my prayer is unto thee O Lord in an acceptable time O God in the multitude of thy mercy hear me in the truth of thy salvation 14 Deliver me out of the mire and let me not sink let me be delivered from them that hate me and out of the deep waters 15 Let not the water-flood overflow me neither let the deep swallow me up and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me 16 Hear me O Lord for thy loving kindnesse is good turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies 17 And hide not thy face from thy servant for I am in trouble hear me speedily 18 Draw nigh unto my soul and redeem it deliver me because of mine enemies 19 Thou hast known my reproch and my shame and my dishonour mine adversaries are all before thee 20 Reproch hath broken my heart and I am full of heavinesse and I looked for some to take pity but there was none and for comforters but I found none 21 They gave me also gall for my meat and in my thirst they gave me vineger to drink 22 Let their table become a snare before them and that which should have been for their welfare let it become a trap 23 Let their eyes be darkened that they see not and make their loyns continually to shake 24 Poure out thine indignation upon them and let thy wrathfull anger take hold of them 25 Let their habitation be desolate and let none dwell in their tents 26 For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded 27 Adde iniquity to their iniquity and let them not come into thy righteousnesse 28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living and not be written with the righteous 29 But I am poor and sorrowfull let thy salvation O God set me up on high 30 I will praise the name of God with a song and will magnifie him with thanksgiving 31 This also shall please the Lord better then an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs 32 The humble shall see this and be glad and your heart shall live that seek God 33 For the Lord heareth the poor and despiseth not his prisoners 34 Let the heaven and the earth praise him the seas and every thing that moveth therein 35 For God will save Sion and will build the cities of Judah that they may dwell there and have it in possession 36 The seed also of his servants shall inherit it and they that love his name shall dwell therein PSAL. LXX David prayes for speedy deliverance from the party of Absalom that they may be confounded that all the just may rejoyce in God who is their deliverer and defence MAke haste O God to deliver me make haste to help me O Lord. 2 Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul let them be turned backward and put to confusion that desire my hurt 3 Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say Aha aha 4 Let all those that seek thee rejoyce and be glad in thee and let such as love thy salvation say continually Let God be magnified 5 But I am poor and needy make haste unto me O God thou art my help and my deliverer O Lord make no tarrying Mo. pr. PSAL. LXXI David expresse his trust to be in God who was his hope from his childhood prayes for defence in his old age prays against his enemies relies upon God confesses that by him he hath had salvation all his life he praises God for it IN thee O Lord do I put my trust let me never be put to confusion 2 Deliver me in thy righteousness and cause me to escape incline thine eare unto me and save me 3 Be thou my strong habitation whereunto I may continually resort thou hast given commandment to save me for thou art my rock and my fortresse 4 Deliver me O my God out of the hand of the wicked out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man 5 For thou art my hope O Lord God thou art my trust from my youth 6 By thee have I been holden up from the womb thou art he that took me out of my mothers bowels my praise shall be continually of thee 7 I am as a wonder unto many but thou art my strong refuge 8 Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day 9 Cast me not off in the time of old age forsake me not when my strength faileth 10 For mine enemies speak against me and they that lay wait for my soul take counsell together 11 Saying God hath forsaken him persecute and take him for there is none to deliver him 12 O God be not far from me O my God make haste for my help 13 Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul let them be covered with reproch and dishonour that seek my hurt 14 But I will hope continually and will yet praise thee more and more 15 My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousnesse and thy salvation all the day for I know not the numbers thereof 16 I will goe in the strength of the Lord God I will make mention of thy righteousnesse even of thine onely 17 O God thou hast taught me from my youth and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works 18 Now also when I am old and grayheaded O God forsake me not untill I have shewed thy strength unto this generation and thy power to every one that is to come 19 Thy righteousnesse also O God is very high who hast done great things O God who is like unto thee 20 Thou which hast shewed me great sore troubles shalt quicken me again shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth 21 Thou shalt increase my greatnesse cōfort me on every side 22 I will also praise thee with the psalterie even thy truth O my God unto thee will I sing with the harp O thou holy one of Israel 23 My lips shall greatly rejoyce when I sing unto thee and my soul which thou hast redeemed 24 My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousnesse all the day long for they are confounded for they are brought unto shame that seek my hurt PSAL. LXXII David being neer his death prayes for a prosperous reign to his son Solomon instructs him in the duty of a king it is Propheticall of Christs Kingdome GIve the king thy judgments O God and thy righteousnesse unto the kings son 2 He shall judge thy people with righteousnesse and thy poor with judgment 3 The mountains shal bring peace to the people and the little hils by righteousnesse 4 He shall judge the poor of the people he shall save the children of the needy and shall break in pieces the oppressour 5 They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure throughout all generations 6 He shal come down like rain upon the mown grasse
