1. Sam. 25.36.37 Gen. 27.9 12 Abstinence from marriage for some conuenient time after his death that so it may appeare shee truly loued him Luk. 2.37 Quest If God send you children what duties owe you to them Answ I am bound to performe these duties 1 To bring them vp in the feare of the Lord Gen. 18.19 Prou. 4.4 31.1 Psalm 78.4 Ephes 6.4 1. Chron. 28.9 and to loue them best who best loue God and me Gen. 25.28 37.3 2 To looke that they may liue in some calling Gen. 4.2 Prou. 10.4 3 To fit their callings according to their natures Gen. 4.2 4 To teach them such ciuill behauiour as sauors of pietie Prou. 4.24.25.26 5 To giue good example to them in each thing Leuit. 11.44 2. Kings 2.23 6 To teach them at the least to reade Reuelat 1.3 7 To correct them doing amisse Eccles 30.1 Prou. 22.15 19.18 29.15 1. King 1.6 8 To commend them when they do well Ephes 6.4 9 To apparell them rather comely then costly Eccles 11.4 10 To denie them in many things their willes Eccles 30.9.10.11 11 To leaue them all some fit portion of my goods and not to make one a gentleman and the rest beggers Gen. 25.5.6 Deut. 21.17 Luk. 15.12 but Eccles 33.18.19.20 hée must not giue them power ouer him whilest he liueth 12 In due time to looke to their marriage Eccles 7.25 13 And last of all to pray for them that they may feare God obey gouernors grow in grace and become citizens of heauen Genes 17.18 Psal 72.1 Iob. 15. Quest What duties are your children to performe to you and your wife Answ They ought 1 To obey vs in things lawfull Ephes 6.1.2 2 To reuerence vs as the authors of their being Eccles 3.1.2.3.4 7.27.28 Tob. 4.3.4 3 To acknowledge vs be wee neuer so poore Gen. 47.1.2 Prou. 19.26 4 To endure our corrections patiently Hebr. 12.9.10.11 though we haue imperfections to beare with them Gen. 9.22.23 5 To be content with our prouision for them Luk. 15.12 Philip. 4.11 6 To séeke al means by which they may please vs. Luk. 15.29 Gen. 26.25 7 To behaue themselues so as they may credit vs. Prou. 10.1 Gen. 34.30 27.46 8 To be sorrie when we be disgraced Eccles 3.11 9 To follow vs as well in the practise of pietie and godlinesse as in the inheritance of our goods and lands Ephes 5.1 10 Not to do attempt or enterprise any thing of weight or importance without our aduice consent or approbation but especially to stay till wee prouide for them in marriage Gen. 6.2 24.4 26.34 Now all these duties they shal practise the better if they will but consider the great care pains and charges we haue béen at in their education and bringing vp which they shal best know when God sends them children of their owne Quest If you be parents in law to children what duties must you performe to them Answ We must consider 1 That they are his or her children whom we haue made all one with our selues 2 That God by his prouidence hath committed them vnto vs. 3 That we shall not kéepe loue each to other vnlesse we haue care of such children 4 That all must pitie the parentlesse much more parents in law 5 That they haue lost their owne parents and therefore stand in néed especially of succour 6 That our children may bee in the like case and wee must doe by others as wee would haue others doe by ours 7 We shal get credit and comfort to our selues by performing all duty to them 8 We shall take away that great scandall which is giuen in the world by bad parents in law and therefore we must 1 Bring them vp in the feare of God 2 We must rather take heede of seuerity towards them then towards our owne children 3 We must bee carefull to increase that portion which is left vnto them by the will of their parents 4 We must not for our priuate gaine or against their consent bestowe them in mariage Quest What duties doe children in law owe to parents in Law Answ They owe in truth many but first they also must consider 1 That they wanting their owne parents stand in neede of some to gouerne them 2 That God and the consent of their suruiuing father or mother hath cast them vpon the tuition of such a parent 3 That by obedience to parents in law they shew what they would haue done to naturall parents 4 That if they please them in all things it may bee they may inherite their step-parents lands or goods 5 That by this they shal be a meanes to kéepe loue betwixt an husband and his wife 6 They shall giue good example to other such children to doe the like 7 That if they had such children they would not willingly be so dealt withall 8 That if such parents should vse them ill they themselues will complaine of them why then should not good step-fathers complaine of bad step-children And therefore they ought 1 To reuerence them as parents 2 To depend vpon them as gouernours 3 To be aduised by them as guardians 4 To bee carefull not to marry themselues till such time as they haue their approbation which if they do they dishonour God grieue their parents scandalize themselues make step-fathers negligent step-children neglected cause other such children and euen naturall children against natural parents to doe the like If any yet say I thriue after such a marriage I answere you may in goods perhaps not in goodnesse if in both it is because you haue repented or els doubtles you wil not thriue long Quest Now if to wife and children God send you seruants what duties do you owe to them Ans For my seruants I must be careful 1 That they be fit to doe such businesse as I keepe them for Gen. 41.38 Exod. 31.2 2 That I impose not too much vpon them Prou. 12.10 Exod. 1.14 3 That they neither play nor worke nor go on errands on the Lords day Exod. 20. 4 That they goe and come with me to and from the Church Iosh 24.15 5 That I examine them of such things as were taught Gen. 18.19 Psal 34.11 6 That I be not too familiar with them Prou. 29.21 7 That I in discretion correct them for their faults Eccles 33.23 Genes 16.6.1 Sam. 30.15 Let Marchants note this 8 That I teach them a trade and occupation and in teaching them send them not to such places of idolatry as by being there they may endanger their soules to procure my wealth Prou. 12.10 9 That I be not sorrie when they set vp but helpe them Eccles 7.20.21 and 33.29 and 34.23 10 That I teach them not to deale vniustly by mine example or commend them if they do so Prou. 21.6 2. Kings 5.26 11 That their diet and apparell be conuenient only such as I prouide for them Prou. 31.21.27 12 That I kéepe no more seruants than I can well
indeed His learning was good his life better and his death for himselfe best of all His learning was without comparison his life without exception his death without suspition By his learning hee instructed by his life hee shined and by his death hee yet smelleth as a sweet perfume What his learning was this Land knoweth what his life was London knoweth and what his death was those learned men knowe who were about him in the time of his sicknesse Hee was Bishop of this Diocesse not much aboue two yeares in which time this Citie much reioyced in him and surely no maruaile For hee was a Clemens to this Rome a Polycarpus to this Smyrna a Iustine to this Naples a Dionysius to this Alexandria a Cyprian to this Carthage an Eusebius to this Caesarea a Gregorie to this Nyssa an Ambrose to this Millâ—yne a Chrysostome to this Constantinople an Augustine to this Hippo and a Ridley to this Diocesse And as Ambrose was wont to say of his people so questionlesse he said often of his Non minùs vos diligo quos genui ex euangelio quà m si suscepissem ex contugio gratia quippe vehementior est ad diligendum quà m natura I loue you no lesse whom I haue begotten by the Gospell then my owne children For grace procures greater loue then nature Nay it seemeth he loued them more for hee impouerished the one to enrich the other But blessed bee that most reuerend Dauid that will haue care of Ionathans children now he is dead Dead hee is indeede in regard of his presence but aliue for euer in regard of his remembrance for the righteous shal be had in an euerlasting remembrance when the name of the wicked shall rot He died not rich in goods it was an argument of his goodnesse he died rich in grace it was an argument of his godlinesse With Bernard he