that I am brought out of the base Bondage of Sin and Satan to partake of the glorious liberty of thy Children thorough Jesus Christ in whose Holy Name and Words I further pray unto thee saying Our Father c. Another MOst gracious God and mercifull Father who art no Respecter of Persons but in every place and station he that feareth thee and worketh Righteousness is accepted of thee In an humble Sence of thy Soveraign greatness and my own meanness and unworthiness I cast down my self at the Footstool of thy Grace begging Pardon and Forgiveness of my manifold Sins and Iniquities That I have no more chearfully and faithfully obey'd thy Commands and theirs thou hast set over me Give me Grace for the future to be thy and their faithfull Servant Let me disdain no Office but shew all mildness pliableness reverence and fidelity to him though harsh and froward accounting him worthy of all Honour as bearing the Image of thy Soveraignty a Contempt of him being a Contempt of thy Majesty Bless him and his and all his Affairs Make me so carefull and circumspect in all the Particulars of my Duty that neither he nor any other may suffer through my Ignorance or Neglect and that at the last Day when the Servant shall be free from his Master thou may'st say unto me well done good and faithfull Servant enter thou into the Joy of thy Lord for his sake who to set me free from the slavery of the Devil humbled himself made himself of no Reputation and is now exalted at thy Right-hand in whose holy Name and Words I further pray Our Father c. Duties of the Aged BE Examples of Wisdom Gravity and Holiness to the Younger and draw forth those Treasures of Knowledge and Experience which you have been so long in laying up to instruct the Ignorant and warn the Unexperienced and Ungodly that are about you Tell them what you have or might have suffered by the Deceits of Sin the Danger of Temptation and Delay what Comfort you have found in God the Scriptures and a Holy Life and how good he hath been unto you Be not peevish or froward to those about you but patient under all the Infirmities and Inconveniences of Old Age. Be blessing God for your former days of strength health and ease and for that endless undisturbed Rest he hath provided for you Let the Ancient Mercies and Experiences of God's Love through all your Lives be fresh upon your Minds and inkindle your Love and Thankfulness Delight and Comfort and help you to submit to Uneasiness and Death Be accurate in examining the state of your Soul and making your Calling and Election sure Be frequent and particular in reflecting upon your past life that you may be deeply humbled for all your Sins and thankfull for being preserved from those you might and others have fallen into Redeem with double Diligence your little Remains of Time set a great value on every moment of it lose none in Idleness or unnecessary things being always doing or getting some good and that with all your might Let your Thoughts of Death and Preparation for it be as if it were just at Hand Their Prayer OFather of Lights and of all Consolation from Everlasting to Everlasting thou art God a never-failing Support an Eternal Reward to thy persevering Followers thy old Disciples I have lived upon thee and by thee all my days thou hast been my help from my Youth cast me not off now in the Time of old Age forsake me not when my strength faileth O pardon the Follies of my Childhood the Miscarriages of my riper Years that I have done and receiv'd so little Good spent so little Time in it and so much in Vanity Give me grace to husband and improve the Remainder of my few Sands for my Eternal Advantage Amidst the Infirmities of my Body preserve me from Covetousness Frowardness Impatience whatsoever Vices are so frequently found in old Age. Grant I may be sober grave temperate sound in Faith in Charity in Patience a Teacher of good things Let my former Experiences of thy Goodness learn me still to trust in thee not to be distrustfull of thy Providence nor negligent of my Duty Let not my Graces wither but flourish more and more with my declining Days nor my Zeal for thy Glory cool but be inflamed with the decay of my bodily Heat That bringing forth fruit in old Age I may go to my Grave as a Shock of Corn in its Season meet for Glory and in the joyfull Expectation of a happy Resurrection thorough Jesus Christ to whom be all Glory Honour and Praise now and for ever Amen Another I Humbly prostrate my self before thee who art the High and Lofty one that inhabitest Eternity in a deep Sence of my manifold Sins and Iniquities that I have lived so unprofitably unto others so careless of my own Soul so much without Thee my God in the World It 's a Wonder of thy Mercy that thou hast not cut me off in the midst of my days that have so long cumbered the ground but afforded me so much space to prepare my self for a happy Eternity O wash away all my Sins in and by the Blood of Jesus the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World and that lives for ever to make intercession for us And help me to spend my short Span of Time to the best Advantage So quicken and actuate O Spirit of Life this sluggish Soul that the last part of my Race may be run with more Vigour likelier to the Heavenly Imployment than all the rest have been The more my outward Sences decay vouchsafe the quicker and livelier Sence of thy past-loving Kindness and endless Love and of those good things thou hast laid up for me to support and refresh me now all the Comforts of this Life fail and the years are come wherein I have no pleasure in them That having no other Burden but that of old Age my Soul may be still magnifying of thee and my Flesh also may rest in Hope When this crazy earthly Tabernacle is dissolved let me have a Building of God an House not made with Hands Eternaâ— in the Heavens through Jesus Christ in whose Holy Name and Words I conclude my Imperfect Prayers saying Our Father c. Duties of the Young LEarn to understand the Covenant and Vow which by others you made in Baptism with God the Father Son and Holy-Ghost your Creator Redeemer and Sanctifier and Renew it in your own Persons Resolvedly renounce the Devil and all his works and absolutely resign up your selves to God Openly with Thankfulness own so great a Blessing and your Duty thereupon the Happy Covenant you are engaged in and live in the Comfort and Performance of it all your days Remember God demandeth his Right so soon as you are capable of understanding it and that you are entered into a place not of Happiness or Continuance but of Tryal and Preparation for
Service of Christ into the Communion of Saints Keep them from the Loss or Injury of any Sence or Member from every sad Accident from Evil Temptations or Examples prevailing upon them from being useless unprofitable or vitious that they prove not a Curse but a Blessing and Comfort to us and others and attain what thou hast promised to those that Honour and Obey thee and their Parents and not provoke thee to visit the Iniquity of their Fathers upon them Give us grace to carry our selves so as we may be able with Confidence so leave our Fatherless Children with thee and bid them trust in Thee O thou that hast sent forth thine Angels for Ministring Spirits to the Heirs of Salvation give them Charge over us and them for Preservation and Safety thorough Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Childrens Duties LOve and Honour your Parents in your Thoughts Speeches and Behaviour be they never so mean in the World or Understanding though you cannot as Rich Wise or Religious you must as Parents Think not contemptuously of them speak not dishonourably irreverently saucily to them or of them Deride not their failings or miscarriages but conceal lament cover them Bear with their Infirmities of Mind and Body when old Age makes them Troublesome to others let them not be so to you Carefully lay up all their wholsome Precepts Imitate them in all that 's good while they live and when they are dead Remember what Grief of Mind your Miscarriages will be to them and how much your Happiness will be theirs Make not their lives miserable by undoing your selves Bear with them when froward and twice Children as they did with you when you were theirs Murmur not but willingly and thankfully be instructed and reprehended by them Obey them in all lawfull things Chearfully submit to any labour they injoyn you or Correction they lay upon you Be content with their Allowance and Provision for you and disposal of you Marry not without their Consent Children are so much their Parents Goods and Possessions that they cannot without a kind of Theft give away themselves without their Approbation that have a Right in them If they be in want relieve and maintain them and that not as Servants or Inferiours but Superiours See they fare as well or better than our selves Though you got not your Riches by them you can never requite them for what you have received of them Pray and do what in you lies for their Health and Life Peace and Comfort Remember how much you owe them for all their Cares and Fears their Cost for you and pains with you Be far from those who imbrue