by the prayer ensuing The Hymne for Ascension-day Wherein all parts of Christ his glorious returne in tryumph into heauen are prophetically expressed as 1 His lifting a vp himself from the earth 2 The cloudes receiuing b and carrying him 3 The Angels c meeting him 4 The heauens d opening to him 5 God the Father's enthronizing him into his euerlasting kingdome GOD is gone vp with a merrie noyse and the Lord in the sound of the Trumpe Psal. 47. 5. Be thou exalted Lord in thine own strength So will we sing prayse thy power Psal 21. 13. Set vp thy selfe ô God aboue the heauens and thy glory aboue al the earth Ps. 108. 5 b O sing vnto God sing praises vnto his Name magnifie him that rideth vpon the heauens or cloudes by his name IAH and reioice before him Psal. 68. 4. In thy Majestie ride prosperously because of truth meeknes and righteousnes and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things Psal. 45. 4. The Chariots of God are twentie thousand euen thousands of Angells the Lord is among them as in Sinai in the holy place Psal. 68. 17. d Lift vp your heads ô yee gates and be yee lift vp yee euerlasting dores and the King of glorie shall come in Psalm 24. 7. Who is the King of glory It is the Lord strong and mightie euen the Lord mighty in battel ver 8. Lift vp your heads ô yee gates and be ye lift vp ye euerlasting dores and the King of glorie shall come in ver 9. Who is the King of glorie Euen the Lord of Hosts he is the King of glorie ver 10. e I haue set my King vpon my holy hill of Sion Psal. 2. 6. Aske of mee and I will giue thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the vttermost parts of the earth for thy possession ver 8. The Lord shall send the rod of thy power out of Sion bee thou Ruler in the middest among thine enemies Thou shalt bruise them with a rodde of Iron and dash them in pieces like a Potters vessell The exhortation for Ascension DAIE Wee ought to set our affections on things aboue 1 Because there is the source of our Soule which is of a heauenly and diuine nature 2 Because there is our Head 3 Because there is the nobler better part of our bodie 4 Because there is our abiding Citie 5 Because there is our mansion house 6 Because there is our hope inheritance 7 Because there are no true ioyes nor durable riches but there GOD created man in his own Image Gen. 1. 27. God formed him of the dust of the earth and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life Gen. Then shall the dust returne to the earth as it was Eccles. 12. 7. The spirit-returneth to God that gaue it Ibid. We had fathers of our flesh which corrected vs shall we not be much more in subiection to the Father of spirits and liue Heb. 12. 9. Exceeding great and precious promises are giuen to vs that by these wee might bee partakers of the diuine nature hauing escaped the corruption that is in the world 2 Pet. 1. 4. He was caried vp into heauen and sate at the right hand of God Mat. 16. 19. Whom the heauens must containe Acts 3. 21. I saw the â—eauen opened and the Sonne of man standing at the right hand of the Father Acts 7. 56. I goe out of the world to the Father Ioh. 13. 1. Go to my Father Ioh. 15. 10. Our conuersation is in heauen from whence also we look for the Sauiour the Lord Iesus Phil. 3. 20. If ye be risen with Christ seek the things that are aboue where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God Col. 3. 1. Set your affections on things that are aboue and not on things on the earth ver 3. Yee are come to the generall assembly and Church of the first-borne which are written in heauen and to the spirits of iust men-made perfect Hebrewes 12. 23. Now yee are no more strangers and forreiners but fellow Citizens with the Saints and of the houshould of God Ephesians 2. 19. For here we haue no continuing Citie but wee seeke one to come Heb. 13. 23. For this we groane earnestly desiring to bee clothed with our house 1. Cor. 5. 2. Arise and depart for this is no rest for you Mic. 2. 10. They confessed that they were strangers and sought a Citie whose builder and maker is God Heb. 11. 13. I beseech you as strangers and pilgrimes abstaine from fleshly lusts 1. Pet. 2. 11. I am a stranger and soiournet as all my fathers were Ps. 39. 14. In my Fathers house there are many mansions I goe to prepare a place for you Io. 14. 2. If our hope were in this life onely we were of all men most miserable 1. Cor. To an inheritance incorruptible and vndefiled and that sadeth not away reserued in heauen for you 1. Pet. 1. 4. Lay vp your treasure in heauen c. Mat. 6. 19. Look not on things which are seene but on things which are not seene for the things c. 2. Cor. 4. 18. Vanitie of vanities c Eccles. 1. 2. Whom haue I in heauen but thee c. Psal. 73. 24. The Prayer for Ascension Day GLorious and gratious Redeemer Lord Iesus Christ who humbledst thy selfe didst become obedient to death euen the death of the Crosse and therefore thy Father highly exalted thee aboue the graue in the resurrection aboue the earth in thy Ascention aboue the heauens in thy session at his right hand and then he gaue thee a name aboue al names that at the name of Iaesus euery knee shall bow both of things in heauen and in earth and of things vnder the earth I humbly bow the knees not onely of my body but of my heart and soule vnto thee I neuer heare of thee or remember neuer thinke or speake of thee but with greatest reuerence and loue that heart can conceiue or tongue expresse I admire the mystery of thine incarnation I tremble at the horror of thy passion I adore the power of thy resurrection and I triumph in the glory of thine Ascension My God and my Lord make me wholly thine as thou art mine Thy birth was my life thy life my merit thy death my ransome thy resurrection my deliuery out of the prison of death when thy father layed thee vp for my debt thy Ascension my assurance and takingp ossessioÌ„ of an incorruptible and vndefiled inheritance reserued in the heauens O Sauiour if thou haddest not been born I had neuer been borne anew if thou hadst not dyed for my sins I had dyed in my sins If thou hadst not risen from the dead my soule might haue bin with thee in Paradice but my body should not haue rested in hope neither should I haue euer seene God in my flesh if thou hadst not ascended I might haue bin freed from hell but I should neuer haue
speaketh better things then the blood of Abel I confesse I haue sorely displeased thee but it troubleth me that I haue so incensed thee I haue grieued thy spirit but it grieueth mee that I should bee so gracelesse as to grieue that Spirit of grace which sealeth thy chosen to saluation I deserue that thou shouldest euen abhorre me for my sinnes but I abâ—orre my selfe for them in dust and ashes I haue offended thee in gluttony but I now fast for it in pride but I humble my selfe in laughter and sports but I weepe for it in sinfull ioyes but I mourne for it I haue wallowed in filthy pleasures but Iâ—wallow for it in dust and ashes haue broken all thy commandements but I haue broken my heart in true contrition for it Thou didst not breake a bruised reede wilt thou grind to powder a broken heart What profit is in my blood O Lord when I go down into the pit Nay what profit is in thy blood O blessed Redeemer if they for whom it was shed god downe into the pit of destruction Shall the dust giue thankes vnto thee O Lord or the ashes and cinders of hell praise the God of heauen Hâ—are O Lord and haue mercie vpon me thou that healest those that are broken in heart and giuest medicine to cure their sicknesse raise vp my prostrate and deiected soule Why didst thou hunger O Lord but to satisfie for my gluttony Why didst thou thirst but to satisfie for my drunkennesse Why didst thou weepe but to satisfie for my sinfull ioyes Why didst thou endure vnspeakeable torments but to satisfie for my Iewd pleasures Why didst thou dye an ignominious death but to satisfie for my shamefull life Why didst thou shed thy blood but to satisfie for my crimson sinnes Adam our first Parent did eat the forbidden fruit and all our teeth are set on edge but thy fasting forty dayes hath fully satisfied for his eating But I renue my sinnes dayly and thou renewest thy mercies The guilt of my sinne is great but the price of thy blood is greater I haue offended an infinite Maiestie but satisfaction hath beene made by an infinite Maiestie My wickednes cannot exceede thy goodnesse for my power of sinning is finite but thy facultie of pardoning is infinite Wherefore sith my sins bee they neuer so many neuer so weighty fall within the measure of thy mercy and compasse of thy goodnesse And sith it is all one with thee to giue what I aske and to ineite mee to aske to heale my wounds and to make mee feele the smart of them Lord who hast giuen mee the one deny mee not the other Rebuke the surges of temptations and quiet my soule Thou who in the dayes of thy flesh offeredst vp prayers with strong cryes heare the strong lowd cryes of a penitent sinner Thou who tookest vpon thee our infirmities take pitie vpon them thou wert in thine agony stricken with horror and vnutterable griefe allay the troubles of my affrighted conscience Thou who fastedst forty dayes accept of my humiliation these forty dayes and graunt that my stomacke may not onely fast from accustomed meates but all my sences from their vsual delights and most of all my heart from worldly comforts and contentments Let no fight delight mee till I see my sinnes remoued like a mist and thy countenance shine vpon mee Let no sound or voice delight mee till I heare thee by thy Spirit to speake peace to my conscience and say to my soule I am thy saluation Let no pleasant fields and gardens delight me til I haue gathered red flowers out of that garden which was watered with thy blood Let no fruit delight me till I haue fully tasted the fruit of the tree of thy Crosse. Let no meate delight me till with the sower herbes of sorrow and anguish of heart for my sinne I haue eaten the Christian Passeouer the flesh of thee that immaculate Lambe slaine from the beginning of the world Heare me blessed Redeemer and as thou wroughtest in dust when thou tookest the woman in adultery So I beseech thee write my sins in dust and bury them all in the ashes of obliuion So be it Amen GOOD FRIDAY'S DEVOTION OR The Christian Fast on the Passion of our Lord. The ground of this Fast In the Old Testament Prophecies Types geuerall speciall In the new Historie Sacrament of Christ's death of which before in the preparatioÌ„ PARALELL Prophecie Thou shalt bruise his heel c. Gen. 3. 15. He was cut out of the land of the liuing Isa. 53. 8. He shal make his soule an offering for sinne ver 10. And after threescore and two weekes Mâ—ssiah shall bee slaine Dan. 9. 26. They shall looke vpon him whom they haue pearced Zac. 12. 10. Historie This is your houre the Power of darknesse Luk. 22. 53. Then Iesus cried with a loud voice and yeelded vp the Ghost Mat. 27. 50. Him haue yee crucified slaine Acts. 2. 22. Christ dyed for our sins 1 Cor. 15. 3. He offered himselfe by the eternal Spirit Heb. 9. 14. One of the Souldiers with a Speare peirced his side Iohn 19. 34. Type Besides all sacrifices of the old Law which foreshewed Christs death there are 2. speciall types 1 Abraham builded an Altar and bound Isaak his son Gen. 22. 9. And stretched out his hand and tooke the knife to kill his sonne ver 10. Accomplishment So God loued the world that he gaue his onely begotten Io. 3. 16. He became obedient to death euen the death of the crosse Phil. 2. 8. So Moses made a Serpent of brasse set it vp for a signe and when a Serpent had bitten a man then he looked to the Serpent of brasse and liued Numb 21. 9. They crucified him Luk. 23. 33. Iesus whoÌ„ ye haue crucified Act. 2. 36. Hee was crucified concerning his infirmity 2. Cor. 13. 4 I if I were lift vp from the earth wil draw all men to me Io. 12. 32. This he spake signifying what death he should die v. 33. IOH. 14. As Moses lift vp the Serpent in the wildernesse so must the Sonne of Man be lift vp For thine instruction meditate vpon Prophecie Tipes Storie of Christ's Passion For thy comfort apply to thy self the benefits of his death For thy correction remember and bewaile thy sinnes for which Christ suffered and dyed Quicken thy Faith by the Psalme Obedience and patience by the admonition Zeale and Deuotion by the Prayer ensuing THE ADMONITION for good-friday THE ANALYSIS We must suffer afflictions because 1. a By them we are made conformable to our Head Christ Iesus 2. b They are the Chastisements of our heauenly Father 3. c They proceede from loue 4. d They are moderated and mitigated by his mercy 5. e They are sweetened with many comforts 6. f They are the common lot of all Gods dearest children 7. g They are medicinable to the soule 8. h They bring vs to a sence of our sins and remorse for them 9. i
being led away with the errour of the wicked fall from your owne stedfastnesse 2. Pet. 3. 17. He spake a parable that we ought alwayes to pray and not to faint Luke 18. 1. Shall not God auenge his Elect which crie vnto him day and night though he beare long with them ver 7. He after he had patiently endured obtained the promise Heb. 6. 15. O Lord God of my saluation I haue cried day and night before thee Psal. 88. 1. I haue called daily vpon thee I haue stretched foorth my hands vnto thee ver 9. He kneeled vpon his knees and prayed three times a day Dan. 6. 10. And they which went before rebuked the blind man that he should hold his peace but he cried so much the more Sonne of Dauid haue mercie on me Luk. 18. 39. And behold a woman of Caanan cried vnto him saying Haue mercie on me c. Mat. 15. 22. But he answered her not a word and his disciples besought him saying Send her away for she crieth after vs ver 23. He answered I am not sent c. ver 24. Then came she and worshipped saying Lord helpe me ver 25. But he answered It is not meete c. ver 26. And she said Truth Lord yet the doggs eate the crummes c. ver 27. Then Iesus said Woman be it to thee as thou wilt ver 28. Ye are they which haue continued with me in my tentations Luk. 22. 28. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplications with Marie the Mother of Iesus Act. 1. 14. We will giue our selues continually to prayer c. Act. 6. 4. There were added to them about three thousand soules c. Act. 2 41. And they continued stedfastly in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship and breaking of bread and prayer ver 42. By the space of three yeares I ceased not to warne euerie one night day with tears Act. 20. 31 Since the day we heard we ceased not to pray for you Col. 1. 9. For this cause we thanke God without ceasing 1. Thess. 2. 13. A deuoute man which gaue much almes to the people and prayed to God alwaies Act. 10 2. And the foure beasts had each of them sixe wings vpon them and they were full of eyes within and they ceased not day and night saying Holy holy holy Lord God almightie which was and is and is to come Reu. 4. 8. I declare vnto you the Gospel which ye haue receiued and wherein ye stand or continue 1. Cor. 15. 1. Then said Iesus to those Iewes that beleeued on him If ye continue in my word then are ye indeede my disciples Ioh. 8. 31. Who so looketh into the perfect law of libertie and continueth therein he being not a forgetfull hearer but a doer shall be blessed in his deede Iames 1. 25. They went out from vs but they were not of vs for if they had beene of vs they would no doubt haue continued with vs 1. Ioh. 2. 19. Whosoeuer abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God Ioh. 2. 9. So runne that ye may obtaine 1. Cor. 9. 26. Let vs not be weatie in well doing for in due season we shall reape if we faint not Gal. 6. 9. Hold that thou hast that no man take thy crowne Reu. 3. 11. For we are made partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast to the end Heb. 3. 14. He that endureth to the end shall be saued Mat. 10. 22. Continue therein for in doing this thou shalt saue thy selfe and them that heare thee 1. Tim 3. 8. Worke out your saluation with feare and trembling Phil. 4. 12. Shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope to the end Heb. 6. 11. To him that ouercometh I will giue to eate of the tree of life which is in the middest of the garden of God Reuel 2. 7. Let vs labour therefore to enter into that rest lest any man fall after that same example Heb. 4. 11. Let vs feare lest a promise being left vs of entering into his rest any of you should seeme to come short of it Heb. 4. 1. Ye haue continued with me c. Luk. 22. 28. And I appoint vnto you a Kingdome as my Father hath appointed vnto me ver 29. Be faithfull vnto death and I will giue thee the crowne of life Reuel 2. 10. I haue fought a good fight I haue finished my course c. 1. Tim. 4. 7. Hencefoorth there is laide vp for me a crowne of righteousnesse which the Lord the righteous Iudge shall giue me at that day and not to me onely but to them also that loue his appearing ver 8. Take heede lest there be in any of you an euill heart of vnbeleefe in departing away from the liuing God Heb. 3. 12. If after they haue escaped the pollution of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Sauiouâ— Iesus Christ they are againe intangled therein and ouercome the latter end is worse then the beginning 2 Pet. 2. 20. For it had beene better for them neuer to haue knowne the way of righteousnesse then after they haue knowne it to turne from the holy commandement deliuered vnto them ver 21. But it is happened vnto them according to the true Prouerbe The dogge is turned to his vomit againe and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire ver 22. When the vncleane spirit is gone out of a man c. Mat. 12. 44. He taketh to himselfe seuen other spirits and they dwell there and the last state of that man is worse then the first ver 45. Let him that standeth take heede lest he fall 1. Cor. 10. 12. Are ye so foolish hauing begun in the Spirit are ye now made perfect with the flesh Gal. 3. 3. Haue ye suffered so many things in vaine it it be yet in vaine ver 4. Cast not away therefore your confidence which hath great recompence of reward Heb. 10. 35. If any withdraw himselfe my soule shall haue no pleasure in him ver 38. We are not of them which draw backe vnto perdition ver 38. In the latter dayes some shall depart from the faith 1. Tim. 4. 1. Hauing their conscience seared with a hot iron ver 2. Holding faith and a good conscience which some hauing put away concerning faith haue made shipwrack 1. Tim. 1. 19. Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander whom I haue deliuered to Sathan ver 20. Hauing forsaken the right way they are gone astray following the wayes of Balaam the son of Bozor c. 2. Pet. 2. 15. But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousnes and committeth iniquitie c. All the righteousnesse that he hath done shall not be mentioned in his trespasse that he trespasseth and in his sinne that he hath sinned in them shall he die Eze. 18. 24. It
thee the fruite of my lippes Now I haue felt thy strength in my greatest weakenesse I haue tasted thy goodnesse in my bitter pangs I will therfore cal vpon thee in my troubles and will praise thee in my deliuerances and depend vpon thee as well in want as in plentie in sicknesse as in health in death as in life Thou mightest most iustly haue depriued me of the benefit and my infant of the hope of life Thou mightest deseruedly haue cut off the roote and the branch in the same moment for both were at thy mercie and liable to a curse But thy mercie is ouer all thy workes thou art good to them that are bad gracious to them that are vngracious mercifull to them that are most sinfull Thou desirest not the death of a sinner but of sin Thou wouldest that all should liue and here sowe the seedes and in heauen reape the fruite of immortality For to this end thou breathedst into vs the life of nature to make vs capable of the life of grace that thereby we may attaine the life of glory Therefore doest thou bring vs into the light of this world and set vs in the way that walking the paths of thy Commandements we might in the end ariue at our country in heauen This life of nature thou hast now giuen to my childe and continued to me adde now I beseech thee grace to nature and glory to grace hereafter that as we now liue in thee by nature so wee may liue to thee by grace and hereafter for euer liue with thee in glory Thou hâ—st ordained strength out of the mouthes of babes and sucklings and iustly maist expect praise from them Gracious Lord first giue my infant strength and then receiue praises from it The hidden treasure which for many moneths thou layedst vp in me is now safely taken out of me and deliuered me therefore I now offer it to thee in thy holy Temple Accept that from mee which thou hast giuen to me Receiue that into thy hands which thou hast put into mine armes Wash it in the Font of Baptisme regenerate it by thy holy Spirit feede it with the sincere milke of thy Word till it haue knowledge to choose the good and refuse the euill As it groweth in yeeres and stature strength so grant that it may grow in thy grace and fauour and increase in wisedome and in the knowledge of our Lord Sauiour Iesus Christ. So be it Amen The close out of Scripture NOw vnto the King immortal euerlasting inuisible vnto God onely wise be honour and glory for euer and euer Amen 1 Tim. 1. 17. The Sicke-mans Deuotion when there is yet hope of recouerie In his Sicknes After his Recouery When thou art smitten with sicknesse ô deuout Christian 1 ENter into thy priuate Chamber and commune with thine owne heart and search out diligently the cause of thy Fathers displeasure Psal. 4. â— 2 Confesse the particular sin or sinnes for which thy heart smiteth thee most with sighs and teares Psal. 32. 5 6. 3 Promise and fully purpose amendment through the assistance of grace Psal. 39. 1. 4 Aduise with the Physitian of thy soule and follow his godly direction and desire him to pray for thee and minister a word of comfort vnto thee and if thou find thy selfe fit for it in the beginning of thy sicknesse when thou art in perfect sence and memorie participate of the blessed Sacrament rather then when thy faculties are more enfeebled Iob. 33. 23. Iam. 5. 14. 5 Vse carefully all good meanes of Physicke and dyet for thy recouerie yet rely not vpon the meanes or instrument but vpon God Eccl. 38. 1. 2. Chr. 16. 12. 6 Pray to God instantly continually First absolutely for the health and saluation of thy soule Secondly conditionally for the health of thy bodie 7 Settle thine estate and make thy Will that thou mayest bee more free for holy and heauenly meditations Isa. 38. 1. 8 Submit thy self wholly and absolutely to God's good wil and pleasure concerning thee whether for life or death 1. Pet. 4. 19 9 Reade if thou be able or appoint to be read vnto thee at seasonable times select Chapters of Scripture and deuout Sermons and Prayers Rom. 8. Philippians 1. 1. Corinth 15. 1. Thes. 4. 2. Cor. 5. Ioh. 5. 6. 17. Hâ—b 12. Iob. 19. Reu. 2. 3. 21. 22. Iob 14. Isa. 38. 40. Among other helpes in this kind Open thy sorrow and griefe by the Hymne Strengthen thy faith patience by the exhortation Quicken thy Zeale and Deuotion by the Prayer ensuing A PSALME FOR the sicke wherein The deuout Soule Expresseth her Maladie affection Hope in God Experience remembrance of his former goodnes Meek patience Prayeth for Ease Helpe Recouerie Quickning grace Pardon for sinne Wisedome to make good vse of sicknesse THE TEXTS HAue mercy vpon mee ô Lord for I am weake O Lord heale mee for my bones are vexed Psal. 6. 2. My soule also is sore troubled But Lord how long wilt thou punish mee v. 3 My Spirit vexeth within me and my heart within mee is desolate Psal. 143. 4. Yet I doe remember the time past I muse vpon all thy workes yea I exercise my selfe in the worke of thy hands verse â—5 I stretch forth my hands vnto thee my soule gaspeth vnto thee as a thirsty land v. 6. Heare me O Lord and that soone for my Spirit waxeth faint Hide not thy face from mee â—est I bee like vnto them that go downe into the pit v. 7. Thou art he that tooke me out of my mothers wombe thou wast my hope when I hanged yet vpon my mothers brest Psal. 22. 9. I haue bin left vnto thee euer since I was borne Thou art my God euen from my mothers womb v. 10. Though I walke in the shadow of death I will feare no euill thy rod and thy staffe comfort me Psal. 23. 4. Lord what is my hope Truly my hope is euen in thee Psal. 39. 5. I became dumbe and opened not my mouth for it was thy doing v. 10. I will patiently abide alway and praise thy name more and more Psal. 71. 12. O Lord rebuke mee not in thine anger nor chasten mee in thy heauy displeasure Psal. 6. 1. The sorrowes of my heart are enlarged O bring me out of my trouble Psal. 25. 16. Heare ô Lord and haue mercy vpon me Lord bee thou my helper Psal. 30. 11. Turne thee ô Lord and deliuer my soule ô saue mee for thy mercies sake Psal. 6. 4. For in death no man remembreth thee and who will giue thee thankes in the pit v. 5. What profit is there in my blood when I goe downe to the pit Psal. 30. 9. Shall the dust giue thanks vnto thee Or shall it declare thy truth v. 10. Take thy Plague away from me I am euen consumed by the meanes of thy heauy hand Psal. 39. 11. Quicken mee ô Lord for thy names
the eternall Spirit offered himselfe to God without spot purge our consciences from dead workes verse 14. The blood of Iesus Christ his Son clenseth vs from al sinne 1 Ioh. 1. 7. If any man sin wee haue an Aduecate with the Father Iesus Christ the righteous 1 Iohn 2. 1. And he is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours onely but also for the sins of the whole world v. 3. These haue washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lambe Reu. 7. 14. Thou hast redeemed vs by thy blood to God Reu. 5. 9. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world but that thou shouldest keepe them from the euill Ioh. 17. 15. Sanctifie them through thy truth thy Word is truth v. 17. Neither pray I for these alone but for them which shall belieue on me through the word v. 20. I haue prayed for thee that thy faith may not faile Luke 22. 32. In that day ye shall aske in my name and I say not vnto you that I will pray the Father for you Ioh. 16. 26. For the Father himselfe loueth you because ye haue loued me v. 27. Who is he that condemneth It is Christ that dyed yea rather that is risen againe who is euen at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for vs Rom. 8. 34. Hee is able to saue them euermore that come vnto God by him seeing hee euer liueth to make intercession for them Heb. 7. 25. IOHN did baptize in the wildernesse and preach the baptisme of repentance for the remission of sins Mar. 1. 4. According to his mercy hee saued vs by the lauer of regeneration and renewing of the holy Ghost Tit. 3. 5. The like figure whereunto euen baptisme doth now saue vs by the resurrection of Iesus Christ 1 Pet. 3. 21. Repent and bee baptized euery one of you in the name of the Lord Iesus for the remission of sins Act. 2. 38. This is the Blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins Mat. 26. 28. Seeke the Lord while hee may be found call ye vpon him while he is neere Isa. 55. 6. Let the wicked for sake his way and the vnrighteous man his thoughts and let him returne to the Lord and he will haue mercy vpon him and to our God and he will abundantly pardon v. 7. For my thoughts are not your thoughts nor my waies your waies saith the Lord v 8. As I liue saith the Lord God I haue no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turne from his way and liue Ezekiel 18. 22. Turne you turne you from your euill waies for why will yee dye ô yee house of Israel Ezek. 33. 11. I haue no pleasure in the death of him that dyeth saith the Lord God wherefore turne your selues and liue Ezek. 18. 32. They shall know me from the least to the greatest saith the Lord and I will forgiue their iniquity and remember their sin no more Ier. 31. 34. Thou shalt finde the Lord if thou seeke him with al thy heart and with all thy soule Deut. 4. 29. For the Lord thy God is a mercifull God he will not forsake thee nor destroy thee v. 31. If my people shall humble themselues and pray and seeke my face and turne from their wicked waies then I will heare from heauen and will forgiue their sinne 2 Chro. 7. 14. If thou returne to the Almighty thou shalt be built vp Iob 22. 23. I haue blotted out as a thick clowde thy transgressions and as a clowde thy sins returne vnto me for I haue redeemed thee Isa. 44. 22. Cease to doe euill learne to doe well Isa. 1. 17. Come now let vs reason together saith the Lord though your sins be as skarlet they shall be as white as snow though they be red like crimson they shall bee as wooll Isa. 1. 18. Goe proclaime these words to the North and say Returne thou back-sliding Israel saith the Lord and I will not cause mine anger to fall vpon you for I am mercifull saith the Lord and will not keepe anger for euer Ier. 3 12. Onely acknowledge thine iniquity that thou hast transgressed the Lord thy God verse 13. Come let vs returne to the Lord for he hath torne and hee will heale vs he hath smitten and he will binde vs vp Hosea 6. 1. I will heale their back-slidings I will loue them freely Hosea 14. 4. Seeke the Lord and yee shall liue Amos 5. 6. Turne yee vnto mee saith the Lord of Hosts and I will turne vnto you Zac. 1. 3. Come vnto me all ye that are heauy laden and I will ease you Mat. 11. 28. Likewise I say vnto you There is ioy in the presence of the Angels of God ouer one sinner that repenteth Luke 15. 10. The Son of Man came to saue that which was lost Luke 19. 10. I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance Luk. 5. 32. That repentance and remission of sinnes should bee preached in his name among all Nations Luke 24. 47. Repent ye therefore and bee conuerted that your sinnes may be blotted out when the time of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord Acts 3. 19. The Lord is not slacke as some men account slacknesse but is long suffering to vs-ward not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance 2 Pet. 3. 9. If wee confesse our sins hee is faithfull and iust to forgiue vs our sinnes and cleanse vs from all vnrighteousnesse 1 Ioh. 1. 9. Manasses built altars for al the Host of heauen 2 Chron. 33. 5. And he caused his children to passe by the fire in the valley of Hinnon also he vsed Witch-craft and dealt with familiar Spirits c. v. 67. But when hee was in his affliction hee besought the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the Lord of his Fathers v. 12. And prayed vnto him and he was intreated of him and he heard his supplication v. 13. He denied before them al saying I know not what thou sayest Mat. 26. 70. And againe he denyed him v. 72. Then he began to curse and to sweare saying I know not the man v. 74. And the Lord turned and looked vpon PETER and PETER remembred the words of the Lord Luk. 22. 61. And PETER went out and wept bitterly v. 62. And behold a woman in the City which was a sinner brought an al abaster box of ointment c. Luk. 7 37. Her sinnes which are many are forgiuen her for she loued much v. 47. A woman which had bin healed of euill Spirits and infirmities Mary Magdalene out of whom went seauen diuels Luk. 8. 2. The younger tooke his iourney into a farre countrey and wasted his substance with riotous liuing Luk. 15. 13. When he came to himselfe he said c. v. 18. I will arise and goe to my Father and say Father I
