth vp exhalations from the earth so raise thou my thoughts and desires from earthy comforts to heauenly obiects As the Sunne melteth Snow and Ice so melt thou my heart frozen in the dregs of sinne As the Snnne dispelleth all mists of darkenesse and cleereth the Aire from all Fogs and noysome Vapours so let thy Spirit disped all errors of my vnderstanding and cleere my will from all fogs and fumes of noysome lusts Giue mee grace to keepe a regular constant and vnwearied course vpon earth as the Sunne doth in Heauen and to grow in grace and increase in heauenly wisdome as the Sunne ascendeth higher and shineth still brighter till it bee high Noone Lastly the Sunne reioyceth as a Gyant to runne his course So grant that I may cheerefully runne and finish my race and after I haue finished it receiue the reward of the Righteous who shall shine as the Sun in the Kingdome of the Father for euermore Amen The close out of Scripture Grant Lord that I may bee filled with the knowledge of thy Will in all wisdome and spirituall vnderstanding Col. 1. 9. That I may walke worthy of thee please thee in all things being fruitfull in all good workes and increasing in the knowledge of thee ver 10. Strengthened with all might through thy glorious power vnto all patience and long suffering with ioyfulnesse ver 11. The Deuotion for Wednesdayes Euening THE HYMNE O Giue thankes vnto the Lord for he is gracious and his mercy endureth for euer Psal. 136. 1. Which onely doth wonders for his mercy indureth for euer ver 4. Which by his excellent wisedome made the Heauens for his mercy endureth for euer ver 5. Which made great lights for his mercy endureth for euer ver 7. The Sunne to rule the day for his mercy endureth for euer ver 8. The Moone and the Stars to gouerne the night for his mercy endureth for euer ver 9. He telleth the number of the Starres and calleth them by their names Psal. 147. 4. He appointed the Moone for certaine seasons and the Sun knoweth his going downe Psal. 104. 19. Thou makest darknesse that
it may be night wherein all the beasts of the Forrest doe moue ver 20. The Sunne ariseth and they get them away together and lay them downe in their dens ver 22. Man goeth forth vnto his worke and to his labour vntill the Euening ver 23. O Lord our Gouernour how excellent is thy Name in all the world Psal. 8. 9. The Admonition for Wednesday Euening being an Exhortation to purity in heart answerable to the sixth Beatitude THE ANALYSIS Purity especially in heart is to bee prayed for and sought after in regard of God his 1. Speciall command for it 2. Particular taking notice of it 3. High esteeme and approbation thereof 4. Gracious promises to it of 1 Life 2 Fauor of Kings 3 Sight of himselfe 4 His fauour and bounty 5 Profit by the Word 6 Abode in Heauen THE TEXTS NOw therefore serue the Lord and serue him in sinceritie of heart and in truth Ios. 24. 14. Prepare your hearts vnto the Lord and serue him onely 1. Sam. 7. 3. They that are of a forward heart are an abomination to the Lord but such as are vpright in the way are his delight Prou. 11. 20. My sonne giue mee thy heart and let thine eyes obserue my wayes Pro. 23. 26. Cleanse your hands yee sinners and purge your hearts yee double-minded Iam. 4. 8. Serue God with a perfect heart and with a willing minde for the Lord searcheth all hearts and vnderstandeth all imaginations of the thoughts 1. Chron. 28. 9. O Ierusalem wash thine heart Ier 4. 4. God seeth not as man seeth for man looketh on the outward appearance but God iudgeth the heart 1. Sam. 16. 7. Thou knowest the hearts of all men Acts 1. He will lighten things hid in darknesse and make the counsels of thy heart manifest 1. Cor. 4. 5. Thou louest truth in the inward parts Psal. 51. 6. Wee speake not as pleasing men but as pleasing God who tryeth the hearts 2. Thes. 2. 4. Let it bee the hidden man of the heart in that which is not corruptible the ornament of a meeke and quiet spirit which is in the sight of God of great price 1. Per. 3. 4. Keepe the heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life Prou. 4. 23. Hee that loueth purenesse in heart the King shall be his friend Prou. 22. 11. Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God Math. 5. 8. Truely God is good vnto Israel euen to him that is of a cleane heart Psal. 73. 1. That which fell on good ground are they which with an honest and good heart heare the Word and keepe it and bring forth fruits with patience Luke 18. 15. Who shall ascend into the Hill of the Lord or who shall stand in his Holy place Psal. 24. 3. He that hath cleane hands and a pure heart verse 4. Hee that walketh vprightly and speaketh vprightly c. Isai. 33. 15. He shall dwell on high c. The Prayer for Wednesday-Euening Composed of 1 Petitions sutable to the sufferings of Christ on this day 2 Motiues to perswade purity in heart and sincerity agreeable to the precedent exhortation MOst holy blessed and glorious God who dwellest in light which none may approach I miserable and sinfull creature by nature a child of the night and of darknesse nay very darknesse it selfe am ashamed and confounded to lift vp mine eyes to heauen or looke towards the place where thine honour dwelleth For I haue sinned against heauen and against thee and deserue to be cast out for euer from the sight of thy face and presence of thy glorious Maiestie into vtter darknesse which the diuel the Prince of darknesse and his Angels that are reserued in chaines of darknesse till the great and terrible Day of thy wrath For that heauenly light which thou hast kindled in my heart though I seeke to smother it neuer so much clearely conuinceth my conscience that I preferre the pleasures of sinne which are the workes of darknesse before the glorious inheritance of thy Saints in light hauing my very vnderstanding the onely light which is in me much darkened through the ignorance that is in me by reason of the hardnesse of my heart And notwithstanding thou hast called mee early and late and stretched thy hands all the day long vnto mee yet I haue walked still in the vanitie of my minde and wearied my selfe in the wayes of wickednesse and haue not hearkened to thy voice whereby I might walke in thy lawes which thou hast appointed for me Or if for a short time I haue reioyced in the light of the Gospel yet soone after I haue quenched thy Spirt and haue giuen my selfe to wantonnesse to worke filthinesse with greedinesse Enter not into iudgement with thy seruant O Lord for in thy sight shall no man liuing be iustified Though thou shouldest drowne all my former sinnes in the bottomelesse sea of thy mercy yet the sins of this day alone giue sufficient euidence against mee to condemne mee My vnsanctified desires and impure thoughts and vaine imaginations and idle words and vnfruitfull workes make mee vnexcusable before thee I cannot answer for my abuse of the creatures mis-spending my time which is most precious ouerstipping many occasions of doing good How negligent haue I beene in the duties of my calling How cold and dull in my exercises of Religion How defectiue in the confession of my sinnes How carelesse in applying the soueraigne remedies of the Word My very prayers which I make vnto thee for the supplying of all my wants and healing of all my infirmities are accompanied with so many wants and infirmities that I haue neede to aske pardon for these my imperfect prayers Lord giue mee a sense of my stupidity and senselesnesse and a feruent desire of more feruency and zeale and true remorse and sorrow for want of remorse and sorrow for these my sinnes And because that I know not how to pray as I ought let thy Spirit make intercession for me with sighs and grones which cannot be expressed and let the bloud of thy Sonne speake better things for mee then the bloud of Abel O let not the glorious light of Heauen goe downe vpon thy displeasure against me but for thy decre Sonne Iesus Christ his sake who is the prâ—pitiation for my sinnes be reconciled vnto mee while it is called to day that I may finde rest vnto my soule this night together with the comfortable refreshing of my body by sleepe So shall I neuer cease with a ioyfull heart and a cheerefull voice to praise thee for thine vnspeakable loue in electing me to eternall life in Heauen before thou hadst laid the foundations of the earth Thy goodnesse in creating mee after thine owne Image thy mercy in redeeming mee with the bloud of thine onely begotton Sonne thy grace in calling mee to the knowledge of thy truth and thy fatherly care in safely protecting me mercifully
haue sinned against heauen and against thee c. v. 20. And he arose went to his Father but when he was yet a great way off his Father sawe him and had compassion came fell on his neck and kissed him v. 20. And he said to Iesus Lord remember me when thou commest into thy kingdome Luk. 23. 41. And Iesus said vnto him Vetily I say vnto thee This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise v. 43. Him ye haue taken and by wicked hands haue crucified and slaine Act. 2. 23. Let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Iesus whom yee haue crucified both Lord and Christ v. 36. Now when they heard this they were pricked in heart and said to Peter and the rest of the Apostles Men and brethren what shall wee doe verse 37. Then Peter said Repent and be baptized for the remission of sins v. 38. Then they that gladly receiued the Word were baptized and the same day were added vnto them about three thousand soules verse 41. This is a faithfull saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Iesus came into the world to saue sinners of whom I am chiefe 1 Tim. 1. 15. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy that in mee Iesus Christ might first shew forth all long suffering for a patterne to them which should hereafter belieue on him to eternall life v. 16. A Psalme for the sicke lying at the point of death wherein The humble and faithfull Christian 1 Layeth open his affliction In body In minde 2 Confesseth his many and grieuous sins 3 Earnestly prayeth for Audience Sence of Gods fauour Pardon for his sinne 4 Acknowledgeth God's great mercies through his whole life 5 Professeth his Trust in God Ioy in the holy Ghost Peace of conscience Desire of Death Assured hope of eternall blisse 6 Commendeth his soule to God O Lord God of my saluation I haue cryed day and night before thee ô let my prayer enter into thy presence Psal. 88. 1. For my soule is full of trouble and my life draweth nigh vnto hell v. 2. I am weary of my groaning euery night wash I my bed and water my couch with my teares Psal. 6. 6. I am accounted as one that goeth downe to the pit I haue bin as a man that hath no strength Psal. 88. 3. Free among the dead like vnto them that bee wounded and that lie in the graue which be out of remembrance and cut away from thine hand v. 4. Thine indignation lyeth hard vpon me and thou hast vexed me with all thy stormes v. 6. I am powred out like water and all my bones are out of ioynt my heart also in the middest of my bowells is like melted waxe Psal. 22. 14. My strength is dryed vp like a potsheard and my tongue cleaueth to my gummes and thou shalt bring mee into the dust of death v. 13. The sorrowes of death compasse me and the ouerflowings of vngodlines make me afraid Psal. 18. 3. The paines of hell come about me the Snares of death ouertake me v. 4. Thine arrowes stick fast in me and thy hand presseth mee sore Psal. 38. 2. There is no health in my flesh because of thy displeasure neither any rest in my bones by reason of my sin v. 3. For my wickednesses are gone ouer my head and are like a sore burden too heauy for me to beare v. 4. If thou Lord wilt bee extreame to marke what is done amisse ô Lord who may abide it Psal. 130. 3. Out of the deepe haue I called vnto thee ô Lord Lord heare my voice v. 1. O let thine eares consider well the voice of my complaint v. 2. Lord why abhorrest thou my soule and hidest thy face from me Psal. 88. 14. I am in misery and like to him that is at the point to dye from my youth vp thy terrors haue I suffered with a troubled minde v. 15. Thy wrathfull displeasure goeth ouer me and the feare of thee hath vndone me v. 16. Haue mercy vpon mee ô God after thy great goodnesse according to the multitude of thy mercies doe away mine offences Psal. 51. 1. Wash me throughly from my wickednesse and clense me from my sinne v. 2. Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy Spirit from me v. 11. O giue me the comfort of thy helpe againe and stablish me with thy free Spirit v. 12. Neuerthelesse I am alwaies with thee for thou hast holden me vp by thy right hand Psal. 73. 23. Thou shalt guide me by thy counsell and after that receiue me with glory v. 24. Whom haue I in heauen but thee ô Lord and I desire none in earth in comparison of thee v. 23. Returne to thy rest ô my soule for the Lord hath rewarded thee Psal. 116. 7. Thou hast put gladnesse in my heart more then theirs whose corne and wine and oyle increaseth Psal. 4. 8. I will lay me downe and take my rest for it is thou Lord onely that makest mee dwell in safety v. 9. I will behold thy presence and when I awake vp after thy likenesse I will bee satisfied with it Psal. 17. 16. I shall be satisfied with the plenteousnesse of thine house and thou shalt giue mee drinke of thy pleasures as of the riuers Psal. 36. 8. For with thee is the well of life and in thy light shall I see light v. 9. Thou shalt shew me the path of life in thy presence is fulnes of ioy and at thy right hand there is pleasure for euermore Psal. 16. 12. Into thy hands I commend my Spirit for thou hast redeemed me ô Lord thou God of truth Psal. 31. 6. A Prayer for the sicke lying at the mercy of God and ready to depart AETernall and omnipotent infinite incomprehensible God Lord of my life and determiner of my dayes My body now is resoluing into dust and my soule returning to thee that gauest it O Lord most holy ô God most mighty draw neere vnto me who make hast to come vnto thee Giue mee a cleerer sight of thee by how much the neerer I am out of the darke prison of my body Giue me also a quicker taste of the powers of the life to come that I may more comfortably passe ouer these last troubles of this present life O Lord my soule is heauy euen vnto death for the weight of al my sins aggrauated by the diuel is at once vpon me and I sink and faint vnder this burdon which is too heauy for me to beare Neither is there any meanes vnder heauen to ease mee of it but by laying it vpon him that hath borne our infirmities and carried our sorrowes O Father of mercy and God of all consolation let not the guilt of my sins or horror of thy iudgements or Sathans suggestions or the feare of death or terrors of hell driue me to desperation I confesse that for
of thanksgiuing p. 547. A prayer after recouerie p. 551. The Close out of Scripture p. 559. The dying man's deuotion p. 560. The first admonition to the sicke being an admonition to patience p. â—63 The second admonition against despaire p. 594. A Psalme for the sicke lying at the point of death p. 594. A Prayer for the sicke To the Vnitie p. 600. To the Trinitie p. 604. To the Lord Iesus p. 608. THE PREPARATION TO RELIGIOVS exercises in generall PAR. I. Of Deuotion PRemeditation is the preparation to priuate prayer priuate to publicke priuate and publicke to the hearing the word priuate and publicke prayer together with the hearing of the word to the worthie participation of the holy Sacrament For the Sacrament receiues strength and vigour from the word preached the word preached from publicke prayer publicke prayer from priuate Deuotion and that from premeditation and consideration of the nature of deuotion and necessitie of preparation it selfe to all holy duties in the immediate worship of God Deuotion is the harts warmth or rather lifes bloud of religion It is a sacred bond knitting the soule vnto God It is a spirituall muskle mouing onely vpward and lifting vp the hearts eyes and hands continually vnto heauen And because it consisteth rather in the feruour of the affections then light of the thoughts of blaze or lustre in the words it is better felt then vnderstood and yet better vnderstood then can be expressed Especially priuate deuotion which is the Saint to whom I deuote this Treatise For priuate deuotion to shunne ostentaâ—ion and hypocrisie in heauenly things alwayes shuts her selfe vp in her closet desiring no eye to see her but her Fathers in secret Wounded she is like the spouse in the Canticles with the darts of diuine loue and continually bleedeth but inwardly in teares of compassion compunction and excessiue ioy There appeares no externall orifez in the flesh to be seene Shee resembles the strange plant in Plinie which buds inwardly and shooteth forth no bud blossome or leafe outwardly For if priuate deuotion cometh once to be knowne it ceaseth to be priuate The greatest commendation of it is like to that of the Garamantite a precious stone that hath no beautie nor lustre in the outside or in the surface but within the bodie of it appeares golden drops of diuine infusion What Cyprian speaketh of the wâ—rke of regeneration may be truly applyed to this vertue It is felt before it can be spoken of and it must be kindled in the heart by the Spirit before it can be felt It is the true Vest all fire that should be still kept burning in the heart but if it go out like that of the Vestals it must bee kindled from heauen To thee therefore ô most holy Spirit I addresse my prayer to kindle and keepe this fire in my soule by thy heauenly blasts Heate my heart with the feruour of true Deuotion and touch my tongue with a coale from thine altar that the words of my mouth and meditations of my heart may inflame all that reade these deuotions with a loue of deuotion it selfe and true Zeale Lev's censure may seeme too tart He that is not more religious in Lent then at other times hath no religion as all But I haue good warrant to suspect the sinceritie of their Deuotion altogether who are not more deuout in priuate then in publike For fire the closer it is kept the hotter it burneth and the exhalations which are violently detained in cranies vnder ground and can haue no vent are of force to moue the earth it selfe It cannot be otherwise but that the penitent or compassionate eye which droppeth in publike should runne and gush out with riuers of waters in priuate The afflicted soule which sometimes stealeth a groane and fetcheth a sigh in the Church offers vp often prayers with strong cries at home He that is affected and eleuated with spirituall ioy in publike is transported when he is alone and hath priuate communications with God S. Paul spake words of truth and sobernesse to the Corinthians Whether we he besides our selues it is to God or whether we be sober it is to you And Saint Ierome confirmeth it with an oath that after many dayes nay weekes spent by him in fasting and prayer in the end hee was rauished in spirit and seemed to haue priuate conuersation and familiaritie with quires of Angels My intent is not to detract any thing from publike deuotion but my desire is to adde to priuate Publike is more solemne but priuate ought to be more frequent Publike makes more noise but priuate for the most part hath a deeper channell Our Sauiour diuideth blessednesse equally betweene them both Blessed saith he is he that heareth the word and keepeth it it is publike deuotion that heareth the word preached but priuate that keepes it Publike gathereth Manna in greater aboundance but priuate is the golden Omer that preserueth it The Hart doth not so pant and bray for the riuers of waters as the soule of euery religious man longeth for the waters of life running plentifully out of the golden spoutes of the Temple the Ministers of the word but priuate deuotion it is that breedes this longing after the publike Ministerie Let vs take a patterne of Deuotion from our blessed Sauiour to whom all deuotions are due What commandeth hee by expresse precept When thou prayest enter into thy closet and what commendeth hee most by his owne practise It is true he calleth his house the house of prayer and as we reade that he was daily preaching so I doubt not but hee was daily praying in the Temple yet ye shall find him oftener on the Mount or in the Garden or in some priuate solitarie place praying alone then in the Temple yea and continuing longer in prayer spending sometimes whole nights in it This practise of our Sauiour hath bene a president to all those whose names in the Church of God are and haue bene as a sweete ointment for daily offering the sweetest incense of prayer to God Religious men neuer are wanting in publike assemblies but they exceed in priuate Deuotion Publike exercises of religion be their feasts but priuate their ordinarie Where find you Daniel but in his chamber at his Deuotion looking towards Ierusalem Where find you Dauid but in his couch watering it with his teares and communing with his owne heart in the night Where find you Cornelius but in his house in praying Where find you Saint Iohn on the Lords day but in the I le alone by himselfe in the spirit The powring out our speciall complaints to God our vowes to refraine such companie and such occasions of sinne the ripping vp of our whole life with a particular confession of our sins aggrauated by all circumstances and all those parts of repentance or the soules
blessed Body and Blood sitting at the Communion as they doe at their ordinary table without expressing any thankfull humility or giuing testimony that they discerne the Lords body from common meat Is this to serue the Lord Christ with feare To reioyce vnto him with trembling To kisse the Sonne least hee be angry Nay to fall lowe before his footstoole because hee is holy But I will speake no more of Preparation to holy duties in generall least the preludium grow longer then the lesson I am now to prick The Preparation to Prayer PARAG. 1. My heart is indighting of a good matter my tongue is the penne of a ready writer saith the Kingly Prophet and againe My heart was hot within mee while I was musing the fire burned then spake I with my tongue If this sweete singer of Israel first pricked the notes in his heart before he began to sing them If he who was inspired by the holy Ghost framed his Prayers and Psalmes of thanksgiuing in his minde before hee deliuered them by his tongue ought not we who are as farre behinde him in his gifts as we are below him in condition much more meditate before we vtter any thing to the Lord I speake not of pious â—iaculations which must needs be suddaine as their occasions are and the motions of Gods Spirit within vs but of a set conceiued Prayer wherein we ought not onely well to ponder the matter but euen weigh if wee haue time euery word in the ballance that they bee not found too light and thereby our Prayers against sin be turned into sinne Bee not rash with thy mouth and let not thine heart be hasty to vtter any thing before God Seneca obseruing how bold men made with God and what strange petitions they blushed not to preferre vnto him gaue this sage aduise So deale with men as if God saw thee and so speake with God as if men heard thee For many men vent such vncharitable enuious and malitious matters such confused and vndigested stuffe such impertinencies inconsequencies absurdities especially in their priuate extemporarie Prayers as they would be ashamed that any man of quality or vnderstanding should ouer heare them It would make a prophane man laugh but a Religious man weepe to listen and marke how sometimes they court Almighty God with idle complements sometimes they cast vp Prayers with strong lines to heauen hoping thereby to drawe downe a blessing from God sometimes they expostulate with God in a sawcie and sometimes pose him in a ridiculous manner Sometimes they discourse profoundly in their Prayer as if they meant in good earnest to teach Almighty God what hee ought to doe Sometimes they are too tedious cloying his eares with bablings and vaine repetitions and sometimes againe they are too briefe curtayling their Orisens and breaking off in the middest One while they fly too high and meddle with counsells of State and another while they fall too low and tell God a Homely houshould tale If they heare a strange Phrase or an affected straine of puf-past eloquence this they cull out carefully and insert into their garlands Peter Moulin iustly taxeth a Fryar for styling Christ the Dolphin of heauen and I thinke he as well deserueth blame who prayeth to God that he may march to heauen in perfect equipage or come vnto God not with the soales of his foot but the foot of his soule who layeth open before God his manifold defections infections imperfections his sinnes of an higher straine and deeper staine and commendeth to his gracious