Master Abraham I pray thee send me good speed this day and shew kindness to my Master Abraham Gen. 24.12 with what follows In prosecution of which businesse he refused to eat or drink before he had received a contenting answer and then forgot not his thankfulness to God but bowed himself to the earth and worshipped ver 52. O for such servants amongst us Christians we want not meanes but care and conscience and giving them good example to make them so Job herein out of the Land of Uz from among the reputed Gentiles may bee a further patterne to Masters of Families themselvs How early was he and perseverant Job 1.5 to look after his revelling childrens exorbitances to offer sacrifices for them and sanctifie them For it may be saith he that my sons have sinned and cursed or as one translates it little blessed God in their hearts And thus did Job continually Of Eli wee find nothing but that of himself he was a good old man and harmlesse yet for want of taking a rounder course with his scandalous sons 1 Sam. 2.12 what a break-neck did he draw upon himself and family It is well David in setling his family bethought himself better perchance upon the grief that some of his darling children had been unto him not a wicked person unfaithful Psalm 101 froward slanderous proud stubborn deceitfull shall find intertainment or countenance at his hands Nay saith he mine eyes look upon those that are faithful in the Land ver 8 that they may dwell with me who so leadeth a godly life he shall be my servant Nay if Captain Cornelius be observed to fear God sincerely and to be constant in his Devotions he shall not be destitute of houshold servants and of a devout soldier whom hee may securely imploy in matters of the highest concernment Act. 10.7 Such a guide is good example to goodness and Domestick instruction to prevent destruction This consisteth especially in a strict oversight by holding every one under our charge to their daily Devotions and designed tasks And these Devotions must be first in set and such forms as all may best be acquainted with and easily made their own to bear their part in them Next The time and place for this concurrence must be so ordered wherein most if not all may bee present Where the often repetition of the same set formes may make such an impression that the rudest and little ones may have them by heart which the best gifted will confesse to be most useful and commendable and impossible to be learned from voluntary and affected varieties which vanquisheth in the uttering and can hardly be recalled by those that first so hastily conceived them Now Houshold Prayers are usually Morning and Evening For Morning Prayer it will be found by experience that by reason of divers distractions a concurrence cannot be so well had as immediately before Dinner Then the Master of the Family or fittest amongst the company designed by him may proceed in this manner 1. With the general Confession Almighty and most merciful Father c. to be repeated by all after him devoutly kneeling Then 2. Those two knowne prayers the one for Peace O God who art the Author of peace and lover of concord The other for Grace and protection that followes O Lord our heavenly Father Almighty and everlasting God may be fitly added In the third place interpose those interchangeable Scriptures with the Lords Prayer in the midst of them as they are ordered in the Leiturgy Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Our Father c. O Lord shew thy mercy upon us c. to the end O Lord make clean our hearts within us 4. After that mixt Petition We humbly beseech thee O Father for pardoning our Infirmities averting deserved punishments strengthning us with confidence and continuance in holinesse and purity May be 5. Adjoyned that prayer that petitioneth our faulty prayers may be graciously accepted O God whose nature and property is ever to have mercy and forgive And so the common Blessing The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 13.14 and the love of God c may make up the Conclusion Evening Prayer to be celebrated either immediately before Supper or else before the family depart to their rest proceeds in like manner 1 With the Confession Almighty and most merciful Father c. or else for variety that other Confession before the receiving of the Communion Almighty God Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Maker of all things judge of all men c. 2. Then come in the two Collects O God from whom all holy desires c. and Lighten our darknesse c. answerable to the two morning Collects 3. After The Lord have mercy upon us c. and the Lords Prayer recited as in the morning you may take those short requests repeated interchangeably From our enemies defend us O Christ Graciously look upon our afflictions c. to the end And then We humbly beseech thee O Father c. O God whose nature and property c. and The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ c. are to be added as before in Morning Prayer A plainer and a more warrantable course for Houshold Prayers let them set forth that have found it For mine owne part I must confesse that my long studies amongst much variety hath not met with the like for words and matter so judiciously fitted Neither can I be perswaded but those learned men and Martyrs who were Compilers of our Service Book came any way short for Gravity Learning or Piety of those men who stand in this age so much upon their Gifts and take upon them as the saying is to correct Magnificat But I must not digresse you have in the former directions the ordinary Houshold prayers for Morning and Evening through all the week Sundayes and Holy-dayes are supplyed publickly in the Church which I would have you religiously to frequent yet Wednesdayes and Frydayes in the week your houshould prayers may profitably admit this alteration in Morning Prayer only On Wednesdayes let your beginning be 1. O Lord open thou our lips with those mutual correspondencies and Glory be to the Father c. wil follow 2. Then let the Apostles Creed bee repeated by all standing with him that officiates I believe in God the Father Almighty c. 3. The Prayer before the Commandments may bee repeated kneeling Almighty God to whom all hearts be open all desires known c Then 4. The Commandments may be repeated by him that officates standing to which the rest kneeling should as usually they do in publick prayers expresse their desires saying Lord have mercy upon us and incline our hearts c. In the fifth place may bee added the prayer for the whole estate of Christs Church militant here on earth as you have it Almighty God whose kingdom is everlasting and power infinite have mercy upon the whole
of a Sermon how becoming pious is that Petition Grant we beseech thee Almighty God that the words which we have heard this day with our outward ears c. And for the close of all our Prayers that which closeth up the Service of the Communion Almighty God which hast promised to hear the Petitions of them that ask in thy Sons name c. They are unworthy to pray or to bee heard Jer. 2.13 that forsake such fountains of knowne and living waters to hew out to themselves Cisterns broken Cisternes that hold troubled or no water or perchance some mixtures of Marah or Meribah which will not guide us to the Springs of Intercession that next wee must take in our way CHAP. IV. Of Intercessions AMong those kind of Prayers which the Apostle exhorteth 1. Tim. 2.1 especially Intercession succeeds Supplications which are Petitions put up to God for others for whom we are bound to pray either by Nature Law or Christian charity Under this title therefore come all those prayers we have for the Church in general and then more distinctly for Superiors Leaders Equals Friends Enemies all that bee desolate and oppressed that they may be relieved all that bee in good courses that they may be preserved and encouraged To such Intercessions the Psalmist exhorteth all well-affected people especially when they are assembled together Psal 122.6 7 8 9 O pray saith he for the peace of Jerusalem they shall prosper that love thee Peace be within thy walls and plenteousnesse within thy Palaces For my brethren and companions sake I wil wish thee prosperity yea because of the House of the Lord our God I will seek to do thee good So Samuel prayed for Saul until God told him in plaine termes that he had rejected him And so long in charity we are to pray for those that are most untoward until God hath evidenced by cutting them off that their case is desperate which wee must not be too bold to prejudg seeing she that had seven Divels in her did become the most zealous Attendant of our Saviour and he that was a most violent Persecutor 1 Cor. 15.10 the most laborious amongst all the Apostles Smal hopes there was of imprisoned Saint Peters preservation the sword having so fatally cut off Saint James and Herod being so fully bent to please the bloud-thirsty Jewes Acts 12.5 Peter was therefore kept in prison saith the Text but prayer that is Intercession was made without ceasing of the Church unto God for him And was not the event as miraculous Peter is delivered by an Angel and the expectation of the Jews deluded Few would imagine that Saint Paul who had the favour to be rapt up into the third heaven 2 Cor. 12.4 and hear unspeakable words which were not lawful for a man to utter should have need of the Intercession of any of those Converts of his which he had so lately catechized in Christianity yet wee see what he writes to the Thessalonians 1 The. 5.25 Brethren pray for us And to the Hebrews Heb. 13.11 Pray for us for we trust we have a good conscience in all things willing to live honestly Nay Pharaoh and Simon Magus were not so hard hearted though in the gall of bitterness but they allowed and desired the intercession of Gods servants Intreat the Lord saith Pharaoh