the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort 2. Cor. 1.3 Thou Lord in the begining hast stablished th' earth and the heauens are the works of thine hands Psal. 102.25 Heb. 1.10 Haue we not all one Father Hath not one GOD made vs Malach. 2.10 By the word of the Lord were the heauens made and all the hoast of them by the breath of his mouth Psal 33.6 2. And in Iesus Christ his onely Sonne our Lord. THere is but one GOD which is the Father of whom are all things and we in him And one Lord Iesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him 1. Cor. 8 6. If we walke in the light as he is in the light we haue fellowship one with another Christ with vs and we with our selues the blood of Iesus Christ his Sonne cleanseth vs from all our sinnes 1. Ioh. 1.7 Who hath deliuered vs from the power of darknes and hath translated vs into the kingdome of his deare Sonne in whom wée haue redemption through his blood that is the forgiuenesse of sinnes Colos. 1.13.14 This is my beloued Sonne in whom I am wel pleased Math. 3.17 3. Which was conceiued by the holy Ghost borne of the Virgin Mary BVt when the fulnesse of time was come God sent foorth his Sonne made of a woman made vnder the Law or subiect to the law that he might redéeme them which were vnder the Law that wee might receiue the adoption of the sonnes Galat. 4.4.5 And the Word was made flesh Christ was formed and made man by the operation of the holy Ghost without the working of man and dwelt among vs and we saw the glory thereof as the glorie of the onely begotten sonne of the Father full of grace and truth Ioh. 1.14 The holy Ghost shall come vpon thée This was spoken to Mary and the power of the most high shal ouershadow thée it shall be a secret operation of the holy Ghost therefore also that holy thing which shall be borne of thée shall be called the Sonne of God Hee must be without sinne which must take away sinne Luke 1.35 Behold a Virgin shal be with child and shal beare a Sonne and they shall call his name Emanuel which is by interpretation God with vs. Matth. 1.23 Esaie 7.14 When Marie was betrothed to Ioseph before they came togeather before he tooke her home to him she was found with Child by the holy Ghost Math. 1.18 4. Suffred vnder Pontius Pilate was crucified dead buried and descended into Hell FOr Christ also suffered for vs leauing vs an example that we should follow his steps Who his owne selfe bare our sinnes in his body on the trée that we being deliuered from sinne should liue in righteousnesse by whose stripes we are healed 1. Pet. 2.21.24 They scourged Iesus they stripped him they put vpon him a Scarlet robe to deride and mocke him because he called himselfe a King they gaue him Vineger to drinke mingled with Gall to open his veines so to hasten his death this was giuen him hanging vpon the crosse they crucified him betwéen two théeues they cast lots for the parting of his garments they set a scornefull writing ouer his head they reuiled him ceassed not till he gaue vp the Ghost Matth. 27.26 28 29 30 34 35 37 50. So Ioseph tooke the body and wrapped it in a cleane Linnen cloth and put it in his new Tombe Christs burying doth so much the more verifie his death and resurrection which he had heawen in a rocke and rolled a great stone to the doore of the sepulchre and departed Matth. 27.59 60. I know that ye seeke Iesus which was crucified he is not heere for he is risen as he sayd Come see the place where the Lord was layd c. Matth. 28.5.6 God made him to be sinn for vs which knew no sinne a sacrifice for sinne that we should be made the righteousnesse of God in him By inputation when wee shall bee clad with Christes righteousnesse 2. Cor. 5.21 Hee destroyed through death him that had the power of death that is the Diuell and that he might deliuer all them which for feare of death and Gods anger were all their life time subiect to bondage Heb. 2.14.15 Christ hath abolished death brought life and immortalitie to light through the Gospell 2. Tim. 1.10 Death is swallowed vp in victory O death where is thy sting O graue where is thy victory 1 Cor. 15.55 5. And the third day he rose againe from the dead IEsus Christ was deliuered to death for our sinnes and is risen againe for our iustification to accomplish and make perfect our iustification Rom. 4.25 Goe quickly and tell his Disciples that he is risen from the dead and behold he goeth before you into Galilie there ye shall see him loe I haue told you The Angell assureth the women that come to see Christes Sepulchre of his resurrection Math. 28.7 Mark 16.6.7 Luke 24.6 Joh 1 20.1 Act 1.21.22 But now Christ is risen from the dead was made the first fruites of them that sleept by his resurrection being the first we are all assured of our resurrection 1 Cor. 15.20 Destroy this Temple and in three dayes I will rise it vp againe This he meant of his body which should die and did rise againe the third day after his death Iohn 2.19.21 First of all I deliuered vnto you that which I receiued or learned by Gods worde how that Christ died for our sinnes according to the scriptures and that he was buried rose againe the third day and was seene of Cephas then of the twelue though Iudas wanted yet they were so called still after that of more then fiue hundred brethren at once c. 1. Cor. 15.3.4.5.6 6. He ascended into heauen and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almightie ANd it came to passe that as he blessed them he departed from them and was caried vp into heauen Luke 24.51 So after the Lord had spoken vnto them he was receiued into Heauen and sate at the right hand of God Mark 16.19 And when he had spoken these things while they beheld he was taken vp whereby they knew certainely whither he went for a cloude tooke him vp out of their sight Act. 1.9 It is Christ which is dead yea or rather which is risen againe who is also at the right hand of God and maketh request for vs. Rom. 8.34 7. From thence he shall come againe to iudge the quike and the dead THis Iesus which is taken vp from you into heauen shall so come as ye haue séene him go into heauen euen the true Redeemer to gather vs vnto him Acts. 1.11 And when the Sonne of man commeth in his glory and all the holy Angels with him then shall hee fit vpon the throne of his glorie Math. 25.31 And then shall they see the Sonne of man comming in the cloudes with great power and glorie Mark 13.26 And when these thinges begin
because this world is like a Wildernesse replenished with wild beasts or rather Monsters vices I meane diuelish and damnable as pride adulterie flatterie idolatrie blasphemie disobedience stubbernesse extortion vsuries hipocrisie dissimulation enuie rancour malice murther letcherie surfetting wantonnesse and an infinite number of the like hellish rable whereto we are dayly endangered insomuch that oftentimes we are ready to be deuowred Stretch out O swéete Iesus the arming sword of thy Spirit cut them off by the wast that they may haue no power to assault vs and after this conquest wrought in vs frame vs anew by the word of regeneration that our liues being amended we may like Sheaues of pure Corne be bound vp brought into thy Barne Heare our Prayers O Christ and let our cries come vnto thée for thy name sake Amen A Prayer against vaine delights and worldly pleasures From vaine delights Lord turne mine eyes And saue my soule in losse which lyes LOrd God Creator of all things illuminate my heart with the Lampe of true vnderstanding and knowledge that although mine outward eyes slumber and sléep in the shadow of death yet the eyes of my soule may he kept waking in the way of life Direct me O Lord in thy feare guid me by thy grace turne mine eies from all vaine delights of this world preserue me from al the sweet entismēts of the flattering flesh fortifie strengthen me against all the craftie temptations of Satan And wheras my soule lieth vpō losse is not like but to be lost if if be left vnto it selfe I beseech thee O Father of mercy God of all consolation to take vpon thée the safety of the same that neither Satan my subtile aduersary nor the flesh the alluring harlot nor the world that foule ill fauor'd monster may preuayle against it but by thy power may vtterly be vanquished put to shame confusion Grant this O God for thy sonnes sake Iesus Christ my Sauiour Amen A prayer of a penitent sinner lamenting his former life so ill spent My life misse-led I doe lament And of my sinnes I mee repent LOoke on mée O heauenly Father and gracious God with thy fauourable countenance and in the fulnes of thine euerlasting compassion comfort mée which am swallowed vp with heauinesse And though my Sinnes surmount in thy sight the Sandes of the Seas yet I beséech thee haue an eye to thy Son Iesus Christ whom thou didst send into the world to take vpon his shoulders the whole burden of our sinnes and by his death to make satisfaction vnto thee for the same And albeit O Lord by my deserts I am the child of wrath of death and condemnatiō yet notwithstanding I beseech thée O God giue eare vnto the voyce of my Mediatour Christ Iesus who maketh continuall intercessiō vnto thee not only for mee but also for al such as constantly beleeue in him make him the sure ground work of their saluation Looke not Lord vpon my deformities but vpon his innocencie not vpon mine iniquitie but vpon his righteousnes not vpon the multitude of my misdeedes but vpon the manifoldnesse of thy mercies Remember the bleeding stripes and woundes of thy Sonne my Sauiour in whom alone by the increasing of a liuely iustifying fayth I am a new creature regenerate and made cleane not with Water but by Grace thy Mercie O Father being the fountayne of this Heauenlie benefit O heare the praier of thy poore seruant and for thy Sonnes sake Iesus Christ grant my petition Amen A Prayer of a sorrowfull sinner laying his heart open praying for a firme fayth My heart O Lord wide ope I lay And vnto thee for Faith I pray I Beséech thée O Father of endles mercy to looke vpon me thy poore creature poore indeed and desolate naked and bare of spirituall riches I lay my heart wide open before thee which hath no good thing dwelling in it Lord I beseech thee plough it vp with the Plough of thy Spirit and sow therein the seeds of a true Christian faith such a fayth as may haue attending and wayting vpon it Hope and Charitie as handmaides Also O Lord GOD I humbly beseech thee that as thou hast made me thy Steward and put mee in trust with a Talent of thy