hast either omitted or sleightly performed any of these 6 Be sure so to performe these as that thou doest not neglect thy calling 2. Thess. 3. 12. 7 If thou hast performed them in some poore measure yet rest not in it but labour more earnestly with God for a further grace Phil. 3. 13. 8 And yet be thankful vnto God for these small grapes and fruits acknowledging that it is his great mercie that thou canst doe any thing and giuing him all the glorie thereof 1. Corinthians 15. 10. And thus shalt thou bee sure to obtaine this peace of God And hauing obtained it thou must lie downe therewith and carie it with thee to thy bed 1 Because thou knowest not whether thy bed shall be thy graue 1. Pet. 1. 24. 2 Thy sleepe heereby shall bee much sweeter and dreames more comfortable Psal. 4. 8. 3 Thou shalt auoyd nocturnall pollutions and vncleannesses 4 Thy reines shall teach thee in the night season and the darkenesse shall be as the noone day Psa. 16. 7. And this is performed 1 By resigning vp our selues into the hands of God 2 Ascribing vnto him the glorie of all the good we haue performed Psal. 115. 1. Esay 26. 12. 3 Acknowledging our selues to bee vnprofitable seruants if God should enter into iudgement with vs. Luke 17. 10. 4 Crauing earnest pardon of our imperfections in Iâ—sus Christ and laying our selues asleepe in his bosome 1. Iohn 1. 9. 5 Comforting our selues if sense of faith be not present yet with former experience and inward habit thereof Psal. 22. 10. 6 Yeelding vp our selues in a willingnes to death in full expectation of the life to come Phil. 1. 20 23. And thus guiding our selues by these former rules we shal lie down in peace and so shall we comfortably performe the daily sacrifice And thus far concerning such necessarie dueties as we are bound in some measure daily to performe CHAP. XVI FOR our better encouragement and furtherance heerein obserue these rules 1 That being conuinced in conscience with the necessity of these dueties wee purpose and solemnly vow vnto the Lord the attempting and prosecuting thereof Psal. 119. 106. Psal. 119. 7. 2 That God principally respects the purpose of the heart and if there be a willing mind accepts according to what we haue and requires not what we haue not 2. Cor. 8. 12. 3 That we giue not eare to the flesh pleading noueltie impossibility c. Gal. 1. 16. 4 That we trie the Lord who is wonderfull in blessing the vnfained endeuours of his children Hag. 2. Malachi 3. 10. 5 Then let vs make triall at first in one of these and grow readie therein so shall we with more willingnes and skilfullnes proceed in the rest Iames 2. 10. Iames 3. 2. 6 Let vs not faile to meete the Lord with vnsayned thankfulnes when we see him comming effectually in the weak performance therof Psal. 81. 7 And so condemne and prouoke thy selfe as before and thou shalt see by Gods mercie a good crease Yea thou shalt not onely be able to performe these duties with comfort but also thou shalt be able to entertaine each seuerall occasions of the day to Gods glorie thy exceeding profit and benefit of others CHAP. XVII AND this is the second part of this daily sacrifice Namely to consecrate our daily occasions as a reasonable sacrifice vnto God Here obserue First That though the occasions of the day are diuers and so not more necessary and easily to be directed yet some principall there are which doe vsually occur The well ordering whereof will easily informe vs in the holy entertayning of the rest CHAP. XVIII And these Principall are FIrst To arise with God and as wee layed our selues downe in peace so to awake with the comfort thereof Psal. 23. 6. Lam. 3. 23. The reason whereof is Because 1 Wee maintaine hereby conconstancie in wel-doing 2 Wee renue that soundnesse wherewith we laie downe 3 We preuent that no roote of bitternes breake out at the first 4 We prouide for our more setled courses all the day after and so begin a new to liue the daily life of grace 5 Wee make our hearts mery in the Lord. 6 Wee are made principally more apt to prayer which is the next occasion to bee entertayned of vs. This is performed 1 By meditating of the true life of God and day of the rresurection 1. Cor. 1. 2 By magnifying our sweete repose and resting in the bosome of Gods protection Psalme 3. 5. 