haue sinned against heauen and against thee c. v. 20. And he arose went to his Father but when he was yet a great way off his Father sawe him and had compassion came fell on his neck and kissed him v. 20. And he said to Iesus Lord remember me when thou commest into thy kingdome Luk. 23. 41. And Iesus said vnto him Vetily I say vnto thee This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise v. 43. Him ye haue taken and by wicked hands haue crucified and slaine Act. 2. 23. Let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Iesus whom yee haue crucified both Lord and Christ v. 36. Now when they heard this they were pricked in heart and said to Peter and the rest of the Apostles Men and brethren what shall wee doe verse 37. Then Peter said Repent and be baptized for the remission of sins v. 38. Then they that gladly receiued the Word were baptized and the same day were added vnto them about three thousand soules verse 41. This is a faithfull saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Iesus came into the world to saue sinners of whom I am chiefe 1 Tim. 1. 15. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy that in mee Iesus Christ might first shew forth all long suffering for a patterne to them which should hereafter belieue on him to eternall life v. 16. A Psalme for the sicke lying at the point of death wherein The humble and faithfull Christian 1 Layeth open his affliction In body In minde 2 Confesseth his many and grieuous sins 3 Earnestly prayeth for Audience Sence of Gods fauour Pardon for his sinne 4 Acknowledgeth God's great mercies through his whole life 5 Professeth his Trust in God Ioy in the holy Ghost Peace of conscience Desire of Death Assured hope of eternall blisse 6 Commendeth his soule to God O Lord God of my saluation I haue cryed day and night before thee ô let my prayer enter into thy presence Psal. 88. 1. For my soule is full of trouble and my life draweth nigh vnto hell v. 2. I am weary of my groaning euery night wash I my bed and water my couch with my teares Psal. 6. 6. I am accounted as one that goeth downe to the pit I haue bin as a man that hath no strength Psal. 88. 3. Free among the dead like vnto them that bee wounded and that lie in the graue which be out of remembrance and cut away from thine hand v. 4. Thine indignation lyeth hard vpon me and thou hast vexed me with all thy stormes v. 6. I am powred out like water and all my bones are out of ioynt my heart also in the middest of my bowells is like melted waxe Psal. 22. 14. My strength is dryed vp like a potsheard and my tongue cleaueth to my gummes and thou shalt bring mee into the dust of death v. 13. The sorrowes of death compasse me and the ouerflowings of vngodlines make me afraid Psal. 18. 3. The paines of hell come about me the Snares of death ouertake me v. 4. Thine arrowes stick fast in me and thy hand presseth mee sore Psal. 38. 2. There is no health in my flesh because of thy displeasure neither any rest in my bones by reason of my sin v. 3. For my wickednesses are gone ouer my head and are like a sore burden too heauy for me to beare v. 4. If thou Lord wilt bee extreame to marke what is done amisse ô Lord who may abide it Psal. 130. 3. Out of the deepe haue I called vnto thee ô Lord Lord heare my voice v. 1. O let thine eares consider well the voice of my complaint v. 2. Lord why abhorrest thou my soule and hidest thy face from me Psal. 88. 14. I am in misery and like to him that is at the point to dye from my youth vp thy terrors haue I suffered with a troubled minde v. 15. Thy wrathfull displeasure goeth ouer me and the feare of thee hath vndone me v. 16. Haue mercy vpon mee ô God after thy great goodnesse according to the multitude of thy mercies doe away mine offences Psal. 51. 1. Wash me throughly from my wickednesse and clense me from my sinne v. 2. Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy Spirit from me v. 11. O giue me the comfort of thy helpe againe and stablish me with thy free Spirit v. 12. Neuerthelesse I am alwaies with thee for thou hast holden me vp by thy right hand Psal. 73. 23. Thou shalt guide me by thy counsell and after that receiue me with glory v. 24. Whom haue I in heauen but thee ô Lord and I desire none in earth in comparison of thee v. 23. Returne to thy rest ô my soule for the Lord hath rewarded thee Psal. 116. 7. Thou hast put gladnesse in my heart more then theirs whose corne and wine and oyle increaseth Psal. 4. 8. I will lay me downe and take my rest for it is thou Lord onely that makest mee dwell in safety v. 9. I will behold thy presence and when I awake vp after thy likenesse I will bee satisfied with it Psal. 17. 16. I shall be satisfied with the plenteousnesse of thine house and thou shalt giue mee drinke of thy pleasures as of the riuers Psal. 36. 8. For with thee is the well of life and in thy light shall I see light v. 9. Thou shalt shew me the path of life in thy presence is fulnes of ioy and at thy right hand there is pleasure for euermore Psal. 16. 12. Into thy hands I commend my Spirit for thou hast redeemed me ô Lord thou God of truth Psal. 31. 6. A Prayer for the sicke lying at the mercy of God and ready to depart AETernall and omnipotent infinite incomprehensible God Lord of my life and determiner of my dayes My body now is resoluing into dust and my soule returning to thee that gauest it O Lord most holy ô God most mighty draw neere vnto me who make hast to come vnto thee Giue mee a cleerer sight of thee by how much the neerer I am out of the darke prison of my body Giue me also a quicker taste of the powers of the life to come that I may more comfortably passe ouer these last troubles of this present life O Lord my soule is heauy euen vnto death for the weight of al my sins aggrauated by the diuel is at once vpon me and I sink and faint vnder this burdon which is too heauy for me to beare Neither is there any meanes vnder heauen to ease mee of it but by laying it vpon him that hath borne our infirmities and carried our sorrowes O Father of mercy and God of all consolation let not the guilt of my sins or horror of thy iudgements or Sathans suggestions or the feare of death or terrors of hell driue me to desperation I confesse that for
against enuenomed wounds Then would we as soone as we feele the sting of sinne in our consciences bruise the Serpent by true contrition destroy the sinne and apply the oyle of teares issuing from it to cure the wound before it festered But among other iust causes of teares this is not the least that wee misspend our teares and spill that heauenly dew and profane the Font-water of our second baptisme as Saint Cyprian calleth it Wee haue teares at our owne will in worldly losses but none at God's command for the losse of his grace Wee take on for the death of our friends departing frō vs but cannot wring out a teare for the spirituall death of our soules departing from God Yet all our fretting and vexing all our weeping and howling cannot fetch our friend backe againe or repaire our worldly losses whereas on the contrary as Saint Chrysostome piously noteth the afflicting of our soules and serious bewailing of our sinnes by God's grace shall reuiue our soules and recouer all our spirituall losses and that with aduantage What pittie nay what folly is it to powre costly eye-water out of a Venice-glasse into a vile pot or basen to wash our feete withall Do we not the like when we turne godly sorrow into worldly and abuse pretious teares to the bewailing of vile base losses haue we suchstore of them or such want of better employmēt for them See we not wrath is gone out against vs and the fire long agoe kindled and not yet quenched by our teares Lord thou hast shewed thy people terrible things thou hast giuen vs a drinke of deadly wine and hast caused vs to suck out the dreggs of it because we Moab like are setled vpon our Lees. As Pharaoh saw the hugh of his bloodie minde in the waters of Aegypt turned all redd as blood so we may see the crimson colour of our sins in the vialls of thy wrath powred of late vpon vs. We trade not spiritually for the pearle of the Gospell and therefore our Merchant's returnes faile Wee would not weepe for our sins and therefore the heauens did weepe for vs a long season in continuall showers We haue bin hard hearted and barren in good works and therefore thou madest heretofore the heauen aboue vs as brasse and the earth vnder vs as Yron By drunkennesse and gluttony by euill perswasions and worse examples one soule hath infected another and therefore thou hast sent a Plague whereby one body infecteth another Such a Plag◠as our ancients neuer heard of and our posterity will scarce belieue The chiefe of our Cities haue beene ploughed vp and sowed so thick with dead corps's that one could scarce lye by another Against this and all other iudgements which thy law threatneth and our sins prouoke wee haue no weapons to contend with thy iustice but prayers and teares We haue no meanes to clense the infected aire but our sighs and groanes O Lord remoue our sins as a clowde and iniquities as a mist and then this dreadfull bloodie clowde which lately powred downe but now onely droppeth will vanish of it selfe Consummate the worke of mercy thou hast begun and quite remoue this iudgement through thy tender compassion in the bowells of Christ Iesus wee beseech thee But remoue this iudgement in mercie not in iudgement Take not thy hand off of vs to fetch a greater stroake at vs. Deliuer vs not from one Plague as thou diddest Pharoh to send a worse in steede thereof Put vs not out of thine hands into which we are fallen to giue vs ouer into the hands of our enemies Saue vs not from the Sword to kill vs with Famine neither preserue vs from a corporall to starue vs with a spirituall Take not away one plaister to apply a smarter in the place but perfectly heale our wounds Bee absolutely reconciled vnto vs in him vpon whom thou hast already layed the chastisement of our peace O remember not our our old sinnes but haue mercy vpon vs and that soone for wee are come to great misery Helpe vs ô God of our saluation for the glory of thy name ô deliuer vs and bee mercifull to our sins for thy names sake O thinke vpon thy congregation and Mount Sion wherein thou hast dwelt Looke vpon the hands of many thousands that haue beene lifted vp to thee in Publike and many more in Priuate to iustifie thee in thy Iudgements and blesse thee for thy mercies and intreate thee for this Land and thy disconsolate Spouse yet weeping in teares of bloud in diuerse places To strengthen and support the weaker of these hands and fill their mouthes with continuall Deuotions I haue furnished and replenished this Manuel which I name THE HAND-MAID To PRIVATE DEVOTION to waite on her in her Chamber or Oratorie The purtraying of her Mistresse I leaue to the pensill of some Diuine Apelles whose taske will be the harder because she neuer commeth abroade All that my intention aimeth at and my endeauours promise is but to lay open a priuate way and set vp certaine Stages for thy holy race and pricke thee on forward in it Farre better helpes in this kinde the pious charitie and zeale of religious and learned persons hath afforded thee of whom yet I may truely say as Tully spake of the Emperours that dealt with Mithridates before Pompey Laudandum quod secerunt ignoscendum quod reliquerunt They are to be commended for that they haue done and pardoned for that they left What they haue left I labour to supply and if I cannot supply it yet I thought fit to implie and intimate that the Authors themselues or the Publishers of their workes might adde what they finde wanting First my thinkes I see in their bookes of Deuotion and prayers Salomon's temple without the gate called Bewtifull I meane exquisite meditations and orizons without an entrance thereunto by preparation With that part therefore I begin and it taketh vp the more roome in my booke because it hath beene so scanted for place or rather quite excluded in theirs In it if thou finde some tertnesse I intreate thee Courteous Reader to remember with me the precept of the Lord Iesu Haue salt and haue peace If I haue salt haue thou peace the rather because Hymnes Prayers and other religious exercises are spirituall sacrifices and euery sacrifice by the Law was to be seasoned with salt Et quoniam mel in Dei sacrificijs non offertur nimia dulcedo arte mutata est quâdam piperis austeritate condita apud Deum nil tantum suaue placet nisi quod habet in se aliquid mordacis veritatis It is S. Ierom's obseruation vpon the legall sacrifices that God neuer appointed hony to be offered vnto him And the morall truth vailed vnder that shadow was that in our spirituall oblations nothing pleaseth God that is onely sweete and hath not some smacke 〈◊〉 it of biting truth Next I haue much maruelled what the reason might be that they vndertaking
come then that which is in part shall be abolished 1 Cor. 13. 10. Loue doth neuer fall away though that prophecying be abolished or that tongues cease c. ver 8. I pray that they all may be one as thou O Father art in me and I in thee euen that they may be also one in vs c. Ioh. 17. 21. An Hymne for the Sabbath Euening REturne to thy rest O my soule for the Lord hath dealt graciously with thee Psal. 116. 7. In Gods Word will I reioyce in the Lords Word will I comfort me Psal. 56. 10. The words of the Lord are pure words like as siluer which from the earth is tryed and purified seauen times in the fire Blessed are they that dwell in thine house they will bee alway praysing thee They will goe from strength to strength and to the God of Gods appeareth euery one of them in Sion Psal. 84. 47. I will giue thankes to the Lord in the Congregation from the ground of the heart Psal. 68 26. Vnto thee ô God I will pay my vowes vnto thee will I giue thanks Psal. 56. 12. Shew the light of thy countenance vpon thy seruant and teach me thy Statutes Psalme 119. An Euening Prayer for the Sabbath HOly holy holy Lord God Almighty which was which art and which art to come hallow my nature that I may hallow thy Name As thou impartest thy goodnes to me whereby I liue and moue in thee so I beseech thee communicate to mee some measure of thy holinesse that I may liue and moue to thee Let thy Spirit of grace possesse my body and soule that the desires of my minde and thoughts of my heart and words of my lipps may be holinesse vnto thee Sanctifie me that I may glorifie thee And first with ioy and thankfulnesse I acknowledge it a special testimony of thy loue that thou hast giuen me liberty and meanes to keepe a holy Sabbath vnto thee to meete in thy House to offer vp my ioynt-prayers and thanks-giuing with thy holy congregation to confesse my sinnes to professe my faith to lay open my wants to cheere vp my selfe by singing the sweete songs of Sion to heare thy sacred Word read and Preached whereby my faith hath beene strengthened in the misteries of saluation my hope established in the promises of thy Gospell and my life set forward in a setled course of holinesse and righteousnesse whereby the Kingdome of sinne and Satan is beate down and destroyed and the Kingdome of Christ built vp in me By this thy Word the carelesse sinner is admonished the ignorant instructed the presumptuous terrified and the penitent comforted the power of sinne is abated the force of temptations weakned the motions of the spirit quickned grace reuined and my Election assured by these insallible Marks and tokens thereof set before me in holy Scriptures Blessed bee thy Name for it this day thy Word hath dwelt with me richly in all wisedome The dispenser of thy misteries hath scattered many Doctrines like so many pearles among thy people Lord grant that with Mary I keepe these and all thy sayings in my heart and make vse of them in my life and receiue comfort from them at my death And here I would proceed to intreate at thy hands the continuance and increase of thy spiritual and temporall blessings vpon mee but my sinnes lye at the doore of my conscience and affright mee My heart smites mee for my failings in the performance of the duties of thy Sabbath My deuout Meditations haue bin stefled in the wombe that bare them my prayers haue not beene without distractions my hearing without wearisomenesse nor my almes-deeds without grudging Pardon deare Father my want of preparation before I come to thine house of intention and Zeale at thy seruice and want of Meditation and Application of those things which I heard there since I came thence Bury I beseech thee these slips and all other my sins especially of this weeke and day in the night of eternall obliuion Ease me of the burden of them that I may more securely repose my body and soule vpon thy gracious protection to take their naturall refreshing by sleepe whereby I may bee enabled and strengthened to doe thee better seruice the next day in walking carefully diligently conscionably and constantly in the waies of thy commandements and the duties of my calling The close out of Scripture Now the very God of peace sanctify mee throughout and I pray God that my whole spirit and soule and body may bee kept blamelesse vnto the comming of the Lord Iesus Christ Amen THE PRACTICE of Extraordinarie DEVOTION In the Religious obseruation of Christian Feasts as namely our Lords Birth Circumcision Epiphanie Resurrection Ascension Sending downe the Holy Ghost Fasts as namely Ashwednesday Good friday By Daniel Featly Doctor in Diuinity LONDON Printed by G. M. and R. B. for Nicholas Bourne and are to be sold at his shop at the South Entrance of the Royall Exchange 1626. