V. Honour thy Father and thy Mother that thy dayes may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee VI. Thou shalt not kill VII Thou shalt not commit adultery VIII Thou shalt not steale IX Thou shalt not bear false witnesse against thy Neighbour X. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours house thou shalt not covet thy Neighbours wife nor his man-servant nor his maid-servant nor his Oxe nor his Asse nor any thing that is thy Neighbours The Lords Prayer in a Preface six Petitions a Confirmation and a Conclusion The Preface The Petitions OVr Father which art in Heaven 1. Hal lowed be thy Name 2. Thy Kingdome come 3. Thy will be done in Earth as it is in heaven 4. Give us this day our dayly Bread 5. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our Debtors 6. And lead us noâ— into Temptation but deliver us from evill For thine is the Kingdome and the Power The Confirmation and the glory for ever The Conclusion Amen â—race before meat BLessed God the Father of all blessings and God of all comfort and consolation blesse us and the Creaturs whatever now provided for us so fill both our bodies and soules with good that both may abound in all goodnesse to thy only glory and both their good through Jesus Christ our Lord to whom with thee and the holy Spirit be all honour and glory for ever Amen Grace after meat Give us O Lord we beseech thee all thankfull hearts for all thy good graces and benefits what ever now and at all times bestowed on us that by us and all the faithful for that all thy good thou maist receive all praise and glory now and for ever Amen A short Catechisme 1. Question WHat ought to be our chiefest care Answer To glorifie God a 1 Cor. 10. 31. II. Q That we may have that Care and shew forth that glory what ought we especially to have A Zeale b Numb 25. 11. III. Q Is Zeale enough to shew it A No we must have also knowledge c Rom. 10. 2. IV. Q That we may have both that zeal and knowledge what ought we especially to understand and consider A The works of God and the Word of God V. Q What are the works of God A The world and all things therein contained VI. Q Dothâ—bat glorifie God A Yes d Psal 19. 1 2. VII Q Why would he have his works to glorifie him A That we might be without ex cuse e Rom. 1. 19 20. VIII Q What is the Word of God A The holy Scriptures of the old and new Testament commonly called the Bible IX Q Why ought we to understand and consider that Word A That we might have a certaine rule to go by X. Q Have we a certaine rule in that Word A Yes f Is 8. 20. XI Q What especially teacheth that Word A The Knowledge of God and our selves g 2 Tim. 3. 16 17. XII Q What ought we to know of God A Two things especially XIII Q What be they A First what he is secondly what he hath done XIV Q First what is God A He is a Spirit h Jo. 4. 24. XV. Q Secondly what hath God done A He hath made all things i Gen. 1. â— XVI Q What ought we to know of our selves A Three things especially XVII Q What be they A First â—â— what we were Secondly what we are Thirdly what we shall be XVIII Q First then what weâ—e we A At our first Creation when God made man and all things he and they all Gen. 1. 31 were good k XIX Q Secondly what are we A Since that our first Parent Adams Gen. 6. 5. Ro. 6. 23. fall evill 1 And unlesse by Grace renewed subject to death m XX. Q Thirdly what shall we be A At the last day the generall Resurrection of all Mankind they by grace Mat. 25. 34. renewed shall be blessed in Heaven'n they that continue in sin shall be accursed in Mat. 25. 41. Hell o XXI Q Well but what was Adams sin to us Rom. 5. 18. 1 Cor. 15. 22. A We sinned in him p XXII Q How then can we be redeemed from that his guilt A By Jesus Christ XXIII What or who is Jesus Christ A The Sonne of God and Saviour of man XXIV Q Why must we be redeemed by Jesus Christ A Because the sin of man was against God God that is also man as Jesus Christ was and is must make the satisfaction XXV Q Are there more Gods then one A No there is but one God but there are three Persons in the Godhead XXVI Q What are those three Persons A The first the Father the second the Son and the third the holy Ghost XXVII Q How doe you know this A My Creed tels me so XXVIII Q What is the Creed A The Articles of our Faith XXIX Q Why doe some call it the Apostles Creed A Because some say the Apostles composâ—d it XXX Q What doe you think who composed it A It is uncertaine XXXI Q Why then is it râ—ceived A Because whoever composed it makes no great matter but being of old received and certainely containing the sum or grounds of Christian Religion comprised in the Gospell of Christ it is therefore received XXXII Q How many be those Articles of it A According to the number of the twelve Apostles twelve XXXIII Q What be those Articles A I beleeve in God c. XXXIV Q What is Faith A A certaine confidence in and dependance on Jesus Christ q Eph 3. 12. XXXV Q Why need we that confidence and dependance on Jesus Christ A Because we are sinners and none but he bare those sins i Heb. 9. 28. XXXVI Q What is sin A A transgression of the Law s 1 Jo. 3. 4. XXXVII Q What is that Law A The Commandements of God XXXVIII Q How many Commandments are there A Ten in two Tables t Deut. 4. 13. XXXIX Q Which be the Commandments A I am the Lord thy God c. XL. Q What learne you by these Commanmandements A My duty towards God and my duty towards my Neighbour XLI Q What is your duty towards God A To love him above all things u Mat. 22. 37. XLII Q What is your duty towards your Neighbour A To love him as my selfe w Mat. 22. 39. XLII Q Well but can you exactly keepe them in every point A No but I dayly breake some one or other of them in thought word and deed x Psal 14. 1. 3. And breaking but one I am guilty of all y Ja. 2. 10. XLIV Q How then to any purpose can you keepe any of them A I must labour what I may to keepe them XLV Q Why must you labour to keepe them A Because they are the rule prescribed of God XLVI Q Well but being as you say not able to keepe them as you ought how