blessing namely Riches worldly Wealth transitory Treasures so I may be furnisht with the instrument which is able to informe me how to imploy the same aright euen faith not an idle faith barren and vnfruitfull but a busie fayth flowing full of good workes that thereby I may be as a Citie builded vpon an Hill amiable and beautifull and like a Lanterne of light vnto all men who seeing my good works may glorifie thee O Father to whom all glory belongeth both in Heauen and in Earth Amen A Prayer desiring mercy and forgiuenesse Of thee O Lord Mercy I craue For Iesus sake his life which gaue AS thou art a gracious God O thou Iudg of Israel as thou art faythfull in thy promise and iust in thy word so I beseech thee deale fauourably with me poore sinner who bend the knees of my heart before thee crauing that with teares which if I obtaine not alas what shal become of me but death damnation In thee is my hope in thee my trust in thée my confidence let me not be ashamed let me not be forsaken nor confounded but for thy sonne Iesus Christ his sake who suffered a reprochfull death in the face of his sworne and deadly enemies haue mercy vpon me haue mercy vpon me vpon mee miserable soule on whom vnlesse thou haue mercy Satan with his whole power is ready to ouerrun me In time therefore O Lord helpe me in time assist me in time succour me or else I am a cast-away and the child of reprobation Let thy mercy stand betweene my sinnes and thy iudgement for Iesus sake my sweete Sauiour succour mee miserable sinner who neuer cease crying O Father which art in Heauen O our Father which art in Heauen haue mercy O haue mercy Lord in time Amen A Prayer to be prepared against the houre of death Lord at my death the iewell chiefe Which I desire is true beliefe MOst mightie God and mercifull Father as thou hast created and made me of the mould of the earth and inspired into the grosse lumpe of my body a liuing and quickning soule so O Lord I beseech thee to indue me with such knowledge and vnderstanding yea with such an earnest zeale burning desire of thy heauenly dwelling and immortall mantion that I may loath this life which is but a span long and thirst after death which is the entrance to endlesse ioy and happinesse Also O Lord I most humbly beseech thee when it shall please thee to visit me with sicknesse or otherwise to call me out of this life that I may féele working in my heart an vnfained Fayth and a true Christian Beliefe whereby euen in the nipping agonies and pinching
in heart and mind with the sweetenesse of thy word wherein the comfortable promises of life saluation are conteined that wee may exercise our selues therein day and night that wee may reuerently vse it as the healthfull foode of our soules that we may bring vp our children seruants in the knowledge of the same being fully perswaded that there is nothing in the world comparable thereunto for it exceedeth al treasure whē al things are consumed thy word shall continue in glory brightnesse perfection O Lord heare our praiers and for the honour of thy name heare the suites of thy poore seruants euen for thy beloued Sonne his sake Iesus Christ our Sauiour vnto whom with thee and the holy Ghost one Deitie in Trinitie be all laude honour prayse dominion power glory and maiestie both now and world without end Amen The Contemplation of a Christian. The misery of euery man Through Satans guile by sinne began But Christ vouchsaft mans thrall t' asswage His power supprest old Satans rage WHen Sinne had blemished the happy estate of our first Parents their whole race felt the smart of their punnishment and are at this day subiect vnto miserie Iniquitie made a gappe for many calamities sundry kinds of sicknesses manifold maladies infinite tribulations which we had neuer tasted if our first Parents had not offended Lamentable is our case by theire meanes for the Lord of life hath punished their sins in their posteritie by degrees of generaons throughout many ages Little hope of health is in our selues nay there is in vs no hope of saluation at all for by the subtiltie of Satan sinne got dominion ouer vs by sin death Iustly therefore are we subiect to so many miseries in that we feele the heauy hand of God laying load vpon vs it is for our offences and our disordered life According as our deserts haue beene so GOD hath dealt with vs nay he hath handled vs far better then we deserued who by nature are the children of wrath and confusion Most mercifully hath he looked vpon vs and of his plentifull compassion hee sent his boloued Sonne Christ Iesus into the world that he by his bloodshed might worke our releasement Like reprobates and condemned persons wee had been plunged into the déep pit of hell had not the death of Christ made full satisfaction for vs wrought our Redemption A Lion of the tribe of Iuda a brāch springing from the stocke of Iesse pittying vs poore desolate soules by the vertue of his power suppressed Satans rage Maruelous mightily did he vanquish the Diuel our mortall enemy who intended our destruction and vtter ouerthrow had not he in time brought our deliuerance to passe Be ioyfull therefore all nations and lift vp your heads extoll this Lambe of God whose innocencie tooke away our iniquitie and whose heauinesse was our hapinesse Euerlasting prayse and thankes be ascribed vnto his name by whose death we are receiued to life yea to eternall life O prayse his glorious name for euer Amen Death ouer vs possest such power That meanes he sought vs to deuower But Iesus Christ did set vs free To whom all prayse and thankes giue wee WEe are iustly subiect vnto death for death is the reward of sinne and iniquitie Iniquitie hath changed our order of creatiō which was perfect and Angeilcal Life vnto vs through sinne is turned vnto death and the mercy of God into iudgement Lord haue mercy vpon vs for in vs there is no hope of health for Death hath power ouer vs. Increase of new calamities doe light vpon vs dayly and we see our selues forsaken Among our enemies we walke continually euen in the face of the Flesh the World and the Diuell Miserable were wee if Iesus Christ with the shield of safetie should not ouershadow vs. Little should wee differ from the children of wrath nay our case were as comfortlesse as theirs A most mercifull Sauiour art thou O Christ A most mercifull Redeemer and Aduocate Make vs thankfull vnto thee for thy goodnesse for thou didst set vs free from all misfortune Blessed be thy name and great be thy glory through out all the world for this thy kindnesse Early late thou art to be praysed yea in the assemblies cōgregations of the faythfull righteous thou in thy greatnes O God shalt be gloryfied Amen The World is vaine and all therein Yea man is vile because of sinne Yet Iesus Christ redeemed all To Death and Hell that were in thrall WOe be to this world for it is as vaine as smoke yea it is more vaine then vanitie it selfe In riches there is shame and in pleasure there is punishment because of sinne and iniquitie Like a dreame is the life of man his dayes are but a spanne long and his time tarryeth not Like a Fansie or a May-game which hath but an houres delight recreatiō In the world there is nothing more common then wickednesse in the world there is no goodnesse Al are bent vnto mischiefe and villanie the sonnes of men haue set their heartes vpon euill Mightie men and poore slaues all haue troden the path of sinne and vanitie is in all their wayes Like Sheepe without a Shepheard they are gone astray and had beene lost if Christ had not holpen All were in the mouth of Hell gates and had sunke in their owne shame and destruction Miserably had they perished if that good shepheard of our soules had not taken vpon him our deliuerance Bring Frankinsence vnto his Altas O ye people prayse him who is prayse worthy for his power and magnificence Enter into his Temple and Sanctuary sing songs all with one consent to the honour of his name for all the benefits and goodnesse which hee hath plentifully bestowed vpon vs at all times let al the faithfull answer and say Amen Gods prouidence is wonderfull He shewes himselfe most merciful In all our wayes defending vs And by his grace amending vs. WIthout th' assistance of Gods spirit miserable were the condition of all mankind yea most miserable In sinne we are conceiued in sin we are brought vp and the whole course of our life is full of iniquitie Like a menstruous cloth so is our conuersotion in the sight of God and his holy Angels Like a filthy and loathsome Sinke so is our behauiour before the face of the faithfull Iudgment is more méete for vs then mercy yet it hath pleafed God to deale with vs in mercy And that doth daily experience testifie for we sée manifest proofes of his prouidence Meate and cloathing and whatsoeuer is necessary toward the maintenance of man he hath giuen vs. Like a Father he tendereth vs and esteemeth vs as Children begotten a new by free Grace As a Henue hoouering ouer her Chickens so doth he defend vs in all our wayes day by day Mercie is on his right hand Mercie goeth before him and vpon Mercy is the seate of his Maiestie built Be glad therefore
