this bread 1. Cor. 11.27 and drinke this cup of the Lord vnworthily shall bee guilty of the bodie and bloud of the Lord. I am in such a streight that I know not what to doe For gladly would I receiue this Sacrament being desirous to liue but fearefull I am to take it vnworthily trembling at thy Commination I come therefore to thee the fountaine of mercy hoping that thou wilt wash me I come to thee the good Samaritan Luc. 10.34 hoping that thou wilt cleanse my wounds I open my griefe and discouer my iniquities to thee I looke vpon my finnes great and grieuous and thereupon tremble Yet beholding thy mercies great and plentifull I am therewith againe refreshed Remember O Lord how many drops of Sweat and Bloud thou didst shed How many Paines and Sorrowes thou didst sustaine to expiate my sins I entreate thee therefore by them to purge and purifie me that I may worthily bee incorporated into thy body which is thy Church and may worthily also receiue this blessed Sacrament that so together with thy whole Church I may giue thee praise euerlastingly Or thus O Mercifull Lord Iesus I confesse my selfe to be a most grieuous and wretched sinner not worthy to approach into thy presence altogether vnfit and vnmeet Luc. 7.6 to receiue thee vnder the roofe of my soule in respect of the staynes and pollutions thereof and that it is not decked and fitted with such good graces as thy Maiestie and presence requireth and therefore am afraid to come neere vnto thee Yet O Lord considering thy comfortable saying that Thou dost not desire the death of a sinner Mat. 11.28 but that he should turne vnto thee and liue and thy blessed inuitation how louingly with the armes of thy mercy stretched out thou hast called all that are heauily oppressed with the burden of their sinnes to come to thee for comfort and ease And lastly thy vsuall practize in pitying and releeuing those which were cast downe with the thought of their misdeedes as the a Luc. 23. Theefe on the Crosse b Luc. 7. Mary Magdalen c Ioh. 8. The woman taken in adultery the d Luc. 18. Publican e Luc. 26. Peter and Paul all of them grieuous sinners I am comforted and emboldned to come vnto thee assuredly trusting that thou wilt of thy goodnesse supply my defects and make me a worthy receiuer of the high mystery and benefit of thy blessed Sacrament whereof of my selfe I am altogether vnworthy Stretch out thy right hand O sweete Iesu to me thy poore seruant and giue out of thy rich store-house of mercy what I want that thereby I may be made a liuing Temple to thee and an acceptable habitation for thine honour to abide in And grant that being cleansed by thy mercy and goodnesse I may by thy grace and power perseuere in all godlinesse and holinesse of conuersation to the end of my dayes and attaine to that blessed place where thou raignest with the Father and holy Spirit world without end Amen Meditations and Prayers after the Sacrament receiued IF all the Creatures in the world should offer themselues together with me to praise thee O Lord yet is it certaine that we could not giue thee sufficient thankes for the least of thy mercies and if together we cannot sufficiently praise thee for the least how much lesse can I alone performe so great a duty for such inestimable blessings as I haue at this time receiued for vouchsafing to visite me comfort me honor me with acceptance and admittance of me to thy blessed Table Luc. 1.43 If Elizabeth the mother of Iohn Baptist vpon the Virgin Maries entrance to her house said Whence is it that the mother of my Lord should come to me What shall I say whom the Lord himselfe hath visited and vnited to him by his blessed Sacrament being a vessell and receptacle of all impuritie who hath so often offended despited and neglected him King Dauid wondred Psal 8. why God should so esteeme of or visite man But I wonder much more why hee should be made man for man abide with him suffer death for him and giue himselfe to him for spirituall food Salomon after he had built a Temple to God reasoned thus 1. Kings 8.27 But will God dwell indeed on the earth Behold the heauen of heauens cannot contayne thee how much lesse this house that I haue builded May not I much more maruell that God will not disdaine to come and abide in this my poore and wretched soule What greater benefit or grace what greater argument of his loue is there can there be shewed to me Oh my soule if thou wouldest but throughly conceiue the happinesse that commeth to thee by this holy Sacrament then consider and well weigh what benefits it bringeth with it By it the sonnes of men are made the Sonnes of God and all that is earthly or carnall in vs is mortified that the Deity may liue and abide with vs. What therefore O my Lord shall I doe What thankes shall I render to thee with what feruency shall I loue thee For if thou so mightie a Lord hast vouchsafed to loue me poore wretched creature how should it be but that I should returne loue againe to thee And how shall I expresse my loue better then in forbearing those things which thou dost abhorre and following those things which thou dost command Giue O Lord to this end thy concomitant grace to mee whereby I may returne a reciprocall loue to thee and loue those things which are acceptable to thee and auoide those things which are to thee vnpleasing Giue me a heart which may loue thee with so true faithfull and constant affection as that nothing vnder the Sun may separate me from the loue of thee Rom. 8.39 Let me not follow the loue of the world or delight in the vanities of it any longer but giue me power to kill and quench all other loue and desires and to loue thee onely desire thee only and only thinke of thee and thy Commandements that all my affections and thoughts may be fixed on thee that in all tentations and aduersities I may haue recourse to thee onely and receiue all comfort from thee alone who liuest and raignest one God world without end Amen Another I Humbly thanke thee O sweet Sauiour Iesus Christ that thou hast so plentifully refreshed my dry and fainting soule with the holy Sacrament of thy pretious bodie and bloud I earnestly entreat thee further that whatsoeuer is in me vicious or contrary to thy blessed will may by vertue of this Blessed Sacrament bee rooted out of me that my soule may become a fit habitation for thy holy Spirit Let it be to me the absolution of my sinnes the confirmation of my faith an encrease of all thy graces in me the viands of this my peregrination and pilgrimage the only delight of my soule peace and ioy in tribulation health and
to me that haue confidence in nothing but thy meere mercy O Lord it griueth me that I haue offended thy Maiestie and it grieueth me much that I can grieue no more then I doe And I humbly pray thee by the Death Passion and Intercession of thy Sonne Christ Iesus to pardon my offences promising that if I recouer my former health thy grace assisting me to abstaine from displeasing thy Maiestie hereafter I willingly O Lord and freely from my heart for thy sake forgiue all offendors and offences against me and I heartily desire all those whom I haue any way offended to forgiue me O Lord though my naturall man trembleth at the thought of death yet I professe that I am willing to die if it be thy good pleasure I haue receiued life and all the blessings of this life from thee what shall I render backe to thee for them I will willingly receiue this Cup of death and praise thy Name Psal 31.6 I commend into thy hands my spirit and whither thou disposest of me to liue or die I resigne it to thy good will and disposition and humblie pray thee that if thou seest it good for mee to prolong my dayes on earth that thou wouldst renew my conuersation by the direction of thy holy Spirit that I may passe those dayes in thy feare if thou be otherwise pleased to dispose of me take mee I beseech thee into the armes of thy mercie for Iesus Christs sake my only Sauiour and Redeemer Or thus O GOD of all consolation who hast promised to heare all those that faithfully call vpon thee and not to reiect any that with a contrite heart and penitent soule shall humble himselfe before thee I humbly intreat thee in the name and mediation of thy Sonne Iesus Christ that thou wouldest bee pleased to bee mercifull to mee thy poore Seruant at this time afflicted with sicknesse O Lord pardon forget and blot out of thy remembrance whatsoeuer I haue committed against thee in the whole course of my life Seale and confirme vnto me by thy Spirit a pardon vnto me for all my offences that I may thereby receiue such comfort in my soule that I may with all ioy and willingnesse depart out of this life vnto thee Let me be certified that there is Rom. 8.1 no condemnation to those which are vnited and engraffed into Iesus Christ by Faith that I may be confident 32. that neither my sinnes death the Deuill nor ought else can draw me away or separate me from thee and that I may be assured that thy Throne will not be to me a Barre of seueritie but a Hauen of safety and a sure Sanctuary and refuge for mee to flie vnto Strengthen this Faith in me which may serue as a Buckler to defend me from all tentations and that forsaking the confidence or strength of all other things I may flie wholly to thy mercy in Christ Iesus whereby I may be protected from the Terrors of thy Iudgement Grant vnto mee