did liue in terra auri sine auro In a Kingdome of gold without gold and seemed to thinke as Lactantius did write that Qui apud Deum diues est pauper esse non potest Hee that is rich in God cannot be accounted a poore man Did Abner saith Dauid die as a foole dieth And did this Bishop of London die as that Bishop of Rome who said Vixi dubius anxius morior nescio quò vado I haue liued doubtfull I die doubtting I know not whither I shall goe no hee did not But with Ambrose hee said I haue not so lead my life that I was ashamed to liue neither feare I death because I know I haue a good Lord. Hee said not with Nero Me mortuo ruat mundus I care not what befalleâ— after I am dead but These were almost his last words modo me moriente viuat floreat ecclesia fiat voluntas Domini So that after my death the Church may flourish the will of God be done Thus a good life hath the yeares numbred but a good name endureth for euer Not to be troublesome to your Honor by his departure his wife hath lost a louing husband his children an indulgent father the Church a worthie Prelate and I a poore Preacher one of the most honourable friends that euer I had hauing deserued so little of him Isa 57.11 Doe the righteous perish wee must regard it Are mercifull men taken away we must consider it in our hearts After Ambrose was dead Italy was troubled after Augustine was dead Afrike was spoiled After Luther was dead Germanie was distracted After Bucer was dead heere religion was altered And after the death of so many worthie men as wee haue lost within these few yeeres the Lord graunt that we be not plagued I am no Homer to commend this Achilles no Chrysostome to commend this Babylas no Augustine to commend this Cyprian no Melancthon to commend this Luther no Parker to commend this Bucer onely in honor to him who honoured God in his life I presume thus to write of him being dead Your Honor well knoweth that I haue written the trueth and the Lord knoweth I desire to write nothing but the truth Thus crauing pardon for my boldnesse and once againe most humbly entreating your Honorable entertainment of these few sheetes of Paper as they are now the fifth time enlarged I humbly take my leaue beseeching God to continue you long a trustie Counsellor to our Gracious King an vpright Iudge to our Christian people and a good Patron to the despised Clergie From your Parish of Saint Martin in or rather now by reason of many new buildings neere the Fields Iune the 16. 1613. At your Honours seruice ROBERT HILL A PREFACE OF PRAYER TO MINE Honourable Worshipfull and Christian Auditors at Saint Martins in the Fieldes Grace and PEACE CHristian Auditors There are three things in regard of God which euery good person must bee acquainted withall the first is how hee must talke with God The second how hee must liue before God The third how hee must come to God when the seale of his saluation is offered in the Sacrament Of all â—hese three I am bold at this time to present vnto you this little Manuell Lycurgus a Law-giuer amongst the Lacedaemonians made this one Law of sacrificing to the gods that they should not bee presented with many things and those of either small or no great value If things are to bee esteemed rather by weight then worth I haue obserued this law in this present gift I offer vnto you but three things the first number of which all can bee spoken And I present vnto you but small things for what can be contained in so few sheetes of paper yet if it please you to giue these few sheetes the reading you shall know better how to pray learn better how to liue and vnderstand better how to come to Gods table so long as you shall either pray liue or receiue And because I haue concerning the first Preached to you of late many Sermons The dignitie of Prayer I am willing at this time in way of Preface to commend vnto you the dignitie of Prayer By it wee conferre and talke with God and by it we procure much good vnto man By it we doe pierce the very cloudes and by it we haue whatsoeuer is meete Doe wee want any thing that is good for vs or others Prayer is the messenger whom wee must send towards God Haue we receiued any speciall fauour from him Prayer is our Ambassadour to giue him thankes Are wee in the morning to begin our worke this is the Key to open the day Clauit diei Are we at euening to shut our selues in this is the a Sera noctis locke to seale vp the night If we would bind the Almightie b Vinculum inuincibilis Bern. to do vs none hurt heere is the band by which he is tied c Vis Deo grata Chrysost And if we would vntie him to do vs good heere is the porter of the gates of heauen It is our
sinne and crucifie the flesh with the affections and lusts 1. Pet. 2.24 Rō 6.6 Gal. 5.24 10 In a word by it you haue remission of sinnes sanctification of spirit and euerlasting life after death Quest What must I heere meditate of An. You must meditate 1 Of the fearefull wrath of God against sinners which could not be appeased by any other meanes 2 Of Gods great mercy who to saue mankind would haue his Sonne killed 3 Of Christs great humility who thus abased himselfe to exalt vs. 4 Of the vglinesse of sinne which could by no other meanes be purged 5 Of the estate of the members of Christ who in this world must bee conformable to his passion 6 That wee hate all sinne and iniquity for which Christ suffered and by which we crucifie him againe Augustines meditation is fit to bee thought on The life of Christ saith he is to me a rule of my life his death is my redemption from death That instructeth my life this hath for mee destroyed death And againe Looke vpon his wounds when he hanged on the tree his blood when he died the price wherewith hee redeemed vs. He hath his body so placed on the crosse as if hee bowed it downe to kisse thee his armes spred out ready to embrace thee and his whole body giuen to redeeme thee Consider how great things these are weigh them in the ballance of thine heart that he may be wholly fastened in thine heart who for thee wholly was fastened to the crosse And againe meditate thus with that holy Father in his Soliloquies and say O Christ the saluation of my soule I hartily thanke thee for all thy benefits bestowed vpon mee from my youth till this mine olde age I pray thee by thy selfe forsake mee not Thou didst create me when I was nothing thou didst redeeme me when I was worse then nothing I was dead and when I was dead thou camest down vnto me and tookest vpon thee mortality for my sake Thou a King camest to a subiect to redeeme a subiect Thou didst die and ouercome death that I might liue I was exalted by thee when thou wast humbled for me such was thy loue towards mee that thou gauest thy blood to be shed for me O my Lord thou didst loue me more then thy self because thou wouldest die for me By such a meanes by so deare a price thou hast restored me from exile redeemed me from thraldome preserued me from punishment called me by thy name signed me by thy bloud annointed mee with that oile wherewith thy selfe wast annointed that of thee ô Christ I am named a Christian Thus thy mercy and grace hath euer preuented me Thus thou my Deliuerer hast deliuered me from many great and grieuous dangers Did I wander thou broughtest mee againe into the way Was I ignorant thou instructedst mee Did I sinne thou correctedst mee Was I sorrowfull thou comfortedst mee Did I despaire thou strengthnedst mee Did I fall thou didst helpe mee vp Did I goe thou didst leade me Did I come thou didst receiue me Did I sleepe thou didst watch ouer me Did I cry thou heardst the voice of my complaints Grant good Lord that it may bee euer pleasant vnto me to thinke often of these thy benefits to speake often of them often to giue thee thankes for them and to praise thee for euer and euer Amen Quest But because I cannot thus meditate of Christs passion vnlesse I bee able to apply it to my selfe how shall I make this application Answ 1 By the word 2. by faith 3. by the Sacraments of Baptisme the Lords Supper By the word Christ is offered as by the hand of God by faith he is receiued as by the hand of man by the sacraments he is sealed vp vnto vs as