When he fell and broke thy easy Commandement thou didst not despise his folly nor leave him in his sin but didst chastise him with thy rod and restrain him by thy law and instruct him by thy Prophets and at last didst send thy Holy Son into the world that he might renew and repair thy broken image The People shall answer Blessed be God He comming from heaven and taking our flesh by the power of the Holy Ghost of the Vâ—rgin Mary conversed with men and taught us the way of God and the dispensation of Eternal life People Holy Jesus Blessed be God But when for the redemption of us sinners he would suffer death upon the Cross without sin for us who were nothing but sin and misery in the night in which he was betrayed he took bread he looked up to heaven he gave thanks he sanctified it he brake it and gave it to his Apostles saying Take eat This is my body which is broken for you Doe this in remembrance of me Likewise after Supper he took the Cup and when he had given thanks and blessed it he gave it to them saying Drink ye all of this for this is my bloud of the new Testament which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins Doe this in remembrance of me For as often as ye shall eat this Bread and drink this Cup ye shall shew forth the Lords death till he come The people shall answer Amen Minister We beleeve and we confess People We declare thy death and confess thy resurrection Then the Minister kneeling shall say this prayer of Oblation I. WE sinners thy unworthy servants in remembrance of thy life-giving passion thy Cross and thy pains thy death and thy burial thy resurrection from the dead and thy ascension into Heaven thy sitting at the right hand of God making intercession for us and expecting with fear and trembling thy formidable and glorious return to judge the quick and dead when thou shalt render to every man according to his works doe humbly present to thee O Lord this present sacrifice of remembrance and thanksgiving humbly and passionately praying thee not to deal with us according to our sins nor recompence us after our transgressions but according to thy abundant mercy and infinite goodness to blot out and take away the hand-writing that is against us in the book of remembrances which thou hast written and that thou wilt give unto us spiritual celestial and eternal gifts which neither eye hath seen nor ear hath heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man to understand which God hath prepared for them that love him thorough Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Then shall follow the reception and distribution of the Holy Sacrament The Minister first receiving and privately saying this short prayer O Blessed Jesus My Lord and my God thou art the celestial food and the life of every man that cometh unto thee I have sinned against heaven and before thee and am not worthy to partake of these holy Mysteries but thou art my merciful Saviour grant that I may religiously thankfully and without reproof partake of thy Blessed body and blood for the remission of my sins and unto life eternal Amen Then reverently taking in his hand the consecrated bread that he means to eat let him say THE Body of our Lord Jesus which was broken for me preserve my body and Soul into everlasting life Amen Then praying a while privately let him receive the Chalice saying THE Bloud of our Lord Jesus Christ which was shed for the remission of my sins cleanse my Soul and preserve it into everlasting life Amen Then let him pray awhile privately and recommend to God his own personal necessities spiritual and temporal and the needs of all his Relatives c. After that let him distribute it first to the Clergy that helps to officiate and after that to the whole Congregation that offers themselves saying the same words changing the person While the Minister of the Mysteries is praying privately the people may secretly pray thus or to this purpose I Beleeve O God and confess that thou art Christ the Son of the living God who came into the world to save sinners whereof I am chief Lord make me this day partaker of thy heavenly Table for thou dost not give thy secrets to thy enemies but to the sons of thine own house Let me never give thee a Judas kiss I confess thee and thy glories I invocate thee and thy mercies I trust upon thee and thy goodness like the thief upon the Cross Lord remember me in thy kingdome with the remembrances of an everlasting love Lord I am not worthy that thou shouldst come under my roof but as thou didst safe to lie in a Manger with beasts and to enter into the house of Simon the leper nor didst despife the repenting harlot when she kissed thy feet so vouchsafe to lodge in my soul though it be a place of beastly affections and unreasonable passions throw them out and dwell there for ever purifie my soul accept the sinner cleanse the leper so shall I be worthy to partake of this Divine Banquet Amen When every of the Communicants hath received in both kinds let the Paten and Chalice if any of the consecrated Elements remain be decently covered and then shall follow these prayers THE POSTCOMMUNION