be gratious vnto vs thy poore seruants being come together in the obedience of theis thy holy commandements to seeke thee by such meanes as thou haâ—â— mercifully ordeined for vs. Lord we confesse our hearts are full of hardneâ— our vnderstanding is full of darknes 〈◊〉 our eares are dull of hearing we beseâ—â—â— thee vouchsafe by the grace of thy holâ— spirit to open and circumcise our eares to lighten our dark vnderstanding anâ— to mollifie our hard hearts that we maâ— heare with reuerence vnderstand witâ— iudgment marke with diligence anâ— receiue with meeknes all the instuctions which we shall heare at this timâ— out of thy holy word and that they maâ— be written in the fleshy tables of oâ—â— hearts by the finger of thy owne spirâ—â— to breed and encrease in vs all spirituaâ— knowledge and heauenly wisedomâ— faith hope loue hatred of sinne practiâ—â— of righteousnes and all holy duties 〈◊〉 christianitie and of our seuerall calling so serue thee with all simplicitie anâ— godly purenes all the daies of our liâ—â— through Iesus Christ our only lord Sauiour and redeemer Amen A praier After Catechising O lord our god most gracious and mercifull father we most humbly thanke thy heauenly maiestie that thou hast vouchsafed vs this great mercy to be partakers of theis heauenly doctrins and instructions of thy holy word which thou hast so mercifully and gratiously ordeyned for vs. we besech thee good lord that thou wilt also vouchsafe vs that grace of thy holy spirit that we may faythfully remember and diligently meditate vpon those things that now or heretofore we haue heard out of thy holy word that we may lay them vp in our hearts and make a good and profitable vse of them to the encreasing of our knowledg our faith our obedience our hope and loue and all spirituall graces and gifts meete for our places and callings to the glory of thy most holy name the peace and comfort of our coÌ„sciences the saluation of our soules and bodies the good good example of those with whome we liue through thy dearely beloued sonne Iesus Christ our Lord and our most blessed sauiour and only redemer Amen A morning prayer for seruants by themselues O almightie Lord God our most gracious and louing Father in Iesus Christ we doe vnfeinedly confesse before thy maiestie that we are all of vs most vile wretched sinners coÌ„ceiued borne in sinne altogether corrupted defiled in our owne nature guiltie of innumerable heinous transgressions of all thy holy lawes and commandements vnapt to all goodnes proane to all sinne and wickednes vnworthy of any of thy blessings euen the least of all thy mercies and worthie of all thy fearefull curses conteined in thy law in all miseries of this life and of eternall death and damnation in the life to come but most mercifull father wee beseech thee looke vpon vs in Iesus Christ pardon and forgiue vs all our sinnes for his sake worke in vs more and more the sight and feeling of all our sinnes with a true loathing and hatred of them a godly sorrow for them and an holy repentance giue vs faith in thy precious promises that wee may trust perfectly vpon that saluation that is brought vnto vs by Christ Iesus with the full assurance of our eternall election vnto immortall life Increase in vs care conscience to vse all good meanes that thou hast ordained for our instruction and write in our hearts all the good lessons that we heare out of thy holy word that we may daily grow and increase in all grace and godlines Receiue vs this day into thy holy protection keepe vs from all dangers and euills of bodie and soule worke in vs all dutifull reuerence to our superiors all diligence and faithfullnes in our labours Keepe vs from slothfulnes negligence and idlenes and all manner of vniust dealing in our seruice Blesse and prosper vs in all our labours wherin we are to be imployed that we may bee profitable to our gouernours to whome we owe our seruice carry the testimonie of good consciences in our soules to thy glorie and our euerlasting peace and comfort through Iesus Christ our only sauiour and redeemer in whose name we pray further as he hath taught vs. Our father c. A prayer for Scholers O almightie lord God most mercifull of our Lord Iesus Christ the fountaine of all wisedome grace and goodnes we beseech thee to looke mercifully vpon vs to forgiue vs al our sinnes to worke