perfect heart and a willing minde that thou mayest blesse him and his Throne for euer Blesse also our gracious Queene and giue her an vnderstanding heart to knowe the Truth and with Mary to chuse the better part that she may bee an helper also and furtherer of thy glory Blesse the rest of the Royall Familie the Counsell Ministery and Magistracy in this whole Land and all that haue place of command charge or gouerment ouer others in the Church or Common-wealth Particularly O Lord blesse we beseech thee all our Kindred and Friends and specially vs of this Family that we may liue in thy feare and bee blessed with all things necessary both for our soules and for our comfort in this present life And now as thou hast added this day vnto the dayes past of our life Lord adde our repentance wee beseech thee vnto the day and let vs rest in peace this night vnder the shaddow of thy winges that being refreshed by thy good blessing of sleepe which our beds cannot giue vs but thou O Lord who giuest thy beloued rest we may be inabled the better to serue thee in our callings the day following to thy glory for others good and our owne comfort through Iesus Christ our Lord in whose name we conclude our prayers as himselfe hath taught vs saying Our Father c. A priuate Prayer framed for the most part out of the precedent Scriptures and especially the 51. Psalme O Lord God mercifull and gracious that forgiuest iniquity and yet wilt by no meanes cleare the guilty I thine vnworthy and sinfull Seruant am bold to come before thee in confidence of thy mercy but with all humble and free acknowledgement that I am greeuously guilty and that by reason of the sinne both of my nature and life For I was shapen in iniquitie and in sinne did my Mother conceiue mee And this sinne wherein I was conceiued enough of it selfe to condemne me hath bene too to fruitfull in bringing foorth both sinnes of Omission and Commission in the whole course of my life whereby it hath come to passe that I haue neither denyed vngodlinesse and worldly lustes nor liued soberly righteously and godly in this present world I haue not knowne thee my God so much as I might nor serued thee so well as I ought but haue greatly failed euen in the most principall duties not Reading thy Word so diligently not hearing it so heedfully not receiuing the Sacrament so preparedly not keeping the Sabbath so conscionably not calling vpon thy Name so often and earnestly as I should haue done much lesse haue I regarded that extraordinary seruice of Fasting and humiliation though so many weightie occasions both publique and priuate haue called vpon mee for it And when I haue at any time performed these duties it hath not beene with so perfect an heart and so willing a minde as thou requirest but there hath bene much both heauinesse and hypocrisie in my best Deuotions I haue too to much distasted and shunned the narrow way not walking in my Calling so faithfully not vsing Recreation so moderately nor thy Creatures so soberly and inoffensiuely nor carrying my selfe towards my Neighbour for the good both of his soule and body and state so religiously Charitably and iustly as it had beene meet I should But besides this want of delighting in thy Law and holy duties I haue committed many grieuous sinnes against thy Maiestie following very fearefully especially in the time of You h and ignorance both the Company and the Counsels and the Courses of Wicked men and so instead of bringing forth the holy and pleasing fruites of the Spirit haue wrought and brought foorth the fiâ—thy and noysome workes of the Flesh Yea O Lord against thee against thee haue I sinned and besides Common euils an guilty as holy Dauid of bloud of some notorious and speciall prouocations Nor haue I beene thus sinnefull O Lord for want of instruction and meanes to be better for thou hast taught me wisdome and made known thy Word vnto me wherby I might haue bin cleansed and amended but it is because I haue wanted care haue not taken heede to my wayes according vnto thy Word nor laid vp that word of thine in my heart whereby I might haue beene kept from sinning against thee So that I can by no meanes iustifie my selfe nay O Lord I am so farre from that that say what thou wilt against mee in thy Word lay what thou wilt vpon me with thy Hand I doe freely confesse Thou shalt be iustified when thou speakest and cleare when thou iudgest Neuerthelesse O gracious Father since thou hast proclaimed thy selfe to be a God that pardonest iniquitie and transgression and sinne Let me finde grace I beseech thee in thy sight and pardon my iniquitie and my sinne I haue nothing to plead for my selfe but Haue mercy on me O God according to thy louing kindnesse according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions I cannot deny O Lord but I am a great Sinner but I know that the bloud of Iesus Christ cleanseth vs from all sinne Purge me therefore with that Hyssop and I shall