goodnesse al the Ministers of the Church by what titles soeuer they are signified or dignified Giue me leaue to tell these men in their owne language that this is playing not Praying and that in sending vp such prayers they burne not incense to God but incense him rather Or if they will not heare me let the graue high-Priest among the ancient Romans Schoole them as he did a Vestall whom he obserued to be too curious and neate about her work which was tending the holy fire Vergin doe your work holily rather then handsomely reuerently rather then trimly There are a sort of men in direct opposition to these who affect a kinde of Rhetorike which weedeth out all flowers of Rhetorike They can away with no Prayer or meditation which fauours of the lumpe though the oyle be sacred Nothing pleaseth them in this kinde but that which is spunne with an ouer course thread Coursnes to them is strength dulnes grauity drinesse iudgement leanenes health and pack-staffe plainnesse the euidence as they terme it of the Spirit and simplicity of the Gospell Well may they claime kindred with the old Aegyptians who as Herodotus and Straboreport temper morter with their hands and kneade their dow with their feete Right so these men in all other things like well of art and wit where the matter is vile and base but in the deliuery of heauenly conceptions vtterly abandon them But they should haue considered better that sharpnesse of wit and true eloquence are gifts of God and therefore best of all to bee employed in holy things as gold and siluer are best bestowed in adorning Gods house so it bee without superstition Was not fine linnen and blew silke and Scarlet of as good vse in the Arke as Camels haire Is not the Queene brought into the spirituall Salomans chamber in Vesture of gold wrought about with diuers colours Was not the holy oyle and precious oyntment made by Gods coÌ„mandement according to the art of the Apothecary Are there not in the Prophet Esay the Psalmes of Dauid and the Epistles of Saint Paul in the originall language and other parts of Scripture more exquisite peeces of Artt and streines of eloquence then are to be found in any other writings whatsoeuer If they are accursed who doe the worke of the Lord negligently certainly the more diligence we vse the more blessed our holy labours shall be For my part I am resolued with Dauid neuer to offer that to God which costeth mee nothing There remaine yet in some places some of the base sect of the Patttalorochita who place Religion in nosing their words and speaking to God in a harsh and vncouth sound and pronuntiation They will not cry but howle and bellow to him But these are so few in number and their error is so contemptible that I hold it scarce fit the naming and no way worthy the refuting I would there were no more left of the sect of the Pharisees who vnder colour of long Prayers 〈◊〉 widowes houses who persume their consâ—â—ing and corrupt dealing with the balme of Gâ—lead who make Religion and Deuotion a stalking horse to their ambition and auaritious purposes and ends O mercifull God how is thy patience abused How is thy Maiesty sleightned How is thy worship prophaned O what sinfull wretches are we who need a large pardon not onely for our profane
7. Purge me with Hysope and I shall be cleane wash me and I shall be whiter then snow Psal. 51. 7. I will purge away thy drosse and take away all thy Tinnâ— Isa. 1. 25. For their sakes I sanctifie my selfe that they also may be sanctified Iohn 17. 19. Being sanctified by the holy Ghost Rom. 15. 16. Such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified 1. Cor. 6. 11. That he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word Eph. 5. 26. For by one offering he hath perfected them for euer that are sanctified Heb. 10. 14. To them that are sanctified by God the Father c. Iude 1. 1. I know that my redeemer liueth c. Iob 19. 25. Though after my skin wormes destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God ver 26. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsell and afterwards receiue me to glorie Psal. 73. 24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast giuen me bee with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast giuen me Ioh. 17. 24. Come yee blessed of my Father inherit the kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world Math. 25. 34. Feare not little flocke for it is your Fathers pleasure to giue you the kingdome Luke 12. 32. If so be we suffer with him we shall also bee glorified together with him Rom. 8. 17. The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glorie that shall be reuealed in vs ver 18. Whom he iustifieth them also he glorifieth ver 30. Who shall change our vile bodie that it may be fashioned to his glorious body Phil. 3. 21. I haue fought a good fight I haue finished my course I haue kept the faith 2. Tim. 4. 7. Henceforth there is layed vp for me a crowne of righteousnes which the Lord the righteous Iudge shall giue me at that day and not to me onely but vnto them also that loue his appearing ver 8. Blesse the Lord ô my soule and forget not all his benefits Psal. 103. 2. Which forgiueth all thy sinne and healeth all thy diseases ver 3. O Lord thou hast brought vp my soule from the graue thou hast kept me aliue that I should not go downe to the pit Psal. 30. 3. The Lord killeth and maketh aliue c. 1. Sam. 2 6. It is God that girdeth me with strength and maketh my way perfect Psal. 18. 32. He teacheth my hands to warre so that a bow of steele is broken by mine armes ver 34. Which satisfieth thy mouth with good things and maketh thee young and lustie as an Eagle Psal. 103. 5. Come and let vs returne vnto the Lord for he hath torne and he will heale vs he hath smitten and he will bind vs vp Hos. 6. 1. I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which thou hast shewed vnto thy seruant for with my staffe I passed ouer this Iordan and now I am become two bands Genes 32. 10. Also the Lord gaue Iob twise as much as he had before Iob 42. 10. Charge the rich in this world that they bee not high minded nor trust in vncertaine riches but in the liuing God who giueth vs richly all things to enioy 1. Ti. 6. 17. Thou hast set me at libertie when I was in thrall Psal 4. 1. Cornelius a iust man and of good report Acts 10. 22. And these all hauing obtained a good report through faith receiued not the promises Hebrewes 11. 39. Oyntment and perfume reioyce the heart so doth the sweetnes of a mans friend by heartie counsell Prou. 27â—9 Then came to Iob all his brethren and all his sisters and all they that had bene of his acquaintance c. Iob 42. 11. Thou Lord onely makest mee dwell in safetie Psal. 4. 8. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide vnder the shadow of the Almightie Psal. 91. 1. Behold he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleepe Psal. 121. 4. The Lord shall preserue thee from all euill he shall preserue thy soule A preparatorie Hymne collected out of diuerse Psalmes where in the deuout soule desireth Accessea. Audienceb. Assistancec. Acceptanced. a Thou sayest seeke ye my face my heart said vnto thee thy face Lord will I seeke Psal. 27. 8. Hide not thy face farre from mee nor put thy seruant away in anger ver 9. Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy Spirit from me Psal. 51. 11. b Heare ô Lord when I crie vnto thee haue mercy also vpon me and answer me Psal. 27. 7. Ponder my words ô Lord consider my meditation Psal. 5. 1. My heart is enditing a good matter my tongue is the pen of a ready writer Psal. 45. 1. c O Lord open thou my lips and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise Psal. 51. 15. Let my prayer bee set forth before thee as incense and the lifting vp of my hands as an euening sacrifice Psal. 141. 2. Set a watch ô Lord before my mouth and keepe the doore of my lips ver 3. Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart bee acceptable in thy sight ô Lord my strength and my redeemer Psal. 19. 14. A preparatorie Prayer wherein all the conditions requisite in Prayer are expressed and prayed for HEauenly Father whose gift it is that I can aske any good gift at thy hands without whose grace I cannot desire thy healthfull and sauing grace Infuse into my heart the Spirit of supplication that in an awfull reuerence of thy Maiestie out of a true sence and feeling of my wants and infirmities and a liuely faith in thy promises I may with chearefulnesse of mind and feruencie of Deuotion and constant perseuerance lift vp a pure and plaine heart vnto thee at all times humbly intreating thy souereigne bountie for such things onely as thou in thy eternall wisdome hast pre-ordained to giue and calling vpon thee in such order and manner as thou hast prescribed me to aske in that absolute patterne of all prayer set downe in the Gospell by my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ. In whose name mediation and words I crie Abba Our Father which art in heauen hallowed be thy Name c. A preparation to the hearing of the word GOd in his infinite wisedome hath so disposed the meanes of our saluation that the soueraigne Antidote against sinne death is conueyed into the soule through the same passage whereby the deadly poyson first entered Death stole in at the eare by suggestion of the euill spirit and now life in the hearing of the word passeth in at the same gate of the soule by the operation of the holy Spirit Hast thou an eare ô Christian by thy profession for the diuell and none for God An eare to receiue poyson dropped in and not to
place that might bring forth better fruits Yet thou sparest mee and striuest to ouercome my euill nature with thy goodnesse Mine eyes gush out like riuers of waters for my sin and the sinne of this nation Doth not the land euen groane vnder the heauy burden of our transgressions Haue not our infectious sinnes long agoe deserued an infectious disease and our rebellions against thee the sword and our barrennesse in good workes a dearth and our want of penitent and compassionate teares a drouth our ouerflowing luxury a deluge and our burning lusts fier from heauen and our loathing the Manna of our soule a famine of the Word Notwithstanding thy mercie triumpheth ouer iustice and contrary to mine and all our deserts and aboue hope of any of vs thou sendest blessings for curses peace for trouble plenty for want beauty for ashes and the oyle of gladnesse for the spirit of heauinesse Who is a God like vnto thee that pardoneth iniquity and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage who considerest not the euill that we do but the goodnesse which thou art This last night past for the sinnes of the former day thou mightest most iustly haue taken me away in the darke and east mee â—nto vtter darknesse But thou coueredst my sins and hiddest me safe vnder the shadow of thy wings and I haue taken quiet and comfortable rest and with ioy and cheerefulnesse I behold the day spring from on high come to visit me Lord let not these thy mercies because they are ordinary diminish but rather because they are continual increase my thankfull duties and religious obsequies vnto thee As thou heapest blessing vpon blessing so still adde grace to grace that thy goodnesse continued to me may make me continually better And sith now thou hast giuen mee a day more to my life grant that I may giue and consecrate it to thee by spending it wholly in thy seruice and the necessary duties of my calling Which that I may more cheerefully performe open thy hand to fit mee with all those good things I neede and stretch out thine arme to turne from me all the euills I feare Aboue all things keepe mee from the vnprofitable workes of darknesse that my sins turne not day into night sith thy goodnesse hath turned night into day Awake my soule from carnall security as thou hast my body from sleepe that I may stand vp from the dead and Christ may giue me light to walke honestly vprightly and circumspectly as becommeth the childe of the day And that I be not ashamed to walke naked in the light put vpon mee the true wedding garment and couer me with the robes of thy sonnes righteousnesse And as the light of the Sunne shineth before mee so grant that my light may shine before men that they may see my good workes and glorifie thee my heauenly Father And because thou art the light which enlightneth euery man that commeth into the world cast I beseech thee the