makes it an holy Church and therefore the husband must so loue his wife that hee suffer her not to lye in her sinnes but by all good meanes seeke to reclaime her and to bring her from them Secondly knowing that a woman is the weaker vessell and therefore it is an vnreasonable thing to looke for all that faith patience humilitie discreet and wise carriage that they finde in men Q. What gather wee of this A. That the wife must be supported and borne withall in her rashnesse heate want of discretion and the like infirmities haunting and waiting vpon the Sexe And therefore euery aduantage must not be taken against her but wee must breake through many discourâ—esies and many wrongs to hold loue and friendship with her Q. What is the third Dutie A. He must giue honour vnto her as vnto the weaker vessell Q. What is meant by this A. Hee must haue her in good reckoning and in good regard not dispising her for the infirmities of her Sexe but accounting well of her for the graces whatsoeuer that are in her esteeming her as a vessell as one needfull and necessarie in the house Secondly he must prouide for her the best he can hee must not set ouer her the whole care of his prouision but as shee is the weaker vessell so he must thinke in the maintainance of the Familie to be assisted more weakely by her Q. What is the Wiues dutie to her husband A. Shee must bee subiect to her husband humbling her selfe to the yoake of gouernment which God hath layd vpon her For God hath made the man the head of the woman and therefore this must abate all pride and selfe-loue and worke true honour in her heart towards him whom God hath made the chiefe in the house 1. Pet. 3. 1. Qu. How it this further declared A. That the husband is Gods deputie and Gods Lieutenant in the house as Christ is in the Church and therefore to despise the husband is to despise God to disobey the husband in lawfull things is to disobey God because they lift vp themselues against the power which God hath placed in his owne steed and roome Ephes. 5. 22. Q. Why doth the Scripture beate so much vpon this duty A. Because there is a secret swelling in the heart which will hardly brooke the gouernment of the man especially if in any good qualities they goe beyond him Q. How must this subiection be declared A. Both by reuerend speech and all humble behauiour to her husband Some take it to be their grace to speake rudely and bluntly to him But it was Sarahs honour that shee obeyed Abraham and called him Lord 1. Pet. 3. 5. Q. What is the reason hereof A. A man is bound to loue his wife though there bee nothing in her that deserueth loue But because a man is not easily brought to this loue where there is not some cause of loue Therefore the Lord would haue the wife by gentle and sweet behauiour deserue and win loue at her husbands hands Q. What is the second Duty of the wife A Shee must be of pure conuersation no hauocker no waster of her husbands goods no inticer of him to dishonest things like Iobs wife that was Iobs tempter not idle not sluggish no babler abroad of her husbands faults Prou. 31. 10. 11. Q. What is the third duty A. Shee must feare her husband and she must bee loath to displease him such a tender care she must haue of his comfort and of his peace that she must not do willingly the least thing that may displease him Ephes. 5. 23. Qu What is the fourth Duty A. Shee must not be proud and costly in her attyre stretching out her selfe to all that she may but keeping vnder her husbands abilitie rather then any whit aboue it 1. Pet. 3. 3. Q. What is the fift Duty A. She must entertaine no secret dislike of her husband but rest her minde with all contentment in him euer pleasing her selfe in her husbands face Cant. 5. 9. 10. Q. What is the last Dutie A. Shee must be of a meeke and an humble spirit nor giuen to cursing brawling fretting and fuming with him but by meeknesse and loue support him in his hastinesse rashnesse and other infirmities which he hath 1. Pet. 3. 3. Q. What is the Parents duty to their children A. They must bring them vp in the feare of God they must seeke to place religion and true godlinesse in their hearts They must not only train them vp to liue ciuilly honestly in the world But their chiefest care must bee to acquaint them in their tender yeares with the wayes of God Eph. 6. 4. Qu. What is the second Duty A. They must not be churlish and bitter to them moping them too much but liuing with some cheerefulnesse among them Col. 3. 