be cleane wash me and I shall be whiter then the Snow So make me to heare the voyce of ioy and gladnesse that my heart afflicted with sinne may reioyce in thee It s true O Lord thou art a GOD that doest by no meanes cleare the guilty yet haue mercy on mee while by this meanes the guilt of sinne is remoued from me Nor doe thou onely Hide thy face from my sinne O Lord and blot out all my iniquitie but together with the guilt of sinne take away the filthinesse likewise Wash mee throughly from mine iniquitie and cleanse me from my sinne yea Create in me a cleane heart O God and renew a right spirit within me Vouchsafe vnto mee the benefit of the new Couenant of grace working that grace in me that thou requirest of me Take away more and more the stony heart out of my flesh and giue me an heart of flesh that so I may remember my former euill wayes and my doings that were not good and loath my selfe in my owne sight for my iniquities and my abominations Together with this Repentance yea that I may haue this Repentance worke in mee that Faith whereby the House of Israel enquires after thee and whereby I a wretched Sinner finding my selfe heauy laden may so come vnto thee as to haue ease from thee And because none shall haue mercy but hee that forsaketh his sinne as well as confesses it Giue me so much grace as to forsake my wicked wayes yea and all my vnrighteous thoughts that so thou mayest haue mercy on me and abundantly pardon mee And because forsaking of sinne is not enough neither without returning vnto thee my Lord and my God make mee I beseech thee to goe in the pathes of thy Commandements and so put thy Spirit within me as to cause mee to walke
Lord thy God require of thee c. Mica 6.8 He hath shewed thee O man what is good c. Eccles. 12.13.14 Let vs heare the conclusion of the whole matter c. All which as they prescribe what God expecteth yeelding reason to moue vs to be thereof carefull so do they also administer both motiues and matter of prayer to make vs earnest with God for his strength and grace to enable vs for a meete performance B. THe sinners suite or Dauids repentant Prayer after his fall for himselfe and the Church not vnfit to be vsed in our daily deuotion in regard of our continuall failing in the precedent duties PSAL. 51. 1. Haue mercy vpon me O God according to thy louing kindnesse according to the multitude of thy compassions blot out my transgressions 2. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity and cleanse mee from my sinne 3. For I acknowledge my transgressions and my sinne is euer before me 4. Against thee thee only haue I sinned and done euill in thy sight that thou mayest be iustified when thou speakest and be cleare when thou iudgest 5. Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sinne did my mother conceiue me 6. Behold thou louest truth in the inward affections and hast made mee to know wisedome in the secret of my heart 7. Purge me with a That is with the bloud of Christ sprinkled on my leaprous soule by the holy spirit Dauid for the strēgthning of his faith alluding to that ceremonie in cleansing the Leaper Leuit 14.67 As see 1. Pet. 1.2 1. Cor. 6.11 Hysope and I shall be cleane wash me and I shall be whiter then snow 8. Make me to heare ioy and gladnesse that the bones which thou hast broken may reioyce 9. Hide thy face from my sinnes and blot out all mine iniquities 10. Create in mee a cleane heart O God and renew a right spirit within me 11 Cast mee not away from thy presence and take not thy holy spirit from me 12. Restore to me the ioy of thy saluation and stablish mee with thy free spirit 13. Then will I teach transgressours thy wayes and sinners shall be conuerted vnto thee 14. Deliuer me from b That is the guilt of bloud being the particular sinne that mostwounded Dauids conscience as we vnder this terme may pray against that particular sin which woundeth vs most is to vs as bloud was to Dauid bloud O God thou God of my saluation and my tongue shall sing aloude of thy righteousnes 15. O Lord open thou my lips and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise 16. For thou desirest no sacrifice else would I giue it thee but thou delightest not in burnt offrings 17. The sacrifice of God is a contrite spirit a contrite and broken heart O God thou wilt not despise 18 Be fauorable for thy good pleasure vnto Sion build thou the walls of Hierusalem 19. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousnesse with c These Dauid mētioneth according to the condition of those times answering whereto are now the holy ministery of the word the Sacramēts with prayer praises thanksgiuing As see Hos 14. 