for the poor not to steal from the rich This sin is also a transgression of the former law Ecclus. 34.21 for the bread of the needy is their life and he that defraudeth him thereof is a man-slayer The Ninth Commandment Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour Examination by the Ninth Commandment NOt onely of all false and evill speaking Matt. 12.36 37. but of every idle word that men shall speak they shall give an account in the day of Judgment And therefore to make up your accounts against that great day of trial 't will be necessary to commune with your heart 12.34 out of the abundance whereof the mouth speaketh 1. Whether you have been guilty of any officious lies by speaking falsely either in the cause of God Job 13. Col. 3.9 or of man The first being unlawful the second is highly sinful though my neighbour may be benefited thereby Ps 12.2 Ecclus. 2.24 25. and 23. 2. Have you told no scurrilous lies vain-glorious bragging lies to please and humour your own and your companions sensual inclinations 3. Psal 24 4. Pro. 12 17. 13.5 Have you told no false stories to allure others to be of your mind and judgment though you be in an errour And 't is very evident that you are both deceived your self and desire to deceive others when you tell a lie to maintain your opinion for Truth stands in need of no lie to support it 4. Prov. 18.8 â—nd 24.28 Ecclus. 19. â— 8. and â—1 25 Eph. 4.25 Have you told no infamous lies and scandalous stories to detract and blemish the good name of any If such stories should be true 't is uncharitable but when falsities abominable to report and spread them 5. Matt. 7.3 â— Have you not talk'd of the moat in your brother's eye to his disgrace being blind as to the beam in your own And have you not judged rashly censured uncharitably of other mens actions viz. not in the better but worser sense 6. â—rov 26. â—4 25 26. Have you not flattered with your lips professing more love and respect to any then has been truly in your heart towards them 7. Exod. 23.1 Have you neither publickly nor privately testified what is false to the diminution either of the reputation or estate of any man 8. Have you used no opprobrious language as thou fool knave Matt. 5.22 1 Pet. 3.9 nor answered railing for railing The sin of evil speaking is much aggravated from the qualitie of the persons evil spoken of As 1. for Children to speak evil and reproachfully either of or to their Parents Pro. 20.20 2. Jer. 18.18 Exod. 22.28 Jud. 8. for a people to speak evil of their Pastours 3. for Subjects to speak evil of their King and his Ministers of State Which is the humour of false Prophets and Hereticks it being the practice of Orthodox Pastours Tit. 3.1 2. to put their people in mind to be subject to Principalities and Powers to obey Magistrates to speak evil of no man c. The Tenth Commandment Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife nor his servant nor his maid nor his ox nor his ass nor any thing that is his Examination by the Tenth Commandment 1. HAth no lust inflamed your breast towards the Wife or Maid of another Matt. 5.28 1 Thess 4.5 2 Sam. 11.2 or to covet whatsoever of his you vainly conceive serviceable to your sinful pleasures So lusted David after the wife of Vriah 2. Hab. 2.9 Luk. 12.15 Have you not coveted the house lands preferments offices or whatsoever is enjoyed by another in order to your worldly profit 1 King 21.1 c. So coveted Ahab the vineyard of Naboth 3. Have you not secretly wished the loss or ruine of your neighbour's health peace credit liberty life Job 31.29 30. 1 Joh. 2.11 and 3.15 or any thing that is his in order either to your pleasure or profit 4. Num. 11.28 29. Have you not envied the flourishing estate of any either in respect of their wealth esteem honour preferment and this whether in reference to your self or to your friend 5. Phil. 4.11 1 Tim. 6.8 Matt. 6.19 20. Heb. 13.5 Have you been content with your present state and condition in this world how mean soever not roving after the exteriour consolations of the creature abroad the onely way to lose contentment in your self at home 6. Prov. 13.4 Eph. 4.28 2 â—hess 3.8 Have you been diligent and industrious in the duties of your calling without all carking solicitude both for the support of your self and yours and for the relief of others 7. Have none of those great Diana's whom all the world worshippeth viz. the lusts of the flesh 1 Joh. 2.15 16. or voluptuousness the lusts of the eyes or covetousness the pride of life or ambition taken up more room in your heart then the love of God and the joys of the world to come My soul cleaveth to the dust Psal 119.25 quicken me O Lord according to thy word CHAP. V. The Examination of Religious actions SUch is the infelicity of our humane condition upon earth that we frequently trespass against the Majesty of Heaven not onely by doing what God hath by his holy Laws forbidden but also by the irregular performance of those holy acts of Religion which he hath commanded Gen. 4.4 5. And herein a more strict scrutiny is required a more narrow search into all the secret recesses and corners windings and turnings of the corrupt heart because the sins of such actions as be outwardly holy do commonly lie more closely hidden from our apprehension and view then those which have no appearance of holiness in them Where 1. Examine your intention in every good work what is your chief end and aim therein Matt. 6.22 23. For the light of the body is the eye 't is the intention the internall eye of the Soul which renders every work either of light or of darkness sinfull or holy Consider then whether in Alms-giving Fasting Praying Preaching or any other Religious duty you intend either 1. the glory of God rather then your own glory and esteem the praise of God more then the praise of men or 2. the good of your Soul and the interest of Heaven rather then any worldly ends or interests 3. Whether you perform such or such an holy action out of a true love to God and obedience to his commands or rather to please your self in following your own imaginations inclinations and humours 4. whether to satisfy your own conscience rather then to prevent the discourses or censures of others 5. to benefit others rather then to please your own fancy And lastly whether you have an eye to the recompence of reward in the other world without reflexion upon any secular advantage in this life 'T is too common with men to mistake their own
infinite 4. For there is mercy with thee to forgive the sins of the penitent and to raise up them that are faln therefore shalt thou be feared or worshipped with reverence and godly fear thy mercy engaging and sweetly working upon our hearts to fear thy Name 5. I look for the Lord even for his saving mercy my soul doth wait for him to heal her soars and satisfie her longing desires with the oil and wine of mercy and consolation in his word is my trust for therein he hath promised to pardon the penitent to heal the broken-hearted And I doubt not but he will be as good as his word and therefore 6. My soul fleeth unto the Lord upon the spiritual wings of ardent desires strong hopes fervent prayers before the morning-watch very early in the morning of the day or in the morning of my life the time of my youth I say before the morning-watch or more carnestly then such who are appointed watch-men for the night do wait for the morning to be discharged from their watch and have liberty to repose themselves 7. O Israel Ye that are of the number of God's people members of his Church if you be wise trust not in your selves nor in others but trust in the Lord who never faileth to help them that put their trust in him and be doing good for with the Lord there is mercy There is there was and ever will be mercy with him to justifie sinners that truly repent and believe in him for his mercy endureth for ever and with him there is plenteous redemption His precious bloud whereby we are redeemed is plentifully sufficient to satisfie for our sins and not for ours onely but for the sins of the whole world 8. And he shall redeem Israel No doubt but he will more especially above all others redeem his own inheritance from all his sins Be they never so many mortal and venial if truly repented through Faith in the bloud of Christ they shall be pardoned And therefore we have great reason to give Glory to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. Psalm CXLIII Verse 1. HEar my prayer O Lord for the obtaining of what is good and consider my desire for the avoiding of what is evil hearken unto me in both respects for thy truth of thy promises made to hear the prayers of the humble and for thy righteousness sake in performing all such promises to those who trust not in their own but in thy righteousness condemning themselves that they may be absolved by thee 2. And enter not into judgment without any intermixture of mercy with thy servant O Lord I dare not say thy son but confess with the Prodigal that I have sinned against Heaven but reject me not from among the number of thy servants for in thy sight who art a God of purer eyes then to behold iniquity shall no man living in this frail mortal flesh be justified by his own merits but by the mercy of God through the merits of Christ 3. For the enemy the Devil hath persecuted my soul and doth incessantly undermine its innocence by his temptations and snares he hath smitten my life down to the ground so that my Soul grovels in the dust of earthly desires he hath laid me in the darkness involv'd in the night of secular lusts as the men that have been long dead in their trespasses and sins having no sense or feeling of their desperate condition 4. Therefore is my spirit vexed within me My Conscience within me being defiled and my Soul which would aspire to Heaven-ward depressed with the weight of her sins and the corruption of her flesh is a great corrosive and vexation of my spirit and my heart within me is desolate destitute of all consolation 5. Yet do I remember the time past wherein thy people have been exercised and tried both by adversity and prosperity both by temptations and deliverances and for my consolation and strengthning my hopes of deliverance I muse upon all thy works wherein I observe as thy great power and wisedom so thy mercy allaying the rigour of thy justice yea I enâ—â—ise my self in the works of thy hands wherein I find thy mercy to be over thy works and that I though an unprofitable work of thy hands may obtain mercy also 6. I stretch forth my hands unto thee both praying with my lips and working with my hands to obtain may petitions and my soul pours forth her self in the expansion of my hands which being in her self dry and barren of consolation gaspeth unto thee the fountain of living waters and well-spring of Divine graces even as a thirsty land gapeth to be fill'd and satisfied with rain from Heaven 7. Hear me O Lord watering my thirsty Soul with the celestial dew of thy Divine grace and that soon delay not to satisfie the thirst of my soul which is great for my spirit waxeth faint hath lost its wonted fersour of devotion being oppressed with the burthen of her sins and destitute of the sweet refreshments and influences of thy Holy Spirit hide not thy face from me as one turns away his face from his enemie or one with whom he is justly offended lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit If thou look not in mercy upon me I shall be in the same condition with them that are involved in the pit both of sin and of death 8. O let me hear be made sensible of thy loving kindness betimes in the morning early and betimes in this life and after the night of this life is ended in the morning of that day which never shall have end for in thee is my trust not in my self nor in any help of man for it is but vain and so will prove my trust in thee also except I obey thy will and walk in thy ways the which that I may do I humbly beg shew thou me the way of thy laws and the paths of thy Commandments wherein I should walk as leading to my native home of Heaven where my immortal Soul was first framed by the hands of the Almighty for unto thee O Lord do I lift up my soul which being made after thine Image aspires to become perfect in the beatifical vision and fruition of thy sacred Majesty In which way being soar let and hindred it implores thy assistence saying 9. Deliver me from mine enemies O God both visible and invisible ghostly and bodily adversaries for I flee unto thee when assaulted by them to hide me under the covert of thy protection from all the storms of temptations which daily arise in the tumultuous sea of this life 10. Teach me who am naturally blind and careless of my duty to doe the thing that pleaseth thee not onely to know but to doe thy will not to follow mine own pleasure but what is pleasing and acceptable unto thee for thou art my God who hast created and redeemed me and that I may be
which being plainly fully and yet very briefly taught in our Church-Catechism to be therefore ignorant of these things which every Child is bound to learn and say is another Species of an unworthy Communicant 3. He discerns not this Sacramental Body of the Lord who prepares not himself to receive the same with all reverence and godly fear t Heb. 12.28 with hands washed in innocency v Psal 26.6 and into a pure and clean heart x Isa 1.16 Psal 24.4 into a Soul cleansed from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit y 2 Cor. 7.1 and perfumed as was our Lord's crucified Body with the sweet odours of Humility and Compunction of Love and Devotion of Obedience and Charity And hereunto all the parts and kinds of true Repentance do necessarily concur for there can be no cleanness of hands no purity of heart if the naturally stiff and proud heart be not first humbled and its stifness broken with godly sorrow for sin and its filthiness washed off with the devout tears of true Penitence through Faith in the bloud of Christ And he that receives Christ's Holy Body and Bloud into his Soul not first emptied of all his Sins by holy Faith and all the sacred offices of true Repentance doth with Judas betray his Master into the hands of his enemies even those very enemies which crucified him for those were our Sins And therefore 't is said of such unworthy Receivers that they are guilty of the Body and Bloud of Christ To avoid such a horrid Sin 1 Cor. 11.27 and Damnation following the same v. 29. betwixt both Verses 't is commanded v. 28. Let a man examine himself and so let him eat Self-examination as 't is in the former Leaves prescribed to be practised is the first and the greatest Duty and requires the most of spiritual labour care and industry of all that is required to the worthy Receiving of the Holy Communion And this because 't is not onely necessary in it self but necessarily conducing to the sincere performance of all the other Religious Duties commanded Our Repentance in all its parts our Humiliation and godly Sorrow for sin our holy Purposes and Resolves of amendment our Faith our Hope our Charity must be examined that they be sincere and without hypocrisy And therefore it is that this Duty is commanded by the Apostle as if it were alone sufficient when sincerely performed to make us acceptable Guests at the Lord's Table saying Let a man examine himself and so let him eat And indeed this so great so necessary a Duty is as greatly extolled and withall pretended unto by most men especially such as talk much of their Religion but practise little 'T is generally the pretence and the plea of such who cry up Self-examination to cry down the Sacerdotal power and function to withdraw themselves from under the guidance and examination of their respective Pastours whose Instructions being not received or observed but so far forth as to every man seemeth good in his own eyes is the great reason why this grand Duty is so generally neglected or negligently performed The which is manifest 1. From the numerous company of those who make no conscience of coming to the Holy Communion when invited 'T is not possible that men otherwise prudent as to their worldly concerns should yet be so sottish so retchless so stupidly careless of their eternal health and happiness did they ever seriously examine and consider the state and condition of their Souls But whilst they know not themselves in their spiritual wants weakness and wickedness how can they have any desire much lesse a delight to come to the fountain of mercy truth and holiness z Wisedom 2 21 22. Matt. 5.6 'T is the reason 2. Why many persons having received the Sacrament but feeling no virtue no efficacy no power of grace no consolation flowing from these celestral Mysteries of Salvation have therefore afterwards slighted and neglected the same For whilst their ignorances and errours whether in opinion or practice for want of due Examination appeared not unto them that Sun of Righteousness shined not into their hearts who appears not but through the windows and the openings of broken hearts and displayed consciences a Wised 5.6 And besides such is the corrupt nature of all finfulness and vice that if the leaven thereof be not narrowly searched out and abandoned it will sour the Bread of life and make it without any tast of sweetness to the Soul b 1 Cor. 5.7 8. 'T is the reason 3. Why many persons have by the receiving of that Blessed Sacrament been more hardened in their sins and in the errours of their ways For errours in judgment and offences in conversation which are the soars and diseases of the Soul being not searched to the bottom and salved by Repentance and the acknowledgement of the Truth c 2 Tim. 2.25 do change the spiritual food and nourishment of the Soul into the poison thereof whereby what was ordained unto life is found unto death d Rom. 7.10 CHAP. II. Meditations and Praiers preparatory to the Holy Communion the Week before THE truly sincere good Christian whose Faith is not in Fancy or Opinion or Presumption or consisting in word and tongue alone but in deed and in truth who desires truly to serve God and to honour and obey him with his whole heart and through his whole life every such qualified Christian will as soon as he hath notice given by his Pastour of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper to be administred seriously apply himself to the great work of fitting preparing and ordering his Soul for the joyfull and devout entertainment of his Blessed Redeemer thereinto In order to such a Blessed work 't will be very usefull and advantageous the whole Week foregoing to adde to your daily Praiers and Meditations these or the like following Collects with the Psalms ensuing I. Almighty God our heavenly Father who of thy tender mercy didst give thine onely Son Jesus Christ to suffer death upon the Cross for our Redemption and hast commanded us to continue a perpetual memory of that his precious Death untill his comiong again Hear me O mercifull Father I most humbly beseech thee and grant that I may with that right Understandingâ— true Faith sincere Repentance deep Humility and fervent Charity receive the Sacrament of my dear Saviour's Death accoridng to his institution and command that I may be made partaker of all the benefits of his Passion to the justification sanctification and eternal Salvation of my Soul through the same Jesus Christ II. I will not presume to approach thine Altar O Lord trusting in mine own Righteousness but in thy manifold and great Mercies I am not worthy to gather up the crums that fall from thy Table for I am an unclean creature to whom the Childrens bread belongs not having too often returned to my old Sins as the dog to his vomit But
every part and passage of Divine Service considering that this is the great End of your coming to Church and your business there is to serve the Lord with your Christian brethren in publick 1. Therefore when the Minister exhorts you out of the Word of God to confess and acknowledge your sins and wickedness harden not your heart but with all possible humility both of Body and Soul say after the Minister in the Confession of sin and to this and to every Praier or other act of Divine Worship where 't is prescribed neglect not to say Amen for that is as it were the seal to confirm to your Soul the Benefits thereof And the Hebrews have a saying that Whosoever says Amen with all his might opens the doors of Paradise 2. After the Confession when the Minister comes to the words of Absolution bow down your head and say softly in your heart Lord let this pardon pronounced by thy Minister fall upon my Soul and seal thereunto the forgiveness of all my sins 3. The Psalms and Hymns are to be answered verse for verse with the Minister that so all may joyn and bear a part in the Service of God for in his Temple doth every man speak of his honour v Psal 29.9 And 〈◊〉 although you cannot reade yet your heart may joyn with them that do reade and your mouth also may shew forth the praise of God by saying after every Psalm Glory be to the Father and to or else if it fall in course As it was in the beginning is now Adding always Amen to express how affectionately you desire the glory of God 4. Be not silent nor ashamed publickly and audibly to make confession of the holy Christian Faith when you are thereunto called by the Minister For this is a Duty you owe both to God and Man it is an act of God's Worship and a declaration that you hold the same Faith with all true Christians And therefore 't is required of you not onely with the heart to believe unto righteousness but that with the mouth also Confession be made unto salvation x Rom. 10.10 And when the Confession of Faith is publickly pronounced do not you sit or loll as if it concerned you not but stand up with the rest of the Congregation to signify and declare that you will stand to this Faith and earnestly contend for it as being the same which was once given to or by the Saints the holy Apostles 5. Be not so cold and careless in giving honour to God as not to bow at the name of Jesus for 't is a Duty positively commanded and universally practised by the Church and people of God in all Ages And therefore give no ear to those deceivable Criticisms corrupt Glosses and false Inferences which are too frequently but profanely urged to make void the commandment of God in the omission of this Religious practice If you hear any such allegations out of the Pulpit detest them the rather that any act of Religious worship should be spoken against in the place where whatever tends to the honour of God should be magnified and advanced 6. That you may not be tired with the length of the Divine Service consider 1. the great variety of its severall parts as consisting of Praiers and Praises Confessions Thanksgivings Invitations Lessons Admonitions all of which are with most admirable prudence and Religious wisedom so ordered and contrived to follow each other that so the ending of one and beginning of another may renew and re-enquicken your Devotion chearfully to joyn in all Remember 2. whose service it is you are a-doing and continue therein from the beginning to the end that you may reap the benefit of the whole Office both of the Absolution in the beginning and of the Blessing in the end and of the Amen's throughout CHAP. X. Meditations and Praiers at the Blessed Sacrament When you goe up to communicate COme unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will refresh you a Matt. 11.28 Thus calleth my Saviour upon Sinners whereunto my heart answereth I come Blessed Jesus in all humility and deeply sensible of my Sins I now come unto thee to be eased of the burthen of them and to be refreshed with the sense of thy Mercy and the truth of thy Salvation My heart hath talked of thee and of thy gracious command Seek ye my face Thy face Lord do I now seek O hide not thou thy face from me b Psal 27.8 9. under the clouds of my Sins neither let the thick clouds of my transgressions hinder the light of thy countenance from shining upon thy servant When you kneel down before the Altar Thou art worthy O Lord to receive blessing and honour and power for thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created c Rev. 4.11 Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisedom and strength and honour and glory and blessing d Rev. 5.12 Out of S. Chrysost Liturgy But I am unworthy his praise should come within my polluted lips and much more unworthy his precious Body and Bloud should be received into my Soul and unclean mouth But since he disdained not to be born in a Stable and to be laid in a Manger amongst Beasts * Luk. 2.7 since he vouchsafed to enter into the house of a Leper f Matt. 26.6 and of a Publican g Luk. 5.29 and to admit the kisses of an unclean Sinner such as I am washing his delicate Feet with her penitent Tears h Luk. 7.38 O vouchsafe most benign Jesus to receive me also reject me not though a Sinner yet thy Servant though unclean yet penitent and now humbling my self under thy most mighty hand That it may please thee to remit to release to pardon all my Sins whether of knowledge or ignorance whether by thought word or deed committed that with a pure and clean Soul I may receive thy most precious Body and Bloud Prayers out of several other Liturgies that the devout Reader may have the more choice and fix upon the use of such as he feels most enquickening his Devotion Out of S. James's Liturgy I. O Lord God the Bread of Heaven and Life of the World I have sinned against Heaven and before thee and am not worthy to partake of thy most holy Mysteries yet vouchsafe mercifull Lord to make me worthy by thy grace that I may not receive thy Holy Body and Bloud to my condemnation but unto the remission of my Sins and everlasting life Amen II. I beseech thee O Lord Out of the R. B. that I may so worthily receive those sacred Mysteries of Salvation as to have Christ dwelling in my heart and that it may become the Temple of the Holy Ghost III. In the spirit of Humility and with a contrite heart receive me O Lord and may the Sacrifice which this day I offer up unto thee be