distressed sinner these graces euen for the same Iesus Christ his sake who with thee and the Holy Spirit liueth and raigneth for euer Or thus ALmightie and euerlasting God whose yeares faile not and who hast determined the daies of man which he cannot passe yet thy selfe endurest for euer and thy Throne from generation to generation Remember that I am but dust like grasse and my dayes as the flower of the field which flourisheth in the morning and in the euening is dried vp and withered Psal 39.5 O let me know my end make me mindefull of my mortalitie Psal 39.14 I am a stranger with thee and a soiourner as all my fathers were and cannot promise my selfe one houre much lesse any dayes or yeares in this my Pilgrimage Psal 6.2.3 I am like a tottering wall and a broken fence giue mee grace therefore that I trust not in the vncertainty of this life like the rich foole in the Gospell but that I may euery houre Luc. 12. prepare my selfe in thy feare to passe out of this fraile mansion and to expect thee with a solid faith and firme hope waiting cheerefully for the day and time of my dissolution Tit. 2.13 And looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of our Saniour Iesus Christ Make me like the faithfull and wise seruant euer ready and prepared for the comming of my Lord lest being suddenly preuented I bee taken like a Bird in the snare of the Fowler O Lord thou hast by this gentle correction put me in minde of my mortalitie giue me also Grace that I may make good vse of it that I may cast of all the cares of this world and wholly betake my selfe to make my peace with thee And I humbly pray thee that thou wouldst not forget me in my paines and miseries in all my infirmities be not farre from me when by reason of the terrors of death and assaults of the enemie I shall haue most neede of thy helpe but strengthen my soule with thy holy grace against all tentation that my Faith faile mee not but that thy holy Spirit assisting me I may ouercome my spirituall enemies and at the houre of death Lord I beseech thee let thy seruant depart in peace according to thy Word Luc. 2.29 Or thus BLessed Lord Iesus Christ the only comfort of the liuing and the eternall life of those which dye in thee I wholly submit my selfe to thy blessed Will whether it please thee to suffer my soule any longer to liue in this earthly Tabernacle to serue thee or to haue it depart out of this transitory world being certainely assured that it cannot perish being committed to thy keeping O Lord I put of this fraile flesh with a willing minde in the hope of the Resurrection of it at the last day togither with my soule when it will become much more glorious and happie then now it is I beseech thee O Lord Iesu strengthen mee with thy Grace against all temptations and defend mee with the shield of thy mercie against all the assaults of the Deuill I know that of my selfe I haue no strength wherefore my whole confidence is in thee I haue no merits of mine owne to alleadge for I see many yea too many of my sins to stand vp against me but by thy mercy I trust that thou wilt repute â—…e amongst the Iust Thou wert borne for me didst hunger thirst fast and pray for me thou didst many good workes and sufferedst many bitter things for my sake Let thy blood wash away the spots of my offences Let thy Iustice couer my vnrighteousnesse and thy Merits plead for me before the great and seuere Iudge And as my sicknesse encreaseth let thy Grace encrease that my faith faile not my hope wauer not nor my loue to thee waxe cold Let me not bee cast downe or deiected with the terror of death but when death shall seize on the eyes of my body let the eyes of my soule looke to thee and when the vse of my tongue shall faile me let my heart crie vnto thee Psal 31.6 I commend my spirit into thy hands O Lord who liuest and raignest c. Psal 23.4 Although thou kill me yet will I trust in thee and though I walke in the midst of the shadow of death yet will I not feare because thou Lord art with me A short Table of the chiefe Heads contained in this Booke A Generall Exhortation to Prayer page 1 In regard of Gods Precept 2 Promise 3 Christs example ibid. The Necessity ibid. The Dignitie 4 The Benefit 5 Directions how to Pray 1. To God only 8 2. In Faith 9 3. In Hope 10 4. In Charitie ibid. 5. In Humilitie of Spirit 12 13 Of Body 14 6. In Perseuerance 15 with feruency and attention 17 The Time for Prayer 20 The Place for Prayer 21 How to pray aright 22 Prayer diuided into Parts 25 The vse of the Lords Prayer 28 The Lords Prayer analysed 32 Petitions for spirituall Graces 68 A Prayer before Prayer 78 Before a Sermon 80 Petitions for temporall blessings 82 Rules for the Morning 84 Morning prayers priuate 85 For a Family 97 Rules for the Euening and Night 102 Euening prayers priuate 105 For a Family 116 Prayers For a married man 121 For a married woman 124 For a Childe 126 For a woman with Childe 128 For a young man or maid 129 For a Seruant 132 Before a Iourney 133 After a Iourney 135 Intercession 137 Deprecation 140 In affliction 145 In time of Pestilence 147 The Creed analysed 152 Confession of Gods Glory 164 Motiues to Repentance 169 The Dutie of Repentance 175 Confession of sinnes 179 Seuen Penitentiall Psalmes analysed 218 Direction before the Sacrament 259 Meditations and Prayers before the Sacrament 263 Meditations and Prayers after the Sacrament 276 Motiues to Thankesgiuing 285 Thankesgiuings 289 Seuen Psalmes of Thankesgiuing analysed 305 Imprecation 345 The Tenne Commandements analysed 350 Meditations of death 384 Meditations for the sicke 387 Prayers for the sicke 395 FINIS Faults escaped Page 38. line 16. in the margent reade Hallowed p. 80. l. â—… r. thou p. 97. in the mar r Gen. 1.26.9.6 p. 114. l. 7. r. seuenty times seuen p. 116. l. 9. r. sleep in peace p. 119 l. vlt. r. powre p. 130. l. 1. r. selfe be able to get p. 144. l. 13. r. sentence Depart p. 156. l. 9. put out vs. p. 164. l. vlt. r. bosome p. 169 l. 9. r. who p. 178. l. 5. r. Repentance p. 190. l. 6. r. I haue brought forth p. 211. l. 15. r. art patient p. 267. l. 16. r. long p. 271. l. 6. r. the greatnesse p. 291. 17. r. damnation p. 297. l. 16. r. Iust man of a sinner p. 307. l. 23. r. thy vicegerent p. 309. l. 15. r. triumph p. 314. l. 8. r. to the end that all p. 323. l. 17. for not onely r. as well p. 328. l. 23. r. felt p. 329 l. 7. r. with p. 340. l. 13. r. wherewith p. 341 l 26. r. generations p. 345. l. 14. r. incorrigible p. 374. l. 10. r. beatificall
towards God then presently God will withdraw his hand of mercy and bounty from vs. Thankesgiuing I Thanke thee O mercifull Father Lord of heauen and earth for all thy mercies and fauours continually heaped vpon me for that thou hast not onely created me after thine owne Image and likenesse Gen. 9.6 and giuen to me a body with all the parts and members thereof and a soule with all the powers and faculties thereof that with them and by them I might know loue and serue thee but that thou hast so gratiously preserued both body and soule from time to time from all dangers Thou hast alwayes beene my refuge in tribulations and my defence and succour in aduersities When I went astray thou didst reduce me into the right way when I offended thee thou didst gently correct me when I was sad thou didst comfort me and when for the grieuousnesse of my sinnes I was ready to despaire thou of thy mercy and compassion didst strengthen me and keepe me from vtter ruine I acknowledge O Lord thy more then fatherly indulgence toward me from my birth to this present time for volesse thou of thy goodnesse hadst vpheld me I had long ere this time beene drowned and ouerwhelmed in the bottomlesse gulfe of my sinnes But thou hast deliuered me from the iawes of the roaring Lyon who hath daily sought to deuoure me 1. Pet. 5.8 and hast defended me from al his snares and assaults And as thou hast of thy mercy preserued my soule from destruction so thou hast oftentimes deliuered my body from the gates of death when many sickenesses and infirmities tooke hold of me I thanke thee also O Lord for all other thy temporall blessings which thou in plentifull manner hast heaped vpon me as foode rayment wealth possessions and children For my health and liberty for the prerogatiue which thou hast giuen mee ouer all thy creatures in their subiection to my seruice and vse I thanke thee also O Sweete Sauiour for the infinite worke of my Redemption and for thy exceeding great loue in accomplishing that great worke that thou wouldest suffer so many torments sorrowes labours and griefes yea so bitter and disgracefull a death euen the death of malefactors to Redeeme me from a most desperate and certaine state of damantion which I must iustly haue fallen into to a state of Glory and Immortality which I by no meanes could haue deserued I thanke thee also O Lord most holy for all other thy Spirituall graces and blessings as my Regeneration Vocation Sanctification for thy blessed Sacraments for my preseruation and hope of glorification O Lord I am not sufficient to render vnto thee condigne thankes and praises for all these thy mercies yet accept I humbly pray thee these poore and weake thankes which I offer vnto thee according to my bounden duty and Seruice For as there is no houre of my life wherein I doe not enioy thy fauours and taste of thy goodnesse so if my