the Kings letters patents are by his Broad seale For as by the word of God his fauour is signed vnto vs so the same fauour is by the sacraments as a Broad seale ratified vnto vs and by the spirit as a Priuy seale confirmed vnto vs. Qu. Am I now bounden to follow Christ in his crosse Answ You are assuredly For 1 You are a member of his body will you not be like to your head 2 You are a branch of him that true vine will you not follow the roote 3 You desire to haue heauen do you not know that by many tribulations you must goe thither 4 You are one of Christs grapes Christ was pressed in Gods wine-presse and would you giue out your swéet liquor without the like pressing which he endured Augustine said well When thou beginnest to liue godly in Christ thou art put into the wine-presse prepare thy selfe that thy wine may be pressed out 5 It is an argument that God loues you not if you endure no afflictions you are a bastard and no sonne Heb. 12.14 An Heathen man could say thus much No man is more miserable then he who endureth no miserie it is a signe that hee is contemned of God as an idle and cowardly person And if saith Augustine you will goe to Canaan Nihil infelicius felicitate peccantium you must goe as it were by fire and water thorow the wildernesse of this world No creature is more vnhappy then hee that is happy in sinning 6 You must follow him also in his death and know that as he died so you must also be willing to die especially since nothing can free you from it If Wisdome could Salomon had not died if strength Sampson had not died if Riches Diues had not died if beauty Absalom had not died Wheresoeuer we goe if wée carrie with vs not the vgly picture of death as some Romanists doe but the true picture of Christs death in our hearts we shall neuer bee too fearefull of death Qu. I trust I shall thus meditate of Christs death and passion but is it not my duty at all times especially in sickenesse to thinke often of his resurrection Answ The Apostle Paul did account all things but losse and dung for this excellent knowledge of Christs death and the vertue of his resurrection Phil. 3.10 Quest What is the vertue of his resurrection Ans It is nothing else but the power of his Godhead or the power of his Spirit whereby he raised himselfe mightily from the dead and that on our behalfe For know this to your comfort that he did rise againe from the dead not as a priuate but as a publike person so that all the elect haue and are by his resurrection raised out of the graue of sinne by regeneration in this life and shall one day by it be raised out of the graue of death to eternal glorie in the life to come Qu. What vse may I make of this Answ By it 1 You may bee comforted against the feare of all your spirituall enemies and say thus to your sicke soule Christ is risen againe from the dead and so hath subdued all mine enemies vnder me will daily more and more
content our selues with a profession of piety and labour not for the power of godlinesse And as for our liues they abound with actuall transgression against euery one of thy ten Commandements hauing broken the same ten thousand tims We Lord haue liued in contempt of thy prouidence committing idolatry with thy creatures taking thy glorious name in vaine and profaning of thy most holy Sabbaths We euen we who should haue been vpright haue not regarded our betters but enuied our brethrē defiled our soules with vnchaste desires laboured to be rich by vnlawfull meanes disgraced our neighbours and longed after that which was none of ours Wee haue heard thy word O Lord but we haue not beleeued it we haue known the word but haue not practised it Wee haue come to thine house without reuerence approched to thy Table without repentance and practised many sins without remorse Doe we any good wee please our selues too much Doe we any euil we feare thée too little we are wearie of praying when we talke with thée we are carelesse in hearing when thou speakest to vs. If we reade thy Sacred and Holy Word it is not swéete vnto vs as the hony combe but wee delight more euen in vngodly bookes Yea O Lord the pampering of our bellies the pride of our apparel the negligence in our calling the mispending of our time our vaine conference at table our wandring eyes our wanton lusts our ambitious minds our couetous desires our vngodly spéeches our lasciuious eares our censuring of our brethren our sinne in recreations our vnwillingnesse to labour our vnfaithfulnesse in life our forgetfulnesse of death and our abuse of thy mercies especially in Christ doe testifie against vs that wée haue sinned against Heauen and against thee and are no more worthie to be called thy children Are wee ashamed at this and reclaimed from it no Lord wee are not ashamed but howsoeuer it hath pleased thee to vse many meanes as partly by thy Word and partly by thy Spirit and partly by thy mercies partly by thy iudgments to the end we might bee reclaimed from our crooked wayes yet we haue contemned thy Word the Ministerie of saluation greiued thy spirit the earnest of our inheritance abused thy mercies the pledges of thy loue and forgotten thy iudgments the messengers of thy wrath Enter not into iudgement with vs thy seruants O Lord for then shall no flesh liuing bee iustified in thy sight Be mercifull vnto vs in forgiuing sinnes past and be gracious vnto vs in preuenting sinnes to come Correct vs O Lord but with mercie not in thy iudgement for then shall we be consumed and brought to nought Open our blind eyes that we may come to a particular knowledge of our particular sinnes especially such as wee are most giuen vnto Soften our hard and stonie hearts that wee may sigh and grone vnder the burden of them make vs good God displeased with our selues because by sinne wee haue dishonoured thy Maiestie Stirre vp our dead and dul hearts that we may hunger after Christ and his righteousnesse and after euery drop of his precious bloud In that Sonne of thine looke on vs thy seruants and for his merits and righteousnesse vouchsafe good God mercifully and fréely to do away al our offences Wash them away in his blood and by the purity of his spirit clense our hearts from the pollution and impurity of them all say vnto our soules thou art our saluation let thy spirit in our hearts crie Abba Father Teach vs. O Lord thy way we shal walk in thy truth O knit our hearts vnto thée that we may feare thy Name And because through corruption in our hearts and sinne in our liues our faith is féeble and our confidence small wée doe humbly beséech thée to strengthen our faith by the daily meditation and particular application of thy mercifull promises made vnto vs in thy Sonne Christ that neither in the dangers of this world nor in the troubles of conscience nor in the houre of death we may fall from thée Gracious Father expell out of our hearts al carnal confidence the vnderminer of our faith teach vs in the spirit of true humilitie to denie our selues and to relie only vpon thée and the merit of Christ in the matter of our saluation And because it is not enough to come vnto thée by prayer and to sue vnto thée for pardon but all that are in Christ must be new creatures therefore we call vpon thée for the spirit of regeneration mortifie therby the corruptions of our flesh quicken vs thereby in the inner man By the power of Christs death let vs die vnto sinne and by the power of his resurrection let vs rise to righteousnesse and newnes of life let the one as a corrasiue eate vp the dead flesh of vngodlinesse and the other as a spur stir vs vp to holinesse Illuminate our mindes that wee may know thy will giue vs spirituall vnderstanding to discerne good and euill Sanctifie our memories to treasure vp good things purifie our consciences to haue peace in thée reforme our willes to doe thy will and let all our affections be ordered aright Teach vs to feare thée continually wheresoeuer wee are to neglect all things in regard of Christ to loue thée and our brethren for thy sake to be zealous of thy glorie to bée grieued at our owne and others sinnes and ioyfull when we can please thée Let our bodies the instruments of