by a full confession of them to God and in some cases to Man and that 3. with all contrition and godly sorrow for sin and 4. with a full purpose of amendment Heb. 10.16 17. renewing your covenant with God contracted in the foregoing Sacrament of Baptism and now to be sealed in the Sacrament of Christ's Bloud 4. Have you with all reverence and humility 1 Cor. 6.20 both of Soul and body approached to that Sacrament and have you received the same 1. Ro. 5.1 2. with a lively Faith in the mercies of God through the merits of Christ 2. with all Devotion and thankfulness of heart in the grateful acknowledgment of God's infinite love Joh. 3.16 1 â—im 1.15 1 Pet. 1.18 19. Joh. 6.51 Matt. 5.23 24 25. Isa 12.3 in giving his Son to be both the price of your Redemption and the food of your Soul 3. with an entire and unfeigned Charity towards all men 4. being inwardly affected with a spiritual joy in the Lord 5. After the participation of those divine Mysteries examine 1. whether you feel your former sinful motions sensual and worldly lusts dying and decaying in your heart 2. whether you have any sense of God's mercy refreshing your Soul as to the pardon of your sins past Rom. 14.17 and 3. of Grace quickening and strengthning you to serve God more sincerely and industriously for the time to come If not you may justly suspect your self guilty either of an undue preparation or some sinful defect in the participation thereof And because the Name of God is called not onely upon his Word and Sacraments but also upon the Place where those are administred examine whether you have made your approaches to that House which is called by his Name 1 Cor. 3.17 Ps 93.5 Matt. 21.13 Psal 5.7.132.7 Ps 11.4 Hab 2.20 viz. the Temple of the Lord the house of God c. and demeaned your self therein with that lowly Reverence and Humility both inward and outward as becomes the place that is separate to his service and sanctified by his special presence therein If otherwise remember with horrour if any one defile or profane the Temple of the Lord 1 Cor. 3.17 him shall God destroy for the Temple of God is holy 'T is here objected that the immediate following words which Temple ye are do imply this Text to relate to holy Persons not to any holy Houses of God But 't is answered That this makes not void that duty of holiness which becometh the House of God but rather confirms the same for these words which Temple ye are are an illation or consequence flowing from this which the Apostle takes for an undeniable principle The Temple of God is holy And the plain and full meaning of the whole Verse is in other words briefly this The material Temple or House of God is a figure of the mystical Temple or People of God As therefore the material Temple is an holy place being sanctified to the holy Service of the most Holy God and whosoever profanes the same by irreverent and undecent carriage there him will God destroy so the People of God being his mystical Temple must keep themselves undefiled and pure both in heart and life that God destroy them not The Fourth Commandment Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath-day c. Examination by the Fourth Commandment 1. HAve you wisely distinguished betwixt times sacred and profane Ecclus. 33.7 8 9. by esteeming of such days as are devoted to the service of God in a select and separate respect from such as are common or ordinary days allowed for the service of man 2. Have you not omitted the Christian Duties required to the Sanctification of the Lord's day and of every day holy to the Lord viz. 1. the publick Prayers with Thanksgivings Eph. 5.19 Isa 56.7 the Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs in the Lord's House 2. the offices of Charity Matt. 12.12 Mar. 3.4 Alms-deeds Visiting the sick 3. Have you not profaned any days devoted to God's publick Worship Isa 56.2 Ex. 20.10 by doing such servile works that might be omitted or by going unnecessary journeys Isa 58.13 or by spending the same in idleness or vain sports luxury and wantonness 4. Have you observed not onely the Festival days Joel 1.14 Matt. 6.16 1 Cor. 7.5 Lev. 16.29 30. but also those daies of Fasting and Humiliation which have been observed in all ages of the Church of Christ by the devout people of God and are injoyned by lawful Superiours in order to the obedience we owe to the Commands of God 5. Have you kept the true Christian spiritual Sabbath which is to rest from the service of sin and to be wholly devoted to the service of God here Heb. 4 9 10 11. so that you may reasonably hope to keep an eternall Sabbath of peace and joy with God and all the Chore of Heaven hereafter The Fifth Commandment Honour thy Father and thy Mother c. Examination by the Fifth Commandment THE Christian Duties enjoyned in this Commandment are as many as there are Relations of Superiority and Inferiority amongst men 1. As to your natural Parents Have you not been stubborn and irreverent in your carriage towards them Deut. 21.18 Prov. 20.20 and 23.22 Prov. 30.17 Pro. 1.8 4.1 13.1 Eph. 5.1 Ecclus. 3.12 13. Mar. 7.11 12. Have you not secretly despised them in your heart nor openly published their infirmities Have you not slighted their wholsome admonitions nor disobeyed their lawful commands Have you not neglected to comfort and relieve them to the best of your power and skill in their sickness wants weakness and old age and have you not secretly coveted their estates though by their death 2. If you be a Father or a Mother of Children examine 1. have you taken care to see they were rightly and in due time Baptized 2. Eph. 6.4 that they be taught as soon as they are able to learn what a solemn Vow was made in their name when Baptized with the Principles of Religion implied therein and depending thereupon 3. to correct them for their offences Heb. 12.9 10 11. that they contract not a custom in sin 4. to give them good example 5. to pray for them in private and openly to give them your blessing 6. Ecclus. 3.9 1 Tim. 5.8 to provide for them according to your ability and not to spend in needless riot or otherwise what ought to have been reserv'd for their maintenance 3. As to your civil Father 1 Pet. 2.13 14. Jud. 8. Pet. 2.10 11. Rom. 13.6 Tit. 3.1 Rom. 13.1 2. Pro. 24.21 Eccles. 10.20 who is the King as Supreme have you not been censorious and malapert in judging and traducing him or his government Have you not grudged to pay him toll or tribute refused to obey his lawful commands had no hand in rising up against him nor contributed thereunto by sowing sedition and faction spreading
I ought To believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith rightly and fully to understand all the Articles of the holy Christian Faith whereinto I was Baptized and made Christian and my Faith in those Fundamentals of the Religion I profess has been weak and wavering clouded by ignorance depraved by errour and distracted by many various Opinions and doubts of the Truth God be merciful to me a sinner I have not fram'd the affections of my heart and the actions of my life according to what each Article of my Christian Faith doth imply and implicitly command but I have profaned nay even denied that Faith by the sinful works of my hands which I have professed with my mouth God be merciful to me a miserable sinner I have too often neglected and been sometimes ashamed to make confession of my Faith when called hereunto by the Minister in the Congregation and most justly therefore may my Blessed Saviour be ashamed of me at the last great Day But he is merciful and I a miserable sinner God be merciful to my sin for it is great I have not studied fully to know what the Will of my God is To keep God's holy Will and Commandments and to understand aright those Divine Commandments I am obliged to observe neither have I obeyed thy Will and kept thy Commandments according to the knowledge I have had thereof To thee O Lord God belongeth mercy and forgiveness but to me shame and confusion of face for I have rebelled against thee and have not walked in those Laws which thou hast appointed for us Sins against the First Table of the Law I Have not so stedfastly and unfeignedly believed in thee my God Sins against the First Commandment as not many times to entertain wild and roving thoughts of Infidelity and Atheism I have lived too much and too long without God in the world Against Faith in God spending my time either in doing nothing or nothing to purpose or doing what I ought not as if there were no God to call me to an account for the expence of my time and for all my actions in time The whole course of my life has been a trade of rebellion to my Creatour of ingratitude to my Redeemer of obstinacy to my Sanctifier of contradiction to a sincere Faith in the Trin-une God Blessed Father Son and Holy Ghost being little better then one of those Atheists who profess to know God but in their works deny him being abominable disobedient and to every good work reprobate Remember not Lord the sins of my youth nor of my riper age but according to the multitude of thy mercies think upon me O God for thy goodness I have not fully relied upon the all-wise and good providence of God Trust in God and cast all my care upon him but I have often distracted my mind with carking cares and fears for the things of this life and have used unlawful and indirect means to obtain and advance my worldly ends and interests I have leaned to my own understanding trusted to my policy and cunning made flesh my arm and riches my confidence been puft up by prosperity cast down by adverse occurrents for want of a sure trust and holy confidence in my God God be merciful to me a miserable sinner I have not made my Creatour the chief object of my hope and desires Hope in God but being made in honour after the Image of God I have made my self like the beasts that perish roving in my desires and vain hopes of consolation in the Creature I have foolishly hoped to avoid thy threatned Judgments and yet have not avoided the Sins against which they are denounced and I have as vainly hoped to attain thy promised Mercies having not obeyed thy Precepts in order thereunto O turn thy face away from my sins and blot out all mine offences I have not stood in awe of thy dreadful Majesty Fear of God so as not to sin and provoke thee to anger I have more feared to commit sin before men then in the presence of the All-seeing God more feared the penalty of humane laws then the threatnings of the Divine more feared to lose a little empty credit and esteem amongst men then to incur the displeasure of the Almighty and the little fear I have had of God hath been more servile then filial more afraid of the punishment then of the sin Enter not into judgment with thyservants O Lord for in thy sight shall no flesh living be justified The Love of God in my heart is weak and defective Love of God and no better then dissimulation and hypocrifie since I have not hated what is evil nor delighted my self in the Lord and in the ways of his service since I have not obeyed his Laws nor studied to please him more then to please my self and pleasure others since I have not longed after a more full enjoyment of God's Sacred Majesty in Heaven above but my Soul cleaveth to the dust and rubbish of worldly vanities Withdraw not thou thy mercy from me O Lord though my heart hath been withdrawn from thee but let thy loving mercy and truth alway preserve me I have too often neglected and omitted that indispensable duty of holy Prayers both publick and private Prayers unto God in the Church and in the Closet taking any light occasion sometimes to omit sometimes to curtail my Devotions and too often glad of such an occasion I have been too rash with my mouth to utter Prayers before God that have been impertinent irregular and unfit to be offered up to the infinite wisedom and purity of Heaven In the use of those holy Prayers which have been weighed in the balance of the Sanctuary I have been both indevout and irreverent weary of their length displeased at their return cold dull heavy and without advertency in the effusion of them And that which renders the best and most zealous prayers ineffectual I have presumed to pray in my sins with an impure heart and unclean hands so that wherein I might have most confidence I find nothing but imperfections weaknesses and defects God be mercifull unto me a miserable sinner I have not so seriously considered and entertained so deep a sense of thy great glories in thy self Praises of God and manifold graces to us sinful mortals as duly to praise thee both with heart and voice both in the congregation and in the closet neither hath the light of holy Truth so shined in the actions of my life that others seeing my good works may glorifie thee also God be merciful unto my sin for it is great O thou who art an Eternal Sins against the Second Commandment Incomprehensible Spiritual Pure Invisible Essence how have I misapprehended thy greatness My imaginations and conceptions of thee have been vain and mean and far below the excellency purity and perfection of thy Divine Nature And as my thoughts have
not the death of a sinner how long wilt thou delay to hear help and heal my Soul 4. Return O Lord from the rigour of Justice to the sweetness of Mercy deliver my soul from the bands and fetters of her sins and from under the power of Satan and save me from thy wrath and from everlasting damnation good Lord deliver me for thy mercie 's sake wherein is my onely trust through the merits of my Saviour 5. For in death whether spiritual in sin or corporal for sin there is no remembrance of thee either by confessing our sins unto thee or imploring mercy from thee and who will give thee thanks in the pit None sure do praise thy Name in the grave of death which is the dwelling-place of silence and oblivion much less in the pit of hell where thy great Name is not praised but blasphemed rather 6. I am weary of my groanings having long laboured under the heavy burthen of my sins every night wash I my bed both in the night when I should sleep and in the day Or in the night and obscurity of my sins I wash with the tears of compunction the bed of my Conscience Tho. Aquin. when I go to rest I water my couch with my tears Even all the places of my ease rest and refreshment are bedewed with tears of compunction and godly sorrow 7. Mine eye wherein my exteriour beauty chiefly consists is consumed with grief the inward sorrow of my Soul thereby emptying it self and worn away because of all mine enemies because my ghostly enemies daily prevail against me by my consent to their suggestions and temptations unto wickedness But being resolved to avoid all occasions of such temptations therefore 8. Depart from me all ye workers of iniquity For the future I must leave the society of all such as do not onely work wickedness but also tempt others to sin with them for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping He hath put my tears into his bottle and it concerns me therefore to separate my self from the company and counsel of the ungodly O how audible and effectual is the voice of weeping for therefore 9. The Lord hath heard my petition graciously accepted and answered my desires in the pardon of mine offences and the Lord will receive my prayer when I thus humble my self under his mighty hand And then 9. All my enemies shall be confounded they shall be frustrated in their designs and enterprises against my Soul and soar vexed when all their contrivances fail them they shall be turned back from their farther assaults of my innocence and put to shame suddenly Even before their intentions be put in execution their plots shall be blasted when the Lord vouchsafes to hear the voice of my weeping And O that I could so weep and bewail my sins that the Lord may hear in Heaven and be merciful unto me and heal my Soul to glorifie his Name Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be Amen Psalm XXXII Verse 1. BLessed is he whose unrighteousness is forgiven as to the guilt contracted and whose sin is covered that it appear not to his punishment Or whose original pollution is washed away in the Laver of Baptism and his actual transgressions covered with the robes of Christ's merits 2. Blessed is the man He is blessed in Hope though not in Fruition to whom the Lord imputeth not his iniquity to his eternal separation from the presence of God But of such an one it is required that he be sincere in his Repentance and in whose spirit there is no guile no hypocrisie or deceit in his Repentance but he turneth unto the Lord with all his heart and this too from all the errours of his ways 3. Whilst I kept silence covering and not confessing my sins or Whilst I filently considered with my self the multitude and hainousness of my transgressions my bones consumed away the strength and support of my Soul failed me through my daily complaining not as I ought to complain in the confession of my sins for therein I have kept silence but through the secret murmurs of my troubled conscience and fear of the just judgments of God 4. Day and night thy hand is heavy upon me My daily practice and continuance in my sins makes every day more heavy the hand of Divine justice for the fear whereof my moisture is like the drought in summer The sap of grace and vigour of the Spirit languisheth and the verdure of my Devotion is dried up even as the fruits of the earth are parched by the Sun 's hot beams in the height of Summer And now being sensible of this my sad condition 5. I will acknowledge my sin unto thee both my sins of Omission and mine iniquity my sins of Commission have I not hid but laid them all open before thee purging my Conscience from the venom of them by Confession And this I firmly resolved with my self to doe 6. I said I will confess my sins unto the Lord accusing my self that thou O Lord mayst excuse me condemning my self that thou mayst acquit me discovering my nakedness and shame that thou maist cover me with the robes of thy mercy through the merits of my Saviour and so thou forgavest the wickedness of my sin being confessed bewailed and forsaken 7. For this thy great mercy in pardoning offences sincerely repented shall every one that is godly pray unto thee that he may be cleansed from his sins for there is no man so godly that sinneth not but therefore godly because thou art gracious both in forgiving the wickedness of his sins and strengthning him with grace to abjure them And he that is thus godly will not neglect those blessed opportunitles of Prayer in the time when thou maist be found ready and propense to hear and forgive and that 's the time of this present life wherein there are great water-flouds of temptations and troubles but they shall not come nigh him The Prayer of the godly is a strong Bulwark and thus he prayeth in the time of trouble 8. Thou art my biding-place Under the sacred wings of thy merciful protection is my refuge in the midst of the greatest tribulation thou shalt preserve me from trouble like Noah and his family in the Ark when the rest of the world perished by water thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance Being on all sides delivered and preserved from the flouds of many waters I will sing praises unto thy great Name for the same The answer of God to a true Peititent 9. I will inform thee and teach thee outwardly by my Word and inwardly by my Spirit the way of true wisedom which is both to know God and know thy self wherein thou shalt go what good is to be done and what evil to be left undone and I will guide thee with mine eye have a constant eye upon
rather to be as a cast-away given up to a reprobate sense yet take not thy holy Spirit from me though I have often quench'd his sacred fires by my extravagant lusts yet leave me not forsake me not utterly But 13. Give me the comfort of thy help again or Restore unto me the joy of thy Salvation which by my sins I have forfeited and lost and stablish me with thy free spirit Free me by thy holy Spirit of liberty from the law of sin and of death 14. Then shall I teach both by word and example thy waies of mercy and truth unto the wicked who follow the ways of their own hearts and sinners shall be converted unto thee by the example of my sincere conversion and seasonable admonitions 15. Deliver me from bloud-guiltiness O God from all the kinds and degrees of bloud-guiltiness such are immoderate anger hatred malice envy and from all mortal or soul-killing sins thou that art the God of my health the health both of my body and Soul both temporal and eternal Salvation is from thee and therefore my tongue shall sing of thy righteousness extolling thy truth in making good thy promised mercies to the truly penitent 16. O Lord open my lips which my sins have closed up and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise which becometh not the lips of sinners but thou art a God forgiving offences and even out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast perfected praise 17. For thou O Lord desirest no sacrifice of slain beasts for the expiation of sin else would I give it thee were it thy pleasure to accept the same but thou delightest not in burnt-offerings 'T is not the outward carnal offerings though commanded by thee that thou respectest as the principal means to pacifie thy displeasure but the inward devotion and compunction of the person offering 18. The sacrifices of God those he chiefly respecteth and accepteth are a troubled spirit wounded and groaning under the sad sense of his sins a broken and contrite heart the fallow-ground whereof is broken up by a strict Self-examination contrite by Compunction weeded by Confession watered with the tears of godly Sorrow such a Sacrifice O God thou wilt not despise but accept through his merits who with a torn body and broken heart offered up himself a sacrifice for the sins of the world 19. O be favourable and gracious unto Sion Let thy blessing plentifully descend upon our holy Mother the Church both universal and this particular Church whereof I am a Member build thou the walls of Jerusalem Repair the breaches both in true doctrine and discipline which through licenciousness in opinion and conversation are greatly decayed that the Souls of the righteous may enjoy the vision of peace 20. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness with those sacred acts and offices of true Repentance whereby through Faith in the bloud of Christ the sinner is justified with burnt-offerings not of beasts without spot or defect but of holy innocent persons enfir'd with godly zeal and devotion to thy Service and whole burnt-offerings even the whole man devoted to a whole entire obedience through the whole course of life then shall they offer young bullocks upon thine altar themselves shall they offer upon the Altar of a pure heart a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God through Jesus Christ Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. Psalm CII Verse 1. HEar my praier O Lord as to the saving effects thereof and let my crying come unto thee be accepted by thee since my loud voice manifests the inward zeal and devotion of my heart 2. Hide not thy face from me under the thick cloud of my transgressions in the time of my trouble when burthened with the weight of sin or violence of temptation inclâ—ne thine ears to me when I call being penitent and humbled under thy mighty hand O hear me and that right soon there being danger in delay 3. For my days are consumed away like smoak spent in airy light vain unprofitable and black sinful works and my bones the strength and support of my Soul are burnt up as it were a firebrand scorched and withered through the exorbitant heat of carnal concupiscence which renders me liable to the fire of thy wrath 4. My heart is smitten down and withered like grass As when the grass is mowed down and withered by the Sun 's hot beams so my Soul being smitten down by the violence of temptation is dried up and withered in her devotion so that I forget to eat my bread neglecting the sweet refreshments of thy Holy Word and Sacraments where the Soul is nourished with the bread of life 5. For the voice of my groaning under the heavy burthen of my sins my bones will scarce cleave to my flesh being macerated by the strict rigour of penitential severities 6. I am become like a pelican in the wilderness flying even the sight and society of men through shame and confusion of face and like an owl that is in the desart that takes up her lodging in ruinous houses and not inhabited 7. I have watched in the serious consideration of my sinful and sad condition and am even as it were a sparrow flying the company of sinners that sitteth alone upon the house top solitary serious and studious how to escape the snares of sin below and mount up my Soul to Heaven above 8. Mine enemies revile me all the day long Such as hate to be reformed and are enemies to a serious and settled course of Religion continually deride and revile me and they that are mad upon me with rage and fury are sworn together against me have conspired my ruine 9. For I have eaten ashes as it were bread My meat was as unpleasant to me as if I had eaten ashes and mingled my drink with weeping All my wonted corporal refreshments were sowred with spiritual sorrow for my sins Or a August in loc I have exercised the penitential rigours of ashes and weeping sack-cloath and ashes being the armour and cloathing of penitents 10. And that because of thine indignation and wrath That 's the chief ingredient in my sorrow that I have deservedly incurred thy wrath for thou hast lift me up and cast me down Thou seemest as it were to raise me up that I may fall with the greater weight and violence or Thou hast raised me to great honour to be stampt after thine own image but for want of understanding I have faln down as low as the beasts that perish 11. My days are gone like a shadow they are not onely vain empty and unprofitable but also darksom and gloomy because I have declined from the Sun of righteousness and I am withered like grass for want of the celestial dew of Divine grace 12. But thou O Lord shalt endure for ever Whilst all other things pass away thou changest not being immutable as in mercy to raise up so