frailty would permit I should spend no time of my life without remembring them and praising and blessing thee for the same Glory bee therefore to thee O Lord my Creator Glory be to thee O Iesus my Redeemer Glory be to thee O Holy Ghost my Sanctifier Glory to the high and vndiuided Trinitie whose workes are inseparable and whose dominion endureth world without end Another ALmightie and euer-liuing God I humbly thanke thy heauenly Maiestie for all thy blessings which thou hast vouchsafed to mee poore and sinfull creature that thou hast created me and giuen to me a body the worke-manship and excellency whereof when I behold and well consider I finde so many seuerall benefits receiued as I haue members veines ioynts sinewes and nerues all which discouer and manifest the wisedome and power of the Maker of them The benefit of which seuerall parts none can so well know as they which want any of them or are grieued with the infirmitie or weakenesse of them I therefore blesse thee that thou hast not created me blinde lame deafe or dumbe euill-shaped or weake in my sences but hast giuen me a sound and right minde in a healthfull body I further praise thy name O Lord for that thou hast infused a soule into this my body a worke so glorious and transcendent that if I were not altogether stupid and void of all Iudgement I would not by my actions account so basely of it as I seeme to doe nor defile it with such impure contemptible and vucleane workes as I daily commit I thanke thee O Lord that I was not borne among Infidels and amongst those who doe not truely call vpon thy Name but in that part of the world where thy Gospell is truely preached and thy Sacraments duely administred I thanke thee also for thy gratious preseruation of me from my birth to this present houre I confesse O Lord that it is of thy mercy and goodnesse that I am thus preserued for if thou shouldest but with-draw thy hand of preseruation from me it could not be but that in the twinckling of an eye I should miserably perish and returne to nothing I thanke thee that thou hast of thy prouidence appointed all thy Creatures for my sustenance and seruice some for health and some for delight Grant O Lord that I may vse them to those ends for which thou hast created them and that by them I may be mooued truely to meditate on thy goodnesse and seriously praise thee for them I further thanke thee O Father that when as by our first parents fall all mankinde was in the state of damnation it pleased thee not to deale with vs as thou diddest with Lucifer whom thou vtterly expelledst thy presence but to send thy onely Sonne from thy bosome into this world that by his bitter death we might be restored to our former estate I acknowledge O Lord that I owe much vnto thee for my Creation but much more for my Redemption For what would it haue profited me nay what misery should I not haue suffered to haue beene borne and afterward to be condemned for euer I thanke thee O Lord that thou hast also vouchsafed to call me out of the depth of darkenesse and shadow of death wherein I lay by the admirable light of thy Iustifying Grace to the true knowledge and loue of thee It is not the least of thy benefits O Lord it sheweth not the least part of thy power that thou hast called me from so vile an estate whereinto I had cast my selfe after Baptisme and in the same had continued many yeeres rebelliously to the estate of Saluation For it must needs be acknowledged that thy mercy is great in pardoning sinners their offences but withall it cannot be denied but that thy power is greater in making sinners righteous and iust Great was the benefit of my Creation but by that act I was only made the Son of man but greater is the benefit of Iustification for thereby in Christ I am made the
prescribe vnto his Disciples a forme of Prayer to be offered vp to thee and hast deriued the same from them to vs. Behold me most wretched sinner wholly depraued and corrupt intreating thee by the same Sonne that for his sake thou wouldest infuse thy holy Spirit into mee which may adopt me into the number of thine Elect that it may teach me how I ought to pray according to thy Holy Will that it may allay all troublesome and wandering thoughts in me while I offer vp my prayers and praises vnto thee Suffer me not to serue thee with my lippes and be absent in heart from thee but create a right spirit within me that I being sensible of all thy graces and comforts may with ioyfull and holy zeale performe my dutie to thee that so my prayers and desires may appeare before thee and in thy Sonnes Name I may effectually be heard and my petitions may bee granted to the glory and honour of thy most Holy Name and the endlesse comfort of mine owne Soule through the same our only Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ Before a Sermon O Most louing SAVIOVR I most humbly intreat thee that rhou wouldest be pleased at this time to enlighten my vnderstanding and to open my inward eares with the grace of thy holy Spirit that I may heare the Sacred VVord with an humble heart and reioyce in it in the obedience of the Spirit that I may be fully instructed thereby how to doe good and auoid euill and bring forth the fruite thereof in my life and conuersation that thy Honour and Glory may bee thereby increased the Deuill and all other the enemies of my soule may bee vanquished my Soule may bee saued and at the last I may appeare with boldnesse before thy Tribunall and receiue the reward of a good and faithfull seruant euen his Masters ioy euerlasting Blessednesse and that by thy merits onely O Blessed Sauiour Petitions for Temporall Blessings In which we are to desire of God THat he would be pleased to continue vnto vs The Blessing of a good King iust and religious To giue vnto vs Magistrates and Iustices vpright and carefull to see good Lawes duely executed Teachers to direct vs in the Truth That he would blesse vs with Length and goodnesse of Dayes Health of Body Contentednesse of Minde Competencie of Estate Foode and Rayment Conueniencie of Dwelling Wholesomenesse of Ayre Fruitefulnesse of Cattell That he would make vs happy In Wedlocke In Children In Faithfull friends In Peaceable louing neighbors In Honest Seruants In Skilfull Phisicians That hee would preserue Our Goods Good Name Our Senses and vnderstanding That he would protect vs From Trouble From Enemies From Dangers From Losses From Sicknesses That he would giue Peace To all Nations To our Land In our priuate dwellings Rules to be obserued in the Morning WHen thou awakest in the Morning shut and close vp the entrance to thy heart from all vncleane prophane and euill thoughts and let the consideration of God and goodnesse enter in When thou art arisen and art ready retire thy selfe to thy Closet or other priuate place and offer to God the first fruits of the Day and in praying to him and praysing him remember 1. To giue him thankes for thy quiet rest receiued for deliuering thee from all dangers ghostly and bodily and for all other his benefits to thee 2. Offer vnto him thy selfe and all things that thou dost possesse and desire him to dispose of thee and them according to his good pleasure 3. Craue his Grace to guide thee and to strengthen thee from and against all Tentations that so thou mayest doe nothing the day following contrary to his will 4. And lastly beg of him according to the Rules before prescribed all things needfull for the Soule and Body To which purpose pray as followeth Morning Prayer I Thanke thee O Heauenly Father LORD of Heauen and Earth for all thy Blessings which I vndeseruedly haue receiued from thee that thou gauest me a being from honest Parents and in that part of the world where thy Sonne Christ Iesus is purely professed that thou didst endue me with reason and vnderstanding and didst also giue mee perfect members and sences that thou hast preserued me since my birth and vouchsafed me health and liberty and a competencie of meanes to maintaine me and those whom thou hast placed vnder me that thou hast Elected me in thy Loue Redeemed me by thy Sonne Sanctified me by thy Spirit and kept me this night past from all perills of body and Soule and giuen me a sweete and comfortable rest O Lord I commend into thy hands my soule and body thoughts words and actions and humblie beseech thee that thou wouldest guide and order them all to thy honour and glory and my endlesse and eternall happinesse Enlighten my minde that the Darkenesse and cloudy mists of mine offences being dispelled I may walke before thee in my vocation without offence as in the day cleane vnspotted and vnblameable Giue vnto me thy Holy Spirit which may bridle my vaine cogitations and head-strong desires and order thou I beseech thee my words and rectifie all my actions O Lord as thou hast of thy bounty raised vp my body from sleepe so stirre vp my drowzie soule from the sleepe of sinne and carnall securitie Let my body be euer assistant to my soule in all good actions in this life that they may both be partakers of life euerlasting Thou O Lord hast promised to those which shall faithfully aske all things necessary for this life giue I beseech thee vnto mee if it seeme good vnto thee such a competent estate as shall be expedient to support my life in a ciuill modest and religious manner Giue vnto me that which shall be conuenient but especially O Lord 1. Tim. 6.8 a heart and minde contented with whatsoeuer thou shalt be pleased to allot vnto me Grant O Lord that in thy Name I may cast forth my net into the Sea of this world and diligently carefully and with an vpright conscience follow that vocation in which thou hast placed me that by thine aid and assistance I may prosper and haue good successe in all my affaires Blesse O Lord the Kings Maiesty gouerne his heart in thy feare and guide his vnderstanding to doe those things which shall be acceptable to thee and profitable to his kingdomes Giue him louing and loyall Subiects and suppresse his open and secret enemies And together with him blesse his Queene make her as the fruitfull Vine on the house top Psal 128.3 Blesse all the estate Ecclesiasticall and Ciuill from the highest to the lowest Comfort the comfortlesse and helplesse Bring all Trauellers to their owne beings in safety and direct all vpon the Seas to their safe Ports Shew the light of thy Truth to those which wander out of the right way Giue to all sinners true and hearty repentance strengthen those which haue begun well and giue them thy