bright beames of thy fauour vpon thy whole Church Propagate thy Gospell through the whole world and by the preaching of thy Word adde those daily to the Church that shall be saued Say to the North Giue and to the South Restore and speedily accomplish the number of thine Elect and so Come Lord Iesu come quickly More particularly I pray thee for the prosperous and flourishing estate of the Churches of great Britaine and Ireland Crowne the Kings Maiesty with all royall graces befitting his high calling Establish his Throne that hee may aduance thy Kingdome Blesse our Queene that she may bee a nursing Mother to thy Spowse Blesse the Prince and Princesse Palatine and all the royall Issue that in their stocke the roote of Iesse may spring vp and flourish ouer the whole earth Blesse the Nobles and Peeres of this Realme that they may maintaine thine Honour and support thy Gospell Blesse the Bishops and Ministers that they may preserue thy worship and carefully feede thy flocke Blesse the Iudges and Magistrates that they may execute thy iudgements and keepe thy peace Blesse the Captaines and Soldiers that they may fight thy warres and defend thy Church Finally blesse all thy people that they may obey thy Gospell and enlarge thy Kingdome And giue mee grace in this my day to learne and follow the things that belong to my peace to accept the saluation now offered vnto mee and bring forth fruits worthy of amendment of life So be it deare Father for the merits and Passion of thy Sonne by the powerfull operation of the holy Ghost with whose assistance I summe vp all my requests and tender them vnto thee in that forme of Prayer which thy Son hath taught me saying Our Father which art in heauen c. The close out of Scripture THe Lord blesse me and keepe me The Lord make his face shine vpon me and be gratious vnto me The Lord lift vp his countenance vpon me and giue mee peace The Admonition for the Euening IF any man walke in the day hee stumbleth not because hee seeth the light of this world Ioh 11. 9. But if a man walke in the night hee stumbleth because there is no light in him verse 10. Walke while yee haue the light least darknesse come vpon you for hee that walketh in darknesse knoweth not whither he goeth Ioh. 12. 35. While ye haue the light beleeue in the light that yee may be the children of the light verse 36. Worke while it is day the night commeth when no man can worke Ioh. 9. 4. This is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men loued darknesse rather then light because their deeds were euill Ioh. 3. 19. For euery one that doeth euill hateth the light neither commeth to the light least his deedes should be reproued verse 20. He that hateth his brother is in darknesse and walketh in darknesse and knoweth not whither he goeth because darknesse hath blinded his eyes 1 Ioh. 2. 11. Let not the Sunne goe downe vpon your wrath Ephesians 4. 26. And haue no fellowship with the vnfruitfull workes of darknes but reproue them rather Eph. 5. 11. For it is a shame euen to speake of those things which are done of them in secret verse 12. Yee are all the children of light and the children of the day ye are not of the night nor of darknesse 1 Thes. 5. 5. Therefore sleepe not in sinne and carnall security as doe others but watch verse 6. Watch yee for yee know not when the Master of the house commeth at euen or at midnight or at the Cock-crowing or in the morning least comming suddenly he finde you sleeping Mar. 13. 35. A Hymne for the Euening IT is a good thing to giue thankes vnto the Lord and to sing praises vnto thy Name O thou most high Psal. 92. 1. To shew forth thy louing kindnesse in the morning and thy faithfulnes euery night ver 2. For day vnto day vttereth speech and night vnto night
mee in mind of thy rest from thy workes and assure me thereby of an euerlasting Sabbath in heauen from my works Into which rest that I may enter stirre vp my good desires in me raise my thoughts and affections to the things that are abâ—ue Renew mee according to the Image of thy Sonne and frame my life to a heauenly conuersation Enlighten my vnderstanding sanctifie my will moderate my desires gouerne my affections mortifie my fleshly members and destroy the man of sinne in me and deliuer me from this bodie of death Worke in me a feare of thy power and loue of thy goodnes and zeale of thy glorie and thirst of thy grace an earnest desire and constant resolution as much as in me lyeth to approue my selfe to thee in all things and frame all my actions to the rule of thy word Heare me I beseech thee for my selfe and for thy Church and thy Church for me and Christ for vs all c. saying Righteous Father keepe them from euill sanctifie them with thy truth thy word is truth The close out of Scripture The glorie which thou hast giuen me giue them that they may bee one as thou and I are one So bee it heauenly Father for thy Sonn's sake by the grace of thy holy Spirit To whom be all honour praise glorie and thanksgiuing from euerlasting to euerlasting Amen AN ADMONITION for the Sabbath Euening THE ANALYSIS The fittest subiect of contemplation on the Sabbath is the meditation on the eternall Sabbath in heauen of which the Sabbath on earth is a type Consider it two wayes Priuately there is No sinne No tempter or temptation No thraldome or seruitude No labour or toyle No sorrow or griefe No paine or torment No night or darkenesse No death No curse No feare Positiuely there are Euerlasting habitations Indefiezable estates of inheritance Royall honours and dignities Inualuable wealth and riches Vnspeakable ioyes and pleasures in the Sight and fruition of God Societie with Christ Companie with all Saints Angels Glorification of our bodies PerfectioÌ„ of our soules in Knowledge Righteousnesse Loue vnion with God THE TEXTS WE looke for a new heauen and a new earth according to his promises in which dwelleth righteousnes 2. Pet. 3. 13. The Dragon fought with his Angels Reu. 12. 7. But they preuitled not neither was their place found any more in heauen ver 8. And the Dragon that old Serpent called the Diuell and Satan was cast out c. ver 9. Reioyce yee heauens and yee that dwell in them The creature shall be deliuered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious libertie of the sonnes of God Rom. 8. 21. There remaineth a rest for the people of God Heb. 4 9. Bessed are the dead that dye in the Lord for they rest from their labours Reu. 14. 13. God shall wipe away all teares from their eyes Reu. 7. 17. They shall hunger no more nor thirst any more neither shall the Sun-light on them nor any heate Reu. 7. 16. And there shall bee no night there and they shall neede no candle nor the light of the Sunne for the Lord God giueth them light c. Reu. 22. 5. There shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more paine for the first things are passed Reu. 21. 4. And there shall be no more curse but the Throne of God and of the Lambe shall be in it Reu. 22. 3. Your ioy shall no man take away from you Ioh. 16. 22. That they may receiue you into euerlasting habitations Luk. 16. 9. For we know that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle bee destroyed wee haue a building giuen of God an house not made with hands but eternall in the heauens 2. Cor. 5. 1. An inheritance immortall and vndefiled that fadeth not away reserued in heauen for you 1. Pet 1. 4. They striue for a corruptible but wee for an incorruptible crowne 1. Cor. 9. 25. When the chiefe Shepheard shall appeare ye shall receiue an incorruptible crowne of glorie 1. Pet. 5. 4. Take inheritance of the kingdome prepared for you Mat. 25. 34. It is your Fathers pleasure to giue you the kingdome Luk. 12. 32 They shall raigne for euermore Reu. 22. 5. And the building of the wall was of Iasper and the Citie was pure gold like to cleare glasse Reu. 21. 18. And the foundations of the walls were garnished with all manner of precious stones ver 19. And the gates were twelue pearles ver 21. The things which eye hath not seene neither eare hath heard neither can enter into mans heart to conceiue are which God hath prepared for them that loue him 1. Cor. 2. 9. In thy presence is the fulnesse of ioy and at thy right hand there are pleasures for euermore Psal. 16. 12. They shall bee satisfied with the fulnesse of thy house and thou shalt giue them drink out of the riuer of thy pleasures Psal. 36. 8. For with thee is the well of life c. verse 9. I know that my redeemer liueth and I shall see God in my flesh Ioh. 19. 25. Now we see in a glasse darkly but then wee shall see face to face 1 Cor. 13. 12. And they shall see his face and his name shall bee in their foreheads Reu. 22. 4. As for me I will behold thy presence in righteousnesse and when I awake vp after thy likenesse I shall be satisfied with it Ps. 17. 16. Father I will that they which thou hast giuen may bee where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast giuen me Ioh. 17. 24. These follow the Lambe wheresoeuer he goeth Reuelation 14. 4. Wee are come to the Mount Sion and to the City of the liuing God and to the celestiall Ierusalem and to the company of innumerable Angels Heb. 12. 22. And to the Congregation of the first-borne which are written in heauen c. verse 23. This corruptible shall put on incorruption and this mortall shall put on immortality 1 Cor. 15. 13. The glory of the earthly is one and the glory of the heauenly is another verse 40. There is one glory of the Sun and another of the Moone and another glory of the Starres for one starre differeth from another starre in glory verse 41. So also is the resurrection of the dead c. verse 42. He shall change our vile body and make it fashioned like vnto his glorious body Philippians 3. 21. They that be wise shall shine as the firmament and they that turne many to righteousnesse as the starres for euer Daniel 12. 3. Now I know but in part but then I shall know as I am knowne 1 Cor. 13. 12. We are come to the congregation of the first-borne which are written in heauen and to God the Iudge of all and to the spirits of iust and perfect men Heb. 12. 23. When that which is perfect shall
of the Spirit of Life in Christ Iesus hath made mee free from the Law of sinne and of death Romans 8. 2. Yee haue not receiued the Spirit of bondage againe to feare but the Spirit of Adoption whereby wee cry Abba Father verse 15. They despight the Spirit of Grace Heb. 10. 29. The Spirit maketh Intercession for vs with sighs and grones that cannot be expressed Romans 9. 29. To one is giuen the Spirit of the Word of Wisedome to another the Word of Knowledge by the same Spirit 1 Corinthians 12. 8. All these worketh one and the same Spirit verse 11. The Father of Glory giue vnto vs the Spirit of Wisedome and reuelation in the Knowledge of him Ephes. 1. 17. The Spirit of Glory and of GOD resteth in vs. 1 Peter 4. 14. When the Spirit of Truth is come hee will leade you into all Truth Ioh. 16. 13. Now the Lord is that Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty 1 Corinthians 3. 17. He that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reape life euerlasting Gal. 6. 8. Walke in the Spirit and yee shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh Gal. 5. 16. The fruits of the Spirit are loue peace ioy c. verse 17. If yee be led by the Spirit yee are not vnder the Law verse 18. Whosoeuer speaketh against the holy Ghost it shall not bee forgiuen him neither in this world nor in the world to come Mat. 12. 32. Of how much sorer punishment shall hee bee thought worthy who hath troden vnder foot the Sonne of GOD and hath accounted the blood of the couenant wherewith hee was sanctified an vnholy thing and hath done despight to the Spirit of God Hebrewes 10. 