should not say with the wicked in the 12. Psalme Who is Lord ouer vs Euch. But haue not other Princes their Kingdomes Phil. Yes they haue and in them doe rule and for conscience sake must euer bée obeyed yet they rule by and in and through this King k Pro. 1.15 Dan. 2.37 Reuel 10. Euch. From whom haue they this authoritie Phil. From Christ as hee is the second person in the Trinitie not as hee is Mediator betwixt God and Man For so his Kingdome being spirituall he hath no Vicar vpon Earth And herein is the true difference betwixt the Supremacie of Princes and the Popes Supremacie Euch. How many properties are there of this Kingdome Phil. Thrée it is a powerful Kingdome Thine is power a glorious Kingdome Thine is glorie and an euerlasting Kingdome it is For euer and euer Euch. Why are these three properties added Phil. That when we pray for or against any thing in the former Petitions we may bee strengthened in the hope of obtaining them by the consideration of the Power Glorie and Eternitie of Gods Kingdome Euch. Why is power attributed to the Kingdome of God Phil. 1 To distinguish it from the Kingdomes of the World in which many Princes are heads of people but haue not power to subdue their enemies l 2. Sam. 3.39 2 To teach vs to giue all power vnto God m Ps 39.1 3 That we must submit our selues vnto him n 1. Pet. 5.6 4 That he being a powerfull King we may in faith pray vnto him o 2. Chron. 20.12 Euch. How great is the power of God Phil. See my booke life euerlasting of Gods prouidence It is not only of it owne nature in it self and of it selfe but also in respect of the obiect vpon which it can worke and effects which it can produce and of the action by which it can and doth worke both infinite and vnmeasurable p Dā 4.31 Euch. Can it be communicated to any creature Phil. No not to the humanitie of Christ for whatsoeuer is omnipotent is God Euch. Why doth Christ say all power is giuen vnto me q Mat. 28.18 Phil. 1 He speaketh of that power which we call Authoritie not of that which is called Omnipotencie 2 He saith not all power is giuen to my humanitie but to Mee God and Man 3 If it be meant of the humanitie by this power is to bée vnderstood as much as the Creature is capable of 4 In that Word the humanitie may bee said to be Omnipotent as the Word is said to suffer not in it selfe but in the flesh Euch. What doe you meane by Thine is the glorie Phil. 1 That God hath made all things for his glorie r Pro. 16.4 2 Whatsoeuer we aske they are meanes of thy glorie ſ Ioh. 12.28 3 The things which we aske shall be referred to thy glorie t 1. Cor. 10.31 And therefore O Lord grant these things vnto vs because thy glorie is most deare to thy selfe which will be also performed of vs if we sanctifie thy name aduance thy Kingdome doe thy will haue our daily bread the forgiuenesse of our sinnes and bee able to resist all euill temptations Euch. VVhat is the third propertie of Christs Kingdome Phil. For euer and euer Which is an excellent inducement to strengthen vs in praying Euch. Why is Gods Kingdome Power and glorie said to be euerlasting Phil. 1 Because in themselues they are euerlasting u Psal 45.6.102.28.145.13 2 Of vs they should neuer bee forgotten x Psal 145 2.3 3 To distinguish it from Earthly Dominions all which haue their periods both in Gouernment and Gouernours Psalme 119.96 Isay 40.6 4 To shew forth the dignitie both of Gods Church and Gods Children who haue a Father whose Kingdome is euerlasting and are such Sonnes as shall Raigne with their Father euerlastingly Euch. To what purpose are all these arguments added heere Phil. Not to perswade God who knoweth our wants before we aske y Mat. 6.32 but to perswade vs that hee who is a King of such Power Glorie and Eternitie will heare our Prayers and grant our requests Euch. VVhy is this word the added to Kingdome Power and glorie Phil. To shew 1 the generalitie of them all in God who is an vniuersall King Psal 47.2 2 Gods superioritie Psal 72.11 All Kings shall worshippe him all Nations shall serue him He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords Reuel 19. Euch. VVhy is there made mention only of these three properties of God Phil. As some thinke to point out the thrée Persons for the Kingdome is Christs 1. Co. 15.35 Power the Holy Ghosts Rom. 15.13.19 and Glorie the Fathers Rom. 6.4 that wee setting our selues in Christs Kingdome that is his Church by the power of the Holy Ghost may be partakers of that glorie which God the Father hath prepared for vs. Euch. What vse doe you make of this conclusion Phil. 1 That in our Prayers wee euer debase our selues and ascribe all glorie to this King of Kings z Ps 115.2 2 In our Prayers to bee euer perswaded of the power of God that hee can helpe vs and the promise of God that hee will helpe vs. 2. Cor. 1.20 3 That Prayer and giuing of thankes must goe together because this is a Doxologie giuen to God 1 Pet. 5.10.11 4 Whatsoeuer we aske we must in purpose before and practise after referre the same to Gods glorie For the Alpha of this Prayer is Hallowed bee thy name and the Omega is Thine is the glorie 5 That all Gouernours must remember that they hold all in capite vnder this head a Pro. 8.15 6 That if we be able to doe any thing all that power commeth from God b Iam. 1.17 Euch. What is the last part of this Petition Phil. The fourth part of the LORDS Prayer The seale thereof in the Word Amen Euch. Why is this word kept in all languages vntranslated Phil. 1 To teach that the Synagogue of the children of Israel and all Nations are but one mysticall bodie and the same wee are taught by Abba Father Rom. 8.20 Galat 4.7 2 That we hauing the same prayer that the Iewes had why not then the same seale You shall finde the first Petition Psal 57.6.67.2 the second Psal 106.4.5 the third Psal 143.10 the fourth Psal 145.15 the fifth Psal 65.3 the sixth Psal 119.37.143.1 and Psal 25.20 ūuch How is this word Amen taken in the Scriptures Phil. Thrée manner of wayes sometime as a Nowne signifying Christ himselfe Reuelation 1. These things saith Amen Sometimes as an Aduerbe as Iohn 3. Amen Amen that is Verily verily I say vnto you And sometimes as a Verbe as in this place signifying So be it or it shall be so Euch. How shall I finde it placed in the Scriptures Before and after a sentence before Iohn 3.4.6.33.16.23 to expresse the truth of that which followeth it and after Psal 87.50 to signifie
36 Obiect that friends forsake answered Pag. 146 37 Obiect that want solemne buriall answered Pag. 147 38 Of our reconciliation to man in sicknesse Pag. 147 39 VVhy we ought to haue a will in readines Pag. 148 40 How we ought to make our will Pag. 149 41 Whom we may make our executors Pag. 149 42 Who is our best friend in our sicknesse Pag. 150 43 What speeches we must vse to our friends that visit vs. Pag. 151 44 Comforts against the feare of death Pag. 151 45 Comforts against the feare of Gods anger Pag. 157 46 Comforts against the feare of desperation Pag. 159 47 Comforts against the feare of Satan Pag. 162 48 Comforts against the commission of sinne Pag. 164 49 Comforts against the greatnesse of our sinnes Pag. 167 50 Comforts against the multitude of sinnes Pag. 169 51 Comforts against our imperfect obedience Pag. 171 52 What thoughts wee must haue at the houre of death Pag. 175 53 Of speech at that time Pag. 176 54 Of sudden death Pag. 180 55 Whether we may pray against it Pag. 183 56 Why wee must take thought for our bury all Pag. 184 57 Of the place of buryall Pag. 186 58 Of keeping cleane Church-yards Pag. 187 58 Of Monuments Pag. 187 60 Of mourning Pag. 189 61 Of mourning apparell Pag. 191 62 Of Funerall Sermons Pag. 192 63 That Christs death is often to be thought on Pag. 194 64 What his passion is Pag. 195 65 What moued Christ to suffer Pag. 196 66 When his suffering beganne Pag. 196 67 What hee suffered before his apprehension Pag. 197 68 Why was his soule troubled Pag. 197 69 What it was that crucified Christ Pag. 200 70 Why he was crucified at Easter Pag. 201 71 Why he died on the Crosse Pag. 202 72 Who haue profit by Christs death Pag. 203 73 How it is meritorious Pag. 204 74 A meditation of Christs death Pag. 205 75 Whether we must follow Christ in his Crosse Pag. 208 76 Of the vertue of Christs resurrection Pag. 209 77 Of the deceitfulnesse of the world Pag. 212 78 Of eternall glorie Pag. 215 79 What we shall enioy in heauen Pag. 216 80 How we shall come vnto heauen Pag. 217 81 VVhat the obiect of life eternall is Pag. 217 82 For whom it is prepared Pag. 218 83 That our bodies shall rise Pag. 219 84 The qualities of our bodies after the resurrection Pag. 223 85 How our bodies shall be spirituall Pag. 224 86 VVhether they shall bee perfect without the least imperfection Pag. 224 87 The qualities of the soule after death Pag. 225 88 Sweet meditations of the Fathers concerning the ioyes of heauen Pag. 226 89 Of the torments of hell Pag. 231 A consolatorie Epistle against all crosses Pag. 239 An heauenly meditation in Verse Pag. 249 A prayer for morning or euening Pag. 251 A morning prayer Pag. 266 An euening prayer Pag. 277 A prayer to bee said alone or with companie changing I into we Pag. 289 A thanks-giuing for our Gunne-powder deliuerance Pag. 335 A prayer for a sick man Pag. 298 A thanks-giuing after deliuerance from sicknesse Pag. 307 A prayer to be said by a sick man Pag. 313 A thanks-giuing after the death of any Pag. 319 A prayer for a woman in trauaile Pag. 323 A thanks-giuing after her safe deliuerance Pag. 326 A prayer before the Communion Pag. 329 A thanks-giuing after Pag. 332 Graces Pag. 341 FINIS CHRISTS PRAYER EXPOVNDED The Speakers