21. Qu. What is the third Duty A. They must not let their Children runne out but hold them in and correct them moderately for their faults for better the Parents by discreet correction make their children weepe then their children through their vngratious behauiour make their aged Parents weepe and lay downe their hoarie heads with sorrow in the graue Prou. 19. 18. Qu. What is the fourth Duty A. They must consecrate such as bee fit vnto the Lord as Anna did Samuel bestowing the rest in some honest Trades so that none be suffered to lye idle vpon their hands Qu. What is the fift Duty A. Mothers must nurse their children at their owne breasts for euen the Estredges in the Wildernesse draw out their breasts vnto their young and proffer food but then there leaue their egges to be hatched by another Gen. 21. 7. Q. What is the sixt Duty A. When their children be ready they must be carefull to match them with men of vnderstanding and such asfeare God They must chiefly looke not how rich they be how personable they be but how godly they be Qu. Is it not lawfull for a Christian to match with a Iew A. No for this is amping of the holy seed and a wilfull flinging of our selues into a continuall temptation a lugging of ourselues with a continuall yoke Q. What is the seuenth Duty A. They must so labour and care moderately for outward things that when they depart this life they may leaue some blessing amongst their seed Q. What learne wee by this A. That their sinne is great who liue so riotously and so idlely that they bee able to leaue no meanes to their children when they dye Q. What is the Childrens duty to the Parents A. They must seeke the honour of their Parents Math. 15. 4. first so to behaue themselues as that their Parents may haue credite by them For a good childe is an honour to the parent but hee that is euill is the shame of them that hath brought them vp Q. How must wee honour our Parents A. By making good account of them and vsing them reuerendly with all
The fruits of Affection ibid. c. Adoption with what affection we must pray 1 T. 2. p. 17. 18. Afflictionâ— how to be patient in affliction T. 1. p. 44. Almighty of Gods Almightinesse T. 1. p. 79. the vse of it 80. Amen what it signifies and containes in our Prayers T. 2. p. 141. Angels how they doe Gods will T. 1. p. 116. T. 2. p. 68 69. c. Anger whether we may be angry T. 1. p. 34. Apparell how to be sober in apparell T. 1. p. 31. Application of the application of the forgiuenesse of sinnes to a mans owne selfe T. 1. p. 104. Armour the parts of a Christians Armor T. 1. p. 72. Ascention of Christs Ascention with many circumstances therof necessarily to be known T. 1. p. 91. Assurance whether a man may be assured of his saluation T. 1. p. 76. whether we may not bee deceiued in our assurance T. 1. p. 77. Attention it ought to be in our prayers T. 2. p. 141. B. BAptisme whether children may be saued without baptisme T. 1. p. 130 131. whether it be lawfull for a priuate person to baptise or no T. 1. p. 131. the pretended necessity ibid. c. why there are two signes in the Lords Supper and but one in baptisme T. 1. p. 137. Bargaining how our loue to our neighbours is shewed in it T. 1. p. 39. 40. Beleeue what it is to beleeue in God T. 1. p. 75. vide Faith Blood the resemblances betweene Wine and blood in the Lords Supper T. 1. p. 137. how the Wine is the blood of Christ T. 1. p. 138. how Christs blood was shed for many T. 1 p. 140 the benefit of it ibid. c. Bread of that Petition Giue vs this day our daily bread T. 1. p. 117. What is meant by bread ibid. c. T. 2. p. 97. many other necessary questions concerning it T. 1. p. 117 118 119 120. Of Bread in the Lords Supper T. 1. p. 133. c. why we pray for bread before remission of sinnes T. 2. p 77. why we pray for bread hauing enough of it T. 2. p. 82. how much bread we may pray for T. 2. p. 84. whose bread we pray for T. 2. p. 86. two breads vnlawfull t. 2. p. 87. daily bread what it should teach vs T. 2 p. 90. Buriall of Christs burial and the circumstances thereof T. 1. p. 89 90. C. CAre of ordering our care for things of this life T. 2. p. 75. of moderating our care T. 2. p. 76. Change what change repentance makes in the inward man T. 3. p 31 32. what in the outward T. 3. p. 34 35. Children their duty towards their parents T. 1. p. 57. 