sinne be euer hereafter clensed by thy spirit that they may bee temples for that spirit to dwell in keepe our eyes from beholding vanitie our eares from hearkening to variety our mouthes from speaking blasphemie our hands from committing of iniquitie and our bodies from the action of adulterie Let our light so shine before men that they séeing our good workes may glorifie thee our heauenly Father Make vs to remember that as we are sonnes we must depend vpon thée as wee are seruants we must obey thée and as wee are Christians we ought to walke worthy of our vocation calling And because we haue all some particular calling either of rule or seruice or trust or fauour make vs from the highest to the lowest faithfull in our callings and to remember that a day will come in which wee must giue an account vnto thée of all our actions done in this flesh whether they bée good or euill Take away from vs all opportunitie of sinning and make vs euer thankfull that wee liue so as wée want allurements to many sinnes Cause vs to sée how deformed sinne is in it selfe and to what confusion it is like to bring vs Lord make vs to flie the very occasions of sinne and to resist the beginnings of all temptatition let not a night passe ouer our heads in which wee examine not how wée haue spent the day neuer let vs come into any companie wherein wee may not doe or receiue some good Keepe vs that wee fashion not
Papists belonging to thee Bee good to our kinsfolkes in the flesh our friends in the spirit them to whom we are any wise bounden or desired to be commended vnto thee in these our prayers and supplications Haue mercy vpon vs now calling vpon thy name forgiue our sinnes and manifold defects in this holy dutie accepting at our hands this our obedience in Christ And because thou hast beene good vnto vs many waies make vs thankefull vnto thee for all thy mercies as our election in thy loue our redemption by thy Sonne our sanctification through thy spirit our preferuation by thy prouidence our health in body peace of conscience our life in thy Church our gratious Gouernours our painfull Preachers our Christian friends our desire to please thée and that wee haue the m inistration of thy word and Sacarments and can shew loue euen to our enemies We thank thée O Lord for al graces of thy Spirit as faith in thy promises hope of eternal life feare of thy Name loue of thy Maiesty zeale to thy glory affection to our brethren patience vnder the crosse strength against our seuerall temptations humility gentlenesse méekenesse forbearing with many other gifts graces of thy spirit all which we acknowledge haue proceeded from thy meere mercy O let vs not be negligent in the vse of al good means by which thy grace may daily grow vp in vs. Wee doe also with all thankefulnesse remember all the blessings of this life our deliuerance from our enemies in 88 our preseruation from the pestilence in 603 our protection from gunpowder in 605 as all other fauours which wee doe inioy vnder the blessed gouernment of our gracious Prince and for all thy goodnesse vnder our late noble Quéen Quéen Elizabeth of happy memory Wee thanke thee that thou hast sustained vs in great weakenesse reléeued vs in much necessite comforted vs in much distresse resolued vs in many doubts deliuered vs from many dangers preserued vs from many feares made vs willing to desire to doe thy will bestowed vpon vs such a larges of thy good creatures that wee are more fit to giue then receiue Blesse vs now and euer heereafter kéep vs and all ours and all that are neere about vs from fire water pestilence robbing and all dangers whatsoeuer and grant vs all such a portion of thy grace that whether we stay at home or goe abroad watch or sléepe eat or drink buy or sel be in labour or recreation wee may euer labour to glorifie thy high and great Name in the workes of such callings as thou shalt call vs vnto and fit vs for through Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour in whose name in whose words we further call vpon thée saying Our Father which art c. O Lord blesse vs and kéepe vs. O Lord make thy face shine vpon vs. O Lord grant vnto vs thy swéete and euerlasting peace especially that peace of conscience which the world cannot giue with the pardon and forgiuenesse of all our sinnes this day at this time and héeretofore committed against thée with a blessing vpon thy Church and children euery where as well as though wee had named them through Christ our Lord and only Sauiour Amen A MORNING PRAYER FOR priuate families MOst glorious and gratious Lord God giuer of all good things forgiuer of all our sinnes and the only comforter of such as flie to thée for succour we thine vnprofitable and vnfaithfull seruants doe héere present our selues before thée this morning to offer vp a liuing sacrifice to thée who diddest offer vp thy Sonne to death for vs. Lord let this lifting vp of our hands and hearts vnto thee be as a morning sacrifice acceptable in thy sight All thy mercies call vpon vs that we should be thankful to thée for such mercies and all our miseries call vpon vs that wee should call vpon thée for the continuance of thy mercies Wee haue tasted of thy fauour this night past and euen since we awaked we might haue had a féeling of thy goodnes thou hast begun to serue vs before wee begun to serue thée And now that we begin to offer thée this seruice wee must néeds acknowledge and confesse that we prostrate our selues before thee before we know how to worship thée as wee ought wee consider not the excellencie of thy Maiestie the multitude of thy mercies the al-séeing eye of thy presence nor that danger wee are in by reason of our sinnes Why shouldest thou be so carefull for vs since that we are so carelesse of thée Surely O Lord in that thou affordest health to our bodies wealth to our estate libertie to our persons and prosperitie to this familie in which wee liue wee can giue no reason but because thou art mercifull And if thou shouldest take all these from vs againe and leaue vs in as great miserie as was the Prodigall sonne we must néedes acknowledge it a iust recompence for our sinnes All which are so many in number and so grieuous in transgression that as wee cannot reckon them but only say we haue sinned so we cannot beare them but only say that wee are not able to looke vp And whilest al other creatures serue thée in their nature wee men and women are the sinners of the world Our liuâ—s are full of infidelitie eyes of vanitie eares of noueltie mouthes of subtiltie hands of iniquitie and though we desire that all our members should by thee be glorified in heauen yet by all them do we dishonor thée vpon earth Thou hast giuen vs vnderstanding to learne vertue by it we apprehend nothing but sinne thou hast giuen vs a will to affect righteousnesse by it we delight in nothing but wickednes Thou hast giuen vs a memory to be a shorehouse of thy word we make it a warehouse to treasure vp euill In a word we confesse against our selues that in this flesh of ours there dwelleth no good thing it is a world of wickednesse and by reason of the manifold corruptions that are in vs there is small difference betwéene vs and the wicked yea and many heathen people who haue not known thee goe beyond vs in the practise of righteousnesse towards men If we should goe about to excuse our selues the sinnes that we haue done this wéek will testifie against vs that they are more then all the good we haue doneal the daies of our liues we haue transgressed thy commandements by our selues alone haue communicated with the sins of others In doing of good we haue reioyced but a little in the practise of euill wee haue gloried too much Wee sue vnto thée often for the pardon of our sinnes and when wee haue so done we commit them againe And in this verie act of calling on thy name our thoughts are so wandering our bodies wauering our knées wearied in knéeling for a while that euen now when wee come to pray wee had néede to desire thée to forgiue vs our prayers because wee thinke not
