it not so vnreuerently and irreligiously to be abused Am I assaulted by Satan or do Gods enemies preuaile I must then say Helpe vs O Lord and establish thy kingdome in an amongst vs. Is it sicknesse or aduersitie that doth molest vs It is then time to say Thy will be done In want I may call for daily bread in the sense of sinne for the forgiuenesse of sinnes and in the feare of temptation say Lead me O Lord not into temptation but at the least deliuer me from euill Euch. How many parts hath this prayer Phil. Foure 1 A Preface 2 Petitions 3 A Reason 4 A Seale Euch. Which is the Preface Phil. Our Father which art in Heauen Our Father which art in in heauen Where God is described by two such properties as wee must haue in our minds when we pray vnto him as 1 That he is our louing Father d Esa 63.16 2 That he is our Almightie God in heauen e Vers 15. Euch. Do you heere pray to the Father onely Phil. No but to the whole Trinitie yet as the first person is the fountaine of the Deitie we pray to the Father by the Son through the holy Ghost Euch. But Christ is called our Brother how can he then bee called our Father Phil. As he is God he is our Father and therefore called the Father of eternitie ‡ Isa 9.6 As he is Man he is our Brother and is not ashamed to call vs his brethren ‡ Heb. ◠11 Euch. Yet once againe I pray you resolue me doe we heere pray to Christ for whose sake onely we are heard in our prayers Phil. We do for we pray vnto him as he is the second person we haue our prayers heard through him as he is our Mediator If you distinguist Christs person from Christs office you may resolue your selfe Euch. What doth this word Father teach you Phil. 1 That I must not call vpon him as my Iudge to condemne me but my Father to saue me f Luk. 15.18 2 That in Christ I am his Sonne as well as others are g Gal 3.26 Eph. 1.5 3 That more then any other Father he careth for me and will denie me nothing conuenient h Mat. 7.7 Psal 103.13 Isai 49.15 4 That I may boldly come vnto i Psa 50.15 Isay 64.6 him For this is a name a great name vnder which none can despaire other titles of Maiesty terrifie this comforts euen dust and ashes to come to God For who saith Cypriā durst pray vnto God by the name of Father if Christ our Aduocat did not put these words into our mouthes he knoweth how God standeth affected towards vs for all our vnworthinesse and we may say with Saint Austen Lord take notice of the stile of our Aduocate thy Sonne 5 That none can pray vnto him but his children k Ver. 16. 6 That I must euer behaue my selfe as Christ did like Gods child l Ephi 5.8 7 That I must pray onely to God m Mat. 4.10 Psal 50.14 15. 8 That I must come vnto him by Christ n Ioh 11.34.16 1. Isay 63 16 9 To put me in minde of my natural and spirituall birth by him Mal. 2.10 Deut. 32.6 10 To teach mee that as a good Father he prouideth for me and all creatures Psal 68.6 Iam. 1.17 11 That though we sin yet he is readie to pardon yea for a great offence a smal punishment is enough to this Father he is a Father of mercy euen to prodigals Luke 15. and of compassion euen to rebels as Dauid was 2. Sam. 18. Euch. May you pray to none other but to God Phil. No surely for 1 Christ he teacheth vs to pray héere to none other 2 The things in this prayer are proper to God for to giue 3 It is his commandement so to do 4 They are cursed that worship other Gods 5 He alone knoweth our hearts 6 He alone can heare our prayers and helpe vs. 7 We beleeue in him alone and therefore must pray to him alone Rom. 10.14 8 No holy person in all the Bible did euer forsake his Creator and flie to the creature Euch. Why do you say our Father and not my Father Phil. To teach me 1 That I must hold each mēber of the Church as my brethren o Gen. 13.8 2 That I must pray as well in charitie for others as my selfe p Iam. 5.16 as vpon necessitie for my selfe 3 That I must loue all men as brethren q 1. Ioh 4.21 4 The dignitie of each Christian hauing God to his father r 1. Sam. 118.23 which dignitie he vouchsafed not eyther to the Patriarches before the Law nor yet to the blessed Angels they are called only the seruants of God the other Messengers of God but seldome sonnes 5 Gods loue to mee in making me his child ſ 1. Ioh 3.1 6 That in prayer I must consider Christ and his Church as one bodie and make him my Father who is the Father of Christ mine eldest brother his by generation mine by regeneration his by nature mine by grace and this wil cause in prayer most swéete consolation 7 To assure me that he is also my Father and will euer be so euen though I offend him for else I could not come willingly vnto him and Satan cals this most of all into question Matth. 4.3.27.43 8 To assure mée that as I pray for all Gods people so euerie one of them prayeth for me and therefore I being a member of Christ can neuer want friendes to sollicite my cause effectually to God In a word the word Father is a word of faith and the word our is a word of charitie so that in these two wordes is the summe of the Law and the Gospell Euch. You said this word Our teacheth vs to pray for others what euen for all men Phil. Yea verily that God will giue them grace to repent and come out of the snares of the Deuill 2. Tim. 2. and if they be our enemies that God would turne their hearts Matth. 5.44 Note heere that we are bound to commend particular persons as our Gouernours Children Kindred Charges Friends and Benefactors vnto God Paul did so for others and desired others would doe it for him Euch. But may I neuer call vpon God as my Father Phil. Yes I both may and ought in my priuate Prayers Iacob did so at Bethel Dauid did so in his trouble Christ did so on the Crosse and as God saith to mee I am thy Redéemer so I may say thou art my Father This faith teacheth me when I apply him to my selfe this Religion teacheth me when I pray for my selfe Yet so must I call vpon him as my God that I also consider him as the God of his Church Euch. Why say you that God is in Heauen Phil. Because there he sheweth himselfe chiefly to the Saints t Eccle. 21 24. and from thence he manifesteth himselfe to man
u Psa 57.3 Euch. Is not God euery where Phil. Yes for his essence is euery where x Pro. 5.21 and he filleth both Heauen and Earth y Eph. 1.10 Euch. How many Heauens are there Phil. Thrée 1 The Ayre in which we breath z Gene. 1.26 2 The Skie in which are the Starres a Deut. 1.10 3 The Heauen of Heauens in which Christ the Angels and Saints departed are b 1. King 8 27. called by Christ his Fathers house Iohn 14.2 by Paul Paradise 2. Cor. 12.4 by Matth. Chap. 5.34 the throne of God and the Citie of the great King Euch. What learne you by this that God is in Heauen Phil. 1 That hee is therefore able to grant my requests c 1. King 8.30 2 That I may pray with confidence vnto him d Psa 123.1 3 That in Prayer my heart must bee in Heauen e 1. King 8.48 Psal 25.1 This is that true worship Iohn 4.23 4 That I must vse al reuerence in prayer f Eccle. 5.1.2 5 That I am here a Pilgrime and that my conuersation must be in Heauen g Phil. 3.21 Heb. 13.14 6 That I must looke for all graces and helpes from Heauen h Ier. 1.17 Psal 121.1 7 That by pilgrimages I need not séeke to God i Psal 145 18. 8 That hee differs farre from Earthly Parents who would helpe but cannot oftentimes 9 That no Creature can hurt me Psal 2.4.5 Psal 118.6 Rom. 8.30 10 That I must preferre him before my Earthly Parents Matth. 8.22.10.37 Deut. 33.9 11 That therefore I must especially aske Heauenly thinges Luk. 11 13. 12 That I also shall bee with him in Heauen Euch. Doe you then include God in Heauen as they Iob. 22.14 is he not in all places Phil. Yea surely as appeareth 1. Kings 8.27 Psal 139.6 Isay 66.1 Ier. 23.24 Prou. 15.3 and else where in many places of Scripture Euch. Why then is hee said to bee in Heauen Phil. 1. Because hee manifests his power from hence as Kings doe theirs from their Pallaces Psal 50.6 Rom. 1.18 poore Cotages argue no great Inhabitants magnificent Pallaces argue persons of account mans basenesse is séene in that hee dwelleth in houses of Clay Iob. 4.19 Gods greatnesse in that he dwelleth in Heauen Ier. 23. Psal 123.1 2 Because in view of the Heauens we sée more of Gods Maiestie then in all other Creatures Psal 19.1 3 That as wee sée Heauen in all places so we know that God is in all places Psal 139.7 Iob. 26.6 Hebr. 4.13 4 That wee may by this bee perswaded both of his Omnipotencie that hee can doe all Psal 19.6 and libertie that he will doe what he pleaseth Psal 115.3 Yea and that séeing hée is in the highest Heauens he is to bee feared aboue all Gods O happie preface to this blessed Prayer Euch. Why doth not this Prayer begin with some preface of Gods Soueraignitie Omnipotencie Iustice c. but with this of Paternitie Phil. His Soueraignitie would terrifie vs because we haue rebelled his Omnipotencie amaze vs being but dust and ashes his Iustice afright vs being guiltie of our sinnes his Paternitie doth allure vs as prodigall Sonnes comming to a liberall and mercifull Father Luke 1.15.18 Euch. How many petitions are there in the Lords prayer Phil. Sixe whereof the first thrée concerne God the other concerne our selues and of the last thrée one only is for thinges corporall the other two are for things Spirituall 1. Pet. 1.3 Euch. What learne you out of this order Phil. I learne 1. Gods great fauour to mée who will admit mée to aske for my selfe k 1. King 3.11 2 His great loue that he will heare my asking for others l Gen. 19.21 3 My dutie that I must desire especially Gods glorie m Exod. 32.32 4 That I must oftner craue thinges Spirituall then Corporall n Luk. 17.5 Euch. Which is the first petition Phil. Hallowed be thy name Hallowed be thy name Euch. Why is this set in the first place Phil. 1. Because it is first in the intent of God who made all for his owne glorie o Pro. 15.3 2 Because it is first in the intent of the godly who like good Children wish and doe all to Gods glorie p Ioh. 15.8 Exod. 32.32 Rom. 9.3 Euch. What is the vse of this order Phil. That whether wee eate or drinke or whatsoeuer we do else we may doe all to the glorie of God 1. Cor. 10.31 Euch. What meane you by these wordes Hallowed be thy name Phil. By Gods name I vnderstand his titles as God Christ Lord and such like his properties as his Iustice Mercie Prouidence and such like his word as the Scriptures read and preached his Ministers Sabbaoth Sanctuarie his Sacraments as Baptisme and the Lords Supper his Workes as Creation Preseruation and the like And by Hallowing I meane that God in all these may haue due reuerence done vnto him of all the people that belong vnto him Euch. Tell me yet more plainly what this word Hallowed meaneth Phil. To Hallow or sanctifie is as you taught mee 1. To separate a thing from a common to an holy vse so we are commanded to sanctifie the Sabbaoth Exod. 20.2 To preserue from pollution so all people must be hallowed Leuit. 20.7.2 Cor. 7.1.3 To estéeme and celebrate as holy and so God is said to bee hallowed Leuit. 10.3 Ezech 38.23 Euch. How may you a polluted person thus hallowe Gods name which in it selfe is most holy Phil. 1. By the consideration of his Iustice againsts sinners 2 His mercie towardes his Children in giuing them faith forgiuing their sinnes and making them patient to endure troubles 3 By being holy my selfe bad men may account God great and glorious none Holy but holy persons as Angels Isay 6.6 and men 1. Pet. 3.15 who must do it in thought word and déed Euch. Why must you thus labour to hallow Gods name Phil. 1. Because it is an honour euen due to him Reuel 4.11 2 It is a credit to mee 3 I testifie how I estéeme of God 4 The contrarie argues impietie Exod. 5.2 Isay 36.20 5 He hath punished the prophanation of his name Exod. 14.28 2. King 19.37 Isay 37 36.37 Act. 12.23 6 Hee created mée to this purpose Prouerbs 16.3 7 As all men account of their names Eccles 7.1 so God doth highly of his 8 All people haue vsed all meanes to erect Altars to the honour of their Gods yea and the people who neuer saw their King honour him 9 It is not only holy in it selfe but giues holinesse to all other thinges that are holy 10 Moses and Aaron entred not into Canaan because they did not sanctifie the Word amongst the children of Israel Deut. 32.51 and Leuit. 10.3 I will bee sanctified in them that come néere mee and before all the people I will be glorified Euch. What wants doe you bewaile in this petition Phil. First I bewaile mine owne