whither Blessed Lord whither should a defiled Soul go to be cleansed but unto that Fountain which is opened in the house of Israel for sin and for uncleanness In this inexhaustible Fountain of Divine grace my sinfull Soul longs to be washed and through the effusion of the precious Bloud of my Redeemer to be purified and my whole self for the future to be sincerely devoted to serve thee in holiness and righteousness before thee all the days of my life Amen III. Assist me Blessed Lord in the Triall and impartial Examination of my heart and of all the actions of my life in the full Confession of all my Sins with the tears of true Penitence and godly Sorrow for them in my Praiers for mercy and pardon of them and for grace to be sanctified against them O hear in Heaven and be mercifull unto me forgive me my Sins and heal my Soul through the merits and mediation of my dearest Saviour Jesus Christ Amen A short preparatory Meditation to the Sacrament out of S. Ambrose O with what great contrition of heart with what a floud of tears with what reverence fear and trembling with what purity of mind and chastity of body is that Divine celestial Mystery to be celebrated where thy Flesh O Lord is truly received and thy Bloud is truly drunk where things most high and low Divine and humane are mysteriously intermingled where the Angels of Heaven are invisibly present beholding and assisting in the celebration and where thou O Lord art inconceivably present both as the Priest and the Sacrifice O who can worthily either administer or receive such grand tremend celestial Mysteries except Thou the Omnipotent God make him worthy of thy Grace Even so come Lord Jesus The XXIII Psalm paraphrased Verse 1. THE Lord who hath created redeemed and sanctified me is my Shepherd to feed guide and defend me from the ravening of my ghostly foes therefore I can lack nothing that is needfull or convenient either for Soul or body 2. He shall feed me in a green pasture My Soul doth he feed with the verdant refreshing Indoctrinations of his Holy Word and lead me forth beside the waters of comfort Such are the influences of the Holy Ghost the Comforter and such are the Sacraments of his Church which as waters do quench the fire of Concupiscence wash off the pollution of Sin cleanse the heart from all vain and impure thoughts and desires satisfy the spiritual thirst of the Soul and feed the same to life eternal and these be Comforts both great and glorious 3. He shall convert my soul from the Pomps and Vanities of this wicked World and from the sinfull Lusts of the Flesh and bring me forth into the paths of righteousness to keep God's holy Will and Commandments and to walk in the same all the days of my life and this he will doe for his Name 's sake that his Name which is great wonderfull and holy may be glorified in me and by me 4. Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death be conversant amidst continual Temptations and Tribulations which are the miseries of mortality and the shadows of death in this valley of tears I will fear none evill neither the evil of Sin nor Death the wages of Sin for thou art with me dwelling in my heart by Faith in this mortal life that after the shadow of death is vanished I may dwell with thee by Vision in life immortal Aug. thy rod and thy staff comfort me thy rod to correct me thy staff to support me thy rod to punish me when I doe evill thy staff to sustain me in my sufferings for my Sins Both are great comforts to the devout Soul as being signs of Adoption and Grace purchased by the mystical Rod and Staff of my Saviour's Sufferings on the wood of his Cross This was the rod of the Lord's indignation for our Sins and the rod wherewithall our Lord beat the Devil out of his strong holds this was the staff also or stay of fallen Man the merits whereof I humbly beg to be applied to my Soul in the Sacrament of his Passion For 5. Thou shalt prepare a table before me The Table of the Lord is spred before all true Believers where is prepared the Bread of Heaven the food of Angels the Body and Bloud of Christ for the strengthning and refreshing of my Soul against them that trouble me and these are chiefly home-bred Enemies even all those sinful Lusts of the flesh which war against the Soul But that I may be prepared for the conflict with them thou hast anointed my head with oil The Unction of the Holy one are the Graces of the Holy Spirit which from Christ the Head do flow down upon his Members in the devout use of his Sacraments and my cup shall be full That Cup of blessing which is the Communion of the Bloud of Christ is full of grace and heavenly benediction And this in all humility I call my cup because I am invited nay commanded to take and drink thereof And if I receive it worthily I may then rejoycing say The Lord himself is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup and as it follows 6. Thy loving-kindness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life 'T was thy loving-kindness and mercy preventing me whereby I was called unto the state of Grace and Salvation and I believe and humbly pray that thy Grace may also follow me to continue in the same to my life's end and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever This is the end and the perfection of all the Lord's Blessings upon me He is therefore my Shepherd and doth feed and guide me protect and defend me correct and support me and with his precious Body and Bloud doth nourish me in his house of praier here below that I may hereafter dwell in his house of praise above and with his holy Angels and Saints for ever sing Glory be to God the Father As it was in the beginning Other Psalms seasonable for Meditation and relating to this Divine subject in several Verses are the XLII XLIII LXXXI LXXXIV Psalms the which I have not paraphrased or explained that this Volume might not swell into too great a bulk CHAP. III. Meditations and Praiers for the Friday especially before the Communion 1. AMongst all the days of the Week Friday is the most seasonable and fittest for the performance of those Religious Duties the which though never out of season are yet then most practical when commanded as necessary Preparatives for the worthy receiving of the Sacrament viz. the grand Duty of Self-examination of Confession of sins with Contrition Humiliation and Fasting as also for Meditations and Praiers upon the Passion of our Lord since it was upon this day of the week he was crucified and died for our Sins 2. 'T is upon this account that our Church enjoyns this day to be observed through the whole
thy Cross my Crown and thy Death my Life for ever God forbid that I should glory save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ whereby the world is crucified to me and I unto the world b Gal. 6.14 III. Meditations out of the Prophet Jeremy IS it nothing to you Lam. 1.12 all ye that pass by behold and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow which is done unto me wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger Ob that mine head were waters Jer. 9.1 and mine eyes a fountain of tears that I might weep day and night for the Sufferings of my Saviour Shall I not weep for him who both wept and bled for me yea wept out every drop of his most precious Bloud to deliver me from weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth for ever In the natural Body if one Member suffer all suffer with it and 't is thus in the Body mysticall also If I be a lively Member of Christ his Afflictions will afflict and pierce my heart his Passion will excite both compassion and compunction in my Soul so as to bewail not my Saviour onely but my self and my Sins also to bewail my self and the hardness of my heart that I cannot even with a floud of tears bewail my Saviour in his Sufferings nor yet sufficiently lament and abhor my Sins the causes thereof Upon the Passion of our Lord the veil of the Temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom That Temple mystically represents the Heart of man which signifies by its triangular form that 't is framed to be a Temple consecrated to the thrice-blessed Trinity But woe and alas my Heart is harder then the stones of that material Temple and receives not any deep impressions of that honour and happiness whereunto it was created Yet if any thing will mollify its stifness it must be the precious Bloud of my dear Redeemer which was for this very end shed upon the Cross There he bled whilst he had one drop to shed and there together with his precious Bloud he poured forth his righteous Soul with strong cryings and tears to melt the stony hearts of the sons of men into tears of Penitence and Devotion of divine Love and Obedience The gaping Wounds of my dear Lord are as so many Mouths opened to shew forth the bowels of his Compassion and through the hollow of his pierced Side may the devout Soul behold with the eye of faith his broken Heart flaming with the love of Man and dying for love O senseless ingratefull Soul who art not wounded with the Wounds of thy Saviour who art not throughly pierced with the dart of his Love who was pierced to the heart for the love of thee whose mouth is not continually opened in the praise of him all whose Wounds were as so many mouths praising the Lord for thy Redemption I am surely bound deeply engaged to love to honour to obey and wholly to live unto him who died for me even to give up my self my whole self all that I am and all that I have to his service who gave up his whole self every member of his Body every power of his Soul every drop of his Bloud a Sacrifice for my Sins And the very God of peace sanctify me wholly to his service And I pray God my whole spirit and Soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ Amen CHAP. IV. Saint Augustine 's Recommendation of the Passion of Christ unto God the Father BEhold Holy Father thy Blessed Son suffering for me great and grievous things Regard most glorious King who it was that suffered and remember in mercy for whom he suffered Is not this He my Lord even that Innocent one whom to redeem a Servant thou offeredst up being a Son Is not this He even that Authour and Giver of Life who was led as an innocent Lamb to the slaughter and became obedient unto thee even unto death and feared not to undergo the most bitter of all deaths Is not this He whom thou the dispenser of all Salvation didst beget from all eternity but in fulness of time wouldst have him partaker of my infirmity This is truly thy Deity who hath put on my mortality who was lifted up on the Cross and in my flesh suffered that sad punishment of a cursed death Look back O Lord my God with the eyes of thy Majesty upon this unspeakable work of mercy Behold thy sweet Son in all the parts of his Body extended and rackt See his innocent Hands flowing with his precious bloud and pardon in great mercy the iniquities which my wicked hands have committed Consider his naked Side pierced with a cruel spear and renew me in the sacred Font which I believe to have issued thence Behold those immaculate Feet which never stood in the way of sinners but alway walked in the Law of the Lord cruelly bored and transfixed with nails remove far from me the way of iniquity and make me to chuse the way of truth to hate and decline the ways of the ungodly and to walk in the paths of thy Commandments O hold thou up my goings in thy paths that my footsteps slip not I beseech thee O King of Saints by him who is the chief of Saints my Blessed Redeemer make me to run the way of thy Commandments that I may be united unto him who abhorred not to be cloathed with my flesh Behold most merciful Creatour the Humanity of thy beloved Son and have mercy upon the infirmity of thy frail creature His naked Breast is white and wan his pierced Side red and bloudy his distorted Bowels wither his splendid Eyes do languish his majestick Countenance is pale his procerous Arms are stiff and cold his marble Thighs hang down whilst his precious Bloud like water bedews his Feet Behold the punishment of God made Man and relax the misery of created man consider the sufferings of the Redeemer and forgive the sins of the redeemed This is He my Lord whom thou hast stricken for the sins of thy people although he be thy beloved Son in whom thou art well pleased This is He who knew no sin neither was any guile found in his mouth and yet he was numbred amongst the Transgressours and bore the sins of many CHAP. V. Saint Ambrose 's Commemoration of our Saviour's Passion O Lord Jesus Christ the Son of the living God the Creatour and Redeemer of all mankind we give thee thanks unworthy though they be yet desire they may be devout and acceptable to thee who for us miserable sinners camest down from Heaven and tookest flesh of the blessed Virgin Mary of her thou vouchsafedst to be born to be wrapt in swadling-cloaths and laid in a manger to suck the breasts to be circumcised in thy tender flesh to be manifested to the Wise men and adored by them to be presented in the Temple to be carried
harp with my heart will I give thanks unto thee O God my God c Psal 43.3 4. The CXI Psalm Verse 1. I Will give thanks unto thee O Lord with my whole heart a God must be worshipped not with the lips alone nor alone in the closet but both with heart and voice both secretly and in the Congregation secretly among the faithfull and in the congregation b not in the Conventicles of Hereticks and Schismaticks but in the Congregation of the faithfull 2. The works of the Lord are great sought out of all them that have pleasure therein c whose delight it is to study and meditate upon the greatness of God apparent in his works 3. His work is worthy to be praised and had in honour and his righteousness endureth for ever d wherein to the honour of God his righteousness is as himself unchangeable and everlasting 4. The merciful and gracious Lord hath so done his marvellous works that they ought to be had in remembrance * Though the Lord be marvellous in all his works yet of his grace and mercy he hath therein observed such an excellent order that we might remember and recount them to his praise and glory 5. He hath given meat to them that fear him he shall ever be mindfull of his covenant f In remembrance of the Covenant of grace he has made with his people he feeds them with celestial meat even the Sacrament of his Holy Body and Bloud 6. He hath shewed his people the power of his works that he may give them the heritage of the heathen g by the power and virtue whereof we who were heathens are entitled to the heritage of Heaven 7. The works of his hands are verity and judgment all his Commandments are true h Christ is Truth to them who worthily receive him but Judgment to the unworthy 8. They stand fast for ever and ever and are done in truth and equity i And this being true and equitable shall never fail of its due accomplishment 9. He hath sent Redemption to his people he hath commanded his Covenant for ever Holy and reverend is his Name k God's holy and reverend Name is to be for ever magnified for the Redemption of his people in the Bloud of his Son which is sealed and applied in the Blessed Eucharist to stand as an everlasting Covenant betwixt God and man 10. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisedom l The first part of this Covenant is the beginning of Wisedom viz. to fear the Lord and to depart from evill or to renounce the Devil and all his works the Pomps a good understanding have all they that doe thereafter the praise of it endureth for ever m They are truly wise who frame both their hearts and lives by this rule of Divine fear the praise whereof is everlasting Glory be to the Father and As it was in the beginning The Praiers I. THou art worthy O Lord to be praised and had in honour for all thy marvellous works but most to be admired for thy grace and mercy in the Redemption of thy people by the Bloud of thine own dear Son whom thou hast also given to be meat unto them that fear thee Be ever mindfull O Lord of this thy Covenant of grace and grant that I may ever receive the Blessed Sacrament which is the Seal thereof in verity and not unto judgment nor to my condemnation but unto the attainment of the heritage of Heaven through Jesus Christ II. Vouchsafe O Lord to pierce my heart with such an awfull fear of thy Name which is holy and reverend that I may not dare to offend thee by transgressing the least of thy Commandments but carefully conscienciously and constantly doe thereafter that I may be admitted into the blissful Society of those happy Souls the praise of whose innocence and holiness endureth for ever through Jesus Christ Praefatio ad Orationem Dominicam ex Liturgia S. Basilii ante Communionem Corporis That we may worthily receive the Body and Bloud of our Lord to the confirming and strengthning of our Souls let us worthily say that Praier which the onely-begotten Son of God hath taught us crying unto heaven with a pure heart Our Father which art in Heaven You may if you desire to enlarge your Praiers upon this divine subject adde Psal CXVI verse 10. to the end and CXXVIII and CXLVII verse 12. to the end CHAP. IX Meditations upon your going to Church with some short Directions for your demeanour in the House and in the Service of God UPON your going to Church three things will be necessary for you to consider 1. the condition of the Place whither you are going 2. the great End of your going thither and 3. how there you are to demean your self All this you would consider if you were going to the Palace of an earthly Prince who is but a mortall man like your self and you surely have much more reason to consider these particulars now that you are going unto the Courts of the Lord's House First then as to the House whither you are going 't is indeed as to its Fabrick but like other houses made of wood and stone even as the Lord's Day is but like other days as to the air and light of Heaven But the relative Holiness of this House and its eminency above other houses will appear by the Names whereby it is called both in the Book and by the People of God Under the Law it was called the Tabernacle of the congregation i. e. the place of God's meeting with his people the Temple of the Lord where he presents himself to the view of his people sitting betwixt the Cherubims as on his Throne of state 'T is also called the Sanctuary of the Lord the House of God the Habitation of his Holiness and the place where his Honour dwelleth All which Names do explain each other and need no interpretation Under the Gospell 't is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Church of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Lord's House 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the King's Palace and Oratorium the house of Praier Any of which Names much more all of them together considered will oblige any man who hath any sense of Religion to obey that command of God himself which is not merely ceremonial and typical but moral and perpetual Ye shall keep my Sabbaths and reverence my Sanctuary I am the Lord a Lev. 19.30 Secondly as to the great End of your going to Church it is to present your self before the Lord and there to adore the great Majesty of Heaven from whom you have your life and breath and all things It is not to serve your self by hearing this or tother fine-gifted Minister tickling your itching ears by his taking discourses agreeable to your fancy but to serve the Lord is your errand to his House viz. there to joyn
accepted and please thee O Lord my God IV. Let not the Participation of thy Body Lord Jesus which I too much unworthy presume to receive be unto me for judgment but effectual through thy great mercy for the safeguard both of my Mind and Body and for the healing of my sin-sick Soul who livest and reignest with the Father Out of the Greek Ritual I. May what we now offer up unto thee O Lord be accepted for the mercy of the universal World for all them for whom Christ offered up himself a Sacrifice upon the Altar of the Cross for the glory of thy Name and for the coming of the Holy Ghost that he may please to visit and enlighten my heart Amen II. As the Offering of righteous Abel as the Sacrifice of Noah of Abraham of Isaac so let this our Sacrifice be acceptable unto thee O Lord and may the same be so worthily offered by us and mercifully received by thee as when 't was performed by thy holy Apostles Amen III. O God the King of all give me I beseech thee true Compunction the Redemption of my Sins and the Amendment of my life who am deeply immers'd in bodily Affections estranged from thee and without hopes but in thy great goodness and saving mercies Omnipotent Jesus Saviour and Redeemer Amen Out of the Mozarabick Liturgy I. May the Sacrifice we now offer up unto thy Divine Majesty be effectual for the Pardon of all our offences for the Establishment of the Holy Catholick and Apostolick Faith and for all who religiously profess the same through Jesus Christ II. Bearing in mind continually the Holy Catholick Church we pray that the Lord may be pleased to be propitious hereunto and by the increase of Faith Hope and Charity to enlarge its limits We likewise remember all them that are fallen all that be in captivity the infirm and sick the stranger the fatherless and widow that the Lord would in mercy look upon them restore redeem heal comfort and relieve them all through Jesus Christ III. O Holy Trinity the Store-house of blessings vouchsafe to bless confirm and strengthen us all here present before thee deliver us from the day of condemnation and let us not be confounded when we shall appear before thee and in the presence of thy holy Angels but make us joyfull in thy Resurrection Blessed Jesus Keep the Soul of thy Servant the King and let Grace and Peace Charity and Humility flourish in his days through Jesus Christ IV. Grant O Lord our God that we may receive the Body and Bloud of our Lord Jesus Christ to obtain the Remission of all our Sins and to be replenished with thy Holy Spirit who livest and reignest Father Son and Holy Ghost one God over all Blessed for ever Out of the Aethiopick Liturgy I. Holy Holy Holy thrice Blessed ineffable Lord grant me to receive the Blessed Body of my Redeemer not unto judgment but to all fruitfulness in Good works according unto thy will and that such fruits may remain to thy glory Quicken us in thee to doe thy will In faith we call thee Father and pray Thy Kingdom come Hallowed be thy Name in us and by us for thou art most powerfull praise-worthy and glorious To thee be glory for ever Amen II. O God the Governour of Souls the Guide of the holy and the Crown of the just open mine Eyes now to see thee mine Ears always to hear thee and mine Heart to receive thee O give me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me And after of thy great grace thou hast satiated my Soul with thy Blessed Body and Bloud give me to understand both thy Greatness and thy Goodness and grant that thy holy will may ever be done in my Soul for thine is the Kingdom O Lord. Glory and Blessing be to God the Father Son and Holy Ghost for ever Amen III. Grant me Blessed Lord Out of the English Lit. so to eat the Flesh of thy dear Son Jesus Christ and to drink his Bloud that my sinfull Body may be made clean by his most Holy Body and my Soul washed in his most precious Bloud that I may evermore dwell in him and he in me Amen which is the great benefit of the Communion of Saints After you have received the consecrated Bread The Bread which I have now taken is the Bread which came down from Heaven and giveth life unto the world Oh that I may now feel its efficacy enquickening and inflaming my Soul with the heavenly ardours of divine love having all my Affections set upon things above and not upon things below May this Bread be to my Soul the staff of strength whereby I may vanquish all the assaults of the Devil the World and the Flesh and continue my Lord 's faithfull Servant and Souldier to my life's end Amen After the Cup received O that this precious Bloud of my dear Redeemer may be now both the Purification and Nourishment of my Soul the seal of my Pardon and Peace with God and the pledge of mine Inheritance in Heaven After both Grant Holy Jesus that as I have now received in faith thy precious Body and Bloud veiled under the Species of Bread and Wine I may hereafter behold thy blessed Face reveiled in Heaven to eat and drink with thy holy Angels and Saints in their mansions of blisse where they are satisfied with the fulness of the most ravishing delights in the Beatificall vision of the thrice-blessed Trinity Father Son and Holy Ghost of whom and through whom and in whom are all things and to whom be all glory for ever Amen Out of the Greek Ritual We give thee thanks good Lord the Benefactour of our Souls that thou hast this day made us worthy of thy celestial and immortall Mysteries Vouchsafe O Lord to confirm us in thy fear to preserve our life to secure our paths and to guide our feet in the way of peace Amen The Song of Simeon 1. Lord now lettest thou thy Servant depart in peace according to thy Word 2. For mine eyes have seen thy Salvation 3. Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people 4. To be a light to lighten the Gentiles and to be the glory of thy people Israel Glory be to the Father As it was in the beginning Meditations whilst others are communicated The good Lord pardon every one that prepareth his heart to seek God the Lord God of his fathers though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the Sanctuary i 2 Chron. 30.18 19. Blessed are they who dwell in the House of the Lord and are fed though it be but with the crums that fall from his Table The XXXIV Psalm is in the Apostolical Constitutions and in S. Chrysostom 's Liturgy appointed to be at this time devoutly praied Verse 1. I Will alway give thanks unto the Lord his praise shall ever be in my mouth 2. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord the