to come to passe then looke vp and lift vp your heades for your redemption draweth neere The effect of that redemption shall appeare which Iesus Christ hath purchased Luk. 21.27.28 8. I beleeue in the holy Ghost GOe therefore and teach all nations baptising them in the name of the Father and the Sonne the holy Ghost Matth. 28.19 But the Comforter which is the holy Ghost whom the Father wil send in my name he shall teach you all things and bring all thinges to your remembrance which I haue told you Iohn 14.26 This holy Ghost is called somtime The spirit of truth proceeding from the Father because hee worketh the truth in vs. Iohn 14.17 15.26 some time the Spirit of the Father speaking in his Ministers Matth. 10.20 sometime the Spirit of the Sonne Rom. 8.9 sometime the good Spirit Psal. 143.10 sometime an holy Oyntment 1. Iohn 2.20 sometime a Comforter Iohn 14.16 15.26 16.7 sometime the earnest of our Inheritaunce The holy Ghost is the gage or pledge of our second redemption which shall be at the possession of our inheritance in heaued Ephes. 1.14 somtime the earnest of the Spirit in our heartes 2. Cor. 1.22 No man can say that Iesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost 1. Cor. 12.3 9. The holy Catholik Church the Communion of Saints CHrist loued his Church and gaue himselfe for it that he might sanctifie it and cleanse it by the washing of water through the word Baptisme is a token of the Churches consecration that he might make it vnto himselfe a glorious Church not hauing spot or wrinckle because it is couered and clad with his righteousnesse and holinesse that it should be holie and without blame Ephes. 5.27 I am the Rose of the field and the Lillie of the vallies like a Lillie among the thornes so is my Loue among the doughters c. Christ preferreth his Church aboue all other thinges Cant. 2.1.2 For other foundation can no man lay then that which is layd which is Iesus Christ. 1. Cor. 3.11 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God that the spirit of God dwelleth in you 1. Cor. 3.16 In this Church are many members but one body in Christ Rom. 12.4.5 1 Cor. 6.15 Let vs follow the truth in loue and in al things grow vp into him which is the head that is Christ. Christ being head oâ— his Church nourisheth his members and ioyneth them togeather by ioynts c. Ephe. 4.15 Christ is the head of the body of the Church Col. 1.18 Now reioyce I in my sufferings for you or your commoditie and fulfil the rest of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for Christ suffereth dayly in his members as partaker of their infirmities and therefore a reuenger of their iniuries for his body sake which is the Church Coloss. 1.24 the edification of the Church is heere ment There are many members but one body 1. Cor. 12 20. Now ye are the body of Christ and members for your part For all Churches dispersed throughout the world are diuers members of one bodie 1. Cor. 12.27 God is not the author of confusion but of peace as we see in all the Churches of the Saints 1. Cor. 14.33 10 The forgiuenes of sinnes WHose sinnes so euer ye remit they are remitted and whose sinnes soeuer ye retaine they are retained Iohn 20.23 He that shall beleeue and be baptised shall be saued but he that will not beléeue shal be damned Luk. 16.16 It behoued Christ to suffer and to rise againe from the dead the third day and that repentance and remission of sinnes should be preached in his name among all nations Luk. 24.46.47 And GOD saw their workes that they turned from their euil wayes the fruites of their repentance proceeding of fayth planted by the Prophets preaching to the people of Niniueth and God repented of the euill that he had said that hee would doe vnto them and hee did it not Ionah 3.10 Stand in the wayes and behold and aske for the old way wherein the Patriarches and prophets walked directed by the word of God signifying that there is no true way but that which God prescribeth which is the good way and walke therein and ye shall finde rest for your soules Ierem. 6.16 11. The resuâ—rection of the body FOr since by Man came death by Man came also the resurrectioÌ„ of the dead 1. Cor. 15.21 Behold I shew you a secret thing We shall not all sleepe but we shall all be changed in a moment in the twinckling of an eye at the last trumpet for the trumpet shall blow and the dead shall be raysed vp incorruptible we shall be changed When the Lord commeth to iudgement some of the Saints shall be aliue whoÌ„ he will change euen as if they were dead so that this change shall be to them in stead of death 1. Cor. 15.51.52 The Lord himselfe shall descend from heauen with a shoute and with the voice of Th'archangel and with the trumpet of God the dead in Christ shal rise first Then shall we which liue remaine euen we which are aliue or shall be then found liuing be brought vp with them also in the cloudes to meete the Lord in the ayre and so shall wée be euer with the Lord. In this sodaine taking vp there shall be a kinde of change of the qualities of our body which shall be as a kind of death 1. Thes. 16.17 And he shall send his Angels with a great sound of a trumpet and they shal gather togeather his elect from the foure windes and from the one end of the heauen vnto the other c. Matth 24.31 And though after my skin Wormes destroy my body yet shall I sée God in my flesh whom I my selfe shall sée and mine eies shall behold and none other for me though my reines are consumed within mee Iobs full hope that both soule and body should enioy the presence of God in the last resurrection Iob. 19.26.27 I know that he shall rise againe in the resurrection at the last day The words of Martha to Iesus concerning dead Lazarus The errour of the Sadduces men marueilous quidditiue concerning the resurrection is here confuted Iohn 11.14 12. And the life euerlasting Amen I Am the resurrection and the life Christ restoreth vs from death to giue vs euerlasting life hée that beléeueth in me though he were dead yet shal he liue And whosoeuer liueth and beleeueth in me shall neuer die Iohn 11.25.26 I am the liuing bread which giue life to the world which came downe from heaven if any man eate of this bread hée shall liue for euer and the bread that I giue you is my flesh which I will giue for the life of the world Iohn 9.51 Thou hast the wordes of eternall life Then without Christ there is but death for his word onely leadeth vs to life Joh. 6.68 This is the will of him that sent me that euery one which séeth
the Sonne and beleeueth in him should haue euerlasting life and I will raise him vp at the last day Iohn 6.40 Verily verily I say vnto you hée that heareth my word and beléeueth in him that sent me hath euerlasting life and shall not come into condemnation but hath passed from death vnto life Iohn 5.24.25.26 The houre shall come in the which al that are in the graues shall heare his voyce and they shall come foorth that haue done good vnto the resurrection of life but they that haue done euill vnto the resurrection of condemnation Iohn 5.8.29 Search the Scriptures for in them yee thinke to haue eternal life Ioh. 5.39 If thou knewest the gift of God Christ ment himselfe who was sent of his Father to conuert the woman of Samaria and who is he that saith vnto thee Giue mee drinke thou wouldest haue asked of him and he would haue giuen thee Water of life which is the loue of God in his Sonne powred into our heartes by the holy Ghost vnto euerlasting life Iohn 4.10 Whosoeuer drinketh of the water that I shall giue him euen spirituall grace shal neuer be more a thirst shall neuer be dried vp destitute or forsaken but the water that I shall giue him shall be in him a well of water springing vp into euerlasting life Ioh. 4.14 Come ye blessed of my Father for our saluation commeth of the blessing and fauour of God inherite ye the kingdome prepared for you from the foundations of the world Note the certantie of our predestination to saluation Matth. 25.34 And these shall goe into euerlasting paine which followeth mens fantasies neglecting the will of God and his commandements and the righteous into life eternall Math. 25.46 And many of them that sléepe in the dust of the earth shall awake all shal rise at the generall resurrection some to euerlasting life some to shame and perpetuall contempt Dan. 12.2 And they shal come foorth that haue done good vnto the resurrection of life but they that haue done euill vnto the resurrection of condemnation Iohn 5.29 For the Lambe Iesus Christ our Mediatour and Redeemer Which is in the midest of the throne being very God shall gouerne them lead them vnto the liuely Fountaines of waters Hee shall giue them euerlasting life Apo. 7.17 O Lord giue vs grace to beleeue this and to liue thereafter Amen The ten Commaundements of Almighty God called The two Tables of the Law The first Table 1. J am the Lord thy God thou shalt haue none other Gods but mee HEare O Israel The LORD our God is the onely Lord Thou shalt therefore loue the Lord thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soule and with all thy minde or thought and with all thy strength Marke 12.29.30 Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God him onely shalt thou serue Math. 4.10 Luk 4.14 I am the Lord thy God thou shalt haue none other Gods before my face God bindeth vs to serue him lonely without superstition or idolatry Deu. 5.6.7 I am the Lord your God ye shall keepe my Sabbathes and reuerence my Sanctuarie I am the Lord. Leuit. 26.1.2 Come let vs worship and fall downe before the Lord our maker We must wholly giue our selues to the seruice of GOD. Psa. 95.6 All the Gods of the people are Idols but the Lord made the Heauens Idols therefore or whatsoeuer made not the Heauens are not God Psal. 96.6 2. Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any grauen Jmage nor the liknesse of any thing that is in heauen aboue nor in the earth beneath nor in the water vnder the earth thou shalt not bow downe to them nor worship them For J the Lord thy God am a ielous God and visite the sinne of the fathers vpon the children vnto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me and shew mercy vnto thousands in them that loue me keepe my commaundements NO man hath séene God at any time the onely begotten Sonne of God which is in the bosome of the Father hee is most deare and straitly ioyned to his Father not onely in loue but also in nature and vnion hee hath deliuered him God was made visible as it were in Christ. Iohn 1.18 God is a Spirit and they that worshipe him must worship him in spirit and truth God being of a spirituall nature requireth aspirituall seruice and agreeable to his nature Ioh. 4.24 For somuch then as we are the generation of God we ought not to thinke that the Godhead is like vnto Gold or Siluer or Stone grauen by art and the inuention of man Act. 17.29 The worshipping of Idoles which ought not to be named in the beginning and the cause and the end of all euill Sapi. 14 26 The inuenting of Idols was the beginning of whoredome and the finding of them is the corruption of life Sapien. 14.12 Better therefore is the iust man that hath none Idols for he shall be farre from reproofe Baruc. 6.72 Confounded be all they that serue grauen Images that glory in Idols worship him all ye Gods Let all that is of estimation in the world fall downe before the Lord. Psal. 97.7 Thou shalt make thée no gods of Mettal Exo. 34.17 Babes keepe your selues from Idols From euery forme and fashion of thing which is set vp for any deuotion to worship God 1. Iohn 5.29 3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine for the Lord will not hold him guilt lesse that taketh his name in vaine YEe haue heard how it was said to them of old time Thou shalt not forsweare thy selfe but shalt performe thine othes to the Lord. But I say vnto you Sweare not at all neither by heauen all superfluous oathes are debaâ—red for it is the Throne of God nor yet by the Earth for it is his Footstoole neither by Hierusalem for it is the Citie of the great King Neither shalt thou sweare by thine head because thou canst not make one Haire white or blacke But let your communication be Yea yea Nay nay let simplicitie and truth be in your wordes and then ye shall not be so light ready to sweare For whatsoeuer is more then these commeth of euill when one speaketh otherwise then he thinketh in heart it commeth of an euill conscience and of the Diuell Matth. 5.33.34.35.36.37 This is the curse that goeth foorth ouer all the whole earth c. And euery one that sweareth he that transgresseth the first Table and serueth not God aright but abuseth Gods name shall be cut off as wel on this side as on that I will bring it foorth saith the Lord of Hoasts and it shal enter c. into the house of him that falsely sweareth by my name and it shal remaine in the middest of his house and shall consume it with the timber thereof stones thereof Zach. 4.3.4 Accustome not thy selfe to swearing for in it there are many falles neither take vp for a custome