3 Taking occasion by the light that appeareth to consider of the armour of light or by the outward darkenesse that compasseth to blesse God for the inward light and to mourne for the ignorance and blindnes that is yet in vs yea to resolue the casting away of the workes of darkenesse c. Rom. 13. 12. 4 Praysing the mercie and patience of the Lord that yet wee liue to prayse him and are spared to make our election more sure and thereto especially meditating on the constancie of Gods loue toward vs. Iohn 13. 1. Psalme 19. 2. Psal. 102. 27. Ieremie Lament 3. 23. And this is furthered if wee perceiue dulnes 1 By striuing euen in the night when wee awake to sigh for sinne and hunger after mercy Psal. 16. 7. Cant. 31. 2 By opening our hearts if occasion serue to our chambersellow if such fellowshippe be enioyed and so shaming of our selues Iacob 5. 3 By auoyding ouermuch sleep â—ea scanting and stinting our selues thereof and rowsing vppe our selues from drousines by checking our hearts and complayning of them to our blessed God Proue 24. 32. 33. 4 Taking occasion by our dreams or nocturall infirmities to magnifie Gods mercie that it is not so as we dreamed or to checke our infidelity in relying superstiously vpon dreames or to condemne our security and prophanenes in neglecting them vtterly And if we haue beene assaulted with terrors and corruptions yet either they haue not preuayled or shall not be imputed vnto vs. 5 Calling to mind some place of the word for our better stirring vp as Rom. 13. 11. 12. 13. 14. Ephes. 5. 14. 1. Thes. 5. 4. 5. c. And prouoking our selues by the examples of the saints who haue risen early to prayse the Lord. Psal. 5. 34. c. And so rising with the Lord we shall he fitted to entertaine the next speciall occasion of the day Which isâ— Prayer CHAP. XIX THE necessity and right vse thereof you haue before Onely here obserue these points for direction herein As First That howsoeuer this duety of praier in familâ—es be neglected and not esteemed necessary yet the not vse thereof at all argueth irreligion and contempt of God Psal. 14. 4. Secondly That not once but oftentimes in the day wee must performe the same Daniel 6. 10. Thirdly And that not onely in priuate in our closets c. but publiquely with our families Genes 18. 19. Iob 1. 5. Fourthly That
THE CHRISTIANS DAILY SACRIFICE CONTAINING A daily direction for a setled course of Sanctification Expressing The scope of the seuen Treatises of Master ROGERS as also the summe of Master GREENHAM his spirituall obseruations with some further increase tending to perfection By THO. COOPER LONDON Imprinted by H. B. for WALTER BVRRE and are to be sold in Paules Church-yard at the signe of the Crane 1608. ¶ TO THE HIGH and excellent Princesse Elizabeth eldest daughter to our Soueraigne Lord King IAMES MOST gratious Princesse vouchsafe I beseech you the remembrance of that duty which we owe vnto God for all his benefits namely to take vp the cup of saluation and call vpon the name of the Lord. This is the subiect of this smal Treatise Which I am the rather emboldened to present vnto your grace because as the Lord hath renued his mercies continually vpon your princely person especially shewed himselfe merueilous in that your admirable deliuerance from these bloodie hunters so it pleased your highnes to accept very fauourably the remembrance thereof and to patronage my first labors to that end with the prime of your Graces protection which as it hath the rather bound me to consecrate my selfe and al my studies to your Graces deuotion so doe I in all humble maner tender vnto your Excellency a pledge hereof in these short meditations which as they may bee your daily practise of thankefulnes to God for all his mercies toward you so will they also proue verie profitable directions for the information of your tender yeeres in the waies of God that so beeing daily crowned with new blessing you may at length be fitted for that crowne of glory which the Lord Iesus hath purchased for you To whose blessed protection I doe most heartily commend your Highnes and so most humbly take my leaue Your Graces most affectionate in all duety Tho. Cooper TO THE RGIHT Honorable the Lord Harington and his vertuous Ladie RIGHT Honorable the princelie charge that the Lord hath honored your elder yeares withall that your age may bee a crowne of glorie beeing found in the way of righteousnesse as it hath laid