dishonest and fleshly lusts let not the heate of vnlawfull concupiscene take hold of me but make me to bee fully pleased and satisfied with her loue and to loue her as Christ loued his Church to cherish and comfort her as mine owne bodie and to haue as great a care of her health as of mine owne Grant that we may liue in peace without debate in vnity without discord like the members of one bodie equally desirous to praise thy holy Name And as thou hast O Lord bestowed many children vpon vs giue vs discreet hearts and vnderstanding mindes to bring them vp in thy Faith and Feare in a religious honest and ciuill manner Giue them obedient hearts to thee and to thy commandements and to all that thou requirest of them to be performed in duety towards vs their Parents Keepe them from those which are ready to seduce them and so lead them in thy Faith Feare and Knowledge that they prooue not a curse but a blessing vnto vs and thereby attaine to that blessing which thou hast promised to those which honor and obey their Parents Grant likewise O Lord that I may guide and instruct the familie which is vnder me in thy feare and in honest and carefull manner prouide as well for their bodies as their soules And giue them the like Grace O Lord to performe their duties in feare and obedience not as eye-seruers but in simplicitie of heart as in thy sight And giue vs O Lord a competencie of estate to mainetaine our selues children and family according to that ranke or calling wherein thou of thy goodnesse hast placed vs without excesse riot or vaine-glory and in singlenesse and purenesse of heart with all humility relying vpon thy blessed will who knowest better then wee our selues what is needfull for vs To thee be all Honour and Glory now and for euer For a married Woman O Mercifull and louing Lord God who in the beginning for the propagation of mankinde didst take Eue out of the side of Adam Gen. 2.22 and gaue her to him as an helper Gen. 2.20 I giue thee humble thankes that thou hast vouchsafed to call me to the honourable estate of Matrimony Giue me grace O Lord that I may lead a life worthy thereof that I may loue my husband with a pure and chaste loue acknowledge him for my Head and truly reuerence and obay him in all good things that thereby I may please him and liue quietly with him Grant that I bee not carried away with the vaine fashions of this World but may put on such habits as shal be agreeable and suitable with the estate of my husband and may become a modest woman to weare Helpe me O Lord that I may vnder him prudently and discreetly guide and gouerne his houshould and family and carefully looke that nothing be either carelesly lost or wickedly committed in my house Fit me with those good Graces which the wise man described in a good woman Pro. 31. and Saint Peter in Holy and Sanctified Matrons Giue me such care 1. Pet. 3. concerning the education of my Children as belongeth to my part that I may liue to see them prosper in this life and afterwards we may all be receiued to thy eternall Kingdome through Iesus Christ our Lord. For a Childe O Almighty Lord God to whom the obedience of Children to their Parents is most acceptable and all disobedience most displeasing who hast promised a Blessing to the dutifull and threatned a curse Exod. 20. to the disobedient children I beseech thee to put away from me the detestable sinne of disobedience and rebellion against my Parents and giue me grace to obserue them with all kinde of dutie to obey them in all their iust commands and to be aiding and helpefull to them at all time of their need Giue me grace to beare all their reproofes and errors patiently and not to grieue them by stubborne and euill courses Let me not bee so farre depriued of thy Grace that I scoffe or deride them though by age or infirmitie they shall faile in their Iudgement or Reason but cause me to supply their wants lest that I hauing plenty and they being in any neede or distresse I not supplying it nor succouring them their liues to whom I owe mine may be in danger to be shortned Lord forgiue all the offences which I haue heretofore committed against them Increase the number of their dayes keepe them safe in body and minde let them see their Childrens Children to their comfort and thy Glory Let them gouerne vs and the rest of their family with wholsome Discipline and good example that at the last they may in their due time depart this life in peace and come to thy Kingdome vnspotted through Iesus Christ our Lord. For a woman with Childe O Blessed Lord God who for the offence of the first woman Gen. 3.16 didst denounce and impose an ineuitable curse vpon all her posterity namely that they should conceiue in sinne and bee subiect to many grieuous paines and should bring forth their children with great danger Asswage I beseech thee of thy goodnesse the sharpnesse of that decree and preserue mee that I may ouercome and escape this great danger and be deliuered of the fruite of my body without perill of death and that it may safely be brought to the Sacred Font of Baptisme and be regenerated and ingraffed into the mysticall body of Christ and be made partaker of his death and passion And as thou hast of thy bounty giuen bodily life to it and me so grant to vs both life spirituall and so Sanctifie our Bodies and Soules heere that hereafter we may liue among thy blessed Saints for euer in the life to come For a young man or Maid O Lord forasmuch as I am at these yeares in the heate of the flesh and in the most dangerous time of my life I beseech thee take not thy mercy and fatherly prouidence from me but by how much the greater danger of tentations I am in with so much the more care let thy grace preserue me lest happily I become a prey to mine enemies who goe about to load me with so many sinnes that if they preuaile I shall neuer of my selfe to get from vnder the burthen of them But O mercifull Father distrusting in mine owne strength I betake my selfe wholly to thy protection and desire thee both now and euer to keepe me Let me not get that habit of sinning in my younger yeeres that I be forced in my age if I be not stifled before in my offences to be waile the sins of my youth and to say with Dauid Remember not O Lord Psal 25.6 the offences of my youth but rather accustome me from this time forward to all goodnesse that I may daily more and more profit therein and that seruing thee with a pure heart now I may in mine age say with good King Ezekias O Lord remember I beseech
God hath promised thee pardon but no man can promise thee to liue while to morrow If therefore thou hast liued ill hitherto begin to liue well euen to day Therefore wee must haue a speciall care that we deferre not our Repentance from time to time lest we be taken in a time when we least expect and with the Virgins heare that bitter saying I know you not Mat. 25.12 Yet many there are and those too many that so largely promise to themselues Gods expectancy and patience and thereupon so long continue in their euill courses that they are by his indignation at their procrastination so preuented that they neither finde time to conuert nor the Benefit of Remission Wherefore the wise man giueth good and safe counsell Ecclus. 