confession of sinnes in great Congregations scarce fortie are present vpon the Sabbath day yet none hereby may take occasion or be permitted so to rest wholly in such forme of Prayer as alwaies to kéepe idle the spirit within them or grace giuen them for growth in the power of Prayer to dull let or burie the gift or grace of the Spirit tending to riper perfection But euerie one ought to stirre vp and whet the Spirit and exercise the grace and power receiued to be fitted not only to repeate or reade but euen to endite any good matter and to be fitted by readinesse of inuention sutable to all occasions being as in the whole inward man so in the ripenesse of inuention facultie of conceuing increased and more and more perfected not alwayes to remaine like Children or Weakelings néeding to créepe vpon all foure or to walke with a staffe but able to goe without such helpes which any shall doe through Gods assistance by vse and frequent exercising themselues in Prayer and obseruation and imitation of other good Prayers heard or read and by kéeping a good method and order in praying A briefe Prayer vpon the Lords PRAYER OVR Father By the benefit of creation through thine omnipotencie assistance of preseruation through thy prouidence gift of Adoption through thy grace communication of eternitie through thy Christ Which art in Heauen euer raigning by thy power enlightining by Spirit forgiuing by thy mercy ruling by thy Maiesty Hallowed be thy name of vs by an honest coÌ„uersâ—tioâ— in vs by a cléere conscience from vs by an honest report aboue vs by the representation of Angels Thy Kingdome come in thy Holy Church by the sanctification of the Spirit in thy faithfull soules by iustification of faith in thine Holy Scriptures by instruction of Ministers in thy celestiall Pâ—radise by assimilation to Angels Thy will bee done in Earth in singlenesse of heart by humilitie chastitie of bodie by abstinence holinesse of will by custome truth of action by discretion As it is in heauen willingly without murmuring speedily without delaying constantly without ceasing vniuersally without omitting Giue vs this day our daily bread For humane necessitie to couer our shame future prosâ—eritie to maintaine our calling present liberalitie to doe good to others eternall glorie to lay vp in Heauen And forgiue vs our trespasses of omission in thinges commaunded commission in thinges forbidden of the first Table against thy selfe and the second Table against our neighbour As wee forgiue them that trespasse against vs Heartily in puritie chearefully in curtesie continually in Christianitie forgetfully in not requiting like for like And leade vs not into temptation either importunate which wearieth or sudden which discourageth or fradulent which deceiueth or violent which ouercommeth But deliuer vs from all euils of mundane aduersitie which will disquiet vs Sathans subtiltie which will destroy vs humane crueltie which will ouerthrow vs eternall misery which may torment vs. For thine is the Kingdome powerfull in it selfe comfortable to vs terrible to thine enemies eternall in Heauen Power great in our creation mightie in our preseruation mercifull in our iustification and wonderfull in our glorification And glorie For which thou diddest make all thinges to which we referre all thinges in which all thinges doe remaine on Earth and by which all thy Saints shal reioyce in Heauen For euer and euer in themselues by continuance in thy Saints by practise in thy creatures by proofe in the wicked by torment Amen so bee it by intention of the mind serious inuocation of thy name diligent execution of thy Commandements continuall communication of all thy mercies prayed for Another of the like Argument O Our Father high in Creation swéet in loue rich in mercie Which art in Heauen the glasse of eternitie the crowne of incunditie the treasure of felicitie Hallowed be thy name that it may bee honie to the mouth musicke to the eare a fire in the heart Thy Kingdome come pleasant without mixture safe without annoyance sure without losse Thy will bee done that wee may flie that thou hatest loue that thou louest and by thee doe that thou commandest In earth as it is in Heauen willingly readily faithfully Giue vs this day our daily bread necessarie for this life not superfluous for our delights nor waÌ„ting to our necessities And forgiue vs our debts against thée our neighbour and our selfe As wee forgiue our debters who haue wronged vs in our bodie goods name And lead vs not into temptation of the World Flesh Diuell But deliuer vs from euill past present to come Spiritual Corporall Eternall And this we aske because thine is the Kingdome for thou rulest all Power for thou canst doe all and Glorie for thou giuest all now whilest we doe liue and for euer whilest we shall liue Amen neither doubt we but that wee shall certainely obtaine these thinges because thou art louing as our Father and powerfull in Heauen Thou sayest Amen by commanding art Amen by performing we say Amen by beléeuing and hoping say but the word and we shall be cured Dauid tentatur tentatus orat orans Liberatur liberatus gratias agit August Dauid is tempted being tempted hee prayeth praying is deliuered and being deliuered he giueth thankes This is the summe both of Dauids Psalmes and the Lords Prayer MATTH 26.41 Watch and pray that you fall not into temptation A COMMVNICANT INSTRVCTED THOV SHALT LABOR FOR LONDON Printed for Edward Blunt and William Barret 1613. To the right Honourable the Ladie FRANCIS Daughter to the most honourable the Countesse of Darbie and wife to the honourable Sir IOHN EGERTON Knight of the BATHE ALbeit the houses of the poore are not at any time as of the rich alike adorned with gorgeous furniture yet the gardens of the poore as well as the rich are in the spring-time a-like couered with flowers furniture That great flower of the Sunne it is not indeede found but amongst the rich but the Marigold Heliotropiuim which openeth and setteth with the Sunne and which is as profitable as the other is beautifull this is amongst other sweet and holesome hearbs ordinarie in the poorest Orchard These kinde of hearbs sometime they vse for meate and medicine and often wanting things to present their betters with of these they doe offer a poesie of flowers As they haue receiued so they giue That spirituall Garden which is committed to my keeping hath not at this time any rare flowers in it but such as being planted some few yeares past doe now shew themselues in a more Orient colour and in greater aboundance Out of them this spring-time I haue gathered three seuerall nose-gaies and two of them are presented to two most honourable Counsellers this Third I am bold to present to your Honour I hope there is no such Antipathie betwixt flowers and you as there was betwixt a worthie Ladie and a Rose The Ladie Hennage especially such flowers as these since Religion which giueth colour
Gods will Phil. The reuealed will of God is done by voluntarie f 1. Thes 5.3 obeying or patient suffering that which God commandeth g Mat. 26.39 The secret will is done of vs by praying that Christ Iesus may come to iudgment h Reuel 22.20 that Antichrist may more and more be reuealed and that we may patiently beare all future afflictions Euch. Why doe you pray that this will of God may be done Phil. Because 1. It is euer Iust Holy Good and Safe yea the very rule of all goodnesse 2 It is most profitable to such as doe it 3 All calamities come from disobedience Gen. 3. Deut. 28. Leuit. 26. 4 If I be regenerate it will not be grieuous vnto me to doe his will Matth. 11.30 1. Ioh. 5.3 5 Sathan the World and mine owne flesh hinder me 6 I cannot doe it vnlesse God assist mée and direct mée by his Holy Word and Spirit Euch. But must I pray euer to doe Gods will Phil. You must yet in regard of Gods secret will you may with a good will without sinne dissent from it Samuels wil was good when hee wept for Saul whom God would not haue him to bewaile 1. Sam. 26. besides you may with the like good wil wil that which God will not so a Childe may be vnwilling of his Fathers death whom notwithstanding Gods will is shall not recouer and so Christ said Father If it bee possible let this cuppe passe from mee but when we once know the will of God be it for vs or against vs we must then say with Dauid Here am I let him doe to mée as séemeth good in his eyes 2. Sam. 15.26 and with Hezechiah The word of the Lord is good Isay 39.8 and with Paul The will of the Lord be done Acts 21.14 Euch. What meane you by Earth and Heauen in this petition Phil. I doe not meane by Earth my bodie and Heauen my soule as Tertullian thought nor by Earth Earthly men and Heauen Heauenly men or by Heauen Christ and Earth his Church as others thought but in these words I pray that as the Angels in Heauen are readie to doe Gods will so men on Earth may be readie to doe it Euch. How doe Angels the will of God Phil. They doe it chearefully without murmuring speedily without delaying generally without omitting sincerely without dissembling constantly without forbearing and perfectly without halting Euch. Are there none in Heauen which do Gods will besides Angels Phil. You may also if you will looke vnto Christ the Saints and all Creatures in Heauen and Earth Euch. How I pray you Phil. 1 Christ personall in Heauen hath done Gods will for hee came not to doe his own wil but the will of him that sent him Iohn 6.38 Christs Mysticall that is the Church as his bodie 1. Cor. 12.12 must doe it euen as Christ the head of that bodie hath done it 2. In Heauen is the Congregation of the first borne Hebr. 12.23 that is the Saints departed there did and doe carefully performe Gods will so must we 13. In the starrie Heauen the Sunne and Moone in the Ayrie Heauen the Frost Snow Raine c. fulfill his Word so must wée Euch. Is it then enough to doe Gods will Phil. No verily but we must regard also how it should be done we must not only doe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his pleasure but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his good pleasure When wee serue God wee doe his pleasure when wee serue him with our best endeauours wee doe his good pleasure Euch. But is it possible for man to doe perfectly Gods will Phil. It will bee possible in the life to come it is impossible whilest wee liue in this World for The good which wee would doe we doe not and the euill that we would not that doe we Rom. 7.19 Euch. How many kindes then of perfections are there Phil. There is first a perfection of sinceritie which was in Hezekias obedience a Esa 38.3 Secondly a perfection of all parts which was in Zacharie and Elizabeths obedience b. Luk. 1.6 Thirdly a perfection of degrées which was only in the first and second Adam and is now only in the Holy Angels who onely can perfectly obey Gods will Euch. If this obedience bee impossible to be performed why then doe wee pray for it Phil. Because I must with Paul striue for this perfection c Philip. 3. and pray vnto God that I may come to this perfection d 1. Thes 5 25. without whose will I shall neuer bee able to doe his will Ioh. 15.5 Euch. What then is it that God wils Phil. He willeth 1. Our saluation by Christ Act. 4.12 Ioh. 6.40 2 The knowledge of his will Ioh 17.3 3 Faith in Christ Iesus Ioh. 6.40 4 Obedience to his Commandements both in doing and suffering Psal 143. Rom. 8.28 Matth. 26.39 Act. 21.1.41 Sam. 3.18 5 Holinesse of life Eph. 1.4 1. Thes 4.3.4 Rom. 12.1.2.3.4 6 Loue to our brethren Ioh. 13.34.15 That we may doe these things we pray in this petition Euch. What then is required that I may doe Gods will Phil. 1 That you doe lay aside your owne will which indeede is hard euen to the godly the flesh lusting against the Spirit and the Law in their members leading them vnto the Law of Sinne and of Death 2 You must be possessed with a base conceipt of your owne will that we must not leane vpon it but know that euerie man is a Beast in his owne knowledge 3 You must estéeme highly of Gods will be it neuer so contrarie to reason so Abraham did Gen. 22.3 Take to thée Gods will be assured of Heauen take away thine own will and feare not Hell 4 You must pray that God will giue power to performe and then let him command what he list Euch. What wants doe you here bewaile Phil. 1 I bewaile mine owne and others rebellious natures in that wee are as prone to receiue sinne as a match or tinder is to receiue fire 2 I bewaile the sinnes of the World as Ignorance Sorceries Schismes Hypocrisie Pride Ambition Couetousnesse Negligence in procuring others good with all contempt and disobedience to the word of God and that all Creatures being so obedient to God Ier. 7 8. man onely is most disobedient 3 Our impatience that when God layeth any crosses vpon vs we cannot as wée ought endure them patiently 4 Our slacke and imperfect obedience yea priuie pride proude presumption deadnesse of Spirit secret hypocrisie and all other weaknesse which breaketh either into or out vpon vs in our best seruice to our Heauenly Father Euch. What thinges doe you pray for in this Petition Phil. 1 I pray that I and all people may in true humiliation and hatred of sinne bée conuerted to God by putting off the old man and putting on the new that we may obey his Commandements in our general and particular callings and in al afflictions submit our selues to the