that there be no more mighty thundrings and hail Exod. 9.28 Acts 8.24 And pray ye unto the Lord for me saith Magus that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me Whereupon Saint James laid it down for a Canon to be observed of all the faithful James 5.16 Confesse your sins one to another and pray one for another that ye may be healed Which two Ingredients make an excellent Soulsalve for all spiritual wounds and bruises And therefore we have so divers and effectual formes of Intercession in our Church-Book that I may wel use the words to you that Boaz sometime did unto Ruth Ruth 2.8 Hear ye not my Daughters Go not to glean in another field neither go from hence for here you shal find that will satisfie The pattern of Intercession we have from our Saviour for his Apostles Successors and Converts John 17. as we had his general prayer before for all things necessary Matth. 6. conformable to which we have framed that excellent Intercession in our Leiturgy under the Title of Let us pray for the whole estate of Christs Church militant here on earth in these words Almighty and everlasting God which by thy holy Apostle hast taught us to make prayers and supplications and to give thanks for all men c. This Prayer is to be had by heart and alwayes used upon any occasion And in particular find we not further Intercessions for the King Queen and Royal Progeny Bishops and all the Clergy most orderly following one another To the same purpose are those interchangeable Intercessions betweene Priest and People O Lord shew thy mercy upon us and grant us thy salvation O Lord save the King c. Which your little ones may be brought to repeat in answering one another The like passages are interposed in Matrimony for the parties marryed O Lord save thy servant and thine hand-maid that put their trust in thee c. In the Visitation of the sick O Lord save thy servant which putteth his trust in thee c. And at your Womens-meetings commonly called Church-going O Lord save this woman thy servant which putteth her trust in thee c. Perswade your selves my Daughters these things are not to be little set by This simplicity in coming to God with good hearts and humble minds in obedience to our Mother the Church which hath thus directed us will be more acceptable to him and more prevalent then Balaks seven Altars and Balaams thence fetching Prophecies Nay then the Sacrifice of a Bullock to use the words of the Psalmist that hath horns and hoofes Psal 69.32 For God is not taken with quaint inventions or excellency of speech 1 Cor. 2.1 as the Apostle tels us The wisdom of this world to him is but foolishness chap. 3.19 chap. 4.20 and his Kingdome consisteth not in words but power If our hearts therefore condemne us not God is greater then our heart and knoweth all things And then saith the blessed Apostle we have confidence towards God 1 Joh. 3.20 21 22 and whatsoever wee ask wee receive of Him if wee keep his Commandments and doe those things which are pleasing in his sight And so wee may close with the man after Gods owne heart Psal 69.33 The humble shall consider this and bee glad Seek ye the Lord in this way and your foul shall live CHAP. V. Of Thanksgiving WEll may Thanksgiving follow Intercession which is the only high-rent that God expecteth for all his infinite blessings bestowed upon us Amongst the Sacrifices of the Old Testament this of Thanksgiving
place and space and scope to have free accesse to the throne of grace to pray and sing Psalmes and obtaine thereby a miraculous deliverance For here the heart may be inditing of a good matter Psal 45.1 when the tongue is pluckt out and cannot be the pen of a ready writer Here the heart of King Manasses finds knees to bow when the knees of his body are so chained that they cannot move 7. Last of all it would be held a kind of blasphemous position if the Scripture had not uttered it that Jacob should wrestle with God and enforce as it were a Blessing from him by compulsion that by prayer Moses should stand in the gap and hold the hand of the omnipotent and cause him to cry let me alone that my wrath may waxe hot Exol 32.10 and consume this people And against Satan that roating Lion and spirituall Leviathan think wee that any Magick-spells can prevaile or force of arms Job 4.2 7 that esteemeth Iron as straw and brasse as rotten wood no surely our Saviour will better inform us that faith of it selfe may doe much but not wholly to cast out all such adversaries without fasting and prayer I perswade my self my daughters by that which hath beene spoken you are convinced of the necessity of prayer Now if any scruple and say God knoweth our necessities before wee aske and hath determined what to doe so that our prayers cannot alter him and therefore would prove needlesse The answer is at hand that hee that hath determined what to doe hath commanded us also to ask And not Gods secret decrees which we know not but his