thy seruice to thy seruaunts Blesse vs in this part of thy seruice prayer and thanksgiuing to thee and Because none are to meddle with anie part of thy seruice but thy called seruants good Lord bestow that grace vpon vs that we feele more and more our effectuall Calling before wee presume to come neer thee becaus each duty is to be done by and in the name of thy sonne we confesse that till our ingraftment into him by grace the appreheÌ„sion of faith through thy spirit our effectuall calling doth not appeare so that if we waÌ„t faith thy spirit we must not intrude our selues into thy sight but our attendaÌ„ce is vpon the diuell and thou wilte not part seruice with him O Lord in the weaknes of faith we presume accept of vs be in the middest of vs thou hast strongly vs called to obedience in this and all other things by worde and worke it is a dept therefore to be rendered heare of vs Lord receiue it we confesse our sinns haue driuen vs far awaie they are many and great thy Curse is the due of them to our shame we confesse we haue beene warned and yet since warning against our knowledge and conscience of forgetfullnes weaknes and sometime of frowardnesse we haue of our naturall inclination as lightly esteeming thee thy law transgressed offeÌ„ded Nowe Lord albeit wee can destroy our selues yet we Cannot saue our selues wee intreat thy Ritch mercy for our pardon our sauiour Iesus Christ for our ful satisfactioÌ„ Lord in that mercy pardon vs in Iesus christ be coÌ„tented wel ple-w t vs for former conceiued displesurs forget theÌ„ in the multitude of thy coÌ„passions remoue theÌ„ with sin of al kinds the cause of them and so iustice being answered thy wrath appeased hel gates shut a conquest assured Let vs walke in the coÌ„fort of this peace yea in holines assuraÌ„ce of it as we haue lost all by that life rule of sin so we pray that let vs find our selues restored by the death and captiuity of sinne let our vnderstanding be lightned let our memory be sound let our wills be holy let our affection be honest let our conscience be tender and ready to euery good exhortation let our apetites be sober let vs be free from bondage to prophanenes in al our faculties in all our liues at all times and in all places let vs perseuer striue and ouercome Let vs be armed and watch let vs heare read and pray let vs meditate and study in thy loue let all sad motions and passions be examined and if ill suppressed let vs resigne al our bodies and soules holinesse vnto thy seruice Let vs not want that we ought to haue let vs not haue that we ought to waÌ„t or that is good to be wanting Lord let vs shew mortification in al our behauiour Let the life of righteousnes appeare in all our actions inward and outward secret open Let vs Regard our callings the duties belonging to the same Let vs haue grace to finde out all the sound and peculiar Euidence of thy kingdome let vs determine to keepe thy word let vs vowe it whatsoeuer standeth in the waie O Lord be our keeper in our waies this day and for euer looke from heauen vpon thy whole Church euery member of it militant that hath neede of the prayers of thy saintes especially this part of it where we liue and aboue euery particular member Lorde let it please thee to regard our Soueraigne Lord the Kings Maiesty with his Queen the noble Prince of Wales their Son with the residue of that Royall issue haue an eie deare Father to his Maiesties honorable priuy Councell to councell them and to the trusty nobility to sanctifie them and to all subordinate maiestrates of City and Cuntry to be the God of gods among them and to stir them vp to stand in the gap and to take thy part against the Diuell and his and to animate them blesse them hereunto and to guide them Let thy word haue a free passage let all lets be remooued let the piller and cloude of protection further it night and day· Let all that are able and willing to help in Macedonia be called in and countenaÌ„ced let knowledge heale painfulnes a godly life appear in all thy ministers Let hearing and obedience meet in all thy people becaus few preferred by thee doe prefer thee before their chiefe ioyes O Lord turn their harts as they beloÌ„g to thee let generall consideration hee had of the beneaÌ„ts thou bestowest to mooue the hearts of al high and low to put to hand to help thee against Anti-christe and the diuell and let the corrections of thy hande especially that heauy rod and stroke of the pestilence continued and greatly spread through the kingdome this foure yeares be stayed let there be an humiliation proportionable generall earnest true vnfained without delay Least thy angell haue his commission inlarged not onely to kill hundreds but thousands as not long since not onely thousands but millions O Lorde stop yet the mouth of our cheefe crying sins in the howse of Dauid in the house of NathaÌ„ in the house