The Minister and People devoutly kneeling shal say the Lords prayer the people repeating every petition after the Minister Our Father which art in heaven Hallowed be thy Name Thy Kingdome come Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven Give us this day our daily bread And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass aganist us And lead us not into temptation But deliver us from evil For thine is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen Then the Minister shall pray this prayer for the Catholick Church I. REceive O Eternal God this sacrifice for and in behalf of al Christian people whom thou hast redeemed with the bloud of thy Son and purchased as thine own inheritance From the fountains of mercy the springs of our Blessed Saviour let all thy people upon whom the name of Jesus is called receive confirmation and increase of grace fruitfulness in good works and perfect understanding in the way of godliness Defend O God thy Church and preserve her from all heresy and scandal from sacrilege and Simony from covetousness and pride from factions and schism from Atheisme and irreligion from all that persecute the truth from all that work wickedness and let not thegates of hell prevail against her nor any evil come neer to hurt her II. Give thy blessing O God to this Nation remember us for good and not for evil be reconcil'd unto us in the Son of thy love and let not thine anger be any longer upon us nor thy jealousy burn like fire Send us health and peace justice
kinsmen stand afar off 12 They also that seek after my life lay snares for me and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things and imagine deceits all the day long 13 But I as a deaf man heard not and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth 14 Thus I was as a man that heareth not and in whose mouth are no reproofs 15 For in thee O Lord do I hope thou wilt hear me O Lord my God 16 For I said Hear me lest otherwise they should rejoice over me when my foot slippeth they magnifie themselves against me 17 For I am ready to halt and my sorrow is continually before me 18 For I will declare mine iniquity I will be sorry for my sin 19 But mine enemies are lively they are strong and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplyed 20 They also that render evill for good are mine adversaries because I follow the thing that good is 21 Forsake me not O Lord O my God be not far from me 22 Make haste to help me O Lord my salvation PSAL. XXXIX David being sick restrains himself from repining against God tells of the vanity of life prayes for deliverance from his affliction for pardon of his sins and space and time of further repenâ—ance The Psalm is paenitenâ—ial I Said I will take heed to my wayes that I sin not with my tongue I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me 2 I was dumb with silence I held my peace even from good and my sorrow was stirred 3 My heart was hot within me while I was musing the fire burned then spake I with my tongue 4 Lord make me to know mine end and the measure of my dayes what it is that I may know how frail I am 5 Behold thou hast made my dayes as an hand breadth and mine age is as nothing before thee verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity Selah 6 Surely every man walketh in a vain shew surely they are disquieted in vain he heapeth up riches and knoweth not who shall gather them 7 And now Lord what wait I for my hope is in thee 8 Deliver me from all my transgressions make me not the reproch of the foolish 9 I was dumb I opened not my mouth because thou didst it 10 Remove thy stroak away from me I am consumed by the blow of thine hand 11 When thou w th rebukes dost correct man for iniquitie thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth surely every man is vanity Selah 12 Hear my prayer O Lord and give ear unto my cry hold not thy peace at my tears for I am a stranger with thee and a sojourner as all my fathers were 13 O spare me that I may recover strength before I goe hence and be no more PSAL. XL. David praiseth God for his delivery from troubles and prayeth to be desended from imminent and approching dangers The obedience of Christ and his sacrifice and the abolition of the Mosaic rites are prophetically declar'd I Waited patiently for the Lord and he inclined unto me and heard my cry 2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit out of the mirie clay and set my feet upon a rock and established my goings 3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth even praise unto our God many shall see it and fear and shall trust in the Lord. 4 Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust and respecteth not the proud nor such as turn aside to lies 5 Many O Lord my God are thy wonderful works which thou hast done and thy thoughts which are to us-ward they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee if I would declare and speak of them they are mo then can be numbred 6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire mine ears hast thou opened burnt-offering and sin-offering hast thou not required 7 Then said I Lo I come in the volume of the book it is written of me 8 I delight to doe thy will O my God yea thy law is written within my heart 9 I have preached righteousnesse in the great congregation lo I have not refrained my lips O Lord thou knowest 10 I have not hid thy righteousnesse within my heart I have declared thy faithfulnesse thy salvation I have not concealed thy loving kindnesse and thy truth from the great congregation 11 Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me O Lord let thy loving kindnesse and thy truth continually preserve me 12 For innumerable evils