serues Act. 17.18 Quest What rules haue you learned for your wordes Answ 1. That I remember such as my speech is such is my heart that both my heart and mouth go together but in holy manner Ephesi 4.29 Col. 4.6 2. That my spéech bee gratious to the edification good and benefit of them with whom I speake not to their euill and sinning Col. 4.6 Eph. 4.29 5.4 5. That my spéech bée alwayes more and more earnest ioyfull and comfortable when I speake of heauenly then earthly matters Eph. 5.4 and 4.6 Psal 1.2 4. That I remember I shall answere for euery idle worde which passeth out of my mouth to God or to mā Math. 12.36 5. That multitude of wordes bée often sinfull let mee speake therefore as fewe as I may yea be rather silent then speake vnprofitably Prou. 17.27 10.19 Iam. 1.19 6. That my wordes bee no greater or more then my master deserueth nor beare a shewe of vice in mee or any excessiue affection Psa 34.13 1. Peter 4.11 7. That as I beleeue not all that is tolde mee so I tell not all I heare but tel the truth onely though not al nor alwaies Eccles 3.7 Luke 2.19 1 Sam. 10.16 16.1.2.5 8. That I delight not to speake of others infirmities especially behinde their backes and speaking before them speake with griefe and wisedome Psalm 15.3 2. Tim. 3.3 Mat. 18.15 9. That I speake not of GOD but with reuerence knowing I am not worthy to take his name in my mouth Leuit. 19.12 Rom. 9.5 Deut. 28.18 10. That in praising I bee discret in saluting courteous in admonition brotherly Prou. 27.2 1. Sā 10.4 Rom. 16.16 Question What rules haue you learned for your actions towardes God Ans 1. That I vse dayly prayer to God euery morning and euening that he would guide me and mine affaires for his glory and mine owne comforte Dan. 6.10 Psa 55.17 2. That I register vp all my sinnes committed against him in euery matter and with griefe bewaile them at fitte time crauing pardon and strength against them Psalme 51.3 3. That euery daye something of Gods worde bée reade and meditated vpon that I may encrease in knowledge and in godlinesse Psal 1.2 Deut. 6.6 4. That whatsoeuer I take in hand I first take counsell at Gods worde whether it be lawfull or no bee it for my profit or pleasure and then that I do it with peace at least in my heart 2. Sam. 30.8 5. That I giue thanks to God for euery benefit that I haue receiued and then dedicate the same for the promoting of his glory and the good of his church 1. Thes 5.10 6. That I sanctifie Gods Sabbath dayly in vsing holy exercises of prayer preaching meditating and sacraments at the time Exo. 20.8 7. That any meanes God hath appointed for any matter bee nor more relied vpon then God himselfe but he bée first prayed vnto for the prosperous vse of them 2. Chr. 16.12 8. That I sticke to God aswell in aduersity as in prosperity knowing the one to be as necessary forme as the other yet let me pray for my necessities be humble when I haue them that I vse them well and that I loose them not Iam. 1.2.3 9. That I marke my profiting in religion prepare my selfe to heare Gods word attend when I am there conferre and meditate about it after 1. Cor. 15.10 1. Cor. 11.28 10. That I loue all things for Gods sake and God only for his owne that I make God my friend and nothing can bee mine enimie and accoumpt all things vaine to serue God sincerely Philip. 3.8 Romans 8.34 Quest What rules haue you learned for actions towards your selfe Ans 1. That I refraine my eares from hearing mine eies from séeing my handes from doing and euery part of my soule and body from fulfilling any thing vaine or wicked Iob. 31.1 Psal 119.37 2. That my meat apparell and recreations be lawfull néedefull and moderate Luk. 21.34 Rō 13.13 1. Tim. 2.9 Tit. 2.3 1. Tim. 5.23 1. Cor. 10.31 3. That withall care I redéeme the time knowing I shal answer for euery idle houre Eph. 5.16 1. Pet. 4 3. 