humble shall hear thereof and be glad 3. O praise the Lord with me and let us magnify his Name together 4. I sought the Lord and he heard me yea he delivered me out of all my fear 5. They had an eye unto him and were lightned and their faces were not ashamed 6. Lo the poor crieth and the Lord heareth him yea and saveth him out of all his troubles 7. The Angel of the Lord tarrieth round about them that fear him and delivereth them 8. O taste and see how gracious the Lord is blessed is the man that trusteth in him 9. O fear the Lord ye that be his Saints for they that fear him do lack nothing 10. The lions do lack and suffer hunger but they who seek the Lord shall want no manner of thing that is good 11. Come ye children and hearken unto me I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 12. What man is he that lusteth to live and would fain see good days 13. Keep thy tongue from evil and thy lips that they speak no guile 14. Eschew evil and doe good seek peace and ensue it 15. The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and his ears are open unto their praiers 16. The countenance of the Lord is against them that doe evil to root out the remembrance of them from off the earth 17. The righteous cry and the Lord heareth them and delivereth them out of all their troubles 18. The Lord is nigh unto all them that are of a contrite heart and will save such as be of an humble spirit 19. Great are the troubles of the righteous but the Lord delivereth him out of all 20. He keepeth all his bones so that not one of them is broken 21. But misfortune shall slay the ungodly and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate 22. The Lord delivereth the souls of his servants and all they that put their trust in him shall not be destitute Glory be to the Father As it was in the beginning The Prayer May the praise of the Lord be ever in my mouth and let us all magnify his Name together who do now tast and see how gracious the Lord is for he hath heard our praiers enlightned our minds delivered us from all our fears and from all those troubles whereunto our Sins had made us liable And oh that the sweet tast of our gracious Lord in this Blessed Sacrament of his Body and Bloud may have its proper influence upon all the Affections of our hearts and Actions of our lives that we may henceforth and for ever eschew evil and doe good being fruitfull in all the good works of Righteousness and true Holiness from whence ensue eternal Peace and Happiness through Jesus Christ I have sworn vowed in my Baptism and now again renewed the same Vow and am stedfastly purposed to keep thy righteous judgments k Psal 119.106 I am thine even now solemnly devoted thine stedfastly resolved thine O save me for I have sought thy Commandments l Vers 94. O hold thou up my goings in thy paths that my footsteps slip not m Psal 17.5 O hold thou up my goings in thy paths that I may daily perform my vows n Psal 61.8 CHAP. XI Psalms of Praise and Thanksgiving after the Holy Communion The CIII Psalm Verse 1. PRaise the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me praise his holy Name 2. Praise the Lord O my Soul and forget not all his benefits 3. Who forgiveth all thy sins and healeth all thy infirmities 4. Who saveth thy life from destruction and crowneth thee with mercy and loving-kindness 5. Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things making thee young and lusty as the eagle 6. The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all them that are oppressed with wrong 7. He shewed his ways unto Moyses his works unto the children of Israel 8. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy long-suffering and of great goodness 9. He will not alway be chiding neither keepeth he his anger for ever 10. He hath not dealt with us after our sins nor rewarded us according to our wickedness 11. But look how high the heaven is in comparison of the earth so great is his mercy also towards them that fear him 12. Look how wide also the East is from the West so far hath he set our sins from us 13. Yea like as a father pitieth his own children even so is the Lord merciful unto them that fear him 14. For he knoweth whereof we are made he remembreth that we are but dust 15. The days of man are but as grass for he flourisheth as a flower of the field 16. For as soon as the wind goeth over it it is gone and the place thereof shall know it no more 17. But the mercifull loving-kindness of the Lord endureth for ever and ever upon them that fear him and his righteousness upon childrens children 18. Even upon such as keep his covenant and think upon his commandments to doe them 19. The Lord hath prepared his seat in heaven and his Kingdom ruleth over all 20. O praise the Lord ye Angels of his ye that excell in strength ye that fulfill his commandment and hearken unto the voice of his words 21. O praise the Lord all ye his hosts ye servants of his that doe his pleasure 22. O praise the Lord all ye works of his in all places of his dominion Praise thou the Lord O my Soul Glory be to the Father c. I. 'T is not within the power of all the Faculties of my Soul worthily to praise the Lord for that he hath now satisfied my mouth with the good things of Heaven he hath forgiven me all my sins and healed the diseases of my Soul he hath renewed my strength as an Eagle to mount my Soul unto Heaven upon the sacred wings of holy Faith firm Hope fervent Charity and by the virtue of that celestiall Food I have now received II. How great is the goodness and how great is the mercy of the Lord who hath not dealt with me after my Sins nor rewarded me according to my wickedness But as a father pitieth his own children so mercifull is the Lord and hath compassion upon the work of his own hands and whom he hath framed after his own Image frail and sinfull though we be III. But since through the weakness and frailties of my mortal nature I cannot praise the Lord as becometh his eminent grace and greatness may my defects herein be supplied with the Hallelujahs of Angels and Archangels and all the company of Heaven And 't is the exultation and joy of my heart that these celestiall Spirits cease not day and night saying Holy Holy Holy Lord God of hosts Heaven and Earth are full of thy Glory Glory be to God on high Amen Blessed be the Lord God even the God of Israel who onely doeth wondrous things And blessed be the name of his majesty for ever and all
THE PRACTICAL CHRISTIAN Divided into FOUR PARTS I. The Practice of Self-examination and a Form of Confession fitted thereunto the Lord's Praier and Penitential Psalms paraphrased with Meditations and Praiers to be made partakers of Christ's Merits II. Directions Meditations and Praiers in order to the worthy Receiving of the Holy Communion of the Body and Bloud of Christ III. Meditations with Psalms for the Hours of Praier the ordinary Actions of Day and Night with other Religious Considerations and Concerns IV. Meditations with Psalms upon the Four 〈◊〉 things 1. Death 2. Judgment 3. Hell 4. Heaâ—â—â— The Third and Fourth Parts make the Second Volume formerly called the Second Part. By R. SHERLOCK D. D. Rector of Winwick Omne tempus in quo de Deo non cogitas hoc te computa perdidisse LONDON Printed by E. Flesher for R. Royston Bookseller to His most Sacred Majesty at the Angel in Amen-corner MDCLXXVII To the Parishioners of Winwick in Lancashire Good People THE Cure of your Souls being by 〈◊〉 Divine Providence incumbent upon Me very unfit to undergoe so great a Chaâ— especially considering the Liberty which 〈◊〉 men do now assume in the way of Religion In the discharge of my Duty though 〈◊〉 not say I have been so prudent and diâ—â—gent as the high and holy nature of my Funâ—â—â—â— requires yet you know I have not omitteâ— frequently to put you in mind which is on principal part of my Office of the whoâ— Will of God in the carefull observancâ— whereof the Health of your Souls consisteth The Contents of God's revealed Will being delivered and disporsed through thâ— whole Body of Holy Scriptures are collected and summed up into general Heads by the Church of Christ in her Catechism thâ— which though by a strange Fanatick humouâ— it be slighted and even derided yet contains all things both of Faith and Fact necessary to Salvation being rightly clearly â—nd fully understood Did you therefore rightly understand â—nd seriously consider wherein your Soul's Health and Edification chiefly consists you â—ould be better pleased with the frequency â—f Catechizing and be more versed in those â—ssentials of Religion then in the hearing 〈◊〉 many Sermons which are of less concernâ—â—â— have not spared my Pains in Preaching â—or my Purse in the maintenance of others â— assist me herein But by long experience it is evident that Sermons what through â—he Variety severall Modes and Methods on â—he one hand and what through the great abuse thereof on the other have not that â—nfluence upon the minds of men as becometh â—ound Doctrine but have too much sway with men of itching ears who heap to â—hemselves Teachers after their own â—usts who upon Pretence of going on to â—erfection goe off the Foundation wax â—ain in their imaginations and their fooâ—â—sh hearts are darkned whilst they conceit â—hemselves enlightned And therefore for your more ready easy and constant instruction I have committed to writing and made publick the Summary of Christian Doctrine in the Church-Catechism paraphrased And because Doctrine without Practice is but a Body of Religion without a Soul to quicken it I have here added a Summary of Christian Practice in the insuing Rules of Self-examination which will equally discover unto you your Sins and Miscarriages past and serve for a Guide to direct you in the future ordering of all the Actions of your lives in the ways of Godliness In both which Summaries I have endeavoured to be both brief and plain delivering onely what I conceive generally necessary to Salvation and expressing the same in the most easy way to be understood as knowing that multitude of words various acute and quaint affected expressions especially in the Essentials of Religion though they may more please do not so much profit nay they do really rather distract then instruct the minds of most For it is not the rattling of the Leaves but the Fruits of the Tree of knowledge that feed the Soul to life eternall The Praiers prescribed upon any the insuing considerations are not by way of one long continued Oration without intermission but divided into severall shorter Praiers and this because 1. The heat of holy Zeal is hereby better maintained and kept flaming in the Soul whilst the ending of one Praier and beginning another adds new fervour to the Soul's Devotion 2. Long Praiers do tire the spirits clog the memory distract the mind and damp that celestiall fervour which is the life of all holy and acceptable Praiers 3. Such are all those Praiers which are truly the Praiers of God's Holy Spirit and stand upon record in Holy Writ they are all divided and cut short into so many distinct Verses as into so many several shorter Praiers 4. Thus Christ has commanded us to pray Matt. 6.7 8 9. And according to this patern the Praiers of Christ's Church even for the length thereof are generally framed My primary intention in the insuing Discourse was chiefly to direct you for the worthy Receiving of the Holy Communion of the Body and Bloud of Christ whereunto a through Self-examination is absolutely necessary And being desired to inlarge my Meditations upon that Blessed Sacrament I have therefore now divided the former Edition into Two Parts the First of Self-examination and the Second of the Holy Communion Wherein I must necessarily tell you that since the Danger of unworthy Receiving is equivalent with the Benefit of the worthy it therefore concerns every one of you that hath any sense and sincere care of his Soul's health as strictly to examine himself before he eat of that Bread and drink of that Cup as he believes he shall be examined before the great Tribunal of Heaven and accordingly to purge and purify his Soul by Confession Contrition and all the sacred Acts and Offices of true Repentance the practice whereof is in the following Leaves delivered Of the other Two Parts of the Practical Christian mentioned in the general Title-page you will have a farther account in the Preface thereunto I shall not farther enlarge this Epistle more then to pray that God may be pleased to assist you by his Divine grace carefully to observe such useful Instructions as be herein given you not vainly jangling and talking of Religion but according to the Covenant you have made with your God to keep his holy Will and Commandments and to walk in the same all the days of your life remembring who it is that has said it If thou wilt enter into life keep the Commandments Matt. 19.17 And that you may observe the one as the way to the other is and shall be the constant Praier of Your respective Pastour Ric. Sherlock A TABLE of the Chapters CHAP. I. Of the great necessity of Self-examination CHAP. II. The Rule of Self-examination by the Vow in Baptism CHAP. III. The Rule of Self-examination by the Creed or by the Second part of the Vow in Baptism To believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith CHAP. IV. The Rule of
Sinners we are all less or more q Jam 3 2. but God in great mercy has ordained and commanded Repentance as the great antidote against the poison of Sin and preservative from death r Matth. 3 7 8. And that Repentance which is thus salutary consists of 2 generall parts 1. to confess with sorrow our sins past 2. for ever to abjure and forsake them And to such a true Penitent onely is mercy promised †Prov. 28.13 Joh. 8.11 1 Joh. 1.9 10. To both these generall heads of true Repentance a full knowlege and deep sense of all hainous sins even punctually and particularly is absolutely necessary For no man can confess his Sins who knows them not nor forsake them who is not feelingly sensible of the guilt and danger contracted by them t Psal 51.3 Isa 59.12 Self-examination is therefore commanded as a previous duty necessarily conducing to a true Conversion v Psal 4.4 Lam. 3.40 or which is the same to a true Repentance both in respect of all its integral parts and also of the fruits meet for Repentance which are no other but the Good works of a new Obedience x Col. 1.10 11. The just man falleth seven times y Prov. 24.16 and upon consideration of his seven times daily failings he hath seven times daily confessions z Psal 119.164 to the praise of God a â—es 7.19 with frequent laments in the night also b Psal 6.6 and 77.6 At least twice aday morning and evening he takes a view of his miscarriages the by-past day and night confessing and bewailing his frequent backslidings and in all holy humility imploring with tears of godly sorrow the pardon of his daily offences with firm resolution of more care and caution more zeal of innocence and purity both in heart and life for the time to come 12. 'T is a great imprudence even madness in the hearts of men to put off from day to day this Self-examination or reckoning with our selves Since 't is difficult to account strictly for the misdemeanours of one day how much more hard then to set straight and even the accounts of a long sinfull life whereas he who daily accounts with himself and his offended God for his daily transgressions shall have but one day's sins to account for upon his dying day c Luk. 12.42 43. 13. We reade of Moyses that his leprous hand was made whole and recovered its native whiteness by thrusting it into his bosome d Exod. 4.7 And thus is the Soul cleansed from the leprosy of Sin by thrusting the hand which is the instrument of action into the bosom of thine own Conscience to enter and strictly to search into the inner man to ransack all the corners of the deceitfull heart to examine what affections lurk there and what excursions they have thence made into any extravagant and sinfull actions that they may be thence ejected and abandoned This is the way both to keep the heart pure and the hands clean hence comes both the knowledge of thy self and the fear of God hence comes Sense of sin holy Compunction godly Sorrow Humiliation and true Repentance in all its branches and worthy fruits Hence the Soul becomes inflamed with the ardent heats of holy Devotion and fervent Prayers for pardon and peace mercy and grace Sanctification and Redemption Hence arise in the heart holy Resolves of new Obedience with holy breathings after God and his Salvation Therefore is this Duty of Self-examination called the Magazine or Store-house of all Christian Vertue 14. And because to receive worthily the Communion of the body and bloud of Christ is the chiefest of all Christian performances and requires the practice of all Christian Vertues therefore after an especial manner is Self-examination commanded as a necessary Preparative to that Sacramentall Feast which from the doctrine of S. Paul we are taught in the Principles of our Religion where in the last Question of the Catechism it is demanded What is required of them that come to the Lord's Supper and 't is answered To examine themselves whether they truly repent them of their former sins CHAP. II. The Rule of Self-examination by the Vow in Baptism 1. SInce Self-examination is a Duty of so great so high so generall concernment as hath appeared it will be necessary that it be sincerely and throughly performed not slightly partially and deceitfully not by any false rules and erring opinions but by such a Rule as will not deceive us when we shall come to our great Examination and Triall at the Last day 2. There be too many who do flatter and deceive themselves by a bare and naked Faith in Christ by virtue whereof they conceit themselves to be justified and of the number of God's elect and assured of Salvation But these are groundless presumptions except thy Faith do purify thy heart a Act. 15.9 from all inordinate affections and cleanse thy hands from all sinfull actions b 2 Cor. 7.1 Jam. 4.8 and be also fruitfull in all good works c Jam. 2.26 3. The Rule according to which we shall be tried when we shall all stand before the Judgment-seat of Christ is not that of Faith alone under that notion whereby 't is too frequently misunderstood but that of an universall Obedience to the Gospell of Christ d 2 Thess 1.8 whereof Christian Charity is the Compendium and completion * Matt. 25.35 36 c. 4. The summe of Evangelicall Obedience is exprest in that Vow which every true Christian hath made when he was baptized or Christened And by this as S. Gregory observes f Greg. Hom. 19. every man may try the truth of his Faith in Christ For as no man can be said to be faithfull who keeps not his promise so neither can any Christian be said to have any true Faith towards God if he performs not the promise he hath made unto him especially considering that hereupon righteousness and everlasting happiness doth depend For 5. This Baptismall Vow is the condition upon which we are admitted into the Covenant of Grace and made members of Christ children of God and heirs of the Kingdome of Heaven And therefore they who perform not this condition but slight neglect or negligently observe the same do uncovenant themselves and return again to their naturall state of Sin and Misery viz. become children of wrath enemies of God and heirs of eternall damnation g Heb. 10.23 26 27 28 29. 6. The holy Christian Religion we all profess is no other but God's Will and Testament wherein a goodly inheritance is promis'd and bequeath'd but not to be obtained as S. Augustine observes h Aug. Ser. de Tem. 167. except as in all other Testaments we observe the will of the Testatour nor is there any thing more clearly exprest in the revealed will of God then this That the benefits of the Covenant of Grace belong onely to them who keep the
thing that is in heaven above or in the earth beneath or in the water under the earth Thou shalt not bow down to them nor worship them c. Examination by the Second Commandment 1. Deut. 4.15 c. HAve you not in your phantasie misrepresented the most pure and spiritual God under any bodily shape or visible being whatsoever 2. Have you not served the creature more then the Creatour making a God of the World by Ambition Rom. 1.25 Col. 3.5 Phil. 3.19 and Cavetousness which is Idolatry or a God of your Belly by Luxury and the too much indulging of carnal delights 3. Ezek. 14.4 Ps 81.9.12 2 Cor. 10.5 Deut. 4.2 Heb. 13. â— Have you not set up your idols in your own heart idolized your own imaginations by believing and worshipping God otherwise then himself hath prescribed either immediately in his Holy Word or mediately by the Ministry of his holy and true Church 4. Have you worshipped God as with all internal devotion of Soul so also with all external humble and low prostration of Body Ps 95.6 1 Cor. 6.20 For in being forbidden to fall down to serve Idols or any false gods you are thereby bidden to fall down in serving the Lord. 5. If you abhor Idols Rom. 2.22 examine if you have not been guilty of Sacrilege which is to rob God in Tiths and Offerings Mal. 3.8 or of whatsoever is devoted to his Service Both of which sins are equally condemned by this Law for as by Idolatrie God is robbed in his service so by Sacrilege in the support and maintenance of his service The Third Commandment Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain c. Examination by the Third Commandment HAve you not profaned the Name of God either 1. In your Thoughts by entertaining any misbecoming apprehensions of God's Majesty and such as are vain and mean and far below the Name of God Ps 99 3. which is great wonderful and holy Or 2. Jam 2.7 In your Words by any scurrilous and irreverent discourses of God or impertinent and unseemly addresses unto him Or 3. In your Actions by the ungodliness and injustice of your conversation 2 Sam. 12 14. Rom. 2.23 24. giving occasion to others to blaspheme his Name 4. Have you taken no * Lev. 19.12 Matt. 5.34 Jam. 5.12 false and unlawful Oaths nor yet been guilty of too ordinary customary swearing in discourse Ps 109.17 Jam. 3.10 or cursing by the dreadful Name of God which is onely to be mentioned for adoration and blessing 5. Ezek. 17.18 19. Zach. 8.17 Have you carefully observed those lawful Oaths you have taken in order to subjection to higher powers nor yet have taken any that have been contrary thereunto 6. Have you to the utmost of your power observed all just promises made unto others Psal 15.4 though to your prejudice in your outward affairs And because the Name of God is to be honoured in all things that have his Name enstamped thereupon Lev. 21.6 Deut. 28.58 â—er 34.15 16. you may therefore upon this Commandment examine as to the duties you owe first to the Word secondly to the Sacraments thirdly to the House of God As to the Word of God 1. Have you a far more venerable esteem for the Word of God 1 Thess 2.13 then for the word of man though spoken in the Pulpit wisely distinguishing betwixt the divine inspiration of the one and the humane invention of the other 2. Do you believe unfeignedly all that God hath spoken in his Holy Word Psal 19.7 c. whether by doctrine or example promises or threatnings and have the promises of God's Word allured you to obey its precepts and the threats confirmed by examples deterred you from doing what is therein prohibited Ps 90.11 3. Have you not placed your Religion in the bare reading of Holy Scriptures and hearing of Sermons without due consideration of the weight and true meaning of what you have heard or read Mar. 4.24 and without the careful practice thereof in your life Jam. 2.22 4. 2 Pet. 1.20 2 Pet. 3.16 1 Tim. 6.3 4 5. Tit. 3.9 Have you not made your own private interpretation of Scriptures nor wrested any Text to another sense then the Holy Spirit of God intended therein either to please your own fancy or maintain some private opinion or to minister to contention and dispute 5. Have you not used the Word of God in ordinary and common talk either to excite to merriment and laughter or to shew your own wit and secretly boast of your reading and readiness therein As to the Sacraments which Christ hath ordained in his Church 1. In general Have you a very high and holy esteem for those blessed means of Grace and mysteries of Salvation Joh. 3.5 and 6.53 believing unfeignedly the great necessity and efficacy both of Baptism and the Lord's Supper and not upon any pretexts or pretences neglecting the devout and reverend use of either as occasion and opportunitie hath been offered 2. Have you not profaned the consecrated Elements of either Sacrament Act. 10.14 15. by esteeming and using them as common things 3. As to Baptism in particular your grand dutie is to examine your self frequently by that solemn Vow you made when Christened confessing and bewailing your manifold transgressions thereof and daily renewing your Covenant with God resolving and promising daily to forsake the Devil the World and the Flesh and devoting your self to the sacred service of God by a true and lively Faith and Obedience to his Commandments The breach of which Vow unto God is a greater offence then that of ordinary Swearing because in the one God is but call'd upon as a witness but in the other he is a party concerned Concerning the Sacrament of the holy Body and Bloud of Christ examine 1. How often you have neglected to come Is 55.1 2 3. being invited to that blessed Feast And here consider the causes of this sin which are 1. ignorance of your Duty Isa 5.13 joyned with a slothful and careless neglect to take pains for instruction or apply your self to your Pastour for direction 2. 1 Cor. 11.28 29. Isa 55.7 the terrour of unworthy receiving considered but the duty to receive not remembred 3. impenitence and continuance in sin preferr'd before the Sacred Religious actions of a due preparation and devout participation of that Bread of life 2. Notwithstanding which impediments examine have you not presumed to come to that Sacred Feast being ignorant of the nature of the ends and benefits thereof and so received the same unworthily 1 Cor. 11.27 29. not discerning the Lord's body Or having knowledge 3. Have you accordingly prepared your self aright to come unto that celestial banquet and that 1. by a through examination of your self 1 Sam. 7.6 Jam. 4.8 9 10. Act. 3.19 to find out your sins and failings 2.