Euchedidascalus A Teacher of Prayer Phileuches A Louer of Prayer Euch. PHileuches amongst many Sermons which I haue preached vnto you you haue heard me expound the Lords prayer are you bound to giue account of that you haue heard Phil. Sir doubtlesse I am for the Apostle Peter teacheth me that I must be alwaies readie to giue an answere to euery one that asketh me a reason of the hope that is in me with meekenesse and reuerence a 1. Pet. 3.15 Euch. Repeate then the Lords Prayer Phil. Our Father which art in heauen hallowed be thy name thy kingdome come thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen Giue vs this day our daily bread and forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs and lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill for thine is the Kingdome the power and the glory for euer and euer Amen Euch. Why is this prayer called the Lords Prayer Phil. 1 Because Christ Iesus our Lord set downe the same b Mat. 6.9 2 Because we cannot pray vnlesse Christ teach vs c Luc. 11.1 Rom. 8.26 3 To make vs estéeme it in that it was giuen by our Lord. 4 To distinguish it from the prayers of others Euch. Why did Christ teach his Church this prayer Phil. 1 To put vs in minde of our miserie that vnlesse God giue it we can haue no good thing * Iam. 1.17 2 Of his mercy who giues if we aske 3 To comfort vs that we may be so bold as to aske 4 To instruct vs in what manner we should aske 5 To assure vs that we comming to the Father in his Sonnes owne words he will heare vs for his Sonnes sake 6 To teach vs by this short summe what we may lawfully aske at the hands of God and that other things we should not aske * Matth. 20 7 That Christ might not be inferior to Iohn who taught his disciples to pray 8 To teach Ministers Parents Tutors and Masters to doe the like to their children and people 9 To shew that God is not like the great Monarches of the earth to whom we may not come vnlesse Ahashuerosh-like he hold out his golden Scepter Ester 4. 10 That God vouchsafeth all this his honour that they may come vnto him Euch. Is there any vertue in these verie words of this prayer Phil. There is no such vertue as that by the bare repetition of it we can bind God to grant our requests or that we should neuer pray in other words but as the ten Commandements containe all things to be done of vs the Créed all things to be beléeued by vs so the Lords Praier doth comprehend all things to be asked by vs of Almighty God Euch. Is it necessarie euer to repeat all this prayer Phil. It is surely a good conclusion for our ordinarie course of praying both publikely and priuately because those things which wee cannot at such times craue or giue thanks for in particular are all contained in this platforme but that euery petition should euer bee vsed it is not necessarie Euch. How then may you repeate it with comfort Phil. Surely as Luther teacheth me to repeate the ten Commandements and the Articles of my faith in my prayers Euch. How is that Phil. To obserue the present necessity As for example Do I sée the prophanation of Gods name and contempt of his word I must then say O heauenly father maintaine I pray thee the glorie of thine owne name and suffer
Cor. 5.20 11 The Vice-gerents are Gouernors l Esa 49.25 12 It is exercised vpon the conscience of man m Rom. 14 17. Euch. How is the Kingdome of God said to come Phil. 1 When it is erected where it was not before n Psal 28. 2 When it is encreased where it was o Ps 99.2 3 When it is repaired from former decaies p Mat. 21.5 4 When it is perfected and fully accomplished q Reu. 22.20 And this argueth Gods great fauour towards vs that though hee will not giue his glorie to another Isay 42.8 yet hee will communicate his Kingdome to vs. Euch. What must wee doe that this Kingdome may come Phil. Saint Iohn the Baptist bids vs repent Matth. 3. and prepare a way for the Lord. Christ saith except a man bee borne againe he cannot enter into the Kingdome of God Ioh. 3. and as the Israelites did not raigne in Canaan till their Enemies were cast out so Christ cannot raigne in vs till sinne be cast out Ishmael and Izak must not abide in one house Euch. Who then may pray thus Phil. Only the godly for they get good both by the Kingdome of grace and of glorie but as for the wicked woe vnto them Amos 5.18 Reuel 6.16.2 Thess 1.8 Euch. Yet mee thinkes wee should rather come to it then pray that it should come to vs Phil. True yet such is our corruption that wee loue Egypt more then Canaan and their are so many stumbling blockes in our way that it must come to vs we cannot naturally goe to it till God send his Angels to gather out of his Kingdome all things that offend Matth. 13.41 Euch. What are the wants you doe heere bewaile Phil. 1 I bewaile mine owne and others bondage vnto sinne that the best of vs doe but weakly yéeld to Christs Scepter 2 I bewaile the want of the word and Sacraments by the which this Kingdome is erected in mens hearts 3 I bewaile that there bee so many hinderers of this Kingdome as namely the flesh to infect the World to allure the Diuell to seduce Antichrist to withdraw the Turke to withstand and the wicked to trouble men that should bee Subiects of this Kindome Euch. What doe you pray for in this petition Phil. 1 For godly Magistrates that they may erect establish and repaire this Kingdome 2 For godly Ministers that by Life and Doctrine they may bring many Subiects to this Kingdome 3 That both Magistrates and Ministers may bée preserued for the good of this Kingdome 4 That by politike Lawes and powerfull Preaching abuses may bee reformed and they without conuerted to liue in this Kingdome consisting in righteousnesse peace and ioy in the Holy Ghost Rō 14.17 5 That in mine and many others hearts this Kingdome may be erected that we may grow in grace and in the sauing knowledge of Christ Iesus 6 That both by the houre of death and by the comming of Christ to Iudgement this Kingdome in me and all Gods chosen may be accomplished That Sathan being trodden vnder our féete and the power of death destroyed God may bee all in all 1. Cor. 15.28 Euch. What doe you heere pray against Phil. I pray against all thinges that doe or may hinder this Kingdome as want of Gouernours bloudie Lawes toleration of Idolatrie idle idoll and euill Ministers false and erroneous Doctrine infidelitie impenitencie all raigning sinnes both in me and others and lastly against all wicked both men and Angels or whatsoeuer may hinder the Kingdome of Christ Euch. What doe you giue thankes for Phil. I giue thankes for all godly Gouernours good Lawes painfull Preachers sound Doctrine and that measure of grace which is bestowed on mee and many others and that God suffereth not Sathan to take away gouernment to enact euill Lawes to set vp euill Ministers but that both I and others liuing in the Church may yéelde obedience to Christs Scepter and doe grow vp in the graces of Gods Spirit Euch. Which is the third Petition Phil. Thy will bee done in Earth as it is in Heauen Euch. Why doth this follow Thy Kingdome come Phil. To teach mee first to trie my selfe and secondly to iudge of others whether as yet wee bee in the state of grace or not for as many as truely bee in Gods Kingdome cannot but immediately doe Gods will for obedience to Gods will is an effectuall signe that the Kingdome of God is in vs a 1. Ioh. 1.3 Againe as the felicitie of worldly Kingdomes standeth in obedience to Princes so doth it in the Kingdome of God Christ Matth. 6.31 bids vs not only to séeke Gods Kingdome but with all the righteousnesse of it And not euery one that saith Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdome of God but such as doe his will Matth. 7.21 It comes not by wishing but by doeing this is the doore to come into it Euch. But what if you see that men doe not Gods will may you say that such are not in the state of grace Phil. That such persons as yet are not in the state of grace I may say for as fire is knowne by heate the Sunne by light a trée by fruit so is faith knowne by workes Shew mee thy faith by thy workes saith Saint Iames. Cap. 2.18 Yet must I leaue such to God and pray for their conuersion in their due time Euch. What must you iudge of an hypocrite who seemeth to doe Gods will b 1. Chrō 28.11 Phil. I must iudge of such a one that he is in the state of grace till such time as hee manifest his hypocrisie for that sinne being inward except it be by speciall reuelation is onely knowne to God and I must iudge of each trée by the fruites c Mat. 7.20 Euch. May you not pray thus My wil be done Phil. In no case For 1. I must pray for thinges good for mée but alas it is not good for me to haue my will 2 I cannot by nature conceiue much lesse will that which is good 1. Cor. 2.14 Gen. 6.5.8.21 Gal. 5.17 3 In praying thus I might haue that giuen me which would be my destruction as Quailes were to the children of Israel 4 If I will any good thing it is all from the good will of God Philip. 2.13 5 I may often by the corruption of my will both desire that which God wil not as Israel did to returne into Aegypt and bee vnwilling to that which God willeth as the people were that Saul should be King Euch. What doe you here meane by Gods will Phil. Gods will being simple of it selfe in regard of vs is either secret or reuealed d Deut. 29.29 his secret wil is knowne only to him selfe as who are elect who reprobates and when the day of iudgement shall bee his reuealed will is set downe in the Booke of God e The same verse and in such workes as daily God doth discouer to man Euch. What is it to doe