of Leuie in all the howses of Iudah let a search bee made good Lord for Achan for Ionas that our state may be calme and the Epha sent into Shinnar Lord help thy church in all places and in all things let Babilon fall let the Iewes come on let all them be as Meroz that haue ill will and no good will to Sion Amen Euening Prayer O Rich God infinite in all goodnesse we presume again to resort to that ouerflowing fountain Lord turn vs not awaie though we be fools like thy seruant Gedeons Armie that we cannot tell the fittest way to take in the sweetnes of thy goodnes yet accepte of our weaknes because that good minde and harte we haue thou art the author of it thou hast called and beckned vs to thee now we are come to know thy good plesure to beg from thy liberality what shall please thee thy doâ—e of mercy is euer open to thy saintes and thou fittest as Abraham at the dore to entertaine poore weary and heauy loaden ones and we know thou hastest to meet vs to do vs good like a good God according to thy accustomed goodnes we are therfore confidently comforted that in this that the least soule-whispering of an adopted child is as odours to thee though it be silly and as the chattering of Ezechiah O Lord we willingly confesse to thy praise that thou hast hearde our praiers offered to thee in the morning we haue through thy mercy fared well this day in soule and body not withstanding the spight of Satan the malice of our sinne the pestilent enmity of corrupt nature and the enuy of the world and the deceits of others among whom we dwell O prouident kind Lord and Father we haue
of euill They put off from them the euill day namely the day of death and iudgement and boldly approach to the seate of iniquity a matter much to be lamented Let euery Christian therefore haue a care of the expence of time least had I wist comes too too late for the damned in hell if they had this fauoure of God to liue on the earth againe and to haue hell broken loose which they shal neuer haue granted they would liue so strictly as they might bee Chronicled for admirable spectators to the whole world It is the duty therfore of euery man to imitate that person that vigilant person that carried alwaies about with him in his pocket a little clocke and when hee heard it sound hee would instantly examine himselfe how he had spent that houre thus should Christians examine themselues that they may neuer bee examined of the Lord iudge themselues that they may neuer be iudged of the Lord and account with themselues that they may neuer be brought to an account of the Lord. Thus much for the second part of this text namely of what thinges we must giue an account But I say vnto you of euery idle worde c. Before I speak of the third parts of this text namely of the Iudge to whom wee must giue an account I thinkest very necessary to speake of a few things which beeing wel considered wee may bee able to abstaine from idle words and shall haue the lesse account to make at that day Three things therefore there are which being performed we shall abstaine from idle words 1 A man must coÌ„sider what he speaketh 2 To whom he speaketh 3 When he speaketh 1 What hee speaketh Peter telleth vs what we ought to speak in his first Epistle Jf any man speak let him speak as the words of God Againe Paule to the Ephesians saith Let no corrupt communication proceede out of your mouth but that which is good to the vse of edifiing that it may minister grace to the hearer So that we ought to speake aboue all things of God and his word of good and honest matters if wee will shew our selues to be true Christians and abstinent from idle words Wee shoulde say with Dauid I will alwaye giue thanks to the Lord his praise shall be in my mouth continually We should resolue with Iob and say My lippes surely shall speak no wickednesse and my tongue shall vtter forth no deceipte then shall we vse our tongues to that purpose to which they were created The tongue in Hebrew is called Kebod id est gloria Glory because it is an instrument to sing forth the glory of God vpon earth If wee vse our tongues to this purpose then may wee truely say with the Poet Lingua quid melius What is better then the tongue But if it bee abused to the dishonour of Almighty God if it bee an vntamed member vttering out idle and euill words then may wee conclude with the Poet and say Lingua quid pâ—es eadem What is worse than the tongue Let euery Christian therefore shew himselfe as hee professeth a Christian in his speeche For out of the aboundance of the heart the mouth speaketh Euen as the heart standeth affected so is the speach of euery man For Lingua est mentis interpres the tongue is the interpreter of the mind the chaste man speaketh chastly and honestly the wanton speaketh lewdely and luxuriously the enuious person speaketh bitingly and bitterly Euen as by his speeche a man