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE and Religious Ladie the Countesse of DENBIGH May it please your Honour YOur conference with me about my conference with the Iesuites and your gracious acceptation of the relation and defence thereof left in me such an impression of the Character of your Noble and Religious disposition that I euer since desired the aduantage of some good opportunitie to testifie my dutifull respect to your Honour The truth of God receiueth not onely support but great honour from the patronage and countenance of great Personages and she much glorieth in finding so strong a Champion euen in the weaker sexe Albeit the Sun-beames are alwayes most bright in themselues yet they neuer appeare so glorious to vs as when they fall vpon crystall glasse or pretious stones In like sort Religion and vertue the raies of diuine light in the soule although they shine alwayes brightly in themselues yet they neuer seeme so conspicuous and resplendent as when they receiue some luster from the subiect when Nobilitie of birth and minde concurre when ornaments of bodie and soule meete when eminencie of grace eminency of conditions toyne in one and reflect mutually each on the other And verily if your more then or dinarie fauour and respect to the Ministers of the Gospell and to my selfe in particular had not made this my voluntarie oblation a necessarie obligation to your Ladiship yet your constancie in the truth and loue to Sion and her solemne and sacred assemblies might iustly challenge to your Honour the Dedication of this part of my HAND-MAIDES Taske which is to furnish Christian fastes and feasts with proper MEDITATIONS HYMNES and PRAYERS As our bodie liues to the soule by which it liueth so our soule should liue to God by whom it liueth And no otherwise is the life of the bodie preserued by heate and moisture then the life of the soule is maintained and kept by the heate of diuine loue and radicall moisture of teares bedewing the heart
come and offer thy gift Mat. 5. 24. Yea tithe Mint and Rue c. These things yee ought to haue done and not left the other vndone Luke 11. 42. Let him that is taught in the word make him that taught him partaker of all his goods Gal. 6. 6. If we haue sowed to you spirituall things is it much if wee reape of you carnal things 2 Cor. 9. 11. Abraham gaue him Tithe of all that he had Gen. 14. 10. Of all that thou shalt giue me will I giue the tenth vnto thee Gen 28. 2. Then Dauid said behold I dwell in Cedar trees but the Arke of the Lord remaineth vnder the curtaines 2 Sam. 7. 2. Then euery one whose spirit made him willing came and brought an offering to the Lord for the worke of the Tabernacle Exod. 35. 21. I will not come within the Tabernacle of mine house nor climbe vp into my bed Psal. 132 3. I will not suffer mine eyes to sleepe nor mine eye lidds to slumber nor the Temples of my head to take any rest verse 4. Till I haue found out a place for the Temple of the Lord an habitation for the mighty God of Iacob verse 5. I giue Tithe of all that I possesse Luke 18. 12. So should thy barnes bee filled with abundance and thy presses shall burst with new wine Prou. 3. 10. Bring all the tithes into the store-house that there may bee meate in mine house and proue me heerewith sayeth the Lord. Mal. 3. 10. He will multiply your seede and increase the fruits of your beneuolence 2 Cor. 9. 10. You looked for much and loe it came to little and when yee brought it home I did blow vpon it Why saith the Lord of Hosts Because of mine house that is waste and yee runne euery man to his owne house Hag. 1. 9. Therefore the heauen ouer you is staied from dew and the earth is stayed from her fruit verse 10. Yee say wherein haue wee robbed thee In tithes and offerings Mal. 3. 8. Ye are cursed with a curse for yee haue robbed mee euen this whole nation verse 9. He that soweth sparingly shall reape sparingly 2 Cor. 9. 6. Be not deceiued God is not mocked Whatsoeuer a man soweth that shall he reape Gal. 6. 7. A Psalme for Twelfe-day O Praise the Lord of heauen praise him in the height Psal. 148 1. Praise him all yee his Angels praise him all his host verse 2. Praise him Sunne and Moone praise him all yee starres and light verse 3. Thy seate ô God endureth for euer the scepter of thy kingdom is a right scepter Psal 45. 7. The Lord shall send the rod of thy power out of Sion bee thou ruler euen in the middest among thine enemies Psal. 110. 2. In the day of thy power shall the people offer thee free will offerings with an holy worship the dew of thy birth is of the wombe of the morning verse 3. Thy dominion shall bee from one sea to the other and from the floods vnto the worlds end Psal. 72. 8. They that dwell in the wildernesse shall kneele before thee thine enemies shall lick the dust verse 9. All Kings shall fall downe before thee all nations shall doe thee seruice verse 11. Thy name shall endure for euer thy name shall remaine vnder the sun among all posterities which shall bee blessed through thee and all the heathen shall praise thee verse 17. Blessed bee the name of thy Maiesty for euer and all the earth shall bee filled with his Maiesty Amen Amen A Prayer for Twelfe-day FAther of lights who didst guide the heathen Sages by a starre to seeke after and find thy sonne the true light which enlighteneth euery man that commeth into the world giue mee grace to giue eare to the more sure Word of Prophecie in the Scriptures til the day dawne and the day starre arise in my heart As thou calledst the wise men obseruers of the starres by a star the sheepheards lying abroad by an apparition in the fields Zachary the Priest by a Vision in the Temple Peter the fisher by a draught of fishes Mathew the Publican at the receipt of custome and Saint Austin enamourd with eloquence by the lustre of Saint Ambroses stile and enticing eloquence I beseech thee take the aduantage of such seasons and apply such meanes for my vnfeigned conuersion vnto thee as are most agreeable to my inclination disposition and condition So will I come vnto thee and fall downe before thee and present vnto thee gold frankinsence and mirrh gold in acknowledgement of thy kingdome frankinsence of thy Priesthood and mirrh of thy death I will offer willingly freely vnto thee incense of praise thanksgiuing for thy benefits the mirrh of bitter teares for my sinnes and gold according to my ability for the maintenance of thy seruice and adorning thy Temple Lord who by this rich present prouidedst for the virgins wants to supply them in her iourney to Aegypt extend thy goodnesse to mee in al necessities and establish my faith and confidence in thee in al dangers and difficulties whatsoeuer For thou hast promised neuer to leaue nor forsake them that trust in thee The stony rocke shall yeeld a fountaine of water and a dry crâ—re a spring of oyle the loaues shall multiply by spending nay the Clouds shall be Store-houses of Bread and the winde serue in Fowle and the Rauens bring in prouision the Fishes pay tribute of money and Heathen Sages from the East by the conduct of a Starre bring in costly presents and New yeeres-gifts before thy children shall want their necessary maintenance or sustenance Blessed Babe who at thy birth didst presage thy death and assayedst the Crosse in thy Cratch and being excluded as it were from all men wast constrained to take vp thy lodging with beasts in a Stable teach me what I am to looke for in this world If it giue me course and base and beastly entertainment it gaue thee worse and the seruant is not to expect better respect then the Master O King of glory who hadst no Palace in this world but an Inne no Chamber of Presence but a Stable no Tapestry but Straw no Chaire of estate but a Cratch no Scepter but a Reede and no Crowne but a wreath of thornes worke in me an holy high-mindednesse to despise this world which so despised thee Make the worldly greatnesse seeme small honour base estimation vile and pompe vaine vnto me Let not the glittering shew of gold siluer or precious stones or the luster of eminent conditions dazell the eyes of my minde but let the beames of this starre light and guide me rather to honour thee in a Stable then leaue thee to follow Herod in his Palace vpon any hopes whatsoeuer The wise men after they had seene thee neuer returned backe to Herod but went another way to their owne home so let me after thou hast called me to the knowledge of the
anew not of mortall seede but of immortall 1 Pet. 12. 2. As new borne babes desire the sincere milke of the Word that ye may grow thereby 1 Pet. 2. 2. New wine must bee put into new bottells Mat. 9. 17. d As Christ was raised from the dead to the glory of the father So also wee should walke in newnesse of life Rom. 6. 4. e We are deliuered from the Law being dead to it wherewith we were holden that wee should serue in newnesse of spirit Rom. 7. 6. Purge out the old leuen that ye may be a new lumpe 1 Cor. 5. 7 If any man be in Christ let him bee a new creature Old things are passed away behold all things are become new 1 Cor. 5. 17. In Christ neither circumcision auaileth any thing nor vncircumcision but a new creature Gal. 6. 15. According to his mercy hee hath saued vs by the washing of the new birth and renewing of the holy Ghost Tit. 3. 5. f Returne and liue Eze. 19. Cease to doe euill learne to do well c. Isa. 1. 16. Though your sinnes were as crimson they shall bee made white as snow verse 18. g Vnlesse yee repent yee shall all likewise perish Luke 12. 3. h Repent and doe the first workes Reu. 2. 5. Repentance vnto life Acts 11. 18. i Blessed is he that hath part in the first resurrection for the second death shall haue no power ouer him Reu. 10. 5. A Prayer for Easter-day GLorious Sonne of righteousnesse who this morning didst preuent the dawning of the day by sending forth the beames of thy glorified body out of the pitâ— of darknesse and A shadow of death shine vpon my soule by the light of thy grace Inlighten my darke apprehension of the misteries of thy resurrection Inflame my cold affections and reuiue my heart euen deaded with pensiue thoughts vpon thy bitter passion O how did the surest ground of faith shake the fastest Anker of hope loosen ' at the earthquake at thy death what smiting together of knees what wringing of hands what knocking of brests what fainting of hearts what hanging downe of heads were there at giuing vp of the Ghost when thy head hung downe on the Crosse with thee the faith with thee the hope with thee the ioy with thee the life of thy dearest Disciples expired What should or could the prisoners of death euer expect when they saw him whom they thought to haue bin their redeemer the Lord of life arrested by death and kept close prisoner in the graue so long O death how sharpe was then thy sting O graue how fearefull was thy seeming victory But blessed bee the angell which remoued the stone and thereby made way that the stone which the builders refused might be preferred to bee the head stone in the corner Blessed be the right hand of thy Father who in raising thee out of the graue raised our hope out of the dust For where is our hope Our hope is euen in thee ô Christ and thy resurrection Thou art the life and the resurrection of all that belieue in thee Death like a Hornet by stinging thee hath lost his sting and now may make a buzzing noise to affright me but can thrust out no sting to hurt mee The graue by thy lying in it is turned to a bedde and a withdrawing roome to retire my selfe a while to put off this ragged flesh and attire my selfe with robes of glory Now I dare insult ouer death and hell since thy triumph ouer them O death where is thy sting O graue where is thy victory O my soule where is all thy comfort If in this life thou art most miserable if thy life bee hid with Christ in God then when Christ which is thy life shall appeare thou shalt also appeare in glory What though I mourne here I shall be comforted What though I fast here I shall bee satisfied What though I am disgraced here I shall bee glorified What though I am here trampled vnder feete I shall there be crowned What though my flesh be eaten with wormes and these wormes turned into dust and that dust blowed by the winde ouer the face of the earth Yet after thou turnedst man to destruction againe thou sayest Come againe yee children of men I know thou my Redeemer liuest and shall stand vp at the last day and I shall see them in my flesh with these eyes and no other Lord establish this beliefe in me beate downe all the forts that naturall reason reareth against it Grant that I may euery day more and more feele as the power of thy birth in my regeneration and of thy death in my mortification so also of thy resurrection in my rising from the death of sinne to the life of Grace Lord thou restoredst life to three men to one in his bed to another on the beare to the third in the graue They who conceiue sinne in their hearts are like him that was dead in his bed they who bring it forth into action are like him that was brought forth dead on his beare but they that continue in sinne and all impurity and putrifie in the custome thereof are like him that was foure dayes dead and stanke in the graue Such a one or worse am I for I haue layen not foure dayes but scores of yeeres in this loathsome graue and am euen deuoured of the worme of conscience Yet Lord this day of thy glorious resurrection say vnto mee as thou didst to him Come forth awake thou that sleepest and stand vp from the dead and I will giue thee light Make this day of thy resurrection from the death of nature the day of my rising from the death of sinne and corruption first to the life of grace and after to the life of glory Amen THE FEAST OF OVR LORD'S ASCENSION OR Holy-Thurs-dayes Deuotion The ground of this Feast In the old TestameÌ„t Prophecies Types In the new the History of our Sauiours going in triumph into Heauen PARALELL Prophecie Thou hast ascended vp on high thou hast ledde captiuity captiue Psalm 68. 18. Historie And when he had spokeÌ„ these things while they beheld him hee was taken vp Act. 1. 9. Hee rodde vpon the Cheâ—ubims did flye yea he did flye vpon the wings of the wind Psa. 18. 10. For a Clowd tooke him out of their sight Act. 1. 9. Sit thou on my right hand Psalm 110. 1. Hee was caried vp into heauen and he sate on the right hand of God Mar. 16. 19. Type Eliah was taken vp with a fierie Charet 2. King 2. 11. Accomplishment While hee blessed them he was parted from them and caried vp into heauen Luke 24. 51. For thine instruction meditate vpon Prophecie Types Storie of Christ's Ascension For thy comfort apply the benefit thereof to thy selfe For thy correction examine thy desires and affections check thy earthlinesse and worldlinesse Thy faith and ioy by the Psalme Thy loue and hope by the exhortation Thy Zeale and Deuotion