not of this stinted and set or written kind of Praier if it had beene fit would not they haue vsed it Phil. Why because none is mentioned are you sure none was vsed Say none was the Iewish ancient Leiturgy continued in the Apostles times to which they resorted as before is proued yet it was to ende in the Iewes and that at the least with the destruction of the Temple called the Buriall thereof Now if no set forme came in place by and by it might bee because the Church was not yet setled and because extraordinary miraculous gifts of the holy Ghost yet continuing in the Church therefore Prayer immediatly inspired by diuine inspiration powred out as God gaue vtterance to some special persons whom he extraordinarily raised vp might well serue for the gathering of the Church and bee agréeable to all places people of all Languages and all occasions and most answerable to the state of the Church then being when as vtterance both in Language matter and method was to bee expected from God as he pleased to giue it without ordinary meanes But no sooner was the Church setled and the first gifts of the holie Ghost ceased but then at the latest set and written formes of prayer came in And though certaine formes of Leiturgy fathered vpon some of the Apostles or Apostolicall men as those of Saint Peter Marke Iames c. were not framed by them as some doe suggest yet Liturgies set and prescript came in then or about that time which since the Church of Rome haue corrupted as is proued before Euch. But doth not this set forme of praier binde the spirit Phil. That is not materiall but indeed they helpe the spirit as is aforesaid And we binde the spirit therby no more then did holy men binde the spirit by set and stinted prayer which they in Scripture are recorded to haue vsed yea no more then doth the conclusion fo any praier binde the Spirit when we breake of praier Euch. Yet me thinkes that set prayer manifests onely the memory and written praier the faculty of reading but the spirit they doe not manifest Phil. Both may bee manifested thereby and that as well as the spirit was manifested in the set praier of Christ which hee vsed as aforesaid and in the suted prayers of many others his Prophets and seruants And why may not a written praier manifest the spirit as well as a text or lesson of holy Scripture manifest the spirit which endited the same being read in the Congregation As is warranted Luk. 4.17 Act. 13.15.17 15.21 And like as the Scripture did not only manifest the spirit when it was first endited but doth also when it is read so praier which manifested the spirit when it was first endited serues also to manifest the spirit when it is repeated or read but when it is endited it manifesteth the spirit enditing and when it is repeated or read it manifesteth the spirit which hath endited And whē it is endited thē is the faculty of conceiuing or inuention exercised and where it is repeted or read that facultie resteth but other faculties with the affections may be exercised if not more then when the inuention is working Euch. Against this set forme of prayer a maine obiection is that such prayer is drawne not out of the heart but out of the booke this I finde in the booke of differences of separated Churches Page 3. Chap. 4. Verse last Phil. Prayer may bee drawne out of a Booke and yet out of Gods Treasurie and it was drawne out of the heart before it came in the Booke though not out of thine heart yet that which is drawne out of an others heart may bee profitable vnto thée else why desire we the prayers one of another for vs And albeit thou drawest it originally out of the booke yet thou drawest it into thy heart the Spirit where Prayer is read working there by the Booke that which Prayer being endited worketh by the inuention without the Booke and then loe thou drawest it out of thine heart Secondarily and thou first offerst it to God out of thine heart drawing out originally out of thine heart in respect of oblation and so it may bee acceptable as the prepared Ramme which Abraham found in a Bush and offered it to the Lord. To conclude as we must iudge the Leuites to haue sung the Psalmes of Dauid being many of them Prayers as aforesaid out of the Booke set before their eyes vnlesse wee will beyond likelihood iudge them to haue had all the Psalmes of Dauid by heart with the Musicall notes answering the Church instruments so againe Psalmes gotten by heart are drawne out of the Booke out of which they are gotten whereby vpon disallowance of Prayer drawne out of a Booke must néeds follow a disallowance of singing those Psalmes which are gotten by heart out of the Booke and so by disallowance of read Psalmes and Psalmes gotten by heart both which are drawne out of the Booke will follow disallowance of singing of Psalmes at all and all this followes vpon the disallowance of read Prayer which to end we cannot altogether doe vnlesse wée disallow the saying of the Lords Prayer which also is drawne out of a Booke Euch. And now I pray what thinke you of our Communion or Seruice Booke may I lawfully be present at the Prayers of the same Phil. I will tell you what M. Deering writing against M. Harding speaketh of the Communion Booke he speaketh to this effect and why M. Harding doe you disgrace the Booke of Common Prayer since there is nothing in it contrarie to Gods Word And Doctor Taylor that blessed Martyr three nights before his suffering gaue and commended to his wife a Booke of the Church Seruice which in the time of his inprisonment he as M. Fox writeth daily vsed and the same Authour vpon the yeare 1557. writeth of another godly Martyr who had a companie of Bookes throwne into the fire with him and by euent a common Prayer Booke fell betwéene his hands who receiued it ioyfully and kissed it and prayed holding his hands vp to Heauen and the Booke betwixt his Armes next his heart thanking God for sending him it and professing his gladnesse to bee burned with such a Booke And thus condemning this holy Booke you condemne the iudgements of these and many other holy men who after they had painfully penned the same gaue manie of them their liues for the Gospell amongst whom M. Fox in his ninth Booke of the acts and monuments nameth that reuerend Bishop Cranmer and saith the rest were the best learned and discréet men Euch. Doe you speake this to perswade only the vse of set Prayer Phil. In no sort For howsoeuer these thinges haue béene said to proue the lawfull vse of set stinted and prescribed or read Prayer and namely of read Prayer in the publique assemblies of our Church which is so neglected or contemned of manie that at the publique
Oedypus to dissolue our doubts it is our commentarie to vnderstand Gods word d Clauis Scriptura Origen It is a e Deo sacrificium diabolo flagellum homini subsidium August The praise of praier sacrifice to God a scourge to the diuell and an helpe to our selues in all our troubles Wherefore as the Apostle by examples commended faith to the Hebrewes so may I by examples commend prayer to you By it Abrahams seruant obtained a wife for Isaac and by it Moses obtained a pardon for Israel By this the same Moses ouercame the Amalekites and by this Abraham interceded for the Sodomites By prayer Iacob was deliuered from Esau Iosuah from the men of Aie Dauid from Goliah The Prophet from Ieroboam Elizeus from the Samaritans Hezechiah from death Iehosophat from the Aramites Manasses from captiuitie Ieremiah from his aduersaries and Daniel from the Lions the dâ—seased from his leprosie the Apostles from prison the Church from persecution By prayer Hannah obtained a sonne Dauid deliuerance Salomon wisedome Elias the restoring of a dead child Elizeus the opening of his seruants eyes Nehemiah the kings fauour the Centurion his seruants health Christ comfort in his agonie the Apostles a successor to Iudas Stephen pardon for Paul and Monima the conuersion of her sonne S. Austin In Psal 63 Thus true it is which that Austin saith Great is the profit of pure prayer and as a faithfull messenger deliuers her arrand and pierceth thither whither flesh cannot come And this it was which made Bernard to say Brethren let none of vs lightly esteeme his prayer I tell you that hee to whom wee pray doth not lightly esteeme it after it is out of our mouth he writes it in his Booke and one of these two wee may doubtlesse expect either that hee will grant our petition or that which hee knoweth to be better for vs. Call vpon me and I will heare saith God aske and you shall haue saith Christ Before they crie I will heare them saith Isaiah The Lord is nigh to all that call vpon him saith Dauid but to such as call vpon him in truth And if we may belieue the Apostle Iames the prayer of a righteous man auaileth much Pray therefore and we had need to pray Why wee ought to Pray Satan will deuoure thee pray for deliuerance The world will allure thee pray for assistance The flesh will betray thee pray for defence The wicked will seduce thee pray for continuance What beloued If God had commaunded vs a great thing ought wee not to doe it how much more when he saith pray and preuaile aske and haue seeke and finde knock and it shall bee opened vnto you aske Temporall things and haue them seeke for Spirituall things and find them knocke for Eternall things and the gates of heauen shall stand as open to you as the gates of the prison did to the Apostle Peter By this with Eliah you may open and shut the verie gates of heauen and by this with the Apostle you may shake the foundations of the earth O pretious praier what could not onely wee but euen the whole world doe without thee Thou increasest the earth calmest the sea asswagest the fire purgest the ayre protectest our Gouernours confoundest our enemies preseruest our health instructest our mindes blessest our actions encreasest our wealth exaltest our honour speakest but the word and we are preserued Prayer in all places Pray wee therefore in all places at all times for all persons and for all things Pray wee in all places but in euery place lifting vp pure hands vnto God Thus Isaac prayed in the field Iakob in his bed Israel in Egypt Moses on the Mount Iosuah at Iericho Elias in the chamber Hezekiah on his couch Ieremie in the dungeon Ionah in the Whales bellie Daniel in the Lions den Christ in the Garden the Disciples in a ship Peter in a Tanners house Paul at the sea side and the Iewes at Ierusalem Call vpon him in thy priuate chamber and crie vnto him with thy familie in thy parlour Thou needest not to fall downe at some piller with hypocrites but praise him especially in the congregation of Saints for there many voices are Gods best melodie Pray also at all times at euening Pray at all times and morning and at noone day will I pray vnto thee yea at midnight will I rise to call vpon thee nay seuen times a day wil I praise thee saith Dauid Daniel did so three times a day Paul did it day and night Hannah did it all the daies of her life and the Psalmographer vowes it I will praise the Lord as long as I liue as long as I haue any being I will sing praises to my God Pray continually not as those Heretiques Euchitae who would euer do so but as Christians who know when to do so With morning prayer the day begin With euening prayer the night shut in Without this prayer sit not to eate Without Gods praise rise not from meate And forget not to pray for all persons Pray for ad persons for the King as the head his Senatours as the eyes his Clergie as the mouth his Souldiers as the hands his Subiects to all trades as the feete vpon which the Common-wealth doth stand Art thou a Minister pray for thy flocke An Auditor for thy Preacher A Father for thy child an Husband for thy wife a Master for thy seruant or a Gouernour pray for thy family Is any Sicke pray for his health Poore for his wealth Imprisoned for his libertie Seduced for his recouerie Confirmed for his constancie or in any Distresse for his deliuerie Pray for all men that their bodies may be preserued soules saued estates maintained that thy and their thoughts may bee sanctified your words seasoned and your actions ordered by the Spirit of God To whom we must Pray Will you know now to whom wee must pray not to a Calfe as the Israelites did nor to Baal as his Priests did nor to an Image as Idolaters did nor to any Saints as our fathers did but as we are bound to serue God alone so are we bounden to pray to God alone for hee alone knoweth our wants heareth our petitions hath promised to helpe vs is able to doe for vs and is the alone present helper in the needfull time of trouble I will draw to an end You haue seene beloued the necessitie of this seruice How wee must Pray let mee shew you a litle the qualities of this seruice Pray we must in knowledge with vnderstanding in faith by beleeuing in remorse with feeling in zeale without cooling in intention without wandering in reuerence without contemning in constancie without reuolting and in loue without reuenging Let our eyes be fastned hearts fixed knees bowed mouthes opened our hands lifted vp as to the King of Kings And as Iacob would not let the Angell goe till he were blessed so let not vs let
