Lord thy God require of thee c. Mica 6.8 He hath shewed thee O man what is good c. Eccles. 12.13.14 Let vs heare the conclusion of the whole matter c. All which as they prescribe what God expecteth yeelding reason to moue vs to be thereof carefull so do they also administer both motiues and matter of prayer to make vs earnest with God for his strength and grace to enable vs for a meete performance B. THe sinners suite or Dauids repentant Prayer after his fall for himselfe and the Church not vnfit to be vsed in our daily deuotion in regard of our continuall failing in the precedent duties PSAL. 51. 1. Haue mercy vpon me O God according to thy louing kindnesse according to the multitude of thy compassions blot out my transgressions 2. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity and cleanse mee from my sinne 3. For I acknowledge my transgressions and my sinne is euer before me 4. Against thee thee only haue I sinned and done euill in thy sight that thou mayest be iustified when thou speakest and be cleare when thou iudgest 5. Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sinne did my mother conceiue me 6. Behold thou louest truth in the inward affections and hast made mee to know wisedome in the secret of my heart 7. Purge me with a That is with the bloud of Christ sprinkled on my leaprous soule by the holy spirit Dauid for the strēgthning of his faith alluding to that ceremonie in cleansing the Leaper Leuit 14.67 As see 1. Pet. 1.2 1. Cor. 6.11 Hysope and I shall be cleane wash me and I shall be whiter then snow 8. Make me to heare ioy and gladnesse that the bones which thou hast broken may reioyce 9. Hide thy face from my sinnes and blot out all mine iniquities 10. Create in mee a cleane heart O God and renew a right spirit within me 11 Cast mee not away from thy presence and take not thy holy spirit from me 12. Restore to me the ioy of thy saluation and stablish mee with thy free spirit 13. Then will I teach transgressours thy wayes and sinners shall be conuerted vnto thee 14. Deliuer me from b That is the guilt of bloud being the particular sinne that mostwounded Dauids conscience as we vnder this terme may pray against that particular sin which woundeth vs most is to vs as bloud was to Dauid bloud O God thou God of my saluation and my tongue shall sing aloude of thy righteousnes 15. O Lord open thou my lips and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise 16. For thou desirest no sacrifice else would I giue it thee but thou delightest not in burnt offrings 17. The sacrifice of God is a contrite spirit a contrite and broken heart O God thou wilt not despise 18 Be fauorable for thy good pleasure vnto Sion build thou the walls of Hierusalem 19. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousnesse with c These Dauid mētioneth according to the condition of those times answering whereto are now the holy ministery of the word the Sacramēts with prayer praises thanksgiuing As see Hos 14. 2. Heb. 13.15 burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings then shall they offer young bullocks vpon thine Altar And now to direct and encourage vs to this continuall duty of holy prayer one most vsefull forme to furnish vs both for words and matter whereunto may be as I conceiue this blessed Psalme to that end proposed take notice farther of these prescripts promises and presidents Math. 7.7 8. Aske and it shall be giuen you c. Psal 50.15 Call vpon mee in the day of trouble c. Rom. 8.26.27 Likewise the spirit also helpeth our infirmities c. Jsai 65.24 Yea before they call I will answere c. Dan. 9.20.21 And while I was speaking and praying c. Ver. 23. At the beginning of thy supplication the Commandement came forth c. All assuring vs of Gods readines to heare when euer by his grace he stirreth our hearts to pray whereby wee may euen prophesie of the successe of our desires according to that acknowledgement Psal 10.17 O Lord thou hast heard the desire of the humble thou preparest their hearts and then causest thine eare to heare C. DAuids blessed man pointing out yet more particularly the right path to life in renouncing euill wayes and cleauing vnto Gods word PSAL. 1.1.2 1. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsell of the vngodly nor standeth in the way of sinners nor sitteth in the seate of the scornfull 2. But his delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law doth he meditate day night Agreeing hereunto see likewise Iob 22.21.22.23 Acquaint now thy selfe with God and be at peace c. Ephesi 5.8 11. Yee were darknesse but now are light in the Lord walke as children of the light And haue no fellowship c. As also Psal 119.1.2.3 26.4.5.6 All warning vs if euer we would be happy aboue all to flye as wee are still in Scripture warned the contagion of ill company Pro. 1.10.4.14.23.20 that fixing our delight vpon Gods law 2. Cor. 6.14 we may entertaine familiarity and fellowship with the Lord our both Sunne and shield Psal 84.11 Psal 16 11 in whose presence is fulnesse of ioy and pleasures at his right hand for euermore D. THe Doctrine and vse of the holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper together with an adioyned direction for a meete preparation thereunto deliuered by St. Paul 1. COR. 11. 