of Martyrs since the worlds beginning were put in one skale and thine in the other thy Passion would beare them all down for thou barest the full weight of thy Father's heauiest hand Neuer were there sufferings like thy sufferings because neuer such a Sufferer the torments being infinitely improued by the Bearer Neuer sweat like thy sweat because neuer any had a burthen like to thine Neuer teares like thy teares because shed for them who thirsted for thy bloud Neuer torments like thy torments because neuer flesh so pure and tender as thy flesh Neuer horrour like to thy horrour being forsaken of thy Father because neuer loue like to thy loue of him Neuer sorrow like to thy sorrow because neuer sense and apprehension like to thy sense and apprehension of the infinite displeasure of God for the sinnes of mankinde O my most bountifull Redeemer who bestowedst largely and wast bestowed liberally for me it concerneth mee to know how much I stood thee in For how should I estimate thy loue if I cannot cast the totall of the Debt thou diddest discharge for mee But no heart can conceiue what sorrow thou conceiuedst no tongue can expresse what griefe thou diddest expresse by thy bloudy teares and those thy strong cries when thou complainedst that thy soule was heauy vnto death prayedst thy Father if it were possible to let this 〈◊〉 passe from thee I am appaled at thine agony I am astonished or thy feare I am amazed at thy patience I am rauished at thy loue My heart riseth my veines swell my bloud boiles within me against thy Persecuters If it were in my power I would put them all to millions of torments I would inflict a thousand deaths vpon Iudas that betrayed thee and Pilat that condemned thee and the enuious Scribes and Pharisees that layed snares for thee and the periured witnesses that gaue false euidence against thee and that execrable rout that preferred a murtherer before thee and the barbarous Souldiers that spit vpon thee and buffeted thee and the bloudy executioners of the Iewish malice and Romane cruelty that hanged and nayled and goared thee But when I diue deepe into thy bloudy passion I finde my selfe as deepe in the guilt of thy bloud-shedding as they They were in that but accessaries but I by my sinnes was a principall in the death of the Lord of Life My sinnes by their tongues and hands did all this villany outrage vpon thee Their nailes and speares pierced but the flesh but my sinnes pierced thy very soule My sinnes my sinnes O Lord by their hands crucified thee wherefore I condemne mine eyes to continuall teares my heart to perpetuall sighs and my thoughts to euerlasting pensiuenesse What shall I doe to wash away the guilt of thy bloud which alone can take away the guilt of my sinnes Verily I should bee vtterly swallowed vp in this gulfe but that the price of thy bloud hath satisfied as for all other sins so for the guilt of spilling it selfe And now my anger and feare and trouble anguish are all turned into ioy and comfort and loue admiration of the infinite wisdome of thy Father in prouiding such a remedy and his iustice in requiring such a satisfaction but most of all thy infinite loue making so full payment of the infinite debt of my sinnes What can I do what can I suffer enough for thee Gracious God to all the rest of thy blessings spirituall temporall conferred vpō me purchased by thy sufferings adde this one aboue the rest the special gift of the remembrance of these thy sufferings that wheresoeuer I am whatsoeuer I doe I may haue thy passion in my heart and thy wounds bleeding afresh in my mind with an infinite hatred of sinne that procured them and loue of thy goodnesse who induredst them for me Thy Church since thou leftest her is a widdow and I am as one of her dead children not as the Samaritan was halfe dead but whole dead in my sinnes and transgressions Thou Lord art the true Elias who raisedst and doest raise from death this Widdowes children to life by stretching thy body ouer them O my gracious Lord apply thy Body stretched this day on the Crosse to me Lay thy head to my head thy hands to my hands thy feet to my feet and thy heart to my heart that I may receiue warmth from thy bloud and ease from thy stripes and health from thy wounds and spirit from thy breath and strength from thy grace to stand vp from the dead and walke with thee from hence forth in newnesse of life So bee it Amen The weeke dayes Deuotions THe first day being the Christian Sabbath preceded the Festiualls whither I referre thee The others here follow in their order Munday's Deuotion being the second day from the Creation The Father worketh The worke of Creation on this day AGaine God said Let there be a Firmament in the middest of the waters and let it separate the waters from the waters Gen. 1. 3. Then God made the Firmament and separated the waters that were vnder the Firmament from the waters that were aboue the Firmament and it was so and God called the Firmament Heauen ver 7. So the euening and the morning were the 2. day ver 8. And I worke THe worke of redemption this day prophesied of in the Epistle Isa. 50. 6. I gaue my backe vnto the smiters my cheeks to the nippers I hid not my face from shame spitting c. Related in the Gospell Mat. 27. 1 2. When the morning was come all the chiefe Priests and the Elders of the People tooke counsell against Iesus to put him to death For thine instruction meditate In the morning vpon the worke of Creation In the euening vpon the worke of Redemption For thy comfort apply the Vse of the one Benefit of the other For thy corrction reproue thy Abuse of the one Vnthankfulnesse for the other Quicken Thy thankes by the Hymne Thine obedience by the admonition Thy zeale and deuotion by the prayer ensuing THE HYMNE HAue I not remembred thee in my bed and thought vpon thee when I was waking Psal 63. 7. Because thou hast beene my helper therefore vnder the shadow of thy wings will I reioyce ver 8. My soule hangeth vpon thee thy right hand hath vpholden me ver 9. Saue me O God for the waters are come in euen to my soule Psal. 69. 1. I stick fast in the deepe mire where no ground is I am come into deepe waters so that the flouds runne ouer me ver 2. My misdeeds preuaile against me O be thou mercifull vnto my sinnes Psal. 65. 3. Blessed is the man whom thou choosest and receiuest vnto thee he shall dwell in thy Courts and shall bee satisfied with the pleasures of thine House euen of thy holy Temple ver 4. Thou shalt shew vs wonderfull things in thy righteousnesse O God of our saluation thou that art the hope of all the ends of
the day following gauest thy selfe for mee on the Crosse giue me a speciall saith to receiue thee and retaine thee and applie continually thy feare to embolden me thine Agonie to comfort me thy nakednesse to cloathe me thy cōdemning to quit me thy bloud to clense me thy wounds to heale me and thy death to quicken me O let not the worke of thy hands bee plucked out of thy hands Let not the purchase of thy bloud be morgaged to the diuell Let not thy teares and bloud bee shed in vaine Let not thy sighes and groanes be breathed out to no purpose Let not thine agonie and sweate let not thy taking and binding let not thy arraigning and condemning let not thy stripping and scourging let not thy buffetting and being spit vpon let not thy pricking and goaring let not thy crucifying dying want their effects in me What should I not do or suffer for thee who wert martired in all parts of thy body and faculties of thy soule for me In thy minde by apprehension of thy Fathers wrath in thy affections by feare and sorrow euen vnto death in thy inward parts by thine agonie in thy outward by thy torments in thy head by thornes in thy cheekes by buffets in thy face by spettle in thy eares by blasphemies in thy smell by the stench of Golgotha in thy taste by gall and vineger in thy handes and feete by nailes in thy bodie by stripes in thy side by the launce and in thy ioynts by the crosse O Lord who hast called me to the knowledge of thy truth and by thy Spirit imprinted thy loue in my heart by those nailes which fastened thee to the Crosse. Let nothing euer be able to separate me from thy loue not tribulation nor anguish nor persecution nor height nor depth nor things present nor things to come nor life nor death for I know that all things worke for the best to them that loue thee I cannot suffer the thousandth part of that for thee which thou hast suffered for mee I cannot suffer the least part of that which I deserue for my sins I cannot suffer any thing which the Apostles and Prophets haue not suffered before me I cannot suffer so much as may any way counter-ballance the massie crowne of glory prepared for me for my light and momentarie afflictions are no way worthy the glorie that shall be reuealed vpon me hereafter And for the present what are afflictions or crosses or persecutions or mockes or disgraces but the common lot of thy children the discipline of thy schoole the physicke for my soule the pledge of thy loue the badge for my profession the incentiues of my deuotion the triall of my faith the exercise of my patience the testimonie of my constancie the marke of my conformitie with thee When I am thus chastened I am iudged of thee that I be not condemned of the world Shall tribulation therefore or anguish or bands or imprisonment or stripes or banishment separate me from thy loue Nay sith I know they befall me by thy prouidence and are mitigated by thy mercie and directed by thy loue for my greater good they shall rather vnite me faster to thee How shall I denie thee who art the Lord that bought me◠How should I grieue thy Spirit which comforteth me in all my griefes How should I set that bloud at nought which was the price of my redemption How shold I euer willingly offend thee who art my peace hast reconciled me to thy Father and payed my ransome with thy dearest hearts bloud How can I euer forget thee who remembrest me at all times in all places in my iournies by thy conduct at home by thy safe-guard in my prayers by thy assistance in my afflictions by thy comforts in my board by thy bountie in my bed by thy protection and in all my wayes by thy support To this thy gracious prouidence and care which continually watcheth ouer all thine Elect I commend my sleepe and rest this night beseeching thee so to order it and me that whether I sleepe or wake whether I labour or rest whether I lye downe or rise vp all may be done vnder thy protection in thy feare to thy glorie So be it Amen The close out of Scripture TO him that is able to keepe me that I fall not and to present me faultlesse before the presence of his glory with ioy Iud 24. That is to God onely wise my Sauiour be glorie and maiestie and dominion and power c. ver 24. The Deuotion for Friday The Father worketh The work of creation on this day MOreouer God sayd Let the earth bring forth the liuing thing according to his kind cattell and that which creepeth and the beast of the earth according to his kind and it was so Gen. 1. 24. And God made the beast of the earth according to his kind and the cattel according to his kind and euery creeping thing of the earth according to his kind and God saw that it was good ver 25. Furthermore God sayd Let vs make man in our owne Image according to our likenes and let him rule ouer the fish of the Sea and ouer the Fowle of the Heauen and ouer the beasts and ouer all the earth and ouer euery thing that crcepeth moueth on the earth ver 26. Thus God created the man in his Image In the Image of God created hee him hee created them male and female ver 27. And God blessed them and God sayd to them Bring forth fruit and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and rule ouer the fish of the Sea and ouer the fowle of the heauen and ouer euery beast that moueth vpon the earth ver 28. And God sayd Behold I haue giuen to you euery herbe bearing seede which is vpon all the earth and euery tree wherein is the fruit of a tree bearing seed that shall be to you for meate ver 29. Likewise to euery beast of the earth and to euery sowle of the heauen and euery thing that moueth vpon the earth which hath life in it selfe euery greene herbe shall be for meat and it was so ver 30. And God saw all that he had made and loe it was very good So the Euening the Morning were the sixt day ver 31. AND I WORKE The worke of Redemption on this day Matth. 27. the whole Chap. as also Luke 23. Mar. 15. Ioh. 19. When he was reuiled he reuiled not againe when he suffered hee threatned not but committed himselfe to him that iudgeth righteously Who his owne selfe bore our sinnes in his owne body on the tree ver 24. For thine instruction meditate In the Morning on the worke of thy Creation In the Euening on the work of thy Redemption wrought on this day For thy comfort apply to thy selfe the benefit of both For thy correction check thy selfe for thy Defacing Gods Image stamped in thee at thy Creation Trampling vnder foote Christ's blood the price of
houlding thy deere purchase O let not thy hate of sinne extinguish thy loue to thy creature Let not any thing that I haue done preiudice thee in the merit of that which thou hast suffered for me My sins deserued eternall wrath of thy Father but thou hast borne it My wonton delights and impure pleasures deserued stripes and wounds but thou hast receiued them My hainous crimes deserued death but thou hast suffered it for me This day my first parent Adam was made a liuing soule and this day thou the second Adam wert made a quickning Spirit This day he sinned in a garden and this day thou sorrowedst in the garden This day he tooke the fruite of the forbidden tree and this day thou wert hung vpon the accursed tree This day he was cast into a dead sleepe and his side opened and his wite Eue formed of his ribbe was flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone this day also thou wert cast into a deadly sleepe and thy side opened and thy Spouse the Catholicke Church brought foorth not by water onely but by water and bloud the water of regeneration and bloud of explation and sanctification This day Adam brought the curse vpon himselfe and all his posterity this day thou prouidedst an euerlasting blessing for thy selfe and all thy members That which he lost thou hast regayned with aduantage that which he did thou hast suffered for that which I owed thou hast discharged on the very day by taking all his and our debts vpon thee and laying downe an al-sufficient price to satisfie for them O giue me an hand of faith to receiue so much of this infinite sum as may discharge my debt and strengthen this my hand that I may hold it fast and tender it to thy Father and receiue from him an absolute and generall acquittance signed with thy blood and sealed with thy Crosse bearing date the very day of thy consummation of all things at thy death If thou bad'st required a greater thing we should haue done it for what will not a man doe for his life How much more when thou â—arest belieue and liue cast your selues vpon me and I will saue you from drowning in euerlasting perdition receiue the price of your ransome and bee freed When thou holdest out the golden Scapter of thy grace if wee will not take hold on it wee deserue double dâ—mnation for refusing so easy a meanes of saluation Adam belieued Eue and Eue the Serpent to her and our ruine why should not I much rather belieue thy Church thy Spouse and thy Spouse thy Word to saluation What should with-hold my faith from apprehending my hope from exâ—ecting the promises of thy Gospell confirmed by so many miracles testâ—fied by the Church in all Ages signed with the blood of so many Martyrs and 〈◊〉 to my soule and conscience by the holy Spirit Doth it shake and stagger my faith that thy workes recorded in holy Scriptures so farre transcend nature and the mysteries of sauing truth soare aboue humane reason But this demonstrateth rather faith to be faith and thee ô God to be true God Faith is not faith if reason comprehend it God cannot be God if nature limit him Am I the more auerse from embracing thy Gospell because it crosseth and checketh my naturall dispositions and in clinations But the cause is most euident thy Law is iust holy and pure but I am wicked prophane and impure The physick is for the most part the better which the patient liketh worst because it exasperateth the paine for