may bee knowne what countriman hee is so a man by his speeche may bee knowne to what kingdome he belongeth There are three kingdoms men by their talke may be known to which of these they belong There is 1. Prouincia coelestis the kingdome of heauen and the speach of this country is praising of God talking of his worde giuing of thankes for the greate benefits wee haue receiued and speaking of diuine and heauenly matters hee therefore that speaketh on this maner Id que non hypocritice that is Not hipocritically For Simulata sanctitas duplex inquitas counterfeit holinesse is double vngodlines surely appertaineth to the kingdome of heauen 2 There is prouincia terrestris the kingdome of earth and the spâ—ach of this country is talking of terrene end earthly matters â—â—ozling with the mole in the Cranies terrarumque poris and in the pores of the earth quite contrary to the nature of man for Os homini sublime dedit saith the Poet coelumque tueri inssit God gaue man a lofty face and bad him looke aloft and hold vp his head toward heauen According to that of Iohn Quâ—de terra est de terra loquitur He that is of the earth speaketh of the earth And againe They are of the world therfore speak they of the world 3 There is prouincia infernalis The kingdome of Hell and the language of this countrey is swearing forswearing cursing banning blaspheming if therfore thou seest such a one it is to be feared that he belongeth to the prouince of hell Thou therefore that wouldest belong to Gods thrice blessed kingdome thou that wouldest abstaine from idle words so haue the lesse account to make thou must beware what thou speakest thou must talk of God of his word of holy heaueÌ„ly matters 2 He that would abstaine from idle words must consider to whom he speaketh if hee speaketh to a foole be must vse fewe wordes for hee spendeth his breath in vaine if he speaketh to a froward and contentious person hee must vse mild and gentle words or else bee taketh the bellows to quench the fire if he speaketh to a wise man hee must vse no vaine Cautologies or needlesse repetitions for frustrà fit per plura quod fiers potest per pauciorâ—t It is in vaine to vse many words wheÌ„ we may as wel be conceiued in few If these things be not coÌ„sidered we may yea speaking of diuine and holy matters offend in idle words 3 If wee would abstaine from idle words wee must also consider when to speake saith Salomon There is a time to speake and a time to hold ones peace Saith one there is a time when something may be spoken there is a time when nothing may be spoken but there is no time when all things may be spoken These three things wel considered of vs we shal abstaine from idle words and haue the lesse accounte to make at the day of iudgement Againe euery Christian as he ought to imitate Christ in al things so he ought to imitate him in his words Gregorie saieth that Omnis Christi actio nostra debet esse instructio id est Euery action of Christ ought to be to vs an exaÌ„ple of imitation Christ had three things in his wordes worthy of consideration which wee must likewise labor to haue if we will abstaine from idle words 1 He had veritatem in verbis
intolerable lump At hath beene is and euer will bee the fond nature of man to imagine sinne a greate deale lesser than indeed it is A man would thinke that Adam through the diuels suggestion and through the abuse of his own free wil Eating of the forbidden fruite had committed but a small trespasse yet hee was guilty of euerlasting torment for the same A man would thinke that that poore man had committed but a small sin in gathering chips of meere necessitie on a Sabbath day yet hee was by the law stoned for his labour A man would think that Peter had giuen his maister good counsell when as Christ told him that he must goe to Ierusalem there suffer many things saying Maister fauour thy selfe and goe not yet he was called Sathan for his labour A man would thinke that Ananias and Saphira had committed but a small sinne when as they did detaine parte of the Apostles money for feare of afterclaps and protested the contrary with a lye yet they died both suddenly at the feete of Peter So a man would thinke that an idle word were but a smal sinne yet Christ saith heere that a great account muste bee made for the same For by thy words thou shalt bee iustified and by thy wordes thou shalt bee condemned Seeing this is true it behooueth euerie man to set a watch before the doore of his lippes and to keepe his tongue from idle and euill words that he may obtaine that blessednesse blessed is he that hath not fallen by the words of his mouth 3 We must giue an account of our workes as it appeareth to the Corinthians Wee muste all appeare before the iudgement seat of Christe and there receiue according to our works Againe the Preacher saith that God will bring to iudgement euery worke with