29. A Prayer for Whit sunday INcomprehēsible Spirit the third Person in the blessed and glorious Trinity who after the Father had manifested himselfe to the world in the works of Creation and the Sonne in the works of Redemption finished in the flesh diddest manifest thy selfe on this day in a wonderfull manner by the sound of a rushing winde and the light of fiery tongues Manifest thy selfe most powerfully and gloriously in the vniuerfall Church by enlarging her bounds and making vp her breaches and hallowing her Assemblies and furnishing her Pastors and knitting the hearts of all her members in true loue the bond of perfection Perfect the work of sanctification in all thine Elect manifest thy selfe also graciously this day and declare thy gifts in the tongues of the Preachers and eares of the hearers and the hearts of all the Congregation Direct the mouthes of the Preachers that they may skilfully sowe the Seede and open the eares and mollify the hearts of the hearers that they may receiue it profitably and bring forth the fruits of the Spirit abundantly which are loue ioy peace long suffering gentlenesse goodnesse faith meeknesse temperance c. O Eternall and infinite holy Ghost the loue of the Father and the Sonne who diddest descend vpon our Sauiour in the likenesse of a Doue without gall purge out of my conscience all gall of malice and bitternesse and grant that with meeknesse I may receiue the ingraffed Word which is able to saue my soule O holyest Spirit eternall breath of the Father and the Son and former of the Word in the wombe who camest with a sound come down vpon me in the sound of thy Word Preached though not in the extraordinary gifts of Prophecy tongues and healing yet in the ordinary graces of faith hope and charity the Spirit of supplication and Prayer of wisedome and spirituall vnderstanding of power and ghostly comfort O heauenly Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Sonne who descendedst from heauen like a mighty rushing winde throw mee downe to the ground in humility and prostrate my heart and soule before thee Beate downe all strong holds of carnall imaginations and worldly thoughts resisting thy grace Chase away all cloudes of error out of my vnderstanding cleare my will of all foggs of noysome desires coole and refresh me in the heate of persecution fill the sailes of my affections and driue mee speedily into the faire hauen where I would bee O diuine fire burning continually in the hearts of the faithfull and consuming all our spirituall sacrifices who this day diddest descend and appeare in the likenesse of fiery tongues bee a fire in my heart and tongue that I may be feruent in my Meditations and Prayers and Zealous in the profession and defence of thy Truth Inlighten the darknesse of my vnderstanding inflame the coldnesse of my affections purge out the drosse of my corruptions direct me in all the affaires of this life assist mee in all the exercises of Deuotion strengthen me in al the assaults of temptation comfort me in all the miseries and afflictions seale all thy gracious promises of thy Gospell vnto mee and seale mee to the day of redemption So bee it Amen Into my minde descend ô Doue Purge gall cleane out of me With siluer wings raise me aboue My Sauiour Christ to see PART 1. SVPPART 4. The Christian FAST'S Deuotion Of FAST'S in generall There is a 3-old fast 1 Fast from sinne 2 Fast for sinne 3 Fast against sin THe fast from sinne ought to bee perpetuall The fast for sinne is extraordinarie vpon speciall occasions to auert some dreadfull iudgement or auoide som imminent danger The fasts against sinne ought to be more frequent and according to the customes of the ancient Church and the present practise of the Church of England They are Weekly on the Fridaies Monethly on the Holy-day Eeues Quarterly in the Ember weekes Yeerely in the Lent THe Doctrine of fasting hath met with errors and superstitions on both hands Some ascribing too much to it and placing the immediate and principall worship of God in it some ascribing too little and making it no matter of Religion at all Some superstitiously obseruing and others out of a contrary superstition scrupulously declining the obseruation of all Fasts appointed by the Church To steere the iudgement in a middle course betweene these rocks on both sides conceiue thus of the nature of Religious acts the seuerall kindes of Fasts and the vse thereof A Religious act or work may be taken 1 In a larger sence for any work commanded by Christian Religion in vvhich sence all the duties of the second Table may be called Religious acts or workes as well as the first 2 In a more restrained acception for such workes and acts in which Religion properly taken for the worship of God consists And these are of two sorts 1 Principall as Believing in God Praying the like 2 Accessarie seruing as helps or preparations to the princi pall as Watching Fasting and the like FAsting is not to be esteemed such an act of religion as wherein principally and immediatly we worship God for the Kingdome of God as the Apostle reacheth consisteth not in meates and
speaketh better things then the blood of Abel I confesse I haue sorely displeased thee but it troubleth me that I haue so incensed thee I haue grieued thy spirit but it grieueth mee that I should bee so gracelesse as to grieue that Spirit of grace which sealeth thy chosen to saluation I deserue that thou shouldest euen abhorre me for my sinnes but I abâ—orre my selfe for them in dust and ashes I haue offended thee in gluttony but I now fast for it in pride but I humble my selfe in laughter and sports but I weepe for it in sinfull ioyes but I mourne for it I haue wallowed in filthy pleasures but Iâ—wallow for it in dust and ashes haue broken all thy commandements but I haue broken my heart in true contrition for it Thou didst not breake a bruised reede wilt thou grind to powder a broken heart What profit is in my blood O Lord when I go down into the pit Nay what profit is in thy blood O blessed Redeemer if they for whom it was shed god downe into the pit of destruction Shall the dust giue thankes vnto thee O Lord or the ashes and cinders of hell praise the God of heauen Hâ—are O Lord and haue mercie vpon me thou that healest those that are broken in heart and giuest medicine to cure their sicknesse raise vp my prostrate and deiected soule Why didst thou hunger O Lord but to satisfie for my gluttony Why didst thou thirst but to satisfie for my drunkennesse Why didst thou weepe but to satisfie for my sinfull ioyes Why didst thou endure vnspeakeable torments but to satisfie for my Iewd pleasures Why didst thou dye an ignominious death but to satisfie for my shamefull life Why didst thou shed thy blood but to satisfie for my crimson sinnes Adam our first Parent did eat the forbidden fruit and all our teeth are set on edge but thy fasting forty dayes hath fully satisfied for his eating But I renue my sinnes dayly and thou renewest thy mercies The guilt of my sinne is great but the price of thy blood is greater I haue offended an infinite Maiestie but satisfaction hath beene made by an infinite Maiestie My wickednes cannot exceede thy goodnesse for my power of sinning is finite but thy facultie of pardoning is infinite Wherefore sith my sins bee they neuer so many neuer so weighty fall within the measure of thy mercy and compasse of thy goodnesse And sith it is all one with thee to giue what I aske and to ineite mee to aske to heale my wounds and to make mee feele the smart of them Lord who hast giuen mee the one deny mee not the other Rebuke the surges of temptations and quiet my soule Thou who in the dayes of thy flesh offeredst vp prayers with strong cryes heare the strong lowd cryes of a penitent sinner Thou who tookest vpon thee our infirmities take pitie vpon them thou wert in thine agony stricken with horror and vnutterable griefe allay the troubles of my affrighted conscience Thou who fastedst forty dayes accept of my humiliation these forty dayes and graunt that my stomacke may not onely fast from accustomed meates but all my sences from their vsual delights and most of all my heart from worldly comforts and contentments Let no fight delight mee till I see my sinnes remoued like a mist and thy countenance shine vpon mee Let no sound or voice delight mee till I heare thee by thy Spirit to speake peace to my conscience and say to my soule I am thy saluation Let no pleasant fields and gardens delight me til I haue gathered red flowers out of that garden which was watered with thy blood Let no fruit delight me till I haue fully tasted the fruit of the tree of thy Crosse. Let no meate delight me till with the sower herbes of sorrow and anguish of heart for my sinne I haue eaten the Christian Passeouer the flesh of thee that immaculate Lambe slaine from the beginning of the world Heare me blessed Redeemer and as thou wroughtest in dust when thou tookest the woman in adultery So I beseech thee write my sins in dust and bury them all in the ashes of obliuion So be it Amen GOOD FRIDAY'S DEVOTION OR The Christian Fast on the Passion of our Lord. The ground of this Fast In the Old Testament Prophecies Types geuerall speciall In the new Historie Sacrament of Christ's death of which before in the preparatioÌ„ PARALELL Prophecie Thou shalt bruise his heel c. Gen. 3. 15. He was cut out of the land of the liuing Isa. 53. 8. He shal make his soule an offering for sinne ver 10. And after threescore and two weekes Mâ—ssiah shall bee slaine Dan. 9. 26. They shall looke vpon him whom they haue pearced Zac. 12. 10. Historie This is your houre the Power of darknesse Luk. 22. 53. Then Iesus cried with a loud voice and yeelded vp the Ghost Mat. 27. 50. Him haue yee crucified slaine Acts. 2. 22. Christ dyed for our sins 1 Cor. 15. 3. He offered himselfe by the eternal Spirit Heb. 9. 14. One of the Souldiers with a Speare peirced his side Iohn 19. 34. Type Besides all sacrifices of the old Law which foreshewed Christs death there are 2. speciall types 1 Abraham builded an Altar and bound Isaak his son Gen. 22. 9. And stretched out his hand and tooke the knife to kill his sonne ver 10. Accomplishment So God loued the world that he gaue his onely begotten Io. 3. 16. He became obedient to death euen the death of the crosse Phil. 2. 8. So Moses made a Serpent of brasse set it vp for a signe and when a Serpent had bitten a man then he looked to the Serpent of brasse and liued Numb 21. 9. They crucified him Luk. 23. 33. Iesus whoÌ„ ye haue crucified Act. 2. 36. Hee was crucified concerning his infirmity 2. Cor. 13. 4 I if I were lift vp from the earth wil draw all men to me Io. 12. 32. This he spake signifying what death he should die v. 33. IOH. 14. As Moses lift vp the Serpent in the wildernesse so must the Sonne of Man be lift vp For thine instruction meditate vpon Prophecie Tipes Storie of Christ's Passion For thy comfort apply to thy self the benefits of his death For thy correction remember and bewaile thy sinnes for which Christ suffered and dyed Quicken thy Faith by the Psalme Obedience and patience by the admonition Zeale and Deuotion by the Prayer ensuing THE ADMONITION for good-friday THE ANALYSIS We must suffer afflictions because 1. a By them we are made conformable to our Head Christ Iesus 2. b They are the Chastisements of our heauenly Father 3. c They proceede from loue 4. d They are moderated and mitigated by his mercy 5. e They are sweetened with many comforts 6. f They are the common lot of all Gods dearest children 7. g They are medicinable to the soule 8. h They bring vs to a sence of our sins and remorse for them 9. i