the time Haue I the lesse loue and liking to the most holy faith because it restraineth my carnall liberty and abridgeth mee or altogether depriueth mee of worldly comforts and contentments But am I not spirit as welâ— as flesh Haue I not a Law in my minde controlling the Law of my members Is it not much better to sowe vnto the Spirit that I may reape peace ioy and life euerlasting then sowe to the flesh and of the flesh reape nothing but corruption Thy Gospell ô gracious God restraineth my carnall but enlargeth my spirituall liberty it denieth mee sinfull but it promiseth me holy delights and pleasures it moderateth the desire and vse of temporarie comforts and ioyes but assureth mee that my heart shall be filled with eternall Am I ready to be beaten off from my holy profession and beliefe by blowes and strokes persecutions losses imprisonment banishment scorne of the world and disgrace This should make mee hold it the faster for the Gospell foretelleth that these things should befall true bâ—lieuers and it is an honour to mee to beare the â—adge of mâ—â—profession and to drinke with thee my Sauiour in thine owne Cup. It is my profession to be thy Souldier and he is no Souldier that endureth not hardnesse I can expect no crowne without a Conquest no Conquest without a battaile no battaile without blowes and wounds and what are these light and momentary afflictions to an eternall weight of glory Thus doth thâ— Word conquer my reason and yet it will not yeeld I resolue to belieue Lord strengthen my resolution I doe belieue Lord helpe mine vnbelief All things past haue so come to passe as the Oracles of thy truth fore-shewed they should and how then can I doubt of things future reuealed in them The deluge was foretold 120 yeeres before and at the prefixed time it ouerranne the whole world Thy peoples bondage in Aegypt for 400 yeeres and their after deliuery is no otherwise described by Moses then it was in a dreame many Ages before deliuered to Abraham Thou calledst thy Shepheard Cyrus and thine annointed Iosias by name to their functions long before either of them or their forefathers were conceiued The 4 famous Monarchs pictured out in Nebuchadnezzars Image succeeded in their order The Assyrian represented by the golden head the Persian by the siluer armes and shoulders the Grecian by the thighs of brasse and the Romane by the leggs of yron And do we not see at this day the stumpe of that Image and the feete partly yron in the Turkish and partly of clay in the Germane Empire Thy Birth and Death ô Sauiour was fore shadowed in Types and fore-spoken of by Prophets euer since the world began and since thy comming into the flesh and finishing all things at thy death in Ierusalem Not a syllable or one iot of any of thy words haue passed without their accomplishment Ierusalem is destroyed the Temple made euen with the ground and neuer could be built againe The Iewes are dispersed into all nations The Gospell is preached through the whole world the man of sinne is euery day more and more discouered and why should I not then belieue as certainly that the heauens shall passe away shortly with heate and the elements melt with fire and thy signe bee seene in the clowdes and those that are in their graues be awaked with the sound of the last Trumpe and meete thee in the aire
is impossible for those who were once enlightened and haue tasted the heauenly gift and were made partakers of the holy Ghost Heb. 6. 4 It they shall fall away to renew them to repentance c. ver 5. The Angels which kept not their first estate he hath reserued in euerlasting chaines vnder darkenesse vnto the iudgement of the great day Iud 6. THE PRAYER FOR Saturday Morning composed of Petitions sutable to the rest of the Father and the Sonne on this day Motiues to perseueraÌ„ce agreeable to the subsequent exhortation ALmightie Creator of heauen and earth and all things therein who this day restedst froÌ„ all thy workes and blessedst it grant to me after the painefull laboures and trauailes of this life are ended a sweete blessed and comfortable rest with thee in heauen where I may keepe a continuall Sabbath hold a perpetuall feast sing an euerlasting song weare an incorruptible crowne possess an eternall inheritance and fully enioy thee in all things and all things in thee in endlesse quietnesse ioy content and rest This rest is the marke at which all my desires aime this is the price for which all my endeauouâ—s runne this is the hauen to which by the gales of thy spirit my christian course driues For in this rest there is perfect tranquillitie and in this tranquillitie contentment and in this contentment ioy and pleasure and in this ioy and pleasure varietie and in this varietie securitie and in this securitie eternitie This is the end without end to which all my labours in thy seruice and sufferings for thee through my whole life tend vnto Here I haue labour without rest there shall be rest without labour here perturbations without tranquillitie there tranquillitie without perturbations here desire without content there content without desire heere paine and sorrowes without sincere pleasures and ioy there ioyes and pleasures without all paine and sorrowes heere satiety of delights without variety there variety without satiety here feare without safety there safety without feare heere a sudden end without ioy there ioyes without end Wherefore I beseech thee heauenly Father loosen my desires and affections from the things that are belowe and knit them to the things that are aboue Breake and dissolue the vnlawfull contracts betweene my soule and the creatures and marrte her to thee in righteousnesse Breede in me more and more the loathing of the forbidden fruit and a longing for the fruits of the tree of life Let mee not leane vpon the reedes of Aegypt which will breake vnder me and the splinters run into my body Let mee not repose my selfe vnder Ionâ—s's worme-eaten gourd but the sollid wood of Christ's Crosse. Let me not set vp my rest on this side of Iordan but passe ouer into the celestiall Canaan And because death is the narrow passage betweene this life and the life to come let mee not so much feare this cut as I doe for on this side I leaue labour sorrow sinne shame vexation anxiety paine and mortality and on the other side I finde rest righteousnesse glory contentment pleasure and immortality It is but a short passage and my Sauiour hath made it safe All thy Saints either haue or shall passe it ouer I lose nothing in this passage my soule is presently transported and though my body stay a while heere yet it shall follow in due time And no sooner this darke world and the shadow of it goes out of sight but the glorious light of heauen shineth vpon me I see streetes of gold and gates of pearle and foundations garnished with all sorts of pretious stones I shall behold thee the Father in thy Maiesty Christ thy Sonne in his glory the Spirit in his sanctity the Arch-angels and Angels in their excellency and the Saints in their felicity I shall then hunger no more I shall labour no more I shall trauell no more I shall feare no more I shall grieue no more I shall desire no more I shall need no more any house for the heauen heauen of heauens shall be my habitation nor Temple for God shall bee my Temple nor light for the Lambe shall be my light O Lord let the hope and expectation of this euerlasting rest and happinesse sweeten all my labours and ease my torment and mittigate my sorrowes and comfort my heart that I faile not in my labour nor tyre in my trauell nor sinke vnder my burdens nor fall vnder my crosses nor die for sorrow of my wounds receiued in the Lord's battailes but hold on cheerefully strenuously and valiantly till I ariue at the land of promise and there receiue the lot of mine inheritance with the Saints in light So be it Amen The close out of Scripture The peace of God which passeth all vnderstanding preserue my heart and minde through Iesus Christ Phil 4. 7. The Deuotion for Saturday Euening THE HYMNE I Will blesse the Lord at all times his praise shall bee in my mouth continually Psal. 34. 1. O how great is thy goodnesse which thou hast layed vp for them that feare thee which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men Psal. 31. 19. Blessed be the Lord for hee hath shewed mee meruailous kindnesse v. 21. Blessed be the Lord who daily loadeth vs with benefits euen the God of our saluation Psal. 68. 19. What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits Psal. 116. 12. O loue the Lord all yee his Saints for the Lord preserueth the faithfull and plenteously rewardeth the proud doer Ps. 31. 23. Behold the eye of the Lord is vpon them that feare him and vpon them that hope in his mercie Ps. 33. 18. To deliuer their soule from death and to keepe theÌ„ aliue in famine v. 19. Though I haue layen among the pots yet shall I bee as the wings of a Doue couered with siluer and her feathers with yellow gold Psal. 68. 13. Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord deliuereth him out of all Psal. 34. 19. He keepeth all his bones so that not one of them is broken v. 20. Why art thou cast downe ô my soule and why art thou disquieted within me Hope thou in God for I will yet praise him who is the health of my countenance and my God Psal. 42. 11. THE TEXTS IN. Adam all dye 1 Cor. 15. 22. It is appointed to men once to dye Heb. 9. 27. Death went ouer all Rom. 5. 12. Man that is borne of a woman is but of few dayes Iob. 14. 1. Hee commeth forth like a flower and is cut downe he flyeth away as a shadow and continueth not verse 2. And where is he verse 10. When the breath of man goeth forth hee shall turne againe to his earth and then all his thoughts perish Psal. 146. 3. Man lyeth downe and riseth not till the heauens be no more Iob 14. verse 14. They shall not be awaked nor raised out of their sleepe v. 14. Thou hast made my
dayes as it were a span long Psal. 39. 6. Wee are but as yesterday our dayes on earth are a shadow Iob 8. 9. What man is hee that liueth and shall not see death Psal 89. 47. All flesh is grasse and the glory of it as the flower 1 Pet 1. 24. As the flower of grasse hee shall passe away Iam. 1. 10. What is our life It is a Vapour that appeareth for a little time and vanisheth away Iam. 4. 14. Man his dayes are determined the number of his months are with thee thou hast appointed him his bounds that hee cannot passe Iob. 14. 5. Lord let me know mine end and the number of my dayes Psal. 39. 5. I will adde vnto thy dayes fifteene yeeres Isa 38. 5. O teach vs to number our dayes c. Psal. 90. 12. Whether we dye or liue wee are the Lords Rom. 14. 8. The right vse of Fasting consisteth in the 1 Manner that it be sincere not hypocriticall 2 Measure that it be not immoderate 3 Cause or end which must bee either 1 To tame and subdue the flesh such was Paul's fast I beate downe my bodie 2 To testifie our humiliation and sorrow for our sinnes such was Ezra's and the Nineuites fast 3 To quicken zeale and deuotion such was Hanna's fast Luke 2. The abuse of Fast likewise is seene in the 1 Manner if wee abstaine from one kinde of meate and feede daintily on another forbeare one meale and glut our selues another 2 Measure if we continue or fast so long that we much impaire our strength or endanger our health 3 Cause or end 1 If we abstaine from any kind of meat out of an opinion and erroneous scruple of conscience that it is of it selfe vncleane as the Tatians and Encratites did or as being now forbidden vs vnder the Gospell as some Iudaising Christians at this day 2 If we abstaine from all or any kind of meate to merit or satisfie thereby as Papists doe 3 If wee keepe a Fast to colour any vngodly or malicious purpose as Iezebel did The second Table of Fasting The Lord is faithfull who shall keepe you from euill 2 Thes. 3. 3. Commit the keeping of their soules to him who is a faithfull Creator 1 Pet. 4. 19. I know whom I haue trusted and I am perswaded that he is able to keepe that which I haue committed vnto him against that day 2 Tim. 1. 12. For this end Christ dyed and rose and reuiued that he might be Lord both of the liuing and the dead Rom. 14. 9. In that hee dyed hee dyed to sinne once but in that hee liueth hee liueth to God Rom. 6. 10. If we be dead with Christ wee belieue that wee shall also liue with him verse 8. I was dead I am aliue and I liue for euer and I haue the keys of death and of hell Reu. 1. 18. I am the resurrection and the life Hee that beleeueth in mee though he were dead yet shall he liue Ioh. 11. 25. Christ hath abolished death and brought life and immortality to light by the Gospell 2 Tim. 1. 10. Death is swallowed vp into victory 1 Cor. 15. 54. O death where is thy sting O graue where is thy victory v. 55. The sting of death is sinne and the strength of sinne is the Law verse 56. But thankes bee to God who hath giuen vs victory through our Lord Iesus Christ verse 57. Hee also tooke part of the same that through death hee might destroy him that had the power of death euen the diuell Heb. â— 14. Our friend Lazarus sleepeth Ioh 11. 11. And when hee had thus spoken he fell asleepe Acts 7. 60. And many are fallen asleepe 1 Cor. 11. 10. Which are asleepe in Christ 1 Cor. 15. 18. Christ is risen from the dead the first fruits of them that sleepe verse 20. Christ to me is life and to die is gaine Phil. 1. 21. Whosoeuer loseth his life for my sake shall saue it Mar. 8. 35. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord Reu. 14. 13. For they rest from their labours verse 16. There remaineth a rest for the people of God Heb. 4. 9. God shall wipe away all teares from their eyes Reu. 1. 17. They shall hunger no more nor thirst no more neither shall the Sun light on them nor any heate Reu. 7. 16. Hee that is dead is free from sinne Rom. 6. 7. We looke for a new heauen in which dwelleth righteousnesse 2 Pet. 3. 13. And there shall in no wise enter any thing that defileth neither whatsoeuer worketh abomination or maketh a lye Reu. 21. 27. For without shall bee doggs and sorcerers and whoremongers and murderers and idolaters and whosoeuer loueth or maketh a lie Reu. 22. 15. The creature shall be deliuered from bondage Rom. 8. 21. His the tempters place was no more found Reu. 12. 8. Your ioy shall no man take away from you Ioh. 16. 22. Lord now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace according to thy word Luke 2. â—9 I desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ for that is best of all Phil. 1. 23. For we know that if the house of this earthly Tabernacle were dissolued we should haue a building of God an house not made with hands eternall in the heauens 2 Cor. 5. 1. For in this we groane earnestly desiring to be clothed vpon with our house which is from heauen verse 2. We are willing rather to bee absent from the body and present with the Lord v. 7. So God loued the world that he gaue his onely begotten Son that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life Ioh. 3. 16. He that beleeueth on him is not condemned v. 18. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the euidence of things not seene Heb. 11. 1. There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus Ro. 8. 1. I am perswaded that neither life nor death c. shall be able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord v. vlt. We know that wee are passed from death to life because wee oue the brethren 1 Iohn 3. 14. Our conuersation is in heauen from whence we looke for the Sauiour the Lord Iesus Christ Phil. 3. 20. Hope maketh not ashamed Rom. 5. 5. If we hope for that we see not then doe we with patience waite for it Rom. 8. 25. Reioycing in hope Rom. 12. 22 I would not haue you ignorant concerning them which are fallen asleepe that ye sorrow not as they which haue no hope 1 Thes. 4. 13. The full assurance of hope vnto the end Heb. 6. 11. Let vs hold fast the profession of our hope vnto the end for he is faithfull that promiseth Heb. 10 23. Which hope we haue as an anchor of the soule both sure and stedfast and which entereth to that within the veile Heb. 6. 19.