5.7 Make no tarrying to turne to the Lord and put not of from day to day for suddenly shall the wrath of God come forth and in thy security thou shalt be destroyed and perish in the day of vengeance Neither is it so acceptable to God if thou put of thy Repentance till thou art old as if thou returnedst to him in thy dayes of strength for if thou repentest when thou canst sinne no longer thy sinnes leaue thee and not thou them Lastly the most powerfull act of Repentance with God is vnfained sorrow with sighes groanes and weeping accompanying it For teares are euen as the bloud of a wounded soule and ascend vp to the nostrills of God as the Odour of a sweete smelling sacrifice neither doe Teares which are shed without hypocrisie fall to the ground but as Dauid saith Psal 56.8 God telleth and gathereth them and putteth them into his bottle The teares of penitent sinners worke much vpon Gods mercy Peter hauing denied our Sauiour thrice wept bitterly but said nothing We finde that he wept Luc. 22. we finde not what he said yet we see that he made choise to repent rather with teares and no words then with words and no teares Mary Magdalen said nothing but she wept and Christ said vnto her Luc. 7.48 Thy sinnes are forgiuen thee Ezechias wept sore and the Lord said Esa 38.5 I haue heard thy prayers and seene thy teares behold I will adde to thy dayes fifteene yeeres Of teares there are three sorts 1. Naturall which in themselues are neither good nor bad such are those which we spend for the losse of goods friends or the like 2. Euill as the teares of the Hypocrite Harlot and other the Deuills Instruments 3. Good and they are of two kindes First of Hatred or griefe such are the teares we spend in bewailing our sinnes 2 Of Ioy or Loue either for that Comfort which we receiue in our Soules by the Hope that God in Christ Iesus is reconciled to vs or for the Loue and earnest desire we haue to see God in the Communion of Saints Otherwise Teares in themselues are nothing else but plaine water flowing from the Conduits of our heads by the pipes of the eyes a meere excrement The Dutie of Repentance THis Dutie of Repentance consisteth of two parts 1. Mortification of the old man which is the first degree of Regeneration 2. Quickning of the New which is the second Mortification is an act of the holy Spirit in vs Rom. 6.4.5.6 who doth by little and little quench and abate in our soules and bodies the naturall strength of our corruption which was crept into vs partly originally by Adams fall Colos 3. which is that we meane by the old man and partly that Sinne which we haue actually encreased by our owne frailty It consisteth 1. In our acknowledgement of Sinne. 2. In our Contrition and Sorrow for it Both which Psal 38.18 are set down in one Verse of the Psalmist 1. Our acknowledgement is either 1. Inward 2. Outward 1. Inward acknowledgement is when we feele the burden of our sinnes pressing vs downe our consciences accusing vs Psal 38.5 Rom. 2.15 and our thoughts testifying against vs. 2. Outward Psal 38.39 is when we make Confession of them by speech or other outward actions And this Confession of Sinne is a Publication or manifestation of our vnworthinesse and guilt whereby we testifie and bewaile that we haue sinned against God and haue withall a settled resolution and purpose to offend him no more Confession is either Publique Priuate Publique Confession is when vpon the Sabbath day or other dayes appointed for Gods worship we in the open Congregation together or after the Minister doe confesse our sinnes to God Priuate is either 1. To God in our Closets or other priuate places as Psal 32.5 38.9.18 41.4 51. 2. Sam. 24.10 Dan. 9. 2. To men Iam. 5.16 2. Contrition is a sorrow and griefe of the conscience and mourning of the Soule because we haue offended God hauing also ioyned with it a displeasure against our selues and a true humiliation both of soules and bodies as Iam. 4.9 Esa 66.2 Ezec. 36.1 41.10 Ion. 3.8 2. King 22.19 Mat. 5.4 2. Cor. 7.9,10,11 Quickning of the new man is when we returning to God liue spiritually and haue a desire for the time to come to please Him this is also called a Conuersion to God And this we doe 1. By auoiding euill 2. Following that which is good Both comprehended Psal 34.14 Esa 1.16,17 The Benefits we receiue by Repentace are The deferring of Gods punishments due for sinne Psal 95.10 The mitigation of his displeasure Psal 89.32.33 2. Chr. 30.8 Ion. 3. Ezech. 33. Ioh. 3.10 1. King 21.29 Dan. 4.27 The auerting of his iudgements The escaping of eternall death The prolonging of our prosperity The attaining of Eternall Life Confession of sinnes Ier. 9. WHo will giue Water to my Head or Teares to mine Eyes that I may day and night bewaile my sinnes and ingratitude against thee O GOD my Creator Many things there are which terrifie mens consciences and bring them to the true sence of their sinnes but nothing is so auaileable thereunto as the contemplation of the greatnesse of thy goodnesse and the multitude of thy Benefits That therefore O Lord my poore wretched soule may the better see and consider in what state it stands I will recount thy manifold Blessings and withall the number of my sinnes that thereby also I may more clearely vnderstand who thou art and what I am how gratious a God thou hast been to me and how vile and rebellious a sinner I haue beene to thee There was a time O Lord as thy diuine Maiestie best knowest when I was not and thou tookest me out of the dust of the earth and gauest me a being creating in me a soule after thine owne similitude and likenesse and made it capable of thy Glory Thou didst create my Body with all the members and sences thereof Thou didst create my Soule with all the powers and faculties thereof And as thou didst create me so of thy especiall goodnesse thou didst preserue me in my mothers wombe
Heauen his Fathers bosome did the Lord Iesus behold the earth and had compassion vpon all the Sonnes of men 20 To heare and pitie the groaning of the prisoners such as did groane vnder the burden of the law and to loose and set at liberty by his passion and intercession those of the posterity of Adam that are appointed to suffer death for not fulfilling the same 21 To the end that they being so deliuered may declare and shew the power and the Name of the Lord which is Iesus the Sauiour in Sion his Church and magnifie and extoll his praise in Ierusalem his holy habitation 22 When the faithfull people which are yet dispersed ouer the face of the earth are gathered together and made one congregation and the Kingdomes of the earth which are yet in darknesse are instructed to serue thee the only Lord of Heauen and earth 23 He euen the Lord in the time of this expectation hath weakened and abated my strength so that I can doe no good of my selfe in the way of this my earthly pilgrimage he hath shortned and cut off my dayes by afflicting me for my sinne 24 I said yet in this weakenesse and anguish of my soule O my God withdraw not now thy mercy from me and take me not away out of this world in the midst of my dayes in the chiefe time of my strength as for thy yeeres as they are from all eternity so shall they endure throughout all generations euen for euer 25 Of old at the beginning of time hast thou of thine owne power layd and created the foundations of the earth the visible world anwd all things in it and the heauens and firmament thereof are the onely worke of thy almighty hands and power 26 They euen heauen and earth and all things in them shall passe away and perish from the forme they now haue but thou O Lord the creator of them shalt endure immutable Yea without all doubt all of them as thou hast decreed shall waxe old and consume with age like a garment long worne and as a vesture or garment shalt thou by the sound of the last trump change and dissolue them and they shall yeeld to thy power and be changed 27 But thou O Lord art the same alwayes vnchangeable and thy yeeres being from all eternity shall haue no end but continue for euer 28 The children and posterity of thy faithfull Seruants begotten by the seedes-men of thy Word shall continue in grace in this life and their righteous seed shall stand fast and be established for euer together with them in glory hereafter and enioy euerlasting happinesse before thee in thy blessed presence Glory be to the father c. 6 Psalme 130. 1 OVt of the depth of tentations dangers and sorrowes for my sinnes wherein my Spirit is almost ouerwhelmed haue I by feruent prayer cryed and called vnto thee O Lord who onely art able to giue me reliefe 2. Lord of thy mercy haste thee and heare my voyce and petition and deliuer me from my misery O my God Let thine eares of pitie and compassion be attentiue to consider and well weigh the lamentable voyce of my humble supplications and let not my prayer returne vnpitied or vnheard of thee 3 If thou Lord contrary to thy disposition shouldest be so exact and extreame as in the rigour of thy Iustice to marke the iniquities which we by our naturall corruption dayly fall into and punish vs accordingly O good Lord who none not the most vpright shall be able to answere one for a thousand or stand before thee without much horror at thy Iudgement seate 4 But for the comfort of poore wretched sinners and to keepe vs from vtter desperation we finde it recorded by the holy Spirit that There is forgiuenesse of sinnes and mercy towards sinners repenting with thee by Iesus Christ who came to saue sinners and yet this mercy of thine is tyed with such conditions that thou who also art Iust mayest be also feared lest thy lenity be abused 5 I for my part wait and confidently expect for the Lord to receiue mercy from him My sinfull but repentant soule doth wait to receiue consolation and in his Word whereby he promiseth mercy to repentant sinners doe I hope and place my whole confidence because I know that he which hath promised is Iust 6 My sinfull Soule in this expectation waiteth for the Lord and tarieth his good pleasure to comfort it more earnestly then they that in a disconsolate long night watch for the morning yea I say it againe more zealously then they that are weary of the night and watch for the light of the morning 7 Let Israel and all Gods faithfull people hope still and put their trust in the goodnesse of the Lord and not without cause For with the Lord though hee iustly take vengeance on vs for our sinnes yet there is euer was and will bee found Mercy towards penitent sinners and with him by Iesus Christ is not onely forgiuenesse for a few sinnes but plenteous redemption from the captiuity of the Deuill and sinne 8 And he euen Iesus Christ by his merits and intercession shall redeeme and saue Israel and each of his faithfull seruants from all his iniquities and the punishment due for them Glory be to the Father c. 7 Psalme 134. 