him the fountaine love to the other persons making the streame thereof flow to us in his Son and so in him our father thus shewing God not onely good in himselfe but good also to us that as it is evident by Christs owne testimony i Jo 20. 17. God is both his and our father though we be but the adopted Sons of God k Gal. 4. 4 5. he onely his naturall son yet have we with him this right to call him Father Vse Which should teach us to be imitators of Christ that our brother as he did in all things so we study how to please that our father to doe as Christ did the will of God l Jo. 5. 30. with David to delight in doing that his Will m Ps 48. 8 to be as Paul would have his Ephesians be n Ep. 5. 1. followers of God as deare children Children of the father who is good to all o Mat. 5. 45. to shew our selves his children by our alike generall goodnesse 3. That he is Almighty besides that the frame of the most glorious Universe p Ps 19. 1. shewes that the maker thereof can be no lesse then the Almighty God God himself declares q Gen. 17. 1. that his Almighty being As also this cloâ—d of Scriptures though being infallible Scriptures yet to prove the Almightinesse producing undenyable Reasons As r Psa 111. 3 Psal 135. 6. where God is said to doe what he will hath might and power to doe all things as Psal 115. 3. Mat. 19. 26. Eph. 3. 20. and the like Vse Which should bridle the stubborn heads of them and check the bâ—â—d foreheads that will be questioning the will and power of God as can God doe this or this or this or this God cannot do when thus he can doe what he will and they have not the wit to conceive though the impudence thus to question his doings No beleeving that he is Almighty humbly bow s Ps 95. 6. we should labour to make him our friend by our obedience and not by our busie impudence to provoke his indignation As he is a Father and thus an Almighty God to comfort our selves not doubting his fatherly care nor distrusting his Almighty power but that as he is Father he will and as Almighty can depending upon him safely t Ps 27. 1. 1 Pet. 1. 5. keepe and defend us 4. That he is Maker of Heaven and Earth the Scriptures are plaine as Gen. 1. 1. and Act. 14. 15. and the like Where in these two thus cited one place expounds the other by heaven and earth in the first meaning as in the second both them and whatever else contained in them and as the whole first Chapter of Genesis doth more at large set forth When though this Creation be ascribed to the Father think not therefore the â—on or the holy Ghost excluded but that according to the Rule in Divinity In works without themselves they all three Persons worke together the Father by the Son through the holy Ghost the Son from the Father through the holy Ghost the holy Ghost from both the Father and the Son This which Creation is made of no pre-existent matter but made as we say of nothing u Heb. 11. 3. but by the word of God as Psal 33. 6. 9. as also Psal 148. 5. And made also good w Gen. 1. 25 31. and in good order the Heaven first and the things of Heaven and after the earth and its things And that in six dayes x Gen. 1. Ex. 20. 11. and that and all for his glory y. That and all which he hath since still gloriousl y Pro. 16. 4. and graciously governed and preserved z Act. 17. 28. Vse Which may teach us that as God is thus the Creator of all the Author of all our good so that him also we â—agnifie and praise for it a Ps 8. 1. 73 25. That he made all of nothing may teach us to consider his power that pleasing and faithfully depending on him from nothing he can raise our poore estate to something can again displeasing him bring us to nothing or worse then nothing to the penalty of his displeasure b 1 Sam. 2. 6 7. That he made all in this good order Heaven first and after the Earth may teach us where first to set oâ—r affection on Heaven c Mat. 11. 33. Col. 3. 2. and then in six dayes that as well in a moment might have made it to shew thereby not onely his infinite power but his mercy to us by his example to doe things orderly and with deliberation Besides that as Father prettily hints that his mercy to shew the superabundant goodnesse of it when it should cost the Son of God thirty yeares worke to redeeme lost man that wrought out the fabricke of the world in six dayes shewing thereby the Redemption of man a far greater worke both of mercy and power then the worke of that Creation And then making all for his glory and then gloriously still and graciously governing and preserving all may teach us where still to refer our glory and how even with all dutyfull respect and reverence to attribute to him and ascribe all glory doing all still to that end he made all to that his glory d 1 Cor. 10. 31. 5. That this must be our faith our certain our assured perswasion intimates e Heb. 11. 6. not onely our this beliefe of him as he is God but our trust and confidence in him as good f Jo. 17. 3. Vse Which may teach our discarding whatever trust or confidence on any other but that faithfully we have our whole and sole dependâ—nce on him And 6. Lastly that this must be every particular mans faith that we must not onely in Genneralâ— make this symboll all our beliefe bâ—t that every ones beliefe it must be that beforesaid assertion of St Paul may well hint g Heb. 11. 6. where he saith not they but hee that cometh to God must beleeve c. as if saying that this must be the faith of every particular person and where shewing who t is and how we must wait upon God the just shall live by his faith h Hab. 2. 4. saith the Prophet His faith in particular and not to depend on the generall faith of others When then this I in the fiâ—st Article must be still carried along to every of the other Articles and as well as say in this first I beleeve in God the Father c. say also in the second I beleeve in Jesus Christ his onely Son c. and in the third I beleeve â—hat he was conceived c. and so of the rest Vse Which may teach our care of every particular perswasion and not in hopes of happinesse to pin our faith on the implicit Creed of another Every man to seeke the salvation of his owne soul and in Jesus