2. Heb. 13.15 burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings then shall they offer young bullocks vpon thine Altar And now to direct and encourage vs to this continuall duty of holy prayer one most vsefull forme to furnish vs both for words and matter whereunto may be as I conceiue this blessed Psalme to that end proposed take notice farther of these prescripts promises and presidents Math. 7.7 8. Aske and it shall be giuen you c. Psal 50.15 Call vpon mee in the day of trouble c. Rom. 8.26.27 Likewise the spirit also helpeth our infirmities c. Jsai 65.24 Yea before they call I will answere c. Dan. 9.20.21 And while I was speaking and praying c. Ver. 23. At the beginning of thy supplication the Commandement came forth c. All assuring vs of Gods readines to heare when euer by his grace he stirreth our hearts to pray whereby wee may euen prophesie of the successe of our desires according to that acknowledgement Psal 10.17 O Lord thou hast heard the desire of the humble thou preparest their hearts and then causest thine eare to heare C. DAuids blessed man pointing out yet more particularly the right path to life in renouncing euill wayes and cleauing vnto Gods word PSAL. 1.1.2 1. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsell of the vngodly nor standeth in the way of sinners nor sitteth in the seate of the scornfull 2. But his delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law doth he meditate day night Agreeing hereunto see likewise Iob 22.21.22.23 Acquaint now thy selfe with God and be at peace c. Ephesi 5.8 11. Yee were darknesse but now are light in the Lord walke as children of the light And haue no fellowship c. As also Psal 119.1.2.3 26.4.5.6 All warning vs if euer we would be happy aboue all to flye as wee are still in Scripture warned the contagion of ill company Pro. 1.10.4.14.23.20 that fixing our delight vpon Gods law 2. Cor. 6.14 we may entertaine familiarity and fellowship with the Lord our both Sunne and shield Psal 84.11 Psal 16 11 in whose presence is fulnesse of ioy and pleasures at his right hand for euermore D. THe Doctrine and vse of the holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper together with an adioyned direction for a meete preparation thereunto deliuered by St. Paul 1. COR. 11. 23. For I haue receiued of the Lord that which I also deliuered vnto you that the Lord Iesus in the same night that he was betrayed tooke bread 24. And when hee had giuen thankes hee brake it and said Take eate this is my body which is broken for you this doe in remembrance of me 25. After the same manner also he tooke the Cup when he had supped saying This Cup is the new Testament in my bloud this do yee as often as yee drink it in remembrance of me 26. For as often as ye eate this Bread and drinke this Cup ye doe shew the Lords death till he come 27. Wherefore whosoeuer shall eate this Bread and drinke this Cup of the Lord vnworthily shall be guilty of the Body and Bloud of the Lord. 28. But let a man examine himselfe and so let him eate of this Bread drink of this Cup. 29. For hee that eateth and drinketh vnworthily eateth and drinketh damnation or iudgement to himselfe not discerning the Lords body THe direction for preparation in the twelue questions following 1. Quest How may a Christian fit himselfe for the Lords Table A. He must consider 1. why 2. how he shold come thereunto 2. Q. Why is he to come An. In obedience to Christs commandement who hath bidden vs so to doe in remembrance of him 3. Q. What profit may hee expect hereby to make him come willingly A. He is called
pressing vpon vs what is commended by our Sauiour in Iohn Baptists hearers Mat. 11.12 and whereto both by St. Pauls example and exhortation we are directed viZ. a following Phil. 3.14 hard towards the marke for the price of the high calling of GOD in Christ â—esus Heb. 12.1 And running therfore with patience in the footsteps of the faithfull gone before the race that is set before vs looking that we faint not vnto Iesus hims lfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ver. 2. the Author and finisher of our faith N. FArther for a foundation of our liuelâ— faith and a furtherance of our godly feare Psal 9.10 that knowing Gods name we may rest thereon and euer stand in awe of that glorious fearefull name Deut 28.58 THE LORD OVR GOD Let vs take the same into our thoughts as himselfe hath proclaimed it before Moses in mount Sinai EXOD. 34. 6 The LORD 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the LORD GOD mercifull and gracious slowe to anger and aboundant in goodnes and truth 7. Keeping mercie for thousands forgiuing iniquity and transgression and sinne and that will by no meanes cleare the guilty visiting the iniquity of the Fathers vpon the children vnto the third and fourth generation Pro. 18.10 For this name as the righteous running to it haue still found a strong Tower to them of sure defence so may we likewise if vpon all occasions repairing thereto wee shall for strengthening of our confidence 2. Chro. 20.6 Act. 1.24 Num. 14.17 2. Reg. 19.19 to obtaine what we aske after the patterne of their faith giue vnto God Titles suteable to our requests hereby manifesting that wee relie not on any thing in our