1. HEare my earnest and humble Prayer O Lord which in misery I make vnto thee Giue eare and be not deafe to my supplications in the time of my distresse but in thy faithfulnesse and truth which endureth for euer answer me and grant my petition which I make not trusting in any merits of mine owne but in thy righteousnesse 2 And my further petition to thee is that thou enter not into the throne of thy Iudgement by strictly examining my misdeeds and dealing rigorously with me thy poore Seruant who hath misspent his talent for in thy all-seeing sight shall no man liuing in this vale of misery be iustified or found innocent 3 For the old enemie of mankinde the Deuill hath by his malice persecuted and sought to entrap my soule to separate it from the loue of thee he hath smitten and cast my life and soule downe to the ground and filled me full of earthly desires he hath made and caused me to dwell and take pleasure in the darkenesse of my sinnes as those that are without sence and haue beene long dead 4 Therefore O Lord considering my desperate estate is my spirit ouerwhelmed with griefe within me and my heart is disquieted within me and is also desolate and sore troubled 5 I yet in the midst of the sorrowes that are in my heart doe remember what I haue read and heard what thou hast done in the dayes of old how that thou hast beene gratious to the penitent and seuere against the vnrepentant sinner I meditate also on all thy workes but especially on that of thy mercy and I muse and exercise my selfe in contemplating on the worke
of thy hands admiring thy Power and Wisedome in the creation of all things 6 I stretch forth and lift vp my hands in my prayers vnto thee O Lord my soule which is drie for want of the deaw of thy grace thirsteth after thee for the water of life as a thirsty land in a time of drought 7 Heare me and answer me speedily delay not O Lord for my spirit waxeth faint and faileth me in my deuotion Oh hide not thy face and louing countenance from me miserable sinner least it come to passe that I bee like in condition vnto them that goe downe headlong after their owne inuentions into the pit of destruction and perdition 8 Cause mee by thy spirit to heare and feele thy louing kindnesse and mercy in the morning speedily least I perish for in thee only and not in the helpe of men or Angels doe I place my whole trust and confidence cause mee by thy grace to know and learne the way of thy testimonies wherein I should and ought to walke without declining to the right hand or the left For I lift vp my soule by prayer and repentance vnto thee who only canst direct me aright 9 Deliuer me O Lord by thy power from all mine enemies visible and inuisible for I flie and make hast for succour vnto thee as to my protector to hide and defend me from their violence 10 Teach and instruct mee that am ignorant to doe thy Will and those things which thou commandest for thou art my God and director Thy Spirit is good and all sufficient for me Lead me therefore by it into the right way which bringeth into the land of righteousnes and truth 11 Quicken mee againe O Lord and reuiue mee from the death of sinne for thy Names sake which is Iesus and for thy righteousnesse sake and loue to goodnesse bring my soule by thy grace out of the trouble and anguish whereinto my sinnes haue brought me 12 And of thy tender mercy and compassion cut of and kill in me mine enemies the concupiscences of the flesh and destroy and confound all them that with iniuries and tentations afflict and disquiet my soule which is wholly deuoted to thee for I am thy Seruant and Sonne of thy handmaid and desire to serue thee in holinesse and righteousnesse all the daies of my life Glory be to the Father c. Directions before receiuing the Holy Communion AS many as desire to be partakers of the holy Sacrament of the Bodie and blood of Christ as of necessitte euery one must be that intendeth to receiue benefit by him ought before the taking of it to prepare his soule and fit it for the due receiuing of it and not come to it carelessely without due examination of himselfe and respectiue consideration of the excellency and worth thereof And therefore before the time of communicating wee ought to spend some time or dayes the more the better In meditating vpon the great and vnspeakeable loue and mercy of God toward vs. miserable sinners in ordeining so powerfull a meanes to purge and cleanse vs and bring vs to him In beleeuing all his promises made to vs in Christ Iesus in applying them to our selues in performing the workes of charitie in examining in what estate our soules doe stand in calling to minde our sinnes and confessing them to God in grieuing and repenting for them and that in all humility and Godly sorrow in a Luc. 15.20 returning with the Prodigall smiting our brests with the Publican b Luc. 18.13 weeping with Mary Magdalen begging mercy with the theefe on the Crosse Luc. 7.38 and lastly in promising to God to lead a better life for the time to come Thus if wee doe no doubt but wee shall be welcome guests to this feast as being of that number for whom it was prepared For by how much the more we come prepared to take this Sacrament so much the greater shall bee the grace which we shall receiue by it There are foure Duties required in euery Communicant First Faith to beleeue that Iesus Christ did and suffered all things which are written of him in the Holy Scriptures for the Redemption of mankinde Secondly Repentance by which a man confessing his sinnes to God with a purpose to lead a new life is reconciled to him Thirdly Reuerend behauiour that in all humility we make our selues fit guests for such a feast Fourthly Meditation and Attention that we during the time of the administration of the Sacrament attend no earthly thoughts but wholly fixe our soules vpon our Sauiour Christ and meditate on nothing but this great and high benefit and thereby bee inflamed with a hearty loue and thankefull minde to God not only for his infinite loue in suffering so great things for vs but also for instituting this blessed Sacrament to remaine to the end of the World as a sure pledge of his continuance amongst vs and perpetuall care ouer vs. After we haue communicated and are refreshed wee ought also to be thankfull to God for so great a benefit thankfulnesse being not the least dutie of this seruice The Sacrament it selfe being called Eucharistia which is thankesgiuing and to striue to imitate him as well in life as death to liue purely and not to defile our soules againe being purged and cleansed by the powerfull operation of this blessed Sacrament that so by Examination meditation thankesgiuing faith and constant resolution of amendment Wee may worthily receiue Christ into our soules and be made members of his mysticall bodie Meditations and Prayers before the Communion WHat am I O Lord that I should be so bold as to come neere to thee what am I that should attempt to receiue this so great and high a mystery what is man by nature but a vessell of corruption vnapt to any good and propense and most ready for any euill What is man but a creature of all others most wretched blinde in Iudgement inconstant in his actions vncleane in his desires and though small in desert yet proud and great in his owne conceit Thou seest O Lord what I am But thou O Lord art great good wise and eternall omnipotent in strength wonderfull in wisedome deepe in thy counsells terrible in thy Iudgements and absolutely perfect in all thy workes How then dare I that am so base and vncleane a creature approch to the Feast of so great a God and a Lord of so great Maiestie Behold the Heauens are not cleane in thy sight Iob 15.15 and the pillers of Heauen shake and tremble at thy nod Saint Iohn the Baptist who was sanctified in his mothers wombe professed himselfe not worthy to vnloose the latchâ—t of thy shoes Ioh. 1 27. Saint Peter cried out to thee Luc. 5.8 to depart from him a sinfull man How then can I the chiefe of all sinners but tremble at thy presence O LORD I feare that being thus wretched and vnfit I shall not bee admitted to this Feast but rather