secondly that the third day he rises nor sooner which may teach us not to despaire but patiently wait the salvation of God that though a while we may be miserable or afflicted yet in the end we shall be blessed And then that no later he stayes before he rises may teach us not to distrust that salvation but waiting Gods appointed time which though unknown to us yet this to know that salvation shall come h Ps 30. 5. And then thirdly that from the dead he rises what comfort may that administer that our weaknesse buried in his death shall be strengthned by the power of his resurrection i 1 Cor. 15. 43. See we next those two steps of his Exaltation how in the VI. Sixt Article He 1. ascended into heaven and then 2. sitteth on the right hand of God the father Almighty He first ascended into Heaven that he might not onely on earth by his resurrection testifie his power but by his ascention also into heaven creat also our happinesse and that there to prepare a place for us k Jo. 14. 4 to send and showr downe his gifts and graces on us l Jo. 7. 39 17. 7. Eph. 4. 8 11 12 c. And then secondly he sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty where by Gods right hand is meant not that he hath hands or feet or the like who is a Spirit m Jo. 4. 24. but as spoken after the manner of men who by right hand meane all manner of preheminence n Phi. 2. 9. Ep. 1. 20. 21. which now Christ hath at Gods right hand meaning thereby his o Ex. 15. 2 power p Ps 118. 15. his goodnesse and glory q Psal 16. 11 110 1 Mat. 28 20. Heb. 1. And there so sitteth to manifest the full of mans Redemption r Heb. 10. 12. Not onely at first by his Humiliation to plead for us but by this Exaltation on this step of judicature continually to plead for us s Rom. 8. 38. Heb. 7. 15. Thence to give out writs and mandats for the managing of his Church and chosen by the power of his spirit more fully ruling in the hearts of his people t Joh. 14. 16. and by the rule of his Word speaking by that spirit u Heb. 4 12. by both that Word and Spirit drawing unto himselfe his chosen as fore-prophefied of him w Jo. 15. 11. that he should do as afterwards x Act. 2. 41. 47. is the doing testified When though in his humane nature he ascended into heaven y Mat. 26. 11. Act. 7. 56 where he is thus in power on Gods right hand yet is he with us too though not as before in Body z Jo. 16. 28. Heb. 8. 4. yet more fully then before in Spirit a Mat. 28. 20. Jo. 14. 18. 26. Applic. That first he ascended and that to showr his gifts and graces on us may administer our carefull attendance on him that our hearts be prepared happily to entertain those gifts and graces and that by obedience to his Word and Spirit that we by sin grieve not the one b Ep. 4 30 nor pervert the other c Col. 3. 16. That he ascended into Heaven the place of all blisse and true happinesse may prompt when ever he shall please to call for us our both readinesse and willingnesse to be with him yea our desire to be with him d Ph. 1. 23 and in the meane time to count him most deare to have faithfull dependance on him e Phil. 3. 8 9 10. Then secondly that he sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty and that to manifest the full of mans Redemption to intercede for us in heaven by his word and spirit to governe us upon earth How in this advocate may we have Confidence f Jo. 14. 13. that not only Heaven at last shall be our home g Jo. 14. 3. but that here till we come at that home hereafter have we his word and spirit to direct us which may teach us not to faint under crosses nor lanch out into carelessenesse but to take to us these armes of God to draw us to God such as the preaching of his word h Rom. 10 17. the blessed influence of good motions of his spirit that we attend the one by our diligent hearing of it and quench not i 1 Thes 5 19. the other by our contempt or carelessenesse Seein Christ at Gods right hand humbly to submit our selves to Christ k Psa 2. 6 11. 12. And as he gloriously overcame death and hell and the Devill and those whatever enemies of ours that erst surprised us so that we be carefull to overcome those whatever our sins and lusts may without this our care surprize us This by the holy spirit of God is still commended to our care l Rom. 6. 12. 1 Jo. 2. 1. And but by our conquest over this no promise of being happy with Christ m Mat. 19. 28. Rev. 3. 21. Thus of these two steps of Exaltation the fourth and last of which lets now next see as in the VII Seventh Article From thence he shall come to judge the quicke and the dead which Article offers to our consideration these foure particulars as first That there shall be a judgement 2. That he Christ shall be the Judge 3. the place whence he shall come to bâ—come this Judge from thence to wit Heaven where he sits at Gods right hand and fourthly when as a cloze to this part of the Creed and explaining this Article consider we may the Manner of the Judgement what it is and the proceeding of it whom it is he shall judg quick and dead 1. There shall be a judgement and Christ though yet deferring his coming shall yet thus come to judge T is not the mocks n 2 Pet 3 4 of scorners shall trustrate it but this reason were it no other were enough for it that Gods justice to both good and bad may require it o Eccl 12 13 14 Luk 16 25 2 Rom 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 Th 1 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 But besides not only Scriptures back'd thus with reasons but they also infallible which we must rather beleeve then question evidence the same truth that there shall be a judgement p Dan 7 13 14 Mat 10 15 12 36 Act. 17 31 1 Thes 4 16 Heb 9 21 2. Christ shall be Judge the same that ascended shall descend q Act 1 11 and to this purpose to judge as who hath now all power thereof r Jo 5 22 Act 10 42 3. From Heaven he shall come s Mat 26 64 Phil 3 20 that place whence implying a place whither which though uncertaine where yet must conclude that it must be on the earth there where we have done good or evill to have this last sentence But