THE CONDVIT of Comfort Containing sundrie comfortable Prayers to the strengthening of the faith of a weak Christian. By Abr. Fleming The fifth Jmpression Printed at London by A. M. and are to be sold by Fr. Groue at his shop without Newgate 1624. To the Christian Reader TO auoyd all doubt of deceit Christian Reader which might bee thought to lie lurking vnder this glorious title The Conduit of Comfort we will make an Anatomie of this Encheridion or Manuel opening the very body laying out the bowels thereof before the eyes of thy iudgement Note therefore euery member for thy full satisfaction as followeth The Anatomie of this Manuell The Conduit of Comfort The Contemplation of a Christian. The Lords Prayer expounded by Sentence and Example The Common Creed expounded by Sentence and Example The Ten Commandements expounded by Sentence and Example The Appurtenances to this Conduit The Cesterne is Conscience The Pipe is Peace The Locke is Loue. The Key is Knowledge THE CONDVIT OF COMFORT A Morning Prayer for a Family MOst gratious God and omnipotent Father which dost from the Throne of thy grace behold all the wickednesse of mortall Men pardon wee beseech thee our most lamentable and grieuous sinnes and wash them away by the precious blood of thy most blessed Sonne Christ Iesus who dyed to saue vs sinful men of which sort we are the most miserable and wicked We giue thee most hearty thankes O Lord that thou hast brought vs safe to the beginning of this day and raysed vs from the sinne of Sloth and Ignorance and grant O Lord that wee may so spend this day that it may be most to thy glory the comfort of our owne Soules giue vs grace most heauenly Father that wee may follow our vocations wherevnto thou hast called vs and that we may doe alwayes those things which may bee righteous in thy sight Graunt these our humble petitions most heauenly Father all things necessary for vs for thy deere Sonnes sake Christ Iesus to whom with thee and the blessed Trinity be all Honour and Glory both now and for euer more Amen An Euening Prayer for a Familie OH Euerlasting Lord God and mercifull Father wee thy poore and wretched Creatures from the bottome of our hearts giue thee most humble and hearty thankes that of thy mercy thou hast vouchsafed to nourish vs with thy goodnesse by thy power preserued vs from all dangers and perils that might haue befalne vs this day yea and at all times of our life heeretofore We most humbly beseech thee in the merits of thy Sonn Christ Iesus our blessed Lord and Sauiour not to respect our vnworthynesse but in his graue to bury our misdeeds which we either wittingly or ignorantly haue done Especially those sins which this day we haue commited against thy diuine Maiesty either in thought word or deed O Lord bee mercifull vnto vs and forgiue vs the euill that we haue committed and supply the good which wee haue omitted Lord restore what we haue lost lighten our darknesse and alter the whole course of our mindes that nothing may bee wanting in vs to the setting forth of thy prayse Wée beseech thee O Lord according to thy goodnesse to defend vs this night from all perills and dangers keepe vs from feareful dreames and vaine cogitations preserue our bodies from eternall death and our soules from euerlasting damnation Grant these things O Lord and all other thy graces requisite for vs euen for thy Son Christ Iesus sake In whose name we conclude this our vnworthy prayer in that forme of prayer which hée in his Gospell hath taught vs saying Our Father c. A Prayer for the obtaining of Grace In this wicked world O Christ whiles I liue To gouerne and guide me thy spirit of grace giue WOrship Praise Honour Glory Maiestie be giuen vnto thee O God my Creator to thée O Christ my Redéemer and to thee O holy Ghost my Sanctifier for all the blessings of thy grace most plentifully powred vpon mee for my election my Creation my Redemption my sanctification and for all other thy good giftes and benefites beséeching thée O swéet Sauiour that as by thy bitter death and passion the power of sinne was suppressed the concupiscence of the flesh subdued the wickednes of the world asswaged and the maliciousnesse of Satan quenched so it would please thee to ouer-shadow mee with the Shield of thy fauour that I a painefull pilgrim and weary wanderer in the world may passe my pilgrimage in peace of conscience comforting me with the hope of thy promises which wilt canst refresh the fainting soule and restore it when it is attainted with any dāgerous disease O Christ my Phisician so prepare the thoughts of my heart vnto thee that I may be swallowed vp in the contemplation of Heauen and heauenly ioyes not regarding the vanities of this world which are but baits and snares to intangle vs and to make vs lothsome in thy sight Giue me grace O thou Son of Dauid to liue in the world as ready to leaue the world Let the world continue as thou diddest make it euen a seruant for the maintenance of men and not a soueraign to rule and haue them at commandement And because thy Kingdome O Christ is not of this world giue me I beséech thee such a renewed heart such a sanctified soule such a godly desire and such an earnest endeauour to do thy wil that I contemning this wicked world with all the transitory pleasures of the same may raigne with thee in thy kingdome purchased for the faithful euen by thy precious Blood Death Passion Graunt this O Christ my Mediator at the appointed time of thy good will and pleasure Amen A Prayer for thankefulnesse to God for his gifts For Wisedome and Wealth with other gifts more Lord giue me the grace To thanke thee therefore IEsus Christ thou which art the Wisedome of thy Father I thy poore creature sometimes a slaue to sinne and a firebrand of Hell but now a child of election and grace as I hope and constantly beleeue giue thee hearty thanks for thy goodnesse diuers and sundry wayes testified vnto mée And because it hath pleased thee to be so bountifull as to endue mée with Wisedome whereas thou mightest haue made mée a senselesse and vnreasonable creature beside that blessed me with worldly wealth I beséech thee be so gracious vnto me as to shew me the way how to vse this Wisedome to thy glory and the comfort of other not boasting therein because it is thy free gift nor abusing it because it is thy blessing Also O swéete Sauiour and Sonne of the eternall God because wealth without thée is but wretchednesse riches pouerty and all earthly pleasures but méere miseries I beséech thée to shine into my heart with the bright beames of thy Spirit that I may like a faithfull Steward not only dispose and lay out the talent which thou hast lent me but also
infinite goodnes thou soueraigne Law-giuer to arme our harts with the ful furniture of obedience that we may first and principally feare thée which art our Creatour and in thée thy Sonne our Redéemer and in both the holy Ghost our Comforter This if we do as it is not vnlike we shal if thy grace gouerne vs our wils wits shal be brought into such subiection that whatsoeuer duties earthly Magistrates bind vs vnto by Law commandement so the same be not to thy dishonour there shall want no readinesse in vs to fulfill and accomplish Vouchsafe therefore O heauenly Father to keepe vs in thy feare to limit vs within the bounds of true obedience both to thée O our GOD and also to our superiours and betters that whatsoeuer is required of vs in the way of godly submisson and reuerence we murmur not thereat but doe our endeauours therin with all zeale and earnestnesse Amen A Prayer for true and hearty repentance Repentance for our foule misdeeds Graunt vs O God whose grace exceeds WE wretched outlaws O Lord God cast our selus along before thy mercie seate beséeching thée to inspire our minds with perfect wisedome and to arme vs with the true and liuely knowledge of thy Law that both in body also in soule we may walke the way of thy Commandementes and Testimonies So gouerne vs by thy Grace O God and so conduct vs by thy louing kindnesse that being throughly informed and reformed to thy Law we may be stricken inwardly with a godly feare and Christian trembling of transgressing thy preceptes which thou hast appoynted vnto vs in this darke palpable time of securitie and wickednes when all people and nations for the most part stumble at the blockes of their owne sinnes to be a lanterne to lighten our féete and the day starre to direct all our doings And though wée can not of our selues such is the infirmitie of our nature and weaknes of our flesh but fall into the snares of sinne yet wée humbly beséech thée for thy beloued Sonnes sake Iesus Christ our Sauiour to touch our guiltie consciences with the finger of thy grace that through a sorrowfull féeling of them we may by fayth take sure and fast hold of the staffe of thy promises who made a vow to haue mercy on the ssnner repenting him of his lewd life and forsaking his iniquity Grant this O God for the comfort of thy chosen and for thy Sonnes sake Iesus Christ our Mediatour and Aduocate Amen A prayer to the Lord to turn his wrathfull displeasure away from vs. Thy wrath O Lord remember not Though such desert my sinnes allot IVdge me not O Lord in the heate of thine indignation O consume me not in the furie of thy rage I confesse that mine offences