of my sinnes shall not cause mee to despaire yet when I looke vpon the multitude of those sinnes which I haue committed against God I feele my selfe in a wofull estate comfort me I pray you in this temptation Answ Doe the number of your sinnes now disquiet you yet comfort your soule with these meditations There is no man liuing which sinneth not The iust man falleth seuen times a day Who can tell how oft hee offendeth Psal 19. The Apostle and excellent man cried out I am Carnall and sold vnder sinne Rom. 7. The good that I would doe I doe not and the euill which I would not that doe I. The flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit lusteth against the flesh Galathians 5.17 Yet for all this hee trusted in the mercies of God as others did being perswaded that his imperfections were not imputed to him but couered with the righteousnesse of Christ And this the same Paul testifieth in that he saith Now there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus Rom. 8.1 And what is the reason that wee daily pray Forgiue vs our debts but that wee sinne daily Yea though the bloud of Christ were but once shed yet by it is he an eternall Mediatour satisfying the iustice of God for sinnes past present and to come He is not like vnto many in this World who hauing once remitted some trespasse wil remit no more or paied a debt wil pay no more but as Esaus father had many blessings so God our father hath many mercies If wee fall a thousand times he will at our repentance recouer vs a thousand times He doth not forgiue vs till seuen times but till seuentie times seuen times Larga Dei bonitas totum non dimidiabit Aut nihil aut totum te lachrymante dabit The bountie large of God will not diuide the whole He either al or nothing giues vnto the weeping soule Quest Truth it is as you say that God will forgiue my manifold sinnes but mine heart tels me that Gods law requires perfect obedience and this alas I cannot performe what comfort can you giue me now that mine obedience is imperfect Answ Why the obedience of the best is both perfect imperfect perfect in Christ imperfect in vs imperfect in this life perfect in the life to come perfect by imputation imperfect by sanctification perfect in parts imperfect in degrée that is the whole bodie and soule of a Christian are in euery part sanctified but yet both of them in all their parts and faculties grow vp to a greater measure of sanctification A child so soon as it is borne is a perfect man because it hath al the parts of a man and this is a perfection of parts it is not perfect in regard of that growth it may haue in strength and vnderstanding and that is the perfection of degrées We are babes in Christ and so perfect Christians at the beginning of sanctification we must grow vp to be tall men that we may be perfectly perfect in our glorification It is Gods mercie towards vs that wee cannot come to perfection in this life the dregs of corruption will neuer whilest wee liue be drawne out the tares of vngodlines will neuer quite be pulled vp the chaffe of iniquitie wil neuer be cleane remoued from the wheate and the rags of the old Adam will neuer cleane be put off and that as I take it for these reasons 1 That we might giue al glorie to God 2 That wee might euer depend vpon God 3 That knowing our owne weaknesse we should not presume too much on our own strength 4 That by recouering our selues aftâ—â— falling wee might haue experience and patience in Gods fauour 5 That wee might worke out our saluation with feare and trembling 6 That with Paul we might learne that the grace of God is sufficient for vs. 7 That wee might be the more whetted on to an increase of faith and confidence in Christ 8 That we might with greater earnestnesse call vpon God in all our feares 9 That with more contention we should run the race set before vs. 10 That wee should know that it is grace not nature by which we stand 11 That receiuing many foyles our selues we might better comfort and pitie others that fall 12 That wee might the rather with the Apostle desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ Know therefore that it is good for you that you are not perfect you would bee proud of it if you were the holiest men could neuer attaine it the most holy God doth not require it If you haue truth in the inward parts and desire to please God without hypocrisie labour to grow in the graces of Gods spirit God your father will make more of you by reason of your imperfections as a good mother doth of that childe that is diseased or lamed It is pride that makes men dreame of perfection in this life and they that thinke to goe to heauen this way must goe alone for none can follow them Let vs not glorie of our perfection but let vs glorie in our Redemption The Church is a companie of sinners saued by Christ of sicke persons cured by Christ of Israelites dwelling among the Cananites of malefactors crying with that holy théefe Lord remember mee when thou commest into thy kingdome and of Publicans casting themselues down and saying Lord be mercifull vnto me a sinner The Church is but the Moone and some times so eclipsed that she is but a litle lightened by the Sunne God indeede as a good Physitian prescribes vnto vs a perfect diet but wee like vnto disordered Patients tast of that which causeth a relapse and then we must come to the Physitian againe and like a skilfull Physitian God out of our falls doth make a preseruatiue to kéepe vs from falling Quest By this that you haue said I shall as I hope receiue much comfort if God cast mee vpon my sick bed yet because after death coÌ„meth iudgement how shall I bee able to perswade my selfe in death that I may with ioy looke vpon my Iudge Answ Consider that you are in Christ and there is no condemnation to them that are in him it is God that hath iustified you who shall condemne you it is your Father that shall iudge you why do you feare him be then of good comfort he wil say vnto you Come thou blessed of my father inherit the kingdome prepared for thée before the foundations of the world were laid Quest If I lay all these comforts to mine heart in health what benefit shall come to me at my death Answ You shall shew your selfe an excellent scholler in the schoole of wisedome and that you haue not spent your time ill who haue thus learned to die well For hée hath last his whole time who knowes not how to end it Hee liueth ill saith Seneca who knoweth not to die well neither is he borne in vaine who deceaseth in peace We must
and others pride of heart that wee labour more for our owne credit then Gods glorie f Luk. 18.11 2 Our hardnes of heart that we cannot as wee ought sée Gods glorie in his Creatures g Mar 6.52 3 Our vnthankfulnesse that we praise him not as we ought for his many fauours towards Mankind aboue all Creatures h Psal 51 15 4 Our impietie that in our liues wee dishonour God i Psal 119.136 Euch. What then doe you pray for in this petition Phil. I pray that God by mee and all men whether Magistrates Ministers or people may in feare and dread be glorified in the reuerend speaking of his name holy meditation of his properties diligent hearing of his word often receiuing of the Sacrament patient bearing of the crosse and daily admiring of his workes And in a word that wee may know in minde acknowledge in heart loue in truth speake with tongue doe in our actions both naturall ciuil and religious all such things as God may be glorified by All Nations must praise God Psal 117. and all must pray that not only they but also all others may thus praise him at all times Psal 113. in all places without intermission and that by their good workes they may stirre vp others to glorifie God Matth. 5.2 1. Pet. 2.12 Euch. What doe you pray against Phil. I pray against all ignorance error vanitie of minde Infidelitie Prophanesse Atheisme Worldlinesse Securitie Pride and all blasphemous spéeches false dealing scoffing Idolatrie Superstition Sorcerie Sacriledge Simonie Periurie Persecution Impenitencie Vnreuerend vsing of Gods Word Sacraments or workes and in a word against all such disorder in mans life as may any way obscure the glorie of God Euch. VVhat doe you heere giue God thankes for Phil. That it hath pleased him to glorifie his great Name in all the former and hath giuen mee and many others grace of his méere mercie to glorifie his Name in that which before I prayed for as also that he hath bestowed vpon vs the benefit of saÌ„ctification by the word of truth Ioh. 17. and the perfection of sanctification in the life to come Coloss 1.12 If thus wee desire to honour God wee loose not by it he in the end will honour vs. 1. Sam. 2.30 2. Thess 1.12 Euch. Why doe you vse in this and other petitions this order First to bewaile Secondly to pray for Thirdly to pray against And lastly to giue thankes Phil. Because confession petition deprecation and thankesgiuing being the speciall parts of Prayer 1. Tim. 2.1 I must vnderstand them all to bee in euery Petition of this absolute forme of Prayer Euch. Which is the second petition Phil. Thy Kingdom come Thy Kingdome come Euch. Why doth it next follow Hallowed be thy name Phil. 1. Because it is the first meanes by which Gods name is hallowed 2 Because next to the hallowing of his Name we ought chiefly to pray that Gods Kingdome may come k Mat. 6.31 Euch. Why is it set before Thy will beâ— done Phil. Because no man can euer do Gods will in any thing till such time as Gods Kingdome be erected in his heart Euch. How proue you this Phil. By these reasons 1 Because no man can doe Gods will that is not Gods subiect l Ioh. 1.24 2 No man can kéepe Gods Law but by Gods grace m Psal 119 32. 