and suitable to his nature to haue mercy but hee is hardly drawne to punish as being a worke altogither vnsuitable to his disposition To them that loue mee With their whole heart without hypocrisie and doe not impart that worship to others which is due to him And keepe my Commandements In obedience walking in his waies All his Commandements but chiefely this concerning his worship The third Commandement Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vaine for the Lord wil not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his Name in vaine THe Name of the LORD which in it selfe is Holy True and Iust Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord in vaine And therefore wee ought not to prophane it or take it in our mouthes lightly or vpon euery small occasion Herein we offend When we Blaspheme God either openly or in our hearts When we vse his Holy Word to any prophane scurrilous or impure end When we commit Periurie When we murmure against him When we leaue his Prouidence and consult with Witches or the like When we sweare vpon triuiall and light causes When we curse or vse vnlawfull Imprecations When wee performe not that which we faithfully promise When we in any action of our owne detract from Gods Glory and attribute and arrogate too much to our selues For the Lord will not c. The Lord and Iudge of Heauen and Earth who seeth and obserueth all our actions is so farre from conniuing at this sinne that without repentance he will condemne euery one that offendeth therein Saul 1. Sam. 14. â—… for vnaduised Cursing and adiuration lost a victory against the Philistims 1. Sam. 14.24 For consulting with a Witch 31.4 was with his sonnes brought to vntimely ends Sennacherib 2. Kings 19.10 for blaspheming God was slaine by his owne sonnes Ananias Act. 5.5 for lying to the holy Ghost died suddenly The fourth Commandement Remember that thou keepe holy the Sabboth day c. IN this Commandement are two things contained 1. A Precept or declaration of the will of God To set apart some day 1. To the publique worship of God 2. In ceasing from our labours 2. A Reason of the Commandement 1. Because God after the Creation rested on the seuenth day 2. Because he also blessed and Sanctified it Remember Let not worldly cares put it out of thy minde but obserue it with all care and Religion 1. Not without great cause was this Precept so strictly vrged 1. Because by the neglect of it ariseth the neglect of all Spirituall duties 2. Because that in it was contained a Type or shadow of the great and euerlasting Sabboth which is our Sanctification 3. Because that we haue therby some time to shew mercy to our seruants and beasts wearied with labour That thou keepe holy c. In frequenting the Church and there to exercise thy selfe In Prayer Hearing the Word Receiuing the Sacraments In pious and religious workes as Visiting the sicke Releeuing the poore Meditating on Gods worke Praising him for them In refraining from sinne In resting from seruile labour And although that part of the Iewes Sabboth be abrogated which respected the Seuenth day Sacrifices and other exterior acts of Gods worship commanded and enioyned to the Iewes yet the Church hath appointed in stead thereof the Lords day or Sonday called the first day of the weeke wherein all Christians are bound to retaine and obserue all the duties of the first Sabboth Reue. 1.10 Act. 20.7 1. Cor. 16.2 auoiding the Iewish strict and superstitious Ceremonies Sixe dayes c. In following the vocation appointed there by God wherein thou art to omit nothing necessary for the sustentation of thy family And not to spend those sixe dayes wholly in idlenesse pleasures or excesse Nor in the publique duties of the Sabboth and thereby neglecting the care ouer thy family But the seuenth day In that day neither thou nor any of thy familie or cattell shall doe any seruile labour except in case of necessity and preseruation of Gods Creatures from damage or losse but ye shall spend it in those religious duties formerly set downe In case of necessitie Mar. 2.27 The Sabboth being made for man and not man for the Sabboth we are to conceiue that it was ordeined not to destroy but to preserue him and therefore all workes are not forbidden that day 1. As dressing of meate Numb 28.1 By the example of the Priests who on the Sabboth killed the Beasts for sacrifice and dressed the rest And of Christs Disciples plucking eares of corne Mat. 12.1 and Tertullian saith that the Ancient and Primitiue Church neuer fasted on the Sabboth day De Coron militis c. 3. 2. Ministring Phisicke to the sicke Luc. 6. By the example of our Sauiour healing on that day Io. 5. 