their Souls in bloody Wishes for their Parent 's Death Though they wish them in Heaven it 's not so much that they may have Ease and Rest at their Journey 's End as because they must needs take Death in the way If long Life be promised as a Reward for honouring Parents such may expect untimely Death as a Punishment on the contrary Reverence Kindness and loving Respects to them never went unrecompensed even in this Life Their Prayer MOst Merciful and Heavenly Father who Invitest little Children to come unto Thee and lovest those that do O take me into the Arms of thy Mercy and Bless me who am dedicated to thee in Baptism Make me always mindful of my Vow and Promise to forsake the Devil and all his works to believe in thee and to serve thee to be Dutiful Obedient and Thankful to my Parents and Instructers Humble Reverent and Meek to my Superiors gentle sober and Temperate all my Dayes Keep and defend me from all Evil lead me into all Good Bless me and my Parents O my Heavenly Father The longer I live the better let me be Let me increase in Wisdom and Stature and favour with thee and men to the Glory of thy great Name the Delight of my Relations my own Happiness in this World and that which is to come thorough Jesus Christ in whose Holy Name and Words I further Pray Our Father which art in Heaven c. Another MOst Gracious and Merciful Father who madest preservest and providest all Necessaries for me Pardon whatever I have done amiss and grant I may do so no more Give me Grace to obey Thee and my Parents to be helpful and a Comfort to them Keep me from slighting of them Irreverence Undutifulness Disobedience to them Let me never forget or slightly Remember my many Bonds and Obligations of Duty Obedience and Thankfulness to them their Sorrows Pains and Care for me that I may never make their Hearts sad or bring down their grey hairs with Sorrow to the Grave Increase the Number of their Dayes and thy Graces in them to thy Glory in their Generation Watch over us for good all our Dayes through Jesus Christ who hath Taught me when I Pray to say Our Father which art in Heaven c. The Masters Duties LEt your first Care be to admit none into your Service but such as will serve God with you (y) Ps 101.4 c. A wicked Person is a dangerous Infection in a Family Disobedience is from Irreligion There can be no true Fidelity and Subjection but out of Conscience Keep your Servants from Evil Company and from being Temptations to one another Watch over them for their good Encourage the Obedient Rebuke convince admonish the Contrary so as their own Consciences may Condemn them without Bitterness Reviling Sharpness which oftner hardens than Reforms Defend and Protect them in doing their Duty Bear them not out in wronging any but right them when they are wronged Refuse not their just Apologies Hearken to and Redress their Grievances (z) Job 31.13 Deny not necessary wholsom sufficient Food and Rayment if the Contract be so Physick Lodging Wages Think not much of maintaining them when by Providence disabled from serving you Oppress them not with too much Labour Let your Commands be lawful feasable necessary convenient that they may Obey with chearfulness Your Reproofs and Admonitions short plain material prudent sober private seasonable familiar with good Advice according to their different Tempers when it 's most like to do good and to convince them of it with such winning Mildness and Concern as they may see you 're more ingag'd for their welfare than themselves Rule with Wisdom and Discretion Love Gentleness Tenderness not Rigour and Severity Looking on them not as Slaves but fellow Pilgrims fellow-Servants fellow-Christians and Brethren (a) Phil. 1. Knowing you have also a Master in Heaven (b) Ep. 6.9 Col. 4.1 An austere Master makes Eye-Servants his Person hated his Business neglected No Servant will do his Duty except out of Conscience or Love to his Master Fairness sweetens Advice and purchases Love without which there can be no true Fidelity and Respect Constraint is for Extremity when all other ways fail Let your Corrections be prudent moderate unpassionate joyn'd with Instruction proportionable to the Person 's
is disabled from all other things is fit to Compleat that There 's little support and less satisfaction in declining years besides a sober Reflection on our former Innocency our leaving Sin when so much Temptation and vigour to Commit it Nothing can sweeten that Sower and Crabbed Age like the savour of a past good Life That Religion hath been the Imployment that God hath had the Strength and Affections of our first and best Age. As Virtue and Goodness is the Excellency of Youth so is it the Comfort and Crown of grey Hairs which are only Honourable and Comfortable when found in the way of Righteousness Be not deceived God is not mocked as a man Sows that shall he also Reap for he that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap Corruption but he that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting (k) Gal. 6.7 8. Their Prayer ALmighty and most merciful Father the great Creator of all things and Judge of all Men and of purer Eyes than to behold Iniquity with Approbation I am altogether unworthy to speak unto thee or to receive any good from thee yet thou maintainest and preservest me and affordest me means of being Eternally Happy with thee O Pardon all my Sins for thy Mercy sake for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake A new Heart and a new Spirit do thou give me that I may love and delight in that which is Good and hate that which is Evil and cleanse my ways by taking heed thereto according to thy Word Let me make that my Rule and Counsellor Settle in me a constant Desire and Endeavour to fear serve and remember thee my Creator in the days of my youth to give thee the chief and strength of my Time and Affections Root out of my Soul all Pride and Haughtiness stubbornness wantonness and uncleanness Plant in me Reverence and Obedience to those that in Age or Authority are before or above me Give me a good understanding to keep thy Commandments at all times even unto the end Prepare me for every Condition for whatsoever thou hast designed for me and give me Grace to behave my self well-pleasing in thy sight in every Station and Relation Let me run with Patience and Chearfulness the Race that is set before me without being dismay'd or drawn aside from thee by whatsoever Temptations or Discouragements I shall meet with in thy Service looking unto Jesus who for the Joy that was set before him endured the Cross despised the Shame and is set down at the right hand of the Majesty on High in whose Holy Name and Words I further Pray Our Father which art in Heaven c. Another O Thou that art the Author of my Being and the Foundation of my Happiness by whom I am Maintained and Preserved and without whom I am unable to Continue a moment alive in the Land of the living I desire to humble and loath my self in thy Presence for the degeneracy of my Nature the vileness of my Heart and sinfulness of my Life that I have so much forgotten and neglected thee and my Duty to thee and provoked thee to forsake me and to make me Eternally miserable It 's of thy Infinite mercy I am not consumed that as yet I have time and space to make my Peace with thee O Pardon me and be reconciled unto me in and thorough my Lord and Saviour and give me Grace to spend the Remainder of my days in thy Fear to thy Glory Make me more and more sensible of the shortness and uncertainty of this Life and of the Eternity of the next that e're long thou wilt bring every work into Judgment with every secret thing whether it be Good or whether it be Evil. Let the Consideration thereof stir me up not to delay but to make hast to keep thy Testimonies to be Religious to purpose to serve thee in good Earnest not to live as most do but as thou requirest and obligest me to do and as e're long I shall wish I had done Let me not in a short life make way for Eternal misery but make it my Business to prepare my self to be happy for ever with thee that when so many Millions of careless Souls shall stand Trembling before the Judge of all the World I may be found in the number of those to whom he shall say Come ye Blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the Foundation of the World in whose Holy Name and Words I further Pray unto thee saying Our Father which art c. Duties of the Rich. DErive your Pedegrees and Dignities higher than Adam from Heaven The Body of Nobility consists in Blood the Soul in the Eminency of Virtue your Titles are vain if in that Inferiour to others Value not Rate not your selves by what God gives to his foes and denies his chiefest favourites the root and occasion of all our Miseries Esteem a great Estate less than a good Heart to use it and to be God's Servants a greater Honour than to have Potentates serve you Look on Prosperity as a Motive Engagement and Encouragement to Piety not a Privilege of loosness to satisfie Lust or display Vanity but of being better because more observ'd and your offences Exemplary You cannot be good or bad alone Hate Sin though grown into Credit and Fashion Cobwebs are never