23. For I haue receiued of the Lord that which I also deliuered vnto you that the Lord Iesus in the same night that he was betrayed tooke bread 24. And when hee had giuen thankes hee brake it and said Take eate this is my body which is broken for you this doe in remembrance of me 25. After the same manner also he tooke the Cup when he had supped saying This Cup is the new Testament in my bloud this do yee as often as yee drink it in remembrance of me 26. For as often as ye eate this Bread and drinke this Cup ye doe shew the Lords death till he come 27. Wherefore whosoeuer shall eate this Bread and drinke this Cup of the Lord vnworthily shall be guilty of the Body and Bloud of the Lord. 28. But let a man examine himselfe and so let him eate of this Bread drink of this Cup. 29. For hee that eateth and drinketh vnworthily eateth and drinketh damnation or iudgement to himselfe not discerning the Lords body THe direction for preparation in the twelue questions following 1. Quest How may a Christian fit himselfe for the Lords Table A. He must consider 1. why 2. how he shold come thereunto 2. Q. Why is he to come An. In obedience to Christs commandement who hath bidden vs so to doe in remembrance of him 3. Q. What profit may hee expect hereby to make him come willingly A. He is called
by God to renew and confirme vnto his comfort the couenant made betwixt Christ and him in Baptisme 4. Q. What is that couenant A. That Christ will vndoubtedly saue vs if wee with a liuely faith working by loue shall cleaue vnto him 5. Q. If there be such gaine in comming what makes many so vnwilling to repaire often hereunto A. This is either for that being grosly ignorant they conceiue not rightly of the benefit or else being carnall and carelesse they are loath to take paines to fit themselues to come in that maner as Christ would haue them 6. Q. To passe then to the second consideration How would the Lord haue vs to come A. Not for fashion or custome as it may be feared many doe but in great reuerence and with a due preparation that wee may come worthily 7. Q. What preparation are we to vse that we may so come A. Euery one ought seriously to examine his owne soule whether he can finde in himselfe the graces by God required in worthy Communicants 8. Q What be those graces which God chiefely requireth A. 1. A true faith grounded vpon the knowledge of God and this holy Sacrament 2. Sound repentance accompanied with Christian loue both to God and man 9. Q. How should a man examine or trie his faith An. By well vnderstanding the Articles of the Creede with the doctrine of the Lords Supper set down by St. Paul 1. Cor. 11. he may come to know what hee should beleeue concerning God and this holy Sacrament which hee must labour to bring his heart vnto and withall heartily begge of God whose gift it is to worke and encrease this true faith in him 10. Q How is hee to trie his repentance and charity An. Labouring to finde out and bewaile his sinnes past and want of charity with earnest prayer to God for pardon and grace he is to resolue and purpose to leaue off his sinnes and henceforth to liue in obedience to all Gods commandements and in loue and charity with all men 11. Q. Being thus prepared how ought a Christian to come vnto the LORDS Table A. With great reuerence and a feeling remembrance of the Lords death for redeeming of his soule he ought in all thankfulnesse to resigne and giue vp himselfe wholly and for euer vnto the Lord. 12. Q. After so communicating at Christs Table what farther remaineth by a Christian to be performed A. His endeauour must bee to keepe still in a ioyfull memorie the promises so renewed and by Christs blood sealed betwixt him and the Lord in the holy Sacrament hereby to strengthen himselfe against sinne and to encrease faith and other graces in his soule vntill God please to call him to the like againe Adde here onely how for triall of our faith required in the ninth Question as wee are to haue recourse to the Doctrine of the Sacrament before set downe so it will be expedient to young beginners for the farther vnderstanding of the common Creede to acquaint themselues with the two other namely the Nicene Creede beginning thus I beleeue in one God c. And that of Athanasius Whosoeuer will be saued c. In which latter the two great mysteries of the blessed Trinitie and our Sauiours holy Incarnation are most excellently set forth and expressed E. THe forme and force of Religious fasting together with a briefe Instruction for farther explication and Christian practise IOEL 2. 