4. That I bee as sorrowfull for the good déedes that I haue omitted as I am ioyfull for the good deedes I haue fulfilled Rom. 7.8.9 5. That my especiall sinnes and corruptions be inquired into thought vpon with griefe whether they are weakened in me or remaine in their olde strength and that I resist them withall faithfulnesse euery day more and more 1. Cor. 11.28 6. That I remember with humility all the good motions and actions God worketh in me that they may bée pledges of my saluation spurres to godlinesse and comforts against temptations 2. Cor. 6.4.5 Rom. 7.15 7. That I suffer not my selfe to bée pleased with mine vnprofitablenesse that is with vnfitnes or vnwillingnes to serue God Rom. 12.11 8. That I followe my lawfull calling so carefully for the good of Gods church as féeling the trouble thereof I be put in minde of my misery by Adam and be humbled thereby Rom. 12 7. Gen. 3.10 Eccle. 1.13 9. That I take reuenge of my selfe for my slipery sinning beating downe my body that I sin not againe 1. Cor. 9.27 10. That I neuer make more shew of outward holines then I haue inward in my heart Esay 58.5.6 Quest What rules do you learne for your actions towards others Ans 1. That I remember that what soeuer I haue that may bee vsed towards others God hath bestowed it on me for others benefit Rom. 12.6 1.11 2. That I coumpt it not sufficient that my selfe serue God onely vnlesse I cause all within my charge by all meanes to do the same Gen. 14.14 18.19 Psal 101.1.2.3 Iosh 24 15. Ester 4.15 3. That I consider I am but Gods stewarde in all his benefits I haue let me therefore imploy them wisely to those that néede hartily and in time 1. Pet. 4.10 4. That I behaue my selfe towards them so sincerely that I may win the weak comfort the strong make ashamed the wicked 1. Cor. 10.32 Col 4.5 5. That as I receiue good in cōpany so alwaies I do them some good to my power Rom. 1.12 and 14.19 6. That when I knowe others is sinne I mourne for it and amend it if I may by brotherly admonition 1. Cor. 5.2 Math. 18.15 Leuit. 19.17 7. That I reioyce and praise the Lord for any good thing the Lord sendeth vnto men knowing that it is for mine and others Godlinesse sake that God vpholds the worke 1. Thes 5.18 Rom. 12.15 Luk. 1.58 8. That I striue not whether other should do good to me or I to them first but that I benefit euen mine enimies knowing my rewarde is with God 1. Thes 5.15 Mat. 5.39 Rom. 12.20 9. That I be carefull to vse the good I can receiue by any man knowing that I am but a member of the body and stand in néede of other Rom. 12.16 and
all good things as well as one hate al euil as wel as one I can be contented to be dissolued bee with Christ and to say come Lord Iesus come quickly Euch. Yet Satan will tempt you to presume of Gods mercies what remedies must you here vse Phil. I must meditate against this syn 1. that god bids me not be high minded 2. that security destroyes more then any syn 3. that he is blessed who feareth alwaies 4. That I must worke out my saluation with feare and trembling 5. That as God is a God of mercy so is he also a god of iustice 6. That the more I presume the more subiect I am to fall 7. That it is sathans mayne weapon to vanquish me God is mercifull 8. That euen Dauid prayed to bee kept from sinnes of presumption 9. That the longer I continue in sinnes the more hardly can I leaue them 10. that if our God call mee I must vndoe all I haue done before 11. that then I must sheede many a bitter teare for my sinnes 12. that by going on I heape to my selfe wrath against the day of wrath and therefore haue we need in this and all the former assaults of God men deuils to pray Lord lead vs not into temptation Euch. Which is the explanation of this petition Phil. But deliuer vs from euill Eu. what do you pray for in these words Phil. But deliuer vs from euil that I and all christians may be freed from the power of satan sin the flesh and the world that we being thus preserued that we shall or may not fal or so be deliuered frō euill that we may not fall quite away by any temptation Euch. Do you not by euill vnderstand only the deuill who is called that euill one Phil. No I do not though temptations come principally from him but by euil you said I must vnderstand al my spirituall enemies according to that of the Apostle Iohn 1. Ioh. 5.3 The whole world lieth in euil Euch. How many wayes doth God deliuer vs from euill Phil. Eleuen wayes 1. by preseruing vs from committing sinne 2. By freeing vs from iudgements due vnto sinne 3. By kéeping vs from the hurt of sin and afflictions 4. By turning all those sinnes which we commit and the afflictions which we sustaine to our good 5. By bridling Satan that he cannot subdue vs. 6. By giuing vs his holy