cry out for vengeance euen as a dry sandy soyle gapeth for raine Howbeit O most mercifull Father remember thy mercy and let not sentence passe in iudgement to my condemnation my sinnes haue laid out my lot euen thy vengeance O Lord I cannot say the contrary but thou hast Mercy in store which pleadeth against Iustice so that thy Wrath I hope shall not ouerthrow me though my wickednesses like waues ouerwhelme my soule O Lord heare my prayer and for the honour of thy name turne from me the punishments which thou hast denounced against mee in iudgement I am a worme and no man yea the off-scowring of men a wretch and forsaken an outcast and an alien frō the Common wealth of Israel my sinnes haue made a separation of thy fauour from me but the death of thy Sonne hath put out the handwriting and broken downe the partition wall betwixt thée and mee And therefore I come with boldnesse and confidence to thee hoping to taste the swéetnes of thy Mercy though I haue deserued the sharpnes of thy Iustice. As thou wilt O Lord so be it Amen A Prayer for a cleare and quiet Conscience A Conscience cleare from all vnrest Graunt vs O God whose name be blest LEt the light of thy coūtenance shine vpon vs most mercifull Father let the comfort of thy spirit drop into our hearts let thy fauour louing kindnesse be vnto vs a pauilion in the warfare of this life Bee thou vnto vs a gracious God and a Father inclined to compassion that whereas the horror of our sinnes and their haynousnesse together with the manifoldnesse of our offences kindleth in vs a kind of feare vnto death disquieting our consciences and raising vp within vs accusers to giue in euidence against vs for the violating breaking of thy commaundements it would please thee like a Father tenderly to deale with vs as with thy children and not like a seuere Iudge to handle vs as guilty persons giuing vs ouer and leauing vs to the spoyle of our mortall enemies Our conscience indeed layeth dayly to our charge that we haue playd the back-sliders that we haue not kept vs within the compasse of thy holy precepts that wee haue withstood thy heauenly will and like stubborne rebels denied thée the honour due vnto thy Name neuerthelesse O Lord God cast vs not off into confusion neither leaue vs to continuall torment and vexation of conscience for our sinnes but looke vpon vs with the eyes of mercy that the terrour of conscience which we feele for sinne may bee turned into rest and quietnesse least if it happen otherwise wee be driuen with Iudas into desperation From the which we beseech thee to deliuer vs for the honour of thy name O GOD Almighty Amen A Prayer to be Zealous in the hearing of the word of God To heare thy Word and loue the same Vouchsafe O Lord our hearts to frame LOuing Father gracious God forsomuch as thy word is the rule of life and the high way to happines we beséech thee to kindle in vs an earnest desire to heare the same and that not only with the outward eares of the body but with the inward eares of the heart which is the hearing in deed whereby profit and comfort is gathered Thy Word is the Sword to cut downe sinne thy Word is the weapon which thy Ministers vse to conquer the kingdome of Satan It is the felicitie of the faithfull in this life it is the stumbling blocke of offence to the wicked yea to the vncircumcised Philistine it is the sauour of death vnto death but to the circumcised Israelite it is the sauour of life vnto life Vouchsafe therefore O bountifull God to kindle in mee the fire of zeale vnto thy word that I may so estéeme and count thereof as of the chiefest treasure of a Christian in this vale of misery hauing mine eares alwayes open to heare it and my hart ready to receiue it my tongue plyant to speake of it and my mind earnest to meditate in it so shall I reape such profit thereby as thou hast prepared for them that come reuerently therunto This and all things néedfull for this life graunt O
me vile créeping worme of the earth who in comparison of thée am much woorse than stinking doung and filthy offscowring of the earth Thou dayly assistest me thou cōtinually regardest me thou euermore defendest me from dangers both bodily and ghostly for had not thy hand ouershadowed me I had sunke long since in mine owne shame and confusion And because Lord manifold are the calamities belonging to this life hurtful to the outward man noisome to the inner man I beséech thée stretch out the shield of safty in full breadth ouer me that I may walke without feare not troubled with wicked thoughtes not tempted with euill words not prouoked to deedes of darknes but keeping my feete in the path of light looking alway to the lampe of thy word which shineth vnto sinners sitting in the shadow of death and leadeth the righteous and true repentant to life euerlasting Amen A Prayer against slaunderous and euill tongues From euill Tongues which poyson spit Vouchsafe O Lord thy flocke t'acquit MOst truely spake thy seruant Saint Iames O my swéete Sauiour that the Tongue being but a little member was notwithstanding a world of wickednesse Which to be so thou knowest in thy secret counsell and thou thy selfe haddest proofe thereof whiles thou keptst thy standing in the faire of this life It pleased thée therefore to instruct and teach thine Apostles before hand what they should be subiect vnto in time to come namely to backbitings slanders acursed spéeches tauntes controlments yea to reuilings buffettings imprisonments For if they spared not the Lord and Master much lesse will it sinke into their hearts to fauour the Seruāts whom they hate vnto the death for their masters sake From euill Tongues therefore O Lord wee beseech thee to saue vs not from suffering the bitternesse which procéedeth from them for we are content to tast that which thou hast tasted before vs but from offending in our tongue which oftentimes woundeth the very soule O Lord giue vs grace to set a watch before our Tongue that we trip not in our talke hurt not onely them against whom wee are maliciously minded but also our selues whom we cānot but greatly annoy whiles we séeke either in thought word or deed to wreake our wrath vpon others considering that thou hast reserued all vengeance to thine owne selfe O Lord be gracious vnto vs and as thou art the Shepheard of our soules feeding vs in the sweete pastures of thy grace so we beséech thee to kéepe vs from all manner of spirituall diseases vs wee say which are thy people and the sheepe of thy pasture Amen A Prayer for Peace in time of Warre or other vexations In time of Warre to pray for Peace A zeale in vs O Lord increase BOuntiful Sauiour thou Sonne of the eternall God thou God of peace-vnitie and concord thou that in stead of Peace plaguest men with Warre tumultes and vprors We beseech thee to prolong peace quietnesse amongst vs not onely peace betwéene people and people but peace of Conscience that precious peace which who so wanteth he is no member of the Common-wealth of Christianitie Not onely for this peace of minde but for the other also of body we beséech thée O Lord frame our heartes aright to pray vnto thee knowing that by Prayer that thing is obtained at thine hands which is not else where to bee sought And because thou art the Author of peace without whom the whole world is set on Warre we humbly beseech thée to prosper that peace which thou hast planted in all Christian kingdomes which because thou hast for our sinnes sake taken from vs for a time sending vs in place thereof Warres and Tumults Wée giue thee thankes notwithstanding acknowledging the same to bee a punishment layd vpon vs for our sinnes and specially for abusing that Peace the benefite whereof whiles we might haue vsed to our true comfort we turned the same as we feele by due proofe at this present into bitternesse Neuerthelesse to thee we come and before thy face we fall not onely praying for the withdrawing of Warre and the restoring of our former Peace but also beséeching thée to kindle increase in vs a zeale to pray not only for Peace but for all other thy good Giftes needfull and belonging to this life to the honour and glory of thy name Amen A Prayer for deliuerance from Foes spirituall and temporall From feare and force of all our Foes Preserue vs Lord and them depose EVerlasting God whose right hand is the shield of safegard to the faythfull we beséech thée of thine vnspeakable goodnesse to looke vpon vs who are incompast round about with enemies not onely of the body but also of the soule Of the body as with swearers backbiters slaunderers fighters brawlers quarellers murtherers c Al which we that are Christians account our Foes insomuch as they are the enemies of Christ thy beloued Sonne and sworne aduersaries of thy holy Gospell Of the Soule as with Satan sinne the flesh the world the Diuell Hel death and damnation and that which we through our weakenesse cannot fulfill doe thou by thy strength supply and bring to passe that we may not onely be defended from theire force but that they and euery of them féeling the weight and greatnes of thy power may lie vanquished vnder foote cease their further assaultes for Iesus Christes sake our onely Sauiour and Redeemer Amen A prayer of a penitent soule ouerburdened with sinne A silly soule to sinne in thrall For mercy Lord to thee doe call WOunderfull wise excéeding righteous art thou in thy iudgments O God a punisher of the vngodly and a iust rewarder of the faithfull O looke vpon mée silly soule ouerwhelmed with wickednes looke vpon mée O Lord. and deliuer me For I am in thrall yea in thrall am I vnto sinne the wages whereof is death O succour me succour me Oh assist me assist me Oh saue me saue me Bitterly I complaine and am sorry for my misdeedes heauily I lament for mine iniquities vnfeignedly I repent me of my life wickedly ledde Appease thine anger O God asswage thy wrath Oh let mee be reconciled vnto thee Cast me not away whom thou hast created let not Satan triumph ouer me whom thy Son hath redeemed Be gracious O be gracious most mercifull Father and let the moystning riuer of thy Mercy quench the boyling fornace of thy Iustice that I being comforted in this life with assured taste of thy clemency may glorifie thy name with consent of heart and voice and that by mine example others may do the like Graunt this O God in Christ thy Sonne mine onely Sauiour Amen A Prayer to be freed from all Vices From Vices all defend vs Sweet Iesus and amend vs. IEsus Christ thou immaculat Lambe which wast slaine for the sinnes of the whole world that by thy death we might all be deliuered from death yea from eternall death due vnto vs by deserte of sinne And