vpon your Honours a greater care for the discharge thereof so hath it prouoked also those who as in priuate they wish your well-fares so especially they desire your happie sucesse in that publicke Charge as being in all heartie loyalty obliged therto These I say haue bin stirred vp to deuise all holy and profitable meanes whereby your Charge may be more Honorable and your care more comfortable Among whom seeing it hath pleased your Honours formerlie to accept of me daily to bind me therto by renued fauours I haue therefore endeuored to testifie the heartie continuance of my dutie towards your Honours in this Briefe of holy rules and instructions which I haue been bold to dedicate to the hopefull and happie dayes of your Gracious Charge not therein presuming to teach your Honour what you should doe but rather proposing the same as a Glasse wherein you may view what you haue done well and so both to encourage your Honours in a happie proceeding and to giue you sound comfort in the good successe thereof which as I shall not cease to pray daily vnto the Almightie for so I doe most humblie beseech your Honours thus to conceiue of my endeuours to continue as you doe the true paterns of vertuous nobility the Honorable patrons of religion learning And so I most hartilie commend your Honors to the grace of God Your Honours to command in all loue and dutie Tho. Cooper ⧠To the Christian Reader grace and peace THE manie excellent treatises larger discourses cōcerning the power of godlines which it hath pleased the Lord of glorie to furnish his Church withall in these last daies as they haue made good the faithfulnes of our God vnto vs of this Church of England so if they shall not be a witnesse against vs do they necessarily require the right vse thereof that we be transformed into the same image from glory to glorie And therefore howsoeuer it may seeme both needelesse and preiudiciall after so manie graue and experimentall rules concerning sanctification to adde any more in this kind yet seeing it hath pleased God to direct me to a further labour herein waigh with mee I pray thee in equitie these reasons hereof First I doe hereby professe my thankefulnes vnto God for those excellent labours of his Saints that now rest from their labours and their fruits follow them Secondly I would haue thee know that I am not ashamed of this foolishnes of preaching and practick Diuinity which is such a mysterie to the world and stumbling blocke vnto the wisedome thereof Thirdly Howsoeuer I do professe that I am not able to attaine such perfection as I haue herein conceined yet I would haue thee know further that I would rather haue a rule to condemne sinne in the flesh and so confound the old man that thereby the new man may follow hard after the marke then not to giue testimony to that ligh◠which hath shined so gratiously vnto me then to conceale my iudgement though it may condemne th◠practise Fourthly May it please thee to consider with me Can a man walke in the sunne and not be warme and where twolie together will there not be heat and can the light be hidden nay ought it to be hidden 5 Can wee doe lesse in these dayes then conuince a prophane world 6 Can wee doe better then strengthen that which is readie to die 7 Shall not Gods remembrancers renue their strength when the diuels instruments do so rage with all licentiousnes 8 Doe we not iustifie the good by seeking out their wayes 9 Should we not discourage the wicked by making a good profession 10 Owe we not this duety to our mother 11 Shall not this redound to the glory of God Let this content thee and prouoke thee to make vse of these labours and the Lord giue thee vnderstanding in all things that thou maiest trie the Spirits and heereby thine owne whether thou art in the faith or no and so for euer maiest follow the true Shepheard To whose blessed protection I do most hartily commend thee THE CONTENTS OF the booke CHAP. I. Of Man and his 1 Creation 2 Fall 3 Redemption how 1 performed 2 The benefit thereof 3 How applied CHAP. II. Of the word 1 How it leads to Christ. 2 And so in him to a constant course of holines that so we may be happie CHAP. III. Of the daily direction to serue God CHAP. IIII. What this daily direction is And 1 Though it be impossible to be kept yet it is to be knowne 2 It is not impossible in some measure 3 Nay it is necessary to be kept 4 Yea most conuenient 5 And profitable 6 And also exceeding pleasant CHAP. V. The Parts of this daily Sacrifice CHAP. VI. 1 To bee Humbled before the Lord in the sense of sinne here