the earth and of them that remaine in the broad Sea ver 5. Thou stillest the raging of the Sea and the noise of the waues and the madnesse of his people ver 7. They that dwell in the vttermost parts of the earth shall bee afraid of thy tokens thou that makest the our goings of the Morning and Euening to praise thee ver 8. Thou visitest the earth and blessest it thou makest it very plenteous ver 9. Thou waterest her furrowes thou sendest raine into the little Vallies thereof thou makest it sofi with the drops of raine and blessest the encrease of it ver 11. Thou crownest thy yeeres with thy goodnesse and thy clouds drop fatnesse ver 12. They shall drop vpon the dwellings of the wildernesse and the little hils shall reioyce on euery side ver 13. Hee gathereth the waters of the Sea together and layeth vp the deepe as in a Treasure-house Psal. 33. 7. O praise the Lord of Heauen praise him in the height Psal. 148. 1. Praise him all ye Heauens and ye waters that bee aboue the Heauens ver 4. Praise the Lord vpon earth yee Dragons and all deepes ver 7. Fire and Haile Snow and vapours wind and storme fulfilling his Word ver 8. Sing vnto God ò ye Kingdomes of the earth ô sing praises vnto the Lord Psal. 68. 32. Which sitteth in the Heauens ouer all from the beginning loe he doth send out his voice yea and that a mighty voice ver 33. Ascribe ye power vnto God his worship and strength are in the Clouds ver 34. The Admonition for Munday being an Exhortation to humility or pouerty in Spirit Wherunto our Sauiour ascribeth the first BEATITVDE THE ANALYSIS The speciall motiues to humility set down in the Scriptures are 1 God's infinite Majestie puritie perfection 2 Mans vilenesse sinfulnesse wretchednesse wants of vvhich before See the Preparation to Prayer 3 Diuine Precepts 4 Holy patterns of this vertue in God the Father Christ. The Saints vnder the Lawe Gospell 5 Gratious promises made to the humble of 1 Neerenesse societie with God 2 Sauing knowledge 3 Sanctifying grace 4 Honour and preferment 5 Eternal blessednes in heauen THE TEXTS TAke my Yoake vpon you and learne of me that I am meeke and lowly in heart and you shall finde rest to your soules Mat. 11. 29. Vnlesse yee become as one of these little ones yee cannot enter into the Kingdome of God Mat. 18. 23. Cast downe your selues before the Lord and he will lift you vp Iam. 4. 10. Decke your selues inwardly with lowlinesse of minde 1. Pet. 5. 5. Humble your selues vnder the mighty hand of God that he may raise you in due time verse 6. Who is like to the Lord our God that hath his dwelling on high and yet humbleth himselfe to behold the things that are in heauen and in earth Psal. 113. 5. I am among you as hee that ministreth Luke 22. 17. And he began to wash his Disciples feet and to wipe them with the towell wherewith hee was girded Iohn 13. 5. He emptied himselfe or made himselfe of no reputation Phil. 2. 7. He humbled himselfe and became obedient to death euen the death of the Crosse Phil. 2. 8. I will speake vnto the Lord who am but dust and ashes Gen. 18. 17. I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies and of all thy truth which thou hast shewed to thy seruant Gen. 32. 10. And he said wherewith shall I saue Israel Behold my Father is poore in Manasseth and I am the least in my fathers house Iude 6. 15. Lord I am not high-minded c. Psal. 131. 1. And Dauid said vnto Saul who am I and what is my life and my father's family in Israel that I shall bee sonne in Law to a King 1. Sam. 18. 18. And now O Lord my God thou hast made thy seruant King in stead of Dauid my father and I am but a little child I know not how to goe in and out 1. King 3. 7. Notwithstanding Ezekiah humbled himselfe for the pride of his heart both hee and the inhabitants of Ierusalem so that the wrath of the Lord came not vp them 2. Chron. 32. 20. Then Iob arose and rent his Mantle and shaued his head and fell downe vpon the ground and worshipped Iob 1. 20. O Lord God righteousnesse belongeth to thee but to vs confusion of face at this day Dan. 9. 7. He that commeth after me is greater then I whose shoo-latchet I am not worthy to vnloose Math. 3. 11. When hee was not farre from the house the Centurian sent vnto him saying Master trouble not thy selfe I am not worthy that thou shouldest come vnder the roofe of my house Luke 7. 6. When Simon Peter saw it hee fell downe on his knees saying Goe from me Lord for I am a sinfull man Luke 5. 8. The Publicane standing a farre off would not lift vp his eyes to heauen but striking his breast said Lord be mercifull to mee a sinner Luke â—8 15. I am the least of the Apostles not worthy to be called an Apostle c. 1. Cor. 11. 9. Iesus Christ came to saue sinners whereof I am chiefe 1. Tim. 1. 15. I am the Rose of the field and the Lilly of the valleys Cant. 2. 1. I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of an humble contrite heart to reuiue the spirit of the humble Is. 57. 15 To this man will I look euen to him that is poore and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at my word Isa. 66. 2. When pride commeth then commeth shame but with the lowly is wisedome Prou. 11. 2. Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and reuealed them vnto babes Math. 11. 21. Hee giueth more grace wherefore hee saith God resisteth the proud but giueth grace to the humble Iam. 4. 6. Before destruction the heart of man is haughty but before honour is humilitie Pro. 18. 1â— Hee that humbleth himselfe shall be exalted Luke 14. 11. He raiseth the poore out of the mire and lifteth the needie out of the dunghill Psal. 113. 7. That he may set him with Princes euen with the Princes of his people verse 8. Blessed are the poore in spirit for theirs is the Kingdome of Heauen Mat. 5. 3. THE PRAYER FOR Munday morning composed of 1. Petitions sutable to the worke of the day 2. Motiues to humilitie agreeable to the precedent exhortation The Prayer it selfe The second dayes Deuotion FAther Almighty maker of heauen and earth who createdst the Euening and the Morning the second day as wel as the first Continue I beseech thee vnto mee as well the comfortable rest of the Euening to refresh mee after my labour and trauaile as the most needfull light of the Morning to manage my affaires and businesses But especially perpetuatt vnto mee the repose of a quieâ—
conscience and the cleare light of the Gospel to guide my feete into the way of peace This light conuinceth the errours of my vnderstanding the deprauation of my will the disorder of my affections the impurity of my thoghts the vanity of my desires the deceitfulnesse of my heart the wickednes of all my wayes This light sheweth mee what I was in my birth slime and filthinesse what in my life vanity and folly and what in my death stench rottennesse This light discouereth vnto me that I haue nothing which I haue not receiued that without Christ I can doe nothing that in me that is in my body dwelleth no good that I am not able of my selfe as of my self think a good thought that I cannot desire to thinke nor haue wil to desire nor grace to will any good My comforts are rare my crosses frequent my pleasures momentary my paines permanent my gifts small my wants and infirmities great my helpes weake my assaults strong my good deeds few and they tainted with imperfections my sinnes infinite Let these considerations O Lord humble me in my selfe that Christ may raise me wound mee in my selfe that Christ may heale me burden mee in my selfe that Christ may ease me kill mee in my owne conceits that Christ may quicken me make mee most vile in mine own eyes that I may bee most deare and precious in his O Lord which as vpon this day createdst the clouds to raine vpon the earth showre downe thy graces abundantly into my heart to mollifie it that the seede of the Word may take deepe root downeward in humility and spring vpward in hope and spread abroad by charity and fructifie in all kindes of good workes Lord who this day separatedst the waters from the waters separate I beseech thee and distinguish betweene the waters of teares which I shed for my sinnes and those others which I shed for worldly crosses and calamities Cast away the one and put the the other into thy bottle Lord who this day madest the heauens or ayre without which I cannot liue naturally no not for a moment infuse into my heart the Spirit of grace without which spiritually I cannot breathe in my prayers nor sigh nor so much as moue any facultie or part of soule or body vnto thee As oft as I take in or let out the aire which I breathe let mee receiue in grace from thee and breathe out praise vnto thee Amen The close out of Scripture The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ and the loue of God and the fellowship of the holy Ghost be with me 2. Cor. 13. vlt. The Euening's Deuotion for Munday THE HYMNE Heare me O Lord in the multitude of thy mercies euen in the truth of thy saluation Psal. 69. 14. Let not the water floods drowne mee nor the deepe swallow me vp and let not the pit shut her mouth vpon mee verse 16. Thou diddest diuide the sea through thy power and brakest the heads of the Dragons in the waters Psal. 74. 14. Thou smoest the heads of Leuiathan in pieces and gauest him to be meate for the people in the wildernesse verse 15. Thou broughtest out fountaines and waters out of the hard Rocks thou driedst vp mighty waters verse 16. Thou art the God that doth wonders and hast declared thy power among the people Psal. 77. 14. The waters saw thee O God the waters saw thee and were afraid the depths also were troubled verse 16. The clouds powred out water the aire thundered and thine arrowes went abroad verse 17. The voice of thy thunder was heard round about the lightnings shone vpon the ground the earth was moued verse 18. Thou bringest forth clouds from the ends of the world and sendest forth Lightnings with the raine bringing the windes out of his treasures Psal. 135. The springs of water were seene and the foundations of the round world were discouered at thy chiding O Lord at the blasting of the breath of thy displeasure Psal. 18. 15. Thy way is in the Sea and thy pathes in the great waters and thy footsteps are not knowne Psal. 77. 19. THE ADMONITION for Munday's Euening being an exhortation to meeknes THE ANALYSIS The speciall Arguments to perswade meeknes set downe in Scripture are drawne from 1. The causes Impulsiue 1 Diuine precepts 2 humane frailty Exemplary God the Father Sonne H. Ghost The Saints The creatures in which nature hath patern'd this vertue 2 The effects 1 Peace With God With men 2 Wealth 3 Wisedome and spiritual vnderstanding 4 Sanctifying graces the fruits of the Spirit 5 Blessednesse THE TEXTS PVt them in minde c. Tit. 3. 1. That they be no brawlers but gentle shewing all meekenesse to all men verse 2. If any man bee ouertaken in a fault ye which are spirituall restore such a one in the spirit of meeknesse Gal. 6. 1. I beseech you that yee walke worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called with lowlinesse and meeknesse with long suffering forbearing one another in loue Ephes. 4. 2. Put on therefore as the Elect of God holy and beloued the bowels of mercy kindnesse humblenesse of minde meeknesse long-suffering Col. 3. 12. Forbearing one another forgiuing one another if any man haue a quarrell against any euen as Christ forgaue you so also doe ye verse 13. But thou O man of God flye these things and follow after righteousnesse godlinesse faith patience meekenesse 1. Tim. 6. 11. Dearely beloued auenge not your selues but rather giue place vnto wrath For it is written Vengeance is mine I will repay saith the Lord Rom. 12. 19. Wherefore my beloued Brethren let euery man bee swift to heare slow to speake and slow to wrath Iam. 1. 19. For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousnesse of God verse 20. Look diligently least any man faile of the grace of God least any root of bitternesse spring vp and trouble you and thereby many be defiled Heb 12. 15. Consider thy selfe least thou also be tempted Gal. 6. 1. Let him among you that is without sinne cast the first stone Ioh. 8. 7. Hee shall haue iudgement without mercy that hath shewed no mercy and mercy reioyceth against iudgement Iam. 3. 13. And they heard the voice of the Lord in the coole of the day walking in the garden c. Gen. 3. 8. And after the earthquake there was a fire but God was not in the fire and after the fire a still small voice verse 12. in which voice God was And it was so when Eliah heard it c. verse 13. Neuerthelesse for thy great mercies sake thou diddest not vtterly consume them nor forsake them for thou art a gracious and mercifull God Nehem. 9. 31. God said to Ionah Doest thou well to be angry for thy Gourd Ion. 4. 9. Thou hast pitie on the Gourd for which thou hast not laboured which came in a night and perished in a night verse 10. And should not I spare Nineueh that great
