excellent benefite but of all power to be dulye thankefull for the same Wee haue blemished thine honour defaced thine Image brought a cursse vpon our selues and miserable thraldome vpon the rest of thy good creatures Wee haue left our selues nothing but miserie and wretchednesse shame and nakednesse nothing but mortalitie terrours of death fearefull expectation of iudgements and euerlasting confusion And albeit there be left vnto vs some reliques of vnderstanding as the candle-light of nature for direction by which we are able to discerne some few things vnder heauen yet when wee consider how some of our brethren made of the same mould are borne into the worlde naturall fooles and starke ideods who by due might challenge as much as the best of vs wee are thereby driuen to confesse that this small remnant of thine image is deriued vnto vs not by any right of inheritance but onelye by the indulgence of such a faithfull creatour who in the middest of thy iudgementes doest remember mercie Yet cursed creatures that wee are no sooner doe wee receiue a good guift of nature from thee but wee arme our selues thereby the more to worke mischiefe turning sweetenesse into poyson and imploying all the naturall powers and faculties of soule and bodye as instrumentes and weapons of vnrighteousnesse vnto wickednesse Insomuch as if thou shouldest not by thy prouident power binde in that bagge of poyson and restraine the roote of bitternesse within vs but shouldest suffer it to sproute out into the seuerall branches wee should too too soone bewraye what monsters we are Thus are we by nature plunged into the depth of woe and exposed vnto all miserie so that if all the plagues vnder heauen should zease vpon our bodies and send our soules headlong into those hellish torments we doe vnfainedly acknowledge that thou in thy iudgements might thereby reape honour and we our most iust deseruings Yet notwithstanding for all this we are encouraged to approach to thy throne of mercie as to a most gracious God and our louing Father in Iesus Christ O blessed be that sonne who hath taught vs to call thee Father in whose onely name and mediation we come vnto thee beseeching thee vpon our vnseigned repentance to be reconciled vnto vs. Wee repent O Lorde helpe our impenitencie wee are out of loue with our selues we detest our selues for offending such a gratious God we are sorrie for our sinnes and hartilie sorrie that wee cannot bee more sorrie yet accept our endeuours O Lorde and pardon our infirmities Teach vs more and more by thy holye spirite to make the true vse and application of the merites of thy sonne to our soules and consciences Let his humanitie encourage vs with confidēce to come vnto thee in the name of our elder brother Let his holy conception dayly purifie our originall corruption wherein wee were conceaued and borne that it neuer bring forth more of this corrupt and bitter fruite as it hath done in the course of our liues We haue multiplyed manye actuall transgressions and foule offences against thy diuine maiestie but yet thy sonne did neuer transgresse in all his life he was obedient to euery iote and tittle of thy lawe for our sakes looke vppon his righteousnesse We were slaues vnto Sathan but his passion hath redeemed vs bound with the chaine of sinnes but his condemnation before Pilate hath absolued vs borne to eternall death but quickned by his death to euerlasting life cursed creatures we were but his crosse hath blessed vs polluted and vncleane but his bloud hath washed vs. Let all the lusts and affections therefore of our olde man be buried with him that wee may be renewed in spirit by vertue of his resurrection and so shall wee haue the lotte of our heauenly inheritance daylye more and more confirmed vnto vs by his ascention and we secured of all blessings meete and conuenient for the militant estate of thy kingdome by his session at the right hand of the Maiestie Yea these woundes of our consciences which do now seeme to bleed afresh vnder thy heauie hand of visitation shall be suppled and healed vp by the soueraigne vnction of thy gracious spirit descending vpon thy Church and distilling from the head to euery liuely member of the same And seeing thou hast yeelded thus farre vnto vs most gracious Lorde we hope further that thou wilt not denie vs any temporall blessings which may stand with thy glorie and our comfort Then let this great death mortalitie which nowe reigneth bee swallowed vp in the death and passion of our blessed Sauiour Let his sweete Incense make a speedie attonement for vs Let it appease thy wrath which is gone out against vs and stay this plague that is begun amongst vs. O Lorde we haue deserued a thousand plagues wee confesse but wee are sorrie for it Holde thy hand therefore good father and we will doe no more so Lesse of thy iudgement sweete Iesus lesse of thy iudgment and more of thy grace that wee may make the true vse of thy iudgements so shall our happie deliuerance minister matter of praise and thankesgiuing in thy holy congregation