the more esteemed that grow over a Chair of State Beware of Pride Sloath Idleness fulness of Bread Time-wasting Sports and Recreations Curiosity Wantonness Tyranny and Oppression Let Lust fare never the better for all your Riches you are called to Self-denial Mortification Fasting and humbling your selves as well as the meanest Labour to see God's special love in Common Mercies often look up to and think of him with Praise and Thankfulness as the Author and Donor of all the goods you enjoy wean your Hearts from them be sensible of their short Continuance and secure to your selves true spiritual durable Riches Live as Dying Men with your Graves and Windingsheet always in your Eye Frequent the Indigent Sick and Dying and consider how insignificant the world is to them and will be to you Thoroughly understand the Dangers Temptations and snares of Riches and how much you have to answer for That you are but Stewards not Owners accountable for all your Comings in and Layings out Let your fruitfulness to God and the Publick be proportionable to your Possessions Do as much more good than others as you are better furnished Let your Servants be more religiously Instructed and Governed and have more time for serving God and your selves more Imploy'd therein than those that work for their daily Bread Be Sober and Temperate in using your Estates Invade not the right of the Poor suffer not Riot and Covetousness to feed upon their Portion Cut off all superfluous and exorbitant Expences that the stream of Charity may run the fuller into that one Channel the Providence of God hath cut out for it
is over Think how Damned Souls would Hear and Pray if they might with you be tryed again and how unfit unbecoming a Careless a Drowzy Body dull Affections dead Services are for the living God Compose your selves with all Reverence as considering with whom you have to do and for what Beware of a wandring Eye and Mind or slighting what you Hear Be seriously imploy'd all the Time And while others are quarrelling with the Imperfections of the Speaker or Congregation be laying up the Word in your Heart Be Reverent Solemn and Serious in every Duty be sure your Heart be in them In Confession Humiliation Petition Thanksgiving Singing when the Word is Read or Preacht whether Commands Promises Threatnings Calls Invitations be answerably Affected with them as if you heard God speaking from Heaven Haste not away while the Minister is pronouncing the Blessing but hope desire and believe it shall Descend upon you Leave not the Assembly until you have lift up your Heart for Pardon and a Blessing upon the Ordinance to your self and all present In these or the like words A short Prayer I Adore and Magnifie thee O merciful Father for this opportunity of hearing from and waiting upon thee O pardon whatever thou hast seen amiss in us and let the Fruit of it be unto Holiness and the end Everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen After your Attendance in Publick with that Concern and seriousness the work requires and deserves let not your self loose the rest of the Day to secular Diversions and Concerns and thereby choke and stifle those good Instructions and devout Affections that have been raised and excited in you Let your Diet be moderate lest it make you drowzy and your Hearts Heavenly at it your Discourse savoury seasoned with Grace suitable to the Company and the Day in the chearful Remembrance of the love of your Redeemer the special work of the Day being to Celebrate the Memorial of his Resurrection and the whole work of our Redemption by him we ought to speak as much as possible of it under a sence of our Natural misery and in stirring up lively Apprehensions of Infinite Condescending Goodness in the special exercise of Faith and Love and Joyful Praises Having spent as much of the Day as you can in Publick Worship and in Reading the Word and ruminating upon it Review the Duties Mercies and Miscarriages of the Day Call over what you have Heard and Read and urge it upon your Heart Beg the Divine Blessing and Assistance for the Advantage and Improvement of it and Pardon for your failings Bless God for any Enlargement or Good received Recommend your self unto him for the Ensuing Night and let your last Thoughts be in the thankful joyful sence of the Mercies you have and hope for and the goodness of God in your Mediator Confidently trust your self and yours in his Hand longing for your nearer approach unto him and full Enjoyment of him in Glory Morning Prayer on the Lord's Day MOst Holy and Infinitely glorious Lord God Thou art greatly to be feared in the Assembly of thy Saints and to be had in Reverence by all that draw nigh unto Thee It 's an Infinite Condescention in thy Majesty to suffer such a despicable Worm as I am to come before Thee to wait upon Thee to speak unto Thee to have any thing to do with Thee in a way of Grace and Mercy Had'st thou dealt with me according to my Deserts and Rewarded me after mine Iniquities I had been long ago in that place of Torment where Prayer and the means of Grace could do me no good at all O Pardon my abuse of thy Mercies mispending my Time Prophaning thy Sabbaths Polluting thine Ordinances the unworthy Returns I have made unto Thee for all thy Benefits which might justly cause thee to withdraw thy self from me and thy Blessing from thine Ordinances Make me truly sensible of the worth of the Opportunity thou this Day puts into my hand for the good of my Immortal Soul let it not be as a prize put into the hand of a Fool that hath no heart to use it Help me to make a wise a right Improvement of the same for the Glory of Thy Name and for the preparing my self for my Eternal Rest Let my Thoughts this Day be much upon it and upon that wonderful love in my Redemption Take away my Heart of Stone that 's so insensible of my own Vileness and thy abundant Goodness and give me a Heart of Flesh write thy Laws upon it put thy Fear within me that I may never depart from Thee Let not thy Sabbaths nor thine Ordinances be continued in vain unto me but let me grow in Grace under all the means of Grace I enjoy The older I grow the better let me be the nearer I come to my end let me be the fitter for thy self Let me love the Habitation of thy House and the place where thine Honour Dwelleth and Esteem one Day in thy Courts better than a Thousand elsewhere and that I had rather be a Door-keeper in the House of my God than to dwell in the Tents of Wickedness Let it be my Meat and Drink the Joy and Rejoycing of my Soul to do thy Will and to be Imployed in thy Service Visit the dark Corners of the Earth with the light of thy glorious Gospel and let all that enjoy it walk worthy of it Make our Soveraign and all our Superiors thy faithful Subjects and Servants Let thy Priests be Cloathed with Righteousness and thy Saints shout for Joy Be in all our Solemn Assemblies Accompany thine own Institutions with thine own Blessing Make thy Word in the mouths of thy Ministers very effectual for turning many unto Righteousness Be with me this Day let my Confessions of Sin Increase my Hatred against it my Praises and Thanksgivings be the Inward sense of my Soul Let my Conversing with Heavenly things have an Influence upon me for the bettering of me Go along with me into the Assembly of thy Servants unite and compose my Thoughts in thy Presence let me attend upon thee without Distraction Let me Consider thou hast an Eye upon me at all Times especially when I draw nigh unto Thee in the way of thy Worship Let me Pray unto Thee in Spirit and Truth because thou art a Spirit and requirest so to be worshipped Give me a Hearing Ear a seeing Eye an understanding Heart Let me hear thy Word as thy Word as that Word by which I shall be Judged and which is able to save my Soul by believing and obeying of it through Jesus Christ in whose Holy Name and Words I further Pray Our Father which art in Heaven c. Evening Prayer on the Lord's Day MOst great and Infinitely glorious Lord God who hast Exalted thy self far above the Heavens and above the Praises and Apprehensions of the best of thy Creatures Unto thee be all possible Praise Honour and Glory for what thou art in thy self