passions of death I may lay fast hold vpon Iesus Christ my Sauiour hoping in him to liue who by his death purchased euerlasting life for all the faythfull O heare my prayer O God and let my cry come vnto thee for Iesus sake vnto whom with thee and the holy Ghost be all laude honour and prayse for euermore Amen A Prayer to leade our liues according to the law and will of God Giue me O Lord a mind and will To loue thy Law and it fulfill LOuing Lord and most mercifull Father thou that art righteous in thy workes iust in thy iudgements faithfull in thy words true in thy promises make me I heartily beseech thee alwayes plyant like Waxe both in mind and will to loue thy Law and to liue after the same Giue my heart the cleere light of true Christian knowledge that I hauing the eies of my soule broad waking may discerne betweene light and darknesse Christ and Beliall God and the Diuell Hell and Heauen the Flesh and the Spirit Guide thou O Lord all my goings by thy grace that all my thoughtes may rest vpon thée Gouerne thou my will and all mine affections that they may keepe within the limits of thy holie Law and Commaundements that all my endeauour may be directed to the accomplishment and fulfilling of thy Statutes and Ordinances so farre foorth as my weaknesse can wade through the rough waues of this most wicked world let thy spirit lead me to doe those things that please thy diuine maiestie that at the last day whē thou shalt sit vpon the Raine bowe treading the Cloudes of the skies vnder thy féete and compassed round about with legions of Angels Cherubim and Seraphim armies of Saintes and holy Martyres I may be receiued into the number of the elect and enter into possession of that inheritaunce which neither Gold nor Siluer but the precious Blood of thy beloued Sonne my swéete Sauiour Iesus Christ bought and purchased Grant this most mercifull Father for thy mercies sake which are vnmeasurable and for thy kindnesse sake which is vnsearchable and for thy tender loue sake which is vnspeakable Amen A Prayer to keepe our tongue from speaking ill From an ill tongue Lord make me cleane To great and small good fayrh to meane ALmighty God which canst not away with a double heart and to whom an euill tongue is fowle dishonour giue me grace I beséech thée to speake nothing but that which is true right and iust not hurting any with my tōgue which thou hast giuen mee to doe all men good and to vse as an instrument for the sounding foorth of thy prayse and glory And be cause a lying and an euill Tongue draweth the soul into death and destruction put backe I beséech thée from my lippes all guilefull speaches all deceitfull communications and al lying wordes Moreouer because thou O Lord art truth it selfe and therefore delightest in truth innocencie giue me grace alwayes to enure my tongue vnto truth abhorring all such talke as may offende thy diuine Maiestie and diminish the honour due vnto thy holy name Let thy sanctifying Spirit take charge ouer my heart that I may doe good vnto all and hurt vnto none vttering that with tongue which I meane in heart purposing as well in déede as in word nothing but good fayth true christianitie Grant this O God for Iesus Christs sake Amen A Prayer to fast and pray aright To Fast aright teach vs the way O Sauiour Christ we humbly pray MOst bountifull Iesu most sweet Iesu most louing Iesu which by thine example diddest teach vs to Faste aright not after the painted fashon of Pharisies and Hypocrites but according to the plaine manner of vnfeigned Christians I heartily humbly beséech thée to giue me grace to exercise my selfe in godly Fasting Prayer that the man of sinne may be subdued and brought vnder that my heart may be cleansed from all sinne and vnrighteousnesse that my thoughtes and cogitations may be scoured from corruption and filthinesse that my wordes may not smell of Heathenish vnholinesse wickednesse that my déedes may not be leauened with beastly wantonnesse but that the course of my whole life may be seasoned with the sauorie salt of sanctification that whatsoeuer I thinke whatsoeuer I say or whatsoeuer I do it may carry with it some signe of the true Fast namely the fast from sin vnto which fast whosoeuer apply themselues they are sure to be thy children and are builded vpon a stedfast hope to inherite that place of endlesse happinesse which thou boughtest with thy precious blod This fasting I beseech thee O sweete Sauiour giue me grace to exercise so shall my sinfull flesh bee kept in awe as a seruant and my Spirit shall beare rule ouer it and kéepe it in subiection This O Christ and whatsoeuer else is necessary vouchsafe of thy goodnesse to grant vnto me thy poore creature who aske it euen in zealous and hearty prayer Amen A Prayer against wilfull sins and snares of Satan From wilfull sinne Lord saue vs That Satan may not haue vs. Be vnto vs a brasen wale most mercifull Father against all the assaults of sinne specially preserue vs from wilfull offences and from transgressing of very malice which is a wheting of thy wrath against vs and a kindling of our owne confusion without hope of mercy at thy heauenly hands O Lord let vs not be so farre estranged from obedience as of set purpose to runne into contempt of thy glorious name let not our hearts become so flintie as to be void of all feeling of sorrow for sinne yea as to be emboldened to heape sinne vpon sinne to our vtter shame We know this is Satans séeking we are assured this is the Diuels drift we cannot be ignorant that this is Belsebubs intent therby to haue vs wiped in thy wrath out of the Booke of life and so he to haue full sway ouer vs as children of condemnation But thou O Lord art mercifull thou art gratious thou art carefull ouer vs defend vs therefore from all sinn and chiefely from the sin of wilfulnes and malice for the honour of thy name Amen A Prayer for the feare of the Lord and loue of his word Increase in me O Lord thy feare That to thy word I may giue eare ETernall God omnipotent Creatour whose word layd the foundation of the whole world furnished the same with all things behoofefull for the maintenance of man wee humbly beseech thee increase in vs a louing feare of thee and thy word that whatsoeuer we are inioyned and commanded to doe therein wee may rather neglect life lands goods all precious possessions then to leaue it vndone knowing that by hearing thy word wee vnderstand thy will which who so kéepeth they are assured in spirit to be thy faithfull seruants So fill vs therefore O God with this godlie feare that we stopping our eares and waxing dull against all worldly vanities may bee rauished
that peace which bringeth blisse Their precious peace perpetuall is The authour of This peace is God Who for our sinnes with vs was od For as we know through Adams fall To God his wrath We were in thrall So that hereby this gaine we got Euen death for life ah hellish lot Our owne misdeedes deserueth death And God who giueth life and breath Suppressing peace became our foe And from the heauens aloft did throw His thunderbolts of fearefull threates And in his heate his sword he wheats Even warriour like to strike vs downe For man doth melt when God doth frowne Thus with the Lord we were at ods Ours was the smart the vengeance Gods Which whiles it did endure and last All hope of peace was gone and past Till he from heauen beholding vs With wrethednesse inclosed thus Prouided in this heauy case T' amend our state by his good grace This he vouchaft to bring to passe A wonderous work of his it was From mercie seate he sent his Sonne At whose corruption peace begunn God did ordaine that Christ should die Vpon a Crosse reard vp on hie By losse of life to purchase peace True Christian comfort to increase Among the Iewes betrayd he fell One of the twelue presumd to sell. For thirtie pence his Maisters life The losse whereof abolisht strife The Iewes did lay on him their hands His limbs and ioynts they bound with hands They scoft and mockt him too too bad Their wish and will on him they laid Vpon the Crosse he made his end His soule to God he did commend This sacrifice God highly pleasd And this his rigorous rage apeasd Heere reconcilement first began And peace was made twixt God and man The price of this most perfect peace Which Christian comfort doth increase Declares thereof the dignitie This peace remaynes immortally This peace confirmd twixt God and vs And true attonement sealed thus That through this Pipe of peace may spout And pleasantly in streames run out Such comfort as in thee doe dweâ—l Which are the fountaine and the well The Conduit and the liuely spring Of euery good and healthfull thing Thus Lord if thou vouchafe to worke Ingratitude which loues to lurke Whithin our heartes them to possesse Shall banisht be by thankfullnesse and we shall praise Iehouah then Grant this O God Amen Amen The Locke to this Conduit A Locke to this Conduit of right doth belong Prouided of purpose substantiall and strong Of this Locke t is needfull Christs sheepe to haue skill That opening this Conduit their hearts they might fill With true ioy and gladnesse with peace and with rest And all kind of comfort that we can request FIrst loue the Lord. who formed thee And like himselfe created thee Loue Iesus Christ who thee redeemd So precious he thy soule esteemd Loue him whose loue with losse of life Twixt God and vs cut of the strife Loue him aboue all earthly treasure And lone with loue most kindly measure Loue thou his Saints and holy ones As of his Church the liuely stones Whose head is he his members they Who hates his Saints doe him betray· Loue thou Gods word his Gospell heare Therein of life are riuers cleare It is the pearle whereby was wrought A wonder worthy dayly thought loue vnto all thy neighbours beare And let thy loue shine euery where To all and some to friend and foe To them that seeke thine ouerthrow Loue all hate none to christ commaunds Herein the Law consistes and standes Loue Strangers well no gaudge them beare Remembring once we strangers were Though Denizons now by Gods good grace His loue restord vs to this place Loue vertuous life and goodnesse seeke And like to Christ learne to be meeke Loue lowlinesse and spit at pride Gods spirit in such will not abide Loue to forgiue and to forbeare This is a signe of Christian feare Thy brothers