in vs dayly more and more the hatred of all sinne and wickednes the loue of al goodnes yea we beseech thee to teach vs to knowe and remember thee our creator our redemer our sanctifier and preseruer in these daies of our childhood and youth worke in vs a true loue vnto thy holy word and delight in thy commandements giue vs grace to seeke for and to attaine vnto that true wisedome taught in thy holy word wherby we may vnderstand the feare of thy holy name attaine the knowledge of thee and all godlines that wee may know also iustice and iudgment and equitie euery good path that this heauenly wisedome may be our watch-man and this knowledge our garder and keeper to preserue vs from the crooked waies of wicked men and all the baites and allurments of sinne to the end that we may walke in the waies of good men and in the paths of the righteous And good Lord worke in euerie one of vs al loue reuerence and obedience vnto our teachers and gouerners all diligence and good conscience to bestowe this precious time profitably Lord we beseech thee vouchsafe dayly more more to quicken out witts to open our vnderstanding to strengthen our memories to confirme our iudgments Send downe thy blessings vpon all the instructions that are deliuered vnto vs vpon all the labours of our teachers all our owne studies endeuoures that we may dayly grow and encrease in all good learning and knowledge wisdome vertue and godlines that we may be answerable to the good expectation of our parents and freinds to their great and effectuall comfort and worthy and wise seruants vnto thy maiestie in the places thou hast hereafter appointed for vs in the church or coÌ„mon wealth grant good Lord these graces whatsoeuer else thou knowest vs to stand in neede of for our lord Iesus Christ his sake Amen FINIS
condemned wretches vnto euerlasting death and damnation in hell fire Q. May not men bee perfectly blessed by enioying the things of this life An. No Eccles 1.4 Luk. 9.24 2 Philip. 3.8 for all things vnder the sunne are but vanitie and vexation of spirit and what shall it profit a man if he winne the whole world and loose his soule Math. 16.26 Q. How may we then be perfectly blessed An. In the attaining of euerlasting life Mat. 19.29 2. Cor. 5.1 2 3 4. Q. What meane you by eternall life An. That life which all they whose names are written in heauen shall possesse with al fulnes of ioy vnspeakeable glorie in the kingdome of God for uer and euer Reuel 21.3.4.24.27 22.5 Mat. 25.34 Q. How may we attaine to that eternall life â—oh 17.3 Rom. 7.7.9 c. An. By the true knowledge of the onely true God and whome he hath sent Iesus Christ and also by the knowledge of our selues Q. Where is this knowledge to be learned An. In the written word of God which wee call the holy canonicall scriptures Ioh. 5.39 2. Tim. 3.16.17 Rom. 15.4 Q. What meane you by the canonicall scriptures Luc. 24.27 Ephes 2.20 An. All those things which are written in the bookes of the old and new testament 2. Pet. 1.19 3.2 Q. Why be they called canonicall An. First because they differ from other writings called Apocrypha Secondly because they are the rule of Gods will conteining all things which we ought to beleeue and doe for this word Canon signifieth a rule Gal. 6.16 Q. How must we vse the scriptures that we may learne to know God and our selues An. We must search them Iohn 5.39 Act. 17.11 Q. How must we search them An. By diligent and reuerent reading of them (a) 1. Tim. 4.13 by diligent and reuerent hearing of the word of God (b) Rom. 10.17 preached (c) Psal 1.2 By diligent and carefull meditation of that which we haue read and heard and by earnest and hartie praier that God would open our vnderstanding Ephes 1.17 Luc. 24.45 Iames. 