him go till we be heard Let not the woman of Canaan bee more earnest with Christ militant then we will be with the same Christ triumphāt Let neuer the Queen of Sheba so willingly come to Salomon as we must willingly come vnto Christ hee loueth most willing and importunate suters Wherefore as Dauid said to Abner neuer see my face vnlesse thou bring Michal with thee so I say vnto you neuer look God in the face vnlesse you bring Prayer with you As I haue declared to you the dutie of prayer so should I speake somewhat of giuing of thankes Many can be content to pray in troubles but few giue thankes for deliuerance out of trouble Multi petentes pauci promittentes paucissimi reddentes saith an ancient Father there are many Petitioners few Promisers most few thankesgiuers Are there not ten cleansed where are the nine there is none returned to giue thankes but this one and he is a Samaritan If euer people vnder the cope of heauen had occasion to praise God wee are they especially for his Word and Gospell and for many deliuerances shewed to our Princes and people But because at the end of this Treatise I haue set downe a forme both of prayer and thankesgiuing I referre you to the perusing of those two platformes I doubt not of your patience for the length of this Preface because I desire to leaue it as an occular Sermon instructing you continually how to call vpon God and preparing you to the expositiō of the Lords Prayer which of many through ignorance is as much prophaned as euer God was by saying the Pater-noster in Latine or repeating other Rosaries in an vnknowne language Now hauing ended as you see these questions and answeres I make question with my selfe to whom I may commend them and because for these ten yeares immediately past I haue liued and preached amongst you and that by the assignement of your Reuerend Pastor M. Doctor Montfort I am bold in generall to present them to you all You haue I confesse known my conuersation been acquainted with my ministrie countenanced me in my calling maintained me in health comforted me in sicknesse and afforded vnto me much more kindnesse than can be requited by this paper present And since it pleaseth God to dispose of mee still in such vncertaine places as that I could neuer yet say heere must I rest I blesse God that euer I came vnto you whose loue and larges hath bin is amongst many of you for what lecturer for ten yeares together can please al such vnto mee as makes mee to say of my late exile Perijssem nisi perijssem I had beene vndone if others had not sought to vndoe me Since I came vnto you I haue preached painfully liued honestly and studied carefully to do you seruice with what conscience I know with what danger you know and with what profit God knowes Surely this good I see done amongst you you haue beautified the house of the liuing God praise that worthy Knight whose loue and labour was first in that worke you haue enlarged that house which is for the dying Saints pray for that good King who gaue you that piece of ground and your congregation is as the thousands of Israel Blesse God for those trumpets of yours who haue euer called you to such holy assemblies Blessed be that God who thus blesseth you blessed be you who thus blesse God and blessed and billeted vp be they in heauen who thus prouide for the liuing and the dead and withall remember their painfull Teachers Now though I cannot say to you as Paul did to the Corinthians I am yours to liue and die with you for no Minister can say it who dependeth vpon voluntarie contribution yet this I will say and say for euer I am yours to liue and pray for you that you may so know God as you may pray to him so pray to God that you may liue before him so liue that you may euer be fit to receiue his Sacrament and so both fit to know pray liue and receiue that after you haue knowen him by Christ prayed to him through Christ liued before him in Christ and receiued his fauour in the seales of Christ you may in the end die in his faith as you haue liued in his feare and at the last day in bodies and soules be partakers of eternall glorie To the grace of this God I commend you to your grace I commend these Treatises doubting not but many of you will be as readie to reade them as you haue beene willing to heare them From your Parish of Saint Martin in the fields Iune 10. 1613. Your seruant in the Lord so long as it shall please God and you ROBERT HILL SPECIALL QVESTIONS HANDLED IN CHRISTS PRAYER EXPOVNDED 1 WHy is it called the Lords prayer Pag. 2 2 Why Christ taught it Pag. 2. 3 3 Whether there be any vertue in the repetition of the words of this prayer Pag. 3 4 Whether it bee euer necessarie to repeate all those words at all times and how wee must Pag. 3. 4 5 Whether we pray to the Father only Pag. 5 6 Whether we may pray to Christ Pag. 8. 9 7 Why we say our Father Pag. 8.9 8 Whether we may say my Father Pag. 8. 9 9 Whether we must pray to God only Pag. 7 10 Why how God is said to be in heauen Pag. 10 11 Why we begin with this name of Paternitie and say our Father Pag. 12 12 What it is to Hallow Gods name Pag. 13 13 Whether bad men may doe that which is good Pag. 19 14 Questions of Gods kingdome Pag. 19. 20. 21 15 What we must iudge of wicked persons Pag. 26 16 mhether wee may pray thus My will bee done Pag. 26 17 What it is to do Gods wil why we pray so Pag. 27. 18 Whether it be enough to do Gods will Pag. 30 19 Whether God cōmāds things impossible Pag. 31 20 What it is that God willeth Pag. 31 21 Why we pray first for things corporall Pag. 35 22 Whether in the fourth petition we aske foode spirituall Pag. 37 23 Whether rich men may pray for daily bread Pag. 39 24 Of praying to be rich Pag. 43 25 Of laying vp for the time to come Pag. 44 26 How to get riches Pag. 45 27 Whether one at the houre of death may pray for dayly bread Pag. 49 28 Of praying only to God for forgiuenesse of sinnes Pag. 54 29 How sinnes are discharged Pag. 55 30 Whether we must cōfesse our sins to men Pag. 56 31 How we must confesse them Pag. 56 32 What is required in confession Pag. 56 33 Whether we must pray for forgiuenesse of sinnes which we do beleeue Pag. 58 34 Of praying for the wicked Pag. 59 35 Of praying for such as sinne against the holy Ghost Pag. 59 36 How that sinne is knowen Pag. 59 37 How sinne is a debt Pag. 60 38 Why we are forgiuen by Christ Pag. 62.
did in that he had a purs-bearer q Iohn 13.29 and commanded the broken meat to be kept r Ioh. 6.12 2 We are sent by Salomon to the pismire who prouideth in summer against winter Å¿ Prou. 6.6 3 He that prouideth not for his Family is worse then an infidel t 1. Tim. 5.6 4 Wee haue precepts of frugalitie and thriftinesse u 1. Tim. 6.18 5 We must get to doe good to others x Pro. 3.2 6 God hath giuen man foresight and prouidence a Deut. 8.11 7 The good huswife is commended in the Prouerbs who by labour and industrie enricheth her family b Pro. 31.13 Euch. Yet Christ saith Lay not vp treasure vpon Earth c Mat. 6.19 Phil. That is wee must not séeke it chiefly and so as to neglect to lay vp treasure in Heauen Euch. What rules must you obserue in getting riches Phil. 1 That I get them by honest labour d Gen. 3.19 2 That I put no trust in my riches e Pro. 11.28 3 That I spare not when I ought to spend them on others f Eccl. 11.1 4 I must not be a niggard to mine owne state and person g Eccl. 6.2 5 That they become not hurtfull vnto me b Ecles 5.12 6 That they may bee pledges to mee of Heauenly riches i Gen. 28.13.14 Euch. What is the vse of all this Phil. 1. It commendeth Christian care and prouidence k 1. Tim. 5.8 2 It warranteth the possession of riches l 1. Kin. 3.14 3 It condemneth niggardly Parsimonie m Pro. 11.24 4 It confuteth our swaggering Prodigals who with the prodigall sonne so consume their inheritance that at last they are brought to a morsell of bread n Luk 15.13 5 That each day I must depend on God o 1. Pet. 5.7 Daily Bread Euch. What do you mean by Daily bread Phil. I mean such bread as is fit to nourish the substance of my bodie and that I may be fed with food conuenient Euch. Why doe you pray for daily bread Phil. Because my body is daily decaying and so standeth in néed of daily repayring euen as the lampe stands in néed of oyle p 1. Tim. 5.23 2 Because no meate can be added to my substance vnlesse God daily giue a blessing vnto it which I may eate and not bée satisfied earne siluer and put it into a bottomlesse bagge q Hag. 1.6 3 To put mee in minde that I must not tempt God by neglecting of meanes r Deut. 6.16 as they doe who labour not in an honest calling Å¿ Pro. 10.5 and such as put an angelicall perfection in fasting or vowing to the Worlda voluntarie pouertie 4 To condemne such as make an Idoll of meanes and neuer craue a blessing from God vpon the meanes a Hab. 1.16 5 To distinguish it from that Heauenly food which in the Kingdome of God we shal once so tast on that we néed not either often to craue it or daily anew to receiue it 6 Because without it I may be hindred in the hallowing of Gods name aduancing his Kingdome and doing his will 7 Because all Creatures by the instinct of nature doe thus pray Psal 104.21 Euch. But may the want of this daily bread hinder vs in Gods Seruice Phil. Why not as well as it did Abraham whom famine draue into Egypt Gen. 12.7 The Israelites whom want of water caused to murmur against God Exod. 16. And the Disciples who forgetting to take bread with them vnderstood not that warning which Christ gaue them to beware of the leauen of the Scribes and Pharises Euch. How is bread said to bee our bread Our daily Bread and how doe we pray for it Phil. It is said to be ours 1 As we are in Christ 2 As we get it by honest labour and eat not the bread of violence Prouerbs 14.17.20.17 3 As it is fit for our place and calling 4 As we haue a proper title vnto it Euch. Why call you that ours which is Gods gift Phil. 1 To magnifie Gods gracious bountie who maketh that ours which is not due vnto vs 1. Tim. 6.7 Iob 1.21 2 Because God hath ordained it for our vse 3 As Christ is ours for the good of our soules 1. Cor. 1.30 so Gods Creatures are ours for the good of our bodies 4 It is ours because wee get it by our honest labour Gen. 3 19. Eccl. 11.6 Hab. 2.6 5 As it is sanctified vnto vs by the word and prayer 1. Tim. 4. Euch. What vse make you of this Phil. 1 That I must labour to bee in Christ b 2. Cor. 13.5 2 That I may so get riches that I may say they are mine c Gen. 33.11 3 That I may labour to maintaine my estate d Gen. 30.30 4 That communitie of goods is an Anabaptisticall fancie e Ios 13.7 5 That God would not haue all alike rich f Pro. 22.2 6 That I must impart my goods to the poore g Pro. 19.17 Euch. Do you thinke that a man being readie to die needes to make this prayer For I haue knowne some euen at the place of Execution haue refused to say it Phil. It was their error not knowing the meaning of this petition Euen at the houre of death we must pray thus 1 In regarde of our thankfulnes to God who hath fed vs all our life-long 2 In regarde of our present state that God doe not take from vs the comfort and strength of any of his creatures so long as wée liue 3 That God would continue this blessing to the suruiuing generation Euch. What wants do you heere bewaile Phil. 1 I bewaile mens great couetousnes 2 Their discontentment 3 Their idlenesse 4 Their vnfaithfulnesse 5 Their vnmercifulnesse in getting and kéeping of riches 6 Mine owne others vnthankfulnes for the portion which God hath allotted vnto vs. Euch. What things do you heere pray for Phil. 1 I pray héere for all meanes by which I and others may haue our daily bread as seasonable weather for the fruits of the earth sympathie of all creatures that the heauens may heare the earth the earth the corne and it vs. For godly Magistrates for the maintenance of peace and procuring of plentie For valiant souldiers to defend our land for painfull husbandmen tradesmen in all callings for prudent huswiues faithfull seruants and that euen our beasts may be strong to labor * Ps 1â—4 14 2 I pray for peace in all kingdomes plentie in our borders health in our bodies and that the staffe of bread be not taken from vs. 3 I pray for humilitie in acknowledging Gods good gifts and blessings to me contentednesse in our estates diligence in our callings faithfulnes in our dealings prouidence to get frugalitie to lay vp liberalitie to giue out magnificence in doing great works thankfulnesse for our goods ioy at the good of others and that God would