sake and for thy righteousnesse sake bring my soule out of trouble Psal. 143. 11. Enter not into iudgement with thy seruant for in thy sight shall no man liuing be iustified v. 2. O remember not the sinnes and offences of my youth but according to thy mercy thinke vpon me ô Lord for thy goodnesse Psal. 25. 6. Deliuer me from all mine offences and make me not a rebuke to the foolish Psal. 39. 9. O teach mee to number my daies that I may apply my heart vnto wisedome Psal. 90. 12. An Admonition to the Sicke THE ANALYSIS Euery good Christian ought to struggle with his infirmities labour to compass his minde to meet patience in sicknesse especially considering that sicknes is 1 His heauenly Fathers visitation whose 1 Power cannot bee resisted 2 Will must be obeyed 3 Goodnesse must bee acknowledged in sending vs good as well as euill 2 A deserued scourge for his sinne 3 Seat in loue to him for his good 1 To weane him from the loue of the world 2 To strengthen the spirit in him and tame the flesh 3 To breed in him a loathing and detestation of sin in generall the cause of all afflictions 4 To call him home and bring him to a sence acknowledgement of his particular sinne 5 To proue the truth and sincerity of his faith and loue 6 To saue him from eternall punishment for his sinne 7 To make him seeke more earnestly to God who will be found of him and if his appointed time bee not come manifest his glory in deliuering him frō the very iawes of death THE TEXTS VVEe haue had Fathers of our flesh which corrected vs and wee gaue them reuerence shall wee not much rather be in subiection to the Father of Spirits and liue Heb. 12. 9. Who hath euer resisted his wil Rom. 9. 19. He is able to subdue all things to himselfe Phil. 3. 21. Hee draweth the mighty with his power he riseth vp and no man is sure of life Iob 24. 21. Will hee pleade against mee with his great power Iob 23. 6. God is greater then man Iob 33. 12. Why doest thou striue against him for hee giueth not account of any of his matters v. 13. Thy will be done c. Mat. 6. 10. Father if it be possible let this cup passe from me Mat 26. 39. Yet not as I will but as thou wilt v. 16. I held my peace because it was thy doing Psal. 39. 10. Sanctifie the Lord God in your hearts c. 1 Pet. 3. 11. Let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their soules to him in well doing as vnto a faithfull creator 1 Pet. 3. 19. Wee haue receiued good at the hands of God and shall wee not receiue euill Iob 2. 10. Affliction commeth not forth of the dust neither doth trauaile come forth of the ground Iob 5. 6. I will make thee sicke in smiting thee because of thy sinne Micha 6. 13. Man suffereth for his sinne Lam. 3. 39. Wee know that all things worke together for good to them that loue God Rom. 8. 28. The heate beate vpon the head of IONAS that he fainted and wished in himselfe to dye and said It is better for me to die then to liue Ionah 4. 8. And ELIAH requested that he might die It is enough Lord take away my life I am no better then my Fathers 1 Kings 19. 4. We that are in this Tabernacle doe groane being burdened 2 Cor. 5. 4. That I should not bee exalted aboue measure there was giuen me a Thorne in the flesh 2 Cor. 12. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities in reproaches in necessities in persecutions in distresses for when I am weake then am I strong v. 10 Though our outward man decay our inward man is renewed c. 2 Cor. 4. 16. My wounds stinke and are corrupt through my foolishnesse Psal. 38. 5. vid. Psal. 38. 4. Let vs search and trie our waies and turne againe to the Lord Lam. 3. 40. I truly am set in the Plague and my heauinesse is euer in my sight Psal. 38. 17. I will confesse my wickednesse and be sorrie for my sinne verse 18. The people turneth not to him that smiteth them Isa 9. 13. see Ezra 9. 13. The thing that I so greatly feared is fallen vpon me Iob 3. 25. We haue transgressed and rebelled and thou hast not pardoned Lam. 3. 42. Though he slay me yet will I trust in him Iob 13. 15. He shall also be my saluation for an hypocrite shall not stand before him v. 16. And though all this be come vpon vs yet doe we not forget thee nor behaue our selues frowardly in thy couenant Psal. 44. 18. Our heart is not turned backe neither our steps gon out of the way v. 19. No not when thou hast smitten vs into the place of dragons and couered vs with the shadow of death v. 20. We are chastened of the Lord that we should not be condemned with the world 1 Cor. 11. 32. I will bee vnto Ephraim as a Lyon and as a roaring Lyon to the house of Iudah I will teare and goe away Hosea 5. 14. I will goe and returne to my place till they acknowledge their offences and seeke my face In their affliction they will seeke me early v. 15. Hee would haue filled his bellie with the huskes that the swine did eate and no man gaue vnto him Luke 15. 16. And when he came to himself he said How many hired seruants in my Father's house haue meate enough and I perish with hunger v. 17. I will arise and goe to my Father c. v. 18. When in their trouble they turned to the Lord God of Israel and sought him hee was found of them 2 Chron. 15. 4. In wrath or in the middest of iudgement thou remembrest mercy Abak 3. 2. Ikill and make aliue I wound and I heale Deut. 32. 39. The Lord bringeth downe to the graue and bringeth vp 1 Sam. 2. 6. This man was borne blinde that the worke of God might bee shewed in him Ioh. 9. 8. This sicknesse is not vnto death but for the glory of God that the Son of God might bee glorified thereby Ioh. 11. 4. For wee had the Sentence of death in our selues that wee should not trust in our selues but in God that raiseth the dead 2. Cor. 1. 9 10. Who hath deliuered vs from so great a death and doth deliuer in whom wee trust that he will yet deliuer vs ver 11. A Prayer for the Sicke FAithfull Creator and preseruer of all men especially of thine Elect whom thou smitest in mercie and chastenest in loue and correctest in tender compassion and wounding and healing againe killing and reuiuing bringing downe to the gates of hell and raising vp from thence againe Look downe I beseech thee vpon thy poore prostrated seruant grieuously punished and afflicted in body with the smart
my vnmindfulnesse of thee and vngratefulnesse to thee all my life I deserue that thou shouldest vtterly abandon and forsake me now at my death But thy thoughts are not like our thoughts nor thy affections like mine Though a woman could forget the fruit of her wombe yet thou wilt not nor canst not forget those that trust in thee Thy gifts and graces are without repentance and whom thou louest thou louest to the end Thou wilt not breake a bruised reede nor quench the smoking â—lax Though thou hast seuerely corrected me in this thy fearefull visitation yet thou hast not and I know wilt not giue me ouer to eternal death Deare Father shew thy strength in my greatest weakenes confirme thy mercy to me in my greatest misery apply thy comfort to me in this my last extremity Asswage the paines of my body with ghostly comforts and diminish the feare of death by the assured hope of a better life Call to my minde whilest yet I breathe all the errors of my vnderstanding that I may timely reuoke them all the sins of my will that I may heartily bewaile them all the testimonies of thy loue that I may gratefully acknowledge them all the promises of thy Gospell that I may comfortably embrace them all my holy vowes and purposes that I may finally confirme them and gracious Lord accept the will for the deede O let me that am now returning to dust and ashes speake but this once to my Lord maker With all my heart soule and strength I beseech thee by all that my Sauiour Iesus Christ hath done and suffered for mee I intreate thee speake peace to my soule at her departing and say vnto her I am thy saluatioÌ„ Make my election sure by my true repentance perfect charity assured confidence constant patience comfortable perseuerance vnto the end and in the end To the TRINITY GLorious Creator gracious Redeemer euerlasting comforter Lord God Almighty send me ayde helpe from heauen in this my last and most dreadfull conflict with all the powers of hell darknes Arme me with thy compleat armour and endue mee with power from aboue to vanquish Sathan and his infernall bands and to quench all the fierie darts of the wicked in the bloud of my Redeemer I am thine ô God the Father by the right of creation I am thine ô God the Sonne by the right of thy purchase I am thine ô God the Holy Ghost by the right of thine inhabitation and possession Saue me Father by thy power saue me Sonne by thy merits saue me holy Spirit by thy grace O holy blessed and glorious Trinitie whose power no creature is able to resist Rebuke confound thine enemy that goeth about to deface thine Image in me to spoile thy creature to destroy him for whom thou ô Sonne offeredst thy self on the Crosse by the eternall Spirit to the Father O Father be now to me a father in my greatest need O Iesus be to me a Iesus in my greatest danger O Comforter bee to me a Comforter in my greatest afflictions Holy Righteous Iudge eternall Sathan taketh aduantage of thy fatherly chastising me he grows strong against mee by this my great weaknesse Now hee rageth most furiously because his time is short He assaulteth mee euery way by subtill suggestions by fearfull visions and apparitions Hee terrifieth my flesh with the vgly shape of death he affrighteth my conscience with the horror of the last iudgement and scorcheth my soule euen with flashes of hell fire O Father of spirits deliuer not the soule of thy Turtle Doue that mourneth to thee day and night as a prey vnto him Though neuer so deformed yet I am thy worke O God my Father though neuer so vile yet I am thy purchase ô God my Redeemer though neuer so polluted yet I am thy Temple O God my sanctifier Faithful Creator preserue the worke of thine hand faithfull Redeemer preserue the purchase of thy bloud faithfull Sanctifier preserue the Temple of thine honour I abhorre my selfe in dust and ashes and I conceiue more grief then I am able to expresse for abusing thy workes ô Father thy Word and Sacraments ô Sonne thy gifts graces ô Spirit Father forgiue me all sinnes of infirmity against thy power Sonne forgiue me all sinnes of ignorance against thy wisedome Holy Ghost forgiue mee all sinnes of malice against thy grace Most mighty Father giue mee thy protection Most mercifull Son giue me thy peace Most gracious holy Spirit giue me thy comfort that I may safely peaceably and cheerfully leaue this vale of teares Father possesse me of the kingdome which thou O Sonne hast purchased and thou O Spirit hast sealed vnto mee Into thy hands O Father who breathedst into mee the Spirit of life Into thy hands O Sonne who breathedst out thy Spirit for mee Into thy hand ô Holy Spirit who renewedst a right spirit within mee and hast comforted my spirit to the last gaspe I now commend my spirit Amen To the Lord IESVS at the howre of death VVElcom blessed houre the period of my pilgrimage the terme of my bondage the end of my cares the close of my sighs the bound of my trauels the gole of my race and the hauen of my hopes I haue fought a long fight in much weaknes I haue finished my course though in great faintnesse and the crowne of my ioy is that through the strength of thy grace I haue kept the true faith and now I dye in it I willingly resigne my flesh I despise the world and I defie the diuell who hath no part nor share in mee And now what is my hope My hope Lord Iesu is euen in thee For I know that thou my Redeemer liuest and thou wilt immediatly receiue my soule and raise vp my body also at the last day and I shall see thee in my flesh with these eyes and none other My heart fainteth my strength faileth my tongue faltereth Lord let thy Spirit of comfort helpe mine infirmities and make supplication for mee with sighes and groanes that cannot be expressed I submit my selfe wholly to thy will I commit my soule to thee as my faithfull REDEEMER who hast bought mee with thy most precious bloud I professe to all the world I know no name vnder heauen by which I may be saued but thine my IESV my Sauiour I renounce all confidence in merits saue thine I thankfully acknowledge all thy blessings I vnfeinedly bewaile all my sinnes I stedfastly belieue all thy promises I heartily forgiue all mine enemies I willingly leaue all my friends I vtterly loath all earthly comforts I entirely long for thy comming Come Lord Iesu come quickly Lord Iesu receiue my Spirit The Hand-Maide's Posie written in the end of her Manuell Birth is a bragge Glory a blaze Honour's earths pompe Riches a gaze Fame is but winde Beauty a flower Pleasure a dance the world a bower In heauen with thee Lord let me be On earth my heauen 's alone in
