Christes righteousnes and pledges of his blisse Baptisme For why In Baptisme sure there is assured vnto thee Thy sinnes are washed by his blood and thou renew'd shalt bee And thou art entred once for all into the fellowship Of Father Sonne and Holy Ghost at no time thence to slip This holy Trinitie is thy God and thou his Child become His grace is thine thou not thine own through Christ these things are done And Faith is it that consecrates thee to the Lord alone Yea Faith I say in Christes death and Resurrection Therefore vnto the Lord see thou thy selfe do dedicate To dye to sinne and liue to him in state regenerate As water skowreth filth away so makes it faire and cleane Thinke not thy sin is washt when yet thou wicked dost remaine The Supper of the Lord. * So in the Supper of the Lord this gratious Couenant Is otherwise set forth to thee that art the Lords seruant The broken bread doth signifie Christs bodie put to death The powred wine his pretious blood doth note vnto thy Faith When Bread and Wine are ministred by Minister to thee Thinke with thy selfe Christ offereth himselfe and grace to mee And when thou eatst drinkst the same perswade thy selfe withall Christs Merits now belong to me to set me free from thrall Thy Baptisme once was ministred the Supper often ought The new birth needeth oft releefe though once t was truly wrought Wherefore as bread and wine do fresh our bodies oftentimes So comforts Christ the conscience with guilt of sinne that pines And as mans bodie gathers heart by bread and wine to liue So by this sacred food the Lord more spirituall strength will giue To doe his will with thankfulnesse more perfect for to be And better able sinne to leaue this is the veritie And finally as thou dost joyne and that in open place Amids Gods people that receiue before Christ Iesus face See then that peace and loue in thee vnfained be to Men And specially to faithfull folke else thou art none of them Stirre vp thy knowledge and thy faith repentance and thy loue Be zealous of this holy food vnworthy lest thou proue Examine well thy heart before to God thy prayer powre And look try how thou dost thriue in grace from that same howre * The fourth good Meane or Exercise that Christ bids thee to vse Is speciall fellowship with Saints the bad thou must refuse The Saints will teach comfort thee and many waies thee aide The bad will badly teach and will make thee of grace afraid * The fifth and last is noting well Gods creatures workes and hand His iudgements and his benefits God cause thee to vnderstand His patient long-sufferance and doings good alway Repentance and Obedience do teach thee euery day Fifthly Of the right vse of the Meanes of Grace and the Reward thereof DRaw neere to God with vpright heart and vse these meanes of grace Then Christ will be thy King Priest and Prophet in ech case Thy King to worke rule thy heart according to his will Most ready for to do thee good and saue thee from all ill Thy Priest for why he offred vp himselfe to death for thee And will apply his precious merits thy heart to purifie And of this thing thou maist be sure because he rose againe From death to life ascended vp and raigneth now in heauen And thence it is he worketh by his scepter and his rod Making his Meanes effectuall to bring thee vnto God And thence he is thy Prophet eke by Ministers that teach His holy word which thou must heare and diligently search Directing all thy wayes thereto with good and honest hart Christ wholly thine thou wholly his by true indeuour art Then God will surely saue thy soule for Christes sake his Sonne And prosper thee in all thy wayes what ere is said or done Hee 'l turne thy suffrings to the best and Satan eke confound His Promises he will fulfill if that thy heart be sound Beleeue then firmely in thy minde that God will count thee pure Full freely and full gratiously Christs Gospell is most sure Repent thee turne and grow in grace be thankfull and rejoyce In suffering with thy Sauiour obey his holy voice And keepe thy selfe within thy lot thy calling and degree Take paines be iust meeke mercifull and God will harke to thee And alwaies watch for Christ shall come to iudge both quicke and dead Thy Bodie shall be raisd from dust and to thy soule joyned Thy sinnes he will not mention the iust he will declare But iudge he will the Reprobate their sinnes he will not spare Their damned state thou shalt behold Christs sentence to commend Yet thou the joyes vnspeakable shalt haue without all end 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Forme