infamous reports 4. As to your spiritual Fathers 1 Tim. 3.1 13. Luk. 10.16 the Bishops and Pastors of Christ's Church have you not despised their Calling but honoured them according to their respective degrees and stations in the Church of Christ 1 Tim. 5.17 Heb. 13.17 Ecclus. 7.29 Have you not slighted and disobeyed those commands and admonitions which God by them hath given you Have you not denied or diminished their dues or payed them grudgingly Joh. 10.4 5. 2 Tim. 4.3 4. Have you not forsaken your lawful Pastor to follow after factious Preachers or such who more tickle your itching ears which is the issue of a corrupt heart Prov. 29.1 Isa 29.21 and the high rode to errour and falshood Have you not been angry when told of your faults or put in mind of the errours of your waies and refused to return and amend thereupon 5. Have you been respective and lowly in your demeanour to all your Superiours whether in age or office learning and judgment temporal estate and preferment Rom. 12.10 2 Tim. 2.20 1 Pet. 2.17 giving to each the honour due to their respective conditions and this though you have no dependence upon them nor hopes to receive any benefits from them 6. Have you been meek gentle courteous and affable unto all men as becomes the Spirit of a true Christian not high and haughty Tit. 3.3 churlish and distasteful in your carriage towards any slighting undervaluing scorning your equals if not your betters in some respects However the truly humble good Christian esteems others better then himself Phil. 2.3 7. If you have any persons under your command as a Master of a Family Eph. 6.9 have you not been over-harsh and rigorous towards any of your Servants 1 Sam. 12.3 nor defrauded them of their wages and have you preserved them to your power from the wrongs of others and have you taken care what in you lies for the good of their Souls viz. that they be Catechized in the principles of Religion Gen. 18.19 Jos 24.15 and duly frequent the publick Worship of God both in Church and family 8. If you be a Servant examine Eph. 6.5 Tit. 2.9 10. have you been obedient to your Master in all his lawful commands just and true in the managing his business so that he hath suffered no loss either by your carelesness or dishonesty and hath your carriage towards him been submissive and meek not answering again when provoked by hard language 9. In a word have you obeyed that admonition of S. Paul which is the more full meaning of this 5. Commandment Rom. 13.7 8. Render therefore to all men their due tribute to whom tribute is due custom to whom custom fear to whom fear honour to whom honour Owe no man any thing but to love one another for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the Law The Sixth Commandment Thou shalt do no murther Examination by the Sixth Commandment THere are several degrees of Murther in this Law prohibited and though you have not been guilty thereof by bloud-shed yet examine 1. Have you not been guilty of immoderate Anger Matt. 5.21 22. been peevish and disquieted at trifles at slight miscarriages of others and inconsiderable accidents about you 2. Hath not your anger swelled into wrath and fury Pro. 27.3 4. Eph. 4.31 Jam 1.19 Matt. 5.22 1 Pet. 3.9 Matt. 5.40 nor been drawn out into hatred and malice nor broken out into bitter and opprobrious language rendring evil for evil and railing for railing brawling and quarrelling for any offence going to law upon petty and small occasions of trespass 3. Ps 37.1 Rom 13.13 Have you not envied the good parts and endowments or the wealth and preferments or the flourishing estate of others in any respect though they may be wicked and unworthy 4. Lev. 19.18 Matt. 5.38 Have ye harboured no secret grudge in your heart towards any person nor entertained any secret thoughts and desires of revenge 5. Prov. 24.17 Rom. 12.15 Have you not secretly rejoyced at the losses crosses disgraces or death of any 6. Have you no way impaired the health either of the Souls or bodies of others either by hurting maiming Exod. 21.22 c. wounding any person in body or tempting them to sin Matt. 18.6 Gal. 5.26 to the ruine of their Souls or provoking their spirits or neglecting to perform the Christian duties of Charity both corporal and spiritual unto them 7. Hath your demeanour been with all meekness and humility Matt. 11.29 Eph. 4.32 being loving kind tender-hearted pitiful peaceful and easie to be entreated with the several qualifications of true Christian charity 1 Cor. 13.1 c. without which no true Christianity 8. Have you not impaired your own health by surfeiting drunkenness uncleanness or giving way to any unruly lusts passions and desires even against your reason and judgment Prov. 21.16 The Seventh Commandment Thou shalt not commit adultery Examination by the Seventh Commandment THe Christian Vertues in this Law commanded are Chastity and Temperance the one being not to be preserved without the other and of both these there are several degrees the transgression of each of which is to be here examined And First Concerning Chastity because the uncleanness of the heart is as vile before God as any act of that kind before man examine Matt. 5.28 1. Have you not pleased your fancy with loose and wanton imaginations nor suffered unchast thoughts so long to dwell in your heart till by the corrupt bent of its concupiscence they have grown into unruly lusts and have you endeavoured to subdue those lusts Col. 3.5 and not suffered them to break out either 1. Eph. 4.29 into any filthy communication scurrilous and obscene speeches 2. into any sinful solicitations and temptations of others to commit uncleanness with you Matt 5.29 30. by the wantonness of the eyes hands tongue 2. Have you not gazed upon any person Matt. 5.8 till your eyes have betrayed your heart secretly to lust and sinfully to enjoy them And as to the acts of corporal uncleanness they are of such a loathsome nature Eph. 5.3 as not fit to be once named amongst Christians your own Conscience will be your best guide for your examination in such particulars wherein consider and seriously weigh the aggravating circumstances of Time Place Person the unruliness of your lust against all the laws of God and Nature right Reason and holy Religion consider the inconsistency of every such deed of darkness with the purity of your profession 1 Cor. 6.15 c. Eph. 5.5 and your relation of being a member of Christ a child of God and an heir of Heaven Upon the consideration of this let this Memento of that one Father have a deep impression upon your Soul That in every lust of uncleanness as the unlawfull flame thereof goes up into Heaven so the filthy stench thereof
goes down into Hell And as another Father observes I am persuaded that the greatest number of the Souls tormented in Hell have been less or more guilty of this Sin Secondly And because unlawful lusts are nourished and maintained by Intemperance Jer. 5.7 8. and that chiefly 1. In Eating and Drinking either more or more often then is conducible to the two ends of feeding first to maintain life secondly to preserve health examine how frequently you have crost these ends of God and Nature either 1. by too much curiosity and daintiness to please an exotick palate Prov. 23.3 Deut. 31.20 32.15 Ecclus. 9.12 Luk. 21.34 Ecclus. 37.29 30 31. Luk. 16.19 c. Prov. 23.29 and humour a rebellious appetite or 2. to maintain and strengthen the lusts of the flesh or 3. to please and humour others And herein by drinking to excess consider first the sinful expence of your Time secondly of your Talent and estate thirdly of the health and good temper of your Body fourthly of the soundness and quickness of all the faculties of your Mind fifthly of what might and ought to have relieved the poor sixthly Isa 56.12 Wisd 2.6 c. of contracting the guilt of the excess of your companions at least by your compliance with them if not tempting of them to drink the which though it be lookt upon as a matter of jest and merriment yet 't will end in sadness and woe Hâ—b 2.15 16. And though perhaps through the strength of your brain and good constitution of body you may come off from your excess without any visible distemper yet that frees you not from the sad woe to such denounced Isa 5.22 Luk. 6.25 And 't is woful enough that this beastly sin of eating and drinking to riot and excess is inconsistent as the former 1 Cor. 6.10 Gal. 5.21 with your Christian profession and hopes of Heaven 2. And since an account must be given of your pretious Time examine whether your intemperance in diet hath not often engaged you to spend your time either in immoderate sleep or slothfulness Thess 5. â— 7. â—sa 56.10 â—2 Ezek. 16. â—9 whereby the sinful lusts of the flesh are fomented which was the sin of Sodom and 't is the onely business of the slothful man to tempt the Devil who tempts man unto all other sins 3. Intemperance and excess in Apparel is not onely a sign of pride and vain-glory but a symptom and allurement to unlawful lusts Examine if your attire be such as is 1. agreeable to your rank and condition neither affectedly sordid nor too curiously fine and costly Luk. 7.25 2. answerable to the ends of cloathing viz. first to cover your nakedness secondly to preserve by moderate warmth the health of the body in either of which respects to affect gorgeous apparel Luk. 16.19 Phil. 3.19 Gen. 3.21 or to be proud of the same is to glory in your shame to cover which shame the use of garments was first instituted Again have you not envied others for the bravery of their apparel but rather pitied their folly remembring that the true ornament of a Christian is the hidden man of the heart 1 Pet. 3.4 even the ornaments of a meek and quiet spirit 4. Recreations are not onely useful but necessary to recruit the vigour both of the Soul and body Eccl. 2.10.11 3.12 13. 2 Sam. 11.2 3. when over-toil'd with labour but are too often the foments of unlawful lusts and therefore as to these examine 1. that your recreations be in themselves lawful neither dishonourable to God nor scandalous and injurious to man Eph. 5.11 2. that they be not unseasonable Eccl. 3.1 to the hindrance of any duty to God or man 3. that you be not immoderate in their use by making that your imployment which should onely fit you for employments more useful 4. Eccl. 8.5 that your recreations be not what they are vulgarly call'd pastimes it being strangely imprudent to spend that pretious time in toys and vanities Eccl. 2.1 2 3. Phil. 2.12 which is lent onely to work out the eternal Salvation of your Soul The Eighth Commandment Thou shalt not steal Examination by the Eighth Commandment A Man may steal and play the thief 1. to himself 2. to others 1. As to the first consider if you have not ruin'd decayed or diminished the estate God hath given you either Prov. 24.30 31. 1. by your own careless and imprudent management thereof or 2. by the carelesness and profuseness of others whom you intrusted but not discreetly regarded Prov. 6.6 13.4 and 19.15 Prov. 18.9 Eccles 6.1 2. or 3. by your sloth and negligence in your calling or 4. by your prodigal and profuse mispending or yet on the contrary 5. by pinching and too much sparing and denying thy self the full and lawful enjoyment of thy riches the which with several others are the causes of poverty Prov. 24.34 and kinds of self-robbery 2. As to injustice towards others examine your self 1. 1 Kin. 21.1 c. Is 3.14 15. by the publick sins of oppression or grinding the face of the poor 2. of making hard bargains with the necessitous of every forcible way either to get 1 Sam. 12.3 4. or to keep what not of right or more then of right belongs to you 3. by the private sins 1. of pilfering and filching which is properly call'd stealing 2. of cogging and lying to couzen and deceive 3. Luk. 19.13 c. 1 Thess 4 6. Deut. 15.7 8 9. Ps 37.21 Hos 12.7 of cunning to defraud and circumvent in buying and selling lending and borrowing lending to the loss of the borrower borrowing and not paying again by false weights and measures by counterfeit coin naughty money and the like unjust dealings Have you not robbed God in tithes and offerings Mal. 3.8 Eccles. 7 29.3â— 31. Rom. 13.6 Luk. 10.7 â—eâ— 20.13 â—â—m 13.7 8. nor his Priests in their accustomed dues nor the King's Majesty in his Tribute customs honour and obedience due to him nor the labourer of his hire or servants of their wages nor yet deprived any person of what either by law or custom belongs unto him All which with many more particulars are transgressions of that golden rule of righteousness and charity Whatsoever ye would that men should doe unto you Matt. 7.12 even so doe unto them Have you not been uncharitable to the poor and indigent Deut. 15.7 c. Ps 41.1 112.9 2 Cor. 9.9 Pro. 29.7 Is 58.7 Eccl 5.11 Luk. 2.11 Pro. 3.27 2 Cor. 8.12 13 14. either by not giving or not lending to supply their wants or by railing reviling and using opprobrious language towards them Want of charity is no other then downright robbery for the poor man's livelihood is the rich man's superfluity and that is the poor man's due it being as equal justice for the rich to relieve the poor as 't is
wills for the Will of God their own Fancies for Divine Illumination the love of themselves for the Love of God and the revelations of flesh and bloud for the Dictates of God's holy Spirit The mind of man saith S. Gregory doth often bely it self and conceits both in a good work to love what truly it loves not and also in an evill work to hate what throughly it hates not nor can such secret collusions of the deceitfull heart of man be throughly sifted and found out until the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed in that great day of a generall examination and triall 1 Cor. 4.5 2. As the end of every Religious action is to be examined whereby the equity or iniquity sincerity or hypocrisy is discerned so the care and caution fervour and devotion of the heart in its performance is to be considered Jer. 48.10 for Cursed is he that doeth the work of the Lord negligently When the heathen Priests offered Sacrifices to their false gods in the midst of their idolatrous Ceremonies an Herald cried unto them Age quod agis Be intent upon what you are about And 't is surely unreasonable to imagine that the all-seeing spiritual God or the God of the spirits of all flesh should be pleased with any worship or act of Religion where the heart is not wholly intent thereupon and devoted thereunto 3. After any holy action performed in publick examine your own thoughts whether they reflect not upon your own dextrous wit wisedom elocution zeal or holiness for any of which you may expect to be praised and extolled by men And though your heart be so upright as not to seek and hunt after popular applause yet if you be affected and delighted with the praise of men 't is not without some tincture of vain-glory 4. Have you not been so secure and conceited of your Religious performances as to lay your self the more open to after-temptations For the more fervent and frequent you be in holy actions the more earnest and forcible will be your temptations And these also shall the more easily prevail against you the more secure you think your self of the Divine grace and favour upon such or such Religious Duties conscienciously performed CHAP. VI. The Examination of Repentance HAving by all these particulars examined your self to find out your sins it will be necessary to try your Repentance also that the great Antidote against the poison of sin be not defective nor counterfeit And the first particular herein to be examined is the duty of Examination it self 1. Psal 26.2 Have you daily considered your daily offences duly weighed them and emptied them out of your heart by a full and particular Confession of them in the presence of God 2. Have you so deeply considered your sins in the stain and danger thereof as to beget in your heart true compunction 2 Cor. 7.10 and that godly sorrow for sin which worketh repentance unto Salvation not to be repented of 3. Luk. 11.24 Joh. 5.14 2 Pet. 2.20 21 22. Hath not your Repentance been too often an hypocritical mocking of God by returning again to your sins repented breaking your promises of amendment in time of sickness danger and the like 4. Matt. 3.8 Hos 14.1 2. Dan. 4.27 Have you brought forth fruits meet for Repentance Such are 1. more frequent and hearty Devotions for your sins of ungodliness 2. Alms-givings for your sins of unrighteousness 3. Joel 2.12 Matt. 3.10 7.16 17. Fasting for your sins of Intemperance If the tree of Repentance bring not forth such fruits 't is neither lively nor likely to be accepted CHAP. VII Considerations with Directions in the Confession of Sin 1. HAving discovered the black stains and pollutions of Sin your Soul hath contracted in the strict Examination of your heart and life by the foregoing particulars with what other your own judgment and conscience may suggest unto you your next work must be to empty them all out of your Soul to cast them out with an abhorrence which is to be done by a particular and punctuall Confession of them all unto Almighty God in prayer Num. 5.6 7. Without such a sincere and through Confession of Sin Lev. 16.21 26.40 Prov. 28.13 1 Joh. 1.9 the Pardon thereof is not promised and therefore not likely to be obtained by a bare and naked Faith in Christ who very probably wil not pardon and forgive men their trespasses but upon his terms prescribed 2. 'T is not to be imagined that God therefore commands the Confession of Sins as if he were ignorant or unmindfull of any of our evill doings Psal 90.8 for he hath set even our most secret sins in the light of his countenance But hereby first in all humility we acknowledge our undeservings of the least of God's mercies which secondly Jos 7.19 Quando homo detegit Deus tegit cùm homo celat Deus nudat cùm homo agnoscit Deus ignoscit Aug. in Psal does magnify the glory of his grace and the greatness of his glory thirdly we discover our soars to our Physician and our wants of mercy to the Father of mercies our great needs of pardon to the fountain of goodness fourthly we declare our great obligations for pardon granted and mercy obtained fifthly our hearts are excited and our affections inflamed with the greater love of our dear Lord who died to merit so great a mercy sixthly the Confession of sin doth imprint in our hearts the deeper sense with an abhorrence of them and lastly being cordially done 't is an evident sign that we have abjur'd and forsaken them 3. But the outward confession of the mouth without the inward compunction of the heart is but the shell of Repentance without the kernell a carkass without a Soul to quicken it King David 1 King 15.5 Isal 6.6 for his onely Sin in the matter of Vriah every night washed his bed and in the day-time also he watered his couch with his tears Mary Magdalen also with her penitent tears washed the blessed feet of our Lord Luk. 7.38 and such must be a floud of tears and not a few drops onely S. Peter for one single sin Luk. 22.62 wept bitterly and 't is recorded of him that he never heard the cock crow through the course of his life but by a showr of tears he declared the sorrow of his heart for his offence And some of the Fathers have styled Repentance the Baptism of tears Clem. Alex apud Euseb as not to be exactly performed with dry eyes in an outward verbal Confession of Sin 'T is confessed that for sins of daily infirmity small peccadillo's and frequent failings through ignorance inadvertency the daily confession of sins saying devoutly as S. Augustine Forgive us our trespasses as we will be sufficient Quà m magnè deliquimus tam granditer defleamus Poenitentia crimine minor non sit Cypr. Serm. de Laps through
the merits of Christ to obtain pardon of them But such sins as be of an higher and deeper stain sins of wilfulness and presumption of perverseness and obstinacy of mind and even lesser when multiplied and continued require a deeper sense and sorrow For 't is most just and equitable that true and sincere Repentance be commensurate to the hainousness of the Crimes repented 4. Psal 51.17 1 Pet. 2.5 That your Confession may flow from a broken heart which will render the same a Sacrifice acceptable unto God through Jesus Christ these following Considerations and farther Directions may be usefull Remember how deeply you stand obliged to keep God's holy will and Commandments and to walk in the same all the days of your life This was promised in your name when you were Christened and if you have any sense or conscience of the Religion you profess you have frequently renewed this your Baptismall Vow And surely to live in obedience to God's Commandments you are deeply obliged 1. in general in that he is the great Lord of all the world to whom all things in Heaven and Earth do bow and obey 2. more particularly he is the God of thy life health strength wealth from whom thou hast received thy whole self Body Soul Spirit with all thou dost enjoy in this life or canst hope or desire to make thee happy either in this world or in the world to come 5. That to offend a God so great so good so glorious so gracious and frequently to transgress his most holy Laws contracts a guilt of such infinite weight and demerit as will undoubtedly without an infinite mercy sink thy Soul to the bottom of Hell 6. Consider for what foolish petty trifling things you have offended God perhaps for a little filthy lucre or some dirty delight or to please a rebellious appetite or to satisfy a mischievous vindictive malicious humour or for the venomous breath of popular applause or the aicry thing of a fansied esteem and the praise of men wherein the service of every such unprofitable and brutish lust is preferred before the service you owe to the great Majesty of Heaven which consists in obedience to his Commandments 7. Remember and ponder with your self as the folly so the filthiness of your Sins how odious they render you both before God and Man First as for God he is of purer eyes then to behold iniquity a Hab. 1.13 The Sinner with his Sins are equally hatefull unto him b Job 4.8 9. Prov. 13.5 So that your Sins do not onely 1. rob you of his grace and favour and 2. render all your Praiers and all your other acts of Religion abomination unto him c Isa 1.12 13 14. but also 3. move him to raze your name out of the Book of life d Exod. 32.33 and 4. to deliver you up to have your portion with the Devil and his Angels in that lake which burneth with fire and brimstone * Rev. 20.15 Psal 11.6 Secondly as for Man even wicked men themselves will abhor and revile you for your Sins but much very much more hatefull do they render you to all good men Prov. 29.27 Psal 97.10 who truly love God and hate all that is evill And questionless you would be ashamed to look any men in the face whether good or bad men did they but know all that by you which you know by your self and which God knoweth better then your self 8. Call to mind some of the most aggravating Circumstances how such or such a Sin was committed against the light of your mind wittingly and knowingly against the checks of your Conscience stubbornly and wilfully against the admonitions of God's Holy Word and the dictates of his Holy Spirit presumptuously and contumaciously against your Covenant with God in Baptism and frequently renewed in your Praiers profanely and perjuriously against your profession as a Christian to make conscience of your ways scandalously and offensively And this guilt of Scandall is much aggravated if you be a Master of a family a Pastour of people a Parent of children a Magistrate Minister In every of which respects your Sin is doubled by the encouragement of others to the like offence by your example 9. In calling your Sins to remembrance 't will be necessary also to call to mind several other Circumstances of many Sins as the Time when the Place where the Persons with whom the Manner how such or such a Sin was committed viz. how bold how impudent how shameless how peremptory how furious and unbridled you were in the prosecution of such or such exorbitant desires such unruly lusts such irrationall passions Whether also 't was the first or second time onely you transgressed in the like kind or whether you have not rather been more frequently guilty and so through custom and continuance your heart is hardened and your Repentance for the same but hypocriticall and feigned if any at all 10. The most of these Considerations are of so high concernment that if you will truly turn unto the Lord from all the errours of your ways your mind must dwell upon them especially upon such as do most sting your Conscience and affect your heart 1 Sam. 7.6 2 Cor. 7.10 Jam. 4.9 10. till the pride thereof be humbled and its stubbornness subdued and your Soul melt into holy compunction and your eyes run over with the tears of godly sorrow 11. And because your Soul cannot be truly humbled within you except your Body be humbled also and God requires both Soul and Body in every act of his service 1 Cor. 6.20 't will be requisite therefore that you prostrate your self upon the earth in the confession of your Sins 2 Sam. 12.16 So holy David lay upon the earth when he fasted and praied for the remission of his sins When the people of God made confession of their sins publickly in the Temple they did it groveling on the ground with their faces in the dust and to this day the Jews doe the same in their Synagogues falling flat upon the earth when they confess their sins and the sins of their forefathers Wherein that which should yet have a greater influence upon too stubborn hearts and stifned joynts is the example of our dearest Saviour who when he praied Matt. 26.38 39. Lak 22.44 groaning under the burthen of our sins fell upon his face and praied and swet drops of bloud and praied more earnestly saying the same words 1 Pet. 2.21 herein leaving us an example that we should follow his steps not so much to mind variety of expressions and multitude of words in our praiers and confessions as to be throughly humbled both in body and Soul under the mighty hand of God 1 Pet. 5.6 that he may vouchsafe to raise us up out of the mire and clay of all our sinfull pollutions 12. This humiliation of your selves both in Body and Soul for your Sins cannot be perfectly sincerely