giue why you must examine your obedience Answ Amongst many I giue these 1 Disobedience is as the sinne of witchcraft 1. Sam. 15.23 2 Obedience is better then sacrifice 1. Sam. 15.22 3 It is a fruit of faith Rom. 8.1 4 By this examination I shal be moued to repent Ierem. 31.19 5 If I haue done any thing that is good I shall haue cause to giue God due thankes 6 Without it I cannot appeare before God Ierem. 7.9 Quest How many properties are there of this obedience Answ Fiue 1 It must be frée without constraint Psalm 110.3 2 Sincere without hypocrisie 2. Tim. 1.5 3 Vniuersall not to some but to all the Commaundements Psalm 119.6 Iam. 2.10 4 Perpetuall till the houre of our death Matth. 24.13 5 Personall in regard of our personall calling 1. Pet. 5.1 Quest Which is the last part of examination Answ Our reconciling our selues vnto our brethren if we haue made them any offence Matth. 5.24 Quest Can you shew mee any reasons of this examination Answ Yea surely For 1 If I loue not my brother God loues not me 1. Ioh. 3.14 2 If I forgiue not my brother God forgiueth not me Matth. 6.15 3 If I want loue I am none of Christs disciples Ioh. 13.35 4 Without it I shall neuer doe good to my brother 1. Cor. 13.2 Quest By what signes may you know whether you are so reconciled that you loue your brother Answ By these 1 If I be not ouercome with euill Rom. 12.21 2 If I ouercome euill with goodnesse Rom. 12.21 3 If I can pray for him Acts 7.60 4 If I can yéeld to him Gen. 13.19 5 If I can conceale my wrongs and his infirmities Prou. 11.12.13 6 If I can conuerse friendly with him Genes 34.4 7 If I can depart sometime from my right Gen. 13.10 8 If when I may I auenge not my selfe 2. Sam. 19.23 Quest When are we fit to receiue the Sacrament in regard of reconciliation Answ Euen then when we are fit to say in the Lords prayer Forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. And therefore many indanger their own consciences in refusing to receiue lest they should leaue their sinnes and be reconciled to men Now the Lord grant that I may after this sort examine my selfe that at all times by putting off the old man and putting on the new I may be fit to come to Gods Table Quest I hope you are well instructed in examination Tell mee what premeditation the second part of preparation is Answ It is a consideration of those graces which wee doe receiue by the death of Christ signified in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper Quest Which are those graces that wee must consider of Answ Our redemption from hell our deliuerance from death damnation and the curse of the Law 2 The remission of our sinnes whereby we receiue freedome from sinne and acceptation to life Psalme 103.3.4 3 Which is a fruit of the former reconciliation with God when wee are made friends with him Colos 1.20 4 Our communion and fellowship with Christ 1. Cor. 10.16 5 Interest and title to eternall life by Christ in whom we are sonnes Iohn 1.12 Rom. 8.13 Quest What fruit ariseth out of these two Answ A spirituall hunger after Christ and his benefits for when a man hath examined his wants and hath considered the riches of Christ his hart longs after the same Ioh. 7.37 Quest You haue well said all that you haue yet said how must you be disposed in the action of receiuing Answ I must seriously thinke of these fiue points 1 When I sée the Minister take bread and wine I must consider the action of God whereby he sent Christ to worke my redemption 2 When I sée the bread broken and the wine powred out I must consider first The bitter passion of Christ for me in so suffering secondly Gods infinite loue to mée who sent Christ to redéeme me his enemy thirdly Gods wrath towards me for my sinne which nothing could satisfie but the death of Christ Fourthly I must detest those sins of mine which caused Christ thus to suffer 3 When the minister distributeth bread and wine I must consider that as it is truly offered vnto me by man so Christ is truly offered vnto me by God 4 In receiuing bread and wine I must apprehend Christ by faith 5 In eating that bread and drinking that wine I must apply Christ particularly to my selfe and be perswaded that as that bread and wine is made the nourishment of my bodie so Christs body and blood is made the nourishment of my soule Yea I must féele the power of Christ to mortifie the corruption of my nature by his death to quicken me in newnesse of life by his resurrection and to giue me power to fight against my deadly aduersaries the world the flesh and the diuell Quest When you are to receiue these consecrated mysteries may you receiue them kneeling vpon your knees Answ You taught me that this gesture hath béen much abused yet at the commandement of the Church it may be vsed without impietie 1 Because knéeling is a thing indifferent as is the vncouering of the head at that time 2 Because the Minister then prayeth to God as he giueth them 3 Because Christ is more particularlie then offered then in the word 4 That we may stoppe our aduersaries mouthes who crie out against vs that we regard not this Sacrament 5 Because then especially God requires our humiliation 6 That the better wee may lift vp our hearts to God 7 Because in matters of indifferencie we are bound to kéep the peace of the Church 8 Because we teach that this reuerence is not done to the creatures but to our Creator 9 Because by this gesture we are moued to receiue with greater reuerence 10 It is reteined by the Church of Bohemia Quest But this Ceremonie sauoreth of adoring a breaden god Answ To our aduersaries it doth to vs it doth not being taught the contrarie therfore if it be not taken away it may be vsed if it were the feare of superstition were taken away with it But in things which may be well vsed let no man be contentious we haue no such custome neither haue the Churches of God Ambrose his counsell to 〈…〉 and his mother Monica is good counsell When I am at Millaine I fast not on Saturday because there they fast not and when I come to Rome I fast on Saturday because there they then fast Thus must we doe in things indifferent that we may keep the vnitie of the Spirit in the bond of peace Quest Yet were it not fit to follow the example of Christ who did administer it sitting at the table Answ Marke what I say And the Lord giue you vnderstanding in all things 1 If we must precisely follow Christs practise in this then they who receiue standing transgresse in practise as well as they who receiue kneeling which I thinke you will not
he had neuer séene or heard them such an one must euer be running for counsell Fourthly by taking oportunitie for honest gaine Pro. 10.5 And lastly by kéeping thée with in compasse not bearing an higher port and countenance in the World than a mans abilitie will warrant Prou. 12.9 yet is it not good for a man to feigne himselfe poore when he hath aboundance as many doe who are euer whyning and complaining without cause are neither good to others nor themselues Wisdome thus ordered is like to the skill of a workman by which he is able to remoue or lift vp that weight which a stronger than he cannot do 3 Iustice and vpright dealing for so thou shalt reape the like from others Prou. 21.21 Mark 7.12 haue a blessing on thy wealth Prou. 21.6 and purchase much credit by thy good dealing 4 Mercifulnesse and friendly dealing with the poore in buying of them their commodities selling to them their wares and laboring for them to their good This is a good way to thriue Pro. 16.3.28 22. 1. Tim. 6.9.10 5 Contentation with that portion which God as a wise Father measureth out vnto thée 1. Tim. 6.6 Philip. 