strength in affliction and tentation Let it be a light and guide to my actions and my onely comfort in the day of my dissolution Let the Palate of my soule be so changed thereby that it may relish nothing besides thee Graunt also that I may hunger and thirst after this bread of life and cup of saluation and that I may with a pure minde and chast affection receiue it often that thereby my soule and body may be preserued to life euerlasting To thee be all praise power and dominion ascribed now and for euer Or thus I Yeeld thee all possible thanks O mercifull Lord that of thy owne meere goodnesse and without any merit of mine thou hast so plentifully at this time satisfied me with the extraordinary food of my soule thy blessed body and blood O Lord I heartily repent me of my many sinnes past and am heartily sory when I consider how vnprofitablie and wickedly I haue spent my life hitherto I desire O Lord to amend what is amisse in me bee thou aiding I beseech thee to mee that I may not only duely bewaile and lament for that which is past but take heede to my waies for the time to come And to this end O Lord doe thou strengthen me with thy spirituall aid for without thy helpe and the direction of the Holy Spirit I shall not bee able to doe any good thing or performe that which is pleasing to thee Grant O Lord that I may hereafter faithfully follow and serue thee who hast at this time so louingly vouchsafed to come to me And because through my infirmitie I cannot follow thee as I would be pleased to assist mee with thy power and draw me after thee Let my soule be so strengthned by vertue of this Sacrament that it may esteeme nothing pleasing or delightfull in comparison of thee that it may lust after no transitory thing nor be disquieted with any worldly crosse but by thy assisting grace I may ouercome all the difficulties of this life and blesse thee in the life to come Or thus O Blessed Lord Iesus who of thy vnspeakeable loue hast condescended to my infirmity and vouchsafed in these misteries to come vnto me and hast made me partaker of thy blessed body and blood I humbly intreate thee of thy infinite goodnesse not to looke backe vpon my sinfull life past and to giue me grace to obey thy Commandements hereafter 2. Pet. 2.22 and not to returne to those former sinnes as a dogge to his vomite Grant that this most holy Sacrament may be to me life and Saluation and not turne to my greater punishment and condemnation Graunt that it may cleanse my soule from sinne past and strengthen mee against all tentations to come Graunt that it may bee so wholsome and nourishing to mee that I may walke in the strength thereof all the dayes of my life and at last be brought by thy merits to that place of Glory where thou dost raigne together with the Father and the Blessed Spirit for euer Psal 103. Praise the Lord O my Soule and all that is within me praise his holy Name Praise the Lord O my Soule and forget not all his benefits Which forgiueth all thy sinne and healeth all thine infirmities Which saueth thy life from destruction and crowneth thee with mercy and louing kindnesse Which satisfieth thy mouth with good things c. Motiues to thankesgiuing IT is not the least part of the Duty of a Christian in the sight of God to be thankefull to him for the benefits hee dayly bestoweth upon vs. For as God is kinde mercifull and louing to vs so hee expecteth that wee should render backe thankes to him for those blessings which wee receiue from him For we haue nothing else to retribute to him but a thankefull memoriall of his blessings And this King Dauid well vnderstood when he said what shall I render to the Lord Psal 116.12.17 for all the benefits hee hath done vnto mee I will offer to thee the Sacrifice of thankesgiuing c. As therefore we ought to be diligent in Prayer for those things we want so ought we also to bee perpetually thankefull for them when we haue obtained what we desire And when we haue done all that we can we cannot giue him due praise and thanks for the least part of that which wee daily receiue For if wee respect that which is past present or to come wee shall still meete with matter enough which expresseth his goodnesse and loue to vs and exacteth this Duty from vs. If we consider that which is past then we shall soone perceiue that but for him we had not beene at all nor beene preserued hitherto amongst so many dangers without his protection if that which is present wee cannot but acknowledge that by his alone goodnesse we liue and enioy those blessings wherewith we are loaded beyond desert if that which is to come he is our hope of all good things which we desire or expect either for this life or for the life to come And as God accounteth Thankes-giuing a Duty Psal 50.23.15.14 so hee taketh it for an Honour done vnto him if we performe it He hath so much esteemed of it alwaies euen from the beginning that he reputed and accounted it aboue the rest of the Sacrifices offered vnto him Ose 14.2 Mala. 1.11 Besides we may consider that in the Law God himselfe instituted a peculiar and speciall Sacrifice of oblation of thankes For the Feast of the Paschall Lambe was no other thing but an Eucharisticall or thankfull seruice Exo. 12. in remembrance of the wonderfull deliuery of the Iewes from their seruitude Our Sauiour also instituted the Sacrament of the Eucharist Luc. 22. for a perpetuall remembrance and memoriall of all his benefits to mankinde especially of our Redemption by his death Hester established a feast Hest 9. to preserue a thankefull memory of the Iewes deliuerance from the plots of Haman And in briefe it was generally euermore the practize of Gods Saints to expresse this Duty as may bee seene by many Songs Hymnes Psalmes and Prayers of thankesgiuing which are left vnto vs in the Scriptures as patternes for vs to imitate Of a Exo. 15. Moses and Miriam b Deut. 32. Of Moses alone c Iud. 5. Of Deborah d 1. Sam. 2. Of Hanna e Psal 34.96.103.107.111.113 c. Of Dauid in diuerse places of the Psalmes f Esa 18.10 Of good King Ezechias g Io. 2.3 Of Ionas h Abac. 3.2 Of the Prophet Habacuc i Dan. 3 Of the three Children k Luc. 2.19 Of the Angels l Luc. 1 68. Of Zachary m Luc. 1.46 Of the Blessed Virgin Mary n Act. 4.24 Of the Church o Rene. 5.12 And of the Elders And after those examples of necessity wee must frame our selues for bee sure of this That whensoeuer praise and thankes shall faile and he wanting on our parts
great and glorious a God art mindefull of him in so large a manner and what is the Sonne of man the posterity of sinfull Adam that thou in such measure of mercy visitest and regardest him 5 For if I looke vnto his creation and consider whose Image he beareth I finde that thou hast made him in all respects very little lower in degree then the pure Angells who are honoured with thy presence and hast of thy bounty and especiall fauour crowned him with Glory and Honour in making him so glorious a Creature 6 Thou madest and hast appointed him also the vicegerent on earth to haue dominion and command ouer thy Creatures the workes of thy hands and creation thou hast subiected and put all things which thou hast made vnder his feete to obey and serue him 7 All Sheepe and Oxen Beasts for his foode and sustentation yea and not those only but the vntamed beasts of the field also hast thou made pliable and seruiceable to him 8 The Foule of the Ayre some for foode and some for pleasure and delight and the fish of the vast Sea which is stored with variety and whatsoeuer else passeth swimmeth or liueth through the vnknowne pathes of the Sea are also created by thee to serue him 9 O Lord our Lord when I seriously consider thy power and wisedome in thy worke of creation and the especiall honour and fauour thou she west to mankinde in giuing him this large commission ouer the rest of thy Creatures I cannot but admire and say how excellent and great is thy Name and power in all the kingdomes of the World there is none O Lord worthy to bee compared to thee Glory be to the Father c. 2 Psalme 30. I Will extoll thee and praise thy Name O Lord as long as I liue and not without great cause for thou in thy mercy hast lifted me vp and endowed me with thy blessings and hast not made no nor suffered my foes who intended if thou hadst forsaken mee to reioyce and triumnh ouer me 2 O Lord my God and Sauiour I cried and made my humble supplication vnto thee in my trouble and aduersitie and thou of thy accustomed goodnesse didst gratiously heare mee and hast healed me of all mine infirmities 3 O Lord thou by the power of thy grace hast brought vp and restored to life my sinfull Soule from the Graue of perdition whereinto my sinnes had well nigh cast me Thou hast in thy loue to mee kept mee aliue and preserued mee from my dangerous sicknesses that I should not yet goe downe into the pit of death but liue and praise thy Holy Name 4 Sing and reioyce vnto the Lord our God O ye Saints and faithfull people of his who haue with me felt and tasted of his mercy and giue thankes togither with mee at the remembrance and consideration of his holinesse 5 For his anger and displeasure endureth towards sinners but a moment and short space if they truely turne vnto him and if we truely consider his mercies we shall finde that in his fauour is life to those that lie desperately sicke in their sinnes if he but touch them with his finger of Grace as for weeping heauinesse and affliction it may and of necessity must sometime befall his seruants but yet it shall endure and afflict them for a night a little while only but ioy and comfort commeth againe to refresh them in the morning by sending the light of his countenance vpon them 6 And before I fully vnderstood how God vsed to deale with his Seruants I was so confident of my selfe that in my prosperitie when I felt the grace of God abundantly in mee I said and presumed that I was so fully settled in Gods fauour that â— shall neuer fall or bee remooued from it 7 Lord by thy fauour and goodnesse thou hadst fixed and made my mountaine of Grace to stand so strong that I