only the Person hâ— assumed had been the better for it But the Divine Person assumed to himself the Humane Nature So that the Manhood subsists in the Godhead and they are so inseparably united that the same Person which is God is also Man Thus as God he is Eternal born in Time as Man Creator as God a Creature as Man Invisible as God visible as Man Immortal as God Died as Man Had he not been God and Man in One Person the Sufferings of his Humane Nature could not have derived that Infinite Value and Merit from the Divine nor his Bloud been called the Bloud of God (l) Acts 20.28 i. e. It was the Bloud of that Man that was God He was 1. God That he might bear the Wrath of God without sinking under it Give Worth and Efficacy to his Sufferings Obedience and Intercession Satisfie Divine Justice Purchase his Favour and Eternal Happiness for his People Overcome Death and the Devil Be the Head of his Church Recommend Infinite Love in the Abasement of himself for us 2. Man that he might obey suffer and intercede for us in our Nature have a fellow-feeling of our Temptations Passions Infirmities that we might have Access to the Throne of Grace and receive the Adoption of Sons As Creatures we were bound to the Precepts of the Law which we had broken and were without strength unable to perform And as Transgressors under liable to the Curse of the Law the Wrath of God which we were unable to bear Christ by his Active and Passive Obedience of Infinite Merit fulfilled all Righteousness purchased for us Pardon Grace and Eternal Life satisfied Divine Justice paid our Debt wrought out our Redemption procur'd our Liberty by giving a satisfactory Ransome to the Justice of God for our Life and Deliverance from the Captivity of Sin Satan and Death according to the Covenant made between the Father and Him from Eternity Of the Sacraments THE Two standing Sacraments of the Church of God of Old were Circumcision and the Passover Under the Gospel we have Baptism and the Lord's Supper wherein by visible signs the Benefits of the New Covenant in Christ's Bloud is represented sealed and applied to those that are within the Covenant who partake of them as Pledges of his Love and profess themselves thereby bound to all thankfull Obedience Baptism confirms and signifies 1. Our publick Initiation Entrance or Admission into the visible Church and Covenant of Grace distinguishing us from those out of it 2. Our being sprinkled washed and cleansed by the Bloud and Spirit of Christ from the guilt and filth of Sin our Dying to it and rising again unto Righteousness 3. Our having taken upon us the Badge and Livery of our Christian Profession That we have listed our selves as Soldiers to fight under Christ's Banner against the World the Flesh and the Devil which we have hereby renounced and resigned up our selves to Him and his Government to become his faithfull Subjects and Servants unto our lives End By the Minister's baptizing us In or into or unto the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost is meant his doing it by the Authority and Command of the Three Persons in the Divine Essence to be in and by this Rite publickly consigned devoted or consecrated unto the Faith Profession and Obedience of Them or separated unto their Service We ought to improve our Baptism in the whole Course of our Lives especially in the Time of Temptation and when we see others baptized by frequent Consideration of the Nature Use and Ends of it Institution Priviledges and Benefits sealed by it and our solemn Vow and Engagement made therein Endeavouring to live in newness of Life and brotherly Love as those that have given up their Names unto Christ and been baptized by the same Spirit into one Body The Lord's Supper Of that afterwards The Apostle's Creed SO called either because 1. Made by the Twelve Apostles every one an Article and the whole approved of by all of them before they separated themselves to Preach the Gospel Or 2. Agreeable to and a Summary of their Writings and collected out of them Article I. I Believe in God the Father Almighty Maker of Heaven and Earth I Believe in one Eternal most glorious Being infinite in all Perfections The Fountain Soveraign and Disposer Creator Sustainer and Governor of Heaven and Earth and all things therein II. And in Jesus Christ The Second Person of the Trinity Called 1. Jesus which signifies a Saviour or Salvation because he saves his People from the guilt defilement dominion and punishment of their Sins 2. Christ which signifies Anointed as of old were Priests Prophets and Kings when consecrated for those Offices which he took upon him was Anointed set apart unto fully furnished with all Authority and Ability As a Prophet he made known all things necessary for our Salvation by his Word and Spirit As a Priest he offered up himself a Sacrifice for our Sins and makes continual Intercession for us As a King he governs provides for rewards his People reduces them to his obedience rules in them by his Spirit restrains subdues or destroys their Enemies Jesus is a Hebrew Christ a Greek or Gentile Name or Appellation which Names he obtained by becoming the Saviouâ— of both i. e. the whole World Jesus point out and imports his Mediatorship Christ his Offices Jesus that he became our Saviour Christ which way i. e. by being our Priest Prophet and King His only Son By Eternal inconceivable Generation Begotten of the Father before all Time Our Lord By Right of Creation Preseâ—vation Dominion Purchase Redemption and particular Covenant III. Which was conceived by the Holy Ghost Born of the Virgin Mary I believe that Hâ— came down from Heaven and was by thâ— Power of the Holy Ghost after a wonderfull manner conceived and made Man in the Sanctified Womb of a Virgin and born of her so being not begotten of the corrupted finfull Seed of Adam free from Original Sin and as foretold â—he Seed of the Woman (m) Gen. 3.15 of the Tribe of Judah (n) Heb. 9.14 of the House and Family of David (o) Luc. 1. 27. IV. Suffered under Pontius Pilate was Crucified Dead and Buried He endured many Bitter Things in the whole Course of his Life but the Weight and Extremity of his Sufferings were immediately before and by his Crucifixion a painfull shamefull accursed Death to which he was adjudged by Pontius Pilate Governour of Judea under â—he Roman Emperour Tiberius to whom â—he Jews were then subject He died to â—edeem and ransome satisfie and make aâ—onement for us to take away Sin the sting â—nd fear of Death to take from us upon himself the Curse of the Law to confirm â—he Testament or Covenant of Grace for where a Testament is there must also of necessity be the Death of the Testator (p) Heb. 9.16 He was Bury'd â—s prefigured and foretold (q) Ps 16.9 10.
Isa 53.9 Matt. 12.40 â—o sanctifie our Burial to â—weeten and perfume the Grave to us that in the strong Holds and Fortress of Death He might overcome and loose the Sorrows and Bonds of Death (r) Acts 2.24 1 Cor. 15.55 c. V. He Descended into Hell the third Day hâ— Arose again from the Dead Christ so humbled Himself that he was deprived of his Natural Life in the Estate of the Dead and under the Power of Death for Three Days that it might appear he was truly Dead but no longer that his Body might not seâ— Corruption (s) Matt. 12.40 17.23 John 2.19 Acts 2.31 He arose the third Day being the First Day of the Week for our Justification and quickening iâ— Grace as our Head as a Pledge and Means of our Resurrection as an Evidence Divine Justice was fully satisfied the Deâ— paid in that the Judge released him out oâ— Prison VI. He ascended into Heaven and sitteth on the Right Hand of God the Father Almighty Having continued upon Earth forty Day after his Resurrection to assure his Disciple of it and instruct them in all things pertaining to their Preaching the Gospel Having finished his Work on Earth over come and Triumphed over His and our Enemies Before many Witnesses he was â—isibly taken up into Heaven where in â—ur Nature and as our Head he is Advanâ—ed by the Father to the Height of all Majesty Power Dominion Honour Digâ—ity and Glory next unto Himself Haâ—ing Authority to Rule as King over all â—â—ings in Heaven and Earth making Conâ—nual Intercession for us that for his Pleâ—ary Satisfaction all his Members Persons â—nd Services may be accepted of God who â—eing the Father Almighty is both Willing â—nd Able to grant the same VII From Thence He shall Come to Judge the â—ick and the Dead At the last Day He â—all Descend from Heaven in great Power â—â—d Glory when He shall sit upon his â—hrone and all then alive and that Dyed â—efore shall be summon'd and stand before â—im and be Judged by the Law of Nature â—d Covenant of Grace When Sentence â—all be pronounced of Absolution to the â—â—ghteous first then of Conâ—mnation upon the Wickâ— (t) Mat. 25.41 c. VIII I Believe in the Holy Ghost Or Holy â—irit who proceedeth or is as it were â—â—eathed forth from the Father and the Son Who Inspired the Prophets and Apâ— stles works in us and assists us in thâ— which is good IX The Holy Catholick Church the Communiâ— of Saints I Believe that Christ hath a Sâ—ctified People Dispersed through and â—â—parated from the Rest of the World stylâ— the Catholick General or Universal Churâ—â— Called out of an Estate of Sin and Miseâ—â— into an Estate of Grace and Salvation aâ—â— Engaged to Holiness in Heart and Lifâ— Being that Body whereof Christ is tâ— Head Militant on Earth Triumphant Heaven X. The Forgiveness of Sins I believe theâ— is Pardon to be obtained Reconciliatiâ— to an offended God and Satisfaction maâ— to a Just God a Discharge from the Gâ— of all Sin Acquittance from the Challeâ— of the Law and Constituting us Righted before God through the Undertaking aâ— Merits of our Redeemer for all who Râ—pent forsake their Sins Believe in him aâ— thankfully subject themselves to all the Pâ—cepts of the Gospel XI The Resurrection of the Body I Belieâ— that at the Day of Judgment there shâ—â— be a general Resurrection both of the Jâ— â—â—d Unjust Their Bodies raised up and united to their Souls 1. The Just the Spirit of Christ and by virtue of Resurrection their Union