teacheth vs Deliuer vs from euill and as Paul did 2. Cor. 12.9 and 2. Chro. 20.12 Euch. What wants do you bewaile in this petition Phil. 1 The rebellion of our wicked nature by which wee resist the Spirit of God h Rom. 7.14 c. 2 Our readinesse in each little temptation to yeelde vp our selues to the committing of sinne i Luk. 22.45.46 3 That we cannot enough mourne for the remnants of our bondage by which we are kept in the power of Satan * Ro. 7.24 4 That so many fall by Satans temptation k Psal 119.136 5 That we cannot heere get mastery ouer our owne corruptions l 2. Cor. 12.8 6 That wee loue so this spirituall Sodom in which wee are subiect to and fal by temptation e Gen. 19.16 7 The tyranny of Satan our aduersary going about each way to subdue vs f Mat. 9.12 Euch. What things doe you heere pray against Phil. I pray 1 Against temptation as it may be a means to draw men from God and cause them to commit sinne g 2. Cor. 12.7.8 2 Against afflictions as they are punishments of sinne curses from God motiues to impatience or meanes to make mée to take Gods name in vaine h Pro. 30.9 3 Against desertion that God would not leaue me or if hee doe that hee would not leaue me ouer long by withdrawing from his former a second grace of the Spirit i Ps 119.8 4 Against all future relapse into sinne God hardening my heart blinding of my eyes 1. Tim. 1.20 backsliding from the truth either in part or in whole all sorts of iudgements temporall or eternall and what hurt soeuer may befall me either by prosperity or aduersity 5 In a word I pray against the assaults of Satan the enticements of the world the societie of the wicked and that corruption which may surprise me by mine owne flesh Euch. May not a man pray for temptations and afflictions Phil. Though both of them may be oftentimes good for vs yet because that good is an accidentall good and we know not how we shal beare tēptations if God send them therefore it is not meet to pray for them Therefore such as wish to bee poore that they might loue heauen better or blinde to meditate of heauen better or any way miserable that they might not loue this world to well they haue no great warrant out of Gods word To these we may adde such as pray for death and will not waite Gods leasure till he take them out of this world Euch. What doe you heere pray for Phil. I pray for grace so resist and perseuerance when I or any of the Church are tempted and that to this purpose we may put on the whole armour of God as the girdle of verity in soundnes of doctrine Eph. 6.16 the breast-plate of righteousnesse in integrity of life the shooes of preparation of the Gospell of peace which are to be worne by patience in afflictions the shield of faith to resist Satans assaults the helmet of saluation which is the life of eternitie and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God I pray also heere that all our afflictions may bee turned to our good that wisdome may bee giuen vs to preuent our persecutors that I and others may be patient in aduersitie humble in prosperity and that our sinnes may turne to our good by reuealing our corruption in being ready to fall discouering our vnability of our selues to stand detesting our nature so prone to impiety renouncing all confidence in our own strength and casting our selues vpon Gods power in temptation yea that by them we may sée satans malice in tempting vs and Gods great mercy in recouering vs and finally that being once recouered in temptation wee may pitty and comfort such as be tempted Euch. What things doe you giue thankes for Phil. That in the former things which I haue praied for God hath made me able so to resist and that neither Sathan nor the world nor my flesh hath so subdued me but that I am able to rise againe Euch. Which is the third part of this prayer Phil. The third part of the Lords praier For thine is the kingdome the power and the glory for euer and euer Which words are a reason of all the former by which we are moued to craue all the former blessings at the hands of our God Euch. Why doth Luke leaue out this clause Phil. Either because the Euangelists did not binde themselues to a precise forme of wordes or because this praier was vttered at two seueral times by Christ in a seuerall manner Vide Bezam in cap. 11. Lucae leauing out not only this clause but the third petition wholly the explanation of the sixt and changing some words which are in Matthew But we haue no warrant to doe the like as the vulgar Latin translation and the Rhemists do euen in the Gospel of Saint Matthew being bold to mangle the Lords Prayer as they are to leaue out the second Commandement Euch. Why is this conclusion added Phil. To teach 1 To pray vnto him who is able to heare vs a 1. Chro. 6.21 Ephes 3.20 2 To pray in faith to him that wil helpe vs b Iam. 1.6 3 To pray in feruencie as desirous to be holpen c Matth. 15.22 4 To pray in humilitie because all is of God d Psal 192.17 1. Chron. 29.14 5 To pray in thankfulnesse because all is from God e 1. Chron. 29.13 6 That in euery petition we must haue this conclusion in our mindes Euch. VVhy is it set after the last petition Phil. To confute Sathan in his greatest temptations He that he might withdraw vs from the Kingdome of God will perswade vs as hee would Christ that all power is his Matth. 4. but we that we may not yéeld to this his assault are here taught that the Kingdome is Gods Euch. VVhat doe you meane by these words thine is the Kingdome Phil. Euen that which Dauid meant when hee said 1. Chron. 29.12 Thine O Lord is greatnesse power and victorie and praise and all that is in Heauen and in Earth is thine thine is the Kingdome and thou excellest ouer all Euch. Why is the Kingdome said to bee Gods Phil. 1 Because hee made all f Gen. 1.1 2 Because he possesseth all g Psa 24.1 3 Because he commandeth all h Ps 114.7 4 Because he disposeth all i Dan. 4.31 32. Euch. What doe you learne out of this Phil. That I may with confidence pray vnto him because as Kings will prouide for the bodies and soules of al their subiects so God my King will prouide for me 2 That I must be gouerned by him as a subiect must by his owne Soueraigne 3 That no Superior power can doe me hurt vnlesse hee haue commission from aboue 4 That al Princes must giue account to this King and therfore
is spirituall and secret And as we haue feeling of Christ dwelling on our hearts so the more shall wee haue feeling of this blessed societie by which we haue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an vnion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fellowship and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 participation with whole Christ and his merits and meet altogether in the vnitie of faith and knowledge of the sonne of God vnto a perfect man and vnto the measure of the age of the fulnesse of Christ Ephes 4.13.5.30 But as in our separation from God by the spirit of Satan our mindes heart and wils were first seuered and then followed the whole man so the first thing in this coniunction which must be ioyned with God by his spirit is the vnderstanding by knowledge the heart by affiance the will by obedience after which will follow all the new man By the humanitie of Christ we are conioyned to him and by his Spirit he is ioyned to vs. Not either by an actuall falling of Christs flesh into ours or a naturall contiguitie or conexion of our persons or essentiall comixtion of his body with ours but by a copulation and connexion altogether spirituall felt by grace in this life and seene by glorie in the life to come when Christ and his Church before Gods iudgement seate shall appeare as one Christ. But Christ is in heauen and we vpon earth Send thy faith into heauen and hee in heauen is ioyned to thee heere vpon earth Thy sight in a moment can visiblie touch the starres of heauen much more may thy faith touch that morning starre and sunne of righteousnesse which is in heauen Say that the wife bee in England the husband in India the head aboue the feete below the branches on the top the roote in the ground the spring in one place the riuers in an other the foundation on the earth the building in the ayre is there not notwithstanding an vnion betwixt them Surely there is Christ is our husband the Church is his spouse Christ is our head ech Christian is a member Christ is the roote the righteous are branches Christ is the fountaine the Religious are riuers Christ is the foundation belieuers are Gods building Be hee neuer so high euen in the highest heauens we vpon earth are so ioyned vnto him that by vertue of this vnion our soules do receiue the life of grace in this world and our bodies shall receiue the life of glorie in the world to come Heere this coniunction appeares in the vnitie of spirit for in it there is neither a commixtion of persons nor an vnion of substances but a confederation of our affections and concatenation of our wils there it shall appeare in the consociation of our persons For wee shall enioy there a most holy and comfortable conuersation with Christ see him as he is conferre with him face to face and as in this sacrament as by a marriage ring wee are espoused to him heere so there wee shall be solemnly maried to him for euer And all this comes vnto vs because the word was made flesh not because that Flesh hath any such vertue in it selfe it is the spirit that quickneth the flesh profiteth nothing but in that it is caro verbi flesh vnited to the word to that word which is the fountaine of life quickning all things and causing the death of that flesh to obtaine for vs eternall life The flesh is not quickning in it selfe but in the word Hypostatically vnited vnto it saith Cyrill This word by personall vnion quickneth Christs humanitie and giueth it for our saluation merite and efficacie and by mysticall vnion quickneth Christian consciences and ioyneth them in loue and life vnto God so that now there is a mutuall giuing and receiuing betwixt Christ and his Church From Christ wee receiue first him selfe which the Father and their Spirit to become our portion Secondly Adoption to be actually made the children of God Thirdly a title and right to Christs righteousnesse in his sufferings and with all to his fulfilling of the whole law Lastly a right to the Kingdome of heauen which now is made the inheritance of the Saints And what doth he now receiue from vs surely drosse for gold euil for good shame for glorie sorrow for solace and a curse for this blessing For he receiues ftom vs first our sinnes with the punishment thereof made his by imputation and suertie-ship Secondly our afflictions which hee accounts his owne so long as we suffer for righteousnesse sake And this is our communion which we haue with Christ But because we are all members of one bodie and are all baptized into one Spirit and after do eate of one bread there is also a communion with all Christians one with an other Art thou a liuing saint vpon earth thou art in regard of minde of one iudgement in the grounds of pietie affection of one heart alike affected to God Christ Iesus and euery good Christian though thou wast neuer acquainted with them And in regard of the gifts of the spirit like a good candle thou wilt spend them al to the good of others be ready to serue thy brother in loue and both by example admonition exhortation consolation prayer to conuey all graces in thee to an other yea not to be wanting to him in communicating thy goods And for our communion with the dead they in heauen do pray generally for al vs and we on earth do desire our dissolution to be with them But that we may enioy this blessed societie we must walke in the light For if we say that we haue fellowship with him yet walke in darknesse we lie but if we walke in the light as hee is in the light then haue wee fellowship one with an other 1. Ioh. 1.7 that is God with vs we with God and godly people and the blood of Iesus Christ his Sonne purgeth vs from all sinne Thus then Christ in heauen by his spirit is so vnited to vs we on earth by our faith are so vnited to him that without him we can do nothing with him we are able to do al things Of his fulnesse we receiue grace for grace And as by the power of the sunne in the second heauen all things are made fruitfull heere vpon earth so by the power of Christ in the third heauen all men become sanctified in the Church yet not by the alone inward operation of his spirit without the outward vse of the word and sacraments By the word alone when the sacraments are not administred and both by word and sacraments when they are ioined together Is the word preached in it Christ speaketh by his spitit to vs. Are the sacraments administred by baptisme we are receiued in to the communion of Gods couenant and by the Eucharist wee are more confirmed in the same By the word God enters by one gate into vs namely by the eare by the Eucharist he knocks at al the gates