To make them more able to winne and hold others Rom. 14. 1. 3 To acquaint them with the deepenes of Satan Apoc. 2. 24. 4 To prepare them to greater glory Dan. 12. 3. 5 To humble them in the sense of their extraordinary graces 2. Cor. 12. Thirdly it is fit for men in prosperity and that 1 To preuent security Esai 5. 12. 2 To humble them in regard of those temporall things Luc. 12. 48. 3 To teach them how to vse them to Gods glorie their owne and their neighbours good 1. Tim. 6. 17. 4 That they may part with them willingly Pil. 4. 12. 5 That all may be counted as dung in respect of heauen Philip 3. 8. Fourthly this practice also will be very necessary in the time of affliction And that 1 To prepare vs thereunto Pro 28. 14. Iob 3. 25. 2 To qualifie the sharpenes of it 3 To be conquerors in our troubles and ouer them Rom. 8. 4 To be deliuered finally from them Psal. 34. And therefore though doe what wee can some corruptions shall still remaine yet this labour is not vnprofitable 1 Because God accepts herein the purpose of our hearts 2. Corrinth 8 12. 2 The Lord will haue some infirmities still left in vs to humble 〈◊〉 withall â— Cor. 12. 3 Our hatred of sinne shall bee perfited hereby though it remainâ— in vs. 4 The strength of sinne shal also much be abated in vs. 5 Our edge to eternall happines shall be still sharpened and ouâ— desire enflamed to fit vs thereto Rom. 7. Neither is this labour vncomfortable For 1 We encrease hereby an assurance of our saluation 2. Peter 1. 9. 10. 2 Wee grow more setled and resolued in godlinesse and get the masterie of inconstancie Ephes. 3. 18. 19. 3 We performe holy duties more easily Ps. 119. 32. Ioh. 4. 34. Mat. 11. 24. 4 We haue more neere sweete fellowship with our blessed God and his holy spirit 1. Tim 4 10. Mat. 10. 30. Ps. 1. 3. Rom. 8. 31. Ps. 2. 12. 5 We preuent many noysome lusts which otherwise would fasten on vs. Psalme 119. 10. 11. Iohn 15. 15. Exod. 19. 5. Pro. 19. 23. 6 We are freed from many temporall iudgements which vnstaied soules are subiect to Psalme 91. 11. Psal. 32. 10. 11. 7 Our score shall be the lesse and our reckoning more easie at the day of iudgement 8 Hereby wee shall haue our conuersation in heauen Philip. 3. 21. 9 Our heart and the inordinate lusts thereof shall be keept at a bay 10 We shall be armed against all temptations and secured in the midst of them Ephes. 6. 13. 11 We shall be weaned from the loue of this wretched world 12 Yea led forward constantly to obtaine the end of our faith which is the saluation of our soules Ephes. 6. 2. Tim. 4. 13 We shall approue our selues not to be of the world by our contrary fashion to it Rom. 12. 14 We shall recouer our first Image in being holy as God is holy 1. Pet. 1. 15 And readie to meete our Sauiour whensoeuer hee shall come Ephes. 6. Math. 24 25. c. 16 We shall see our daily weaknesse and inability to serue God and so acknowledge vnfainedly our vnworthines of the least mercies and so happily preuent spirituall pride 17 We gaine hereby a certaine knowledge of our estate in grace and by the light hereof we know whither we walke 1. Iohn 3. 1. 18 Wee shall be raised vp from our fals into sinne 1. Ioh. 2. 2. 19 Wee shall vse prosperity aright Iob 3. 1. 24. Ier. 8. 4. 6. 20 And ouercome all troubles Rom. 8. 36. 21 Yea we shall be fitter to win others Gal. 6. 1. 22 And so grow forward to perfection Col. 1. 9. Ioh. 7. 52. 23 And happily be continued to the end CHAP. V. IT being now apparent that there is a daily sacrifice of obedience to be performed vnto God And that it is neither impossible nor vnprofitable but very necessary fit and behoosefull vnto vs let vs consider further these two points 1 What duties we are necessarily bound in conscience to performe daily 2 How we are to entertaine the seuerall occasions of the day as vsually they fall out in this holy and constant manner CHAP. VI. That which we are necessarily bound to doe daily is FIrst to bee humbled before the Lord in the sense of our owne or others sinnes by true and vnfained repentance And that because 1 The best seruice we shall doe must be sanctified by repentance 2 Hereby we giue glorie vnto God and offer a daily sacrifice acceptable vnto him Psal. 51. 