fault though worthy blame Dissemble thou and hide his shame Thus armd with loue thou mayst be hold Sinne Satan Death our enimies old Shall not haue power to doe thee harme God is thy helpe he is thine arme This is the Locke which thou and I And euery one before we die Ought set vpon our hearts and mindes Where treasure lie of sundry kindes Which Locke if we doe seeke to haue It is not Death nor yet the graue Thou shalt abridge our heauenly blisse In Christ our Conduit kept it is Of all therefore this is the summe If to this Conduit we will comme And thence fetch comfort at our need This is if we to pray proceed And aske of God the things we want Beseeching him the same to graunt For Iesus sake his onely Sonne By loue this worke must be begonne Which if we haue then sure we may Before the Lord approch and pray For otherwise all that we doe Is sinne and death belonges thereto This locke of loue O graunt vs then Sweet Sauiour Christ. Amen Amen The Key to this Conduit A Key to this Conduit of Comfort pertaines Whose vse and due seruice whosoeuer disdaines Aloofe from this Conduit them selues let them keepe Christ is not their Shepheard nor they of his Sheepe This Key therefore learne we to vse and possesse Our Shepheard Christ Iesus then may we confesse FIrst â—now thy selfe but flesh and blood Nay nay but art thou halfe so good Know rather this thou art but dust From Earth thou camst to Earth thou must Know thine estate by Adams fall Exild from life to death in thrall To sinne a slaue to Hell a pray Know this and cast all pride away Knowst thou thy selfe a blast of winde And hearst about a lofty winde Knowst thou thy state to be but nought Thy life a threed but slightly wrought And settest vp the Peacocks plume As though nothing should thee consume This knowledge but fond and vaine A better knowledge doth remaine A knowledge which from God proceedes This knowledge guides our thoughtes and deedes This knowledge shewes as in a Glasse That sinne in vs had brought to passe Eternall death and endlesse paine In Hell where damned soules remaine· This knowledge learnes vs likewise this That albeit we did amisse And kindled Gods consuming ire Yet Christ his blood hath quencht that fire So that this knowledge marked well May be supposed to excell All earthly things which passe away As Flowers in hâ—ate of Summers day This knowledge leades vs to the Lord And makes our willes with his t' accord Know God aright know Christ his sonne Know thou the thing he will haue done Know him that made the heauen and earth Aâ—d fed thee since thy day of birth Know him that giâ—es thee in thy need Conuenient Victuals thee to feed Know him in Christ his Sonne first â—orne The sauiour of our soules forlorne Know God the Father onely wise Know him in heart with faythfull eyes Know him whom heauen and earth obey Whose word ordain'd both night and day The world and all that is therein Are lessons where
we may beginn To learne to know him as he is The God of peace and endlesse blisse None other knowledge is required By this great numbers haue aspired Vnto the top of ioyfull state Such knowledge neuer comes too late Know that to stand in feare and awe Are meanes and wayes to keepe the Law This knowledge is the very Kay Without the which we can not pray No comfort can this Conduit giue Looke for no liquor whiles we liue Vnlesse this Key of Knowledgâ— come That is in briefe to shew the summe Except we know the Lord of Host And Christ his Sonn and th' holy Ghost Our selues our wants and dayly neede And pray in hope that we shall speed Our prayers turne to little good Let this be learnd and vnderstood True knowledge Lord Giue vs therfore Which is the Key to ope the doore Of perfect Prayer gushing out With comforts sweet like to a Spout Beginning at the Conduit head For at the Fountaine it is feed This Knowledge graunt vs Iesus then Say people all Amen Amen The Summe or Conclusion POssesse a good Conscience in running thy race Seeke peace and attonement with Gods diuine grace Let Loue be the Iewell and ioy of thy heart And Knowledge instruct thee to learne what thou art Then enter Gods Temple and there humbly pray In hope what thou crauest to carry away Amen FJNIS Graces to be sayde before and after Meate Before Meate O Lord God heauenly Father Creator and feeder of all liuing creatures we humbly and heartily thanke thee for these thy creatures as pledges of thy fauor for the nourishing of our bodies beseeching thee to sanctifie them vnto vs and vs vnto thy selfe that we receiuing them as from thee our soules may also be nourished and fedde with spirituall Manna from Heauen Amen After Meate WEe thanke thee O Lord God Almighty for satisfying and feeding vs with thy blessing at this all other times sanctifie and blesse vs we beseech thee with thy holy spirit grant that wee being refreshed with these thy cretures may follow our lawfull vocation in thy feare and true obedience that when soeuer we die we may die in thy fauour Amen Before Meate BLesse these thy giftes most gracious God From whom all goodnes springs Make cleane our hearts And feede our soules With good and needfull thinges A thankfull heart renew in vs According to thy will Aboue our strength Lord proue vs not But saue vs from all ill Amen After Meate WEe thanke thee most gracious God for this thy feeding our thirsty Bodies so vouchsafe to feede our silly soules with the bread of eternall life that after this life ended we may ascend where Christ is gone before vs. Amen FJNIS The chiefe Poyntes or summarie Contentes of this Booke FIrst a Prayer for Morning and Euening A Prayer A Prayer for the obteining of Grace For thaÌ„kfulnes to God for his graces gifts For loue vnitie with all men For the hearing true Vnderstanding of the word of God To God for forgiuenes of manifold grieuous sinnes To bee setled in the truth To lead our life according to the will of God To fast and abstaine from sinne For grace to forsake euill to follow that which is good For the assistance of the holy Ghost Against wrath malice For obedience to the keeping of Gods commandements For true hearty repentance To the Lord to turne his wrathful displeasure away from vs. For a cleare and quiet conscience To be zealous in the hearing of the worde of God For a patient mind in trouble In time of prosperitie or aduersâ—tie For patience in time of los of goods or lands A thankes giuing for meate dainke clothing For ayde helpe in all extremities neede Against slaunderous euill tongues For peace in time of Warre or other vexation For deliuerance from foes spirituall temporall Of a penitent soule ouer turned with sin To be fâ—eed from al vices Against vaine delights worldly pleasures Of a penitent sinner lamenting his former life so ill spent Of a sorrowfull sinner laying his heart open praying for a firme faith Desiring mercy forgiuenesse To bee prepared against the houre of death To lead our liues according to the Law and will of God To keepe our tongue from speaking ill To fast pray aright Against wilfull sins snares of Satan For feare of the Lord and loue of his word The Contemplation of a sinner The seauen Petitions of the Lords prayer with a briefe exposition thereof drawne out of holy Scripture The Beliefe of a Christian commonly called The Apostles Creede deuided into twelue Articles and expounded The ten Commandements of Almighty God called The two Tables of the Law expounded by sentences and examples The necessary appurtenances belonging to this Conduit and first of the Cesterne to this Conduit is Conscience The Pipe to this Conduit of comfort is Peace The Locke to this Conduit of Comfort is Loue. The Key to this Conduit of Comfort is Knowledge Godly Graces to be sayd before and after meate FINIS
increase the same making thy glory the marke wherat to direct all my doings and thy word the rule to kéepe me within the compasse of thy will O Christ heare me O heare me sweet Sauiour which art the Well of life whereof whosoeuer tasteth hee shall neuer see Death Heare me O gracious Redéemer and let me féele inwardly the fruits of my faithfull prayer Amen A Prayer for Loue and Vnitie with all men To liue in loue all men among Giue grace O Christ to old and young LOrd Iesus thou Patterne of true and vnfeined loue yea of loue leading to life euerlasting without whom there can bee no loue or concord amōg men I beseech thee to heare the prayer of me thy poore seruant and that which I aske in spirit vouchsafe to giue me of thy free mercy And because loue is the fulfilling of the Law and the seale of saluation to the consciences of all Christians Furthermore for so much as thou hast commaunded vs to doe good to all men which cannot be vnlesse loue be the lampe to giue vs light I beséech thée to fill my heart with that loue yea to poure that loue abundantly into the hearts of all both old and yong that we may first and principally loue Almightie God the Father thée O Christ the Sonne and the holy Ghost with such a loue as is loath to turne the fauor of God into displeasure his gentlenesse into rigour his mercy into iudgement and his forbearance into vengeance Secondly to loue my Soueraigne Prince whom I am bound in conscience to obey to loue my superiors to loue mine equals to loue mine inferiors to loue mine enemies Finally to loue all and hate none that by this meanes I may dwel in God the Fountaine of loue who of méere loue for the saluation of the soule of man sent thee O my Sauiour into the world to suffer death vp on the crosse euen in the face of his enimies and persecutors Grant this O Christ to whom with the Father and the holie Ghost be all praise and glory for euermore Amen A Prayer for the hearing and true vnderstanding of the word of God To heare thy word and liue therein Vs to renew O Lord begin LIghten my heart O Lord GOD with the lampe of thy holy and blessed word which is the weapon of euery true Christian souldier and the sword of the spirit to cut off all the temptations of the Diuell the world and the flesh if it be vsed according to thy wil O Lord which art the giuer and author of the same And for so much O Lord as thy worde is the rule whereby wée are bound to direct all our doings and the square whereat to frame the whole course of our life I beséech thée to circumcise my heart that all carnall cogitations and thoughtes expelled and driuen out I may betake my selfe wholy vnto the reading hearing studying folowing of thy word which is the food of our soules the comfortable bread which