revealed commands or prohibitions in his word are the rule of our actions which we must follow nay the Son himselfe must ask that which the Father had ever resolved to grant Desire of me and I shall give thee the uttermost parts of the carth for thy inheritance Psalm 2.8 Now if we prove cold in our asking our hopes may freez from obtaining But may not intruding importunity rather exasperate justice then obtain a favour With men it may but with the fountain of mercyes the striving to enter into the strait gate and offering violence to the kingdome of heaven Luk. 13.24 Mat. 11 12 Luk 18.5 makes the road way for a pardon In such a case the unjust judg will do right to free himself from trouble much sooner will the Father of mercies be pleased with such holy intrusion Isa 65.24 and prevent us with an answer before we call Last of all we need not fear that our continued prayers should any way hinder the works of our several vocations The Plough-man in the field the tradesman in his shop Martha about her houswifery may be praying as they are doing and do the better for their praying Acts 9.12 Go saith the Lord to Ananias and help Saul of Tarsus to his sight for behold he prayeth Prayers bring us blessings we little think of we should think therefore on prayers the more seriously for the enjoying those blessings For those blessings must needs be of small esteem that we hold not worth the asking CHAP. II. To VVhom our Prayers ought to be directed IT were to small purpose to acknowledge the necessity of prayer if wee know not to whom we may confidently direct our prayers wherfore this is so punctually set downe by our Saviour Mat. 4.10 that we need not cast about for further assurance Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve Calling upon Deut. 6.13 1 Sam. 7 3 praising and praying to are the especial kinds of Gods worship which confirmed by our Saviour against Satan in the new Testament out of the old to belong only unto God so shamed the Tempters claime of it that he left the field and dared not to attempt any further Whence we may observe that neither through the old Testament or new it can be shewen that any of Gods people ever prayed to Saints or Angels but only to God No saying here of holy Abraham or holy Peter pray for us but Thou O God that hearest prayers Psal 65.2 unto thee shall all flesh come But you when ye pray say not O Holy mother of God but Our Father which art in heaven Luke 11.2 And it may further be taken notice of that Angels and so Saints have refused with a kind of indignation such supreme worship and devotions tendered unto them Though thou detaine mee saith the Angel to Manoah I will not eat of thy bread and if thou wilt offer a burnt-offering Jud. 13.16 offer it to the Lord. St. John being about to worship an Angel in the same kind had the same lesson twice given him Rev. 19.10 22.9 Col. 2.18 See thou do it not I am thy fellow servant worship God Let not man therfore beguile you of your reward they are the words of St. Paul in a voluntary humility and worshiping of Angels intruding intothosethings which he hath not seen And doth it not stand with common reason that he to whom we direct our prayers should be omniscient that knowes the heart and Almighty to be able to help us in all our extremities and omnipresent every where to be alwayes at hand when wee call upon him Otherwise we might play the hypocrites with him say one thing and mind another or faile of our purpose in craving for that from a party who cannot relieve us For what creature may we well imagine to bee every where or able to help us at all times or that understandeth our very thoughts long before Psa 139.1 but only our Father which is in heaven This Satan perceives to be most destructive of his Designes and therefore sets all his Engines awork that where hee cannot befool men against Nature to think that there is no God hee might at least so puzzle them what that God should be that most should hold him to be no other then they and their Leaders have fancied By such meanes gods became multiplied according to the number of Cities or Nations Jer. 2 28. and thus as it were upon the turne of a hand The glory of the God of Israel was turned into the similitude of a Calf that eateth hay Ps 106.20 Out of the same forge came in Molocks and Baals with innumerable abominations and heathenish Superstitions In all which the pretence hath been ever among the sagest That the true God was only worshipped by such Intercessours or representations but the Vulgar foared no higher then that they saw and most agreed with their humour both coming under the Apostles reproof Ye men of Athens Act. 17 22 and 29. We ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto Gold or Silver or Stone graven by Art or mans device Those that make such puppets are like unto them saith the Psalmist Psa 115.8 that is senselesse and blockish as they are For God is