11 And X. In the Tenth respecting the inward actions of one man towards another and as â—eflecting upon all the former both speciall and generall duties even in our very thoughts and desires which unlesse well rectified are the very fo intaines oâ— evil o Jam. 4. 1 is commanded in all our parts body and soule through sanâ—tification and to our owne estate to be content with it p Heb. 13 5. to bemoan the ill condition of it q Job 42. 11. and to rejoyce in the good r Ex. 18 9 And forbidden in all our parts all unholinesse or unrighteousnesse s Ro. 6 13 all or any discontent with our own estate t Est 5. 13 and to that of our Neighbours by envy u Gal. 5 26. or repining w Ja. 5 9. any whatever inordinate x Col. 3. 5 or lustfull y 1 Cor. 10. 6. desire to him z Gen. 39 12 or his * 1 Ki 21 2 4 12. Zâ—c 7 10 In every of which these Commandements both of the things commanded and forbidden we have instanced in them we could remember most obvious in the large extent of which we writing but a short Commentary some thingâ— in both may perhaps be omitted and thus in briefe supplyed What as to the things commanded let be referred to this Finally my Brethrâ—n c. Phil. 4. 8. And as to the things forbidden to this Abstaine c. 1 Thes 5. 2 And thus have we done with this before Exposition of the Commandements come we next to that of the Lords Prayer A briefe Exposition of the Lords Prayers THis Prayer as the Commandements are is also a part of the Canonicall Scriptures and at two severall times produced by our Saviour himselfe as recorded by two severall Evangelists a Mat. 6 9 c Luke 11 2 who both have upon the matter the same like Copy in almost the very same words That we have this Prayer thus twice repeated warrants a set â—orme of prayer and confirmes the practice usuall under both the Law and the Gospell As under the Law in a set forme was Aaron and his sons enjoyned to blesse the Children of Israel as you may see both the Injunction b Numb 6. 22 23 and the forme c 24 25 26. See another set forme of Prayer of him that was to present his third yeares Tith d Deut. 26. 15. A set forme of Thanksgiving e Is 12. ch See also a set forme on the peoples conversion f Joel 2. 17 1 Ki. 8. 47. repeated even word for word g Dan. 9 5 as a set forme in the time of Captivity Then compare Ezra 3. 11. Psal 136. Jer. 33. 11. together and see how as may be well gathered by the burden of the song that Psalme is recorded by those other two places and made as a set forme of thanksgiving See also other Injunctions and examples of set formes h 2 Chro. 29. 30. Ezr. 3. 10. The Titles of many Psalmes shew them set formes as that for the Morning i Psal 22. for the Sabbath k Psal 92. and the like And under the Gospell Our Saviour himselfe not onely twice prescribeth this forme as for others but himselfe also useth a set forme l Mat. 27. 46. in the very same words of David m Psa 22. 1. yea another also of his owne words three severall times in the same words n Mat. 26. 44. Enough to warrant set fâ—rmes But to goe on with this Prayer that there is some variety in the words though to one and the same purpose as where Matthew hath debts and debtors Luke hath sins or trespasses and indebted as if both compared to shew that sins or trespasses are debts and an omission of some part of the one that is in the other Copy warrants also somewhat varied formes according to this and that something now may be omitted that at another time is or may be said That in one place it is said o Mat. 6. 9 After this manner pray yee hints that all our Prayers be by this patterne the most exact forme and comprising in briefe what ever more at large may be delivered in Prayer And then that in the other place it is said p Ln. 11. 2 When ye pray say Our Father c. hints not onely this a set forme of Prayer but that also even with this most exact and perfect forme we or begin or end ours more imperfect When as recorded by St Matthew q Mat. 6. 9 10 11 12 13 Presace to goe on with the Exposition of that most perfect forme the Lords Prayer From the Preface consider we first the object of all prayer God r Ps 62. 2. Then secondly under what Appellation Father And thirdly in what place heaven and then fourthly as to uswards most propitious under this notion of Our For to come to God were it without this or under any other Title of Majesty might make us affraid to come unto him that inglorious s Gen. 18 27 dust and ashes should dare to approach so incomprehensible t 1 Kin. 8 27 glory u Ps 24 7 But Father may give us confidence of love that though in heaven he beholdeth us also in earth w Ps 11. 4 and when the Father of lights x Jam. 1 17 is the giver of all good and in heaven the Lord of both it and earth and as who hath all power in both y Ps 135 6 and can give it to z 1 Kin. 8 30 and to whom he plâ—aseth a Dan. 4 27 Bâ—t yet what may all this be to us unlesse to us he will please to give that goodnesse what that he is that Father unlesse also Oâ—rs Our there is it confirmes our happinesse that we though on Earth and he in Heaven thus a Father can thus in prayer come unto him under the Notion of our Father Which Our cacheth us how 't is we come to God to the Father by the Son through the holy Ghost When then thus praying Our Father we pray not to any one alone Father Son or holy Ghost but thus to the whole Trinity Father teacheth God not only d Jo 5 22 a Judge b Gen. 15 25. but also a Saviour c Hos 13 4 Our that we come to him by Christ who is both that Judge and Saviour e Mat 1 21 Our Father as he is God f Isa 9 6 our Brother as Man g Heb 2 11 Our teaches that by him we come to that his and our Father h Jo 20 17. he the Naturall Son of God i Jo 1 14 we but in him the adopted k Gal 4 4 5 So as but by him no comfortable l Jo 14 16 26 no effectual m vers 6 coming though in and by him we are made all able n Ph 4 13 in thus coming Nor