3. Sauing Corne Hay Houses and the like from perishing By our Sauiours question to the Pharises Mat. 12.11 2. The Reason why God commanded the obseruation of the first Sabbath was 1. Because after God by his Word had created the vniuerse of nothing hee rested himselfe from all the worke that he had made Gen. 2.2 2. Because this day was by him blessed and sanctified And the Reason why the Seuenth day was changed into the first day of the weeke vpon which the Christians Sabbath is obserued was in remembrance of our Sauiours Resurrection which hapned on this day as may be gathered by Christs selecting that day to appeare twice to his Apostles after his Resurrection Ioh. 20,19.26 The second Table The fifth Commandement Honour thy Father and thy Mother that thy dayes may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God giueth thee AS the first Table teacheth the Honor and loue of God so doth the second the Dutie we owe to our Neighbour And the first Commandement of this Table enioyneth vs to honour and reuerence our Parents as being the thing which God esteemeth next in degree to his Honor. And it containeth First A Precept Secondly A Promise 1 The Precept is Generall and Particular 1 The Generall comprehendeth our Dutie to all our Elders and Superiors whom God hath set ouer vs for our gouernement and preseruation which dutie is of necessitie to be performed in respect of the vpholding of Politique gouernement 2. The particular Precept conteineth our dutie to our naturall Parents Father and Mother of what degree estate or condition soeuer they be Whether Poore or Rich Good or Bad this Commandement layeth hold on vs. Honour thy Father and Mother That which we are enioyned to doe by these words is to Reuerence them as from whom we receiued our being Loue them for their care sorrow and paines in our education Obey them in all lawfull things as being appointed by God to command ouer vs. Be thankefull to them In requiting their charge and loue In ministring to their necessities Be
INSTITVTIONES PIAE or Directions to Pray also A short exposition of The Lords Prayer The Creed The 10 Com̄andements Seauen Penitentiall Psalmes and Seauen Psalmes of thankesgiuing by HI O that men would praise the Lord for his goodnes And declare the wonders which he doth for the children of men Ps 107 8. LONDON Printed for Henry Seile 1630 To the Christian Reader COurteous and Christian Reader accept I pray thee these few obseruations and collections of Meditations and Deuotions which at the first I intended for my owne priuate vse but since considering with my selfe that Bonum quò communius eò melius Euery good thing is the better for being communicated I thought to publish it for the publique vse of them who shall affoord themselues so much time as to performe those Duties which are contained in it The Heathen man could say A Ioue principium to the shame of many I will not say of those who professe themselues and would be called Christians who are so farre from beginning all their actions with Gods seruice as that it is a rare thing to see them attend it at all It is no maruell then if God with-hold his hand of goodnesse from our Land or if according to the Prophet He hide his face from vs. Psal 88 14. when we are so remisse so dull either in seruing him with the Dutie of Praise and Thankesgiuing for his Benefits past or with the Seruice of Prayer for his Prouidence and Goodnesse to come Wee can talke of Comets and apparitions in the ayre and be stricken with wonder we can speake of vnseasonable and tempestuous times and bethinke our selues of what diseases famine and the like iudgements may ensue thereupon with griefe wee can discourse of warres rumors of warres and mightie preparations abroad with feare and yet wee are so stupid and sencelesse that wee cannot see or discerne the true cause of all these occasions of wonder griefe and feare namely our sinnes at least if we doe yet we set not our selues to take away the cause by that wholesome remedy which God himselfe hath prescribed to remooue it if wee would but apply and vse it We thinke it enough if wee can talke of the medicine and it is somewhat if we doe that and haue the speculation how to rid our selues of the disease but for the practise of it it fares with vs as with those who haue an infirmitie growing vpon them and know the remedy but either for wāt of leasure or for the queasinesse of the stomach or the bitter or vnpleasing taste of the medicine they forbeare the taking of it till the disease grow incurable We are content to heare what the Phisician of our soules prescribeth vs but wee neglect the Diet which hee enioyneth vs. All our Religion dependeth on the Eare and so it had pleased God to haue giuen vs but an Eare to heare hee might haue spared the tongue and lippes to praise him and all the other parts to worship and reuerence him wee could haue beene well enough contented with that member alone But beloued let vs not deceiue our selues for hee that hath made the Eare to heare what good hee hath done vnto vs hath made the tongue also to confesse his due praises for that which he hath so done And if wee neglect to