to the eternall glorye of thy blessed name and comforte of thine elect children These thinges and whatsoeuer our vnperfect prayers are not able to expresse which thou in wisdome knowest to be needfull for vs and expedient for thy whole Church we humbly begge at thy hands for Iesus Christ his sake thy beloued Sonne and our only Sauiour and redeemer Amen ¶ Another directed by the line of the Lords Prayer to the same purpose O LORD our GOD most Our Father gracious and mercifull we giue thee hūble thankes for that thou hast vouchsafed to giue vs leaue to come so neere thy Maiestie as in the name of children to call thee Father Wee are astonished O Lorde at this great mercie that thou wilt acknowledge vs for thine owne children who are so vnlike the father vglie and deformed as Mephibosheth disobedient and profligate runagates who like the Prodigall sonne haue spent our time and wasted all thy good gifts and blessings in the vanities of this wretched worlde disloyall vnnaturall rebellious as Absolon who by our obstinacie and vnkinde actes by our most cruell and wicked attempts against so tender and louing a Father haue deserued a thousande vntimelye deaths Yet notwithstanding Dauid could bee no more tender in affection and loue towards Absolon then thou art ouer vs thy vngracious and wicked children Hee desired to haue dyed for his Sonne but thou haste giuen thine onely Sonne a thousand times more pretious in thy sight then Absolon could be in Dauids to dye for vs. How shouldst thou not then with him giue vs all things since by him thou hast made vs sonnes wee hope that in him thou wilt denie vs nothing And albeit wee doe nowe feele to our great griefe that we haue greeuouslie offended thee and that thou art highlye displeased with vs yet wee hope this thy correction will
prooue but the chastisment of a Fatherlie affection for thou art not Which art in Heauen like earthly fathers who change their affections as themselues are corruptible but thou art in Heauen the same for euer and thy yeares doe not faile Thou art the Father of lights in whome there is no mutabilitie nor shadowe of change Those whome thou louest thou louest vnto the end but alas wee haue changed wee haue started aside like a broken Bowe we haue gone awaye and therefore is the light of thy countenance turned from vs. Yea our sinnes haue made such a thicke cloud that it cannot shine vpon vs. And because we haue so abused thy patience and presumed too farre vpon thy Fatherlye kindnesses therefore now it pleaseth thee to teach vs that thou art in Heauen and wee vpon the earth that thou canst humble vs at thy pleasure and make vs by thy iudgementes euen to tremble before thy footstoole Teache vs therefore Gracious GOD so to comforte our selues by thy mercies that wee neuer presume to offend and so to humble our selues in the consideration of our sinnes and thy iudgements that wee neuer dispaire of thy fauour Assuring our selues that thou art both able and willing as well to raise vs vp as to beate vs downe For thou art in Heauen and canst do what thou wilt And as the heauen is aboue the earth so is thy glorye to bee preferred Hallowed be thy name before the happinesse of all the creatures in the world Gloryfie thy name O Heauenlye Father and teache vs euer-more to consecrate the first fruites of our desires and petitions to the hallowing and sanctifying of the same Sanctifie vs by thy holye spirite that wee may sanctifie it whoe haue blemished the same by our former wicked liues whereby wee haue giuen thee iust cause to glorifie thy selfe in our confusion but thou doest alwayes affect more glorye out of mercie then iudgement Be mercifull therefore O Lorde in these our miseries deliuer vs from the power of death and the contagion of this noysome pestilence and teach vs by thy fatherly affection hereafter with more sinceritie to hallow and sanctifie thy blessed name So shall a Crowne of glory be set vpon our heades by the comming of thy kingdome Thy kingdom come A worthy guift worthy for such a father to giue though wee most vnworthy to receiue it yet it is thy fatherly pleasure to giue vs a kingdom to make vs heires and fellow heires with thy sonne Iesus who carrieth the scepter in heauen for vs and raigneth within vs by his holye spirite till he haue subdued all his enemies vnder him which that wee may enioy giue vs grace to doe thy will Thy will be done for it is not euery one that saith Lorde Lorde but hee that doeth thy will which shall enter into thy kingdome Giue vs grace to doe and patience to suffer thy good will and pleasure whatsoeuer it be so shall thy will bee done euerye waye by vs and with vs to the hallowing of thy name and enlarging of thy kingdome and that not with murmuring and grudging but most willingly by vs In earth as it In earth as it is heauen is in Heauen where Angels and Cherubins doe thy will flying with all cheerfullnesse and alacrytie where the Sunne is readie eyther to staye his course or to goe backe againe euen against nature at thy commandement Make vs then as