of Prayer after Conference Parent WE Coloss 1.9 pray thée O God to fill vs with the knowledge of thy will in all wisedome and spirituall vnderstanding to giue vs grace to walks worthy of thée Lord vnto all pleasing being fruitfull in euery good worke and increasing in the knowledge of God to strengthen vs with all might according to thy glorious power vnto all patience and long-suffering with ioyfulnesse and to make vs truly thankfull vnto thée O Father who hast made vs méete to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light and for that thou hast and wouldst deliuer vs from the power of darknes and translate vs into the kingdome of thy deare Sonne in whom we haue redemption through his blood euen the forgiuenesse of our sinnes and Rom. 9.5 who is God ouer all blessed for euer Child Amen Seruant Amen Scholler Amen HEB. 6.1 Let vs goe on to perfection FINIS
not any one of them worketh altogither after the same manner as another doth but ech one of them according to the distinct proprietie of his Person in speciall Parent How are the three Persons distinguished in their speciall Proprieties Pastor p Prov. 8.22 23 24 c. Psal 2.7 Iohn 15.26 The Father is of himselfe the Sonne is begotten of the Father from all eternitie and the Holy Ghost proceedeth from the Father and the Sonne Parent How in their working togither Pastor q Heb. 1.1 2. Iohn 5.17 19. The Father worketh of himselfe by the Sonne and the Holy Ghost and therefore the originall beginning of the action is ascribed to him r Rom. 8.11 Heb. 1.2 The Sonne worketh from the Father by the Holy Ghost and so the disposing of the action as it were by a Steward is attributed to him ſ Gen. 1.2 1 Cor. 12.11 The Holy Ghost worketh from the Father and the Sonne and therefore the efficacie and finishing of the action is in a speciall sort allotted vnto him Parent What knowledge of the Law is required for worthy Receiuing Child t Deut. 6.25 Rom. 7.7 8 9 10 11 13. That it requireth true righteousnesse and discouereth our corrupt nature sinne and condemnation Parent What of the Gospell Child u Act. 4.12 Gal. 3.13 That Christ is our sufficient Redéemer and onely remedie against Gods curse Parent What of our selues or of our owne estate Child * Ephes 2.3 4 5 6 7 8 c. That we do surely stand in grace though borne in sinne and wrath Parent What of the Sacraments Child x Esai 7.11 Rom. 4.11 Luk. 22.19 20. That they are fit worthie helps to strengthen our weake faith Seruant How are they so Scholler y Iere. 19.10 11. Act. 21.11 Iohn 3.12 Galat. 3.1 1 Ioh. 1.1 3. Because the Lord doth worke vpon other our senses and faculties as our séeing féeling being admitted and clensed receiuing eating and drinking tasting digesting being nourished refreshed chéered and strengthned thereby to confirme vnto our hearts his sauing grace which first by hearing the word we haue beléeued Parent II. Of Faith What Faith is required for the worthy receiuing of the Lords Supper Child Faith which taketh hold of Christ and his benefits and leadeth vs to true thankfulnesse * Of this grace we haue conferred already in the second part and also more in Part. 5. Parent What Repentance and Newnesse of Life is required III. Of Repentance and Newnesse of life Child * See more of this grace in Part. 2. and in Part. 5. That godly sorrow with causeth to forsake sinne togither with that effectuall grace which inableth to kéepe Gods Commandements increasing with the increase of God Parent What Charitie towards Men is required IV. Of Charitie towards men before you receiue the Lords Supper Child z 1 Iohn 5.1 Ioh. 13.34 35. 15.12 13. 2 Cor. 8.8 9. compared That which is wrought and groweth in my heart towards them for Iesus Christs sake who loued both them and me vnto the death Seruant How do you further know that you haue loue or charitie towards men Scholler First a Psal 16.3 1 Iohn 3 1◠4.1 1 P◠1.22 3.8 4.8 9. c. because I doe specially loue and reuerence godly persons Secondly b Math. 5.23.24 I séeke for conscience sake to be reconciled after offences committed Thirdly c Math. 5.44 Mark 11.25 26. I wish well euen in my heart vnto my very enimies being ready to pardon all their wrongs and praying for them Fourthly d 1 Cor. 14.1 16.14 Galat. 