1.5 Q. What must we knowe in our selues An. Who and what we are Q. Who and what are we An. The children of Adam Eue. Gen. 5.3 Rom. 5.14.18 Q. Who was that Adam and Eue An. The first man and woman that euer were vpon the earth the most excellent and principall creatures of god vpon the earth the father and mother of all mankind Gen. 1.27 Gen. 2.7 Gen. 2.21.23 Q. Wherein stood this excellencie of man and woman An. In that they consisting of sensible bodies although created of the dust of the earth (a) Gen. 2.7 they had also vnderstanding soules and were made according to the image b Gen. 1.27 Collos 3.10 Ephes 4.24 of God in perfect holines and righteousnes to serue God according to his will and were also placed at the first in paradice c Gen. 2.8.15 had dominion ouer all the creatures of the earth the fishes of the sea and the foules of the ayre Gen. 1.28 Q. Did man and woman continue in this happie place and excellent estate An. No they were quickly throwne out from thence for their sinne and transgression through the subtiltie and malice of Sathan Gen. 3.1 2 3 4 5 6.23.24 2. Cor. 11.3 rebelling against god their creator and so cursed and condemned to eternall death and damnation both of soule and bodie in which estate they had remained and all their posteritie for euer if God of his free mercie had not prouided a wonderfull way of deliuerance Gen. 3.15 Q. Art thou then such a one as Adam and Eue were An. Yea surely not only I Gen. 5.5 Rom. 3.10.11.12.23 Rom. 5.12.14.18 but also all the children of Adam Eue only Christ Iesus excepted that is to say all men weomen children which euer haue bin are or shall bee borne into the world since Adam the first man vnto the last are euen such as Adam and Eue were after they were cast out of paradice that is to say wretched sinners corrupted in nature cursed and condemned creatures before the iudgment seate of God except we can find that remedie which God of his free mercie hath prouided for vs. Q. What is that remedie or what haue wee to answer before the iudgment seat of God that we should not bee condemned for euer Ioh. 3.17.36 An. This is our only remedie and it is the full satisfaction of gods wrath our deliuerance from coÌ„demnation to beleeue that Iesus Christ the sonne of God hath vouchsafed to become man for vs and hath so pacified gods wrath due vnto vs 2. Cor. 5.21 Rom 4.25 Rom. 5.8 1. Cor. 15.21.22 by his death and blood-shedding vpon the Crosse and hath purchased for vs the fauour of God euerlasting life Q. What had become of thee if Christ had not thus died for thee An. I had bin condemned to eternall death and damnation both of soule and bodie in hell fire with the diuell and his angels for euer Iohn 3.36 Q. What shall become of thee now seeing Christ hath died for thee An. If I beleeue faithfully in Iesus Christ that he hath paid the full price of my redemption and is become my sauiour then am I iustified both in soule and bodie Ioh. 5.24 Ion. 17.2.24 Rom. 8.29.30 2. Cor. 3.18 and shall after this life ended bee glorified both in soule and bodie with euerlasting life in the kingdome of heauen to liue in euerlasting ioy and blessednes with Christ and his angels for euer Q. What doth God require at thy hands for these his great mercies toward thee An. That I should seeke to glorifie him Q. Wherein An. In soule and bodie 1. Cor. 6.20 Rom. 1.2 Titus 2.11 Q. How An. In seeking how to serue him in true holines and righteousnes all the daies of my life 1. Pet. 1.13.14.15 Luc. 1.74.75 Q. What meane you by holines An. It conteineth all those duties which appertaine to the true worship of God Q. Where bee they taught you An. In the first table of the commandemens of almightie God Q. What meane you by righteousnes An. It containeth all those duties which the Lord would haue vs to performe toward our neighbours Q. Where be they taught you An. In the second table of the commandements of Almightie God Q. How many commandements be there An. Tenne Deut. 4.15 Q. How many bee of the first table An. Fowre Q. How many be of the second table An. Six Reherse the commandements God spake these words and said I am the Lord thy God which hath brought thee out of the Land of Egypt out of the house of bondage i. Thou shalt haue none other Gods but me ii Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any grauen Image nor the likenes of any thing that is in heauen aboue or in the earth beneath or in the water vnder the earth Thou shalt not bowe downe to them