saith it is a Synecdoche so that both part agrée in this that it is the true and naturall bodie of Christ as the Euangelists and the Apostle doe plainly teach that it is spoken of the true bread and so that the Articles of faith bee kept on both sides in their plaine meaning pure and vncorrupt As that the naturall bodie of Christ is one is finite is humane is in Heauen doth no more die is not consumed not broken And yet indéed as the Scriptures teach is offered vnto all is communicated to all the faithfull but in a mysterie and after a Spirituall manner Euen as the faithfull themselues doe grow vp into one bodie and are incorporated with their head Christ and with the whole Catholike Church not after a Carnall but after a Spirituall manner And therefore as in the Sprituall and Mysticall fellowship with Christ and the Church wicked Hypocrites haue no part séeing they want faith but are only in the outward and Visible societie so I beléeue that those Hypocrites are Partakers not of the true and naturall and truly Heauenly flesh and bloud of Christ but only of the externall and outward signes the which also are termed by the name of the flesh and bloud of Christ euen by Christ-himselfe Wherefore wheras the Apostle saith They who eate vnworthily are guiltie of the bodie of the Lord if it bee vnderstood of the wicked which certainly and not without a cause Bucer denieth I interpret that in this sense wherein the same Apostle saith vnto the Hebrewes that some doe tread vnder foot the Son of God and account the bloud of the Testament a prophane thing to wit not because they doe truely eate the flesh of Christ and drinke the bloud but because they doe it vnworthily but rather because reiecting by their vngodlinesse the bodie and bloud the Bread and Wine being offered they drinke and eate the Bread and Wine vnworthily This thing good Christian assure thy selfe of that I am not so wicked as to doubt of the truth of Christs wordes in the Supper as some too impudently doe accuse me of neither that I dispute of the simple vnderstanding of euery word in this proposition This is my bodie For by this Article This that the Bread is declared besides that the text doth teach Paul also doth so interprete it 1. Cor. 10. 11. Neither this word is doth signifie any other thing as I thinke then to bee and I take this word bodie for the true bodie of Christ as Christ himselfe doth interpret who addeth which is giuen for you And therefore there is no controuersie among vs whether in the lawfull vse of the Supper the Bread bee truly the bodie of Christ but wee dispute only of the manner by which the Bread is the bodie of Christ And moreouer neither part call into question that the bread is after that manner the body of Christ after which Christ would then haue it will now haue it to be for it must be according to his will And whereas in the words of the Supper the wil of Christ is not expressed cōcerning the maner I think it is to be gathered out of the like places to wit Sacramentall kinde of spéeches Moreouer this foundation being laid that Christ then would not and now will not that the bread should bee his body after any of the manners of those men who take away the truth of his true humane body or else doe disagree from the analogy of faith and ouerturne some article of the faith from his simple meaning So the manner of Christs being in the Sacrament by Transubstantiation is excluded both because neither in the Sacrament of Baptisme the substance of the water is changed as also because straight way many bodies héere vpon earth should bee faigned vpon Christ besides that body which he hath in heauen and lastly because the substance of bread neither before neither after the conuersion was deliuered to death for vs I adde moreouer that according to Saint Marke the substance of wine was in the belly of the Apostles when he said This is the bloud The manner also of Consubstantiation is excluded both because neither in the water of Baptisme the bloud of Christ is locally included whereby we are washed from our sinnes as also because this maner doth take away the nature of the true humane body and doth Diametrically repugne with the article of the ascention into heauen and of the sitting at the right hand For the same causes that manner also is to be taken away which is not much vnlike vnto this which is imagined by a real and local adherency or coniunction not to speake that not one word can be read for the proofe of this that after some of these thrée manners Christ would haue the bread to be his body After what manner then is it probable that Christ would haue the bread to bee his body Verily after this manner as all other Sacraments are said to be that thing whereof they are Sacraments to wit by a Sacramental and so a Mystical vnion For that which we call a Sacrament the Grecians cal a Mystery Wherefore this spéech is vsuall with the Fathers that the bread is the body of Christ euen the present body and that it is eaten in a mystery Now a mystery is said to be when visible things doe lead vs to the true vnderstanding and receiuing of inuisible things and earthly things of heauenly things corporall things of spirituall things In which sense the Apostle to the Ephesians calleth the carnall marriage of Adam and Eue a great mystery because of the spiritual marriage which is contracted betweene Christ and his Church and to which that other marriage doth leade vs. But carnall men destitute of the spirit of God and of faith cannot be brought by earthly things vnto heauenly things or by the participation of those earthly vnto the communion of these heauenly seeing they cannot so much as vnderstand them as the Apostle saith Which is the cause why I iudge and beleeue that the flesh and bloud of Christ being heauenly and spirituall things cannot in deede and truth be receiued of wicked men no not by the mouth of their body which also was Bucers opinion Therefore hee said that the body of Christ was both present and eaten of vs in the Supper not after any worldly manner but onely after a spirituall and heauenly manner The which what is it else then to say that it is eaten of vs by the spirit of Christ For by Christ heauenly things are ioined vnto earthly things and by him they are receiued of them And this is my beleefe and iudgement for the meaning of the words of the Supper which I will constantly hold till that a better a truer and more agreeable to the Scriptures shall by other men bee offered and plainely prooued unto me Ille non edit corpus Christi qui non est de corpore Christi August He cannot eat the
1. Sam. 25.36.37 Gen. 27.9 12 Abstinence from marriage for some conuenient time after his death that so it may appeare shee truly loued him Luk. 2.37 Quest If God send you children what duties owe you to them Answ I am bound to performe these duties 1 To bring them vp in the feare of the Lord Gen. 18.19 Prou. 4.4 31.1 Psalm 78.4 Ephes 6.4 1. Chron. 28.9 and to loue them best who best loue God and me Gen. 25.28 37.3 2 To looke that they may liue in some calling Gen. 4.2 Prou. 10.4 3 To fit their callings according to their natures Gen. 4.2 4 To teach them such ciuill behauiour as sauors of pietie Prou. 4.24.25.26 5 To giue good example to them in each thing Leuit. 11.44 2. Kings 2.23 6 To teach them at the least to reade Reuelat 1.3 7 To correct them doing amisse Eccles 30.1 Prou. 22.15 19.18 29.15 1. King 1.6 8 To commend them when they do well Ephes 6.4 9 To apparell them rather comely then costly Eccles 11.4 10 To denie them in many things their willes Eccles 30.9.10.11 11 To leaue them all some fit portion of my goods and not to make one a gentleman and the rest beggers Gen. 25.5.6 Deut. 21.17 Luk. 15.12 but Eccles 33.18.19.20 hée must not giue them power ouer him whilest he liueth 12 In due time to looke to their marriage Eccles 7.25 13 And last of all to pray for them that they may feare God obey gouernors grow in grace and become citizens of heauen Genes 17.18 Psal 72.1 Iob. 15. Quest What duties are your children to performe to you and your wife Answ They ought 1 To obey vs in things lawfull Ephes 6.1.2 2 To reuerence vs as the authors of their being Eccles 3.1.2.3.4 7.27.28 Tob. 4.3.4 3 To acknowledge vs be wee neuer so poore Gen. 47.1.2 Prou. 19.26 4 To endure our corrections patiently Hebr. 12.9.10.11 though we haue imperfections to beare with them Gen. 9.22.23 5 To be content with our prouision for them Luk. 15.12 Philip. 4.11 6 To séeke al means by which they may please vs. Luk. 15.29 Gen. 26.25 7 To behaue themselues so as they may credit vs. Prou. 10.1 Gen. 34.30 27.46 8 To be sorrie when we be disgraced Eccles 3.11 9 To follow vs as well in the practise of pietie and godlinesse as in the inheritance of our goods and lands Ephes 5.1 10 Not to do attempt or enterprise any thing of weight or importance without our aduice consent or approbation but especially to stay till wee prouide for them in marriage Gen. 6.2 24.4 26.34 Now all these duties they shal practise the better if they will but consider the great care pains and charges we haue béen at in their education and bringing vp which they shal best know when God sends them children of their owne Quest If you be parents in law to children what duties must you performe to them Answ We must consider 1 That they are his or her children whom we haue made all one with our selues 2 That God by his prouidence hath committed them vnto vs. 3 That we shall not kéepe loue each to other vnlesse we haue care of such children 4 That all must pitie the parentlesse much more parents in law 5 That they haue lost their owne parents and therefore stand in néed especially of succour 6 That our children may bee in the like case and wee must doe by others as wee would haue others doe by ours 7 We shal get credit and comfort to our selues by performing all duty to them 8 We shall take away that great scandall which is giuen in the world by bad parents in law and therefore we must 1 Bring them vp in the feare of God 2 We must rather take heede of seuerity towards them then towards our owne children 3 We must bee carefull to increase that portion which is left vnto them by the will of their parents 4 We must not for our priuate gaine or against their consent bestowe them in mariage Quest What duties doe children in law owe to parents in Law Answ They owe in truth many but first they also must consider 1 That they wanting their owne parents stand in neede of some to gouerne them 2 That God and the consent of their suruiuing father or mother hath cast them vpon the tuition of such a parent 3 That by obedience to parents in law they shew what they would haue done to naturall parents 4 That if they please them in all things it may bee they may inherite their step-parents lands or goods 5 That by this they shal be a meanes to kéepe loue betwixt an husband and his wife 6 They shall giue good example to other such children to doe the like 7 That if they had such children they would not willingly be so dealt withall 8 That if such parents should vse them ill they themselues will complaine of them why then should not good step-fathers complaine of bad step-children And therefore they ought 1 To reuerence them as parents 2 To depend vpon them as gouernours 3 To be aduised by them as guardians 4 To bee carefull not to marry themselues till such time as they haue their approbation which if they do they dishonour God grieue their parents scandalize themselues make step-fathers negligent step-children neglected cause other such children and euen naturall children against natural parents to doe the like If any yet say I thriue after such a marriage I answere you may in goods perhaps not in goodnesse if in both it is because you haue repented or els doubtles you wil not thriue long Quest Now if to wife and children God send you seruants what duties do you owe to them Ans For my seruants I must be careful 1 That they be fit to doe such businesse as I keepe them for Gen. 41.38 Exod. 31.2 2 That I impose not too much vpon them Prou. 12.10 Exod. 1.14 3 That they neither play nor worke nor go on errands on the Lords day Exod. 20. 4 That they goe and come with me to and from the Church Iosh 24.15 5 That I examine them of such things as were taught Gen. 18.19 Psal 34.11 6 That I be not too familiar with them Prou. 29.21 7 That I in discretion correct them for their faults Eccles 33.23 Genes 16.6.1 Sam. 30.15 Let Marchants note this 8 That I teach them a trade and occupation and in teaching them send them not to such places of idolatry as by being there they may endanger their soules to procure my wealth Prou. 12.10 9 That I be not sorrie when they set vp but helpe them Eccles 7.20.21 and 33.29 and 34.23 10 That I teach them not to deale vniustly by mine example or commend them if they do so Prou. 21.6 2. Kings 5.26 11 That their diet and apparell be conuenient only such as I prouide for them Prou. 31.21.27 12 That I kéepe no more seruants than I can well