been rude and unworthy of thee Irreligious Worship so has my Worship also been far misbeseeming so great so holy so pure a Majesty I have not worshipt thee either with that humble low prostration of Body or yet with that sincere intense devotion of Soul as was meet I should I have drawn near to thee with my lips when often my heart has been far from thee God be merciful unto me a miserable sinner I have made a God of the World by Pride and Covetousness Idolatry which is Idolatry and a God of my Belly by Luxury and Wantonness wherein and in many more respects I have served the Creature more then the Creatour God over all blessed for ever I have too much idolized my own Imaginations both by believing and worshipping God otherwise then himself in his Holy Word and by the Ministry of his Holy and true Church hath commanded God be merciful unto me a miserable sinner I have too often sacrilegiously robbed my God in Tithes and offerings usurping and withholding what hath been consecrated to holy use diminishing and defrauding in the dues of the Church Remember not Lord our iniquities nor the iniquities of our fore-fathers but spare us good Lord spare thy people whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious bloud That Name of Heaven Sins against the Third Commandment which is great wonderful and holy I have too slightly regarded and too often used to promote vanities and maintain lies I have not onely my self too often profaned Rash Swearing and Cursing but without regret in my self or reproof of others have heard thy holy Name blasphemed by rash Oaths and irreligious Execrations cursing the creatures my neighbours nay my self by that ever-blessed Name which is onely to be mentioned for adoration and blessing God be merciful unto me a miserable sinner I have taken many solemn Oaths Perjury in publick without a right understanding of the respective contents thereof and the obligation of my Conscience thereunto and what I have understood I have not conscienciously kept and observed being guilty of Perjury both in general Oaths and in many particular I have seen the reverend Name and Oath of God imposed upon the Consciences of men out of Tyranny as a covert of oppression and injustice and I also partly for fear partly for favour and affection to unjust defigns have wickedly taken the same Oaths and Engagements and though because of such unlawful Oaths the Land sadly mourned yet have not I been humbled for the sins and Perjuries of this sinful Nation Those holy and just Promises I have made both to God and man Breach of Promise I have not justly performed but have preferred sometimes my sinful pleasure sometimes my sordid gain and worldly advantage before the obligations of my Conscience both by oath and promise I have not given occasion to others to sanctifie thy Name by my discreet Scandal sober edifying speech and demeanour but have rather caused the same to be profaned by my idle light foolish sinful words and works For thy Name 's sake Blessed Jesus thy sweet and saving Name of JESVS be merciful unto my sin for it is great I have too slightly and negligently both read and heard the Sacred Word of God Against the Word of God through carelesness not understanding and through precipitancy and self-interest misunderstanding and wresting the contents thereof and what I have rightly understood I have not conscienciously put in practice God be merciful unto me a miserable sinner I have too much slighted and the Sacraments and too often profaned those Holy Sacraments Christ hath ordained in his Church as the blessed means of Grace and Salvation I have not seriously enough weighed Of Baptism and carefully observed the Covenant I made with my God in Baptism nor yet informed those committed to my charge of their obligation to perform the same I have not been so reverent and devout at the administration of that Holy Sacrament of Baptism as becometh so great a Mystery of Godliness and the holy offices of its Celebration God be merciful unto me and heal my Soul for I have sinned against thee When I have been invited to that Holy Communion of the Body and Bloud of Christ Of the Lord's Supper I have often slighted such invitations chusing rather to continue in my ignorance and neglect of so great a duty then to take pains to be informed and to practise the Religious acts and offices of due preparation thereunto I have pretended scruples of Conscience about harmless Ceremonies to neglect the Service of God it self and remembred the danger of unworthy receiving to keep me back but forgot the duty that is incumbent on me to eat of that Bread and drink of that Cup. Many excuses and pretences I have fansied to my self and made to others to detain me from that Sacrament when the true cause has been want of Devotion in my heart and of a full purpose to leave my Sins and to turn unto the Lord sincerely from all the errours of my ways God be merciful unto me a miserable sinner I am much afraid that I have received that Blessed Sacrament unworthily by not discerning the Lord's Body being ignorant of the nature ends and benefits thereof and of what is required of them that come thereunto and by not observing strictly in my Preparation and Participation what I have known thereof As to Preparation I have not so duly and truly examined my heart and life confessed and bewailed my Sins humbly implored pardon fully resolved amendment carefully renewed my Vow and Covenant in Baptism as becometh a devout Communicant Thine infinite mercy O God in giving us thine onely Son to be both the price of our Redemption and the food of our Souls hath not sunk so deep into my heart as to be inflamed with Divine love and affection with a spiritual joy in the Lord and a through devoting of my self to thy service and to praise thee therefore both with heart and voice and through all the actions of my whole life God be merciful unto me a miserable sinner I have not performed my promises nor put into practice my resolutions I undertook upon my approach to thine Altar but have again returned to my old sins as the dog to his vomit I have sinned wo unto me that I have sinned O Father against Heaven and before thee and am not worthy to be called thy son Thy Holy Temple have I profaned by my often irreverent approaches thereunto and my careless The profanation of what is holy slovenly and indevout demeanour therein as if there were no difference betwixt the House of God and the houses of men betwixt a Church and a Barn I have too much undervalued the Ministers of thy Holy Word and Sacraments slighted and contemned holy persons profaned many holy actions and holy things which have thy mark enstamped on them and have been dedicated to the
more out of malice then matter more out of pride or covetousness or for revenge then for righteousness sake God be merciful unto me a miserable sinner I have envied the persons and flourishing estates of others Envy of such or such their parts or endowments of such for their wealth and preferments of such for their credit and esteem I have desired and pursued mine own worldly ends and interests though in the loss ruine and death of others God be merciful unto me a miserable sinner I have many ways The inferiour degrees of Murther as to the Bodies of others and in many respects impaired the health of others the bodily health of such and such by fighting maiming wounding and by not relieving the wants and necessities of the poor and indigent by not assisting and helping to the best of my power the sick and the soar the wounded and distressed and such as are in captivity and bondage I have also too much contributed to the ruine of other mens Souls as to the Souls of others both by silence consenting and not reproving by not instructing admonishing and exhorting others as opportunity has been offered and my duty required and by my lewd example and wanton behaviour incouraging nay tempting and alluring others to run with me to the same excess of Drunkenness Uncleanness uncharitable Censures and I have been pleased and delighted to hear of the disgrace loss and death of others I have been extreamly wanting in all those several kinds of Christian Charity as to both both corporal and spiritual whereby the good estate of my neighbours is preserved both in respect of their Souls and Bodies I have not been so kind so loving so courteous so pitiful so tender-hearted so compassionate so gentle and easie to be intreated as becomes a true disciple of Christ my Saviour Deliver me from bloud-guiltiness O my God even from all these and from all the several kinds and degrees of bloud-guiltiness good Lord deliver me and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousness But how should I rightly love my neighbour as my self Towards our selves since I have not loved my self aright but have gone the way to destroy my self by my intemperance in meats and drinks and by my incontinence and wantonness by my impatience and over-much solicitude of mind for temporal things and in a word for want of prudence and sober guidance of my unruly passions and desires I am gone astray like a sheep that is lost O seek thy servant for I do not forget thy Commandments I have not possest my vessel in holiness and honour Sins against the Seventh Commandment Wanton imaginations as the Temple of God should be I have entertained many loose and wanton Imaginations the which I have not forthwith cast out of my heart but have suffered them to dwell there till they have grown into unruly unlawful Lusts Vnclean lusts I have not endeavoured to subdue those lusts but have suffered them to break out into filthy Communication obscene talk Filthy talk sinful solicitations of others by the wantonness of my eyes hands unseemly gestures rude Actions Actions more particularly such and such with such and such persons at such and such a time in such and such a place after such a shameless manner and behaviour I am unclean unclean unclean O wash me in the fountain of thy inexhaustible mercy through faith in the bloud of Christ wash me throughly from my wickedness and cleanse me from my sin I have not mortified my body Neglect of fasting for the subduing of carnal lusts by Fasting and Abstinence making no conscience of severall Days and times devoted thereunto I have fomented my lusts Intemperance in Meats and drinks by giving too much way and sway to my rebellious appetite even to Drunkenness and Gluttony at such a time with such company wherein I have been too forward my self to drink to excess and to tempt others to the like excess Even the whole course of my life has been a trade of Intemperance in meats and drinks and though I have reapt the bitter fruits of such improvidence by having my heart thereby estranged from thee my God by the slight and negligent performance of holy duties by wasting my time my talent giving ill example impairing the health both of my Soul and body yet have I still continued to be daily guilty of such Intemperance and follie God be merciful unto me a miserable sinner I have been too loose In Apparel costly garish and flaunting in my Attire to intice and allure the eyes of lovers to gain an empty respect from others making garments given to cover my nakedness and the shame of my nature to be the instruments of pride and wantonness God be merciful unto me a miserable sinner I have been both immoderate and unseasonable in the use of Recreations In Recreations misspending too much of that precious time in toys and vanities which was lent me onely to work out the eternal Salvation of my Soul My sins have taken such hold upon me that I am not able to look up yea they are more in number then the hairs of my head and my heart doth fail me when I think thereupon O let it be thy pleasure to deliver me make haste to help me O Lord. I have been an improvident and unjust Steward of thy temporal blessings Sins against the Eighth Commandment Improvidence Prodigality Injustice prodigally and sinfully wasting my estate by drinking gaming feasting sloth and negligence in the duties of my Calling I have been guilty of defrauding and over-reaching such and such in buying and selling in purloyning in oppressing in borrowing and not paying again in lending upon usury and for unjust gain By many undue means I have interverted to my own use and detained what of right belonged to others neither have I made restitution or given satisfaction for such and such wrongs and unjust dealings I have not been so charitable to the poor Vncharitableness so pitiful to the afflicted so compassionate to the sick nor so open-handed to relieve the wanting and necessitous as my ability and opportunity and their sad condition have required When such and such persons at such or such a time have called to me for relief I have turned the deaf ear and given them harsh language in stead of an Alms. I have been unlike thee my God in all respects for I have been uncharitable and unjust O deal not with me after my sins neither reward me after mine iniquities but according to the multitude of thy mercies think upon me O God for thy goodness through Christ my Saviour I have not been so studious and diligent to understand and speak the truth at all times as I might have been Sins against the Ninth Commandment neither have I had that Christian courage always to speak what I have known to be truth Denying of the Truth or to run
any hazard to defend the same as becomes a true souldier of Jesus Christ I have not set a watch over my mouth Lies and guarded the door of my lips but I have suffered my unruly licencious tongue to be the instrument of manifold Lies of all kinds and conditions officious lies bragging boasting lies scurrilous lies flattering lies professing more love to such and such then has been in my heart towards them I have offended by detracting Censures defaming censuring and condemning others being my self far more worthy to be condemned by others I have talk'd of the moat in my brother's eye to his disgrace but have been blind and would not see mine own sins and infinite misdemeanours Enter not into judgment with thy servant O Lord as I have entered into judgment with others O deal not with me after my sins neither reward me after mine iniquities but according to the multitude of thy mercies think upon me O God for thy goodness I have sinfully coveted to enjoy the wife or the maid Sins against the Tenth Commandment or the servant of such and such coveted such a man's lands and possessions such a man's offices preferments credit honour such a man's conveniencies and seeming contentments in the world maligning envying other mens wealth fair house great estate but too too much dissatisfied with my own estate and condition though far beyond my desert God be merciful to me a miserable sinner Having both food and raiment and all things necessary for my support in this life Covetousness I have not been therewith content but have been over-disquieted and solicitous in my mind for more more wealth more land more and higher preferments though founded and settled not in the loss onely but even in the death of others I have not accounted Godliness the chiefest gain Earthly-mindedness nor delighted my self in the Lord and in the ways of his service nor set my affections on things above but have roved in my wild desires after the exteriour enjoyments of the creature which being empty and unsatisfying have deprived me of true peace and contentment of mind Father I have sinned against Heaven and before thee and am not worthy to be called thy son but reject me not from amongst the number of thy servants though I be both an unprofitable and disobedient one And to my sins The sins of Repentance for sin I have been guilty of many sinful defects in my Repentance for my sins I have but too slightly not strictly and throughly examined my heart and my life to find out my sins which lurk in the dark to hurry my soul to blackness of darkness for ever those sins which I have known and found my self guilty of I have not bewailed with that godly sorrow as the greatness and grievousness thereof require With my lips have I often confessed my sins when my heart has not been truly humbled within me under the deep sense of their pollution stain and danger so as to loath and abhor my sins and my self too in dust and ashes I have too often made a mock of the Almighty in the Confession of my sins by returning back to the sins confessed as the dog to his vomit Thus have I sinned and I have done wickedly and I have committed iniquity and I have rebelled against thee by departing from all thy most holy Laws and Judgments To thee O Lord God belongeth mercy and forgiveness but to me shame and confusion of face for I have rebelled against thee God be merciful I have been guilty of many secular and sensual ends in the performance of holy actions The Sins of Religious actions minding more my own advantage and the pleasing my own fancy then the advancement of thy service loving more the praise of men then the praise of God I have entertained many vain wandering worldly and sometimes wicked imaginations in the times of thy Service have been dull inconsiderate and indevout in my Praiers very much defective in Fasting and too vain-glorious in the little good I have done to others I have secretly applauded my own fancy wit wisedom elocution and dextrous management of Religious discourses even the best and most holy of all my Religious performances are not without their manifold sinful defects and deformities Who can tell how oft he offendeth O cleanse thou me from these and from all my secret faults My secret sins are innumerable Secret Sins sins secret through ignorance through forgetfulness through negligence and a negligent Self-examination through wilful misperswasion sins which a watchful and diligent spirit might have prevented but I would not sins secret to the world committed before thee onely and under the witness of mine own Conscience I am confounded with the multitude of them and the horrour of their remembrance the remembrance of them is grievous unto me the burthen of them is intolerable Have mercy upon me have mercy upon me most merciful Father for thy Son my Lord Jesus Christ's sake forgive me all that is past and grant that ever hereafter I may serve thee in newness of life to the honour and glory of thy name and the eternal Salvation of my Soul through Jesus Christ Grant merciful Lord I beseech thee not to me onely but to all thy faithful people pardon and peace that they may be cleansed from all their sins and serve thee with a quiet mind through Jesus Christ CHAP. IX An ancient Form of Confession extant Biblioth Patrum tom 8. p. 409. I Confess unto thee O Lord the Father of Heaven and earth and to thee O sweet and benign Jesu with the Holy and Blessed Spirit before all thy holy Angels and Saints before thy Altar and thy Priest standing there I was conceived and born in Sin and since my Baptism wherein I was washed from Sin originall I have been conversant in actual Sins all the days of my life untill this very hour I confess I have sinned in Pride and Vain-glory in the vanity of my Apparell in the lifting up of mine eyes and the swelling of my heart and Pride hath stained all my actions I have been in Envy Hatred Malice and immoderate Anger in Ignorance and Negligence in Slothfulness and Sullenness in the greedy Covetousness both of worldly wealth and of the praise of men I have sinned in the Greediness of the belly even to Gluttony and Drunkenness and Sodomiticall Luxury in wanton kisses unchast embraces in Fornication and Adultery and every kind of shamefull Uncleanness I have sinned in Theft and Couzenage in Rapine and Sacrilege in Lying and idle tales in Swearing and forswearing in the loss sickness disgrace and death of others which I have too often desired and wherewith I have been too well pleased I have sinned in the defects of Faith Hope and Charity in the unworthy participation of the Body and Bloud of Christ in the neglect of Hospitality and Alms-giving frequently denying to relieve and often exasperating the poor by