spirit that by a liuely faith wee ouercome all euill 7. by no meanes 8. by small meanes 9. By ordinary meanes 10. By extraordinary meanes 11. Contrary to all meanes Euch. Why are these words added as an explanation to this petition Phil. To teach me that when I am deliuered from euill I may be sure not to be lead into temptation for euill is the cause of all temptations which being taken away the effect ceaseth Euch. What must we do to be deliuered from the deuill Phil. We must 1. Put on the whole armor of God 2. We must know howe to vse that armor 3. We must walke warily that he do not circumuent vs and bee neuer out of our calling 4. We must euer seeke to feare and serue God 5. We must know that Christ is our captaine and deliuerer 6 Wée must meditate of the miserable estate of such as are ouercome by the deuill 7. We must pray as Christ teacheth vs deliuer vs from euill Euch. What wants do you bewaile in this petition Phil. 1. The rebellion of our wicked nature by which wee resist the spirit of God 2. Our readines in each little temptation to yéeld vp our selues to the cōmitting of sinne 3. That we cannot enough mourne for the remnants of our bondage by which wee are kept in the power of Sathan 4. That so many fall by Sathans temptation 5. That we cannot here get maistery ouer our owne corruptions 6. That we loue so this spirituall Babilon in which we are subiect too and fall by temptation 7. The tyranny of Satan our aduersary going about each way to subdue vs. Euch. What things do you here pray against Phil. I pray 1. against temptation as it may be a meanes to drawe men from GOD and cause them to commit sinne a 2. Cor. 12.7.8 2. Against afflictions as they are punishments of sinne curses from God motiues to impacience or meanes to make mee to take Gods name in vaine b Pro. 30.9 3. Against desertion that God would not leaue me or if he do that he would not leaue me ouer long by withdrawing from his former a second grace of the spirit 4. Against al future relapse into sinne Gods hardning my heart blinding of myne ties 1. Ti 1.20 backslyding from the trueth eyther in part or in whole all sortes of iudgements temporall or eternall And what hurt soeuer may befall mée eyther by prosperity or aduersitye In a worde I pray against the assaults of Sathan the enticementes of the world and that corruption which may surprise mee by mine owne flesh Euch. May not aman pray for temptations and afflictions Phil. Though both of them may be oftentimes good for vs yet because that good is an accidentiall good and wee knowe not howe wee shall beare temptations if god send them therfore it is not méete to pray for them Therefore such as wish to bee poore that they might loue heauen better or blind to meditate of heauen better they haue no great warrant out of Gods worde To these we may adde such as pray for death and will not waite Gods leasure till he take them out of this world Euch. What doe you here pray for Phil. I pray for grace to resist and perseuerance when I am tempted and that to this purpose I may put on the whole armore of God as the girdle of veritie in soundnesse of doctrine Eph. 6.16 the brest-plate of righteousnesse in integrity of life the shooes of preparation of the gospell of peace which are to be worne by patience in afflictions the shield of of faith to resist Satans assaultes the helmet of Saluation which is the life of eternitie and the sword of the spirit which is the word of God I pray also here that all our afflictiōs may bee turned to our good that wisdome may bee giuen vs to preuent our persecutors that I may be patient in aduersity humble in prosperity and that our sinnes may turne to our good by reuealing our corruption in being ready to fall discouering our vnhabilitie of our selues to stand detesting our nature so prone to impietie renouncing all confidence in our owne strength casting our selues vpon Gods power in temptation yea that by them we may see Satans malice in tempting vs and Gods great mercie in recouering vs finally that being once recouered in temptation we may pitty and comfort such as bee tempted Euch. What things doe you giue thankes for Phil. That in the former things which I haue prayed for GOD hath made me able so to resist that