friend should haue of another in heauen within thrée houres after slept peaceably in the Lord. Luther sitting at supper and discoursing of the same argument about midnight after departed this life One Master Reade an Alderman of Norwich hauing read in the morning the chapter of Henockes taking vp in the Counsell chamber died suddenly at the table amongst his brethren And that wise Counseller the Lord of Buckhurst Earle of Dorset died suddenly at the Counsell Table in white Hall Mr. Flint a Preacher in London a man of great learning godly life and good report hauing procured the new building of his Church at which hee much reioiced fell downe from a scaffold on the top of that Church and so died In the commentaries of Iohn Holcot vpon the book of wisdom it is recorded of one who reading the fourth Chapter of the book of Wisdome was found dead in his studie with his finger pointing to the seuenth verse of that chapter Though the righteous be preuented by death yet shall he be at rest First where you shall reade these two verses Mors non est subita cui praecessit bona vita Nec minuit merita si moriatur ita If godly life do go before Through suddaine death our ioy is more 3 Know that if you liue wickedly sudden death is a fearefull iudgment for who then can bee perswaded of Gods fauour towards you and this makes the wicked of all kinds of death to pray to be deliuered from sudden death they would liue like Nabal but die like Dauid liue like the rich glutton and die like Lazarus they would die the death of the righteous but they would not liue the life of the righteous And therefore their Prayer is the prayer of Balaam Lord let mee die the death of the righteous and that my last end may bee like vnto his Numb 23. But if you liue euer in the feare of God it may bee an argument of Gods mercie to take you away vpon a short warning For so 1 You die without any great paine 2 You goe to God without any great trouble 3 You are not in danger of blaspheming God at your death 4 You will cause others to thinke well of your death because you liued a godly life 5 Many by your example will labour to prepare against such a kind of death 6 Your translation is like that of Henoch and Elias and of them that shall be aliue at the day of iudgment 1. Thess 4.17 Quest Is it lawfull to pray against a sudden death Answ The godly may and the wicked must pray against it The godly may 1 That as they haue honored God with their lips in their life so if it bee his good will they may doe it at their death 2 That because vpon the sudden few men haue their worldly estate fully setled they may haue time to order it 3 That they may not be a griefe to their friends that they are so soone taken from them 4 That they may escape the censure of the world which for the most part iudgeth hardly of this kind of death 5 That they may not die in such sort as diuers wicked men in the Scriptures haue died 6 Lest being ouertaken in some strange place they may so want the honour of Christian buriall and their friends not know what is become of them 2 The wicked must pray against it left so dying without repentance here there be no place left for them heereafter to repent in But I doubt whether God will heare their prayers For are not they worthy to want time of humiliation at their death who neglected saluation in their life The admonition of the wise man Eccl. 18.18 is very good Get thee righteousnesse before thou come to iudgement and vse Physicke before thou bee sicke Examine thy selfe before thou bee iudged and in the day of destruction thou shalt finde mercie Humble thy selfe before thou be sicke and whilest thou maiest yet sinne shew thy conuersion Quest Now since my soule must depart from my bodie ought I to take any great thought for my buriall Ans As the graue at your death is readie for you Iob. 17.1 so you also must haue care of it and your suruiuing friends must haue such respect to your dead body that it may be interred in a religious sort for 1 You are no Scythian that your dead bodie should be eaten at some feast nor Sabean that it should be cast on a dunghill nor Hyrcanian that it should bee deuoured by dogs nor Lothophagian that it should be cast into the sea nor Indian that it should be burned with fire but a Christian that it may be buried in the earth 2 Your dead body is a member of Christ 3 It was as well as the soule the temple of the holy Ghost 4 It was the ordinance of God that earth should return to his earth as the soule doth to him that gaue it Gen. 3. Eccles 7. 5 That Christ who redéemed your soule hath also paied a ransome for your bodie 6 It hath beene an instrument vsed by God to performe many seruices vnto him 7 It must rise againe out of the graue and in the day of iudgement bee made like vnto the glorious bodie of Christ Phil. 5.21 8 Religious and godly friends haue had this care to burie their dead so Abraham had to burie Sarah Ioseph to burie Iaakob Israel to burie Samuel Nichodemus to burie Christ and the Disciples to burie Iohn the Baptist and Steuen the first Martyr that suffered after Christ 9 It is one of Gods iudgements to want buriall Iere. 22.19 10 The Saints complaine for the want of it saying Psal 79.3 The dead bodies of thy seruants haue they giuen to bee meate vnto the fowles of heauen and the flesh of thy Saints vnto the beasts of the earth Their blood haue they shed like water round about Ierusalem and there was none to burie them 11 Ioseph gaue commandement concerning his bones Gen. 50. and Tobiah of his bodie Tob 14. 12 Many heathen people haue been very carefull of this dutie The Egyptians embalmed and so buried their dead and the Hebrewes made a law that no enemy should lie vnburied Quest What thinke you of the place of buriall Answ Abraham bought a field for the buriall of his dead Gen. 24. Christ was buried in a garden according to the custome of the Iewes Ioh. 20. The Turkes at this day burie none in their Cities and it was one of the lawes of the 12. Tables amongst the Romanes that none should be buried within thē walles Amongst Christians Churches and Church yards are appointed for the dead and to the end that the dead might not annoy the liuing it were well if Gouernours would be carefull to prouide larger places of buriall for this would be a meanes 1 To kéepe the City from contagion 2 That our dead bodies should not bee raked vp againe 3 To shew our care for the Saints departed 4 To take away the
they doe a Acts 14.21 1. Pet. 1. ◠purge vs let vs be content They are Gods fanne we are Gods wheat they are Gods boulter we are Gods meale they are Gods b Exod. 5. flame we are Gods bush they are Gods c Gen. 23.9 cords wee are Gods sacrifice they are Gods furnace we are Gods gold The wheat wil not be good without the fan nor the meale without the boulter nor the bush without the flame nor the sacrifice without the cords nor the gold without the furnace They are trials not punishments if we be sons punishments not trials if we be slaues Let vs thou beare them they d Ps 37.37 wil haue an end ioy e Ps 126.5 wil follow they f Isa 38.10 shew vs our weaknes g Hos 5.15 they moue vs to pray they h Luke 24.26 shew we are in the path-way to Heauen and i Eccl. 1.2 make vs contemne this present world By them k 2. Sam. 24.17 wee learne to repent vs of sinne past l Gen. 39.9 to take héede of sinne present and to for sée sinne to come By them we m Act 2.2 receiue Gods spirit n Phil. 3.10 are like to Christ are acquainted o Dā 3.17 with Gods power haue p Exod. 15.1 ioy in deliuerance know benefit of prosperitie made more hardie to suffer and q 1. Pet. 1. haue cause to practise many excellent vertues They cause vs as one saith to séeke out Gods promise the promise to séeke faith faith to séeke prayer and prayer to find God a Mat. 7.7 Séeke and yée shall finde b Iob. 22.27 call and hee will answere c Heb. 2.3 waite and hee will come I am to write an Epistle I must not be long Iobs d Iob. 2. messengers came not so fast on him but Iobs afflictions may come as fast vpon vs. Hath Dauid slaine e 1. Sam. 17.37 a Beare hee shall encounter with a Lion hath he killed a Lion f 1. Sam. 18.27 he must fight with Goliah hath he subdued Goliah he must make a rode vpon the Philistims are the Philistims conquered g 1. Sam. 21. Saul will assault him Remember Dauids troubles and foresée what may be our troubles The more rigteous we are the more manifold are our troubles and the better wee are the better we may endure them But as our troubles are many so are our deliuerances many God will deliuer vs out of all He that deliuered h Gen. 7. Noah from the floud i Gen. 19. Lot from Sodom k Gen. 33. Iacob from Esau l Gen. 41.54 Ioseph from Potiphar m Exod. 9. Moses from Pharaoh n Exod. 12. Israel from Egypt o 1. Sā 19. Dauid from Saul p 1. Kin. 21 Eliah from Achab q 2. Kin. 6. Elisha from the Syrians r 2. Kin. 5. Naaman from his leprosie ſ Isay 38. Hezechiah from the plague t Dan. 3. the thrée Children from the fire u Dan. 6. Daniel from the Lions x Mat. 6. Ioseph from Herod the Apostles y Acts 5. from the Iewes z Mat. 4. and Christ from the Deuill he euen hee will either deliuer vs from trouble or comfort vs in trouble or mitigate troubles when they come vpon vs. He c Rō 4.21 he hath promised to doe it and he that hath promised is able to doe it And this he doth sometimes by no means sometimes by small meanes sometimes by ordinarie meanes sometimes by extraordinarie sometimes contrarie to all meanes By no d Ioh. 5.9 meanes hee cured a Créeple at Bethesda by e Ioh. 6.12 small meanes he fed fiue thousand in the Desert by f Mat. 4.7 ordinarie meanes hee was brought from the Pinacle by meanes extraordinary he was prouided for in hunger g Mat. 4.11 and contrarie to all meanes were the h Dan. 5. thrée Children preserued in the furnace of fire Let man therefore i 1. Sam. 30.9 comfort himselfe in the Lord k Hos 6.2 after two daies hee will reuiue vs and the third day hee will raise vs vp againe l Psa 30.5 Heauinesse may endure for a night but ioy wil come in the morning m Psalm 58.11 Doubtlesse there is a reward for the righteous verily n Mic. 7.8 God retaineth not his wrath for euer Could hee ouercome the World and can he not ouercome many troubles in the World Yea let one plague follow another as one Quaile sings to another yet as the o Act. 28.3 Viper leaped on Pauls hand and forthwith leaped off againe so one trouble shall leape vpon the righteous and anon leape off againe p Ps 37.24 though he fal he shall rise againe the righteous shall not be forsaken for euer If he hath deliuered vs from the guilt of our sinnes he will deliuer vs from the punishment of our sinnes Let vs therefore be patient in trouble constant in hope rooted in loue let vs wait and he will come call and he will heare beléeue and he will performe repent vs of our euill committed against him and he wil repent of his euils intended against vs. He is ouer vs by his prouidence about vs by his Angels in vs by his spirit with vs by his word vnder vs by his power and vpon vs by his Son In him is our help from him is our comfort by him is our victorie and for him is our trouble a Psal 25. In thée haue I trusted saith a King b Iob. 5. who euer was confounded that trusted in the Lord said a friend and as Elcanah was to c 1. Sam. 1.18 Hannah in stead of many sons so God is to his instead of many comforters Of other comforters we may say as Iob did of his friends d Iob 16.2 Silly comforters are you al. They wil leaue vs as mise do a ruinous house but the Lord like a e Ruth 1.16 Ruth to Naomi will neuer leaue vs nor forsake vs. Especially in the houre of death f Eccl. 41.1 which is in remembrance bitter to great men in that houre of death he will be with vs and command his g Luke 16.26 Angels to take charge of our soules the h Isa 57.2 earth to be as a bed for our bodies that so the one i Luke 23. may go into glorie the other reserued in hope of like glorie k Phil. 3.20 and bee made one day like vnto the glorious body of Christ Iesus Thus Christian Readers you haue séene the righteous in afflictions as l Psal 137. Israel was in Babylon and that the Lord like m Zac. 4.6 Zorababel is readie to deliuer them Though in troubles Christ séemes as in the n Mat. 8.40 ship to sléepe yet in deliuerance hee awakes as a man out of sléepe and as a Giant refreshed with wine He will rebuke the waues