conceiâ—…d my selfe so secure that I could not slide backe or fall away yet after a while I found by expâ—… that I was in an error for thou didst but hide thy face and a little while obscured thy Grace from mee and being left to my selfe I found such an alteration and defect in mee to doe good that I was therewith sore troubled and disquieted 8 I thereupon presently recalled my selfe and cried earnestly by prayer to thee O Lord and betooke my selfe vnto the Lord who neuer vtterly forsaketh his Seruants and to him I made my earnest supplication neuer ceasing till I obtained his returne and thus I said in my prayer 9 What profit O Lord is there can there be in my blood or death when I goe downe into the pitt or if I die in my sinnes surely none to thee for thou delightest not in blood or in the death of a sinner Shall the dust or they which are resolued thereinto before repentance praise thee or shall it declare thy Truth and shew thy Glory nay verily they shall rather in the horror of punishment blaspheme thy Name Suffer me not therefore O Lord to bee of that reprobate number of which I must needs bee one if thou absent thy selfe or withdraw thy Grace any longer from me 10 Heare mee therefore O Lord and that right soone for my spirit waxeth faint for want of thy Gratious assistance and haue mercy vpon mee in this distresse O Lord I renounce all further confidence in mine owne strength bee thou my only stay and helper Vpon this petition The Lord heard my request and thereupon I turned my prayer into a song of praise and said 11 Thou O Lord art worthy of all honour and praise for thou hast turned for me and for my good my mourning for thy absence into dancing and ioy for thy gratious presence thou hast made mee to put of my sad habite of Sackecloth and sorrow and in stead thereof hast girded and apparrelled me with a vesture of gladnesse euen the peace of conscience And all these things hast thou done for me 12 To the end all my sorrow being remoued and I being deliuered from all feare my glory tongue and heart together may sing praise and thankes to thee who hast done so great things for me and that I should not bee silent in extolling thy mercy And therefore O Lord my God as thy goodnesse deserueth and my duty requireth I will with all the affections and faculties of soule and body giue thankes vnto thee and praise thy Maiestie for euer as the only author and finisher of my Salution Glory be to the Father c. 3 Psalme 34. 1 I Will blesse and praise the Lord for all that hee hath done vnto mee at all times as well in aduersitie as prosperitie and his praise as it shall euer bee in my minde and heart so shall it be continually without intercession in my mouth by declaring it to others 2 My Soule especially shall make her boast and glory in the Lord and not in any thing that is in me so
Promises Ceremonies and the Law it selfe were fulfilled and ended 1 The Promises As Gen. 1.15 the seed of the woman shall breake the Serpents head Gen. 22.18 In thee shall all the Nations of the Earth be blessed 2 The Ceremonies The Priesthood by his eternall Priesthood Psal 110.4 The Sacrifices by his owne Oblation Heb. 7.27 Circumcision Luc. 2.21 3.21 by his Circumcision and Baptisme Passeouer by the Eucharist Mar. 14.22 3 The Lawe By his satisfaction and absolute fulfilling of it in whom was no sinne nor spot Cant. but an absolute and perfect Righteousnesse which Righteousnesse hee hath of his free will and mercy imputed to vs and made ours if with a liuely Faith we apprehend him and beleeue on him And in this respect it may be said that he obserueth and fulfilleth the Law of God who not trusting to himselfe or his owne workes commendeth himselfe wholly to the Grace of God Rom. 8.3.4 2. Cor. 5.21 and seeketh all his righteousnesse by Faith in Christ Iesus So that wee are to rely on those words which Saint Paul spake in his Sermon at Antioch Bee it knowne vnto you therefore Act. 13.38 men and brethren that through this man Christ Iesus is preached vnto you the forgiuenesse of sinnes And by him all that beleeue are iustified from all things from which you could not be iustified by the Law of Moses But yet wee must take this along with vs. That this Faith whereby we beleeue that Christ satisfied the Lawe and is become our Righteousnesse and Perfection is meerely by Gods Grace and Fauour infused into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which stirreth vp in vs a loue and desire to keep the Law of God which though the same desire neuer attaineth to perfection while we liue in these earthly tabernacles for the frailtie and indisposition of the Flesh yet God in his mercy accepteth the same for Christs sake For the better conceiuing of the drift and scope of these Commandements wee are to take notice of two things 1 Whereas in euery Commandement the grossest sinne tending to the breach of that commandement is only forbidden by name yet wee are to conceiue that all sinnes of that nature though lesser in degree and not named togither with the prouocations thereunto are likewise inclusiuely contained in that prohibition 2 And where any Vertue is commanded to be obserued there all the Vices and Sinnes contrary to that Vertue are forbidden And where any Vice is prohibited there all opposite Vertues to it are enioyned Meditations of Death THat all men must dye being long since enacted by Statute in the Parliament of Heauen vnrepealed and the knowledge of the day of Death being by God kept from vs Aug. in Psal 34. Conc. 1. lest we should promise to our selues any thing for future time I shall not neede to spend many words to proue either the absolute necessitie of the one or the vncertaintie of the other Only giue mee leaue to conclude this worke with a few meditations and Prayers which may serue as well for those who feele the hand of God by sickenesse as for those which are in perfect health to meditate and thinke vpon that they be not taken vnprouided And this exercise of Meditation of death and resolution to die ought not to seeme strange or hard to Christians For the Philosopher in his time accounted all dayes spent without serious consideration of our end to be but fondly consumed and affirmed that the whole life of a wise man Plato was nothing but a meditation of death And therefore it hath been obserued that Abraham Gen. 23.3 19. when he was in the Land of Canaan purchased no more Land then would serue to bury his dead To teach vs that we should not fixe or fasten our mindes upon the transitory things of the World but haue our affections bent vpon another world and meditate vpon the day of our death which bringeth two benefits with it first it deliuereth vs out of many cares and troubles and secondly it leadeth vs to ioyes vnspeakeable The first of these benefits the Heathen man could see Artabanus to Xerxes Herod l. 7. by the light of Nature when hee said that No man liued in so flourishing estate who if not often yet once iâ— his life did not desire rather to die then to liue For the vnauoidable calamitie and greeuous diseases incident to this life doe so often disquiet and vexe a man that notwithstanding our life is naturally short yet sometime it seemeth ouer long vnto him And therefore saith he Death is the most acceptable and wished for Sanctuary and place of refuge for a life full of misery and griefe And for the second take amongst many that of Saint Cyprian Cypr. Wee passe by death to immortality neither can wee come or attaine to eternall life but by leauing this life Nor is our corporall death to bee accounted an end or period of life but a passage to a better for by this temporall journey wee passe to Eternitie For this separation of the soule and body commonly called Death if we consider the true scope and aime of God in it is not inflicted by him as a seuere Iudge to punish the Elect but as a most mercifull Father who only calleth his Children from a dungeon of misery to a place of all felicitie and happinesse And this is that which hath alwaies made the Godly to leaue this life with such willingnesse and ioy and to endure with so great courage and constancie all their greatest agonies Meditations for the sicke Set thy house in order for thou shalt die Esa 38.1 Iob. 19.25 I Know that my Redeemer liueth and that he shall stand at the latter day vpon the earth Iob. 19.26 And that I shall be againe cloathed with this skin and in my flesh I shall see God Iob. 19.27 whom I my selfe shall see and mine eyes shall behold This hope is laid vp in my brest Lord let me know mine end and the number of my dayes that I Psal 39.5 may be certified how long I haue to liue Psal 39.6 Behold thou hast made my dayes as it were a span long and mine age is as nothing in respect of thee and verily euery man liuing is altogether vanity Psal 39.7 For man walketh in a vaine shadow and disquieteth himselfe in vaine he heapeth vp riches and cannot tell who shall gather them Psal 39.8 And now Lord what is nay hope truely my hope is euen in thee Psal 39.9 Deliuer me from all mine offences and make me not a rebuke to the foolish Psal 3911. Take away thy stroake from me for I am consumed by the meanes of thy heauy hand Psal 39.12 When thou with rebukes dost chasten man for sinne thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moath fretting a garment euery man therefore is but vanity Psal 39.13