to all men liberally and upbraideth not But let him ask it in faith nothing wavering for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven of the wind and tossed and let not that man think that hee shall receive any thing of the Lord. Such people in our Saviours censure honour him with their lips Mat. 15.8 but their hearts are far from him Say one thing and mind another pretend Love but seek him for the Loaves John 6 26 and are carried away with the contemplations on their Wives Luk. 14.16 and Farmes and Oxen and perchance worse fancies in the midst of their Devotions This is an inbred Disease and an infectious weed of original corruption which must be grubbed up by Higaions and Selahs and Hosannahs used to raise Attention and Intention as some probably think in the Old Testament and by that of the Apostles Lord increase our faith Luke 17.6 in the New Mat. 23.5 which will prove more effectual then any Pharisaical Philacteries 2. The next Impediment may bee held Presumption which swells up the thoughts of its owne worth and accounts it a kind of indignity not to have audience before others The wise man sets them forth in their native colours Pro. 30.12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes and yet are not washed from their filthinesse Those will tell you as the Prophet informeth Stand by thy self Isal 65.5 come not near to me for I am holier then thou but what is the Lords censure of them in the very same place These are a smoak in my nose and a fire that burneth all day with whom he is incensed so far that hee will destroy such Murderers and burne up their City Mat. 22.7 What the Pharisee got by his presumption and the Publican by his Humility in prayer our Saviour tels us Luk. 18.14 The one went home more justified what the other got we read not It is a substantial Introduction therefore in the beginning of our Church-book that would have us to confess our sins with an humble lowly penitent and obedient heart that we may obtaine forgivenesse of them by Gods infinite goodnesse and mercy 3. Therefore how can we presume that those Prayers shall be acceptable which are accompanied with an Ostentation of Imaginary gifts and spun out in length to beg applause rather of tired hearers then a blessing from God or an intelligent Amen from the most part that know not what to make of them You my Daughters may learn of our Saviour Matth 6. that such Fastings Prayers and Almes-deeds that are done only to bee seen of men have no further reward then a windy approbation but those that sow the wind can expect no better crop then a whirlewind Hos 8.7 as the Prophet tells them which shall yeild no meal and if it do strangers shall swallow it up 4. As Ostentation so superstition is to be avoided External Ceremonies for Order Decency and Solemnity no way crossing Gods word and agreed upon by prudent and religious Superiours are to be conformably submitted unto but to turn Sacraments into Sacrifices make a God of a piece of Bread attribute little lesse to the Cross then to him that was crucified upon it make masters of Requests of Saints and Angels without commission from the Lord of all nay having prohibition to the contrary and the like this can procure no further grace at Gods hands then that the Prophet expresseth Isai 1.12 Who hath required this at your hands Such Oblations and Incense are vaine and abominable unto me as the cutting off a dogs neck Isai 66.3 in stead of sacrificing a Lamb. Let Nadab and Abihn take heed therefore though they be Aarons sons how they bring in strange fire before the Lord Lev. 10.1 which he commanded them not lest they more then scald their fingers For where a command lies that must be punctually observed wee must think that our inventions will not take better in Gods Worship then his own prescriptions 5. But suppose us free from Superstition yet a greater Impediment may frustrate our prayers and that is a bosom sin which most foster as a Favourite But this must be outed with the rest if we expect any favour from him that heareth prayer Psal 65.2 Joh. 9.31 We know said the poor cured blind man that God heareth not sinners which was Davids profession in his owne experience Psal 66.16 If I incline to wickednesse with my heart the Lord will not hear me Fain would the young man that came running to our Saviour have kept his pelf with theinterest that he made suit for in the Kingdom of heaven but when our Saviour had discovered that bosom impediment he went away grieved Mat. 10 20 saith the Text and for ought we read never returned so impossible is it to make Christ and Belial inmates All sins must be sincerely repented of before any prayers can be prevalent Let Joshuah be never so earnest with all the Elders of Israel by reason of their unexpected Defeat received by the men of Ai Josh 5.7 ver 13 yet no other answer from God can bee obtained then this There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee O Israel