58. Christ what our estate is in Christ T. 1. p. 15. how hee wrought it ibid. by what means we receiue Christ T. 1. p. 8. how hee doth saue vs from the punishment of sin T. 1 p. 82. why t was necessary that Christ should be God T. 1. p. 84. how he may be said to bee the ONELY Sonne of GOD ibid. why he is called a Lord t. 1. p. 85. how he was conceiued by the Holy Ghost ibid why t was needfull that Christ shold be Man ibid. of Christs humiliation and glorification T. 1. p. 86. c. of his being crucified T. 1. p. 87. of his death 88. of his buriall 89 of his resurrection 90 and Ascention 91. Christian the common duties of a Christian T. 1 p. 30. why we are called Christians T. 1. p 83. how Christians are both Kings Priests and Prophets ibid. Church what T. 1. p. 99. what we beleeue concerning it T. 1. p. 100. why holy ibid. c. why Catholicke ibid. the markes of it ibid. c. the Popish markes of it T. 1. p. 101. the benefits that God bestowes on his Church T. 1. p. 102. Communion of the communion of Saints T. 1. p 102 103. vide Fellowship Company that the company of the godly are a good helpe to an holy life T. 1. p. 69 Conference its end T. 1. p. 51. Confession whether in repentance man be bound to confesse his sinnes to men T. 3. p. 110. Consideration It is an helping cause to repentance T. 3. p. 45. which consideration must be of foure things ibid. c. Coueteousnesse the causes of it and remedies T. 1. p. 41. Creator why God is so called T. 1. p. 80 81. Creed why called the Apostles Creed T. 1. p. 75. its parts ibid. Crucifie of Christs being crucified T. 1. p. 87. Cup the Cup in the Sacrament whether to be administred to all or not T. 1. p. 138. D. DAy how we are to spend both Sabaâ—th and weeke dayes T. 1. p. 72 73 74. Death of Christs Death T. 1. p. 88. with many circumstances thereof p. 89 90. whether a man may pray for his owne Death T. 1. p. 114. of the death of Chirst whether any forget it T. 1. p. 136. how a man may desire his own death T. 2. p. 54. That a man may truely repent and yet shew but little signe of it at the day of death T. 3. p. 138. their causes of it T. 3. p. 140 141. the generall cause of want of comfort in death T. 3. p 145 the way to dye comfortably T. 3. p. 146 147. In this way there are two things T. 3. p. 149 150. Reasons to prepare vs for death T. 3. p. 150 151 c. Preparation for death stands in fine things T. 3. p. 152 c. there must be an holy disposition in death T. 3. p. 162. which stands in sixe things 162 163. c. Debts why sins are called debts T. 1. p. 121. T. 2. p. 99. that we are all fallen into this debt T. 2. p. 101. that we are not able to pay this debt T. 2. p. 103 Delay fiue reasons why we should not delay our repentance T. 3. p. 52 53 54 55. Deprecation what it is T. 3. p. 77. E. EArth why there are in the Lords Prayer but one Petiti on for earthly things two for heauenly T. 2. p. 94 95. End of desiring the end without vsing the meanes T. 2. p. 32. Estate what it is in our selues t. 1. p. 15. what in Christ t. 1. p. 15 Euill of all euills the euill of sin is the greatest T. 2. p. 127. what vse to make of it p. 128 129. we desire to be deliuered from three euils T. 2. p. 131 133. Examination of its necessity before we come to the Lords Supper T. 1. p. 141 142. about the Examination of our repentance T. 3. 68 69 70. the rule for it T. 3. p. 70. the heads vpon which we must examine T. 3. p. 72 c. Excesse against it T. 2. p. 84 85 F. FAlling vide relapse of falling damnably T. 3. p. 92. cautions ibid c. of the comfort which a man may haue of falling into sinne after repentance T. 3. p. 95. whether a man falling into the same sinne againe after repentance may be renued
humblenesse and feare Leu. 19. 3. Q. What if the Parent be a meaner man A. Yet the childe must performe him that reuerence and honour that is his due Though a King should not bee the wisest nor the grauest nor the learnedst man in the kingdome yet because the Lord hath stated him in his royall Throne therefore they that are grauer and wiser and learneder then he must bow before him So though the Parents in many things come short of their children yet in that they are their Parents they haue their honour and their excellencie aboue them Gen. 48. 12. Qu. What learne we from hence A. That Parents must keepe the dignitie of their place and looke for due reuerence at their childrens hands as Iacob though but a sheepheard yet was well content that Ioseph his sonne should bow before him Q In what else must wee honour our Parents A. In being obedient to them and performing their wills both when they be aliue and when they be dead so farre forth as lawfully we may especially in the waightie matter of Marriage which may not be dealt in without their consent Prou. 23. 22. Q. Who are they that are condemned hereby A. Such as make light of their Parents doing all vpon braine neuer caring for their counsell or consent Prou. 30. 17. Q. What is the best thing wherein wee must honour our Parents A. In maintaining and relieuing them in comfortable sort according to our abilitie when they be in need 1. Tim. 5. 