the sheepe of thy hands both to obeye thy voyce willinglie and patientlie to suffer thy good pleasure Then wilt thou bee our Shepheard and defender and wee shall wante nothing then shall the petition of nature be acceptable vnto thee Our daylye Giue vs this day c. bread and all necessaries for this present life shall by thy fatherly prouidence be ministred vnto vs. Giue vnto vs wee pray Bread thee in this time of weakenesse and visitation the staffe of bread to strengthen our bodies and strength of bodie to digest our bread We pray for no dainties good father but for bread desiring neither ritches nor pouertie but a sufficient meane of our Our bread owne that we may not bee chargeable but rather helpefull vnto others Enlarge our bowels of compassion towardes our poore brethren which perish for wante of succour that our bread in these distressed times may bee made common as our praiers are common And so long as it pleaseth thee to extende our mortall liues so long make a supplye of daylie electuaries for the preseruation or the Dâ—â—â—â— bread same Let our ordinary pittance and daylie portion bee ministred in due season vnto vs. Teach vs sobrietie in the dayly vse of thy creatures that wee glutte not our selues at once and wante another time Teach vs wisdome that wee may knowe how to abound and how to want how to humble our selues in fasting and how to reioyce in prosperitie that wee neuer forget the affliction of Ioseph We beg not for yeares or moneths or manye dayes onely giue vs this This day daye our dayly bred because wee meane to come againe to morrowe and be daylye beggers at thy gate of mercie Wee knowe it is thy fatherly goodnesse that wee should aske a little and often to the end we may growe familier with thee in prayer and that thou maist open the windowes of heauen wider and replenish our bodies with all plentiousnesse we be seech thee to shutte the mouth of hell likewise which gapeth so wide vpon vs. Remoue from vs all these euils which depriue vs of thy forenamed blessings but especially our sinnes Forgiue vs our trespasses for Forgiue vs our trespasses they haue made this seperation betweene thee and vs they haue dishonoured thy name blemished thy Kingdome disanulled thy will depryued vs of manye blessinges and brought thy heauye iudgementes vpon vs. Forgiue and forget good father wee confesse they bee our debtes wee are not able to answere one of a thousand wee haue forfeited our bond nothing remayneth to vs but perpetuall imprisonment in vtter darkenesse Onelye let it suffice that the hande writing against vs for this debt is nailed to the Crosse by thy sonne and our Sauiour Release vs therefore of As we forgiue them that trespasse against vs all that is past and mollifie our hartes with thy grace that wee may meite the same measure to our brethren as thou hast done vnto vs. But of all loue leaue vs not thus neither for Sathan will bee sure to assault vs afresh with his temptations Leade vs not into temptation to spie where wee bee weakest that hee may reenter with greater force and more malice then before Then shall the end of vs bee worse then the beginning Then shall Plague and Pestilence Warre and Famine bee but the beginnings of sorrowe Therefore second vs by the assistance of thy gracious spirite that wee bee neuer ouer-taken with any dangerous relapse into our former vile transgressions but freed and
other side did he vouchsafe to be conceaued of a woman without a Father that hee might suck from her such tendernesse of affection as that sex could deriue vpon him And yet he receiued more then she could giue forsomuch as her nature was sinfull and sinne doth naturally harden the hart and dull the affection Christ therefore who receiued all but sinne must needes haue his loue and affection much more quickned towardes man for whose sake it pleased him to bee humbled with such passions 3. Humaine affection is feruent for the time but vnconstant like earthly fire sometimes in and sometimes out Peter his loue was hotte enough when hee would dye with Christ but it would not holde but Christ hath kindled his affection from the Altar from a perpetual fire which neuer went out Humane loue sauoureth of the earth bee it neuer so pure except the holy Ghost doe sanctifie it from aboue Peter spake from loue and from an harty kinde affection to his maister I make no doubt willing him to fauour himselfe that such miseries might not befall him but his loue was not taken from the Altar it seemeth by Christ his answer to haue beene kindled from hell rather get thee behind me Sathan But Christ in whom the holy Ghost dwelleth bodily is full of celestiall fire 4. Wherevpon he putteth Incense offering vp prayer vnto his Father an atonement for his whole Church Incense compounded of sweete Odours artificially compounded of such deuine meditations as are recorded in the 17. chapter of Saint John in that excellent prayer made by Christ for the entire mysticall body himselfe and his members These spices were brused broken beaten to powder to the end they might send vp a more odoriferous smell into the nosthrils of his heauenly Father Were not the thoughts of his heart broken when lamenting ouer Hierusalem in this maner If Luk. 19. 