better doe your worke If a quarter or halfe an houre in a day be sometimes spent in the practice at the weekes end you will find it no prejudice to your work but an excellent preparation on Gods day to do his worke in who doubtlesse will thereby both blesse and prosper the workes of every your owne dayes But let not the Gate be great where the City is but little or I lavish out time by a long Preface before a little booke which for the good of you all I composed and herein now propose to your both courteous and Christian entertainment and so I rest Yours in the Lord. L. THOMAS MILKE FOR CHILDREN The Great letters of all sorts A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. J. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q. R. S. T. U. W. X. Y. Z. A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q. R. S. T. U. W. X. Y. Z. A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q. R. S. T. V. W. X. Y. Z. The small Letters of all sorts a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. k. l. m. n. o. p. q. r. r. s s. t. v. u. w. x. y. z. c. a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. k. l. m. n. o. p. q. r. s s. t. v. u. w. x. y. z. c. a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. k. l. m. n. o. p. q. r. s s. t. v. u. w. x. y. z. c. The Double letters of all sorts ff ss sh sl fl st ct ff ss sh sl fl st ct ff ss sh sl fl st ll ct The numeral letters I. V. X. L. C. D. M. The Figures 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 0. The points or stops in reading A Comma or short stop A middle distinction A full point A note of Interrogation A noâ—e of Admiration Lines including a Parenthesis The division of the letters Of the letters these six a. e. i. o. u. y. are Vowels all the rest are Consonants And sometimes i. u. y. are Consonants when going before themselves or other Vowels This kind of v. v. v. is used when a Consonant and whether Consonant or Vowell ever in the beginning of a Syllable word or sentence The other u. u. u. is alwayes a Vowell It is called a Consonant because it must alwayes be sounded with a Vowell as ab eb ad ed. ba. be da. de c. where a. and e. are Vowels b. and d. are Consonants In the English letters these two sorts of small ers r. r. are used indifferently but the small esses s s. are thus used this s alwayes in the beginning and middle this s alwayes at the end of words There are Syllables in words every Syllable must have one vowel at the least and every word if it hath more syllables then one must have also more vowels A Syllable is the pronouncing of one letter or more with one breath One Syllable may make one word as of in One word may have many syllables as division PSAL. 34. vers 11. Come ye Children hearken unto mee I will teach you the fear of the Lord. ECCLES 12. verse 13. Let us beare the conclusion of the whole matter Feare God and keep his Commandements for this is the whole duty of man PSAL. 111. vers 10. The feare of the Lord is the beginning of wisedome a good understanding have all they that do thereafter his praise endureth for ever ECCLES 12. vers 1. Remember now thy Creator in the dayes of thy youtb while the evill dayes come not nor the years draw nigb when thou shalt say I have no pleasure in them 1 KINGS Chapt. 18. Vers 25 Therefore now Lord God of Israel keepe with thy servant David my Father that thou promisedst him saying there shall not faile thee a man in my sight to sit on the Throne of Israel so that thy Children take beed to their way that they walke before me as thou hast walked before me Vers 26 And now O God of Israel let thy word I pray thee be verified which thou spakest unto thy servant David my Father Vers 27 But will God indeed dwell on the earth Behold the Heaven and Heaven of Heavens cannot containe thee how much lesse this house that I have builded Vers 28 Yet have thou respect unto the Prayer of thy servant to this supplication O Lord my God to hearken unto my cry and to the prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee this day Vers 29 That thine eyes may be open to this house night and day ever toward the place of which thou hast said my name shall be there that thou maist hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall make toward this place The Creed in twelve Articles 1. I beleeve in God the Father Almighty maker of heaven and Eaâ—th 2. And in Jesus Christ his onely Son our Lord 3. Which was conceived by the holy Ghost borne of the Virgin Mary 4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried he descended into Hell 5. The third day he rose againe from the dead 6. He ascended into Heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty 7. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead 8. I beleeve in the holy Ghost 9. The holy Catholicke Church the Communion of Saints 10. The forgivenesse of sins 11. The resurrection of the Body 12. And the life everlasting Amen The Commandements in a Preface and ten Precepts And God spake all these words saying The Preface I am the Lord thy God which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt out of the house of bondage 1. Thou shalt have no other Gods before The Precepts or Commandements themselvs me II. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven Image or any likenesse of any thing that is in the Heaven above or that is in the Earth beneath or that is in the water under the Earth Thou shalt not bow downe thy selfe to them nor serve them For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the Children unto the third and foâ—rth generation of them that hate me And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my Commandements III. Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vaine for the Lord will not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his Name in vaine IV. Remember the Sabbath day to keepe it holy Six dayes shalt thou labour and doe all thy worke Bâ—t the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt not doe any work thou nor thy Sonne nor thy Daughter thy man-servant nor thy maid-servant nor thy cattell nor thy stranger that is within thy gates For in six dayes the Lord made Heaven and Earth the Sea and all that in them is and rested the seventh day wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed iâ—