thee for thy guidance in the way of life And he that is thus guided himself will say unto others 10. Be ye not like to the horse that is untam'd head-strong and stubborn or to the mule that is foolish and slothful which have no understanding or reason to bridle their sensual appetites whose mouths must be held with bit and bridle lest they fall upon thee Be not so brutish as not to keep the ways of God's Laws except he whip and spur thee with affliction and trouble this is like a horse that will not obey his rider without a bridle in his jaws and a spur in his sides 11. Great plagues remain for the ungodly often in this life to drive them to repentance but assuredly in the life to come if they repent not but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord and will be doing good his holy confidence in God being not onely notionary in the brain and fancy but practical in the heart and life mercy embraceth him on every side The Lord's mercy shall surround him for his protection and support him for his perseverance in the way to Heaven where he shall both see and enjoy Divine mercy on every side 1. above him in the beatifical Vision of God's Majesty 2. below him in the torments he hath escaped 3. and mercy round about him in the blissful society of Angels and Saints great cause of joy surely 12. Be glad O ye righteous through the testimony of a good Conscience and rejoyce in the Lord not in your own merits for by grace we are saved and be joyfull not ye that prosper in the world but all ye that are true of heart sincere and upright before God whose wills and affections are conformable to the Divine will both in desire and deed such may rejoyce heartily in this life in the assured hope of celestial happiness in the life to come And therefore Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. Psalm XXXVIII Verse 1. PVT me not to rebuke O Lord in thine anger to take revenge of the ingratitude and perjury of mine offences against thee neither chasten me in thy heavy displeasure Let not my correction for my faults be in rigour of justice but temper'd with mercy as a father chasteneth his son whom he loveth 2. For thine arrows stick fast in me The sharp sentences of thy holy Word against sinners pierce my heart with fear and terrour and thy hand presseth me soar Thy vindicative power which thou exercisest against offenders weigheth down and oppresseth myspirits 3. There is no health in my flesh thence is the spring and foment of my sinful corruption and therefore justly punished because of thine anger the sad effects whereof afflict me neither is there any rest in my bones by reason of my sin The sinful sickness of my Soul renders me so disquieted and disturb'd as be those who are so afflicted with bodily pain and sickness that they find no ease or intermission of their anguish 4. For mine iniquities by my frequent reiteration of them are gone over my head their number is greater then the hairs of my head and so prevalent withall that they have brought under both head and heart both my Judgment and Affections are ensnared thereby and are as a heavy burthen which sinks the body to the earth so is the weight of sin upon the Soul too heavy for me to bear the weight of punishment due thereunto 5. My wounds stink My sins through long continuance in them fester in my Soul and are corrupt through my foolishness in consenting and delighting my self to wallow with the sow in the mire of sinful pollutions 6. I am brought into so great trouble and misery Both the powers and parts of my Soul and body are so distemper'd and disturb'd that I go mourning all the day long The sense of my sins and just fears of punishment make the day of my present life sad and heavy 7. For my loyns are filled with a soar disease there there my carnal lusts engendred the fulfilling whereof hath made my Soul like a loathsome leper or some such ulcerous creature and there is no soundness in my flesh which alway lusteth against the spirit to the great distemper of both 8. I am feeble in body through carnal incentives and soar broken in spirit by their prevalency over me I have roared for the very disquietness of my heart My conscience gain-saying such exorbitances but not prevailing makes me now cry aloud through its disquietude unto the searcher of all hearts 9. Lord thou knowest all my desire my earnest longings after thee for ease and help and my groaning under the heavy weight of my sins and of thy displeasure is not hid from thee although I should be silent and not express the same by prayers and tears 10. My heart panteth through the disquietude of its unruly passions the peace of my Conscience being also lost and my strength hath failed me the wonted vigour of my Devotion is decayed whence fear and solicitude do issue and the light of mine eyes is gone from me My understanding which is the eye of the Soul is darkned through the sway of its passions and the Sun of righteousness is gone down upon my Soul because of the deeds of darkness I have committed 11. My lovers and my neighbours who are obliged by the ties of friendship and continued conversation did stand looking upon my trouble â—â—t moving to perform their wonted friendly offices to me and my kinsmen they of mine own flesh and bloud either out of scorn or abhorrence of my troubled estate 〈◊〉 aâ— far off as if I were a stranger to them and not onely my friends but mine enemies 12. They that seâ—k â—fter my soul the Devil and his Angels and wicked men their instruments laid sâ—â—res for me by their cunning temptations of me unto sin to destroy me and they that went about to doe me evil endeavoured by all means to doe me all the mischief was in their power have to this end talked of wickedness framed lies raised false reports consulted and contrived pernicious designs against me and imagined deceit all the day long or continually framed all their imaginations to deceive and ruine me 13. As for me I was like a deaf man that heareth not With such patience I sustained all this as if I had heard nothing of their consultations nor known any thing of their designs against me and as one that is dumb who doth not open his mouth either to rail against mine enemies or to murmur at the sadness of my condition 14. I became even as a man that heareth not taking no notice of what was said or done against me and in whose mouth are no reproofs I opened not my mouth to reprove much less to revile my adversaries So my dear Saviour has taught me by his example who suffered himself with all sweetness of patience he was led as a sheep to the
slaughter and as a lamb dumb before the shearers so opened he not his mouth 15. For in thee O Lord have I put my trust As knowing that vain is the help of man but thou O Lord art both able and willing to succour all such as unjustly suffer and depend upon thee for right thou shalt answer for me O Lord my God Hear my praiers and answer my desires plead my cause against mine adversaries and disappoint me not of my hope which hangeth upon thee the God of my Salvation 16. I have required requested of thee in my praiers that mine enemies should not triumph over me insult in my overthrow for when my foot slipt at my slips and failings either into sin or other danger they rejoyced greatly against me My falls which are grief to the godly were great cause of joy to my ghostly adversaries how much more greatly then would they rejoyce and triumph in my utter overthrow 17. And I truly am set in the plague being born to suffering because born in sin being prone to fall if not by thee supported and my heaviness is ever in my sight being conscious of my sins the cause of all my sorrows But that the plague thereof may be healed 18. I will confess my wickedness and this not onely outwardly with my lips but inwardly from my heart I will be sorry for my sins And great reason sure for they are the cause of all my sorrows and sufferings both in Soul and body 19. But mine enemies the Devil and his angels live and are mighty they are lively active strong and vigorous whilst I am weak and feeble and they that hate me without a cause are many in number they are multiplied and make head against me without cause given them by me And not onely they whom I have not wronged or provok'd but even 20. They that reward evil for good are against me And such undoubtedly who repay evil for good doe it by the instinct of Satan and out of mere hatred to goodness it self and therefore they hate me because I follow the thing that good is hating my person because of the integrity of my actions But 21. Forsake me not In time of temptation and trouble leave me not destitute of thy assistence O Lord my God in whom are all my hopes of salvation be not thou far from me by taking away thy grace from me But if in thy great wisedom it be withdrawn a little for my trial yet not too far nor too long but rather 22. Haste thee to help me against all the assaults of the Devil the World and the Flesh whom to vanquish and overcome is from thee and by thy assisting presence O Lord God of my salvation the authour the promiser the donour of eternal Salvation Let others trust in their riches power yet shall my Soul for ever trust in thee for saving happiness in whom and from whom alone is peace and joy and to whom be all glory Glory be to the Father As it was in the beginning Psalm LI. Verse 1. HAve mercy upon me O God the Father of mercies after thy great goodness were not thy goodness infinitely great I could not hope for thy mercy and after the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences Mine offences are multitudinous and hainous and require a multitude of mercies to cover them 2. Wash me throughly who am throughout foul and polluted in all the parts and powers both of Soul and body from my wickedness 't is mine own indeed from mine own wicked will proceeding and cleanse me from my sin both from my wickedness against God and from my sin against man from my wickedness past and from sin to come that both the guilt of sin and my corrupt inclination thereunto may be cleansed 3. For I acknowledge my faults I desire neither to hide nor excuse them but with a penitent heart I own and confess them that thou mayest forget and forgive them and my sin is ever before me my conscience constantly accusing and condemning my great folly and ingratitude in sinning against thee And 't is 4. Against thee onely have I sinned who alone art both my Judge and the Witness of my sins Thou alone searchest the hearts and knowest the greatness and grievousness of my sins and thou alone hast supreme power both to punish and to pardon and done this evil in thy sight What I was ashamed to doe before men I have without either fear or shame done before thee to whose all-seeing eye nothing is hid Have mercy upon me O God 5. That thou maist be justified in thy saying be found just in all thy words and in this particularly Hos 13.9 Thou hast destroyed thy self O Israel but in me is thy help and clear when thou judgest free from the least injustice in pardoning the penitent and condemning the obstinate 6. Behold I was shapen in wickedness contracting together with my very being in nature original corruption from my parents loins and in sin hath my mother conceived me Hence my flesh becomes so frail and rebellious against the spirit 7. But lo thou requirest truth in the inward parts the internall purity of the heart and affections are thy delight and shalt make me to understand wisedom secretly By the secret influences of thy Holy Spirit make me to understand and practise that wisedom which is from above 8. Thou shalt purge me with hyssop My foul and corrupt Conscience hath need of a purge the ingredients whereof must be the bitter sorrows and sufferings of my dearest Saviour intermixt with the salt tears of bitter sorrow of Soul for my sins thou shalt wash me in the inexhaustible fountain of thy mercy through Faith in the bloud of Christ and I shall be whiter then snow through the spiritual candour of my justified Soul 9. Thou shalt make me hear or be inwardly sensible of joy and gladness in the remission of my sins and hopes of eternal happiness then the which no greater joy can touch the immortal Soul that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoyce in the light of thy countenance shining into my broken heart and there diffusing the glimmering rays of a blessed hope 10. Turn thy face away not from me through indignation but from my sins by the remission of them and put out all my misdeeds out of thy book of remembrance that they appear not in judgment against me to my condemnation at the last great Day 11. Make me a clean heart O God cleansed from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit and renew a right spirit rectified from all the crooked paths of vanity and iniquity raised up to heaven-wards and cleaving stedfastly to thee my God and let this be within me Purifie my will and affections whence all my extravagancies issued 12. Cast me not away from thy presence in whose presence is both the light and health of the Soul and though I am unworthy to appear in thy presence but deserve
throughly sanctified let thy loving Spirit the Spirit of love and verity lead me forth in the straight direct way that leads into the land of righteousness That 's the promised Land the celestial Canaan where alone is perfect everlasting righteousness in the blissful presence of the God of righteousness 11. Quicken me O Lord who am dull and dead-hearted and faint in the way towards the land of the living for thy name's sake which I invoke and adore and for thy righteousness sake not for mine which is little and good for little bring my soul out of trouble delivering me from whatever disturbs the peace of my Soul and hinders her progress in the way to Heaven 12. And of thy goodness slay mine enemies Mortifie in me all unruly lusts and passions that rebell against Reason and Religion and destroy all them that vex my soul by exciting and fomenting the flesh against the spirit the sensual against her rational faculties that the whole may be obedient unto thee for I am thy servant Created Redeemed not to serve my own lusts and exorbitant passions but to be Sanctified or devoted wholly to serve thee in holiness and righteousness before thee all the days of my life And so shall my Soul praise thee with joyfull lips and say Glory be to the Father As it was in the beginning I. O most just and merciful God who being by Sin offended art by true Repentance appeased be propitious to the Prayers of thy faithful people and in great mercy turn away from us those scourges of thy wrath which our sins have justly deserved through Jesus Christ our Lord. II. Remember not Lord our offences nor the offences of our fore-fathers neither take thou vengeance of our sins but spare us good Lord spare thy people whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious bloud and be not angry with us for ever III. O God whose nature and property it is ever to have mercy and to forgive receive our humble Petitions and though we be tied and bound with the chain of our sins yet let the pitifulness of thy great mercy loose us for the honour of Jesus Christ our Mediatour and Advocate Amen CHAP. XII Meditations and Prayers to be partakers of the Merits of what our Blessed Redeemer hath done and suffered for us O Most Holy and ever-Blessed Jesus The Incarnation of the Son of God who vouchsafedst for the redemption of mankind to be made Man by the blessed merits of thy mysterious Incarnation grant me to become one Spirit with thee who becamest one flesh with me Thou Blessed Lord Nativity wert miraculously born of a pure immaculate Virgin by the power of the Holy Ghost overshadowing her grant me by the same power of the most High to possess a pure virgin Soul in a pure and chast body and to be fruitful in all good works Holy Jesus Circumcision who vouchsafedst to be circumcised the eighth day and made obedient to the Law for man grant unto me I humbly beg the true circumcision of the Spirit that my heart and all my members may be mortified from all carnal and worldly lusts and whatever hinders my regular obedience to thy most holy Laws By the merits and mysteries of thy Baptism in the river Jordan Baptism wash me throughly from my wickedness and cleanse me from my sins whereby I have unhallowed those sacred and saving waters of my Baptism and perjuriously broken my Vow and Promise made therein Holy Jesus Fasting who didst fast forty days and forty nights forgive me the manifold acts of Gluttony and Drunkenness Riot and Excess whereof I have been guilty and by the virtue and power of thy miraculous Fast grant me the mastery over my rebellious appetite to live soberly that I may also live righteously and godly in this present world Holy Jesus Temptation who being fasting wast tempted of the Devil and overcamest him grant me by the influences of thy Blessed Spirit so devoutly to intend the holy duties of Fasting and Prayer that by the power of thy victory over the Devil I may have strength and power to triumph over the Devil the world and the flesh and to continue thy faithful servant and souldier to my life's end Holy Jesus Doctrine and Example who being inaugurated in thy Prophetical office by Baptism and confirmed by the vanquishment of the Devil wentest about preaching the Gospel doing good healing all manner of sickness and all manner of diseases amongst the people being by thy doctrine and example the Way and the Truth that leads unto Life grant me to believe aright all thy Revelations to obey all thy Commands to walk in thy steps and so to follow thee the Light of the world that I walk not in darkness but may have the light of life Holy Jesus He is conspir'd against and betrayed who didst condescend to have thy precious life conspired against by the Jews and to be betrayed and sold by one of thine own Disciples for a vile price deliver me from the conspiracies of all mine enemies ghostly and bodily and specially from the treachery and corruption of mine own deceitful heart and from the rebellion of my flesh which for vile things and of no value daily betray my Soul into the hands and under the power and bondage of Sin and Satan the great enemies of my life in Grace and Glory Holy Jesus His Agonie in the Garden who didst begin thy last and bitter passion in a Garden where thy innocent Soul was sorrowful even unto death sanctifie I beseech thee all my natural infirmities and passions comfort me in all my troubles and disquietudes of mind and make me sensible with godly sorrow of that heavy wrath and curse for Sin which thou sufferedst and I deserved Holy Jesus Bloudy swear who didst prostrate thy self upon the cold earth sweating drops of bloud under the pressure of our sins and out of a sad apprehension of thy ensuing sufferings offering up strong â—â—ies with tears unto him that is able to save O that my heart might inwardly bleed tears of compassion and of compunction and vent it self by such fervent and effectuall prayers with tears of devotion as to be heard in Heaven and healed of all my sinfull infirmities Holy Jesus Submission to the will of God who with all sweetness of patience and submission didst give up thy self wholly to the will of thy Heavenly Father endue me with the same spirit of lowliness and meckness patience and contentedness in all conditions submitting to the good will of my God both in prosperity and adversity health and sickness life and death Holy Jesus Apprehension who didst yield thy self to be apprehended when thou mightest escape and to be bound as a Malefactour being clearer then an Angel of light O let not my Soul be feised by any infernal Fiends to eternal horrour in the other world But out of the sangs and clutches of all the