sanctuarie and placâ— of thy holy presence comming beforâ— thee with vnprepared hearts to offer vâ— our sacrifice of praier thanksgiuing and to heare thy word our lippes haâ— come neere vnto thee but our heaâ— haue beene farre from thee wherebâ— all the heauenly instructions of thy hâ—ly word haue beene stolne away froâ— vs and made vnfruitfull and we 〈◊〉 come vnprofitable hearers O Lord 〈◊〉 confesse we are not able to recken 〈◊〉 the least measure of our sinnes for thâ— are more then the haires of our heâ— whereby we haue fearefully prouoke thy wrath and indignation against 〈◊〉 from day to day and from time 〈◊〉 time giuing thee iust occasion to 〈◊〉 priue vs of all blessings and to powâ— downe all thy curses vpon vs in all plagues and miseries of this life and to cast vs out of thy presence into euerlasting torments of soule and bodie in hell fire Notwithstanding O Lord seeing thou hast taught vs that mercie pleaseth thee and that if we confesse our sinnes thou art faithfull and iust to forgiue vs our sinnes and to purge vs from all our iniquitie we flie vnto this thy mercie and that in the onely name merits and mediation of thy sonne Iesus Christ in whome onely and alone thou art well pleased beseeching thee for his sake to pardon and forgiue vs all our sinnes originall and actuall to wash away all the guiltines of them in his most innocent blood to burie them â—or euer in his most pretious death to â—urne thy face away from them and â—rom vs all thy iudgements and curses â—hich we haue worthily deserued for â—hem either publique or priuate And we beseech thee vouchsafe with â—e pretious water of thy spirit daily to â—ash and clense our hearts and minds â—ir soules and bodies from all vncleanes of sinne from all iniquitie and vngodlines from euery euill worke and euill way to worke in vs more and more a true sight and hatred of all ouâ— sinnes with that Godly sorrow thaâ— may bring forth in vs repentance neueâ— to be repented of to arme vs with aâ— that spirituall armour that may makâ— vs to stand stedfast and fight manfullâ— vnder thy banner in our holy professioâ— of thy gospell make thy holy word tâ— dwell plentifully in vs with al wisdomâ— that it may be vnto vs the sword of thâ— spirit whereby wee may get victorâ— ouer all the power malice and subtiâ—tie of Sathan and all the wickednes 〈◊〉 our owne sinnefull and rebellious nature ouer all the courses customes oâ—casions and examples of this sinne fâ—â— euill world yea ouer euery sinne thâ— hetherto hath passed vs euen those thâ— haue most strongly preuailed againâ— vs wherein wee haue most often aâ— fearefully falne and to that which wâ— are most prone and subiect that heâ— forth we may walke in the waies 〈◊〉 good men in the paths of the rigâ—teous that is in the waie of thy lawes and the path of thy commandements hating all workes of darkenes and behauing our selues in all things as the children of light This must be added for the day And now Lord wee further commend our selues and this whole family and euery member of the same vnto thy most gracious gouerment and protection the rest of this day beseeching thee to watch ouer vs for good and to preserue vs from all dangers and euills that otherwaies may come vpon vs in soule or in bodie or in any thing that belongeth vnto vs stirring vp our hearts and strengthening vs with thy grace to walke diligently and faithfully in our seuerall callings making conscience to bestow this day and all the daies of our life all thy precious time which thou doest vouchsafe vs more profitably then euer we haue doone hitherto furnish euery one of vs with all gifts and graces necessarie for our callings both gouernors children seruants that euery one of vs in our seuerall places may know how to behaue ourselues and faithfully to performe euery good dutie with all simplicitie and godly purenes as thou doest teach vs in thy holy word truly louing one another truly caring one for another to the glorie of thy name the peace of our owne consciences our mutuall comfort and the good example of all those with whome we liue Sanctifie vnto vs the vse of all thy good creatures this day blesse vs and prosper vs in all our labours prouide mercifully for all our necessities supply our wants make vs euery way cheerfull in thy seruice and so guide vs in all things that wee may carry out the profession of thy glorious gospell in a holy blameles and christian conuersation all the daies of our life that we may make a godly christian and comfortable end of this pilgrymage with full assurance of eternall life through our Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ A thanksgiuing to be added to this praier either morning or euening O Lord we doe now also giue humâ—le thanks vnto thy maiestie for all thy â—oue and mercies towards vs for the â—oote and fountaine of all thy