3 Because without faith wee cannot please God n Heb. 11.6 4 Because The end of the Commandement is Loue out of a pure heart good conscience and faith vnfained o 1. Tim. 1.5 Euch. But may not a bad man doe that which is good Phil. Hee may doe that which is good in it selfe but because he is out of Christ p Ioh. 15.5 or being in Christ doth it to a bad end it shall not bée good to him q 1. Cor. 13.3 So to giue almes is a good thing but if our persons be not iustified before God and this action bee not to the glorie of God it will neuer proue good to vs. Euch. Why doe you pray that Gods Kingdome may come Phil. Because if my Father raigne I his Sonne raigne in him and his dignitie is a dignitie to me And I pray for it as the first of the good thinges which concerne our selues because in order and nature it is the first Matth. 6.31 Philip. 3.9 Euch. How many sorts of Kingdomes are there Phil. Thrée The Kingdome of Sathan the Kingdomes of men and the Kingdome of God r Eph. 6.12 Euch. What is â—he Kingdome of Sathan Phil. It is that tyranicall regencie by which as the Prince of darknesse hee by Gods iust permission ruleth in the Children of darknesse and rageth against the Children of light 2. Cor. 4.4 Reuel 12.3 Erecting vp two other Kingdomes the one of sinne Rom. 6.12.5.21 the other of death Rom. 5.14 all which are Enemies to this Kingdome we pray for Sathan ruling ouer all the children of pride Iob. 41.34 and teaching them to say wee will not haue this man to rule ouer vs Luk. 19.14 Euch. What is the Kingdome of Man Phil. It is the humane gouernment by which one or diuers doe by Gods ordinance command their people Euch. What is the Kingdome of God Phil. It is that spirituall rule which God through Christ doth by grace begin in vs in this life and by glorie will accomplish in the life to come * Dan. 2.37 Matth. 25.37.6.31 RoÌ„ 14.17 Euch. Is the Kingdome of God manifolde Phil. It is thréefold 1. The Kingdome of Power Psal 99.1.2 The Kingdome of Grace Matth. 3.2.3 The Kingdome of Glorie Luk. 23.42 By the first hee ruleth Sathan and all his Enemies Psal 2.9.145 13. commands all Creatures and preserueth his owne people By the second he ruleth the godly and raignes in their heartes by the Word and Spirit Luk. 17.20 By the third hee crowneth the godly with celestiall happinesse So then the first Kingdome is externall the second internal the third eternall the first is a gouernment of all the second of the elect the third of the departed out of this life into Heauen Euch. How many thinges may we obserue in this Kingdome Phil. Twelue 1 That Christ is King a Mat. 2.2 2 The Subiects are Christians b Psal 2.8 3 The Lawes are the Word c Psal 119.105 4 The Enemies are Sathan Sinne Death Hell Damnation the Flesh and the Wicked d Eph. 6.12 Rom. 6.12 1. Cor. 15.51 Rom. 8.1 Gal. 5.17 Gen. 3.15 5 The rewardes are the good thinges of this life and eternall happinesse in the life to come e Mar. 10.30 6 The Chastisements are afflictions f Heb. 12.6 7 The weapons are Faith Hope Loue the Word and Prayer g Eph. 6.16 8 The time of it is to the Worlds end h Mat. 28.20 9 The place is this World and the World to come i Reuel 5.10 Mat. 25.34 10 The Officers are Preachers k 2.
will of God 2 That with a spéedie resolution a willing minde chearefull heart and constant purpose wee may euer doe that which wee are commanded Which wee cannot doe vnlesse as by his preuenting grace he giueth vs both will and power so with his following grace hee accomplish his worke begunne in vs. Euch. What thinges doe you pray against in this Petition Phil. I pray against all impietie towards God vnrighteousnesse towards man and disobedience in my selfe In a word against all rebellious withstanding Gods reuealed will vnfaithfulnesse in mens calling all discontented murmuring at Gods doings and all either backwardnesse or wearinesse in the Seruice of God and lastly against all hypocrisie which is contrarie to an honest and a sincere heart Euch. What thinges doe you here thanke God for Phil. 1 Here I blesse God for mine own and others conuersion 2 For our obedience to Gods will 3 For our patience in all trials 4 That with some chearefulnesse wee may serue God 5 That our seruice is not full of hypocrisie and that prophanesse vnrighteousnesse disobedience rebellion vnthankfulnesse murmuring discontentment backwardnesse wearinesse and Hypocrisie are so mortified in vs that in some weake measure we desire to please God Euch. Why are these three Petitions set in the first place Phil. Because when we doe begin to aduance Gods glorie set vp Gods Kingdome and doe Gods will then our daily bread the forgiuenesse of sinnes and all o-other blessings will be giuen vnto vs. As on the contrarie if we dishonour God hinder his Kingdome and doe our owne wills we cannot looke for any blessing of this or a better life for godlinesse only hath a promise of this life and the life to come 1. Tim. 6.6 Euch. Hauing spoken thus much of the three first Petitions we are now come to the latter three How doe you diuide those three last Petitions Phil. One of them is for thinges concerning mans bodie the other two are concerning his soule Euch. But why are you heere taught to pray for thinges corporall and after to pray for things spirituall doth not this crosse that commandement of Christ Seeke first the Kingdome of God Matth. 6.32 Phil. No it doth not but by this order I am taught first to sée the corruption of mans nature which ought in the first place to séeke thinges spirituall but because wee liue rather by sense then by faith wee doe principally desire thinges corporall Secondly I am taught Christs mercie vnto man in that by this order he descendeth to our infirmitie who rather depend vpon him for the pardon of our sinnes then wee can trust him for our prouision in this life which argueth that wee are of little faith Mat. 9.5 Thirdly I am taught by this to depend vpon him for the forgiuenesse of my sinnes for when I sée that hée is héere so carefull for my bodie hée will doubtlesse be more carefull to prouide for my soule Rom. 8.32 Euch. What vse can you make of this order Phil. 1 That I must principally séeke the good of my soule which will bring all goodnesse and goods to my bodie a Mar. 10. Psal 4.6 2 That I must haue care also of my bodie for the preseruation whereof God hath prouided food apparell physicke and other meanes b 1. Tim 5.23 3 That from the blessings on my body I must ascend by degrées to bee perswaded for my soule that hee who is so prouident for the one will bee much more prouident for the other c Eccles 11.30.31 4 I must aknowledge mine owne corruption that I am so carefull for Earthly things d Matth. 6. 5 I sée that I may vse Gods Creatures in that he will haue me to pray for them e 1. Cor. 10.26 6 I must acknowledge the mercy of God to mee in that hee yéeldeth so much to mine infirmitie as to permit mee to aske these corporall thinges before such as are Spirituall and of greatest good for the saluation of my soule f Pro. 30.8 Euch. Which is the fourth petition and the first of the three latter Phil. Giue vs this day our daily bread Giue vs this day our daily bread Vide Sixti Senensis Biblioth and M. Finch his Theology Euch. Doe you not by bread here vnderstand Christ Iesus the foode of the soule Phil. Indéed many ancient Fathers and some of our English Protestant writers haue so vnderstood this petition and I am bound to pray that God will euer giue me this Bread Iohn 6.34 But I am taught that this Bread is not ment héere Euch. But man consisting of body and soule must we not pray that both may bee fed with their daily bread Phil. We must and doe in this praier but not in this petition When I pray that Gods kingdome may come then I pray for the foode of my soule héere when I pray for daily bread I pray for necessaries belonging to my body Euch. By what reasons are you taught the contrary Phil. 1 Because I pray for such things in the second petition going before 2 Because temporall things being to be prayed for they can haue no fitter place to be desired then in this 3 Seeing this praier is a rule of all our praiers we must in some one petition craue things temporal of God euen as Agur did Prou. 30.8 and Iacob Gen. 28.20 4 Many ancient and the most new writers thinke so Euch What then doe you meane by Bread Phil. I meane properly that kind of sustenance which we call Bakers bread but figuratiuely all things which are or may be for the good of my body and this naturall life as strength by nourishment health by Physicke warmth by apparell sufficiencie by labour and the blessing of God in the vse of all these and such like 2. King 6.22 Iohn 13.18 Euch. Why doe you aske all these things vnder the name of bread Phil. 1 Because bread is absolutely necessary for mans life a Psa 104.15 2 To teach vs frugality in vsing Gods creatures b Ioh. 6.12 3 To make vs content with whatsouer God sendeth c Phi. 4.11 4 To make vs thankefull if God giue more then bread d Psa 23.5 5 Because in ancient times bread was mans most ordinary food as appeareth Ge. 18.5 Psal 104.15 Mark 8.4 Euch. Why do you pray that God would giue bread Phil. To teach me that all riches whether of inheritance or by gift pains trades office seruice wit marriage or any other meanes are the gift of God who onely giueth man power to get riches Deut 8.18 Euch. What vse make you of this that riches are Gods gift Phil. These vses I ought to make 1 To acknowledge that all that I haue commeth from God and not by my selfe or any other e Pro. 10.27 2 That I must not be proud of them because I haue receiued them f Ro. 11.20 3 To admire Gods fauour who hath made me rich and others poore g 1.