6.10 Hebr. 12.14 1 Pet. 3.11 2 Tim. 3.3 Mal. 2.10 14. I beare a louing affection towards all men following peace with them and endeuouring to doe them good but particularly those vnto whom I am bound in nature or by any other couenant of God * See more of this grace in part supra and in part 5. infra Parent V. Of earnest desire to receiue the Lords Supper Why must you earnestly desire to receiue the Lords Supper Child For two causes First e 1 Cor. 11 20 22 23 24 25. because the Lord hath both ordained and commanded it for his owne glory Secondly f 1 Cor. 11.17 Ephes 5.26 Act. 2.42 20.7.11 God giueth more grace by it than by the word preached alone Parent What more grace haue you by it than by the word preached alone Childe First g 1 Cor. 10.16 Christs death and merits are more particularly applied to me and so I am more fully assured to be kept still in grace yea and sealed vp vnto euerlasting saluation Secondly g 12.13 I am more stronglie bound as by a solemne renewing of an oath to continue in Grace Thirdly g Act. 2.42 c. I am more effectually stirred vp to make profession of Faith and obedience as often as I am called thereunto Seruant How often is euery Christian bound to receiue the Lords Supper Scholler h 1 Cor. 11.25 26. Act. 2.42 Of receiuing worthily As often as he may so that he be a worthy receiuer Parent But what is required of vs about the time of celebrating the Lords Supper that wee may vse it as Christ hath appointed and as becommeth so heauenly mysteries Childe There are required these three things First a due and holie preparation before Secondly a fit disposition in the action Thirdly other duties afterward I. Of preparation before Parent What preparation is required before Childe Wée must set our selues apart from all other businesse that we may First i 1 Cor. 11.28.31 search our selues throughly for the sanctified graces of Knowledge Faith Repentance Charitie and desire to the Lords Supper aforesaid Secondly k Psal 26.6 Num. 9.6 stirre them vp and renew them vnto better growth and practise Thirdly l 2 Chron. 30.18 19 20. Mat. 5.23 24. 1 Tim. 4.4 5. humblie craue the assistance of Gods spirit and reconciliation with God yea and with men also where néed is Seruant But what if you finde the sanctified graces of Gods spirit to be weake in your heart must you not then abstaine Scholler No m 2 Chr. 30.18 19.20 I must come and that with hope and chéerefulnesse vpon some conditions Seruant Why with hope and cheerfulnesse Scholler n Esai 7.11 Luk. 4.18 Mat. 15.24 with Luk. 22.19 20. Because the Lords Supper was ordained of purpose for the confirmation of the weake Seruant Vpon what conditions must you come Scholler First o Acts 8.37 if the graces aforesaid be sound in me though verie weake Secondly p John 4.10 if I féele my wants with gréefe Thirdly q Mark 9.24 if I labour against my weakenesse hungring and thirsting after Gods grace in Christ Seruant What speciall means hath the Lord appointed for our better direction to try and examine our selues Scholler r Math. 3.6 Acts 8.37 Iam. 5.16
glory of his power with the Deuill and his Angels euery one according to the diuers measures of the deserts of their sinnes Seruant Why is the day of iudgement concealed from all Angels and men Scholler r Mat. 24.36 37 38 39 40 41 42 c. Mark 13.33 37. Luk. 21. 34 35 36. Both to preuent all curious inquiring and also to make vs the more watchfull Seruant Why what neede haue we to watch seeing some signes that must go before that day are not yet fulfilled as besides others there ſ Math. 24.23 24 25 26 27 28. Mark 13.21 22 23. must be False-Christs and False-Prophets shewing great signes and wonders Scholler For two reasons cheifly First t Job 33.23 24 25 26 27 28. Eccles 9 10. Ps 89.10 11 12. 90.12 115.17 Hebr. 3.15 1 Thess 5.1 to 12. Rev. 14.13 compared because our death is to vs as the last iudgement shall be to them that then shall be found liuing forasmuch as they are both alike vncertaine and vnknowne and we may be yea and are often deceiued for the time of death as much as any shall be for the time of the last iudgement And séeing the last iudgement shall finde vs in that state whether for grace or sinne wherein death leaueth vs wherefore we must necessarily watch and prepare for death as for the last iudgement Secondly u Mar. 13.32 33 34 35 36 37. Luk. 21.34 35 36. 1 Thess 5.1 2 3 4 c. although wée should not be deceiued for the time either of the one or the other yet the danger of securitie whereby men are hardned to their owne destruction can be by no other meanes preuented nor auoyded but by watching the onely remedie against it Seruant Wherein consisteth this so needfull a Grace of Watchfulnes Scholler Both in shunning all the occasions of securitie and in vsing all the meanes of a speciall preparation or readinesse Seruant What occasions of securitie do you meane must be shunned if we will watch Scholler * Luk. 21.34 35 36. Not only voluptuousnes couetousnesse worldly carefulnesse ambitious desires and the like which are grosse sinnes x Luk. 17.26 27 28 c. 14.18 19 20. 