vnder the burden of them make vs good god displeased with our selues because by sin wee haue dishonored thy maiesty Stir vp our dead dul harts that we may hunger after Christ his righteousnesse and after euery drop of his precious bloud In that son of thine looke on vs thy seruants and for his merits righteousnes vouchsafe good God mercifullie and freelie to doe awaye all our offenses Wash them away in his bloud and by the puritie of his spirite clense our hearts from the pollution and impuritie of them all say vnto our soules thou art our saluation let thy spirite in our hearts crie Abba Father Teach vs O Lord thy way and we shall walk in thy trueth O knit our hearts vnto thee that we may feare thy name And because through corruption in our harts and sin in our liues our faith is feeble and our confidence small we do humbly beseech thee to strengthen our faith by the daily meditation and particular application of thy mercifull promises made vnto vs in thy son Christ that neither in the dangers of this world nor the trobles of conscience nor in the hour of death wee may fall from thee Gratious father expell out of our hearts all carnall confidence the vnderminer of our faith teach vs in the spirit of tru humility to deny our selues to rely only vpon thee the merit of christ in the mater of our saluation And because it is not enough to com vnto thee by praier to sue vnto thee for pardon but al that ar in christ must be new creatures therfore we cal vpon thee for the spirit of regeneration mortify therby the corruptions of our flesh quicken vs thereby in the inner mā By the powr of Christs deth let vs dy vnto sin by the power of his resurrectiō let vs rise to righteousnes newnes of life let the one as a corrosiue eat vp the dead flesh of vngodlines the other as a spur stir vs vp to holines Illuminatour minds that we may know thy will giue vs spiritual vnderstāding to discern good euil Sanctify our memories to tresure vp good things purify our consciences to haue peace in thee reform our wils to doe thy wil let al our affections be ordered aright Teach vs to fear thee continually whersoeuer we ar to neglect al things in regard of christ to loue thee our brethren for thy sake to be zealus of thy glory to be greeued at our other sins ioyful when we cāpleas thee Let our bodies the instruments of sin be euer heerafter clensed by thy spirit that they may bee temples for that spirit to dwel in keepe our eies from beholding vanitie our eares from harkning to variety our mouths frō speking blasphemy our hands frō committing of iniquity our bodies from the action of adultery Let our light so shine before mē that they seeing our good works may glorify thee our heauenly father Make vs to remember that as we are sons wee must depend vpon thee as we ar seruants wee must obey thee and as we are christians we ought to walk worthy of our vocatiō and calling And because we haue al som particular calling either of rule or seruice or trust or fauor make vs from the highest to the lowest Faithful in our callings to remēber that a day wil come in which we must giue an accompte vnto thee of all our actions doon in this flesh whether they be good or euill Take away from vs all oportunity of sinning make vs euer thankful that we liue so as wee want allurementes to many sinnes Cause vs to see how deformed sin is in it selfe to what confusiō it is like to bring vs Lord make vs to fly the very occasiōs of sin to resist the beginnings of al tēptation let not a night pas ouer our heads in which we examin not howe wee haue spent the day neuer let vs come into any company wherin we may not not doe or receiue som good Keep vs that we fashiō not ourselues to this world but rather imitate the fashion of the moste godly in our callings Let vs neuer count any sin to be a little one because that our sauior died for the least And because we liue in dangerous times wherin many ar withdrawne from the profession of thy trueth Lord giue vs harts neuer to entertain any such doctrine which cannot be warranted out of thy word nor to admit of any such teachers as goe about to withdraw vs frō obedience to our gouernors if any one fal into any sin let vs restore such an one with the spirit of meeknes cōsidering our selues that we also may be tempted We further acknowledge most gracious God that