have compassed me about mine iniquities have taken hold upon me so that I am not able to look up they are mo then the hairs of my head therefore my heart faileth me 13 Be pleased O Lord to deliver me O Lord make haste to help me 14 Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil 15 Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me Aha aha 16 Let all those that seek thee rejoyce and be glad in thee let such as love thy salvation say continually The Lord be magnified 17 But I am poor needy yet the Lord thinketh upon me thou art my help and my deliverer make to tarrying O my God Ev. Pr. PSAL. XLI The blessings and rewards of the Charitable man David complains that his pretended friends were real enemies he prayes to God and gives him thanks for his recovery from his sicknesse BLessed is he that considereth the poor the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble 2 The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive and he shall be blessed upon the earth and thou wilt not deliver him into the will of his enemies 3 The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing thou wilt make all his bed in his sicknesse 4 I said Lord be mercifull unto me heal my soul for I have sinned against thee 5 Mine enemies speak evill of me when shall he die and his name perish 6 And if he come to see me he speaketh vanitie his heart gathereth iniquity to it self when he goeth abroad he telleth it 7 All that hate me whisper together against me against me do they devise my hurt 8 An evill disease say they cleaveth fast unto him and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more 9 Yea mine own familiar friend in whom I trusted which did eat of my bread hath lift up his heel against me 10 But thou O Lord be mercifull unto me and raise me up that I may requite them 11 By this I know that thou favourest me because mine enemie doth not triumph over me 12 And as for me thou upholdest me in mine integritie and settest me before thy face for ever 13 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting and to everlasting Amen and amen PSAL. XLII David as some suppose being driven beyond Jordan and forc'd
this Church State saw it necessary to fixe where with advice she had begun and with counsel she had once mended And to have altered in things inconsiderable upon a new design or sullen mislike had been extreme levity and apt to have made the men contemptible their authority slighted and the thing ridiculous especially before adversaries that watch'd all opportunity and appearances to have disgraced the Reformation Here therefore it became a Law was established by an Act of Parliament was made solemne by an appendant penalty against all that on either hand did prevaricate a sanction of so long and so prudent consideration 14. But the Common Prayer-book had the fate of S. Paul for when it had scap'd the storms of the Romane Sea yet a viper sprung out of Queen Maries fires which at Frankford first leap'd upon the hand of the Church but since that time it hath gnawn the bowels of its own Mother and given it self life by the death of its Parent and Nurse 15. For as for the Adversaries from the Romane party they were so convinc'd by the piety and innocence of the Common Prayer-Book that they could accuse it of no deformity but of imperfection of a want of some things which they judged convenient because the error had a wrinckle on it and the face of antiquity And therefore for ten or eleven years they came to our Churches joyn'd in our devotions and communicated without scruple till a temporal interest of the Church of Rome rent the Schism wider and made it gape like the jaws of the grave And let me say it addes no small degree to my confidence and opinion of the English Common prayer-Prayer-Book that amongst the numerous Armies sent from the Romane Seminaries who were curious enough to enquire able enough to finde out and wanted no anger to have made them charge home any errour in our Liturgy if the matter had not been unblameable and the composition excellent there was never any impiety or heresy charg'd upon the Liturgy of the Church for I reckon not the calumnies of Harding for they were onely in general calling it Darkness c. from which aspersion it was worthily vindicated by M. Deering The truth of it is the Compilers took that course which was sufficient to have secur'd it against the malice of a Spanish Inquisitor or the scrutiny of a more inquisitive Presbytery for they put nothing of controversy into their prayers nothing that was then matter of question onely because they could not prophecy they put in some things which since then have been called to question by persons whose interest was highly concerned to finde fault with something But that also hath been the fate of the Penmen of holy Scripture some of which could prophecy and yet could not prevent this But I doe not remember that any man was ever put to it to justify the Common Prayer against any positive publick and professed charge by a Romane Adversary Nay it is transmitted to us by the testimony of persons greater then all exceptions that Paulus 4 tâ—s in his private entercourses and Letters to Queen Elizabeth did offer to confirm the English Common Prayer Book if she would acknowledge his Primacy and authority and the Reformation derivative from him And this lenity was pursued by his Successor Pius 4 tus with an omnia de nobis tibi polliceare he assured her she should have any thing from him not onely things pertaining to her soul but what might conduce to the establishment and confirmation of her Royal Dignity amongst which that the Liturgy newly established by her authority should not be rescinded by the Popes power was