8. Q. What is the reason hereof A. Wee haue receiued much more at our Parents hands and they did but trust vs with their wealth till themselues were old and therefore we cannot in any equity but render and repay them their owne when they be in need 1. Tim. 5. 4. Qu. Are these duties to be performed to our own Parents only A. They belong also to our Parents in law Christ was obedient to his stepfather Ioseph Luk. 2 5. And Micah notes it as one of the sinnes of the People ca. 7. 6. That the daughter in law set vp her selfe against her Mother in law a sinne too common in these wofull dayes Q What is the Masters duty to their seruants A. They must teach them religion and the feare of God that their seruants may continue the Lords worship when our selues are in the graue For why is the Centurion said to feare the Lord with all his house Acts 10. 2. but to teach vs that it is not enough to be godly our selues or to haue one good Seruant like a Ioseph in the house but it must be our care that all within our gates and vnder our power and authoritie may feare the Lord Gen. 18. 19. Q. How may masters be stirred vp to some care of this duty A. If they consider That their owne good and their owne welfare is procured thereby for many a master is blessed for his godly seruant as Potipher was for Ioseph and he fares euery day in the weeke the better for him But where bad seruants be there falls the curse of God for the seruants sake Gen. 39. 5. Q. But what if the Master teach and the Seruants will not learne A. If the Master do his faithfull endeauour his conscience is discharged Man can but persuade it is God onely that must change the heart Noah preached to his owne familie as well as to the old world 120 yeares and yet when the godly man entred into the Arke hee had not one godly seruant after all his paines that would enter with him So Lot was a iust a righteous man and that had care of his house yet when he was called out of Sodom he had not one seruant in all his house that would go out of Sodom with him Q What is their second dutie to their seruants A. Tâ—…y must cause them to liue peaceably and honestly towards mâ—â— not bearing them out in their wrongs but brideling and remaining them the best they can 1. Sam. 22. 2. with 1. Sam. 25. 7. Q. What gather we of this A. That as Dauids seruants were the better for his seruice so we should seeke to make our seruants not the worse but the better for our houses For what a fearefull saying will it be at the iudgment day In such a mans seruice I tooke my bane I may curse the houre that euer I came into his house there were my righteousnesse wounded and all my graces taken from me Q. What is their third dutie to their seruants A. They must not ouer-labour their seruants laying more vpon them than their strength will beare A man would be loath to ouer-worke his beast how much more his seruant in whose face hee may see the image of God shining as well as in his owne Iob 31. 13. Q. What is their fourth dutie A. They must pay them truly for their pains for the labourer is worthie of his hire 1. Tim. 5. 10. Q. What gather we of this A. That their sinne is great who send away their seruants emptie after all their toyle Laban is the patterne that such men may be painted by they can well be content that their seruants should labour and toyle and spend out their hearts and strength in their seruice but care not though they go away without one halâ—epenie for their paines Deut. 11. 13. 14. Q What is their fift dutie A. They must chasten them with discretion and moderation for their faults for the Lord would not haue the seruants life by any hard dealing of ours to be made wearisome and bitter to them We read of furious Saul That his spirit was mastring at any little word and of Nabal so fierce that a man could not speake to him To the like reproch of those that will heare nothing when they be in heat but let euery thing flie that first comes to their hands Leu. 25. 49. How many blessings did Laban lose onely by entreating a good seruant ill This makes our Seruants euen the Iewels of our house wearie of our seruice Q. How may they keepe a moderation in their punishments A. If they looke that the cause be iust Secondly That the punishment be equall as may be to the offence keeping vnder it rather then any whit aboue it Deut. 25. 2. 3. Q. What is their sixt Dutie to them A. They must winke at many slippes and passe by many faults through loue For if the Master should take the forfeit of euery offence he shall neuer liue in any peace but vexe himselfe more then his seruants that offend him Eccles. 7. 23. Q. What reason is there to moue vs to this A. As they are seruants vnder vs so we are seruants to a greater Lord. Wherefore if wee would not haue God take vs at aduantage for euery sinne wee must not take our seruants short for euery fault Ephes. 6. 9. Q. What is their last Duty to their seruants A. They must esteeme best of their best seruants accounting of euery one