goodnesse As out of the Old Testament g Gen. 18. 18 19. where greatnes seems to be consequent of goodnesse and godlinesse and that God will blesse them whose children and houshold by living uprightly blesse God Also h Pr. 22. 6. where that men in their old age depart not from godlinesse and goodnesse is that in their youth they were trained up in it Againe i Ecc. 12. 1 where the wise Preacher wishes as we say to take time by the fore-lock and betimes to informe in golinesse And then that k V. 13. 14 to be godly and goe by the rule of Gods Commandments is mans whole endeavours Then out of the New Testament l Mat. 6. 33. that our first care Christ would have to be to be godly and no doubt the endeavours of our first yeares as who secking first to be godly should not misse any good according to that of David m Psa 8 4. 11. who assures all good to the godly as Christ makes goods the additions to godlinesse Also n Jo. 14. 15 Christ would have us to testifie our love of him and to shew it by keeping his Commandements which is by having faith and workes of faith hope charity and what other Christian vertues commanded by him Againe o 1 Jo. 2. 1. as if to prepare us for all these vertues the Apostle warnes against all vice and under the salute or title or appellation of Children as if to shew we could not be too timely in a contest with them the spirit of God p Rev. 22. 14. assuring heaven to the godly blessednesse as the right of their inheritance These and the like Expositions over and these like more plaine instructions instilled into youth for their further growth in godlinesse may you next doe well by yet larger expositions to explain unto them the meaning of the Creed the ten Commandements and the Lords Prayer with here and there some hints to some usefull Applications And first of the Creed A breif Exposition of the Creed THe Creed though as some will have it the immediate dictates of the twelve Apostles however it be uncertain who were the first compilers of it is the most ancient summe of Christian faith received by the Primitive Church and fathers and though containing in it the pith and marrow of Gods promises in in the Gospell yet because no Canonical Scripture in the exposition thereof it behoves us out of the Scriptures to prove every article thereof and to produce still such places of Canonical writ as shall infallably set forth the substance and sum of it And first for the Creed in generall thus the sum of our faith it behoves first to prove the necessity of faith And that doe these Scriptures as Habac. 2. 4. the last clause of the verse recited Rom. 1. 17. and Gal. 3. 11. and further explained or exemplified Jo. 3. 36. and 1 Jo. 5. 10. By collation of all which places there 's no living without it no living as to please God a Heb. 11. 6. without pleasing whom even better were it not to be b Mat. 18 6. No but this faith is it that justifies uâ— before God c Rom 5 1 Gal 1 15 sanctifies us before men d Act 15 9 Gal 5 6 is that by which we must live in which we must dye live we must by faith and that is when all we doe we doe in faith and when all we suffer we suffer in faith And then dye we must in faith and that first by weaning our selves from an immoderate love of this world secondly by depending on the promises of God thirdly by adhering to all helpes may bring us to heaven and fourthly in the pursuit of this adherence by no means to fall backe or faulter but though perhaps at present seeing little or no good come to hope and goe on still as faithfully assured of its coming e Job 13 15 Ps 30 5 These and the like places prove the necessity of faith And being that faith comes by hearing of the word f Ro 10 17 of God see we now next the symboll of faith it selfe the Creed and come we by the test of that word to prove every the Articles thereof and first of the First Article I beleeve in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth which is also the first Part of it wherein is to be proved 1. That there is a God 2. that he is a Father 3. that he is Almighty 4. that he is Maker of Heaven and Earth 5. that this must be our faith and 6. that this must be every particular mans faith 1. For the first that there is a God though none but fooles a Ps 14 1 will deny his being these like Scriptures prove and as if the better to worke upon our capacities prove it by evident reasons As by his works of Creation b Ro 1 20 and Providence c Heb 1 3 where by the one we are to told he made e all things by the other that he preserves all things which none bâ—t God can doe Where might be added the Nature of the Creatures Whose motion points at some still first mover their multitudes at some Vnite which againe must needs be God yea our owne dayly experience that see his wrath emergent against the wicked and goodnesse and mercy eminent to the good and the godly Vse Which may teach the foolish and dull Atheist to lay by his stupid infidelity and confesse with his mouth what he durst but deny in his heart that there is a God may teach men to live so as if there were a God godly and serve him as they ought both dutifully and duly Besides that these like Scriptures and Reasons may prove not onely that there is a God but also that there is out one God However to backe this assertion have we also Gods owne Testimony in these other like Scriptures as Deut. 4. 39. Isa 45. 5. 1 Cor. 8. 4. and the like Vse Which again may instruct us against all filthy Idolatry and them that count ought else a. God beside him may teach unity among our selves d Act 4 32 and our onely sole salvation by him e Is 43 11 Ro 3 30 When proving him thus to be but one we need not presse further or be driven to prove that he is true or good all these like terms being convertible this one being every of those two and they all three but as all one 2 That he is a Father con we that Scripture f Isa 9. 6. where though speaking of Christ the Son of God the Prophet cals him Son as the second person in the Trinity Father as the first person both Father and son together with the holy Ghost though being but one entire substance God yet thus are three distinct subsistences one God three Persons g Mat. 28. 19. 1 Joh. 5. 7. That he is called Father shewes