18. 3 Hereby wee deny our selues and daily take vp our crosse Math. 16. 4 We approue our right and estate in Christ Iesus in that we confesse our selues to be sinners and such as haue daily neede of his mercie and so daily fit our selues vnto the same Math. 11 28. 5 Wee iustifie the truth of our religion against all the imaginarie perâ—ection of Popery and securitie of Libertines and Atheists whomsoeuer and so do daily giue an account of our faith 1. Pet. 3. 15. Now this dutie is conscionably performed First By taking a strict view and account of them by the glasse of the law Psal. 19. 11. Secondly by mourning before the Lord in the sense of them not so much for feare of the punishment as that we haue offended so good a God Luke 15. 21. Thirdly by acknowledging our sinnes vnto the Lord. Prou 28. 13. and that 1 From the fountaine originall sinne Psal. 51. 5. 2 From the streames both our thoughts so farâ—e as we may our idle words and prophane actions Psal. 19. 12. 13. And here both 1 What good we haue omitted 2 What â—uil we haue coÌ„mitted 3 How we haue sinned of ignorance Psal. 73 22. 4 How of knowledge we haue transgresâ—ed c. Especially and more particularly we must acknowledge 1 The sinnes we haue bin subiect to Psalme 51. 14. 2 Those which for the presenâ— we grone vnder 3 Those which we feare most Psal. 19. 13. 4 The sinnes of our fathers Nehem 9. 5 The sinnes of the Land and State among whom we liue Daniel 9. 6 Yea such as in particular wee knowe not we are notwithstanding to yeeld vp to bee searched by the Lord and by his mercie either to be brought to our remembrance or to be gratiously passed ouer Psal. 19. 12. Fourthly Sinne being thus acknowledged wee must further proceede to a detestation thereof Iob 42. and of our selues for the same Fiftly Then we must feele them a burthen which wee are not able to beare Act. 2. 37. Psal. 8. 4. Lastly Wee must flie vnto Iesus Christ by faith to be eased of this burthen Matth. 11 28. Helpes hereunto are 1 The due contemplation of the Maiesty of God whom we haue so highly offended Psalme 51. 4. 2 The vilenes and abiectnes of man that durst commit such wickednes against God 3 The danger
yet the hypocrite in pride and obstinacie falles at length from loose meanes to none and so to a despising and persecuting the same the elect though hee leaue in his heart yet hee returnes with shame and cleaues more conscionable to the meanes and is profited thereby 8 They both may be losers by their fall and not recouer all their life long but with these differences 1 The reprobate loses all graces and becomes a very beast Psal. 49. without knowledge ciuility c. The regenerate recouers necessarie graces as faith in some measure of vse and feeling but that full perswasion ioy in the spirit c. he happily recouers not againe all his life long 2 The reprobates losse is without feeling causing him to set vp his rest more securely in this life and so prepares him to sudden destruction that of the elect humbles him in all things causes him to worke out his saluation with feare and trembling to goe downe with sorrow to his graue and to be wearie of the world and to desire to be with Christ. Phil. 2. 12. This may we discorne betweene the fallâ— of Gods children and the wicked And this serueth 1 To trie vs in our decaies and to comfort vs in the same Pro. 24. 16. 2 To iustifie Gods faithfulnes who neuer forsakes his children 1. Cor. 10. 13. 3 To stop the mouthes of the wicked who reioyce at our falles Mich. 7. 8. 4 To assure vs of constancie perseuerance to the end 2. Tim. 4 18. CHAP. XIII A second helpe hereunto is FIrst watchfulnes ouer our hearâ—s and waies that they may continually be acceptable vnto God And that because 2. Tim. 4. 18. 1 Hereby we are prepared to tentations Luc. 21. 34. Mat. 13. 25. 2 Enabled to vndergoe them Ephes. 6. 3 And to haue a good issue out of them Luc. 21. 36. 4 Without this our whole life and best actions are either rashnes or securitie Pro. 28. 14. 5 By it we attaine certainty and resolution in wel-doing Ephe. 6. 13. 6 We preuent some euill which may make all other comforts vnsauory which we are sure to looke for in well doing Mat. 26. 41. 7 Hereby the other graces of God in vs are much beautified and encreased 8 And our infirmities much auoyded or couered Psalm 119. 