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
our desire to obtaine or doe that which wee haue prayed for Vpon his Amen Iohn 16.23 we ground ours Euch. What then doth this word Amen import at the end of this Petition and euery Prayer Phil. More a great deale then many thinke for it is as much as if we should say thus Wee haue begged many thinges at thy hand and wee doe desire thee to heare and are perswaded thou wilt heare all our requests Euch. What are wee taught by this seale Amen Phil. We are taught 1 That we pray not in hypocrisie to God but â—s perswaded that God is both faithfull and true to grant our requests being able and willing to doe it Esay 49.7.8 Rom. 4.21 1. Thes 5.24 able as our King willing as our Father and faithfull in all 1. Iohn 1.9 to forgiue sinnes 1. Cor. 10. to deliuer from temptation 2. Thess 3. to kéepe vs from all euill 2 To desire earnestly that we pray for 3 To be perswaded that we shal receiue it though infidelity be mixed with our faith 4 Not to vse this word Amen so vnaduisedly as wee doe but to know what it is to which we say Amen least by ignorance we seale a curse to our selues and others 5 That Latine Gréeke and Hebrew wordes may bee vsed Manie of like sort are in Daniel and the Gospels as Golgotha 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eli Eli Lammasabachthani c. when they grow so common that other people of a Nation doe vnderstand them for héere is the Hebrew word Amen vsed in Gréeke Latine and English 6 It calleth to our mind that vndoubted promise of our Sauiour Christ Iohn 16.23 confirmed by an oath Verily verily or Amen Amen I say vnto you whatsoeuer yee shall aske my Father in my name shall bee giuen vnto you 7 That by this seale of our consent wee confesse that whatsoeuer wee can pray for is contained in the former petitions 8 That it is our earnest desire that God would giue vs all thinges which wee haue prayed for So that this word Amen is a seale both of our faith to beléeue those things to bee true and loue that wee desire the accomplishment of them Euch. For people to say Amen at the end of prayers is it a practise of any antiquitie Phil. Yea verily it was vsed of the Church before Christ as appeareth Deut. 27.15 Ezra 8.6 Nehem. 5.13 Psal 89.52 1. Chron. 16.33 Psal 106.48 and of the Church after Christ 1. Cor. 14.16 For which cause it is the seale of all the Epistles and of the Booke of the Reuelation Euch. How may I say Amen with comfort Phil. 1 If you pray in the spirit with an earnest desire Psal 62.8.42.1.63.1 2 If you know the thing bee true you pray for that is agréeable to Gods will 1. Cor. 14.25 Iohn 4.23 But how can they know this who pray in an vnknowne tongue or know not the thing for which they pray Matth. 20.22 or not to a good end Iames 4.3 3 If you haue confidence to bee heard Psal 145.18 Iames 1.6 if your suit be either expedient or that God will giue you not your desire yet that which shall be best for you 4 You must say Amen to euerie petition as well to Hallowed bee thy name as thy Kingdome come 5 You must say Amen to the conclusion of the Prayer For thine is c. that is as well in your thankes giuing for benefits receiued as in your supplication which you make to receiue God will not haue Hosannah without Halleluiah If we thus say Amen to him he will become Amen to vs. Euch. What now haue you to say of all that hath beene taught you Phil. No more but this that I and manie others are bounden excéedingly to Almightie God that wee liue in such a Kingdome where our children are so taught in the trade of their wayes that when they are olde they may follow it And thou O Lord to whom Kingdome Power and Glorie belongeth kéep the Scepter of thy Gospell long amongst vs that the children to be borne may feare thy Name Amen CERTAINE QVESTIONS AND ANSVVERS CONCERNING some circumstances in praying wherein especially the lawfulnesse of set and read Prayer is prooued taken out of part of a Treatise of prayer written by M. H. H. a godly Preacher of this Citie and drawne into this forme of a Dialogue by mutuall conference Euch. I haue now receiued instruction from you coÌ„cerning the Lords Prayer but because I am bounden to Prayer alwaies what must I doe to pray aright Phil. Looke to your selfe First before Secondly in Thirdly after you haue done praying Euch What must I doe before I pray Phil. You ought First to repent Isay 1.15 Iohn 9.31 1. Iohn 3.22 repent I say euen of your past and last sinnes committed against God Daniel 9.56 Ezra 9.6 c. 2. Be reconciled to your Brother Matth. 23. Marke 11.25 3. You must bee prepared as one that knowes hee is to speake to God Euch. Wherein doth this preparation consist Phil. 1 In the emptying of the minde from Worldly thoughts 2 In the consideration of things to be asked 3 In lifting vp of the heart to the Word Psal 25.1 4 In an heartie reuerence of Gods Maiestie Eccles 5.1 Isay 29.13 Euch. What then must I doe in praying Phil. Your Prayer must proceed First from a sense of your wants 2 From an earnest desire of grace which you want 3 From a true faith 4 It must bee grounded vpon Gods Word and promise 5 It must be made to God alone 6 In the name of Christ 7 In it you must perseuer 8 To Prayer ioyne euer giuing of thankes Euch. And what must I doe after Prayer is ended Phil. First beléeue that whatsoeuer you haue asked if it bee fit for you you shall receiue Mark 11.24 Secondly practise that which you haue prayed for and vse all lawfull meanes to obtaine it Euch. Which is thought the fittest gesture in praying Phil. In prayer both publique and priuate vse such a gesture as may expresse the inward humilitie of your heart and your vnfained reuerence of Gods Maiestie Not forgetting in publique Prayer to conforme your selfe to the laudable custome of that Church in which you are Remember that you speake vnto God and you will carrie your selfe with greater reuerence then if you were before the greatest King Euch. But what shall we thinke of set and stinted Prayer whether priuate in Christian Families or publique vsed in the Church of God Phil. You doe well indéede to propound this question for manie are of opinion that all such kinde of praying is vnlawfull and will neither practise it themselues nor bee present where it is vsed Euch. Can the lawfulnesse hereof bee proued Phil. Yes verily 1 from Gods ordinance 2 Christs 3 From the prescript of the Prophets 4 The iniunction of godly Kings and Magistrates 5 From the practise of the Church and men indued with the spirit of God yea Christs owne practise 6 From
Heart cannot comprehend it because it must Comprehend the heart and this wee shall more fully perceiue by how much wee doe more Faithfully beléeue Firmely expect and Ardently desire God saith the said Father hath prepared that for them that loue him which cannot be Apprehended by faith Attained to by hope or obtained by charitie it transcendeth our desires and wishes it may be Obtained it cannot be valued Quest Yet that I may get such a glimpse of that glorie begin with mine estate after I am dead what shall I enioy in the Kingdome of Heauen Ans You shall be carried to the Bosome of Abraham the Celestiall Paradise the House of your Father the new Holy and durable Ierusalem you shall then enter into your Masters Ioy you shal haue an Inheritance immortall vndefiled which withereth not reserued in the Heauens you shall Rest from your labours haue Peace from your Enemies and behold the Glorie of God in Christ Iesus in which place shall bee such and so many ioyes as all the Arithmeticians in the World are not able to number them all the Geometricians are not able to weigh them all the Grammarians Rhetoricians and Logicians are not able to expresse them in fit termes There shall bee ioy aboue vs for the Vision of God about vs for the vision of the Angels beneath vs for the vision of the Heauens and within vs for the vision of Happinesse There Salomons wisdome shall be reputed but folly Absaloms beautie but deformitie Azaels swiftnesse but slownesse Sampsons strength but weaknesse Methusalaes long age but infancie and the Kingdome of Augustus Caesar but beggerie Quest By what meanes shall I obtaine this happinesse Answ By Gods mercie that giueth it by Christs Merit that bought it by the Gospell that offereth it by Faith that receiueth it and by the Spirit that sealeth it vnto your soule Quest What is the obiect of it Ans The Vision knowledge and comprehension of God in Christ We shal indéed behold the Angels and enioy their companie sée the Saints and haue their societie But as the ioy of a Courtier is in the presence of his Prince so the ioy of a Christian shall be in the presence of his Christ Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God Matthew 5.8 Blessed are they that dwell in thine house for they shall euer praise thee Psal 8.4 We shall see him as he is 1. Ioh. 3.3 The Angels doe this in the Kingdome of Heauen and wee shall doe it in the same Kingdome Here we liue by faith there we shall liue by sight Quest Is this felicitie prepared for all Answ For all that beleeue it is prepared The Elect haue obtained it the rest are hardened Rom. 11.7 In euery Nation hee that feareth God and worketh righteousnesse is accepted of him Acts 10. There is neither Iew nor Gentile Grecian or Barbarian Male or Female Bond or Free but wee are all one in Christ Iesus Gal. 3.27 Quest Shall my bodie only or my soule only or both bodie and soule enioy this felicitie Answ Both bodie and soule your soule shal be sanctified throughout and your body made like vnto the glorious bodie of Christ Iesus Phil. 3.20 Quest Shall this very bodie of mine rise againe to life after death Answ It shall assuredly for 1 The Lord keepeth all the bones of his Saints that not one of them shall be broken Psal 34.21 and there shall not an haire of our head perish Luke 21.18 2 Euery one