with him as â—â—eir Head and as their Merciful Saviour â—â—d Redeemer Their Bodies shall be raiâ—â— Spiritual Incorruptible and like unto 〈◊〉 Glorious Body out of their Beds of â—â—st with great Joy and Triumph to be â—own'd with Everlasting Glory and shall â—â—ne as the Sun in the Firmament 2. The â—dies of the Wicked shall be raised in dishoâ—ur by him as an offended Judge and all come forth as out of their Prisons â—th great Fear and Trembling Horrour â—â—d Astonishment as so many Malefactors 〈◊〉 Execution as so many ugly loathsom â—rcasses to look upon Their Faces gaâ—ering Blackness and Darkness They shall â—ise to Everlasting Shame and Confusion of â—â—ce as well as to Everlasting Condemnation â—â—d Torment XII And the Life Everlasting I Believe there a future State after this Life of Endless appiness or Misery according to mens â—â—oce here of Good or Evil Life or Death â—hich God hath set before them either to â—â—turn and live or go on and perish everâ—stingly Amen I thereby acknowledge and â—â—fess stedfastly to believe the undoubâ— Truth and Certainty of this Creed in â—â—neral and of every Article thereof in â—â—ticular and to live answerable to this â—â—lief The Ten Commandments THey are a perfect Platform Summaâ— or Abridgement of the Law of Natâ— or Moral Law at first writ on Man's Heaâ— expounded by the Prophets and Apostâ— and are divided into Two Tables The 1 â—â—spects our Duty immediately to God whâ—â— to be worshipped for the true God in wâ—â— manner how we are to use and honâ—â— his Name the set Time of his publick Wâ—â—ship The Summ of this Table is Thou shâ—â— love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart 〈◊〉 with all thy Soul and with all thy Mind I 2 respects our neighbour his Honour a Dignity Life Chastity Wealth good Naâ—â— Propriety The Summ of this is Thou shâ—â— love thy Neighbour as thy self or whatsoeâ—â—â— you would that Men should do you do you e ven so to them this is the Law and the â—â—phets (v) Matt. 7.12 and 22 37 39. For understanding Them we must â—â—serve 1 The Law is Spiritual read the Powers of the Soul as well as Action of the Body 2 Where any Duty is â—â—manded the contrary Sin is forbidden 〈◊〉 where any Sin is forbidden the contraâ—â— Duty is commanded 93. In all Duties â—â—manded and Sins forbdden all of the â—e kind together with all the Causes â—â—ans Occasions Appearances Provocatiâ—â— thereunto are also commanded and forâ—â—en 4 What 's forbidden and comâ—â—ded our selves we ought to endeavour â—ay be avoided and eprformed by others Thou is used in every PRecept shewâ—â— God speaks to All and to all alike to â—â—y one in particular as if he named him Name â—he Preface contains the Reasons of our â—â—ing them â—s 1. His Surpeam Soveraignty over I am the Lord so we owe him all â—â—dience as we are his Creatures and Subâ—â— His Interest and Propreity inus Thy 〈◊〉 particular Engagern ent and Enâ—â—ment In such a manner as to none â—â—rs by taking us into Covenant a â—â—al Relationto himvelf His redeeming and delivering us out â—â—hraldom Which brought thee out of â—â—nd of Egypt A Place h of Servitude 〈◊〉 by how much Sin is worse than Suffering the Devil and his Angels power aâ—â—malice surpasses Pharaoh's and his Taâ—â— masters everlasting Troments in Hell â—â—ceed Temproal pains in the Brick-kill Fâ—nace
upon him as Children on a Father 1 With Filial Affections of Reverence Love Submission Gratitude dependance on his All-sufficiency and willingness to help Fatherly Goodness and Compassion and our Interest therein towards us that he loves us as his Children who is more ready to hear us than any Earthly Parent their dearest Off-spring (z) Lu. 11.13 and persorms all the parts of a Father in a higher and more excellent Degree as far as Heaven is above Earth 2 With an Universal Charity for others He being a common Father by Creation Regeneration Provision to all his Children That they all pray for us and that it 's our bounden Duty to pray for them as well as for our selves As the word Our minds us of that Relation between us and them so Father of that Relation between him and us Both express our Faith and total plenary Reliance on him as ours and without whom we can hope for nothing Which art in Heaven Not that he is excluded from Earth or included in Heaven or any place who filleth all (a) Jer. 23.24 whom the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain (b) 1 King 8 27. But there 1 is his Throne (c) Isa 66.1 where he Rules and Over-rules all things in Heaven and Earth and from thence sends down his Mercies and Judgments 2. He more eminently manifests and communicates his Love Goodness and Glory So it teaches us to draw near unto him with 1 all Holy Reverence and Humility because of his excellent Majesty so high above us we wretched Creatures being as Worms crawling upon the Earth and he sitting in great Majesty in the highest Heavens (d) Eccl. 5.2 2 Holy Confidence he being both ready and able to do all things whatsoever he will for us (e) Ps 115.3 3 Zeal and Fervency with our Hearts and our Hands lifted up unto God in the Heavens (f) La. 3.41 Hallowed be thy Name Here acknowledging the inability and indisposition that is in us and all Men to honour God aright we pray that God would Glorifie and Magnifie himself in the World by directing and disposing all things for his own Glory and remove whatsoever hinders it That as he is glorious in himself he may be declared known and owned so by all Men. Incline and inable us and all Men to acknowledge and highly esteem him his Attributes Ordinances Word and Works and to glorifie him in Thought Word and Deed by confessing and forsaking our Sins which rob him of his Glory by admiring and adoring him in his glorious Perfections by believing loving obeying his Word attending on him in his Ordinances magnifying him in his Works using his Creatures for his Glory sincere Endeavours to promote it preferring it before our own Interest Thy Kingdom come By Kingdom is meant not so much that Universal Soveraignty which as Creator he exercises over all his Creatures disposing them all to their proper Ends for his own Glory as King of Nations (g) Ps 95.3 as his special governing ruling his Church and all things for the good of it as King of Saints (h) Re. 15.3 so that acknowledging our selves and all Mankind to be by Nature under the Dominion of Sin and Satan we here Pray that his Kingdom 1 of Power and Providence may be manifested and made apparent that all things are guided by him That he would govern all Creatures both in the Natural course of things and in the Civil and Domestical Government of Men as may best serve his own Glory and his Churche's good 2 Of Grace may be erected the exercise of his Spiritual Regal Power in our Hearts advanced and enlarged the Power of Sin whereby Satan hath Dominion may be subdued and destroyed in us and others all the world over That he would set up his Throne Reign in our Hearts bring us into intire Allegiance unto himself 3 Of Glory may be hast'ned when all his Subjects shall be Crowned all his and their Enemies vanquished Thy Will be done Here acknowledging our inability and unwillingness to know and do his Will our proneness to repine and murmur against it we Pray as to the will of his 1 Providence or that which he doth with us and to us that our selves and others may patiently submit to it chearfully comply with it and thankfully accept of it 2 Precept or that which he requires of us that our selves and others may have all blindness weakness indisposedness and perversness taken away and may be inclin'd inabled and made willing to know and understand obey and do it on Earth as it is in Heaven by Saints and Angels voluntarily and chearfully without Constraint or Repugnancy readily and speedily without delay sincerely without Hypocrisie Zealously without Indifferency Impartially without Reservation Constantly without Intermission Give us this Day our daily Bread Wherein we acknowledge 1 We have forfeited our Right unto and deserve not the least Crum of Bread nor can procure it or be refreshed by it without him whatsoever or whosoever be the Instruments to convey it he gives it us and blesses it to us else it becomes unholy polluted Bread hurtful to us 2 Our daily dependance on his fatherly Care and Providence without being over-solicitous for to morrow or superfluities desiring for our selves and others only a daily Allowance of necessaries agreeable to our nature charge and station as he sees meet for us with our purpose every day in the use of Lawful means and by Thankfulness for what we have commiting our ways to him to seek at his Hands that we may enjoy them as gifts of his Fatherly love a sanctified use of and Contentment with our Allowance without Envying others Plenty seeing God gives to whom and what he will 3 That we must possess and use every Creature as from God and to him Else our own Prayers will condemn us if we be beholden to Satan any unlawful means for Bread or use the good things we ask against the Giver of them 4 That God's Children ought not to desire other Mens Bread That none Eat their own Bread but They our Bread is that which comes to us by his Blessing on our Honest Endeavours so that God nor Man can Implead us for it That 's woful Bread which comes not from Him And forgive us our Trespasses We Here Pray That God for his Mercy for his Son's sake would Pardon all our Sins and afford us the Conditions Evidences and Effects of it i.e. Faith and Repentance and keep us from whatsoever may obstruct the same As we forgive them that Trespass against us Which is 1 A prevalent Argument to press him to Pardon us we plead notfrom Merit but from the Model of God's Mercy and Grace in us which being Infinitely Inferiour to that in him yet disposing us to forgive may both move his Compassion towards us and assure us of it If we wretched Creatures can forgive others much more will the Father of Mercies forgive us 2 A