blessings â—uen our Lord Iesus Christ and that loue wherewith thou hast loued vs in him â—uen before we were that thy hands haue made vs and fashioned vs in our mothers womb and that thou hast brought vs forth into the world reasonable creatures preserued vs mightily and prouided for vs gratiously from our mothers breasts vnto this present howre we thanke thee more specially for the great and glorious worke of our redemption saluation peace and reconciliation made betweene thee and vs through the blood of the Crosse of thy beloued sonne we thanke thee also for the inestimable treasure of thy holy word whereby thou hast made known vnto vs the riches of these thy mercies and reuealed vnto vs thy sonne Iesus Christ by whome we haue accesse vnto this grace wherein wee stand and reioyce vnder the hope of thy glorie we thanke thee also for all other blessings which we daily receiue by thy graciâ— prouidence in preseruing vs froâ— manyfold dangers and euills wherâ— vnto wee are subiect in feeding 〈◊〉 nourishing vs from day to day with 〈◊〉 continuance of our life health food apparell howses libertie and the vse all thy good creatures Finally that thou hast kept vs 〈◊〉 night past for the quiet and comfortâ—ble rest health peace and saftie whiâ—â— we haue enioyed by thy gracious prâ—uidence and protection for this libeâ—tie we haue to come before thee aâ—â— call vpon thy name beseeching the mercifully to receiue our prayers graâ—ting vnto vs and to all thy church anâ— children these and whatsoeuer grace thou in thy heauenly wisedome anâ— incomprehensible loue doest know vâ— or any of thine to stand in need of foâ— our lord and sauiour Iesus Christ hiâ— sake in whose name we pray furtherâ— Our father which art in heauen c. A prayer for the state of the Church and of the land which may be added to the former prayer before the thanksgiuing We beseech thee also good Lord to â—esse
thy whole church and euery part â—nd member thereof glorifie thy name â—duance thy kingdome confound the â—ower of Sathan Antichrist sinne and â—arkenes blesse this thy church and countrie where we liue giue thy gosâ—ell a free passage amongst vs remooue all the hindrances thereof â—aise vp daily by thy almightie power and goodnes all those means instruments that may further it aright blesse â—we beseech thee prosper and preserue the excellent estate of our soueraigne Lord the Kings Maiestie our gratious Queene the Prince their eldest sonne and all their royall posteritie multiply thy blessings vpon them preserue them from all dangers make them earnest louers fauorers and furtherers of thy truth and gospell and tender nursing fathers and nursing Mothers vnto thy Church people all the daies of their life Good Lord blesse the honorable councellors magistrates and nobility of this land and all that be in authoritie vnder the Kings highnes that they maâ—â— carefully faithfully in all their courâ— sails consultations and gouerment labour for and procure the promoting 〈◊〉 thy glorie the aduancement of thâ— gospell the maintenance of true religion vertue and godlines the suppressioâ— of sinne and wickednes the peace and prosperitie of the church and commoâ—wealth that we may liue vnder his highnes and them a peaceable and quiet life in all godlynes and honestie Lord furnish thy Church continually with godly faithfull learned and worthy pastors and teachers of thy holy word blesse their ministerie to thy people and defend it against all the malice of the wicked Lord blesse all the christian families in the land and encrease the number of them dayly open the eies of the ignorant mollifie the hearts of the obstinat conuert them that run astray comfort the feeble hearted raise vp such as bee falne if they belong vnto thee adde vnto thy church dayly such as shal be saued be mercifull to all thy seruants â—hat be in any manner of affliction coÌ„â—ort them and releeue them help them â—nd succour them according to their seâ—erall necessities giue them a holy vse of al their afflictions and a gratious deliuerance in due time finally good Lord send thy blessings vpon all our land with fruitfull seasons and plentifull encrease of al thy good creatures which in thy gracious prouidence thou hast ordeyned for our vses and necessities that we may chearfully sing vnto thee from day to day the praises of thy mercies through