giue him due thankes for his Mercie it will come to passe and that to bee feared very speedily that wee shall bee forced in bitternesse of soule to confesse his Iustice when we shall finde that hee iustly turneth his Blessings into Curses and plagues and be compelled to acknowledge and say Iust art thou O Lord and righteous and iust are thy Iudgements And therefore in time let euery one of vs recollect himselfe and in his priuate closset or chamber with himselfe and in the Church with the Congregation humbly confesse his sinnes to God desire pardon for them praise him for his blessings pray him to continue them and deprecate his iust anger from vs and then no doubt but he will be graciously pleased to bee mercifull to vs and heare vs and auert those Iudgements from vs which we most iustly haue deserued Which let vs all againe and againe beseech him to doe for the merits and intercession of his Blessed Sonne and our alone Sauiour Iesus Christ Institutiones piae OR DIRECTIONS to Pray c. A generall exhortation to Prayer FOr as much as the best of Gods Children are subiect to many infirmities and euen the iust man falleth seuen times a day Pro. 24.16 and that mans life by reason of sinne is exposed to many dangers troubles and afflictions Therefore it standeth vs much vpon and concerneth vs neerely to seeke out some remedy as well to strengthen out selues against the assaults of our spirituall enemies that as neere as may be we fall not as to raise vs againe when we are cast downe and deiected either by the sight of our sinnes or by the crosses and afflictions of this life And in this distresse what course shall we think vpon to relieue vs or what means shall we finde out to aid and succor vs Certainely no other then that which God himselfe of his goodnesse hath prescribed and commended to vs In regard of Gods Precept yea and hath commaunded vs to haue recourse vnto whensoeuer we shall be thus afflicted namely Prayer to him Call vpon me saith he in the day of trouble Psal 50.15 Come vnto me saith Christ all ye that labour and are heauy laden Mat. 11.28 Seeke yee the Lord saith he by the Prophet and call vpon him Esa 55.6 And is any afflicted Ia 5.13 by the Apostle Let him pray And the better to stirre vs vp to this duty God hath added to this Precept of his a promise also His promise that we shall not loose our labors or pray to him in vaine For no sooner shall we aske but he will giue Mat. 7.7 Io. 16.23 Psal 91.15 no sooner call but he will answere and deliuer Nay more for if God perceiue our inclination to pray vnto him he will preuent vs and before we call he will answere Esa 65.24 and while we are speaking he will heare Christs example And as we haue Gods precept and promise to prouoke vs to Pray vnto him so also haue we the Example not only of all the Saints of God but of Christ Iesus himselfe Mat. 14.23 26.39 Io. 11.47 Mar. 1.35 who while he was cōuersant in the flesh vpon Earth though he were wholly without spot or blemish wholly innocent and immaculate yet often and earnestly prayed The Necessity Among all the Euangelicall Precepts or Councells there is not any one Duty vpon which our Sauiour more earnestly beateth or to which he with more feruency inciteth his Apostles and Disciples then to this of Prayer The necessitie whereof hee enforceth amongst other places of Scripture in the parable of the vniust Iudge Luc. 18.
with Gods assistance and our owne endeauours that in the time of our prayers no extrauagant thought steale vpon vs least happily we haue one thing in our hearts and another in our tongues And to this purpose also speaketh Saint Basile Basil Serm. in Martyr Iulittam All our prayers ought to bee made not in sillables but in the hearty affection of the Soule For how doe or can we thinke that God will giue vs that for which wee pray when by our behauiour and gesture our faint and weake sollicitation we seeme to him that either we doe not want what we pray for or that he will vpon euery sleight and cold motion be perswaded to giue vs what wee desire Or how can we expect to be heard of God when we our selues not being serious in our deuotions but diuerted with other phantasies heare not nor know what we do petition for The wise man therefore giueth vs good and wholsome counsell in this matter Before thou prayest Ecclus. 18.23 prepare thy selfe and be not as one that tempteth the Lord. Of the Time and Place for Prayer 1. The Time TAke a little taste of the Time when and the Place where our prayers are to be offered vp to God For the Time in generall the places before named doe and may direct vs. a 1. Thess 5.17 Pray without ceasing b Colloss 4.3 Continue in Prayer And c Eph. 6.18 Luc. 11.18 Pray alwaies More particularly d Num. 28.3 Twice a day that is Morning and Euening The sacrifices were to be made Dauid prayed thrice e Psal 55.18 In the Euening Morning and at noone day And f 119.164 Seuen times in a day g Dan. 6.10 Daniel prayed thrice In the morning before day h Mar. 1.35 Christ prayed Dauid prayed i Psal 63.1 early k Act. 2.15 The Apostles at the third houre of the day l 10.9 At the Sixth houre m 3.1 The ninth houre And Dauid at n Psal 119.62 midnight 2. The Place For the Place In all places saith a Exo. 20.24 God Euery where saith b 1. Tim. 2.8 Saint Paul Christ prayed in c Mat. 1.35.35 the desert On a d Matth. 