thou canst not stand before thine enemies untill ye take away the accursed thing from amongst you This is that the Apostle aimed at when he importunes so earnestly his newly converted Corinthians 2 Cor. 13.5 Examine your selves whether you be in the faith prove your owne selves Know you not your own selves that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates Now Jesus Christ never harboureth where a bosom-sin keeps residence The Prophet Davids prayer therefore in this case must make way to our Prayers Ps 139.23 Try mee O Lord and seek the ground of my heart Prove me and examine my thoughts Look well if there bee any way of wickednesse in me and lead me in the way everlasting In which way 6. No happy progresse to be expected if wee that sue for Gods peace should come unreconciled to our brethren Saint John gives him the plain lye 1 Joh. 4.20 that professeth he loveth God and hateth his brother for saith he he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen how can he love God whom he hath not seen That we see more effecteth then that we hear of and all will say I will trust mine owne eyes rather then anothers report But how irreconciliation with our brethren voids all our addresses to God we need be lessoned no farther then from our Saviours owne mouth First Where he tells us that all our Oblations will be frustrate Math. 5.25 if a jar be depending between us and our brother and therefore agree with thine Adversary and that quickly saith he whiles thou art in the way with him Next what shall wee say to that that our trespasses are desired to be forgiven us no otherwise
see that yee walk circumspectly saith the Apostle not as fools Eph. 5.15 16. but as wise redeeming the time because the dayes are evil 5. Sobriety Psa 119.1 for blessed are they that are undefiled in the way and walk in the Law of the Lord which will be a sure guide unto them 6. Peaceableness with their fellow Travellers See that ye fall not out by the way saith Joseph to his brethren which wee most commonly do through vain glory Gal. 5.26 that the Apostle taxeth provoking one an other and envying one another when common calamities or blessings invite us most to unity 7. Cheerfulnesse that sweetneth all the crosses in the way and encourageth us to go on with assrance of the crowne that is set before us Those that sigh and cry for the abominations of the times and see as it were Gods hand lifted up to strike Ezech. 9.4 Rev. 7.3 shall find some marked as in Ezekiel and the Revelation which we shall discern in our selves as we find a conformity between our Actions and Petitions For may not he that as a true Nathaniel without guile finds himselfe Humble in himself Matth. 5 mourning for his owne sins and the iniquity of the times meek to his companions hungring and thirsting to do good to all men Merciful to the miserable Pure in his intentions patient in induring injuries for righteousnesse sake safely conclude that a Mark of Blessednesse is stampt upon him which is the chiefest scope our prayers aim at But what need we go further in this behalf then the Lords Prayer If we find our unbyassed affections striving to compasse the 1. Hallowing of Gods name above all things 2. The promoting of his Kingdom and Church 3. The doing his wil in observance of his word 4. The acknowledging with all thankfulnesse our daily bread and all other necessaries for this life to come from his bounty 5. Our readinesse to forgive all other their trespasses against us that wee may receive remission of all our sins from him 6. Our desires to be freed from all temptations of the flesh and world in which wee should perish being left to our selves And 7. Of protection from the violences and stratagems of that roaring Lion 1 Pet. 5.8 who is daily ranging about seeking whom he may devour Should not such hearty desires which cannot arise from our own strength ascertaine us that the hearty recital of this prayer of the Sons composing hath found favour with the Father to our best advantage in due time to be accomplished Thus have you my dear children the necessity of prayer and to whom it is to be directed the things that we are to pray for and the awful reverence to be used in asking the Impediments that may hinder it and Helps that may make it effectual The Tokens whereby we may conclude that our prayers have found grace to be accepted To put a happy period therefore to this Preparation when we settle our selves to pray 2 Th. 5.17 which the Apostle tels us must be without ceasing 1. The infinite Majesty of God 2. Our own vilenesse 3. The fraud and fury of our adversaries the Flesh the World and the Divel 4 The weight of the businesse wee go about being our utter making or marring 5. The Interest we have in our Saviour Christ Jesus who hath made an Attonement for us 6. The Inevitableness of the account we are to make and the uncertainty of the time we shall be called to it 7. And lastly The