12. Therefore also now saith the Lord Turne ye euen vnto mee with all your heart and with fasting and with weeping and with mourning 13. And rent your hearts and not your garments and turne vnto the Lord your God for hee is gracious and mercifull slow to anger and of great kindnesse and repenteth him of the euill 14. Who knoweth if hee will returne and repent and leaue a blessing behinde him euen a meate offering and a drinke offering vnto the Lord our God THe Instruction concerning Fasting deliuered also in Twelue short Questions 1. Quest What doth the Scripture teach concerning Fasting A. Religious Fasting for furtherance of Piety is found commanded by God and commended vnto vs by the frequent vse of the best of Gods seruants in the holy Scriptures 2. Q. What difference is there to be put betweene Prayer and Fasting A. Prayer is of daily and ordinary vse as the washing of plate or vessell continually to keepe them cleane but Fasting is a thing lesse ordinarie and at times onely to be vndertaken as the scowring of such plate or vessell sometimes to make them bright 3. Qu. When are Christians enioyned to Fast A. The Gospell hath not prescribed any set dayes or times for this exercise but then are Christians to betake themselues thereunto when either they are enioyned by lawfull authority or when God shall by the occasions of extraordinarie humiliation as by his owne voyce call and sammon them so to doe 4. Qu. What occasions be there of so humbling our selues before God A. Either 1. When as for sinne wee feare or begin to feele Gods iudgements falling on vs Or 2. When we desire or expect to receiue some speciall and extraordinarie good at the hands of God as when wee come to the holy Sacrament to renew our couenant with the Lord. 5. Qu. Who are bound to the performance of this duty A. First if the Fast for publique occasions bee by authority enioyned it concerneth all except in case of necessity to haue a due respect thereof Secondly for priuate Fasting it ought to be by well-taught Christians vndertaken as they haue warrant from the practise of the best of Gods holy seruants still vpon the like particular occasions 6. Qu. How are Christians rightly to performe this duty A. As in the fourth Commandement touching the Sabbath there are two things enioyned 1. Rest from labour 2. Sanctifying of that Rest euen so in this worke of Fasting two things also are required 1. The one outward respecting the body 2. The other inward or spirituall vnto which the outward is to be referred 7. Qu. What is the outward thing required in Fasting A. 1. Abstinence from foode either altogether or as farre as may be with preseruation of health as also from other delights and outward comforts for humbling of the flesh 2. Rest from labour so far as with conueniencie wee may during that time of abstinence that wee may the better intend the inward duty required in Fasting 8. Quest What is the inward substance chiefely required A. An extraordinary humbling of our soule Ezr. 8.21 and seeking after God by earnest Prayer and in the serious practise of true repentance 9. Qu. How should wee in the day of fasting exercise our selues in the serious practise of true repentance An. By diligent examination of our hearts and liues by the rule of Gods Law the ten Commandements our labour must be to get a thorow sight of our sinnes and sinfull corruptions displeasing God and deseruing wrath for which therefore we must desire and
pressing vpon vs what is commended by our Sauiour in Iohn Baptists hearers Mat. 11.12 and whereto both by St. Pauls example and exhortation we are directed viZ. a following Phil. 3.14 hard towards the marke for the price of the high calling of GOD in Christ â—esus Heb. 12.1 And running therfore with patience in the footsteps of the faithfull gone before the race that is set before vs looking that we faint not vnto Iesus hims lfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ver. 2. the Author and finisher of our faith N. FArther for a foundation of our liuelâ— faith and a furtherance of our godly feare Psal 9.10 that knowing Gods name we may rest thereon and euer stand in awe of that glorious fearefull name Deut 28.58 THE LORD OVR GOD Let vs take the same into our thoughts as himselfe hath proclaimed it before Moses in mount Sinai EXOD. 34. 6 The LORD 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the LORD GOD mercifull and gracious slowe to anger and aboundant in goodnes and truth 7. Keeping mercie for thousands forgiuing iniquity and transgression and sinne and that will by no meanes cleare the guilty visiting the iniquity of the Fathers vpon the children vnto the third and fourth generation Pro. 18.10 For this name as the righteous running to it haue still found a strong Tower to them of sure defence so may we likewise if vpon all occasions repairing thereto wee shall for strengthening of our confidence 2. Chro. 20.6 Act. 1.24 Num. 14.17 2. Reg. 19.19 to obtaine what we aske after the patterne of their faith giue vnto God Titles suteable to our requests hereby manifesting that wee relie