Temper and hainousness of the Crime Forgive them often in things not sinful Take not notice of every small Offence Passion makes Severity look like Revenge Reforms not but provokes and exasperates Be rather lov'd than fear'd a Master than a Tyrant a Lion in thy Family Let your Dominion be that of the Soul over the Body not for its hurt but help advantage edification guidance and instruction Reward allure them praise them openly reprehend them secretly Be chearful and pleasant with them that they may love not avoid or be weary of your Company Have a great care of your Carriage Nothing will please from one whose Person is distasted Give them good Example by a Prudent Pious Honest unblameable Conversation which much tends to the bettering of them and maintaining your Respect Esteem Authority over them Betray not your Natural weaknesses by Passion or Imprudent words and deeds Command your selves if you expect they should obey you Suffer not that in your selves which you discountenance in Them Conscience of our own Crimes Choaks the Accuser and not like to amend the Offender An Inferior cannot but stoop in Heart to that Superior in whom God's Image appears The heaviest work is made light by seasonable enjoyning it As much as possible settle a constant order in your Family and of your Business that every ordinary work may know its Time and Confusion and Distraction may not shut out or hinder Godliness which is much furthered and made easie by skill and foresight Be in your Family as a Prophet to Teach and Instruct them as a King to govern and take care of them as a Priest to offer up the daily Sacrifice of Prayer and Thanksgiving with and for them Always Remembring who hath committed them to your Charge and that at your Hands it will be Required His Morning Prayer with his Family MOst Holy and Infinitely glorious Lord God who art in thy self a Consuming Fire but in thy Son a Reconciled Father We desire in all Humility to Prostrate our Souls before thee acknowledging our selves far less than the least of all thy Mercies unworthy to breath in thy Air to tread upon thy Earth to lift up our eyes to Heaven to have any thing to do with thee in a way of Grace and Mercy Thou hast nourished and brought us up and we have Rebelled against thee Requited thee Evil for Good and Hatred for thy good will It 's a wonder of thy Patience and Forbearance that we are alive before thee Praying unto thee and Praising of thee and not spending a sad Eternity in that place of Torment from whence there is no Redemption O glorifie thy Mercy in the Pardoning and Saving of us and not thy Justice in our Destruction Justifie us freely by thy Grace through the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ and sanctifie us by thy Holy Spirit Let the time past of our lives be too too much that we have been so Careless in serving thee and saving our Souls for the Time to come let us work out our Salvation with fear and trembling and give all diligence to make our Calling and Election sure And in our several Relations and Places give us Grace to behave our selves as becomes thy Children and Servants with Care and Conscience and Soberness of Mind as having thy Law writ upon our Hearts and thy fear always before our Eyes and a sence of thine Omniscience and Omnipresence that thine Eye runs too and fro through the whole Earth that thou art the Witness and wilt be the Judge of all our Thoughts Words and Actions And seeing thou hast been pleased to Encourage us to our Duty by many great and precious Promises let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of Flesh and Spirit perfecting Holiness in thy fear Let this be our great Care notwithstanding all Temptations that we never leave thee nor forsake thee and this our great Comfort in all Conditions that thou hast said thou wilt never leave us nor forsake us Let us not be weary of well-doing knowing in due season we shall reap if we faint not Let the End of our Dayes be often at the End of our Thoughts Give us Grace so to live now as we shall wish we had done when we come to Die that then we may be able to Reflect upon a well-spent life and on good Grounds to resign up our Souls into thy Hands as into the hands of a Faithful Creator and Merciful Redeemer Remember all Mankind in much Mercy Send thy Gospel where it is not Preached make it very successful where it is Pardon our Crying Sins in these Three Nations Reform our wicked Lives Continue our forfeited Mercies prevent our deserved Judgments Let our Soveraign and all our Magistrates be Terrors to Evil Doers Incouragers of those that do well Make the Ministers of thy Gospel faithful painful religious their labours successful Let all our Relations be related to thy self and all thine afflicted Servants relieved by thee according to the multitude of thy tender Mercies We Praise thee for our last Night's Preservation and Refreshment and for all the Instances of thy Goodness to us all our Dayes Go along with us this Day Bless us in all our ways preserve us from all Evil especially from the Evil of Sin Work in us a greater Care of pleasing and fear of offending thee that living this Day and all our Dayes in thy fear we may dye in thy favour thorough thy Son who hath taught us when we Pray to say Our Father c. His Evening Prayer with his Family ETernally Blessed and Infinitely glorious Lord God the great and terrible Majesty of Heaven and Earth at whose Dreadful Appearance all Impenitent Sinners shall e'er long in vain call to the Rocks and the Mountains to cover them for fear of thy Wrath and for the glory of thy Power So often as we come into thy Presence we have abundant Cause to be covered with Shame and Confusion of face for the vileness and sinfulness of our Natures Hearts and Lives We are by Nature Children of Wrath and by our Lives Children of Disobedience have broken all thy Holy Laws in Thought Word or Deed so that it were Righteous with thee to make us miserable in this World and that which is to come But O deal not with us according to the multitude and hainousness of our Provocations but according to the multitude and tenderness of thine own Compassions for thy Goodness sake Remember us O Lord. And for the Time to come make us to amend our Lives according to thy Word Enlighten our dark Understandings subdue our Wills and Affections wholly to thy self Let us know and do the things that belong to our Peace before they be hid from our Eyes Let us chearfully perform what thou requirest of us and patiently bear what at any time thou shalt lay upon us Be stedfast and unmoveable always abounding in the Work of the Lord for as much as we know our labour shall not
I have forfeited and yet enjoy and for the Time to Come suppress in me all inordinate Desires and Cares as to the things of this World all Repinings at or distrust of thy good Providence not doubting of thy Fatherly Affection to those that study in all sincerity to approve themselves unto thee Let me count all things as Loss and Dung in Comparison of the Excellency of the Knowledge and Service of thy blessed self Work my Evil unbelieving Heart to a stedfast Faith in thy faithful Promises that I shall want nothing that is good and that thou wilt never leave me nor forsake me Let me consider more how little I deserve than how little I have that nothing is due unto me but perpetual shame and misery that thou knowest and art able to supply my wants that thy love will not suffer thee to leave me destitute of what thy wisdom knows convenient for me Increase my dependancâ— on thee frame my Mind and Desires 〈◊〉 my Portion Keep me from envying â—thers abundance Inrich me with Coâ—tent with Spiritual Blessings and thâ— Enjoyment of thy self Let me so livâ— that I may have the continual Comforâ— and Satisfaction of a good Consciencâ— and of having thee always for my Frieâ—â— and Gracious Father in Jesus Christ whâ— hath taught me when I Pray to say Oâ— Father which art in Heaven c. Another WHat shall I Render unto thee most merciful Father for thâ— unspeakable Goodness unto me all mâ— days that though I have deserved Iâ—finitely worse than a life of Affliction and Misery to have lived in perpetuaâ— want pain and Torment spending all my days in Sighs and Lamentations thou do'st thus sweeten my passage thorough the world giving me Food and Rayment and Contentment with the same with the means and Comfortable â—opes of