4.11 Heb. 13.5 6 Looke to the choice of friends for grace and good nature are thy friends great they will often procure to thée great expense and losse of time Prou. 23.1.2.3 are they affectionate and full of passions thou shalt haue much a do to please them and they are soone lost Prou. 28.19.22.24.29 22. Lastly kéepe amitie with thy neighbours Rom. 12.18 yet only so long as thou maist haue God to friend also Quest You said in the third place I must auoid those things which are enemies to frugalitie which are they Answ 1 Sloth which is described to be a great wisher Pro. 13.4 excuser Pro. 15.19.22.13.26.14.15 ouer-wise Pro. 26.16 the high way to beggery Prou. 20.4.10.4.24.24.36 2 Vaine idle company Prou. 28.19 these wil driue you either to other delights or to loose your time or to let go occasions for your good be you neuer so good bad company wil hurt you as the swéetest waters poured into the sea become salt and brackish 3 Take héed of pastime Prou. 21.17 4 Of talking what you wil do Pro. 14.23 5 Of a swéet tooth a veluet mouth which often procureth double expences first of diet secondly of physicke to cure diseases gotten by intemperance Prou. 21.17.23.21.29 6 Good fellowship and company kéeping which is the losse of time an hinderer of thy calling a drawer of much company to thine house causeth them often to be like to them both in cōditions affection Pro. 13.20.14.7 7 Take héed of much borrowing for he the goeth on borowing goeth a sorowing Pr. 22.7 he that is euer borrowing is neuer a fréemā Quest What rules are you to obserue for the sanctifying of the Sabbath Answ 1 I must rise early to sanctifie my self and all that belong to me for Gods seruice that day Iob. 1.5 2 I must kéepe it from morning till euening Leuit. 23.32 3 I must frequent the exercises of religion and be present with al reuerence at praier and preaching Psal 122.1 4 I must not so go from Sermon to Sermon that I confer not of Gods word which I heare especially with such as belong vnto me Acts 17.10.11 5 I must meditate of all Gods mercies especially of such as are giuen me in Christ Psalm 92.1 6 I must not make that day a day of feasting sporting or visiting as the most do of friends abroad Isai 58.13.14 7 I must doe no worke vpon that day which might haue béen done the day before or may be done the day after Exod. 20.10 8 I must labor to be at Gods house with the first that so I may be partaker of the whole seruice Math. 18.20 Hebr. 10.25 Psal 42.4 9 I must visite such as are comfortlesse if I know or imagine they stand in néed of my helpe Iames 1.27 10 I must bee carefull to prouide something which I may distribute to the necessitie of the Saints 1. Cor. 16.2 These rules must I obserue lest it bee truly said of mee which was falsely said of Christ This man is not of God for he keepeth not the Sabbath Iohn 9.16 Quest Now as you haue learned these generall rules of pietie come we euen to particulars say that you intend to be maried what rules must you vse in chusing a wife Answ I must looke 1 That shee be of good religion Gen. 26.2 27.46 These rules must women vse also in taking an husband 2 Of honest parentage Genes 28.1 3 Of good report Prou. 22.1 4 Of ciuill carriage Prou. 7.10.11.12 5 Of contenting personage Gen. 24.16 6 A louer of godly companie Acts 16.17 7 Of prouident circumspection Prou. 19.1 31.16 8 Of stayed yéeres 9 Of few words Pro. 31.26 Eccl. 26.28 10 Of an honest nature Eccles 25.18 Quest When you are married what duties owe you to your wife Answ I owe vnto her 1 Loue to her person Ephes 5.25.28 1. Sam. 1.8 2 Chastitie to her bed Prou. 5.15.16 17.18 Gen 2.14 3 Maintenance to her estate Pro. 31.31 4 Cohabitation to her content Deut. 24.5 1. Cor. 7.5 1. Pet. 3.7 5 Patient forbearing and concealing of her infirmities Colos 3.19 Ephes 4.26 especially when I am newly maried for as brickes newly laid are easily seuered before the morter be dried so louers newly married are easily diuorced before their hearts are by continuance vnited 6 Admonition and commendation rather then correction Hebr. 10.25 Prou. 31.31 7 Instruction in pietie 1. Cor. 7.15 8 Due beneuolence 1. Cor. 7.3.4.5 9 Kindnesse to her kindred Hester 8.2.3 10 Cherishing in sicknesse Prou. 12.10 And continuance of loue to her euen when she is old wrinkled and hath lost her former beautie Luke 1.6 11 I must leaue her a liberall portion if she suruiue me Prou. 31.31 12 And both mourne truly for and bee kind to her children if shee die before mee Gen. 23.2 Quest And what duties must you looke for from your wife Answ These duties 1 Reuerence as to her head 1. Cor. 11.2 Ephes 5.33 2 Chastitie as to a part of her bodie Genes 2.24 Prou. 5.19 3 Prouidence in getting sparing and spending Prou. 31.1 Sam. 25. 4 Nursing of her owne children for this God nature her breasts her health all childrens loue to such a mother the dumbe creatures the feare of changing her child and the examples of holy women teach her if she be able to do it Gen. 21.7 5 Silence in kéeping secrets without declaiming against euery domesticall vnkindnesse Galath 6.2 Iudg. 16.18 6 Obedience to my lawfull commandements Ephes 5.22 Hester 1.21.22 7 Chearefulnesse of countenance and spéech Eccles 26.19.20 8 Diligent staying at home in some honest calling Prou. 7.11.12 Gen. 18.9 9 Grauitie in her domesticall behauiour 1. Pet. 3.2 10 Sobriety in her appare◠and gesture Isai 3.1 Tim. 2.9 1. Pet. 3.4 11 Obseruation of his nature and diet
subdue them in me I may haue afflictions in this world but Christ bids me to bee of good comfort for he hath ouercome the world Ioh. 16.33 and This is the victory that ouercommeth the world euen my faith 1. Ioh. 5.4 I will say with Dauid Why art thou disquieted O my soule and why art thou troubled within me The Lord is on my side I will not feare what either man or miserie or sin or death or hell or the Diuel can doe against mee I haue God to bée my Father and Christ to be my elder brother I will not feare in the euil day I am not alone Christ is my companion This shall be my studie to beléeue thinges inuisible to hope for that which is deferred and to loue God to the end though he writeth bitter things against me and maketh mee to possesse the sinnes of my youth Though hee kill me I will trust in him I am in Christ Iesus and therefore fréed by his bonds healed by his stripes crucified by his death raised by his resurrection iustified by his obedience sanctified by his spirit and glorified by his glorious Ascension into Heauen Now my flesh by the benefit of Christ who rose againe in my flesh is not spe but re not in hope but indéede saued For in him mine head it is alreadie both risen and ascended vp into Heauen My flesh being safe in this her head shall bee also saued in her members Let them securely triumph their head will neuer forsake them 2 You must learne to rise from sinne to newnesse of life to séeke those thinges that are aboue and not those thinges which are beneath to set your affections on Heauen and heauenly things If you be partaker of the first resurrection the second death shall take no hold of you Reuel 20.6 If you doe not this Christs death shal doe you no good For as hee died and rose againe so must you rise from sinne to righteousnesse and from death to life Therefore awake thou that sleepest and stand vp from the dead and Christ shall giue thee life Ephes 5.14 Quest If I can thus meditate of Christs death and resurrection I doubt not but death will bee better welcome for if I weare his Crowne of thornes I shall one day weare his Crowne of glorie If I can pledge him in his Cup of gall I shall drinke of his sweet wine If I die with him in this World I shall liue with him in that which is to come But you told mee that I must meditate of the deceitfulnesse of this World must I doe so that I may leaue it more willingly Answ You must néeds doe it the World is like Laban it will giue you Leah for Rachel it will change your wages it wil send you with Iaakob emptie away It is a Syren it will sing to you to sinke you It is as Iael Hebers wife it will offer you milke and couer you with a mantle and in the end strike a naile into the temples of your head It will salute you as Ioab did Amasa and kill you as Amasa was by Ioab killed With Iudas it will kisse you and with Iudas also it will betray you For this cause Salomon cried Vanitie of vanities all is but vanitie Iohn said Loue not this World nor the thinges of this World hee that loueth this World the loue of the Father is not in him 1. Ioh. 2.16 To this purpose the Fathers haue many notable Meditations Augustine said This World is more dangerous fauning then fighting and more to be auoided when she inticeth to loue then when shee compelleth to contempt Againe O yee louers of this World for what doe you labour haue you heere any