killeth hunger and the pleasant drinke which quencheth thirst not the hunger thirst of the body against the which it hath pleased thée to prouide most healthfull remedies but the hunger and thirst of the soule which are no way else asswaged but by the vertue and heauenly working of thy word This word O Lord vouchsafe to make florish and fruitifie in vs that thereby wee may bée wonne to the worshipping of thée in true feare vnfained faith and perfect holinesse of life through Iesus Christ our Sauiour Amen A Praier to God for forgiuenesse of manifold and grieuous sinnes My heart vncleane Lord circumcise And make my soule thy sacrifice IN sinne O Lord was my conception in sinne my education in sinne the whole course of my life Nothing is cleane and vnspotted in mée nothing is sound nothing perfect nothing holy nothing sanctified I am full of sinne and iniquitie my thoughts desires are attainted with sinne my labours and handy works are defiled with wickednes my words and communications are tempered with the leauen of iniquity my hart is corrupt putrified there is nothing sound in me but all mine entrails are infected and poysoned with sin the high way to euerlasting shame death and condemnation O miserable wretch that I am to whom shall I run for succour To whom shall I make my sorrowes knowne Before whom shall I powre my plaintes Art not thou the Samaritane which with the oyle of mercie souplest my festered woundes Art not thou the good Sephearde which bringest home the straying Shéepe to the shéepefold Art not thou the good Captaine which fightest in defence of thy Souldiers O yes Lord thou art euen he and doubtlesse had not the oyle of thy mercy healed my filthy Botches had not thy hand fetcht me home to the flocke had not thy loue and grace ouer shadowed me in danger I had rotted in my filthinesse I had perished in my wandering and I had béen vtterly ouerthrowne in combate O Lord my God circumcise my heart and clense it from all euill thoughts deuises imaginations consentes to sinne Sanctifie my soule renew my spirit and garnish mée with the garment of regeneration that I may become a swéete smelling sacrifice before thée a sacrifice of acceptable incense a sacrifice of holines righteousnes so shall I prayse thée in the assemblie of the iust extoll thy glorious name among thy people Amen A Prayer for to be setled in the Truth Thy Truth send downe Lord from aboue And giue me grace the same to loue ACcording to thy louing kindnesse O Christ heare the praiers of thy seruant that request which Hope inboldeneth mee to make vouchsafe in mercy to grant And because the Deuill is the father of all falshood and lying and thou the fountaine of all truth and righteousnes as thou saiest of thy selfe I am the Way the Truth and the Life therefore I beseech thee O gracious God Sauiour to plant in me the Trueth without the which all entrance into heauenly ioy is stopt vp to banish out of my heart which by nature is a nest of wickednesse all maner of sinne resisting the Truth And for so much as Truth is a pearle of price and a Iewell of great value to the godly the ornament of the faythful and the treasure of the true Christian therefore I beséech thée O Christ giue me grace to thirst after truth to hunger after the taste of that heauenly foode that my desiring soule may be succoured my longing heart refreshed euen with the fulnes of the same And wheras by nature we are bōdslaues of sinne and by that meanes vtter enemies of truth we beseech thee notwithstanding to make vs partakers of mercy and not of iudgement remembring that thy death and bloodshed paid the price of redemption for all mankinde Thou God of truth heare my prayer and let the suite of me thy poore Seruant come before thy presence and that which I haue asked with
boldnesse vouchsafe to graunt of thy speciall goodnesse Amen A Prayer to leade our life according to the will of God To doe thy will teach me O Lord And let my life thereto accord MOst mighty most iust most mercifull most louing most tender deare Father forsomuch as there is no way to heauen but by doing thy wil we say with humblenes of heart as Iesus â—hrist thy Sonne and my swéete Sauiour hath taught Fiat voluntas tua sicut in Coelo in Terra Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heauen And because it is thy will that we should walk in holines and righteousnes before thée all the dayes of our life we beséech thée to be the Schoolemaster of our Soules and Spirites that thy Wisedome instructing and teaching vs to make a difference betwéene good and bad we may follow the one and forsake the other considering that the doers of thy wil and not the knowers of the same shal be partakers of the promises of life and saluation For thy Sonne Iesus Christes sake my onely Sauiour and Redeemer grant this request O most gracious God both vnto mee and to all thy people Amen A Prayer to fast and abstaine from sinne To fast from Sinne is Christians ioy My heart thereto O Lord employ LOrd God maker of heauen earth Iudge of the quicke and the dead thou that by wisedome séest all things and by thy prouidence orderest all creatures wee beséech thée to cast thine eyes of care and compassion vpon vs miserable sinners who from the day of our birth haue liued in wantonnes and all kind of wickednes therby kindling thy wrath and Iustice against vs to our confusion O let vs yet at length haue our eyes opened and sée the brightnesse of thy glorie which the blindnesse of our minds will not suffer vs to behold Let vs not pamper our selues in securitie lyuing out of rule and abandoning all godlinesse which is a kinde of surfetting in iniquity and ouercharging our hearts with heapes of abominations but let vs become new Schollers in the Schoole of Christianitie walking warily redeeming the time louing light and detesting darknesse O Lord vouchsafe to be mindfull of vs thy creatures and of thine owne glory which art our Creator Teach vs to fast aright not superstitiously in abstaining from this or that kind of meate vsing a vaine order in dyet and differences of meates but as thine holy ones haue in times past fasted the true Fast which thou in thy Word requirest so grant I beséech thee that I and all people may fast after the same fashion to fast from sin wickednes that the flesh may bee brought into subiection and the spirit quickened Graunt this O Lord for thy Sons sake Iesus Christ my Redéemer and Sauiour Amen A Praier for grace to forsake euill and to follow that which is good From Heauen O God send vs thy grace Ill to forsake and good t' imbrace ALmightie God I beseech thee to giue mee true vnderstanding knowledge not onely to confesse thée a most mercifull Father but also an vpright Iudge fauouring thy children which liue within the compasse of thy Commandements and punishing offendours which run headlong into all mischiefe not once looking backe to the written Tables of the law And because it standeth not with the frailtie of man to fulfill the summe of the law vpon the breach whereof condemnation doth insue we beseech thée to inrich our harts with the treasure of thy Grace that we waxing wealthy therewith may be able to withstand all the assaults of Satan our subtile aduersarie Moreouer good GOD forsomuch as this Grace of thine is the badge of thy fatherly affection and guydeth the thoughts the words the déedes of euery Christian wée besech thée to shield vs with the same that wée may follow and stand stedfastly in that which is acceptable in thy sight renouncing the Deuill and his workes of darknesse and betaking our selues body and soule to the healthfull guiding of thy grace Amen A Prayer for the assistance of the Holy Ghost Th' assistance of the Holy Ghost Sweete Iesus spread in euery Coast. MOst comfortable Sauiour most victorious Captaine most triumphant Redéemer most mercifull Mediatour Iesus Christ thou beloued Sonne of the eternall God spread abroad the brightnesse of thy Maiestie to the consolation of all people And forsomuch as without thée the whole world is nothing else but a solitarie Wildernesse destitute of faith hope charitie loue gentlenes compassion forbearance and all other workes of Christianitie we beséech thée to be a gracious God as thou art an omnipotent God that where thy power is séene thy mercie may likewise be perceiued Let not thy creatures continue in ignorance of thée their Sauiour but so assist them with the present aide of thy comforting Spirit and the holy Ghost that they may sée in what by-wayes of destruction dangers they trauerse Let thy holy Ghost be their lodesman let the holy Ghost be their teacher let the holy Ghost be their right hand and their left let the holy Ghost be to them all in all that they being thus inspired filled with the power of thy sanctifying Spirit may feele in themselues a spiritual inclination working all desires of the flesh being cut off cast away and may also be receiued into thy shéepfold be reckoned among the number of the faithfull Graunt this O Christ thou tender Sauiour of our soules Amen A Prayer against Wrath and Malice From hatefull heart and fraught with ire Saue vs O Lord wee thee desire BOuntifull God which hast giuen vs commandement to loue all men and to hate none to be angry but not to sinne to be displeased a little but not to let the Sunne set vpon our wrath wée beséech thée to purge our heartes cleane from all hatred from all enuie from all malice from al vncharitablenesse from all vntowardnesse from all bitternesse from all quarrelling from all misreporting from all backbyting from all reuengement seeking sinally from al the motions of a wicked spirit Let loue banish hate let friendlines displace vnkindnes let charitie remooue ouerthwartnes let forbearance dispossesse maliciousnes al which are most shamefull sinnes and so hatefull in thy sight O God that he is no Christian but an Antichristian no child of blisse but of Baall no heire of Heauen but of Hell no vessell of election but of reprobation no partaker of ioy but of woe no souldier of the Church but of the Synagogue in whom they beare rule And therefore most gracious God root out of our hearts all such wéedes of wickednesse that we may become new griftes of righteousnesse through Iesus Christ our Sauiour Amen A Praier for obedience to the keeping of Gods Commandements To liue within the rule of Law keepe vs O Lord in feare awe EVerlasting God whose name is so glorious that it passeth the capacitie of man to giue it due aduancement we beséech thée of thine