42. thou haddest knowne at the least in this thy day those things which belong vnto thy peace there commeth a sob and cutteth away the rest of the sentence and as if his minde were broken in the midst betwixt compassion and indignation hee concludeth but now are they hid from thine eyes Were not his deuine Meditations interrupted and sore brused when hee stood in a mammering what to say backward and forward when hee saith and againe vnsaith How is my Iohn 12. 27. soule troubled what shall I say Father saue me from this houre but therefore came I into this houre Father glorifie thy name Nay were not the passions of his heart beaten to powder in that bitter agonie and bloudie conflict where he striueth till he sweate and sweateth till he bleed so brused and broken in hart that an Angell must comfort the Lord of life 5. This sweete Incense is an atonement to his Father but for whome for the congregation of men who murmured conspired and made insurrection against him for his enemies and bloudie persecutors Yea the first Incense of prayer which he offered vpon the crosse was for those who nailed him to the crosse Father forgiue them for they wotte not Luk. 23. 34. what they doe and not for them onely but for all mankinde was this atonement made who pierced the eternall God before he had a side to pierce Zacher 12. 10. and Zak 12. 10. because wee cannot conceiue how our sinne should pierce a spirit or our ill dooing extend vnto God more then our well dooing Psal 16. 2. Therefore Psal 16. 2 God is incarnate and hath taken our flesh vpon him that man might conceaue and see and looke vpon him whom he hath pierced Notwithstanding this atonement made once for all yet we see wrath is gone out from the Lord and the plague is begun amongst vs Aaron with his Censer and all the ceremonies of the Leuiticall Priesthood be vanished what remedy remaineth then for vs Much euery waye for albeit the Aaronicall Priesthood be taken away and the true Priest ascended vp on high out of sight yet notwithstanding by vertue of his mediation there is a continuall entercourse betweene the Throne of God his Church militant here vpon earth for his heauenly inspirations and our holye desires are as so many ascending and descending Angels of commerce betweene God and vs And as teaching bringeth vs to know the truth of God so prayer testifieth that wee acknowledge his Goodnesse to be the onely fountaine of all blessings wherefore as there is nothing to which God is more prone and inclinable then to communicate his goodnesse insomuch as the Prophet saith he doth expect and waite that he may haue mercy so there is Esa 30. 18 no part of our seruice can be more acceptable vnto God then this of prayer which drawing mercie from him sheweth so happy a concurrence betweene his will and our wishes It is with our gratious and mercifull Father in this case as with a full breast which aketh for desire to giue Milke then welcome is the hungrie childe that can sucke the best This dutie lieth principallie vpon the Ministers of the Gospell who as publique persons doe stand and speake in the presence of God for the people for as it was enioyned Aaron and his sonnes to blesse the people in the name of God and to offer prayers vnto God in the name of the people so was the same practised in the Primatiue Church as Saint Paul witnesseth by the Minister of this function 1. Cor. 14 16. whose Prayers and thankesgiuings the people by their ioyfull acclamation did ratifie Wherefore the Archeministers of the Gospell the Acts. 6. 3. twelue Apostles seperating others for other imployments reserued themselues wholye for Prayer and the Ministerie Verse 4. of the worde conioyning those two ghostlye exercises together as if they whose care and charge ouer the people is manifolde more then common persons should haue a double portion in this dutie of Prayer for the people which verye dutye imposed vppon them is a speciall seale and confirmation that the selfe same deuine loue which hath made choise of the instrument will thereby effect his good worke in blessing his people and accepting their prayers and vnfained deuotions but so much the rather if the Minister himselfe doe lift vp pure hands in prayer 1. Tim. 2. 8. Wherefore our great desire is that as wee for the people so they for vs would pray with Dauid Let thy Priests O Lorde be cloathed with righteousnesse Psal 132. 9. so shall thy Saints reioyce and sing Which oblation that it may be the more effectuall and acceptable vnto God for externall incense we must take vnto vs the Censer of the Sacrament those hallowed mysteries which represent and exhibite vnto vs the precious body of our blessed Sauiour which neuer commeth emptie of heauenly fire taken from the Altar for it is Ioh 6. 63 the spirit that quickneth the flesh profiteth nothing Whereby our odours of deuotion being perfectly kindled and