come humbly and submissiuely into the Lords presence abiecting and casting downe our selues as before a power greater then all the power of this world It is a distinction that one hath of two sorts of Humility Humilitas Immediata Humilitas Accepta It was a kind of Humility in Iohn Baptist when hee refused Christs offer Matth. 3. 14. saying I haue neede to be baptized of thee and commest thou to me but Humilitas accepta was in Christs acceptation that hee would haue it so and answered him accordingly So it was humility in Peter Iohn 13. 8. When he said thou shalt neuer wash my feete but Humilitas accepta when Christ was content to doe it So in this case it is a kinde of Humility when we can say O I am a sinfull man I dare not be so bold with such a power but Accepta Humilitas tels vs we must doe it we must come at the Lords bidding at his commandement So that this glory of the Lord must not driue vs from him but wee must come of our selues and to him alone and that with feare and reuerence The fourth affection that must be vsed in prayer is That we must come with eleuation of our hearts and mindes as high as Heauen For seeing God is in Heauen our affections must neuer stay till they come as high as Heauen where God is And so oft as we pray so oft in our thoughts and in our minds we must rise higher then the cloudes aboue Sunne and Moone and all the Stars Elias his story shewes that hee was carryed in a fiery Chariot into Heauen euen so must we by prayer bee transported out of this world to be present with God in the highest heauens It was a signe betwixt Dauid and Ionathan when he shot his Arrowes that if any of them fell short there was no danger in it c. So it is not with our affections if they be short and not eleuated and carried vp as high as Heauen there is great hazzard and danger that the Lord will not accept nor regard them Thus haue we seene with what affection we must pray In Faith in Loue with Reuerence with Eleuation Yet ere we come to the Petitions wee must consider certaine duties of them that pray First We must labour for the grace of adoption For how ccn we truly call God Father if we be not his children Alas what doe we otherwise but so oft as we pray vnto God so oft continually we doe lye in the eares of God It is like the aggrauation of Ananias his sinne Act. 5. 4. Thou hast not lyed vnto man but vnto God So if we come vnto God in prayer call him father and yet be not his children the very same may be said of vs c. Then you see now what great cause there is that euery man should labour for this grace of Adoption in himselfe to repent his finnes to lay hold vpon the promises of the Gospell to be renued by the Spirit of Christ that we may truely call God Father because now wee haue his true word if we be his children he is our Father yea we may the bolder goe vnto God and challenge him of his promise according to that comfort in Hosea after so many threatnings chap. 1. 10. Yee are the sonnes of the Liuing God c. The second Duty is That we must labour to be perswaded of the fatherly care and loue of God towards vs that we haue a Father in Heauen one that doth respect and regard vs. And so whatsoeuer our estate is in this world though neuer so poore and meane yet to thanke God that we haue our honour with the Lord we may come as boldly into the presence of God as the greatest King Prince or Monarch of the world as Malac. 2. 10. Haue we not all one Father and 1 Iohn 3. 1. Behold what loue the Father hath shewed on vs that we should be called the sons of God so that as I say it is our honor comfort and happinesse that what estate soeuer we be of in this world yet we know that he who is the Father of Kings is our gracious and good Father by the meanes and merits of Iesus Christ. The third Duty is that seeing God is our Father Wee endeuour to walke worthy of such a father that wee doe not dishonor and disgrace him by our sins 1 Pet. 1. 17. And if you call him Father passe the time of your pilgrimage in feare Thus if we proclaime God our Father then our care must be to walke worthy of him It is the blame that God layes vpon the Iewes Ierem. 3. 