14.23 mountaine e Matth. 26.36 In the Garden f Gen. 24.63 Isaac in the field g Act. 10.9 Peter prayed on the house top or tarris h Psal 111.1 In the congregation saith Dauid To the Temple went i Act. 3.1 Saint Peter Saint Iohn and Saint k 22.17 Paul And Christ bids vs when wee would be priuate in prayer and not bee molested to goe to our l Matth. 6.6 Clossets So that it appeareth that there is no Time nor Place vnseasonable to offer vp our Prayers vnto God as occasion shal be offered though the chiefe place for publike prayer is the Temple and for Priuate our Clossets How to pray aright To pray aright BVt it may come to passe though we be prepared and fitted with all the former circumstances that we may pray and not be heard if in the last place we doe not carefully consider to pray for those things which are fit and requisite for God to giue and for vs to receiue For as Saint Iames saith many times we aske and receiue not Ia. 4.3 because we aske amisse For our better instruction therefore we are to consider that there be two sorts of blessings to be required of God First Spirituall Secondly Temporall Spirituall Blessings 1. The first part pertaine to Gods owne honour and the good of our owne soules as Faith Hope Charitie Thankefull hearts Remission of sinnes and other of the same kinde which are meerely Spirituall and Heauenly And these Blessings we may without doubt safely and confidently beg at Gods hands and hee will not deny them Temporall 2 The Second are Temporall and Indifferent as Riches Honour Health Peace Seasonable times Children and the like And these are not to bee prayed for but according to Christs patterne of prayer with thy Will bee done Matth. 6.10 or according to Christs practise with a not as I will 26.39 but as thou wilt or with the Leaper in the Gospell Mat. 8.2 Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me cleane Bern. Serm. 5. in quadrag Saint Bernard disposeth these into three heads Two for blessings of this life for the Body and Soule and the third for the life to come and in praying for these he giueth three Cautions with his Reasons First that our prayer for Temporall blessings which the Body wanteth bee restrained to things needfull because many times we pray for things superfluous to satisfie our pleasures Secondly that our petition for the Graces of the soule bee free from impuritie because we oftentimes desire to haue them for Ostentation Thirdly that our request for the blessing of eternall Life be in all Humility because many require it at Gods hands as presuming vpon their owne merits Our Prayers being thus qualified being preferred only to God in Faith Hope Charity with God and our Neighbour Humilitiy of body and soule perseuerance feruency of Spirit our soules and bodies attending to what we pray for and in due time and place praying aright both for temporall and Spirituall blessings wee shall no doubt by the mercy of God through the mediation intercession and merits of Iesus Christ obtaine in his good time all things which shall bee needfull and expedient for vs. Prayer diuided into Parts DEuotions and Prayers are either Priuate or Publique 1. Priuate Prayers are whereby euery particular man prayeth to God for those things which he wanteth In which kinde of deuotion we ought at all times to exercise our selues because at all times we stand in need of Gods particular assistance and therefore we are tyed or limited herein neither to time nor place for whether it bee in the night or morning midday or euening at home or abroad in the Citie or Countrie in our beds or at our worke if we call vpon him faith-fully he will heare vs. 2. Publique prayers are whereby the whole Congregation meet in a place dedicated to Gods honour aswell to praise his Name as to pray for those things which shall bee needfull For although Christians ought to pray priuately yet ought they not in the meane time to neglect the publike worship and seruice of God in the Church For from the beginning it was held and obserued as a Duty required and therefore before the erection and dedication of Temples and Churches the Patriarches and holy men erected Altars in certaine places where at set times of the day they might offer Sacrifices Exo. 29.39 and Publike Prayer to God In the 2. Ioel 2. of Ioel you shall finde a set and prescribed forme of prayer for the Minister to vse togither with the place and the Congregation that were to assist In the New-Testament also Mar. 18.10 our sauiour