by this Our have we him as the head to bring us in our prayers to God but in it must we bring along with us all the members this as all our prayers being to extend to all o 1 T 1 2 1 For Christ is not onely our elder Brother but we also in and by him brethren to one another p Gen 13 8 When though alone by a mans selfe a man is not only to pray for himselfe but also for all And therefore must say Our Father yea could his charity be so cold as to forget all but himselfe he prayes not therein rightly but by saying Our Father Christ that must present all to God that will come unto him must present though but that one that will come and therefore though but one with him must say Our Father My father q Mat 26 39. well and rightly might Christ say as who without any other might make that like addresse but so cannot any one of us without him and therefore must though but one he be that prayes and though but for himselfe alone say Our Father Thus much of the Preface The Petitions are six or as some divide The Petitions or Prayer it selfe them seven making or dividing the last into two But as six three concern God the other three our selves wherein is much seen Gods goodnesse even in this division thus equally dividing these Petitions or yet more if you make those three last foure as if were it possible to imagine so much shewing himselfe more propense to us then provident for himselfe In those three Petitions that concerne to God the first sets forth that not onely first in his intent r Pro. 164 but that which should indeed be still first in all our Prayers s Exo. 32. 32. and that is his glory The other two as means to promote that glory By Name in the first Petition meaning all his titles and attributes his word and the ministery of it his workes and Ordinances whatever that we hallow them all and that is againe that we have a reverend esteem of them t Ps 89. 7. Rev. 4. 11. as all conducing to set forth his glory Vse All which may teach all that will come unto God what they must above before all things doe labour to set forth Gods glory u Ps 19. 1. 117. 1. 1 Cor. 10. 31. 1 Pet. 2. 12. By Kingdome in the second meaning first his Kingdome of power alwayes w Ps 10. 16. and everywhere x Ps 10. 1 2. powerfull secondly his Kingdome of grace here y Mat. 3. 2. 3. thirdly his Kingdome of glory hereafter z Luk. 23. 42. By the first beating downe the Kingdome of Satan a Ep. 6. 12 and sinners b Ps 2. 9. By the second reigning here in the hearts of his chosen c Luk. 17. 20. And by the third with eternall happinesse crowning those his chosen hereafter d Jo. 10. 28 Of every of which thus pray we the coming that that first be put alwayes in execution e Ps 68. 1. and that second advanced f Rev. 12. 10. and that third hastened g Rev. 22. 20. Vse When if pray thus we must for the coming of this Kingdome this should teach us what votaries we should be that we may have comfort by its coming and that is that we goe by his direction and repent h Mat. 4. 17. that thus dictated this our prayer for the thus coming of it for as he also renders the reason i Joh. 3. 3. without this repentance no comfort no coming at any good by the coming of this Kingdome as he also averreth k Lu. 13. 3. 5. inevitable ruine and destruction And then by Will in the third meaning both his secret and revealed will when though that one be his alone to manage and but the other belongeth unto us l Deut. 29. 29. our prayer yet must extend to the doing of both that secret our praying Christs coming to judgement m Rev. 22. 20. this revealed our patient continuance in well doing n Ro. 2. 7. although yet our earnest o Rom. 8. 18 19. expectation till he come And that in the mean time though by corruption * Gen 6 5 1 Cor 2 14. a verse to ours yet p 1 Thes 4 3 when the will of God and operation of grace q we are to pray what he wils as for a more perfect knowledge p Ep 2. 5 of his Will r Jo 17 3 faith and salvation in and by Jesus Christ s Jo. 6 40 love and obedience to him and that by keeping his Commandments t Jo. 14 15 holy in our selves u Ep. 1. 4 loving and friendly to one another w Jo 13 34 Which and the like is the will of God and his Will that this be done in earth as it is in heâ—ven that is as the heavenly Host the Angels are ready to doe his pleasure x Ps 103 20 21 Christ the head y Jo. 6 38 the Saints already departed z Heb 12 23 to obey him so that we yet alive that are of Christs true Church and his mystical body a 1 Cor 12 12 be as he was b Mat 16 39 and with the doing of it c 1 Cor 11 1 doing his Will His Will that is his Commandements d Mat 7 21 23 24 and that according to his Will his Word e Ps 147 19 Luk 11 28 Vse Which prayer thus for the doing Gods Will as knowing all our good his doing f Phi 2 13 should weane our owne wils from evill for what ever our happinesse patiently piously to ascr be to his g 1 Jo 5 14 to be constant and couragious h Josh 1 6 7 for Canaaâ— not like our Fathers i Ps 106 24 as displeased with it as despising it wavering k Psal 78 57 whining and pining after Egypt l Exod 16 3 17 3 Thus of the three Petitions that concerne God Those other three or if you will those foure that concerne our selves One to wit the fourth respects the body and those others the soul Vâ—â— As if to teach our care of the soul to be two yea three to owne above that of the body And that in as much as the Salvation of the soul is the happinesse of both soul and body the happinesse of the body yea whatever World of happinesse nothing without that of the soul m Mat. 16 26. IV. By bread in the fourth a figurative Expression under the notion of that most necessâ—rie n Ps 104. 15. meaneing also all other necessâ—ries competent o Gen. 28. 20. and convenient p Pro. 30. 8. Mat. 6. 32 for this our bodily being as meat drinke rayment peace plenty prosperity health wealth liberty and the like q Isa 3. 1. And this as who is