not the least considerable 16. And possibly this hath cast a cloud upon it in the eyes of such persons who never will keep charity or so much as civility but with those with whom they have made a league offensive and defensive against all the world This hath made it to be suspected of too much compliancâ— with that Church and her Offices of devotion and that it is a very Cento composed out of the Mass Book Pontifical Breviaries Manuals and Portuises of the Romane Church 17. I cannot say but many of our Prayers are also in the Romane Offices But so they are also in the Scripture so also is the Lords Prayer and if they were not yet the allegation is very inartificial and the charge peevish and unreasonable unless there were nothing good in the Romane Books or that it were unlawful to pray a good prayer which they had once stain'd with red letters The Objection hath not sense enough to procure an answer upon its own stock but by reflection from a direct truth which uses to be like light manifesting it self and discovering darkness 18. It was first perfected in King Edward the sixths time but it was by and by impugned through the obstinate dissembling malice of many They are the words of M. Fox in his Book of Martyrs Then it was reviewed and published with so much approbation that it was accounted the work of God but yet not long after there were some persons qui divisionis occasionem arripiebant saith Alesius vocabula penè syllabas expendendo they tried it by points and syllables and weighed every word and sought occasions to quarrel which being observed by Archbishop Cranmer he caused it to be translated into Latine and sent it to Bucer requiring his judgement of it who returned this answer That although there are in it some things quae rapi possunt ab inquietis ad materiam contentionis which by peevish men may be cavill'd at yet there was nothing in it but what was taken out of the Scriptures or agreeable to it if rightly understood that is if handled and read by wise and good men The zeal which Archbishop Grindal Bishop Ridly D r Taylor and other the holy Martyrs and Confessors in Queen Maries time expressed for this excellent Liturgy before and at the time of their death defending it by their disputations adorning it by their practice and sealing it with their blouds are arguments which ought to recommend it to all the sons of the Church of England for ever infinitely to be valued beyond all the little whispers and murmurs of argument pretended against it and when it came out of the flame and was purified in the Martyrs fires it became a vessell of honour and used in the house of God in all the days of that long peace which was the effect of Gods blessing and the reward as we humbly hope of an holy Religion and when it was laid aside in the days of Queen Mary it was to the great decay of the due honour of God and discomfort to the Professors of the truth of Christs Religion they are the words of Queen Elizabeth and her grave and wise Parliament 19. Archbishop Cranmer in his purgation A. D. 1553. made an offer if the Queen would give him leave to prove All that
24. And that we may be yet more particular the very Prayer for Christs Catholick Church in the Office of Communion beside that it is nothing but a plain execution of an Apostolical precept set down in the Preface of the Prayer it was also used in all times and in all Liturgies of the ancient Church And we finde this attested by S. Cyril of Jerusalem Deinde postquam confectum est illud spirituale sacrificium ... obsecramus Deum pro communi Ecclesiarum pace pro tranquillitate mundi pro Regibus c. To the same purpose also there is a testimony in S. Chrysostome which because it serves not onely here but also to other uses it will not be amiss here to note it Quid autem sibi vult primum omnium In obsequio scil quotidiano perpetuâ—que divinae religionis ritu Atque id noverunt fideles quomodo diebus singulis mane vespere orationes fundantur ad Dominum quomodo pro omni mundo Regibus omnibus qui in sublimitate positi sunt obsecrationes in Ecclesia fiant Sed forte quis dixerit pro omnibus quod ait tantum fideles intelligi voluisse At id verum non esse quae sequuntur ostendunt Denique ait pro Regibus neque enim tunc Reges Deum colebant It is evident by this that the custome of the Church was not onely in the celebration of the holy Communion but in all her other Offices to say this Prayer not onely for Christs Catholick Church but for all the world 25. And that the charity of the Church might not be misconstrued he produces his warrant S. Paul not onely expresly commands us to pray for all men but addes by way of instance for Kings who then were unchristian and heathen in all the world But this form of Prayer is almost word for word in S. Ambrose Haec regula Ecclesiastica est tradita à Magistro gentium quâ utuntur Sacerdotes nostri ut pro omnibus supplicent ... deprecantes pro Regibus ... orantes pro iis quibus sublimis potestas credita est ut in justitia veritate gubernent ... postulantes pro iis qui in necessitate varia sunt ut eruti liberati Deum collaudent incolumitatis Authorem So farre goes our form of Prayer But S. Ambrose addes Referentes quoque gratiarum actiones ... And so it was with us in the first service-Service-books of King Edward and the Preface to the Prayer engages us to a thanksgiving but I know not how it was stoln out the Preface still remaining to chide their unwariness that took down that part of the building and yet left the gate standing But if the Reader please to be satisfied concerning this Prayer which indeed is the longest in our Service-book and of greatest consideration he may see it taken up from the universal custome of the