9. 9 The best without it haue bin deceiued Genes 3. Dauid 2. Samuel 12. 10 Hypocrisie in weldoing and spirituall pride is preuented or mastered 11 Dulnes and wearisomenesse also in good things is much holpen 12 And so we prepared happily to perfection Now this watchfulnes is performed 1 And especially by obseruing the heart and yoaking it 2 In keeping vnder the outward man 3 And this not for a spurt but all our life long because so long endures the combate 4 And that obseruing and suspecting our greatest strength 1. Cor. 10. 12. 5 Ayming and heeding principally the sinnes that we haue most delighted in Psal. 19. Psal. 25. 6 Examining the best graces of God in vs lest some dead flie be in them Pro. 28. 9. Mat. 6. Helpes hereunto are 1 The glasse of the Word Psal. 119. Hebr. 11. 6. 2 Continual feare of our selues Pro. 28. Phil. 2. 12. 3 To haue the feare of God continually before our eyes 1. Cor. 7. 1 4 Sobriety in our knowledge and vse of outward things 1. Pet. 5. Rom. 12. 3. CHAP. XIIII FOurthly Earnest and constant prayer vnto God to vphold vs by his mightie power in cheerefulnes prouoking one another to holy duties Psal. 40. 4. 1 Publiquely in the Congregations 2 In priuate as well with our families as in our closets or such like secret recourse Mat. 6. Psal. 4. Conditions of prayer are 1 That our prayer must be in faith without doubting Iam. 1. 6. 2 In loue forgiuing one another Luc. 6. praying one for another 3 In wisedome praying first for the fauour of God when we would haue any blessing and when wee would haue an euil remoued praying for the forgiunes of sinne which is the cause of it and diuiding the times for prayer and our callings Dan. 6. 10. 4 In zeale and feruency from the heart and affection 1. Cor. 14â— Iam. 5. 16. 5 In constancy and patience waiting the Lords good leisure Psal. 40. 1. Psa. 135. Psa. 147. 6 In humilitie abasing vilifying our selues before the Lord. Ge. 32. 7 With thankesgiuing vnto God for all his mercies Psalme 103. 1. 8 Renuing our vowes and promises vnto God Psal. 116. 9 With strong cries groanes begging the pardon of our own sin and the sin of the Church land wherein we liue Dan. 9. 10 Crauing such necessaries for our selues and others with a holy submitting of our selues for the matter manner time and measure to the will of God Mat. 26. 42. Thus must our prayers be made vnto the Lord and by them we shall be First Much strengthened in the grace of perseuerance Luke 22. 32. as also 2 Kept in the vigor and power of our Christian life Ephes. 6. 3 Experienced in our sweet fellowshippe with God Romanes 8. 15. 4 Our spirituall armour alwaies fitted and exercised Ephes. 6. 5 Our daily wants supplied or recompensed Iames 1. 5. 2. Corint 12. 6 Tentations conquered and happily diminished Mat. 4. 7 All our occasions well seasoned turned to our good 1. Timo. 4. 8 Our whole life sanctified and we prepared comfortably to a better Phil. 1. 19. CHAP. XV. AND thus beeing prepared wee are ready for sweete Peace with God either to lay our selues downe therwith in peace to our sweete repose or to yeeld vp our liues with ioy vnto the hands of our redeemer Psal. 4. 8. Acts 7. 59. 1. Cor. 1. 7. And this is the last duety daily to be performed of vs and this peace is principally to be laboured to vs Because 1 We must respect not so much what we haue done but how the Lord hath accepted it Rom. 5. 1. 2 Heereby wee shall with courage go forward and be comforteâ— in the imperfection of our actioâ—â—2 Cor. 8. 3 We shal obtaine maintainâ— that vnspeakeable ioy of the holâ— Ghost in our hearts Phil. 4. 4. auoyd the contrary sadnes and distraction which proceedes from want of this peace 4 We shall refresh the graces of God in coÌ„mending them thus with our selues to the peace of God Now this duety is performed and blessing obtained 1 By performing the daily duties in their former order and with constancy 2 If by some vrgent occasion or tentation we haue bin interrupted yet to returne to theÌ„ to redouble what we haue omitted the next day 3 And this to be done not superficially with wearisomnes or of custome but determiately for conscience sake 4 Examine thy selfe how thou couldest one houre well be without one of the former graces as without the comfort of the remission of thy sinnes c. 5 Iudge and earnestly bewaile thy selfe if thou