shall receiue in his bodie that which he hath done be it good or euill 2. Cor. 5.10 3 God hath consecrated this bodie of yours to be a Temple for the holie Ghost to dwell in 1. Cor. 3.16 4 This corruptible shall put on incorruption saith the Apostle 1. Cor. 15. This saith he pointing as with the finger at the same substance and could not speake more expresly vnlesse hee should haue taken his owne skinne with his owne hands as Tertullian well obserued 5 Christ rose againe in his owne bodie and you shall rise as he did 6 In this bodie you haue suffered for Christ liued for Christ and in it you shall reigne with Christ 7 You shall be happie but how happie if one part should perish saith Tertullian in his booke of the Resurrection of the flesh 8 I am sure saith Iob that my Redéemer liueth though after my skin wormes destroy this bodie yet shall I sée God in my flesh whom I my selfe shall sée and mine eyes shall behold and none other for mee though my reines are now consumed within me Iob. 19.25 Quest O that you could teach me this by some such comparisons as might confirme my faith concerning this doctrine for there are many Sadduces in the world at this day who denie the resurrection of the bodie Answ Indéed I remember that Gregorie in his Morals hath a like saying of some in his time There are saith he a number of people who considering that the soule is dissolued from the bodie that the bodie is turned into rottennesse that rottennesse returneth to dust and that this dust is resolued into the first elements cannot see how that by reason there should be any resurrection and beholding drie and dead bones mistrust that they shall not againe bee clothed with their flesh and so reuiue Such men though they cannot by faith beleeue as they ought the bodies resurrection yet let them be perswaded by this naturall reason What I pray then doth the whole world but imitate our resurrection daily in her elements For wee see daily that trees in winter want both leaues and fruit and behold suddenly in the spring time out of a drie tree as it were by a new resurrection leaues bud out fruits ripen and the whole tree is apparelled with her reuiued beautie Let them behold the dead kernell set into the earth how a tree sprouteth out of it and let them deuise if they can where that great tree was in so small a seede Where was the bodie where the barke where the branches where the greene leaues where that plentie of fruit Do they not perceiue that all these were in the kernell or seede before it was cast into the ground Why then should they wonder how a little dust resolued into elements should when God will become a liuing bodie againe seeing that so small a seed comming first out of a tree should by the power of God become an huge tree againe For as the tree is in the kernell so are our bodies in the glorified bodie of Christ In the man Christ saith Cassiodorus is the flesh of euery one of vs yea our very blood and a portion of vs. Therefore I beleeue that where my portion reigneth there shall I reigne where mine owne blood ruleth there do I perceiue that I shall rule where my flesh is glorified there know I that I shall be glorious And why then shall it séeme strange vnto you that God is able to raise your body againe
spared not the Angels that had sinned but cast them downe into hell and deliuered them into chaines of darknesse to be kept vnto damnation Matth. 22.13 Binde him hand and foote take him away cast him into vtter darknesse there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Esai 30 33. Tophet is prepared of old it is euen prepared for the king hee hath made it deepe and large the burning thereof is fire and much wood the breath of the Lord like a riuer of brimstone doth kindle it Chap. 34.14 The sinners in Zion are afraid feare is come vpon the hypocrites Who shall dwell with the deuouring fire Who shall dwell with the consuming burnings Quest And what say the Fathers of it Answ Chrysostome wisheth that men in tauernes and all places would dispute of hell for the remembrance of hell will not suffer a man to fall into hell Augustine saith From hell there is no redemption for hee that is damned and drowend there shall neuer come out From hell there is no redemption because there neither can the father helpe the sonne nor the sonne his father There can bee found no friend or kinsman which can giue a ransome of gold or siluer which now like couetous persons they heape vp suffering the poore to pine by pouertie and perish for hunger and cold But these miserable men shall be constrained to crie What hath our gold profited vs c. Wisd 5. From hell there is no redemption there is weeping and wailing and none to pitie them there is dolor and horror and crying out and none to heare them Gregorie saith After a most fearefull sort the wicked haue a death without death an end without end ceasing without ceasing Because that death euer liueth that end euer beginneth and that ceasing knoweth not how to cease Againe In hell there is vntollerable cold vnquenchable fire the worme that neuer dieth an intollerable sauour palpable darknesse and scourgings by whippers the most fearefull vision of Diuels the confusion of sinners and desperation of any good There shall be a double hell the one of intollerable heate the other of surpassing cold Chrysostome saith Let a man imagine ten thousand hels all is nothing to this Of being seperated from Christ to heare this voice Depart from me yee workers of iniquitie to be accused that thou hast not fed the hungrie clothed the naked c. Bernard saith Wee haue deserued hell where there is no meate no comfort none end where the rich glutton begged but a cup of cold water and could not obtaine it Quest Are all thinke you tormented there alike Answ The least torment shall be endlesse comfortlesse and remedilesse yea Gregory saith That as the same Sunne shineth vpon al but yet heateth not al alike so the same fire of hell burneth all the wicked yet it doth not burne all alike As heauen hath many mansions of glory so hell hath many places of horror According vnto the manner of the sinne is the manner of the punishment The which if it be true ought to keepe vs from abominable sinnes that at the least there might bee a mitigation of torments For mighty sinners shall bee mightily punished and hee that knowes his Masters will and doth it not bee shall be beaten with many stripes These are the lessons my good Auditor which I haue shortly giuen you as a direction to die and the Lord so sanctifie them vnto your soule that whether you liue you may liue to him or whether you die you may die to him so that whether you liue or die you may be his Amen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A CONSOLATORIE EPISTLE Against all Crosses CHristian Reader as before I haue armed thee against the feare of death so in the ende of this booke I would faine arme thee against the feare of all dangers I cannot doe it better then by recalling to thy mind the temptations of Christ set downe in that Epistle which once I presented to an Honorable person in this Kingdome The Lord Russell Satans sophistries Master Perkins who had the vse onely of his left hand Matth. 3. Mat. 4.1 And the rather because I feare that a new Dedication of that booke vnto him will put out mine from that worthy mans workes who hath done more good by his one hand in this Church then the most haue done by both theirs For thy comfort therefore vnderstand with me that as Iohn the Baptist was in one desert so our Sauiour Christ hee was in another but as these two differed in their being in the world so did they not accord in their being in the wildernesse Iohn was with some men Christ with none Iohn was with wild men Christ with wild beasts Iohn was preaching Christ praying Iohn was baptising Christ fighting Iohn was feeding Christ fasting Iohn was encountring with Diuels incarnate Christ did encounter with the Prince of those diuels From Iohn preaching in the desert learne we diligence in our calling from Christ tempted in the desert sée we troubles in our calling a Ps 34.19 Manie are the troubles of the righteous but the Lord deliuereth them out of all If it please you but to reade the story of the Gospell amongst many other things you shall see set downe that monomachy or single combate which was hand to hand betwixt Christ and the Diuell And as for Christ Iesus you shall sée him fasting fighting conquering Fasting and an hungrie to shew he was man fighting and encountring to shew hee was Messiah and conquering and triumphing to shew hee was God And as for the Diuell you shall see him obeiecting answering flying Obiecting that b Mat. 4.3 Christ might despaire c Mat. 4.6 answering that hee might presume and flying d Mat. 4.11 when he could not ouercome In Christs temptations we see the estate of the e 1. Pet. 2.21 Church in Satans assault we sée his malice to the f 1. Pet. 5.8 Church Is Christ tempted thinke it not strange if wee fall into g Io. 15.20 temptations For the griefe of the head is the griefe of the h 1. Cor. 12 26. members and the temptation of Christ sheweth the temptations of i Io. 15.20 Christians It is true of Christ that k Act. 14.21 by many tribulations hee did enter into the kingdome of God that l He. 2 1◠our High Priest was consecrated by afflictions that so hee must suffer and enter into his m Luk. 24.26 glory He is no sooner borne into the world but hée is a Mat 2.14 hunted by Herod baptized at Iordan b Matth. 3.16.4.1 but Sathan sets on him a Preacher of repentance but the c Ioh. 7.1 Scribes proscribe him to d Lu. 11.15 worke miracles but the Pharisees slander him Hee is no sooner to suffer but e Io. 12.27 the Diuell assaults him apprehended but the f Io. 18.28 Iewes deliuer him deliuered but g Luk. 23.11 Herod derides him i