1 Cor. 7.24 35. Esai 22.12 13 14. But also all abuse and excesse yea and the vnseasonable vse of things that of themselues are necessarie warrantable as eating drinking buying selling planting building marrying and giuing to mariage recreating c. as when men do giue themselues ouer to these things which are so much the more pernicious to the soule because they are not ordinarily condemned amongst men Seruant What meanes of speciall Preparation or Readinesse must wee vse Scholler First y 2 Cor. 13.5 Revel 21.27 wée must diligently examine our selues whether we haue the Faith Repentance and Sanctification which lead vnto saluation Secondly we must be carefull z Mat. 25.14 15 c. to 31. Dan. 5.18 to 24. with 4.24 25 26 27. 1 Cor. 10.31 1 Pet. 4.10 11. of the talents that is of those gifts and graces both of minde bodie which God hath distributed to vs to vse them to his glory and to the good of his Church yea and that others also may be stirred vp to séeke and serue the Lord which likewise turneth to Gods aduantage in the end Thirdly a 1 Thess 5.17 18 19 20 23. Psalm 16.1 Luk. 21.36 Mark 13.33 34. Revel 22.20 we must set our selues in most serious manner as to all the exercises of Piety so specially to Prayer that God would preserue vs from falling away that he would hasten his comming to Iudgement and fit vs thereunto Seruant How shall one know whether he haue the true grace of Faith that leadeth to saluation Scholler Besides other notes which I haue declared * Part. 2. and Part. 5. aboue one may try himselfe whether he hath true sauing Faith by these two First b Rom. 5.2 3 c. Heb. 10.34 35. 1 Cor. 3.21 23. when he can rightly reioyce and glory in God comfortably depending vpon him in all necessities feares and dangers yea euen in the midst of his greatest tribulations and tryalls vpon this ground of assurance that all things are his he Christs and Christ Gods Secondly c 2 Tim. 4.6 7 8. 1 Ioh. 5.4 when his heart reioyceth at the very remembrance and consideration of the day of Iudgement because he is priuy to himselfe that he hath fought the good fight of Faith against all his temptations and hath also kept the same in a good conscience Seruant And how shall one perceiue in himselfe true Repentance and Sanctification Scholler First more generally d Math. 11.12 1 Iohn 3.2 3 8 10. Phil. 3.10 11 12 c. Psal 119.6 Matth. 16.23 Act. 5.3 Zach. 3.2 Rō 16.10 1 Ioh. 2.13 14. Ephes 4 26 27. 6.13 when one fully purposeth in his heart and applieth his whole strength powring forth his prayers incessantly vnto the Lord both to be throughly purged from all his sinnes without exception because where any one knowne sinne raigneth there Satans throne is and also to walke with God purely in the obedience of all his commandements all his dayes and most of all in such duties as God doth specially require at his hands for the magnifying of his power and grace ouer Satan and Sinne and specially at what time he is most strongly tempted to euill or opposed in that which is good Secondly more particularly by the graces of humility and mercie Seruant How may we perceiue the soundnesse of our repentance and sanctification by the grace of humility Scholler e Rom. 11.20 22. Pro. 15.33 Luk. 17.10 1 Cor. 4.5 6 7. Iob. 31.13 14 34. 2 Sam. 12.7 8 c. 13. with Psal 51 141.5 144.3 1 Tim. 1.15 Ephes 3.8 Esai 40 17. When in all our waies and euen in our greatest earthly prosperitie we doe carrie our selues with lowlinesse and feare both before God and Men as being euer in Gods sight onely vpholden by his grace hauing nothing but what we haue receiued and that of his frée goodnesse onely which he might haue giuen if he had pleased to any others though neuer so vnworthy as well as to vs and of sinners that shall be saued the chéfe but lesse than the least of all Saints in one respect or other if not in many And séeing all people and nations of the whole world are counted to God lesse then nothing and vanitie how little iudge you is each particular person if so he knew himselfe aright in his owne eyes To conclude it is a good note that wee haue humilitie the ready way to glorie when we can patiently and thankfullie in the secret of our hearts heare our reproofes and holilie profit by them Seruant How by Mercy Scholler f Mark 3.5 Luk. 19.8 41 42 43.44 Act. 9.36 10.1 c. Gal. 6.10 Psal 16.2 3. 35 13 14. Heb. 6.10 13.3.16 Iam. 2.13 Mat. 24.34