being for ever free from Labour Sorrow Care and every thing that is a Burden or uneasie O Pardon all my Sins and Sanctifie all thy Dispensations to me in order to a better life Amidst all â—he Hardships and Inconveniences I meet with here let me not be dejected or discouraged but have Respect to the Recompence of Reward laid up for those that Endure Make me Patient in all Afflictions unfeignedly thankful for all thy Mercies fully satisfied with my State and Condition Let thy word and ways be my Delight thy Power and Wisdom Care and Faithfulness Providence and Promises my stay Support and Comfort to submit unto thee and serve thee the Rejoycing of my Soul and Heaven my Resting place While others are joyning House to House and Cumbering themselves about many things let me be adding one Degree of Grace to another and making sure of that good part that shall never be taken away Conduct me safely through all the Troubles Changes and Temptations of this Life in a Holy Composure Tranquility and Contentedness of Mind in a chearful doing and suffering thy Will and after Receive me unto Glory through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour in whose Holy Name and Words I further Pray unto thee saying Our Father c. Duties of the Sick THat worldly Matters may not Distract or Discompose you or break love amongst those you leave behind prudently settle your Estate betimes as may be most serviceable to him that lent it If you have fallen out with or wronged any in word oâ— deed be thoroughly reconciled to them and do all you can to make them satisfaction Labour to get the Benefit of Sicknessâ— speedily seriously and Impartially Examinâ— your state heart and life Recollect youâ— Particular Errors be deeply humbled foâ— them and firmly resolved in the strength oâ— God to live a Holy Life if you Recoverâ— Renew your Repentance for Sin and your believing thoughts of the love of God and of your Eternal Happiness Apply your Saviour's All-sufficient satisfaction and purchace for Returning Sinners to your own Souls Confidently cast it upon your merciful Father your Redeemer his Merits and Mediation without further Fear or Distrust He will not Condemn his Friends his Followers his own Flesh (p) Joh. 15.14.15 Nothing can reasonably make us doubt of Pardon but the Insincerity of our Repentance and Faith in Christ Tell Standers-by of the worthlessness vanity and deceitfulness of all worldly things and how miserable all men are that are not good Bear pains with a becoming Christian Patience Remember Passive obedience is that God now in special Calls you to in which you must Serve and Honour him in the Conclusion of your Labours 'T is a great Error of the Sick and Impotent to wish for Death as if they were utterly unserviceable to God it 's no small Service they may do him not only by their Prayers and Praises and secret love unto him but by being Examples of Faith and Patience Heavenly-mindedness and Joy in God to all about them To that End Consider what a vile Body is going to be dissolved that hath been so great an Enemy pressure and hinderance to your Soul which shall be so no more for ever and what a world a life you are leaving and entering upon How near you are off a perilsome dangerous troublesome Pilgrimage and at endless Ease and Rest Look upon it as a singular mercy that Death hath so suitable a Harbinger and Fore runner whose Messenger it is that comes for you even the wise Disposer of all things that loves you that never meant you harm in any thing he hath done unto you that hath provided for you a Saviour and Eternal Happiness and done so much to bring you thither Pray more earnestly and fervently than ever Stir up in your hearts the love of God and all Goodness with raised Expectations and longing Desires after the Felicity to which you are going even to your Dying Buried Raised Ascended Glorified Lord who is concerned interceding for you ready to receive you and what ground of Joy it must needs be to your departing Soul to think that your Head and Saviour is in Possession of the Kingdom you are passing unto Get right Apprehensions take away the disguise of Death Look not upon its formidable Appearance and pompous Solemnity attended with Groans Convulsions gastly Visage doleful Elogies black Obsequies only as a Debt due to Nature or a Punishment due to Sinners but as a Privilege granted to Believers as part of our Christian Charter an Enemy Conquered and made our Friend in what mild Phrases the Scripture mentions it an un-Cloathing a Departure a going to Rest an entering into our Master's Joy a sleeping in Jesus c. Did we really believe this methinks it should be as hard to perswade a Saint to live as a Sinner to die a Believer to keep on his Earthly Tabernacle as a wicked Man to put it off Ruminate upon those precious Promises and melting Expressions to the sincere He shall feed his Flock like a Shepheard he shall gather the Lambs with his Arm and carry them in his bosome and shall gently lead those that are with
Thee Reform my life that I may serve Thee and be saved by thee Cleanse me from my secret Sins and let no Presumptuous Sins have Dominion over me Wean me from the world let my Heart my Treasure my Conversation be in Heaven Turn away mine Eyes from beholding Vanity Set a watch O Lord before my Mouth and keep the Door of my Lips that I offend not with my Tongue Let me delight in that which is Good eschew and abhor that which is Evil set thee always before me that I may not dare to Sin against Thee Make me peaceable and contented in my self useful and beneficial to others well-pleasing and acceptable unto Thee Mind me frequently of my latter end while I live let me live unto thee when I die let me die unto thee living and dying let me be thine Be very merciful to all Mankind especially those that are called Christians Inlarge and Bless thy Holy Catholick Church with more abundant Peace Purity and Concord Pardon the Crying Sins of these three Nations let us search and try our ways and turn unto thee our God make us a People peculiar to thy self zealous of good works Bless our Soveraign with all our Magistrates and Ministers let them discharge their Duty as those that must give an account Be with me this Day and all my Days where-ever I am and whatsoever I am doing let me awefully Remember God made me God preserves me God redeemed me God sees me and God will Judge me Never leave me nor forsake me Guide and direct me by thy Counsel Assist me by thy Holy Spirit Prosper me in all my ways and at last Receive me unto Glory through Jesus Christ in whose Holy Name and Words I further Pray Our Father c. Evening Prayer MOst Holy and ever Blessed Lord God Thou hast Commanded me to Pray and so it is my great Duty and hast stiled thy self a God hearing Prayers and so it is my great Privilege In Obedience to thy Command and in Confidence of thy Promises I desire in all Humility and holy Confidence to wait upon thee at this Time in and through my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for his sake beseeching thee for Mercy and Grace Mercy for the Pardon of my Sins without which I am of all Creatures most miserable and Grace for the sanctifying of my Nature and amendment of my life Search me O Lord and Try me and whatsoever is displeasing in me unto thee remove it thence and lead me in the way everlasting Let me value and mind the things that are not seen more than the things that are seen because the things that are seen are Temporal and those that are not seen are Eternal Incline my Heart unto thy Testimonies and not to any Evil way Let not the Pleasures nor Troubles of this world allure or hinder me from serving thee with Chearfulness and Delight Prepare me for every Condition for every Change especially for my great and last Change give me Grace so to live that I may be neither asham'd to live nor afraid nor unfit to die that when thou shalt Call me hence thou may'st Receive me unto the Eternal Enjoyment of thy self in Heaven Be very Gracious and Merciful to all Mankind to all Jews Turks Pagans and Infidels bring them to the Knowledge and Obedience of the Truth Bless Prosper and Protect thy Church and every Member of it be with it unto the End of the World and let not the Gates of Hell prevail against it Reform whatsoever thou seest amiss in the Belief and Lives of Christians especially in these Three Nations Continue unto us Peace with the Gospel of Peace for thy Name sake Bless our Soveraign and all in Authority with Holiness here and Happiness hereafter Let all his Subjects live under him quiet and peaceable Lives in all Godliness and Honesty I et the Ministers of thy Gospel Preach both by their Lives and Doctrine and daily turn many unto Righteousness Let none of my Relations be Strangers unto thy self nor any of thine Afflicted Servants be forgotten by Thee Relieve them according to their several Necessities and the Riches of thy Grace in thy Son I Praise Thee for what thou hast afforded me Thy good Creatures thy Blessing with them thy Provision for me and preservation of me this Day and all my Days Let me lie me down and take my Rest and Sleep because thou Lord makest me to dwell in safety