our selues to this World but rather imitate the fashion of the most godly in our callings Let vs neuer count any sinne to be a little one because that our Sauiour died for the least And because wee liue in dangerous times wherein many are withdrawne from the profession of thy truth Lord giue vs heartes neuer to entertaine any such doctrine which cannot bee warranted out of thy word nor to admit of any such Teachers as goe about to withdraw vs from obedience to our Gouernours and if any one fall into any sinne let vs restore such a one with the spirit of méekenesse considering our selues that wee also may bee tempted We further acknowledge most gracious God that our life is a warfare vpon earth our enemies are sinne Sathan and the world Lord helpe vs in this spirituall combat Are wee weake be thou strong are we tempted with the temptation giue an issue may we be ouercome teach vs to watch ouer our owne hearts and waies is there any one sinne which we are weake to resist in the act of temptation giue vs power to resist it that by this meanes we may haue as iust cause to praise thee in our conquests as wee haue many reasons to humble our selues in our foiles Wee see also most all-séeing God that none can liue godly in this world but they must suffer persecutions either Ismael will reuile them with a reproachfull tongue or Esau will pursue them with a bloody swor◠what now must wee doe in these daies of triall whither shall we come for helpe but to thee To thee therefore must wee come O Lord our God crauing wisdome to foresee prouidence to preuent patience to beare and hearts to be prepared for this fierie triall that by the deniall of our selues distasting the world and liking of heauen and heauenly things we may make a good vse euen of the least affliction Confound in euery one of vs the cursed works of the diuell increase in vs daily the gifts of thy spirit Fit vs for such callings in which thou hast or wilt place vs and make vs to referre the strength of our bodies the gifts of our minde our credit in this world and whatsoeuer grace thou hast already or wilt héereafter bestow vpon vs to the glory of thy name the good of thy Church and the eternall saluation of our owne soules And howsoeuer we liue here in this Babylon of the world Lord let our conuersation be euer in heauen that whether we eat or drink or whatsoeuer we doe els we may heare alwaies this voice sounding in our eares Arise you dead and come into iudgement Many other things haue wee to beg for our selues that our ignorance knoweth not to aske or forgetfulnesse remembers not to aske heare vs for them in thy beloued Son And giue vs leaue now good God to pray to thee for others There are no Christian people at any time assembled but they are redy to pray for vs and therfore it is our dutie to pray for them We therefore commend to thée thy whole Church and each member of the same be good gracious to these Churches of England Scotland France and Ireland giue the Gospell a frée passage euery where and put on the meanes by which it may be published where it is not or maintained where it is Diuide not O thou indiuisible God diuide not Ephraim against Manasses nor Manasses against Ephraim nor both of them against Iudah The coate of thy Sonne was without seame let the Church of thy Sonne bee without seame Our aduersaries got ground and worke vpon our diuision knit vs so together that their worke may be as the confusion of Babel Are there any meanes to hinder the current of thy Gospell stop them in the head poison them in the streame stay them in the riuer and let their labour be like his that would repaire Iericho To this end be good to the light of our eyes the breach of our nostrils the procurer of our happinesse thy Salomon our King preserue his bodie in health his soule in soundnesse his heart in thy truth his life in honor his honor from vnderminers and his eares from flatterers the bane of each kingdome Kéepe him that hee may euer maintaine thy truth Defend him against the insinuation of practising Papists who will neuer wish well vnto him vnlesse they see he doe wish ill vnto thee Let thy good Spirit be with Iosiah our Prince season his young yeeres with the knowledge of thy will that as he groweth in yéeres so he may grow in stature and fauour both with God and men Bee good vnto them that haue the tution of him and make them instruments of much good that may be done by him Preserue with these our gracious Quéene let vs sée her as a fruitfull Vine about the Kings house and her children like to Oliue plants round about his table And because where many Councellers are there is peace O Lord blesse his honorable Counsell in all things let them take counsel at thy word and in euery consultation aime at thy glory The Péeres of our land the pillars of our kingdome we commend vnto thée make them contented with their present honors and to continue loyall to their vndoubted Soueraigne And because the Preachers of thy word are the pillers of thy Church blesse them all from the highest to the lowest that both by life doctrine they may set out thy most holy word Take from the Great the spirit of ambition and from the meane the spirit of contention that both may labor as much as they may to oppose themselues against the common aduersary and not to aduantage him by intestine diuision Blesse the people of this land such as are called confirme them such as are not conuert them and to that purpose send a faithfull Pastor into each Congregation who may speake a word in due season vnto them Touch al our hearts from the highest to the lowest with true repentāce that thy iudgements present imminent may be preuented and remoued thy mercies stil continued to vs and our posterity after vs especially in the true ministerie of the word Sacraments that such as suruiue vs may praise thy name Be mercifull to all thine afflicted ones be they sicke in bed distressed in conscience pinched with pouerty disgraced for thy truth or kept in prison and deliuered to death reléeue them in their necessity strengthen them in their weakenesse comfort them in their distresse mitigate their sorrowes and turne all their troubles to thy glory and their good To this end giue thy seruants comfort by thy word sufficiency of things needfull for them blesse the fruits of the earth disappoint both Turke Pope from incroaching vpon thine inheritance let all such prosper as fight thy battels and let thy Gospel bee preached from the one end of the world vnto the other In thy good time let the Sunne of thy Gospell shine vpon Iewes Turks Infidels Atheists and
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
wauer in his faith nor stagger in his hope nor faint in his patience nor coole in his loue nor sorrow at his dissolution nor looke backe to the world nor bee ouermuch cast downe with the dread of death Grant that when death shall haue closed vp the eyes of his body the eyes of his soule may be fixed vpon thee that when his speech shall be taken from him then his heart may crie vnto thée say Come Lord Iesu come quickly Heare vs good Lord praying for him heare him praying for himselfe heare vs al for Christ Iesus his sake in whom alone thou art well pleased and in whose name and in whose words we conclude our vnperfect prayers saying Our Father c. LOrd blesse vs and kéepe vs Lord make the light of thy countenance thine vpon vs and grant vs thy peace O God the Father looke vpon thy sonne O God the Son looke vpon thy seruant O God the holie Ghost enter into thy temple O holie Father O righteous Sonne O comforting holie Ghost O blessed and glorious Trinitie one in essence thrée in person be with this thy seruant comfort him with that comfort which we would desire in the like visitation let thine Angels pitch their tents about him let his last houre bee his best houre make his life victorious his death pretious and his and our resurrection glorious through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Lord Iesu be with his spirit Amen Amen A THANKES GIVING FOR THE faithfull departure of one after he or she is dead changing as before O Lord God the onely health of them that liue and the alone life of them that die according to thy commandement we called vpon thée and in desire of thy goodnesse we cried vnto thée that thou wouldest be gratious vnto this seruant of thine whose body lieth dead before our eyes We asked his life thou gauest it not because thou sawest what was best for him wee desired his patience to endure this crosse thou heardest our prayers and hast not denied vs the request of our lips because that alone was fittest for him He died not as a foole dieth neither was his dissolution bitter vnto him He is now O Lord a tree planted in thine orchard a stone setled in thy building a Priest sacrificing at thine altar a starre fixed in thy heauen and an heire reigning in thy kingdom If he had died like Absolom we might haue taken vpon vs Dauids lamentation or like Saul we might haue taken vpon vs Samuels lamentation or as the malefactor on the left hand of Christ wee might haue lamented and mourned for him as doubting that hee died not the death of the righteous But precious in thy fight was this death of his and comfortable in our sight was this departure of his Hee like a Lion triumphed ouer death and like a Lambe resigned vp his life he knew that this Redeemer liued and that Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord. His faith was in thy promises his hope was in thy mercies his loue was on thy ioyes his zeale was on thy glorie and his desire was to be in heauen For this thy fauour towards our Christian brother wee yeeld vnto thy Maiestie all possible thankes and that thou taking him out of this vale of miserie hast by thine Angels carried his soule to the throne of thy glorie We are O Lord we confesse full of sorrow in that we haue lost the comfort of his presence and we