not on any thing in our selues but on the alone power wisedome compassion faithfulnesse and infinite goodnesse which are in God And to this end also how behoouefull will it be for the simplest Christian to learne and be well acquainted with the meaning and signification of the more ordinary names and titles whereby our blessed Sauiour the Sonne of God is in Scriptures set forth vnto vs as to omit all other those three especially of IESVS IMMANVEL CHRIST 1. IESVS an Hebrew name signifying a Sauiour Act. 7.45 Heb. 4.8 Col. 4.11 which though it bee found giuen in Type and for some inferiour respects to others is in the full and perfect sense proper onely to the Sonne of the blessed Virgine sent into the world to bee our IESVS that is our Sauiour to saue vs his people from all our sins Math. 1.21 for neither is there saluation in any other Act. 4.12 there being among men none other name giuen vnder heauen whereby we must be saued 2. IMMANVEL an Hebrew compound name Isai 7.14 likewise giuen him of the Lord by the Prophet and by the Euangelist interpreted to signifie as much as God with vs to note forth for the Churches comfort as the Vnion of both his natures in one person Mat. 1.23 Nobiscum Deus God with vs that is God made man by his holy incarnation Ioh. 1.14 1. Tim. 2.5 So also the effect and fruit of his comming as mediator betwixt God and man to make attonement and reconciliation for vs for so hee was also our Immanuel God with vs that is senâ— to reunite vs who were fallen and separated againe to God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3. CHRIST a Greeke name answering to the Hâ—brew MESSIAS Ioh. 1 41. Vnctus both signifying the same viz Annointed to witnesse him the annointed of the Lord before promised not in regard of any materiall oyle powred vpon him Dan. 9 21. Psal 2.2 but for that hee was furnished with all fulnesse of the holy Spirit to be the onely and all-sufficient both Priest and Prophet Ioh 1.16 Act. 11.26 and King of his Church and of whose fulnesse wee receiuing grace are therefore called Christians as partaking of that his annointing and made thereby Priests and Kings to God his Father Reu. 1.6 Let the learned if they light hereon beare with these plaine Explications which the ignorance of the common people with griefe known to such as haue any care oâ— Country charges doth euâ—n seeme to enforce in these particulars And thus farre to adde no more touching the name of God O. FOr the power and efficacie of the word of God Psal 138 2 whereby aboue all things GOD magnifieth his name Consider that Quaere made and resolued by Dauid and his owne professed practise suteable thereunto PSAL. 119. 9 Wherewithall shal a young man cleanse his way by taking heede thereto according to thy word 11 I haue hid thy word in my heart that I might not sinne against thee Where marke hee saith not J haue hanged it about my necke as superstition of olde taught people to doe the beginning of St. Iohns Gospell to driue away the deuill nor I haue had it in my house or onely got it into my head but hid it in my heart viz. by faith that I might not sinne against thee This being the commendations of the word of God that it onely is able to cleanse euen the young mans way that is commonly most disordered and dissolute in the pride of youth and heate of lust and to preserue from sinne yea some word or other so laid vp from euery sinne As for some vsefull instances to confirme this truth 1. From PRIDE the beginning of sinne these places among others Ecclus 10.13 warning of the disgrace and danger or aduising to the contrary vertue Pro. 11.2 When pride commeth then commeth shame but with the lowly is wisedome Iam. 4.6 God resisteth the proud and giueth grace to the humble With that also of our Sauiour Math. 11.29 Learne of me for I am meeke and lowly and ye shall finde rest vnto your soules From rash SWEARING that word cloathed about with death the third great Commaundement if it were as heedfully regarded Ecclus 23.12 as it is often heard Exod. 20.7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine for the Lord will not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his name in vaine And that counsell also agreeing thereto Iam. 5.12 Aboue all things my brethren sweare not neither by heauen nor by the earth neither by any other â—ath but let your yea be yea and your nay nay lest yee fall into condemnation Ecclus 7.13 3. From LYING the custome whereof is not good that fearefull place Reuel 22.15 Without shâ—ll be dogs and Sorcerers and murtherers and Idolaters and whosoeuer loueth and maketh lyes and where is that but in the lake burning with fire and brimstone as see Reuel 21.8 And againe which may be conceiued a reason of the former sentence that sharpe censure giuen by our Sauiour Ioh. 8.44 Ye are of your Father the deuill and the lusts of your Father ye will doe he was a murtherer from the beginning and abode not in the truth because there is no truth in him