Citie wherein are more then sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left and also much cattell verse 11. Tell the daughter of Soon Behold the King commeth vnto thee meeke Mat. 21. 5. He shall not striue nor crie neither shall any man heare his voice in the streets Mat. 1â— 19. A bruised reede shall hee not breake nor smoking flaxe shall hee not quench verse 20. I beseech you by the meeknesse and gentlenesse of Christ 2. Cor. 10. 1. The said Lord wilt thou command that wee call for fire from heauen c. Luk. 9. 54. But hee turned and rebuked them and said yee know not of what spirit yee are made verse 55. Loe the heauens were opened vnto him and hee saw the Spirit descending like a Doue and lightening vpon him Math. 3. 16. Now Moses was a very meeke man aboue all the men that were vpon the face of the earth Num. 12. 3. Let him curse seeing the Lord hath said vnto mee Curse Dauid who shall then say wherefore hast thou done so 2. Sam. 16. 10. My soule is euen as a weaned child Psal. 131. 3. But I was like a Lambe or an Oxe that is brought to the slaughter and I knew not that they had deuised deuises against me Ier. 11. 19. Iesus said it is not meet to take the childrens bread and cast it to Dogs Mar. 7. 27. And shee said vnto him Yes Lord yet the dogges vnder the table eate of the childrens crums verse 28. But wee were gentle among you euen as a nurse cherisheth her children 1. Thes. 2. 7. Thy name is as an ointment powred out Cant. 1. The anointment which ye haue receiued of him abideth in you 1. Ioh. 2. 27. I will giue them hearts of flesh Ezek. 11. 19. I send you as Lambes among wolues Luke 10. 3. Behold the Lambe of God c. Ioh. 1. 29. Hee was led as a sheepe to the slaughter and like a Lambe dumb before the shearer so opened hee not his mouth Acts 8. 32. Be wise as Serpents and innocent as Doues Mat 10. 16. Learne that I am meeke and ye shall finde rest vnto your soules Math 11. 29. The meeke shall prosper in the earth and shall delight themselues in the aboundance of peace Psal. 37. 11. The Lord lifteth vp the meeke Psal. 147. 6. The meeke shall hee guide in iudgement and the meeke will he teach his way Psal. 25. 9. Who is a wise man and indued with knowledge among you let him shew out of a good conuersation his workes in meekenesse of wisedome Iam. 3. 13. Receiue with meekenesse the word ingraffed in you which is able to saue your soules Iam. 1. 21. The wisedome which is from aboue is first pure then peaceable Iam. 3. 17. And the fruits of righteousnesse are sowne in peace of them that make peace verse 18. Blessed are the meeke for they shall inherit the earth Mat. 5. 5. The Prayer for Munday-Euening Composed of 1 Petitions sutable to the worke of the day 2 Motiues to meeknesse agreeable to the precedent exhortation O Lambe of God which takest away the sinnes of the world who as vpon this day wert led as a sheepe to the slaughter and as a Lambe before thy Shearers openedst not thy mouth who gauest thy back to the smiters and thy cheeks to the nippers and thine armes to the binders and thy face to the spitters apply I beseech thee vnto mee these thy meeke sufferings Make that profitable to mee which thou enduredst for me Let thy bonds O meeke Redeemer set me free let thy silence pleade for me let thy spittle cure my blindnesse let thy stripes heale me let thy nakednesse cloth me and let thy meekenesse in all discipline me If thou who in the forme of God thoughtest it no robbery to be equall with God yet humbledst thy selfe didst become obedient to death euen the death of the Crosse shall not I meekely submit my necke to the yoke If thou who art God didst empty thy selfe and become of no reputation shall I that am but a worme of the earth fill my selfe and swell with pride If thou suffâ—redst blowes shall not I an affront If thou the Beauty of Heauen enduredst spitting vpon shall not I endure the fome of a loose tongue Shall I for a word of disgrace venter my owne life and assault the life of my brother Doe I value the life of my body and soule so low that I will pawne it for a toy a triflle a mocke a word God forbid Thy Law O God commandeth meekenesse thine example my Lord perswades meekenesse my condition requires meekenesse my frame and temper after a sort preacheth meekenesse Why hast thou giuen me a soft skinne but to patterne in my body this vertue of the minde Why hast thou giuen me a tender heart but to receiue deepe the impression of compassionate griefe Why hast thou giuen me melting eyes but to weepe for mine owne infirmities and my brethrens calamities Why am I brought into the world disarmed without any offensiue Weapon but to teach me that I should not fight with nor hurt any Thou O Lord hast created me a Lambe shall I by rage and cruelty make my selfe a Tyger Thou madest me as a soft rose of Sharon and Lillie of the Vallie shall I turne my selfe into a thorne and thistle I know Anger dis-figureth the body much more the soule It hurteth and endangereth others much more my selfe It is very offensiue to man much more to thee Wherefore I beseech thee let thy peace alwaies rule in my heart and quell and subdue all my rebellious affections especially this of wrath the most violent and impetuous of all the rest Weede out of my heart all accursed Thornes and Thistles that the seedes of thy Word may bring forth the fruits of righteousnesse which are sowne in peace of them that loue peace O let not the Sunne goe downe on thy wrath against me or my wrath against my brethren but grant that hauing made my peace with thee by faith in thy bloud with my brethren by forgiuing them from my heart and reconciling my selfe to them I may lay me downe in peace and take my rest And let thy hand O Sauiour which shall protect mee this night from all perills and dangers raise me the next morning to serue thee in my calling and magnifie thy goodnesse for all thy mercies and fauours vouchsafed vnto me So be it Amen I The close out of Scripture BLessing honour glory and power bee vnto him that sitteth vpon the Throne and vnto the Lambe for euer and ouer Amen Reuel 5. vlt. Tuesday's Deuotion being the third day from the Creation The Father worketh Ioh. 5. 17. The worke of Creation GOd said againe Let the waters vnder the Heauen bee gathered into one place and let the dry land appeare and it was so Gen. 1. 9. And God called the
the Mount of Oliues and his Disciples also followed him ver 39. And when he came to the place he said to them Pray lest ye enter into temptation ver 40. And he gate himselfe from them about a stones cast and kneeled downe and prayed ver 41. Saying Father if thou wilt take away this Cup from me neuerthelesse not my will but thine be done ver 42. And there appeared an Angell vnto him from Heauen comforting him ver 43. But being in an Agony he prayed more earnestly and his sweat was like drops of bloud trickling downe the ground ver 44. For thine instruction meditate In the Morning on the creation of Fish and Fowâ—e In the Euening on thy Sauiours Agony Last Passeouer Supper For thy comfort apply to thy selfe the Benefits Corporall of the one Spirituall of the other For thy correction reproue thy Abuse of the one Vnthankfulnesse for the other Quicken Thy thankesgiuing by the Hymne Thine obedience by the admonition Thy zeale and patience by the prayer ensuing The Hymne for Thursday-morning O Lord how manifold are thy workes in wisdome hast thou made them all the earth is full of thy riches Psal. 104. 24. So is the great and wide Sea wherein are things creeping innumerable both small and great beasts ver 25. There goe the Ships and there is that Leuiathan whom thou hast made to take his pastime therein ver 26. These wait all vpon thee that thou mayest giue them their meate in due season ver 27. That thou giuest they gather thou openest thy hand and they are filled with good ver 28. Thou hidest thy face and they are troubled thou takest away their breath and they dye and returne againe to their dust ver 29. They that goe downe to the Sea in ships that doe their businesse in great waters Psal. 107. 23. These see the workes of the Lord and his wonders in the deepe ver 24. For hee commandeth and raiseth vp the stormy wind which lifteth vp the waues thereof ver 25. They mount vp to the Heauens they goe downe againe to the depth their heart is melted because of trouble ver 26. They reele to and fro and stagger like a drunken man and are euen at their wits end ver 27. Then cry they to the Lord in trouble and hee bringeth them out of their distresse v. 28. He maketh the stormes to cease so that the waues thereof are still ver 29. Then are they glad because they are quiet so hee bringeth them to their desired Hauen ver 30. Praise the Lord vpon earth ye Dragons and all deepes Psal. 148. 7. Beasts all Cattel wormes and fethered Fowles ver 10. He sendeth the Springs into the Vallies which run between the mountaines Psal. 104. 10. By these Springs shall the Fowles of the Heauen dwell and sing among the branches ver 12. Let euery thing that hath breath praise the Lord Praise ye the Lord Psal. 150. 6. The Admonition for Thursday Morning being an Exhortation to peace-making or the seauenth Beatitude THE ANALYSIS The deuout soule must labour to make peace and haue peace with all as far as it is possible in 1 Obedience To the LAVVE To the GOSPEL 2 Conformitie to 1 God the Father Sonne H. Ghost 2 The Saints 3 In hope expectation of blessings 1 Temporall as 1 Good daies 2 A good name or honor 2 Spirituall as 1 The glad tydings of the Gospell 2 Wisedome 3 Righteousnesse 4 The guidance of Gods Spirit 5 The vnitie of the Spirit or communion of saints 6 The Beatifical vision or sight of God in Heauen THE TEXTS SEeke peace and ensue it Psal. 34. 14. Execute the iudgement of truth and peace in your gates Zach. 8. 16. Let none of you imagine euill in your hearts against your Neighbour ver 17. Haue Salt and haue peace one with another Mar. 9. 50. Into what house soeuer yee enter first say Peace bee to this house Luke 10. 5. If it bee possible haue peace with all men Rom. 12. 18. Let vs therefore follow after the things that make for peace and things wherewith wee may edifie one another Rom. 14 19. God hath called vs to peace 1 Cor. 7. 15. Be of one minde liue in peace 2 Cor. 13. 12. Let the peace of God rule in your hearts to the which all yee are called in one body Col. 3. 15 Follow righteousnesse faith charity peace with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart 2 Tim. 2. 22. Follow peace with all men c. Heb. 12. 14. God is not the God of confusision but of peace 1 Cor. 14. 33. The God of peace shall be with you Phil. 4. 19. To vs a Sonne is giuen and the gouernment shall bee vpon his shoulders and his Name shall be called Wonderfull Counseller The Mighty God The Euerlasting Father The Prince of peace Isa. 9. 6. Melchiâ—sedec first being by interpretation King of Righteousnesse and after that also King of Salem which is King of peace Heb. 7. 2. That he might be like to the Sonne of God who abideth our Priest continually ver 3. The fruit of the Spirit is loue ioy peace c. Gal. 5. 22. Abraham said Let there bee no strife betweene me and thee and my Herdsmen thy Herdsmen for we are brethren Gen. 13. 8. I labour for peace Psal. 1 20 6. Though I bee free from all men yet haue I made my selfe seruant vnto all that I might gaine the more c. 1 Cor. 9. 19. Why suffer yee not rather wrong 1 Cor. 6. 7. Being reuiled we blesse being persecuted we suffer it 1 Cor. 4. 12. Being defamed wee intreat ver 13. What man is he that desireth life and loueth many dayes that he may see good Psal. 34. 12. Seeke peace c. ver 14. Blessed are the Peace-makers for they shall be called The children of the most High Mat. 5. 9. If the Sonne of peace be there your peace shall rest vpon it if not it shall turne to you againe Luk. 10. 6. The Wisdome from aboue is first pure then peaceable Iam. 3. 17. The fruits of righteousnesse are sowne in peace of them that make peace Iam. 3. 18. The Kingdome of God is not meat and drinke but righteousnesse and peace and ioy in the holy Ghost Rom. 14. 17. Liue in peace and the God of loue and peace shall bee with you 2 Cor. 13. 12. Keepe the vnity of the Spirit in the bond of peace Eph. 4. 3. Follow peace c. without which no man shall see God Heb. 12. 14. The Prayer for Thursday Morning composed of Petitions sutable to the worke of the day Motiues to peaceablenesse agreeable to the precedent exhortation ONe depth calleth vpon another the depth of my ignorance vpoÌ„ the depth of thy Wisdome the depth of my wickednesse vpon the depth of thy goodnesse the depth of my misery vpon the depth of thy mercy O