Church and almost in all the words of the old Liturgies if he will observe the Liturgies themselves of S. Basil S. Chrysostome and the concurrent testimonies of Tertullian S. Austin Celestine Gennadius Prosper and Theophylact 26. I shall not need to make any excuses for the Churches reading those portions of Scripture which we call Epistles and Gospels before the Communion They are Scriptures of the choicest and most profitable transaction And let me observe this thing That they are not onely declarations of all the mysteries of our redemption and rules of good life but this choice is of the greatest compliance with the necessities of the Christian Church that can be imagined For if we deny to the people a liberty of reading Scriptures may they not complain as Isaac did against the inhabitants of the land that the Philistines had spoiled his well and the fountains of living water If a free use to all of them and of all Scriptures were permitted should not the Church her self have more cause to complain of the infinite licentiousness and loosness of interpretations and of the commencement of ten thousand errours which would certainly be consequent to such permission Reason and Religion will chide us in the first reason and experience in the latter And can the wit of man conceive a better temper and expedient then that such Scriptures onely or principally should be laid before them all in daily Offices which contain in them all the mysteries of our redemption and all the rules of good life which two things are done by the Gospels and Epistles respectively the first being a Record of the life and death of our blessed Saviour the latter instructions for the edification of the Church in pious and Christian conversation and all this was done with so much choice that as obscure places are avoided by design as much as could be so the very assignation of them to certain festivals the appropriation of them to solemn and particular days does entertain the understandings of the people with notions proper to the mystery and distinct from impertinent and vexatious questions And were this design made something more minute and applicable to the various necessities of times and such choice Scriptures permitted indifferently which might be matter of necessity and great edification the people of the Church would have no reason to complain that the fountains of our Saviour were stopp'd from them nor the Rulers of the Church that the mysteriousness of Scripture were abused by the petulancy of the people to consequents harsh impious and unreasonable in despight of government in exauctoration of the power of superiours or for the commencement of schisms and heresies The Church with great wisdome hath first held this torch out and though for great reasons intervening and hindering it cannot be reduced to practice yet the Church hath shewn her desire to avoid the evil that is on both hands and she hath shewn the way also if it could have been insisted in But however this choice of the more remarkable portions of Scripture is so reasonable and proportionable to the nature of the thing that because the Gospels and Epistles bear their several shares of the design the Gospel representing the foundation and prime necessities of Christianity and the mysterious parts of our Redemption the summe the faith and the hopes of Christianity therefore it is attested by a ceremony of standing up it being a part of the confession of faith but the Epistles containing superstructures upon that foundation are read with religious care but not made formal or solemn by any other circumstance The matter contains in it sufficient of reason and of proportion but nothing of necessity except it be by accident and as authority does intervene by way of sanction 27. But that this reading of Epistles and Gospels before the Communion was one of the earliest customes of the Church I finde it affirmed by Rabanus Maurus Sed enim initio mos iste cantandi non erat qui nunc in Ecclesia ante sacrificium
no particular 7 an office that leaves the form of ministration of Sacraments so indifferently that if there be any form of words essential the Sacrament is in much danger to become invalid for want of provision of due forms of Ministration 8 an office that complies with no precedent of Scripture nor of any ancient Church 9 that must of necessity either want authority or it must preferre novelty before antiquity 10 that accuses all the Primitive Church of indiscretion at the least 11 that may be abused by the indiscretion or ignorance or malice of any man that uses it 12 into which heresy or blasphemy may creep without possiblity of prevention 13 that hath no external forms to entertain the fancy of the more common spirits 14 nor any allurement to perswade and enâ—ice its adversaries 15 nor any means of adunation and uniformity amongst its confidents 16 an office that still permits children in many cases of necessity to be unbaptized making no provision for them in sudden cases 17 that will not suffer them to be confirmed at all ut utroque Sacramento renascantur as S. Cyprians phrase is that they may be advantaged by a double rite 18 that joyns in marriage as Cacus did his oxen in rude inform and unhallowed yokes 19 that will not doe piety to the dead nor comfort to the living by solemn and honorary offices of funeral 20 that hath no forms of blessing the people any more 21 then described forms of blessing God which are just none at all 22 an office that never thinks of absolving penitents or exercising the power of the Keys after the custome and rites of Priests 23 a Liturgy that recites no Creed no Confession of Faith so not declaring either to Angels or men according