selues but on the alone power wisedome compassion faithfulnesse and infinite goodnesse which are in God And to this end also how behoouefull will it be for the simplest Christian to learne and be well acquainted with the meaning and signification of the more ordinary names and titles whereby our blessed Sauiour the Sonne of God is in Scriptures set forth vnto vs as to omit all other those three especially of IESVS IMMANVEL CHRIST 1. IESVS an Hebrew name signifying a Sauiour Act. 7.45 Heb. 4.8 Col. 4.11 which though it bee found giuen in Type and for some inferiour respects to others is in the full and perfect sense proper onely to the Sonne of the blessed Virgine sent into the world to bee our IESVS that is our Sauiour to saue vs his people from all our sins Math. 1.21 for neither is there saluation in any other Act. 4.12 there being among men none other name giuen vnder heauen whereby we must be saued 2. IMMANVEL an Hebrew compound name Isai 7.14 likewise giuen him of the Lord by the Prophet and by the Euangelist interpreted to signifie as much as God with vs to note forth for the Churches comfort as the Vnion of both his natures in one person Mat. 1.23 Nobiscum Deus God with vs that is God made man by his holy incarnation Ioh. 1.14 1. Tim. 2.5 So also the effect and fruit of his comming as mediator betwixt God and man to make attonement and reconciliation for vs for so hee was also our Immanuel God with vs that is senâ— to reunite vs who were fallen and separated againe to God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3. CHRIST a Greeke name answering to the Hâ—brew MESSIAS Ioh. 1 41. Vnctus both signifying the same viz Annointed to witnesse him the annointed of the Lord before promised not in regard of any materiall oyle powred vpon him Dan. 9 21. Psal 2.2 but for that hee was furnished with all fulnesse of the holy Spirit to be the onely and all-sufficient both Priest and Prophet Ioh 1.16 Act. 11.26 and King of his Church and of whose fulnesse wee receiuing grace are therefore called Christians as partaking of that his annointing and made thereby Priests and Kings to God his Father Reu. 1.6 Let the learned if they light hereon beare with these plaine Explications which the ignorance of the common people with griefe known to such as haue any care oâ— Country charges doth euâ—n seeme to enforce in these particulars And thus farre to adde no more touching the name of God O. FOr the power and efficacie of the word of God Psal 138 2 whereby aboue all things GOD magnifieth his name Consider that Quaere made and resolued by Dauid and his owne professed practise suteable thereunto PSAL. 119. 9 Wherewithall shal a young man cleanse his way by taking heede thereto according to thy word 11 I haue hid thy word in my heart that I might not sinne against thee Where marke hee saith not J haue hanged it about my necke as superstition of olde taught people to doe the beginning of St. Iohns Gospell to driue away the deuill nor I haue had it in my house or onely got it into my head but hid it in my heart viz. by faith that I might not sinne against thee This being the commendations of the word of God that it onely is able to cleanse euen the young mans way that is commonly most disordered and dissolute in the pride of youth and heate of lust and to preserue from sinne yea some word or other so laid vp from euery sinne As for some vsefull instances to confirme this truth 1. From PRIDE the beginning of sinne these places among others Ecclus 10.13 warning of the disgrace and danger or aduising to the contrary vertue Pro. 11.2 When pride commeth then commeth shame but with the lowly is wisedome Iam. 4.6 God resisteth the proud and giueth grace to the humble With that also of our Sauiour Math. 11.29 Learne of me for I am meeke and lowly and ye shall finde rest vnto your soules From rash SWEARING that word cloathed about with death the third great Commaundement if it were as heedfully regarded Ecclus 23.12 as it is often heard Exod. 20.7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine for the Lord will not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his name in vaine And that counsell also agreeing thereto Iam. 5.12 Aboue all things my brethren sweare not neither by heauen nor by the earth neither by any other â—ath but let your yea be yea and your nay nay lest yee fall into condemnation Ecclus 7.13 3. From LYING the custome whereof is not good that fearefull place Reuel 22.15 Without shâ—ll be dogs and Sorcerers and murtherers and Idolaters and whosoeuer loueth and maketh lyes and where is that but in the lake burning with fire and brimstone as see Reuel 21.8 And againe which may be conceiued a reason of the former sentence that sharpe censure giuen by our Sauiour Ioh. 8.44 Ye are of your Father the deuill and the lusts of your Father ye will doe he was a murtherer from the beginning and abode not in the truth because there is no truth in him