is impossible for those who were once enlightened and haue tasted the heauenly gift and were made partakers of the holy Ghost Heb. 6. 4 It they shall fall away to renew them to repentance c. ver 5. The Angels which kept not their first estate he hath reserued in euerlasting chaines vnder darkenesse vnto the iudgement of the great day Iud 6. THE PRAYER FOR Saturday Morning composed of Petitions sutable to the rest of the Father and the Sonne on this day Motiues to perseueraÌ„ce agreeable to the subsequent exhortation ALmightie Creator of heauen and earth and all things therein who this day restedst froÌ„ all thy workes and blessedst it grant to me after the painefull laboures and trauailes of this life are ended a sweete blessed and comfortable rest with thee in heauen where I may keepe a continuall Sabbath hold a perpetuall feast sing an euerlasting song weare an incorruptible crowne possess an eternall inheritance and fully enioy thee in all things and all things in thee in endlesse quietnesse ioy content and rest This rest is the marke at which all my desires aime this is the price for which all my endeauouâ—s runne this is the hauen to which by the gales of thy spirit my christian course driues For in this rest there is perfect tranquillitie and in this tranquillitie contentment and in this contentment ioy and pleasure and in this ioy and pleasure varietie and in this varietie securitie and in this securitie eternitie This is the end without end to which all my labours in thy seruice and sufferings for thee through my whole life tend vnto Here I haue labour without rest there shall be rest without labour here perturbations without tranquillitie there tranquillitie without perturbations here desire without content there content without desire heere paine and sorrowes without sincere pleasures and ioy there ioyes and pleasures without all paine and sorrowes heere satiety of delights without variety there variety without satiety here feare without safety there safety without feare heere a sudden end without ioy there ioyes without end Wherefore I beseech thee heauenly Father loosen my desires and affections from the things that are belowe and knit them to the things that are aboue Breake and dissolue the vnlawfull contracts betweene my soule and the creatures and marrte her to thee in righteousnesse Breede in me more and more the loathing of the forbidden fruit and a longing for the fruits of the tree of life Let mee not leane vpon the reedes of Aegypt which will breake vnder me and the splinters run into my body Let mee not repose my selfe vnder Ionâ—s's worme-eaten gourd but the sollid wood of Christ's Crosse. Let me not set vp my rest on this side of Iordan but passe ouer into the celestiall Canaan And because death is the narrow passage betweene this life and the life to come let mee not so much feare this cut as I doe for on this side I leaue labour sorrow sinne shame vexation anxiety paine and mortality and on the other side I finde rest righteousnesse glory contentment pleasure and immortality It is but a short passage and my Sauiour hath made it safe All thy Saints either haue or shall passe it ouer I lose nothing in this passage my soule is presently transported and though my body stay a while heere yet it shall follow in due time And no sooner this darke world and the shadow of it goes out of sight but the glorious light of heauen shineth vpon me I see streetes of gold and gates of pearle and foundations garnished with all sorts of pretious stones I shall behold thee the Father in thy Maiesty Christ thy Sonne in his glory the Spirit in his sanctity the Arch-angels and Angels in their excellency and the Saints in their felicity I shall then hunger no more I shall labour no more I shall trauell no more I shall feare no more I shall grieue no more I shall desire no more I shall need no more any house for the heauen heauen of heauens shall be my habitation nor Temple for God shall bee my Temple nor light for the Lambe shall be my light O Lord let the hope and expectation of this euerlasting rest and happinesse sweeten all my labours and ease my torment and mittigate my sorrowes and comfort my heart that I faile not in my labour nor tyre in my trauell nor sinke vnder my burdens nor fall vnder my crosses nor die for sorrow of my wounds receiued in the Lord's battailes but hold on cheerefully strenuously and valiantly till I ariue at the land of promise and there receiue the lot of mine inheritance with the Saints in light So be it Amen The close out of Scripture The peace of God which passeth all vnderstanding preserue my heart and minde through Iesus Christ Phil 4. 7. The Deuotion for Saturday Euening THE HYMNE I Will blesse the Lord at all times his praise shall bee in my mouth continually Psal. 34. 1. O how great is thy goodnesse which thou hast layed vp for them that feare thee which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men Psal. 31. 19. Blessed be the Lord for hee hath shewed mee meruailous kindnesse v. 21. Blessed be the Lord who daily loadeth vs with benefits euen the God of our saluation Psal. 68. 19. What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits Psal. 116. 12. O loue the Lord all yee his Saints for the Lord preserueth the faithfull and plenteously rewardeth the proud doer Ps. 31. 23. Behold the eye of the Lord is vpon them that feare him and vpon them that hope in his mercie Ps. 33. 18. To deliuer their soule from death and to keepe theÌ„ aliue in famine v. 19. Though I haue layen among the pots yet shall I bee as the wings of a Doue couered with siluer and her feathers with yellow gold Psal. 68. 13. Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord deliuereth him out of all Psal. 34. 19. He keepeth all his bones so that not one of them is broken v. 20. Why art thou cast downe ô my soule and why art thou disquieted within me Hope thou in God for I will yet praise him who is the health of my countenance and my God Psal. 42. 11. THE TEXTS IN. Adam all dye 1 Cor. 15. 22. It is appointed to men once to dye Heb. 9. 27. Death went ouer all Rom. 5. 12. Man that is borne of a woman is but of few dayes Iob. 14. 1. Hee commeth forth like a flower and is cut downe he flyeth away as a shadow and continueth not verse 2. And where is he verse 10. When the breath of man goeth forth hee shall turne againe to his earth and then all his thoughts perish Psal. 146. 3. Man lyeth downe and riseth not till the heauens be no more Iob 14. verse 14. They shall not be awaked nor raised out of their sleepe v. 14. Thou hast made my
the blood of the euerlasting Couenant 21. Make you perfect in all good workes to doe his will working in you that which is pleasant in his sight through Iesus Christ to whom be praise for euer and euer Amen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 FINIS Pretiosissimum de locis sanctâ—â— monile perâ—â—idiâ—â—â— Fascinant laudando S. Cyprian lib. de exhortatione Martyrij Cant. 4. 16. Of deuotion Math. 6. 6. Greg. in Cant. Lachrimae sanguie animae August Plin. lib. 21. c. 16. Flos nascâ—tur non euidens sed in occulto intùs germinatus Plin. 37. c. 7. Garamantitis summa commendatio est quod velut in translucido stillantes intus fulgent aurâ—ae guâ—â—ae semper in câ—â—te non in corpore Cypr. epist. l 2 Sentitur priusquam discitur Val. Max. Lâ—u 2. Cor. 5. 13. Epist. tom 1. Marâ—an inuit Ieron Tâ—stor deum poâ—t heudomid◠〈◊〉 c. vâ—suâ— sum mihi versari inter agmina angelor Math. 6. 6. Math. 14. 27. Math. 26. 36. Maâ—ke 1. 35. Luke 6. 12. Luke 9. 8. 28 Luke 11. 1. Luke 22. 45. Iohn 17. Dan. 6. 10. Psal. 6. 6. Psal. 77. 6. Acts 10. 30. Reuel 1. 10. 2. Cor. 7. 11. Commodius ista inter transiguntur Ex. Luke 22. 44. Math 26. 36. Math. 17. 2. Exod. 34. 29. Purgation Exod. 3. 5. Acts 7. 53. Psal. 26. 6. Math. 12. 44. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Esay 5. 6. 2. Sequestration 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Math 5. 8. Bern. de nat dom Tergat speculum mundet spiritum suum qui scitit videre deum 3. Preconsideration Eccles. 5. 1. Woâ—erus de polymathiâ sacris religiosae debetur Suspenso gradu Psal. 26. 6. Heb. 12. 29. Nesciâ—bam me tibi eam familiarem esse Eras. Apoth Tremenda mysteria Psal. 45. 1. 2. Psal. 39 3. Eccles. 6. 5. 2. Senec. Epist. Pers. introrsum obmurmurat ôsi ebullet patruij preclarii sumis ôsi c. Sancte magis quam scite Macies illis pro sanitate est iudâ—cij loco infirmitas cedit Quiâ—â— instit orator Exod. 30. 25. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 23. 14. Prayer must bee SHORT Conformable to the patterne consisting of three parts Humble coÌ„fession Wherein must be coÌ„sidered God his terrible Name Glorious Maiesty His al-seeing eye Infinite purity and holinesse Strict iustice Fierce wâ—ath against sinne and sinners Man his viâ—enesse Wretchednessâ— Sinfulnesse Wants and Vâ—abilitie Consident inuocatâ—on wherein to be considered God his Loue. Mercy and long-suffering Gratious promises Omnipotent goodnesse Christ his perfect obedience Full satisfaction Perpetuall intercession Harty thanksgiuing Whereinto be numbred God his benifits spirituall Election Creation RedemptioÌ„ Vocation Iustification Sanctification Hope of glorificaetion Temporall as Health Strength Wealth Libertie Good name Friends Safetie Bern. serm 2. de Penth. vt eadem vâ—a intraret antidotus qâ—a vâ— nenum intra uerat Heb. 10. 5. Psal 40. 6. Acts 2. 41. Plut de tranquill auima Lactan. instit diuin lib. 1. c. 1. Potentius inanimos influit visuâ instructa luce orationis ornata Sen Epist. 1. ad LucsliuÌ„ Pungst non penetrat Heb. 4. 12. Peircing to the deuiding c. â— We are commanded by the Father The Sonne The holy Ghost to beare heedfully the Word of the Preacher Not as the Word of Man but as the Word of God Which will proue the meanes of our saluation Or damnation 2. Wee must pray for the Preacher For our selues that we may Attend. Vnderstand Discerne Belieue Remember Practice Ber. Serm. de purificatione Hodie dominus Templi ingressus est Templum Domini Caluin instit par 2. sacram 1 Cor. 11. 29. He that worthily receiueth must 1. Examine 2. Desire 3. Know 4. Belieue 5. Repent 6. Loue. Vse also this forme Or this Or this Or this Quint instit Orat. Tumor licet grandis contrarius est sanitati Ierom. ad Rusticum Luxuriantes flagellis vineas falcibus reprimebant vt eloquentâ—â— torcularia non verboriâ— pampinis sed sensuâ—â— quasi vuarum expressionibus redumdarent Origen in Cant. Aug. Epist. ad Ianuarium Bern. Serm. de Pent. 1 Grounds in the Law Precepts Promises 2 Grounds in the Gospell Christs resurrection on this day The spirits comming downe on this day The Apostles iniunction Practise In heauen no sinne No tempter No thraldome No labour No sorrow No paine No night No death No curse No feare Indesiezable estate of inheritance Royall honours and dignities Inualuable wealth and riches Inspeakable loyes and plâ—asures In the light and fruitioÌ„ of God Here thou mayest insert the principale Doctrine which thou hast heard from thy Pastors mouth * * Non est ad Deum toâ—o corde redite nisiscisso corde * * Dolet de dolore gaudet By regeneration we obtaine 1 Entrance into the kingdome of God 2 Knowledg 3 Liberty from our corruption From our reigning sin 5 The preheminencie of the first borne 6 Spirit of supplication 〈…〉 The Prophet speaketh in his own person 2 In the person of Christ. 3 In the person of God the Father 4 Of the Church God desireth the circumcisioÌ„ of the heart Commandeth it Loueth Obserueth Praiseth Rewardeth Brandeth the contrary Precepts in the old In the new Examples Abraham Iacob Dauid Israelites Pharisee Promises Threats curses to the contrary The Prophet speaketh in the person of Christ. In heauen is 1 The source of our soules created according to God's Image 2 Our heads 3 The nobler parts of the Church 4 Our country 5 Our mansion house 6 Hope and inheritance VictoriaÌ„ vicisti Precepts of God 2 Practice of Saints Reasons a a Holinesse b b Life c c Liberty d d Grace e e Prayer f f Wisedome g g Glory h h Truth Benefits of obeying the Spirit Danger of resisting Qui Deum per escas colit propè est vt Deum ventrem habeat Ver sacrum facere Obiect Hom. 49. in Mat. Answ. 1 Videl exercitat in Ignat Pro modulo nostro Hom. 1. in gen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Precepts for Fasting 2 Examples of it It expelleth Diuels Benefits It tameth the flesh It auerteth Iudgements It obtaineth temporall blessings and spirituall 1 The antecedents wherein 1 Christs Agony 2 Herod's Pilâ—ts and the Rulers of the Iewes conspiracy against him 3 Iudas betraying him 4 The Disciples forsaking him 5 The Iewes false accusing him 6 His mecks silence 7 The Souldiers and people blaspheming deriding him 2 The Passion it self wherein 1 The enduring Gods wrath 2 The racking of his ioints 3 The piercing his flesh 4 His thirst His drinke 5 His last cry 6 His giuâ—ng vp the ghost 3 The consequents 1 Water gushing out of his strength 2 Casting Lots 3 His buriall Diuine precepts Holy examples Christ Abraham Gedcon Dauid Salomon Ezekiah Iob. Daniel Iohn Baptist The Centurian Peter The Publicane Paul Promises to the humble of the fauour with God Wisedome Sanctifying grace Preferment Blessedness God commandeth meekenesse