any the over-sollicitous cares of earth or earthly things put over any our care of heaven or the things of heaven but with our owne estate what ere it be let 's learne therewith to be content if prosperous to praise thee our God for that prosperity if in adversity or under the Crosse that patiently we may beare it Turne O turn away those whatever wofull punishments our sins have justly deserved and the better to turne away those punishments for sin turn us away from those our sins that so from both them we turne unto thee our God And that thou wilt be thus propitious we beg not only for our selves here assembled but became also Petitioners both in our Prayers and Praises for In our Prayers that thou wilt blesse and be favourable to thy holy Catholike Church wheresoever dispersed or howsoever distressed defend all and every the members of it let not any the little Lambs there of be by Sin Satan or the World made to stray from out of that little flock thou hast reserved the Kingdome for But them already called to thy fold keep Lord and blesse them in it and them as yet without the Pale thereof bring in in thy good time that at last we may become one fold under one Shepherd And to the furthering thereof as thy Sons Coat was without seame so make and keepe the garment of that thy spouse the Church to be without schism that by any our divided opinions the Enemy what ever that is vigilant to sow sedition among us may not at any time so get the advantage over us as to breake our unity from thee our God or our amity unto goodnesse and so instead of being knit unto thee by it we be severed by the Babel of his lewd confusion Here now next as occasion serves are we to pray for the Common-wealth in generall wherever we live in that God will blesse it with peace and plenty and for the happy support thereof for the supreme Magistrates of State whatever for the Ministry Soldiery and whole People of God in generall that they all in their severall places and callings may make God and godlinesse their aime Then as need shall require for any one in speciall for the obtaining any blessing wanting for the turning away any emergent evill â—present or to come As for a sick person sick whither in body or mind or boâ—h or under whatever crosse or calamity that God will gratiously looke down upon him visite him with his mercy and relieve him in that what ever his exigencie That if so be it may stand with his good pleasure he may againe recover the strength of both mind and body be freed and exempted from any whatever crosses or afflictions he may so groan under comfortably to walk in his holy and Christian vocation Or if by it he be to be brought to his grave that while waiting for that he may have in that Gods mercy favour grace and comfort to that with patience he may attend till his change come whatever Gods good will and pleasure whither living or dying be so united unto God that in the end he may obtaine Salvation For a woman intravell of Child-birth that God will be gracious to her though by the fate of sin at that present destinated to great pain that he will yet favourably deliver her out of it and by a blessed issue mitigate the sorrow of hers it must be born with that both in God and it she may have after much joy and comfort that she as a faithfull Hannah may with her young Samuel intend most and eâ—er Gods service Thus and the like may be the Prayers The Prayes thus as For one delivered from any such like sickness crosse or calamity either the party himselfe by himselfe to pray or others for and with him that God will accept the Generall acknowledgment of his Grace and favour to the whatever person so delivered As For one recovered from sicknes of body or minde that after in the strength of both he may grow in strength of grace and goodnesse or freed from other crosses or calamities in that freedome then and ever by his thankfullnesse that he acknowledg that Gods especial favour to him that more then the skil of Chyrâ—rgians or Phyâ—itians means ordained of God for the ease and reliefe of sick people more then of friends favours to expedit also out of miseries that yet Gods grace and mercy is the supreame meane of health and happinesse that though by them brought onwards sometimes unto it yet that that must be it must Crowne the happinesse For a woman delivered that God be acknowledged as in travel her only support so after her chiefe comfort that for therein his especiall favour he have therefore an especiall gratitude praise for that whatever his goodnes And that as he was thus propitious to her that she may be sedulous to magnifie and ever to praise him for it that by a safe deliverance granting her desire her still after-desires may be to maintaine his glory That by his blessing on the fruite of her wombe there may stil be an increase of blessings to the setting forth of that his glory an addition still to the number of Christs faithfull ones For any whoever departed in the faith and feare of God If notwithstanding any the former prayers God saw it best and had decreed it otherwise to take him to himselfe that he have our praise also for that goodnesse that hath not onely by life and health and peace prosperity here a comfortable assistance for his people but even in and after death a more glorious life an health without any danger of impaire peace without perturbation prosperity without end or diminution So as not only comfortable is the life of the godly but pretious in Gods sight their death also So as even for Gods favours to the thus departed our praise is also due unto him And then aefter thus to proceed to a Conclusion with thankes for whatever blessing Let O Lord these our both prayers and Prayses as allwayes acceptable so alwayes be seasonable in thy sight And for that our allways both acceptable and seasonable offerture of them keep in us humble and prepared hearts that in nothing we be wanting for the whatever and whenever due accomplishment of them And then O Lord when ever and whatever this according to thy Will we pray for or praise thee for be with us still auspitious to both And in both and for both and whatever else requisite for us grant us Lord we beseech thâ—e for thine owne sake and for the sake of thy Son Christ our Saviour In whose name and words the name onely by which we are saved and the Words the most exact and perfect patterne of prayer we conclude these our imperfect Prayers saying as he hath taught us to pray unto thee saying Our Father which art c. Blessing and glory honour and might and majesty be