to what Religion they worship God but entertaining though indeed without a symbole Arrians Macedonians Nestorians Manichees or any other Sect for ought there appears to the contrary 24 that consigns no publick Canon of Communion but leaves that as casual and phantastick as any of the lesser offices 25 an office that takes no more care then chance does for the reading the holy Scriptures 26 that never commemorates a departed Saint 27 that hath no Communion with the Church Triumphant any more then with the other parts of the Militant 28 that never thanks God for the redemption of the world by the Nativity and passion Resurrection and Ascension of our blessed Saviour Jesus but condemnes the memorial even of the Scripture Saints and the memorial of the miraculous blessings of redemption of mankinde by Christ himself with the same accusation it condemnes the Legends and portentous stories of the most suspected part of the Romane Calendar 29 an office that out of zeal against Judaism condemnes all distinction of days unless they themselves distinguish them that leaves no signature of piety upon the Lords day and yet the Compilers doe enjoyn it to a Judaical superstition 30 an office that does by implication undervalue the Lords Prayer for it never injoyns it and does but once permit it 31 an office that is new without authority and never made up into a sanction by an Act of Parliament an order or Directory of devotion that hath all these ingredients and capacities and such a one there is in the world I suppose is no equal match to contest with and be put in balance against the Liturgy of the Church of England which was with so great deliberation compiled out of Scriptures the most of it all the rest agreeing with Scriptures and drawn from the Liturgies of the ancient Church and made by men famous in their generations whose reputation and glory of Martyrdome hath made it immodest for the best of men now to compare themselves with them and after its composition considered by advices from abroad and so trimm'd and adorn'd that no excrescency didremain the Rubricks of which Book was writ in the bloud of many of the Compilers which hath had a testimony from Gods blessing in the daily use of it accompanying it with the peace of an age established and confirmed by six Acts of Parliament directly and collaterally and is of so admirable a composure that the most industrious wits of its Enemies could never finde out an objection of value enough to make a doubt or scarce a scruple in a wise spirit But that I shall not need to set a night-piece by so excellent a beauty to set it off the better it s own excellencies are Orators prevalent enough that it shall not need any advantages accidental 47. And yet this excellent Book hath had the fate to be cut in pieces with a pen-knife and thrown into the fire but it is not consumed at first it was sown in tears and is now watered with tears yet never was any holy thing drowned and extinguished with tears It began with the Martyrdom of the Compilers and the Church hath been vexed ever since by angry spirits and she was forced to defend it with much trouble and unquietness but it is to be hop'd that all these storms are sent but to increase the zeal and confidence of the pious sons of the Church of England Indeed the greatest danger that ever the Common Prayer-book had was the indifferency and indevotion of them that used it but as a common blessing and they who thought it fit for the meanest of the Clergy to read prayers and for themselves onely to preach though they might innocently intend it yet did not in that action consult the honour of our Liturgy except where charity or necessity did interpose But when excellent things goe away and then look back upon us as our blessed Saviour did upon S. Peter we are more mov'd then by the nearer embraces of a full and an actual possession I pray God it may prove so in our case and that we may not be too willing to be discouraged at least that we may not cease to love and to desire what is not publickly permitted to our practice and profession 48. But because things are otherwise in this affair then we had hop'd and that in very many Churches in stead of the Common Prayer which they use not every man uses what he pleases and all men doe not choose well and where there are so many choosers there is nothing regular and the Sacraments themselves are not so solemnly ministred as the sacredness and solemnity of the mysteries do require and in very many places where the old excellent forms are not permitted there is scarce any thing at all but something to shew there was a shipwrack a plank or a cable a Chapter or a Psalm some who were troubled to see it so and fain would see it otherwise did think it might not be amiss that some of the Ancient forms of other Churches of the prayers of Scriptuâ—e should be drawn together and laid before them that need as supposing that these or the like materials would make better fuel for the