condemneth them to euerlasting torments in hell PARS II. SECT 12. DOMIN 12. Of Christ his Person Q. WHat are we to know and acknowledge concerning Christ the Mediator A. His Person State Office Q. What ought wee to belieue touching his Person A. That he is God and man in one person conceiued by the Holy-Ghost incarnate of the Virgin Marie SECT 13. DOMIN 13. Of Christ's estate of humiliation Q. In what state or states doth the Scripture describe him to vs A. In two states 1. Of humiliation 2. Of exaltation Q. What suffered he in the state of humiliation A. He bare all our infirmities became subiect to the Law and was obedient to death euen the death of the Crosse was buried and descended into hell SECT 14. DOMIN 14. Of Christ his estate of exaltation Q. What did Christ in the state of exaltation A. He laid downe all our infirmities arose from the dead ascended into heauen sitteth at the right hand of God and shall come in the clowdes with great glory to iudge the quicke and the dead SECT 15. DOMIN 15. Of Christ his Propheticall function Q. What office did the Sonne of God take vpon him for the saluation of man A. The Office of a Mediator betwixt God and man Q. How performeth hee this office A. By executing the functions of a Prophet Priest King Q. What appertaineth to Christ's Propheticall function A. To reueale the hidden wisedome of his Father Q. How hath he heretofore executed this function A. Before his Incarnation by the Priests and Prophets of the old Law In the dayes of his flesh he executed it in his owne person preaching the Gospell which is the couenant of grace and instituting Sacraments as seales theroof viz. Baptisme which is the seale of regeneration and our entrance into the Church The Lords Supper which is the seale of our spirituall growth and nourishment in the Church Q. How doth he yet execute this function A. By the Ministers of the Word whom he furnisheth with gifts answerable and assisteth them in the holy workes of their sacred calling with his spirit enlightening the vnderstanding and opening the hearts of all belieuers to make their Ministerie effectuall Q. What benefits reape wee by Christ's Propheticall function A. Vocation and the Effects thereof incorporation into Christ's mysticall body faith spirituall wisedome and vnderstanding with other sanctifying graces of the holy Ghost SECT 16. DOMIN 16. Of Christ his Priestly function Q. What appertaineth to Christ's Priestly function A. To cleanse vs from our sins and reconcile vs to God his Father Q. How did hee execute this function A. By fulfilling the Law and offering vp himselfe vpon the Altar of the Crosse for a propitiatory sacrifice for our sinnes Q. How doth he yet execute this office A. By appearing at the right hand of God to make intercession for vs. Q. What benefits reape wee by his Priest-hood A. Iustification with the fruits thereof frée accesse vnto God with confidence setled peace of conscience and vnspeakeable ioy in the holy-Ghost SECT 17. DOMIN 17. Of Christ his Kingly function Q. What appertaineth to Christ's Kingly function A. To rule and gouerne his Church Q. How hath hee executed this function A. By making laws for the whole companie of the faithfull and establishing a perpetuall gouernment in his Church Q. How doth he yet execute this royall function A. First by his spirit ruling in our hearts and subduing the flesh to the Spirit 2. By protecting vs against all our ghostly and bodily enemies 3. By inflicting iudgements vpon the enemies of his Church 4. By aduancing his Elect to a Kingdome in heauen Q. What benefits reape wee by his Kingdome A. Glorification with the parts thereof victory safetie eternall glory SECT 18. DOMIN 18. Of the Church and the parts thereof Q. For whom did Christ take our nature vpon him and discharge his threefold office A. For his Mysticall body the Catholike Church Q. What meane you by the Catholike Church A The whole company of the Elect called already or to be called by the Word Spirit out of the estate of corruption and seruitude of sinne into the glorious liberty of the Sonnes of God to bée co-heires with Christ in his Kingdome Q. Where is this company to be found A. It is partly triumphant in heauen with Christ their Head partly militant vnder the crosse dispersed ouer the face of the whole earth where Christian Religion is professed and belieued SECT 19. DOMIN 19. Of the notes of the true Church Q. Is the Catholike Church a visible company that we may know whither to repaire for the meanes of saluation or is it altogether inuisible A. It is visible in respect of the outward badge of profession and it may be discerned by two notes especially viz. the sincere preaching of the Word and right due administration of the Sacraments agrèeable to the holy Scriptures But it is inuisible in respect of the inward seale of Gods Election who alone knoweth who are his Q. How then may a man know that he belongeth to the number of the Elect and is a liuing member of Christ A. 1. By the testimonie of the spirit which witnesseth to our spirits that we are the Sonnes of God 2. By conformitie of our beliefe to the holy Scriptures in all points necessarie to saluation 3. By a particular assurance of our owne saluation grounded vpon the promises of God in Christ and applyed to vs by faith 4. By the diuerse remarkable effects of a iustifying faith and sanctifying grace which are especially these 1. True humility 2. Unfeigned repentance 3. Sonne-like feare 4. Uniuersall and absolute submission to Gods will 5. Comfortable patience in all afflictions 6. Proficiencie and perseuerance in godlinesse 7. Setled peace of conscience 8. Unspeakable ioy in the holy-Ghost PARS III. SECT 20. DOMIN 20. Of the two-fold worship of God and of faith THis may suffice concerning the knowledge of God and him whom he hath sent Iesus Christ to discharge the Office of a Prophet Priest and King for his Church Q. Now how ought we to worship and serue God A. Both immediately and mediately as before I said Q. How immediately A. Both inwardly and outwardly Q. How inwardly A. By faith and other diuine graces that issue of faith Q. What is faith A. An infused habit or spirituall grace whereby wee stédfastly belieue all things contained in holy Scriptures and particularly apprehend and apply vnto our selues the promises of God in Christ wholly relying vpon him for our saluation SECT 21. DOMN 21. Of humility and honouring God and how they are the fruits of faith Q. What diuine vertues are the speciall issues of faith A. Humility honour reuerence obedience patience loue feare repentance zeale hope and confidence Q. What is humility A. A diuine vertue or grace whereby wée wholly denie our selues and carrie our selues lowly before God and men Q. What is honour A. A diuine grace or vertue whereby we
Our condition requires it Examples of mecknes God the Father The Sonne The Spirit The Saints Moses Dauid Ieremiah The woman of Canaan Saint Paul Resemblances in the creatures Meekenesse bringeth peace Wealth Honour Wisedome The fruits of the spirit Blessednesse 1 Gods Commandement 2 The Saints practise Hezekiah Manasses Ezra Peter 3 A preparation to the Gospell 4 Acceptable to God 5 The effect of true conuersion 6 A cause of many diuine vertues 7 Bringeth ioy and comfort 8 The want of it fearefull Precepts for seeking the meanes of saluation Examples Dauid Mary The bearers of Iohn Baptist. Promises of life All things needfull Gods fauour Delight Peace Life Blessed content The kingdome of heauen Saluation by Mercy It is the most eminent attribute to God Precepts of mercy The last iudgement proceeds vpon works of mercy Mercy the fruit of the Spirit The Saints practise Iobs Tabithas Cornelius The good Samaritans Philippians Onesiphorus Philemons Workes of mercy a certaine note of pure Religion In assurance of saluation and meanes of obtaining mercy at Gods hand 1. Precepts for it 2. God takes notice of it 3. God highly esteemes it 4. Promises of 1. Life 2. Fauour of Kings 3. Sight of God 4. Gods fauours 5. Profiting by the Word 6. Abode in heauen Precepts God the Father God of peace The Sonne Prince of peace The holy Ghost the Spirit of peace Examples The Saints children of peace The fâ—uits of peace are Prosperity Honour Benediction Wisdome Righteousnesse The speciall presence of God Vnity Beatificall vision God his Will Power Ordinance Christ his loue Example Sympathy The Saints continuall practise Ioseph Iob. Daniel Ieremiah The Apostls and Saints of the Primitiue Church Paul The Thesa louians The Hebrewes Thyatyra Encouragements Couuersion of enemies Conuiction Triall Ioy. Assurance of Gods loue Fruit of righteousnesse Holinesse Perfection The promises Life Honour in in heauen Rewards in this life For holinesse 1. Precepts 2. Paterens so fit in God the Father The Sonne The Spirit The church Reasons drawne from the Creation Our Vocation Redemption Sanctification Glorification Fruites of holinesse Ioy. Peace Prosperitie Dignitie Faith commanded As necessarie to all religious duties as Prayer Hearing the word The Sacrament It is Pretious Holy Proper to the Elect. Grounded on God the Father his Word Oath The Sonne his promise Pray The Spirits earnest Seale Faith worketh miracles Ouercommeth the 〈◊〉 The world Maketh sonnes of God Purifieth the heart Keepeth from confusion Iustifieth Saueth Crowneth with euerlasting blessings Precepts for perseuerance Examples Abraham Dauid Daniel The blind man The Cananitsh woman Peters conuerts Paul Cornelius The beasts full of eyes The Corinthians CoÌ„tinuance is a note of Truth Hath certaine promises of reward Saluation Comfortable assurance A crowne of life Apostasie and backsliding vehemently disswaded Seuerely censured Fearefully thrâ—aâ—ned with losse of reward Of Gods fauour With a reprobate sence Infamy Death Eternally punished Death is common to all men The time and houre is by God prefixed God is an omnipotent and faithfull Creator Christ himselfe died and by death entred into his glorie And destroyed death And changed it in Name Nature Of a losse it is made a gaine Of a curse a blessing and a dâ—scharge from Labour Sorrow Paine Sinne. Free from euill company Bondage Temptation Feare the Saints desire Death Are comforted in death by Faith By Loue. By Hope By a good conscience The bodie resteth in hope of a glorious resurrection The soule immediatly enioyeth blisse Body and sonle shall be crowned at the last day Fruitfulnes is a spirituall blessing The paines are deserued by the sin of Eue. Sweetened with hop of a childe And promises of blessings Temporall Spirituall Confidence in God comanded Practised by Abraham Saraah Moses Dauid Eliah Hester Iob. The three children Ionah Reasons drawne from God His Attributes Faithfulnesse Prouidence Omnipotencie Goodnesse Gracious promises Performances to men in distresse as Lot The children of Israel Eliah Citizens of Samaria The 3 children as they are called Daniel Ionah Peter The sicke soule expresseth her malady Remembrance and experience of Gods goodnesse Hope in God Meeke patience Prayeth for ease Helpe Recouery Quickening grace Pardon for sinne Wisedome Sicknesse is God's visitation who is the Father of our Spirits and cannot be resisted Must be obeyed From whoÌ„ we receiue good It is a scourge for our sins It is sent for our good To weane vs from the world To tame the flesh and strengthening the Spirit To make vs loath sin To bring vs to acknowledgement of our sins in speciall To proue sincerity of our faith and loue To keepe vs from euerlasting torments To make vs seeke more earnestly to God Who will be found of vs. And shew his glory in our recouery For thankfulnesse Examples of Christ. The Angels The Saints in heauen The Saints on earth Melchizedeck Iacob The people of Israel in Moses time Moses Deborah Barak Anna. Dauid Salomon Ezra Isaiah Ezekias Daniel Ionah Marie Zacharias The Shepheards The man taken with a Palsie The people The woman that had a Spirit of infirmity One of the Lepers The blinde man The 〈…〉 Paul Peter Iude. Iohn Precepts In thy extremest fit meditate vpon 1 The heinousnes of thy sin deseruing a sharper scourge 2 The vnsufferable torments of hel which by these teÌ„porall chastisements â—re preuenâ—ed 3 The vnconceiuable paines and sorrowes which Christ endured for thee 4 The afflictions of Gods Saints equalizing farre surpassing thine Iob. Dauid Ieremiah The Apostles and first Disciples Paul 5 The faithfulnesse goodnesse of God who will not tempt vs aboue our strength 6 The short continuance of these paines and sorrowes 7 The incoÌ„parable reward of our patience See the Admoniâ—ion for good-Fryday Pray instantly and feruently Desire others to pray ◠〈◊〉 open thy sins and griefe in particular Weepe abundantly Restore Reconcile Forgiue freely from the heart Giue as thou art able liberally Seeke to thy Pastor and desire comfort froÌ„ him and the Church absolution Medit at vpon by faith apply to thy selfe Gods infinite mercy The vertue of the Sacraments The vniuersality of promises to penitent sinners The example of Gods mercy in pardoning heinous and grieueus sinners Peter Mary Magdalen The prodigall The theefe on the Crosse. The Iewes that crucified or consented to the crucifying of IESVS Layeth opeÌ„ his afflictions in body and soule Confesseth Prayeth for audience Sence of Gods fauour Pardon for his sin 4 Acknowledgeth Gods mercies 5 Professeth trust Desire of death Ioy in the holy Ghost Peace of conscience Assured hope of Eternall blisse 6 Commendeth his soule to God