Whether I sleep or wake live or die let me be found thine own to thine Eternal Glory and my Everlasting Salvation through Jesus Christ who hath taught me when I pray to say Our Father which art in Heaven c. Grace before Meat BLess and Sanctifie most Merciful Father These thy good Creatures to my use and me unto thy Service give them strength to nourish me and me grace to serve Thee through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen Grace after Meat BLessed be thy Holy Name O Lord for all thy Mercies for these thy good Creatures make them healthful for my nourishment and me thankful for all thy Mercies Inable me by them to live to thy praise through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen How to spend the Lord's Day REmember the Lord's Day before it come so as to prepare for it by suitable Meditations Go seasonably to your Rest to prevent heaviness or drowziness Prudently dispose and dispatch your Earthly Affairs that they may be off your hands and out of your mind as much as possible on that Day that so your Heart may be more free and fit for the Duties of it Seek Remission for the Miscarriages of the Week past that you may not come with guilt or trouble upon your Consciences before the Lord. Think not your worldly Business more worthy of your Early Rising than your spiritual Imployment Let your first Thoughts be not only Holy but suitable to the Day With gladness consider how Early your Redeemer arose what a Day of Mercy you are awoke to to wait upon God for Receiving and Exercising of Grace in order to Glory to Cast off the Distracting Thoughts and Businesses of the World and what a Happy opportunity of Good is put into your Hands to get more in one Day than this World can afford you in all your lives Spend it as a Day of Thanksgiving for the greatest Mercies Therefore let the manner of it and the frame of your Hearts be holy Joy Gratitude and Love stirred up by the exercise of Faith and Hope Inlarge your Personal Devotions on this Day and let not Secret Prayer be slubbered over slightly but performed with Seriousness Reverence Alacrity and sutable to the nature and end of the Day Go to the solemn Assembly with Joy and Gladness as to the receiving of a great Blessing with desires after and hope to speed not with unwillingness as to an unpleasant Task and Burden as Carnal Hearts that love not God his Grace or Service are weary of all they do and glad when it
Thoughts Inclinations Passions Words and Actions your behaviour in your several Duties Places Relations Take a strict Account of the miscarriages of the Day what Sins of Omission or Commission you have been guilty of and Confess them to God with an hearty sorrow and shame and a great Detestation of your self and firmly Resolve by his Grace and Assistance never to be guilty of the like again but to lead a new life A speedy present and particular Repentance is the way to keep your accounts even and to leave as little as may be upon the score to Trouble you when you are least able to bear it and have most need of Comfort and likelier to wipe out the guilt of your particular Sins than a general Repentance on a Death-Bed when you cannot but forget and omit many things which you can take no distinct notice of 'T is too much Presumption for any man to Conclude that his Sins will be forgiven him in a lump and that a general Confession and Acknowledgment of them will suffice when he comes to Dye Let no less Humiliation Repentance and Faith serve for the least Sin than you have good ground to conclude will carry you boldly from your Knees through Death to Judgment Thus get your Case rightly stated by leting Conscience have the full hearing of it in her private Sessions before you appear at the great Assize Make your Bed the Memorial of your Grave and your Evening Thoughts an Image of the Day of Judgment than which there 's no greater Instrument of Piety and Virtue in the world This will make us ashamed and afraid to neglect our Duty to commit any Sin when we know we must be accountable to our selves for it at Night and to God at the last Day By this means we shall be able to Correct the Errors of our past Lives to walk by a sure and steady Rule to make our Repentance particular to prevent Sin coming on us with an After-clap for if we would Judge our selves we should not be judged (u) 1 Cor. 11.31 Let Conscience speak as a Law a Witness a Judge now else it will be a Worm in Hell No wonder most are afraid of Death they are Strangers at Home and Justly Dread being called to account not knowing how things stand between God and Them Finally Often set before you the Condition of the wise and foolish Virgins when the Bridegroom cometh (w) Matt. 25.1 c. Behold the Judge standing before the Door (x) James 5.9 Fancy you see the Fire already kindled which e'er long will turn the whole Globe of Heaven and Earth into Flames The Heavens passing away with a hideous Noise and Clamour and the Works of Nature and Art which men so idolize and dote upon consuming and burning to a black Coal The Son of Man coming in Power and great Glory with his Holy Angels The Books opening the last Trump sounding the Dead starting out of their Graves the Wise with great Joy and Triumph to their expected Blessedness the Foolish in Horrour and Amazement looking for their fearfull Doom Think what a terrible thing this will be to the drowzy World what a Surprize to the Careless and Ungodly to be thus suddainly overtaken not knowing what to do or which way to turn The trembling multitude running up and down appaled astonished and confounded in so much despair of the abused mercy of God that instead of supplicating it they 'll call to the Rocks and Mountains to fall on them and hide them from the face of him that sits on the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb and find them as inexorable as God himself O the ghastly looks the shivering motions the distorted eyes and listning ears the distracted faces and trembling hands of the confident and daring sinners at that great and terrible Day when all the charming Companions and Associates shall like enraged Furies fly upon one another and the Fewel men feed their Lusts with shall be turned into Fewel for Hell-fire and stings of Conscience When every Vice shall have its proper Torment The secure Sinner be fill'd with Remorse and Anguish The Sensualist tormented with an insatiable Hunger and Thirst when a vexatious Fire shall burn Body and Soul The tenacious greedy worldling perish with want Confusion and Shame cover the Proud and Vain-glorious When the lascivious Wretch instead of gazing upon a fictitious Beauty and sporting in the Arms of his Dalilah shall have his sight blasted with the contagious Vision of deformed Spectors and be embraced by devouring Flames The amorous Smiles of all his sweetest mirth and jollity corrupted and surrendred up into dolefull Howlings and mortal Gripes How will the sensual Sinner then look when all his Terrene Pleasures shall be snatched away by those merciless Flames What will the Voluptuous Glutton do when he shall see all his curious delicious Dainties with which he so gratified his brutish Palate turn'd to Ashes Then they would fain vomit up their delicious morsels and abhor the remembrance of what they cannot forget They confess and bewaile their former Folly The things they eagerly pursued they sadly lament when all their Enjoyments are spent and nothing left but naked Sin and Conscience Where will the Costive Avaricious Earth-worm delve or scrape for Riches the Ambitious Climb for Honour when they see all Gold and Silver Crown and Scepter burnt up How soon then will Men's fond Presumptions and Self-flatteries vanish into smoak and vapour end in dreadfull despair when all shall appear in their own likeness nakedly as they are and there can be no varnishing or gilding over a rotten Heart When none shall deceive God as they did men with a disguise of Piety No Wolf in Sheep's Cloathing steal on his Right-hand With what Amazement and impotent Rage will they struggle What would they not give to change their place that they might change their doom How will men's borrowed Colours be then melted away What a number of painted Vizards and disguised Masks of false Hearts be thrown into the Fire What would the Man invited to the Marriage-Feast give for a Wedding Garment when he stands at the Door and receives a Repulse And the foolish Virgins for Oyl How will the Market of Grace rise with what Industry will they seek it when they hear the Rumour of the Bridegroom's approach When Rivers of Tears cannot wash away the Guilt of Conscience nor ten thousand Rivers of Oyl allay the Rage and Clamour of it But Christ's Followers shall be no losers He will consider them for their Time for their Expences for their Labour for their Sufferings None of them serve him for nought They shall certainly have their Hire that Work in his Vineyard The despised Ignorant Christian will then appear wiser than the craftiest Polititian The vilest Believer out-shine the Rich man's Scarlet and glittering Robe The Content of this World be of more value than all the Treasures of it The Penitent's Tears yield