greater hope then to become friendes of this World what is there which is not fraile and full of perill and by how many perils doe you come to a greater perill This life is miserable death vncertaine it comes vnawares and after all the punishment of our negligence is eternall punishment Againe The World passeth away and the lusts thereof What wilt thou doe whether wilt thou loue temporall thinges and passe away with time or loue Christ and liue for euer Againe Behold the World is troublesome and we like it what would wee doe if it were calme how would wee cleaue vnto beautie if wee so affect deformitie how fast would wee gather the flowers who fill our hands with the thornes Againe This ruinous World is beloued of vs what would we doe if the building were faire Againe The Lords of this World haue true asperitie false iucunditie certaine miserie and hopelesse felicitie Gregorie said Beholde this World which wee loue so much passeth away These Saints at whose monuments wee stand did contemne the then florishing World they had long life continuall health rich estate many children long peace and yet when that World florished in it selfe it withered in their hearts Beholde now it withereth in it selfe and florisheth in our hearts Euerie where death sorrow desolation is at hand Wee are beaten on all sides filled on all sides are we with bitternesse and yet being blinded with carnall concupiscence we loue the bitternesse of this World shee flieth we pursue her she falleth we leane vpon her and because wee cannot keepe her from falling we fal with her whom we hold falling Bernard said Hee that begins to thinke Christ sweet will esteeme quickly the world as bitter Againe This World is full of thornes they are in the Earth they sticke in thy flesh To bee amongst them and not to bee hurt by them proceeds from Gods power not our owne Againe The World crieth I wil faile thâ—â— the flesh crieth I will infect thee the Deuill crieth I will deceiue thee but Christ crieth I will refresh thee Againe The danger of this World is seene in the paueitie of such as passe well thorow it and the multitude that perish in it In the Massilian Sea of foure Shippes scant one is drowned in the Sea of this World of foure soules scant one is saued Chrysostome said The World is a Sea the Church a Ship the Saile Repentance the Rudder the Crosse the Pilot Christ and the Holy Ghost the Windes I would with you therefore to bid this vaine World Adieu and to say with the blessed Apostle Saint Paul God forbid that I should reioyce in any thing saue in the crosse of Christ whereby the World is crucified to me and I vnto the World Quest I shall doe this the better if you tell mee what God hath prepared for mee in Heauen and of this I desire to be instructed from you Answ The Apostle Paul thinking vpon this saith 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 which loue him The Eye saith Augustine hath not seene it because it is not Colour the Eare hath not heard it because it is not a Sound the
become fellow heires with him is not lessened by the multitude of possessors nor straitned by the number of heires but it is as great to many as to few to euery one as to all Againe Doe we loue riches let vs there keepe them where they cannot be lost Do we loue honor let vs there haue it where honor is giuen to none but the worthy Do wee desire dignitie let vs there affect to get it where being once gotten we may not feare to lose it Do we loue life let vs there seeke it where it is not ended by death Againe Such shall be there the delight of beautie that thou shalt euer haue it and neuer be glutted with it yea rather thou shalt euer be satisfied and neuer glutted For if I say thou shalt not be satisfied there shall be hunger if satisfied thou maiest feare satietie there where there is neither fulnesse nor famine I know not what to say but God hath what to giue Againe Behold the Kingdome of heauen is set to sale if thou wilt thou mayest buy it Thinke not much of the greatnes of the price it is worth all that thou hast Look not what thou hast but what an one thou art It is worth as much as thou art worth giue thy selfe and thou shalt haue it Thou wilt say I am euill and perhaps he will not take mee by giuing thy selfe to him thou shalt become good Againe The poore widow bought as much for two mites as either Peter did by forsaking his nets or Zacheus by giuing halfe his goods to the poore Againe In the citie of God the King is veritie the Law charitie the dignitie equitie the peace felicitie the life eternitie but it is contrarie in the diuels citie there the king is falsitie the law cupiditie the dignitie iniquitie the hapinesse contention the life temporalitie Againe Compare we this life temporall with that which is eternall and it is but a death rather than a life For this continuall decaying of our corrupt nature what is it else but a prolixitie of death But what tongue can expresse what minde can comprehend the ioyes of heauen to be amongst the quire of Angels to bee with the blessed spirits to behold the presence of God to see that most cleere light to bee affected with no griefe to reioyce in the gift of perpetuall incorruption Againe There shall we enioy whatsoeuer shall be louely nay can we desire that which wee shall not enioy There we shall rest there we shall see there we shall know there we shal loue there wee shall praise wee shall praise that Being which shall bee in the end and without end For what else is our end but to come to that kingdome which is without end Againe There this shall be the sole vertue to see that thou louest and the soueraigne felicitie to loue that thou seest There shall blessed life be drunke out of her owne fountaine where the vision of veritie shall bee most cleerely opened Gregorie said Let vs runne and follow Christ heere are no true ioyes but there they are reposed where there is true life Againe Because in the elect in this life there is a diuersitie of workes there shall bee without doubt in the life to come a distinction of dignities that wherein heere one excelleth another there he may surpasse his fellow in reward yet though all haue not the like dignitie yet all shall haue one and the same blessed life Bernard said There are twelue starres in the Crowne of Christians in heauen The first is memorie without forgetfulnesse the second reason without error the third will without perturbation the fourth impassibilitie in which the bodie shal rise the fift brightnes by which it shall be like Christs glorious bodie the sixt agilitie to mooue according to the mobilitie of our mindes the seuenth transparencie that albeit it be solid and thick yet shall it be impenetrable the eight to loue our neighbor as our selfe in truth the ninth to see cleerely that our neighbour loues vs as himselfe the tenth to loue God perfectly but more than our selues the eleuenth to loue our selues but for God the twelfth to see God louing vs more than he loued himselfe Againe O that blessed Region of Paradise O that blessed Region of delights for which I sigh in this vallie of teares where wisedome shall shine without ignorance memorie without forgetfulnesse vnderstanding without error and reason without obscuritie Blessed are they that dwell there they shall for euer and euer praise God The kingdome of God is granted promised shewed receiued Granted in predestination promised in vocation shewed in iustification receiued in glorification Prosper said The life to come is that whereby wee beleeue that it is blessedly sempiternall and sempiternallie blessed where there is certaine securitie secure tranquilitie safe iucunditie happie eternitie eternall felicitie where there is perfect loue no feare an euerlasting day swift motion and in all one spirit To conclude thinke you of the goodliest sights that euer could be seene the most melodions musick that euer could be heard the most delicate diet that euer could be tasted the greatest honor that can be enioyed the best companie that may be possessed and all the comforts that you can haue in this life and in comparison of the ioyes of the kingdome of heauen they are but a point and lesse than a point they are petie ioyes peacocke ioyes the ioyes of prisoners and poore pilgrimes Quest I shall like the better of this life eternall if you giue me such a taste here of eternall death that I do not feele it in the life to come Can this eternall death be described Answ It cannot any more than eternall life for as the heart cannot comprehend that one so the tongue cannot expresse this other Quest But what saith the scripture of it Ans Very terrible and fearefull things as Deut. 32.22 Fire is kindled in my wrath shall burne down to the bottom of hell Psal 10.6 Vpon the wicked he shall raine snares fire and brimstone stormie tempests this is the portion of their cup. Mat. 25.41 Depart from me ye cursed into euerlasting fire prepared for the diuell his angels These shall go into euerlasting paine Reuelat. 