our life is a war-fare vpon earth our enemies are sinn Satan the flesh Lord helpe vs in this spitituall combat are we weak be thou strong ar we tempted with the tēptation giue an issue may we be ouercom tech vs to watch ouer our own harts waies is there any one ◅une which we are weak to resist in the act of temptation giue vs power to resist it that by this means we may haue as iust cause to praise thee in our cōquests as we haue many reasons to hūble our selues in our foyles We see also most all seeing God that none cā liue godly in this world but they must suffer persecutions either Ismaell wil reuile them with a reproachful tongue or Esau wil pursue them with a blody sword what now must we do in these days of trial whether shal we come for helpe but to thee To thee therfore must wee come O Lord our god crauing wisdom to forsee prouidence to preuent patience to beare harts to be prepared for this fierytrial that by the denial of our selues distasting the worlde liking of heauen and heauenly things wee may make a good vse euen of the least affliction Confound in euery on of vs the cursed workes of the diuel Increase in vs dayly the giftes of thy spirit Fit vs for such calings in which thou hast or wilt place vs make vs to referre the strength of our bodies the giftes of our minde our credit in this world what so euer grace thou hast alredy or wilt hereafter bestow vpon vs to the glorye of thy name the good of thy church the eternal saluacion of our own souls And howe soeuer we liue heer in this Babilon of the world lord let our conuersation be euer in heauē that whether we eat or drink or what soeuer we do else wee may heare alwayes this voice soūding in our eares arise you dead come vnto iudgment Many other things haue we to beg for our selus that our ignorāce knoweth not to aske or forgetfulnes remēbers not to ask hear vs for thē in thy beloued son And giue vs leaue now good god to pray to thee for others Ther ar no christiā peple at
any time asseÌ„bled but they are redy to praye for vs therfor it is our duty to pray for theÌ„ We therfore coÌ„mend to thee thy whole church each meÌ„ber of the same be good gracius to these churches of EnglaÌ„d Scotland FraÌ„ce IrelaÌ„d giue the Gospel a free passage euery whâ—… put on the meanes by which it may be publisht wher it is nâ—t or maintained wher it is Deuid not O thou indiuisible goâ—… deuid not Ephraim against Manasses nor Manasses against Ephraim nor both of them against Iudah The coat of thy son was wtout seam let the church of thy son be without seame Our aduersaries get ground and work vpon our diuision knit vs so together that there worke may be as the coÌ„fusion of Babel Ar there any means to hinder the curraÌ„t of thy gospell stop them in the head poyson them in the stream stay theÌ„ in the time let their labor he like his that wold repair Iericho To this end bee good to the light of our eies the breathe of our nostrils the procurer of our happines thy Salomon our King preserue his bodie in health his soule in soundnes his hart in thy trueth his life in honor his honor from vnder miners his ears from flatterers the haue of each kingdome Keep him that he may euer maintain thy truth Defend him against the insinuation of practising papists who will neuer wish wel vnto him vnlesse they see we do wish wel vnto thee Let thy good spirite hee with Ioâ—… doâ—… prince season his young yeares with the knowledge of thy will that as hee groweth in yeares so he may grow in staâ—… fauor both with god and men Be good vnto them that haue the â—…ition of him make them instruments of much good that may be done by him Preserue with these our gratious Queene let vs see her as a fruitfull vine about the Kings house and her children like to oliue plantes round about his table And because wher many counsellors are there is peace O Lorde blesse his honorable counsail in al things let them take counsail at thy word and in euerie consultation aime at thy glorie The peeres of our land the pillars of our kingdome wee commend vnto thee make them contented with their present honors and to continue loyall to their vndoubted soueraigne And because the preachers of thy worde are the pillars of thy church blesse them all from the highest to the lowest that both by life and doctrine they