could haue béen contented to haue enioyed him longer if it might haue stood with the good pleasure of thy will But we néed not to mourne as men without hope because we are perswaded he so died in thy fauour that as his soule is partaker of eternall glorie so in that great day of assise and generall iudgement this bodie of his which shall returne to dust must be raised vp againe to liue for euer and then bee made like the glorious bodie of Christ Iesus in heauen He O Lord is gone before vs and we must one day follow after him O how can we render vnto thée sufficient thankes for thy great fauour to vs Christian people aboue all the nations of the world whom when thou callest out of this wretched life thou vouchsafest to place vs with thine Angels in thy kingdome In the sight of the vnwise they appeare to die but in the eyes of the godly they are translated from death to life They are arayed with white haue crownes on their heads and Palmes in their hands they shall not die but liue and do behold thy goodnesse in the land of the liuing They serue thée at thy table eate in thy kingdome sing of thy praises are freed from all miseries and they follow the Lambe whither soeuer hee goeth and enioy such pleasures as the eye hath not seene because they are not visible yet the heart doth beleeue because they are most comfortable We beseech thee O Lord that since we must for a while go on in our pilgrimage we may euer haue our eyes bent towards our countrie raise vs out of the graue of sinne renue in vs the life of righteousnes estrange vs from the loue of this world possesse vs with a loue of heauen take from our féete the fetters of pleasure that we may runne as fast to heauen as the wicked do to hell take from our backes the burden of worldlinesse that we may looke as stedfastly vpon things that are aboue as worldlings do vpon things that are below Guide vs euer so by the direction of thy Spirit that both in sicknesse and in health in prosperitie and aduersitie in life at death we may so behaue our selues in this present world that whensoeuer it shall please thée to call vs hence we may by faith in thy promises hope of thy mercies commend our bodies and soules into thy mercifull hands In the meane time hasten the comming of thy Sonne shorten these daies of sinne confound the enemies of saluation dissolue in euery one of vs the cursed workes of Satan sanctifie thy name aduance thy kingdome accomplish thy will giue vs our daily bread forgiue vs all our sinnes giue vs not ouer into any temptation but deliuer vs from all euill both of sinne in this life and of punishment in the life to come so that we with this our brother and all other departed in the faith of Christ may haue our perfect consummation and blisse in thy eternall and euerlasting kingdome through Iesus Christ our Lord to whom with thée our Father and the holie Ghost our Sanctifier our sanctifier in this life and our glorifier in the life to come bee all praise power Maiestie might and dominion ascribed of vs and thy whole Church from this time forth and for euermore Amen A PRAYER FOR A WOman in trauaile O Lord our Lord Creator of all things preseruer of al mankind comforter of all thine afflicted and the only deliuerer of such as are in danger we
the children of Eua by our in-borne transgression yet the daughters of Sarah by sanctification of thy Spirit do séeke and sue vnto thée for a blessing at this time We are O Lord assembled for the comfort of this woman who trauaileth in paine to be deliuered of a child her sinne is great her danger is not small her paines will bee grieuous the houre of life is now at hand If wee were Heathens we would call vpon Iuno if Idolaters wee would call vpon the Virgin Marie but séeing thou hast vouchsafed vs to become true Christians we call vpon thee alone to helpe her We therefore beséech thée O Lord our God to be good and gratious vnto this seruant of thine and howsoeuer through the transgression of our first mother shee cannot bee deliuered but with great paine for thou hast laid this curse vpon vs sinfull women that in much sorrow shal we bring forth children yet since thou hast giuen her faith in thy Son mitigate wee entreate thée this sorrow of hers assure her of the forgiuenesse of her sinnes strengthen her with the comfort of thy Spirit confirme her in the faith of her Sauiour and blesse all good meanes heere present for her comfort Lay no more vpon her then she is able to beare make hast to deliuer her out of her paines and teach vs all that are about her to auoid at this time effeminate spéeches wanton behauiour vnseasonable mirth which often doth accompany such méetings as this Blesse vs in our comforts to her soule and labour for her deliuerance blesse the worke of the Midwife whose helpe shee must vse for her better deliuerance and though she be now in great paine blesse her O Lord in such a sort that anon shee may forget her paine because a child is borne into the world Yea and we pray vnto thée for this child in her womb thou hast enrolled it in thy book thou hast made it in thy frame the bones thereof are not hid from thée all the members of it are written in thy volume Thou diddest visite it at the time of life visite it now at the houre of life Giue vnto this woman thy handmaid neither a monstrous a maimed or a dead birth but as thou hast blessed the conception of this infant so let they blessing be vpon it that eftsoone it may be brought with perfection into the world Thou hast appointed marriage for this purpose thou hast promised a blessing to thine owne ordinance thou hast performed thy promise to many in this case and according to thy commandement we entreate alike performāce of thy promise at this time Heare vs O Lord for Christ Iesus his sake Visite thy seruant as thou didest Sarah comfort her as thou diddest Rebeccah cheere her as thou diddest Leah and if it bee thy good pleasure make her quickly a ioyfull mother of a childe Let her say O Lord helpe me and deliuer me right soone and let vs say bee vnto her a present helpe in this needefull time of trouble O Lord heare our praiers and let our crie come vnto thee and that for Christ Iesus his sake in whose name we call vpon thée saying Our Father which art c. A THANKESGIVING after her deliuerance MOst gratious God and in Iesus Christ our most patient pitifull powerfull Father as thou hast commanded vs to call vpon thée in troubles and hast promised to heare vs and deliuer vs in our troubles so thou hast enioyned vs in thy holy word that after our deliuerance out of any of our troubles wee should be thankfull vnto thee for the same Wee therefore sinners by nature but thy children by grace doe chéerefully acknowledge thy goodnesse to vs and thy speciall fauor to this woman thy seruant Wée called vpon thée and thou heardest vs wee sued vnto thée and thine eares were opened to grant our requests We asked thy fauour to thine handmaiden thou gauest it wee begged a blessing for this child thou hast blessed it and now thou hast made her a ioyfull mother Her soule may magnifie thy name and her spirit may reioyce in God her Sauiour Thou hast giuen her her hearts desire and hast not denied her the request of her lippes Thou hast taken away her reproch thou hast blessed the vndefiled bed Thou hast giuen her her husband this pledge of loue and thou hast made her an instrument to encrease thy kingdome Glorie be to thee in the highest heauens in earth praise and let all generations call thée blessed We blesse thée wee prayse thée we adore thée we giue thankes vnto thée O Lord God for this blessing of thine and desire to praise thée for euer and euer Continue thy goodnesse to this thy seruant giue her strength to recouer her weaknesse ioy to forget her late sorrow thankfulnesse that such a child is come out of her leynes as one day shall inherit the kingdom of heauen And as wee doe priuately praise thée in this familie so will we do the like in the publique congregation Blesse this yong infant with thy blessing from aboue Baptise it with water and the holie Ghost endue it with all heauenly graces defend it against all dangers prouide for it in this mortall life and crowne it in the end with life euerlasting Make the father to delite in the loue of his wife let her breasts satisfie him and let him keepe to her continually Make her a fruitfull vine round about his house and her children like to oliue plants round about his table Lord thou mightiest haue dealt with this woman as heretofore thou hast dealt with many in thy wrath She might either haue brought forth the winde or béen deliuered of a deformed or dead birth shee might either haue died in trauaile her selfe or continued longer in those grieuous paines But thou hast looked vpon her with the eyes of compassion and hast giuen this blessing to the fruit of her wombe Continue thy fauour to her and hers and let thy blessing bee vpon all thy children from this time forth and for euermore Heare vs O Lord for Christ Iesus his sake in whose name and in whose words we further call vpon thée and thank thee saying Our Father c. A PRAYER BEFORE THE receiuing of the Communion MOst gratious Father thou hast called mee now to thine holie Table thou hast set out a part of consecrated bread and wine for mee I acknowledge mine ignorance that I must bee instructed by so many meanes and I acknowledge the goodnesse that thou vouchsafest to teach me by so many meanes I do heare thy word and then is thy Son offered to mine eare I receiue this Sacrament and now he is offered vnto mine eye In the testimonie of these two witnesses this truth is established in mine heart that my Sauiour suffered death for my sinnes As it pleaseth thée thus to offer mee thy fauour so giue mee grace to accept this fauour Am I thus inuited to this blessed
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