Iesus Christ An Euening prayer O almightie and eternall Lord God father of our Lord Iesus Christ wee thy poore vnworthie seruants beeing come together to offer vp vnto thee our euening sacrifice of praier thanksgiuing according to our bounde duty doe first of all acknowledge against our selues that we are al of vs most vile wretched sinners not worthie the least of al thy mercies being guiltie of the fall of our forefather Adam of our owne originall corruption and of innumerable most heynous transgressions of all thy hoâ—â— lawes and commandements both 〈◊〉 our sinfull thoughts words and deed and so much the more guiltie because we haue not regarded the good meane which thou hast mercifully ordeyneâ— for vs to haue wrought in our heart true knowledge and vnderstanding oâ— thy will and commandements repentance of our sinnes and amendment of our life we confesse therefore that we haue infinitely prouoked thy wrath iudgement against vs and iustly deserued all curses plagues and miseries to be poured vpon vs in this life and to be cast for euer hereafter into the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone but good Lord wee appeale vnto the vnsearchable riches of thy mercies in Christ Iesus beseeching thee to wash away all our sins guiltines in his most precious blood to burie them all in his most glorious death that they may be remooued for euer out of thy sight and be vnto vs as though they had never bene lett thy blessed spirit of Adoption good lord seale vnto our hearts â—he full assurance of this thy euerlasting â—oue and mercy and lord work in vs â—ayly more and more a godly sorrow â—or all our sinnes with hearty and vnfeiâ—ed repentance and so worke in our â—earts by thy holy spirit that all the â—ower of sinne may dayly die in vs more and more and all good graces of â—hy spirit may dayly grow and encrease â—n vs that our hearts may be strengthned with an vnfeined faith and we may be purged from euill consciences and made fruitfull in all duties of christian loue so as in the whole course of our life hereafter we may walke before thee in all simplicity and godly purenes and serue thee vnfeinedly in all the duties of true holines and righteousnes all the daies of our life And now lord we further commend our selues and euery member of this familie into thy mercifull protection this night beeseeching thee to preserue and keepe vs from all dangers and perills to which we are subiect in soule or bodie or any thing that belongeth vnto vs to giue vs quiet and comfortable rest with the continuance of our health peace and saftie to the glorie of thâ— name that we may be more fitt for thâ— duties of our calling when thou shaâ—â— raise vs againe and so to guide vs and sanctifie vs throughout that whetheâ— we sleepe or wake liue or die we maâ— be thine After this the thanksgiuing to this marke * and then adde this following Finally we giue thee humble thankâ— that it hath pleased thee to preserue 〈◊〉 this day and for all those blessings thoâ— hast vouchsafed vnto vs our health peace and saftie the comfortable vse 〈◊〉 all thy good creatures with thy bleâ—sing vpon our labours and last of aâ— for this libertie we haue to come beforâ— thee beeseeching thee to accept of thiâ— our euening sacrifice gratiously tâ— heare vs and grant vnto vs c. as before A praier before the reading of scriptures Almightie Lord God our most mercifull and heauenly father in Iesus Chriâ—â— we beseech thee vouchsafe by thy holy spirit to prepare our hearts that with â—ll reuerence and diligence we may atâ—end to this thy holy word and soe to open our vnderstanding and to sanctifie our affections as thou mayst therby disperse in vs more and more all the â—mists and darknesses of Sathan and of sinne and make vs apt to euerie good worke and wise vnto saluation through â—esus Christ our Lord only Sauiour Amen A prayer before Catechising O lord our god and our most mercifull father in Iesus Christ which hast commanded vs to lay vp thy words in our hearts and to speake of them when we rise vp when we lie downe when we goe forth when we come home to â—each them and rehearse them continually to our children And seeing our lord Iesus Christ hath commanded vs to search the scriptures that we might know thee the onely true god and him whom thou hast sent and soe attaine to eternall life wee beseech thee