With a strong hand and with a stretched out arm for his mercy endureth for ever 13 To him which divided the Red sea into parts for his mercy endureth for ever 14 And made Israel to passe through the midst of it for his mercy endureth for ever 15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea for his mercy endureth for ever 16 To him which led his people through the wildernesse for his mercy endureth for ever 17 To him which smote great kings for his mercy endureth for ever 18 And slew famous kings for his mercy endureth for ever 19 Sihon king of the Amorites for his mercy endureth for ever 20 And Og the king of Bashan for his mercy endureth for ever 21 And gave their land for an heritage for his mercy endureth for ever 22 Even an heritage unto Israel his servant for his mercy endureth for ever 23 Who remembred us in our low estate for his mercy endureth for ever 24 And hath redeemed us from our enemies for his mercy endureth for ever 25 Who giveth food to all flesh for his mercy endureth for ever 26 O give thanks unto the God of heaven for his mercy endureth for ever PSAL. CXXXVII The Jewes being in the Babylonish Captivity deplore their sad condition they remember the pleasures of Jerusalem and the religion of the Temple they long to be there and pray for the Divine Judgments to descend upon their persecutors BY the rivers of Babylon there we sat down yea we wept when we remembred Zion 2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof 3 For there they that carryed us away captive required of us a song and they that wasted us required of us mirth saying Sing us one of the songs of Zion 4 How shall we sing the Lords song in a strange land 5 If I forget thee O Jerusalem let my right hand forget her cunning 6 If I doe not remember thee let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy 7 Remember O Lord the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem who said Rase it rase it even to the foundation thereof 8 O daughter of Babylon who art to be destroyed happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us 9 Happy shall he be that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones PSAL. CXXXVIII David being freed from the persecution of Saul and invested in the Kingdome promises to celebrate the Divine praises before all the Kings of the earth whom he exhorts to doe the same he puts his trust in God for the future he prayes to have these mercies continued and enlarged I Will praise thee with my whole heart before the gods will I sing praise unto thee 2 I will worship towards thy holy temple and praise thy name for thy loving kindnesse and for thy truth for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name 3 In the day when I cryed thou answeredst me and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. 4 All the kings of the earth shall praise thee O Lord when they hear the words of thy mouth 5 Yea they shall sing in the waies of the Lord for great is the glory of the Lord. 6 Though the Lord be high yet hath he respect unto the lowly but the proud he knoweth afar off 7 Though I walk in the mids of trouble thou wilt revive me thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies and thy right hand shall save me 8 The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me thy mercy O Lord endureth for ever forsake not the works of thine own hands Mo. Pr. PSAL. CXXXIX The Divine Omniscience and Omnipresence largely described the thoughts of God are unsearchable the wicked are cursed the Psalmist prayes to be defended from them he hates their waies and prayes to be conducted in the waies of God O Lord thou hast searched me known me 2 Thou knowest my down-sitting and mine up-rising thou understandest my thought afar off 3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down and art acquainted with all my waies 4 For there is not a word in my tongue but lo O Lord thou knowest it altogether 3 Thou hast beset me behind and before and laid thine hand upon me 6 Such knowledge is too wonderfull for me it is high I cannot attain unto it 7 Whither shall I goe from thy spirit or whither shall I flee from thy presence 8 If I ascend up into heaven thou art there if I make my bed in hell behold thou art there 9 If I take the wings of the morning dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea 10 Even there shall thy hand lead me and thy right hand shall hold me 11 If I say Surely the darknesse shall cover me even the night shall be light about me 12 Yea the darknesse hideth not from thee but the night shineth as the day the darknesse and the light are both alike to thee 13 For thou hast possessed my reins thou hast covered me in my mothers womb 14 I will praise thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully made marvellous are thy works and that my soul knoweth right well 15 My substance was not hid from thee when I was made in secret and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth 16 Thine eyes did see my substance yet being unperfect and in thy book all my members were written which in continuance were fashioned when as yet there was none of them 17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me O God how great is the summe of them 18 If I should count them they are mo in number then the sand when I wake I am still with thee 19 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked O God depart from me therefore ye bloody men 20 For they speak against thee wickedly and thine enemies take thy name in vain 21 Do not I hate them O Lord that hate thee and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee 22 I hate them with perfect hatred I count them mine enemies 23 Search me O God and know my heart try me and know my thoughts 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting PSAL. CXL David being persecuted by Doâ—g and the men of Ziph prayes to God for his safety and defence from their evil tongues he prayes against his Enemies he trusts in God that he shall be safe and that his Enemies shall be destroyed DEliver me O Lord from the evil man preserve me from the violent man 2 Which imagine mischiefs in their heart continually are they gathered together for warre 3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent adders poyson is under their lips Selah 4 Keep me O Lord from the hands of the wicked preserve me frm the violent man who have purposed to overthrow my goings 5 The proud have hid a snare for me and cords they