strictness of the judgement and unchangeableness that wil pass upon it must most circumspectly and religiously be pondered and laid to heart that so we may profess with the Psalmist Psal 6.8 Away from me all ye that work vanity for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping the Lord hath heard my Petition the Lord will receive my prayer Which how you may frame more particularly I shall endeavour to give you plain Directions in that which followes THE SECOND PART Concerning PRIVATE PRAYER PRayers are known to be either Private or Publick Those are to be accounted Private which touch not only on private occafions but as they are differenced from solemne prayers at publick Meeting in the house of God And may be reckoned to be 1. Personal or prayers in secret 2. Houshold or prayers in a Family 3. Blessings or occasional Salutations 4. Psalms Hymns or spiritual Songs appliable to divers occurrences 5. Ejaculations framed on all sorts of conceits or objects 6. Lamentations for sin or miseries 7. Excitations or Incouragements to all kind of Christian cheerfulness and resolution CHAP. I. Of Personall or Prayers in secret IT is a question proposed by the Apostle What man knoweth the things of man 1 Cor. 2.11 save the spirit of man which is in him And cannot be answered otherwise then it is else where by himself Rom. 8.15 16. That the Spirit of Adoption whereby wee cry Abba Father beareth witnesse with our spirit that we are the children of God This Spirit is consciencious to our infirmities Rom. 8.15 16. and most secret sinnes For which if our hearts condemn us God is greater then our hearts to punish or to pity as his justice 1 Joh. 3.20 21 or mercy leads him but if our heart condemn us not then have we confidence towards God The book of conscience in such cases is especially to be consulted with Hence were all those zealous strains of the heavenlie enspired Psalmist Psal 139.1 2 3 4 O God thou hast searched me out and knowne me thou knowest my down-sitting and my up-rising thou understandest my thoughts long before Thou art about my path and about my bed and spiest out all my wayes For lo there is not a word in my mouth but thou O Lord knowest it altogether To the same purpose is that considerate acknowledgment in an other place Who can tell how oft he offendeth O cleanse mee from my secret faults keep thy servant also from presumptuous sins lest they get the dominion over me so shal I be undefiled and innocent from the great offence Psal 19.12 13 14. Here is a growth of sin as of an infant in the womb from scarce sensible motions to close committed offences which if they meet not with some publick check they will dare by degrees to appear in publick and amount at length to that great offence that seareth the conscience 1 Tim. 4.2 and makes it regardlesse of hell or heaven This Cocatrice not crushed in the egge will soon become a most dangerous flying serpent which can be quelled only with personal prayers Isa 14.49 opposed to the temptations terrors and assaults wee are most molested with Now these are only known to God and our selves and the Father that observeth in secret our retired suits will reward us openly to his own glory and our best advantage This Jacob was fully perswaded of and therefore upon the affrighting newes of
orderly with Gods Word which must be the ground and rule of all preaching praying and Christian conversation Now such a Reformation is directed to us that wee know not where we are or what to expect but that the longest liver shall never be acquainted by this new method in our Church Service with the whole counsel of God Acts 20.27 and if the Minister please not the Ten Commandments in the Old Testament and Lords Prayer in the New shall never bee known to the simple people But concerning the divers uses and applications of the Psalmes in private that notable Treatise of an ancient Father placed before our Psalmes in Meter may bee a profitable Directory wherein 99. Cases are set down what Psalmes wee may distinctly use for our greatest comfort For you my Daughters it may be sufficient to take into your particular Devotions those seven Psalms termed by the Ancients Penitentials which are the 6 32 38. 