a true and liuely faith to apprehend and applie all the promises of saluation to my sinfull soule and to this purpose illuminate mine vnderstanding confirme my memorie purifie my conscience inlarge mine heart rectifie my will order al the members of my body and so sanctifie me throughout that my whole bodie soule and spirit may be kept blamelesse till the glorious appearance of my Sauiour Christ Grant me I beséech thée knowledge of thy truth faith in thy promises feare of thy Maiestie zeale of thy glorie obedience to thy statutes faithfulnesse in my calling patience in troubles hungring after righteousnesse and a tender affection towards all my brethren Grant me I beséech thée the gift of Regeneration to become thy childe of faith to beléeue thy promises of obedience to doe thy will of prayer to séeke thy presence of comfort to endure thy trials and of strength to continue thy seruant to my liues end Grant me again and grant it I intreate thée the sauing knowledge of thy word let it bee in my minde by vnderstanding memorie by remembring thought by meditating heart by affecting tongue by speaking and mine actions by performing it to my dying day Mine heart O Lord is deceitfull let mée watch ouer it my will is vnwilling to all goodnesse let it run the way to thy commandements Many behold my life conuersation let it I beséech thée be ordered aright To this end teach mee to sanctifie thy name aduance thy kingdome doe thy will Thou hast placed me in a calling make me painfull in it that thereby from thée I may haue my daily bread If I haue it kéepe me from pride if not kéepe me from despaire And forgiue mee the abuse of all thy good blessings And howsoeuer I must néeds liue in this world yet let me vse it as though I vsed it not let my conuersation be in heauen mine eyes on thy presence my trust in thy prouidence my delight in thy word and the communion of Saints Make me thinke often of heauen that I may loue it of hel that I may feare it of death that I may exspect it of iudgement that I may escape it and of the vanitie of this present world that thereby I may learne to contemne it I liue by thy prouidence a life of nature I desire by thy spirit to liue the life of grace put on this desire O my God by thy spirit and draw me from good desires to delights from delights to actions from actions to continuance in dooing that which is good And because Satan the aduersarie of thine elect goeth about as a roring lion séeking whom he may deuoure let mee not be ignorant of all his enterprises Make mee wise to foresée his stratagems vigilant to beware his pitfals circumspect to preuent his practises couragious to resist his temptations and constant to ouercome his suggestions He is strong be thou stronger in me he is wise be thou wiser for me hee is watchfull be thou more watchfull about mee hee is malitious bee thou mercifull vnto me Let him neuer finde me idle for then he will allure nor carelesse for then he will surprise nor sinning for then hee will subdue O Iesu be thou Iesus vnto me saue me O Lord from this enemie of mine that this Dragon neuer infect mee with his poyson this Serpent neuer kill mee with his sting this Lion neuer teare mee with his teeth and this aduersarie neuer haue power to ouerthrow me O Christ bee thou Christ vnto mee and anoint mee so with the oile of thy Spirit that of thy fulnesse I may bee filled with grace euen that grace which may further my saluation By it I acknowledge my misery by it let mee féele thy mercie giue mee by it a broken heart a contrite spirit a sorrowfull soule an humble minde a liuely faith that by humbling my selfe I may bee lifted vp by thée and by beléeuing thy promises I may come vnto thée and that as by the one I may mourne for my sinnes so by the other I may beléeue they are pardoned I durst not bee so bold as craue this thy fauour but that I am incouraged by confidence of thy mercie Doe the simple beg wisdome thou giuest it doe the afflicted beg deliuerance thou grantest it doth he that is troubled with his sinnes come vnto thée thou séest him a farre off thou embracest him in thine armes receiuest him into thy grace againe Thou commandest why should I not obey thou promisest why should I not beléeue thou hearest why should I not speake I speake vnto thée in the language of Canaan kéepe not silence at these my prayers Thou O my Sauiour hast died for my sinnes let the power of thy death make me die vnto sin especially to my beloued sins and such as I can hardly get the mastery of Thou O Lord Christ art risen from the dead let the power of thy resurrection make mee to rise vnto newnesse of life And that which is impossible to flesh and blood make it possible by the vertue of thy blood Thou hast redéemed me suffer me not to be in sinnes captiuitie thou hast triumphed ouer Satan for me suffer mee not to be vnder his tyrannie Thou hast couered mee with the robes of righteousnesse teach mee to cast off the rags of iniquitie Thou hast washed me and I am cleane kéepe me that I return not with the swine to my wallow Thou hast begun thy good work in me performe the worke that thou hast begun and strengthen mee in the workes which I doe haue or shall take in hand Kéepe mée good Lord in my old age forsake mee not when I am gray-headed And when it shall please thée to cast me vpon my sicke bed as what man liueth who shall not sée death grant that I may take my sicknesse patiently and at the last gaspe let not either sinne or Satan take such hold vpon me that I depart this life with crying and scrichings and words of despaire but that beleeuing thy word and yéelding to thine ordinance my last houre may bee my best houre and I may say with the Psalmist Lord into thine hands I commend my spirit for thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of truth Thus I still crie vnto thée for mercie because my sins crie against mee for iustice Preserue me O Lord for I trust in thée and let me in all things see that I am preserued by thee let me see it in the health of my body the peace of my conscience the gifts of my minde the credit of my name the works of my calling and vpon all such as are neere and deare vnto me Thou hast beene good vnto me in times past O that I could depend vpon thee for the time to come Thou hast by thy mercie kept mee from grosse sinnes cleanse mee I pray thée from my secret sinnes especially such as put forth their heads when I am but a little moued Am I prouoked stay mine anger is my enemy
a loathing of the vanities of this present euill world Call to my remembrance all those things which I haue heard or read or felt or meditated of to strengthen mee in this houre of triall that I who haue beene negligent in teaching others by my life may now teach them how to die and to beare patiently the like visitation Lord grant that my last houre may bee my best houre my last thoughts the best thoughts and my last words the best words that euer I did speak so that with my swéet Sauiour I may then say Father into thine hands I commend my spirit or with old Simeon say Lord now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace according to thy word Take away from mee in that houre all terror of conscience all scriching and howling all sottishnesse and senslesnesse which doth often accompany the wicked at their ends and since thou hast lent mee for a while my life grant that I may willingly restore it again when thou callest for it to heauen Let not the graue make me afraid because it is perfumed by the buriall of Christ and made as a bed for my body to rest in against that day in which thou shall clothe mee againe with mine owne flesh and make it like to the glorious bodie of Christ when he will say vnto mee Come thou blessed of my Father inherite the Kingdome which was prepared for thee before the foundations of the world were laid Lord I thanke thée for all thy mercies in the time of my health and in this of sicknesse especially that thou hast taught mee out of thy word which also by thy Spirit I beleeue that howsoeuer I am by nature mortall yet by grace thou hast made me immortall and that I am translated from death to life I thanke thée O Lord for all the good meanes of health offred to me in this visiâ—ation of mine as my Christian friends their holy prayers and godly comforts for the meanes of Physicke and all other fauours which I now taste of in this sicke bed of mine which thou hast denied vnto many of thy seruants and déere children who haue deserued thy fauour more then my selfe I thanke thée also that as I haue liued in a Christian Church so if I die I shall die in thy Church and be buried in the sepulchres of thy seruants who all waite for the consolation of Israel and the Redemption of their bodies in the Resurrection of the iust Blesse all good meanes vnto mee so farre sorth as it may be for thy glory and my good and as I haue euer praied Thy wil be done so now let me not be offended that thy will is done Teach me that all things euen both sicknesse and death turn to the best to them that loue thee teach me to see my happinesse through troubles that euery paine is a preuention to the godly of the paines of hell and that this light affliction which is but for a moment causeth vnto vs a farre most excellent and eternall weight of glorie Teach mee againe by thy holy Spirit that there is none hurt by going to heauen that I shall lose nothing but the sense of euill and that anon I shall haue greater ioyes then I feele paine O death where is thy sting O hell where is thy victorie I thanke thee O Lord who hast giuen me victorie by Iesus Christ in the confidence of this conquest I come vnto thée am assured that if I liue I shall liue vnto thée and if I die I shall die vnto thée I desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ for he vnto me is both in life and in death aduantage I shall by death put off corruption and put on incorruption shake off sinne and be couered with righteousnesse cast off mortalitie and be attired with immortalitie I shall lose my life in earth and finde it againe in heauen Thou my Father Christ my brother the Saints my kinred happinesse mine inheritance are in heauen alreadie why should I feare to go thither whither all the godlie dead are gone before me and all the faithful liuing shall follow after mee Why art thou troubled O my soule and why art thou so disquieted within mee Lord I know I cannot escape death why should I feare it my chiefest happinesse is behind and I cannot haue it vnlesse I go vnto it I could be content to go thorow hell to heauen O make me to go through death to heauen My paines I confesse O Lord are great but since I trauell to bring forth eternitie make me patient to endure all paines I sée my sins make mee now to sée my Redeemer I feare the Iudge perswade me that his Sonne is become my intercessor Satan would affright me I hope thine Angels pitch their tents about me the graue will gape on me out of thy word I know it was the bed of my Sauiour What though I leaue many aliue behind me yet they shall all follow after if I get mine inheritance before my brethren I must bee more thankfull to my father for it Grant therefore most mercifull God that if I liue I may liue to sacrifice and if I die I may die a sacrifice I am thy seruant and the sonne of thine handmaiden do with me what thou wilt Blesse O Lord the suruiuing generation make them wise to saluation to number their daies a right and to applie their hearts to wisedome And though thou kill mee yet let me now trust in thée Grant this O Lord for thy Sonnes sake in whom alone thou art well pleased for my comforts sake which by this means shall bee encreased and for the beholders sakes who shall sée mine end that they all may say Grant that wee may die as this our brother did so that our ends may be like vnto his and our soâ—les follow his Amen Euen so come Lord Iesus come quickly and the Grace of our Lord Iesus Christ the loue of God the Father and the comfort of the holy Ghost bee with mee now and for euer more Amen Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord. Reuelat. 14. The eye hath not seene the eare hath not heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man to conceiue the good things which God hath prepared for them that loue him 1. Corinth 2. We know that if this earthly house of this Tabernacle bee destroyed wee haue a building giuen of God that is an house not made with hands but eternall in the Heauens 2. Cor. 5.1 Farewell my friends but you shall follow for it is appointed that all must die A THANKES GIVING AFTER DELIVERANCE from any crosse or sicknesse O Eternall God almightie and most mercifull Father the life of them that die the health of them that are sick and the only recouerer of them that are cast downe I thy late sick and sorrowfull seruant doe with bended knées and a thankfull hart prostrate my selfe before thée at this time and doe thankefully acknowledge