may set out thy most holie word Take from the great the spirit of ambition and from the meane the spirit of contention that both may labor as much as they may to oppose themselues against the common aduersarie and not to aduantage him by intestine diuision Blesse the people of this laÌ„d such as are called confirme them such as are not conuert them to that purpose send faithfull pastor into each congregation who may speake a word in due season vnto theÌ„ Couch all our hearts from the highest to the lowest with true repentance that thy iudgementes present imminent may be preuented remoued thy mercies stil continued to vs our posterity after vs especially in the true ministery of the word and sacraments that such as suruiue vs may praise thy name Bee mercifull to all thine afflicted ones be they sick in bed distressed in conscience pinched with pouerty disgraced for thy truth or kepte in prison and deliuered to death releeue them in theyr necessity strengthen them in their weaknes comforte them in ther distresse mitigate their sorrows turne al their troubles to thy glory and theire good To this end giue thy seruaÌ„ts coÌ„fort by thy word sufficiency of things needful for them bles the fruits of the earth disappoint both Turk Pope from incroching vpon thine inheritance let all such prosper as sight thy battails and let thy gospel be preached from the one end of the worlde vnto the other In thy good time let the sun of thy gospel shine vpon Iews Turks Infidels Atheists and papists belonging to thee Be good to our kinsfolkes in the flesh our friendes in the spirite and them to whome wee are any wise bounden or desire to bee commended to thee in these our praiers and supplications Haue mercy vpon vs nowe calling vpon thy name forgiue our sins and manifolde deffects in this holye duty accepting at our handes this our obedience in Christ And because thou hast bin good vnto vs many wayes make vs thankfull vnto thee for all thy mercies as our election in thy loue our redemption in thy sonne our sanctification by thy spirit our preseruation by thy prouidence our health in body peace of conscience our life in thy church our gratious Gouernours our painfull Preachers our christian friends our desire to please thee and that wee haue the ministration of thy word and sacraments and can shew loue euen to our enimies We thanke thee O Lord for all graces of thy spirit as faith in thy promises hope of eternall life feare of thy name loue to thy maiesty zeale to thy glory affection to our bretheren patience vnder the crosse strength against our seuerall temptations humility gentlenesse méekenes forbearing with many other giftes and graces of thy spirit all which wee acknowledge haue procéeded from thy méere mercie O let vs not hee negligent in the vse of all good meanes by which thy grace may dayly growe vp in vs. We do also with all thankfulnesse remember all the blessings of this life our deliuerance from our enimies in 88. our preseruation from the pestilence in 93. our protection from Gunpowder in 95. as all other fauors which we do enioye vnder the blessed gouernment of our gratious Prince and for all thy goodnes vnder our lase noble Queene We thanke thee that thou hast sustained vs in great weaknes releiued vs in much necessity coÌ„forted vs in much distresse resolued vs in many doubts deliuered vs from many dangers preserued vs from many sinnes made vs willing to desire to do thy will and bestowed vpon vs such a larges of thy good creatures that we are more fit to giue then receiue Blesse vs nowe and euer hereafter keepe vs and all ours and all that are nere about vs from all dangers whatsoeuer and grant vs all such a portion of thy grace that whether we stay at home or goe abroad watch or sléepe rate or drinke buy or sell bee in labour or recreation we may euer labour to glorifie thy high and great name in the workes of such callings as thou shalt cal vs vnto and fit vs for through Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour in whose name and in whose wordes wee further call vpon thée saying Our Father which art c. O LOrd blesse vs and kéepe vs O Lord make thy face shine vpon vs O Lord graunt vnto vs thy sweete and euerlasting peace especially that peace of conscience which the world cannot giue with the