51 102 130 143. and were usually repeated weekly each on its set day which was a pious course But if this may bee thought to be otherwise supplyed in the Family Confessions before mentioned in your daily Morning and Evening Prayer it may bee worth your private Observation to consider the several works of the six dayes in the Creation as they are registred in Genesis with the celebration of the Sabbath chap. 1. and then to select seven Psalmes which may serve as a most sweet and pertinent explanation of each of them In this accommodation for Light the first dayes work you have the 27 Psalm The Lord is my light and my salvation whom then shall I fear c. For the second dayes work which were the Heavens the 19. Psalm The heavens declare the glory of God and the Firmament sheweth his handy-work For the Earth with the Sea of the third dayes framing how consonant is the 14 Psalm The earth is the Lords and all that therein is the compasse of the world and they that dwell therein for he hath founded it upon the sea and prepared it upon the flouds c. In the same order the Sun and Moon and Stars which were created and set in the Firmament the fourth day are taken into especial consideration in the 8. Psalm When I consider the heavens the work of thy fingers the Moon and the Stars which thou hast ordained Behold what an excellent use hee makes of it for a patterne to direct us what we should do in contemplating all the rest of the Creatures Lord what is man that thou art mindful of him and the Son of man that thou visitest him The like use is made upon the consideration of the fishes of the Sea and of the fowls of the air which were the work of the fifth day in the 104. Psalm Ver. â—5 And for the sixth day wherein Man was created with the beast and the rest of the Inhabitants of the Earth to serve him how fit is the 139 Psalme to bee thought upon O God Ver. â—5 thou hast searched me out and known me thou knowest my down-sitting and mine uprising thou understandest my thoughts long before c. My bones are not hid from thee though I be made secretly and fashioned beneath in the earth Thine eyes did see my substance yet being unperfect and in thy book were all thy Members written And last of all the 92 Psalm bears this Title A Psalm or Song for the Sabbath Day conformable to which we have the seventh and Lords day wherein we may observe that which an unwise man doth not well consider Ver. 6. and a fool doth not understand 1. What is to be done in celebrating of it Ver. 1. It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord and to sing praises unto the name of the Most Highest 2. At what set times especially Ver. 2. Morning and Evening To tell of thy loving kindnesse early in the Morning and of thy truth in the night season 3. With what solemnity Upon an Instrument of ten strings and upon the Lute upon a loud Instrument any that may consort with or quicken our praises Prayers or Thanksgivings 4. Upon what ground Because God hath made us glad through his works and therefore this day should be especially set apart for to rejoyce in giving praise for the operations of his hands which is intimated in the fourth Commaudment it self In six dayes the Lord made heaven and earth the sea and all that in them is What should this mean but that especially upon this day with all Praise and Thanksgiving all these things were to be considered in pious meditations and distinct Prayers Praises and Thanksgivings to be inferred thereupon according to every mans private Devotions and capacities besides the publick Service 5. In what manner must this be done Our Psalmist also here furnisheth us with a Gloria Patri O Lord how glorious are thy works and thy thoughts are very deep And 6. Tells us that those that pass this over as a slight business are but unwise men and fools who prick up as the green grasse quickly to be mowen down and made fodder for beasts whereas the truly religious and due observers of the Lords Day according to his own holy Ordinance 1 Shal have their strength exalted as the horn of an Unicorn 2. Be annointed with the fresh oyl of Gods blessed Spirit 3. Flourish like a Palm tree that prospereth under pressures and 4. Spread abroad like a Cedar in Libanus in spite of winds and tempests 5. Shall see their enemies danted and put to confusion according to their desire Whereas 6. They themselves shall be firmly fixed and flourish in Gods house and bring forth more fruit in their age then the vigour of their former dayes hath yeilded There be that apply the 150 Psalmes in this manner That the first fifty should especially stir us up to hearty repentance The second to the consideration of Gods Mercy and Justice The third to the contemplation of Eternal happinesse to bee intertained with Hallelujahs and Thanksgivings But if you answer to this Such knowledge is too wonderful and excellent Psal 139.5 we cannot attain unto it Take then in a shorter way those three Psalms which may well bee called the Sermons of David In the first of which which is the 37th you have a plaister against fretting at the prosperity of the wicked and perplexed estate of those that in all mens judgements deserve better In the second being the forty ninth a purge for swelling up-starts whose state is held no better then that of the beasts that perish this is set forth more at large in the seventy third to beat us off from all worldly vanities and to bring us to hold fast by God Psal 73.27 37.38 for that will only bring us true peace at the last These Sermons will not over-burden your memories with tediousnesse but be easily learned by you and taught your children And seeing you have the