by a timely true Repentance and Amendment that sad and dismall sentence at the last Day Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire h Matt. 25.41 4. Disobedience to these commands of our Lord in the neglect of this Blessed Sacrament doth declare every such person so neglecting whatever his excuses may be 1. in generall that he is more in love with his Sins then with his Saviour with the errours of his ways then with the Truth that is in Jesus i Eph. 4.21 or 2. more particularly that he prefers either his sloth and negligence or his enmity and maliciousness or his temporall concerns and covetousness or in a word some secular or sensual lust before the purification of his Soul in the Bloud of Christ and its nourishment to life eternall 5. He disobeys the commands slights the orders contemns the discipline of Christ's Church makes no conscience of conforming to the practice of and of holding communion with all sound and orthodox Members of Christ but rather implies nay openly declares that he is none of Christ's number but separate and divided from Christ's mysticall Body which is the Church k Col. 1.24 and consequently not quickened with his Spirit for these two are inseparable one Body the Church and one Spirit l Eph. 4.4 viz. of truth and holiness which quickeneth this one Body and this alone The guilt of any which particulars is so inconsistent with the state of true Christianity that there is no person who reads and seriously considers them can reasonably call himself a Member of Christ or acceptably call upon God as such and yet still continue his neglect of this Blessed Sacrament 6. And this amongst others is one of the greatest causes of so great a decay of Piety of so much dulness and deadness of heart in all Religious performances of so much averseness from the publick Worship of God in his House of prayer and of so much irreverence and profaneness therein 'T is the cause of so many spiritual diseases in the Souls of men of so much weakness against Temptations of so much wavering in opinion of so many Errours Schisms Factions even because the Souls of all such are not fed nourished strengthned and refreshed quickned and confirmed with the precious Body and Bloud of Christ the which being rightly and reverently received illuminates the Understanding purifies the Will cleanses the Heart rectifies the Affections and renders the whole Man apt and active to every good work of the Lord. II. The Second general Duty in order to this Holy Sacrament is To use all possible means and endeavours to receive the same worthily There will need no other Reasons to enforce this Duty then the terrour of those known words of the Apostle He that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himself And this Unworthiness consists in not discerning the Lord's Body as it immediately follows m 1 Cor. 11.29 Here then every man that hath any care of his Soul will desire to know what it is not to discern the Lord's Body which makes a man liable to Damnation by being an unworthy Communicant at the Lord's Table To understand this fully and clearly we must use the light of a distinction For there is a threefold Body of Christ abstracted from that of his personal subsistence as Man of a reasonable Soul and humane Flesh subsisting viz. 1. Mystical 2. Doctrinal 3. Sacramental And not to discern the Lord's Body in any of these three meanings thereof makes unworthie Receivers 1. The Mystical Body of Christ is his Church n Eph. 1.22 23. Col. 1.24 And he discerns not this Body of Christ who rightly believes not the Holy Catholick Church the Communion of Saints 'T is one of the names whereby this Holy Sacrament is called The Holy Communion excluding thence as unworthy all that are not within the Pale and Communion of Christ's Church both Unbelievers and Misbelievers Hereticks and Schismaticks all disobedient factious contentious spirits with all sorts of Separatists from the Church of Christ whether in Faith or Charity Doctrine or Worship For all worthy Communicants being many are one Body in Christ and every one Members one of another o Rom. 12.5 1 Cor. 12.12 13. 2. The Doctrinal Body of Christ is the Doctrine of Christianity or the Body of Faith wherein all found orthodox Christians do agree and are united as Members of the foresaid Mystical Body of Christ the Church which is therefore called the common Faith p Tit. 1.4 and 't is that Faith which was once given to or rather by the Saints q Jude v. 3. the holy Apostles of our Lord. He discerns not this Body of the Lord who understands not the Principles of his Religion which are summed up in the Vow or Covenant which every person rightly Christned hath made with God in his Baptism the positive parts whereof besides the negative are 1. the Apostles Creed 2. the Ten Commandments with what is implied therein and depends thereupon viz. 3. the Lord's Praier and 4. the Doctrine of the Sacraments Not to know these general Heads of Religion which be plainly and fully delivered in the Church-Catechism or having learned them by heart when Children not frequently to remember and consider them when come to age so as to understand and hold them fast as the Essentials of Christianity is the second general kind of Unworthiness of the Lord's Supper from whence all ignorant and careless foolish and sottish persons are excluded r Jer. 24.7 Heb. 8.11 with all such as hold not fast the first Principles of the Oracles of God †Heb. 5.12 3. The Sacramental Body of Christ is the consecrated Elements of Bread and Wine in the Sacrament This is expresly affirmed by our Lord saying This is my Body This is my Bloud Who then dare say as the Fathers frequently observe This is not his Body but a Figure of his Body onely He discerns not this Body of our Lord 1. who sees not with the eye of Faith Christ really present under the Species of Bread and Wine though he conceive not the manner thereof who doth not with all gratefull acknowledgment and divine love and with the greatest humility and devotion adore the infinite wisedom power mercy goodness and condescension of this Presence of our Lord not curiously questioning much less pragmatically defining the way and manner of his Presence as being deeply mysterious and inconceivable Those old Verses expressing the Faith of the wifest of our first Reformers may satisfy every modest humble and sober-minded good Christian in his great Mystery of godliness It was the Lord that spake it He took the Bread and brake it And what the Word did make it So I believe and take it 2. He discerns not this Sacramental Body of the Lord who knows not in some measure the nature ends uses and benefits of this Sacrament with what is required of them that come thereunto All
year as a day of Fasting and Abstinence and it was ever observed as such since our Lord died upon the Friday through all the Ages of the Church untill these last and worst of days wherein the evil spirit of contradiction against the Religious practices of Christ's Church doth so rage as amongst many others to cry down all Times and Days devoted to the Service of God except what they call the Sabbath-day the which under the Gospel is neither properly so called nor rightly observed by such as truly understand not the IV. Commandment but misinterpret the sound meaning of the Spirit by the killing Letter of the Law 3. All orthodox and understanding good Christians in stead of a Jewish Sabbath observe as festival and holy the Christian Sunday because the Sun of Righteousness arose upon that day from death to life and hath brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel in which respect 't is frequently in Holy Scripture called the Lord's day 4. And there is the like reason for the observance of Friday as fasting in commemoration of Christ's Passion as there is for Sunday as festival in commemoration of his Resurrection Nor is this obscurely but plainly enough commanded by our Lord himself But the days will come when the Bridegroom shall be taken away from them and then shall they fast in those days a Luk. 5.35 These words are both 1. a positive command to all the Disciples of Christ they shall fast and also 2. the days whereon they shall fast are prescribed in those days whereon the Bridegroom was taken away from them which are the Fridays of the year whereon our Lord the Bridegroom and Head of his Church was taken off by a bitter death upon the Cross It is therefore but meet and just that all true Members of this Head should fast and pray and be humbled for their Sins on that day especially whereon the Son of God so sadly suffered and sorrowed for the Sins of the world Friday Meditations I. Part of LXIX Psalm paraphrased Verse 13. LORD I make my praier unto thee in an acceptable time Now is the acceptable time now is the day of Salvation even the day whereon for us men and for our Salvation the Blessed Son of God was crucified unto death 14. Hear me O God in the multitude of thy mercies against the multitude of my Sins which require a multitude of mercies to pardon them even in the truth of thy Salvation which on this day was so dearly purchased with the precious Bloud of the Son of God as a Lamb without spot 15. Take me out of the mire of all my sinfull pollutions and of all exorbitant lusts both secular and sensual that I sink not under the weight and pressure of them O let mâ— be delivered from them that hate me meaning chiefly the Devil and his angels and all the enemies of my Soul and out of the deep waters the rising waves of my unruly Passions and the waters of Trouble and Affliction which issue thence 16. Let not the water-floud of iniquity which overflows the face of the earth drown me with the rest of evill-doers neither let the deep swallow me up the deep abyss of Death the wages of Sin and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me so as that I arise not out of the gulph of Sin and Death to the life of Grace and Glory 17. Hear me O Lord for thy loâ—â—â— kindness is comfortable T is the 〈◊〉 and fountain life and soul of 〈◊〉 consolation at all times and in 〈◊〉 conditions both prosperous and adverse turn thee unto me not for any worth that is in me to attract thy loving-kindness but according to the multitude of thy mercies which are ever manifested to all them who truly turn unto thee 18. Hide not thy face from thy servant as angry and displeased for the alienations of my heart from thee and negligence in thy service for I am in trouble troubled for my Sins and frequent back-slidings and the sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit a broken and contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise O haste thee and hear me For if thou make as though thou hearest not I shall be like them that goe down into the pit 19. Draw nigh unto my Soal and save it who for the Salvation of my Soul didst this day humble thy self unto death even the cursed death of the Cross by the Merits and efficacy of which Cross and Passion O deliver me from all mine offences because of mine enemies that they triumph not in my confusion II. Meditations out of the Prophet Isaiah Chap. LIII Verse 4. SVrely he hath born our griefs and carried our serrows yet we did esteem him stricken smitten of God and afflicted 5. But he was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed 6. All we like sheep have gone astray and God hath laid upon him the iniquity of us all In the Sufferings of thy Saviour O my Soul thou maiest see as in a glass thine own Deformities and Sins The Great Lord over all Blessed for ever to be reproached reviled scorned contemned and numbred amongst the transgressours discovers thy false and uncharitable Judging Censuring Condemning Evil-speaking Lying and Slandering Railing and Reviling of others The blessed Face of Jesus besmeared with Spittle doth remember thee of all thy unclean Lusts and of all the filthy Communication that has proceeded out of thy mouth His blessed Mouth embittered with Gall and Vinegar doth mind thee of thy Effeminacy and Luxury Drunkenness and Gluttony and his Whipping of thy Stubbornness and Disobedience to the Laws of Heaven The King of Glory to wear a Crown of Thorns and for his Robes of Majesty onely a little Linen to cover his nakedness declares the iniquity of thy Pride and Vain-glory the folly of Gay cloathing and all thy vain and foolish affectation of the Pomps and Vanities of this sinfull World That Crown of Thorns beaten into his Temples with a Reed and much rage discovers the offensive nature of immoderate Cares of the world with the sharp and piercing Vexations issuing thence which eat up the Consolation of the heart and all true sincere Devotion of the spirit O sweetest Jesu let all my Sins be done away through thy Sufferings which did both represent and satisfy for them Let thy Wounds be a Salve for my Sin-wounded Soul and by thy Stripes let her be healed of all her Distempers Let thy Bonds discharge that Bond of malediction and woe wherein my Sins have enwrapt my Soul and let my Obligation to punishment be cancelled by thy Cross Let thy Pains deliver me from the Pains of Hell and thy Labours procure my Rest with the Saints in Heaven Let thy Sorrows purchase the Joys and thy Griefs the Pleasures of thy right hand Let thy Captivity be my Redemption thy Humiliation my Exaltation
their divine adoration and worship 4. Our fathers after the flesh the Patriarchs and Prophets of old hoped in thee and when they did so when sincerely and without hypocrisie they trusted in thee and thou didst deliver them as from the Egyptian bondage and Babylonian captivity and from all their enemies on every side figuring thereby the great deliverance and redemption of mankind by my present Sufferings for their Sins 5. They called upon thee as the onely anchour of their hope amidst the raging waves of worldly tribulations and were holpen either supported in their distresses or delivered from them they put their trust in thee and were not confounded or frustrated in their expectation of a sure and seasonable succour and defence 6. But as for me who now call upon thee in distress I am a worm framed of the dunghill nature of Adam by the supernaturall operation of the Holy Ghost upon my Virgin-Mother without any carnall lust or copulation as the worm hath its being out of the dung of the earth without any mutuall coition by the sole heat of the Sun and no man not made man after the same manner with others and as a worm that is trodden on and despised so am I a very scorn of men who have spitten on me reviled reproached derided whipped buffeted and in all respects used me as the outcast of the people who have judged me more unfit to live then Barabbas a thief a rebell and a murtherer 7. All they that see me laugh me to scorn they shoot out their lips and shake their heads So we reade And they that passed by reviled him wagging their heads saying He saved others himself he cannot save c Matt. 27.39 42. saying in derision 8. He trusted in God that he would deliver him let him deliver him if he will have him So saith the sad story of our Saviour's suffering d Matt. 27.43 Thus have they rewarded me evill for good and hatred for my good will But though I be thus evill intreated by sinfull men yet thou Lord 9. Thou art he that took me out of my mother's womb 'T was by thee alone for none but a supernaturall Divine power could effect it that I was both made man and born of a woman thou wast my hope when I hanged yet upon my mother's breasts my refuge my support in my infancy as Man who art my Father from all eternity as God 10. I have been left unto thee ever since I was born my Humane nature being united unto the Person of the Son of God from the first moment of my conception thou art my God even from my mother's womb when I was conceived without any other father but thy power sanctifying the Virgin-womb of my mother and have ever since lived and am now ready to die in obedience to thy most holy will 11. O goe not from me by withdrawing thy Divine assistence for trouble is hard at hand the inveterate malice of my persecuting enemies and my tormenting pains bespeak my near-approaching death and there is none to help me in that bitter agonie besides thee O Lord for vain is the help of man and the nearest of my friends and followers have also now forsaken me and fled in whose room 12. Many oxen are come about me people who have cast off the yoke of Obedience to God's most holy Laws being luxuriant in their opinions and licencious in their conversation by such I was apprehended hurried away hooted at and reviled falsly accused and cried down by their loud clamours against me fat bulls of Basan the High-priests rich and fat men of the world swoln with their pomp and wealth armed with power like unto horned bulls close me in on every side By their counsels and conspiracies votes and suffrages they have so enfettered me that there was no way left to escape their rage and malice 13. They gape upon me with their mouths some falsely accusing some ironically deriding some maliciously reproaching some unjustly censuring and condemning me and all crying out Crucify him crucify him as it were a ramping and a roaring lion greedily and fiercely yelling over his prey so eagerly do they thirst after the bloud of my Soul and that now is in their power for 14. I am poured out like water so is my Bloud poured out of all my veins flowing from my nailed Hands and Feet pierced Side and from my Head crowned with thorns which eat into my temples And may this precious bloud like water wash off the pollutions of my Soul soften the hardness moisten the driness and make fertil the barren ground of my Heart to be capable of the great benefits my dear Redeemer purchased with his Bloud all my bones are out of joint through the violent distension of my Members on the Cross and yet far greater are the sufferings of my Soul for my heart also in the midst of my body is even like melting wax even molten in the fiery furnace of God's wrath for the Sins of the world whose indignation like fire consumes and eats up all consolation within me 15. My strength is dried up like a potsheard That radicall humour which supplies the strength of the body is exhausted through the effusion of my Bloud and dislocation of my bodily Members and my tongue cleaveth to my gums through the drought pain and weakness of my tortured Body and thou shalt bring me into the dust of death By my Death and Buriall in the dust of the earth my Sufferings will be compleated And this cannot be avoided 16. For many dogs persons who bark and devour not out of conscience or love of the Truth but out of custom and malice such are come about me they encompass me to rend and tear in pieces both my good name liberty and life it self the councill of the wicked layeth siege against me So we reade The chief priests and elders took counsell against Jesus to put him to death * Matt. 27.1 and this both shamefull and painfull for 17. They pierced my hands and my feet Through the palms of my Hands and the plants of my Feet places fullest of nerves and most capable of sense have they nailed me to the Cross but first with the greatest violence and to the utmost extent my Arms and Legs were expanded so that I may tell all my bones for they start through my flesh through the violent distension thereof and this to the great astonishment of all that behold my torments for they stand staring and looking upon me The tormenting punishment renders me so misshapen distorted and deformed as makes all the spectatours gaze and wonder But 't is more with bodily then spirituall eyes They see not neither do they understand me aright though I thus suffer for their sins 18. They part my garments among them and cast lots upon my vesture So did the Souldiers with the garment of our Lord 's naturall Body and so do Hereticks and Schismaticks with his mysticall
the earth shall be filled with his majesty Amen Amen †Psal 72.18 19. The following Hymn of Ananias Azarias and Misael is in some Liturgies prescribed to be used after the Blessed Eucharist Tres pueri jussu Regis missi sunt in fornacem non timentes flammam ignis at dicentes Benedictus es Domine Hallelujah Verse 1. O ALL ye works of the Lord bless ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever a By this rhetorical invocation upon all creatures we stir up our own minds in by and for them all to praise the Lord. 2. O ye Angels of the Lord bless ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever b The Angels are called Morning-stars for the light of their Understanding which most eminently shines in their praises of the Lord begun in the very morning of the Creation and continued to all eternity Job 38 7. Rev. 4.8 3. O ye Heavens bless ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever c The heavens declare the glory of God and the Firmament sheweth his Psal 19.1 4. O ye Waters that be above the firmament bless ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever d All creatures even the most irrational do praise the Lord 1. By Excitement in that the conâ—â—deration of their vast number and distinct nature their beauty and variety their use and excellency their instincts and operations do excite all Angels and all men to revere the Power to admire the Wisedom to adore the Greatness to love the Goodness and to be ravished with the Perfections of the Lord which do so eminently appear in all the works of his hands Rom. 1.19 20. 2. By Obedience in that all created Beings do regularly obey the law imposed upon each both according unto and sometimes against their natural inclinations as in the example of these Three Children in the fiery furnace not consumed which is at large declared Wisedom 16.17 18 3. By the Benefit and Comfort we receive from them which is therefore particularly to be considered upon the mention of every Creature that in and for each we may with the more alacrity and devotion praise the Lord. 5. O all ye Powers of the Lord bless ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever 6. O ye Sun and Moon bless ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever 7. O ye Stars of heaven bless ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever 8. O ye Showrs and Dew bless ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever 9. O ye Winds of God bless ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever 10. O ye Fire and Heat bless ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever 11. O ye Winter and Summer bless ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever 12. O ye Dews and Frosts bless ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever 13. O ye Frost and Cold bless ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever 14. O ye Ice and Snow bless ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever 15. O ye Nights and Days bless ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever 16. O ye Light and Darkness bless ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever 17. O ye Lightnings and Clouds bless ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever 18. O let the Earth bless the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever 19. O ye Mountains and all Hills bless ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever 20. O all ye Green things upon the earth bless ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever 21. O ye Wells bless ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever 22. O ye Seas and Flouds bless ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever 23. O ye Whales and all that move in the waters bless ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever 24. O all ye Fowls of the air bless ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever 25. O all ye Beasts and Cattell bless ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever 26. O ye Children of men bless ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever * After all the works of the Lord Man is excited to praise him who made all things for the use of Man and Man for his praise in the use and consideration of them 27. O let Israel bless the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever f But the Church and people of God are most specially bound to praise God in his works as to whom alone they are sanctified in their use both natural and divine 28. O ye Priests of the Lord bless ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever 29. O ye Servants of the Lord bless ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever g It is the constant and common work both of the Priests and people of God in his Church militant 30. O ye Spirits and Souls of the righteous bless ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever h and of his Saints in his Church triumphant to praise the Lord. Psal 84.4 31. O ye Holy and Humble men of heart bless ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever i The humble are encouraged to praise the Lord because he hath respect to the lowly but as for the proud he beholdeth them afar off Psal 138.6 32. O Ananias Azarias and Misael bless ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever k They who have received any signal Deliverances are engaged to be the more frequent and servent in praising the Lord for their Redemption both general and particular Glory be to the Father The Praier O God who didst miraculously asswage the fury of the fiery Furnace that it touched not to harm thy Three Servants when cast thereinto vouchsafe to allay all exorbitant heats of Concupiscence in my heart Let not any vicious fires inflame my Affections but quench them all through Faith in the Bloud of my dear Redeemer and by the sweet influences of thy Holy Spirit the Breath of Heaven and so shall my Soul bless thee and praise thee and magnify thy Holy Name for ever Amen Blessed be the Holy and undivided Trinity now and for evermore Amen The End