20.10 The diuell was cast into a lake of fire and brimstone where the Beast and the false prophet shall be tormented euen day and night for euermore Chap. 21.8 The fearefull and vnbeleeuing and abominable and murtherers and whoremongers and forcerers and idolaters and all liers shall haue their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death 2. Thessal 1.7.8.9 The Lord Iesus shall shew himself from heauen with his mightie Angels in flaming fire rendring vengeance vnto them that do not know God and which obey not the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ which shall bee punished with euerlasting perdition from the presence of the Lord and from the glorie of his power 2. Pet. 4. God
to preserue vs from despaire and vpon thy threatnings that wee doe not presume Blesse them that fight thy battels by land or sea whether they incounter with Mahomet or Antichrist And blesse them thou God of hosts in such a sort that the Hâ—athen in the end may bee constrained to say Doubtlesse there is a reward for the righteous verely there is a God that iudgeth the earth And séeing only we heare of rumours of wars and liue in such libertie as neuer any nation hath done so long make vs thankfull vnto thée that we are in such a case that wée are not led into captiuitie neither is there complaining in our stréets And teach vs to build thy Church in our rest as Salomon built the Temple in his peace We haue O Lord béene long in prosperitie be mercifull to this sinfull nation which hath surfetted and is sicke of too too much ease Let not thy blessings rise vp against vs but make vs as rich in goodnesse as in goods in pietie as in plentie that as we go before all nations in prosperitie so wee may labour to excéede them in sinceritie Blesse this familie from the greatest to the least blesse it O Lord with thy grace and peace so that superiours may rule it according to thy word seruants may obey as the seruants of Christ and that euery one in the same may be loued of thée Thou séest O Lord how bold we are we haue called vpon thée for our selues and others but many other things should wee haue begged of thée because we want them and thanked thée for because we haue receiued them Our vnderstanding is shallow our memorie short and wee are vnworthy to pray vnto thée and most vnworthie to receiue the things which we haue prayed for therefore we commend our persons prayers actions and endeuours this day to thy most gratious and mercifull protection and that in the name of Christ thy Sonne and our Sauiour in whose name and in whose words we further call vpon thée and thank thée saying Our Father c. LEt thy mightie hand and outstretched arme O Lord be still our defence thy mercie louing kindnesse in Iesus Christ our saluation thy true and holy word our instruction thy grace and holy Spirit our comfort and consolation vnto the end and in the end and let all héere present say Amen AN EVENING PRAYER FOR PRIVATE families O Lord prepare our hearts to praier MOst High and Mightie God father of eternitie and fountaine of mercie wee acknowledge and confesse this fauour of thine that thou giuest vnto vs these blessed opportunities publikely in thy Temple to méete together priuately in our Families to méet together especially we acknowledge now this worke of thy grace that we dare not commit our bodies to rest before we haue coÌ„mended our selues to thée Thou hast not dealt so with euery familie neither haue the wicked a desire to praise thée wee are now present before thée O Lord be thou president amongst vs grant vnto vs all such a portion of thy Spirit that in feare of thy Maiesty reuerence of thy name a sense of our miseries and an assurance of thy mercie we may come now before thée as before that God who séest our behauiour searchest our hearts knowest our wants art able to grant more then we can desire We acknowledge confesse before thy great Maiestie that in the loynes of our first parents thou diddest make vs to thine image but in them we fell away from that blessed estate and are plunged into a most wofull and desperate condition being able to doe nothing but displease thée Our forefathers haue eaten sowre grapes and their childrens téeth are set on edge By the transgression of one wee all haue sinned and are depriued of thy glorious image and as an hereditarie disease it hath infected all the powers of our soules and bodies Our vnderstandings are filled with blindnesse and darknesse not sauouring the things of saluation our consciences are wounded seared defiled and neuer soundly at peace in themselues our memories are fit to retaine euill and to forget euery thing that is good our willes run headlong to all iniquitie but are auerse to all goodnesse our affections are with violence carried after the sway of our willes our thoughts are vnsatiable and infinite in euill our best actions are great abominations and our whole conuersation is lothsome to God and man By this meanes O Lord we are odious to thy Maiestie execrable to thine Angels detestable to thy Saints slaues to Satan worthie to be accursed in this life and for euer By this means our bodies are subiect in each member to diseases and our soules are subiect in each facultie to disorder we by this means haue lost thy fauour are cast out of Paradise haue sold our birth-right and exchanged heauen for the pit of hell And héerein we are most miserable that we feele not our miserie feare not thy wrath desire not thy fauour and consider not what we lost when we fell from thée Yet thou art our Father and wée thy children thou art our God and we thy people thou art our shepheard and we the sheep of thy pasture And when no creature in heauen or in earth was able to reconcile vs vnto thy Maiesty thou in thy loue diddest send thy Son to be the propitiation for our sinnes In him therefore we come vnto thée in whom alone thou art well pleased with vs and since hee is that Lambe that taketh away our sinnes in him we beséech thée to looke vpon vs. Let the puritie of his nature answere the impuritie of ours the perfection of his obedience satisfie for our imperfection and the sufficiencie of his sufferings frée vs from all torments which wee deserued to suffer for our sins He hath conquered Satan by his glorious resurrection from the dead and by it hath triumphed ouer sinne and death And now we are restored into thy grace againe grant that wee may feele the fruits of that grace especially such faith in thy promises peace of conscience ioy in the holy Ghost zeale to good workes in this life present and assurance of happinesse in the life to come that we neuer hereafter doe fall from thee But because we cannot either stand vnlesse thou vphold vs nor walke vnlesse thou lead vs nor liue vnlesse thou quicken vs nor raigne vnlesse thou crowne vs therefore we entreate thee to vphold vs by thy hand that we fall not direct vs by thy word that we erre not quicken vs by thy Spirit that we die not and crowne vs with glorie that we lose not our inheritance Sanctifie vs al in thy truth thy word is that truth Sanctifie vs by the Law that by it we may see our miserie feele the want of Christ bee sorrowfull for our sinnes aduise what to do desire pardon resolue to come to thée confesse our iniquities and renounce al things in the world to get saluation in