euery secret thing whether it bee good or euill Hee that hath liued in sinne shall receiue the reward of sinne which is death and damnation and he that hath liued in faith and amendment of life shal receiue a crowne of glory whiâ—h the Lord will giue him at that day It is the duty therefore of euery Christian to labour and endeauour with all diligent carefulnesse to liue toell that at the day of iudgement he may speed well 〈◊〉 bene vmore that is liue well shoulde bee the delightsome poesie sweete perfumed Nosegay of euery christian thus liue wel that thou maiest die wel and after death eternally speed well obtayning that blessednesse Blessed are they that die in the Lord. 4 Wee must giue an account of our temporall goods howe wee haue gotten them whether iustly or vniustly how we haue spent them whether we haue cloathed the naked with them or whether we haue made naked the cloathed for them howe wee haue disposed them least there bee any debate for them after wee bee gone therefore Esay telling Ezekia that hee should not liue but die saith Dispone domum tuam c. Set thine house in order for thou must not liue but die Howe then shall those griping vultures make an account that haue by oppression vndone their brethren The worlde is grown so hard bearted that men will rather suffer their brethren to starue in the streets than to succour or relieue them the dogs shall haue the remnant of the ritch mans Table before poore Lazarus shall haue one crumme that falleth from the same How shall these flinty heartes looke for one dramme of mercy at the daye of iudgement Let theÌ„ look with what measure they haue measured to others it shall be measured to them againe let them know that it they will stoppe their ears at the cry of the poore they shall crie themselues and shall not bee heard if they will bee partakers with the Saints of the ioys of heauen their brethren must be partakers with them of their wealth on earth for this is to treasure vp treasures in heauen to layout their treasures on earth Let men therefore so vse their temporall goods and worldly ritches as they may at the daye of account receiue a crowne of immortall glory 5 We must giue an account of the time wherein wee liue and of our seuerall vocations how wee haue imployed our selues in the same Saith Bernard Omne tempus tibi impensum requiretur á te qualiter fuerit expensum id est All the time that God hath giuen thee shall bee required at thy hands how thou hast spent it Whether in the seruice of God or in the seruice of Sathan The Prince must giue an account how hee hath gouerned his kingdome whether hee hath as it becommeth Gods vicegerent mildly louingly and carefully trained his subiects vp in the worship of GOD or as a bloodie Nero and hard-hearted Tyrant cruelly oppressed them The ministers of the word of God who haue taken vppon them curam animarum the charge of soules must giue an account how they haue be haued themselues in their ministerie whether they haue preached Christ for Christ that is for the conuersion of sinners to Christ or as hirelings for lucre and gaine of worldlye trash whether they haue fedde their flocks carefully or fed vpon their flocks couetously The Magistrate must giue an account how he hath behaued himselfe in his magistracy whether hee hath sought the maintenaÌ„ce of vertue and the confusion of vice or hath his eyes beeing blinded with siluer scales maintained iniquity and oppressed the innocent The housholder how hee hath gouerneâ— his family whether in reading of holy Scriptures and prayer to the praise and glory of God or in reading of foolish fables in gaming dicing playing swearing and such like Yea euery man must giue an accounte of the time spent in his seueral calling from the highst to the lowest Let euery Christian therefore beware of mispendâ—ng his time liuing in security loosly and of loosing his time securely carelesly for there will come a day when for euery houre of thy life thou shalt giue an account how thou hast spent it according as Salomon telleth the carelesse liuer Reioyce O young man in thy youth cheere thy hearte in the dayes of thy youth and walke in the wayes of thine hearte and in the sighte of thyne eyes but know that for all these thinges GOD will bring thee to iudgement Time lost can neuer bee recouered the houre past cannot bee recalled time is painted like an olde man hauing a locke of hayre on the former parte of his head but balde on the hinder part to signifie that men should lay hold of time comming and make much of it when they haue it for being once gone it can neuer bee recouered Augustine confesseth that hee spent his time idlely when hee stoode gazing and looking on a Spider howe thee catcht a flye in her net But alas men in these daies do not onely spend their time in idlenes which is a shamefull fault amongst Christians but also in all manner