5. Thou hast said thou art my Father and yet thou doest euill more and more c. So when men will call vpon God as a Father and yet haue no care to please and obey him to doe his will and honour him with a true heart O how shall this one day light heauy vpon their hearts howsoeuer we doe not feele or regard it in this world Thus then if wo call God Father truely carry in our hearts a setled purpose neuer to offend him howsoeuer our owne weaknesses and frailties put vs by yet the end of our life must be that we walke worthy of such a father that is striue with flesh and blood as farre as possibly we can to liue in holinesse and righteousnesse to come to repentance and compunction of spirit euery day to renue our Couenant for the amendment of our sinfull liues Vse 1 Hitherto of the Preface or entrance into this Prayer the vse of all which may be first to reioyce in it as a goodly blessing that God would vouchsafe to be a Eather to such as we be especially men so silly and meane in the eyes of the world secondly to comfort our selues in this that what estate or condition soeuer wee be of yet to thanke God that wee haue a heauenly Father one that reserues a Kingdome for vs greater and better then this whole world So much for the Preface now come we to the Petitions as they lye in order 1. PETITION Hallowed be thy Name THey be sixe in number whereof the three first concerne The glory of God The last three Our owne good In the three former the first prayes for the glory of God in it selfe the second and third pray for the meanes of his Glory First then we pray for the glory of God in it selfe that the Lord may haue a holy Name amongst vs. The Name of God is most holy in it selfe But we pray that it may be holy vnto vs that we may giue the Lord glory and honour which is his due as God is a most excellent and most high power of himselfe so we pray that he be so taken and acknowledged all the world ouer that the whole world may be ready to stoope and yeeld to the excellent and eminent power that is in God
hand of God fel vpon Moses and Aaron because they failed in this duty Because said hee you did not sanctifie me in the eyes of the children of Israel you shall not bring this Congregation into the land that I haue giuen them Thus if God will so seuerely punish the neglect of his glory in his own deare children and seruants how shal they escape that are not so deare vnto him and yet are much more faulty in the same kinde The second part of this Petition is that as wee pray that we our selues may glorifie the Name of God So we pray that others may doe so also That the whole world may know and acknowledge the Goodnesse Mercy Wisedome Power and Greatnesse that is in God So wee are exhorted to doe by the Prophet Giue vnto the Lord the families of the people giue vnto the Lord glory and power c. Giue vnto the Lord the glory of his Name c. Ierem. 23. 16. saith he Giue glory vnto the Lord your God before he bring darkenesse ouer the land c. So that it is cleere we must not onely glorifie God our selues but also be carefull that others especially seruants and children vnder vs doe the like as we reade of Iob that because he was iealous of his childrens actions he offered sacrifice for them and the Lord himselfe saith of Abraham I know that Abraham will command his houshold to serue me Wherefore let vs cast vp this account with our selues that if of duty and conscience we serue God it is likewise our duty to prouide that our children and seruants doe the like Yee shall find many men that put away their seruants because they be idle stubborne carelesse and false vnto them but where is there one that puts a way a seruant because he is a swearer a blaspemer of the Holy Name of God a prophaner of the Sabboth c. This shewes that we haue more care of our owne workes and profit in particulars then of the Lords glory But true Christians should take another course and pray that aboue all things the Name of GOD may be Hallowed all the world ouer being diligent withall that all vnder their charge and gouernment do the like also Againe we pray in this Petition That though both doe faile yet that the Lord would maintaine the cause of his owne glory This shewes a sincere true affect on to the glory of God when we are contented that the Lord should doe that which is for his owne glory howsoeuer the matter light heauy vpon our selues as Christ said Father glorifie thy Name so say we Lord though it be by death though by my extinction abolishing though I suffer all paines though I indure the greatest misery that may be yet glorifie thy Name whether in life or death Thus when one can be contended to be exposed to all the mischiese in the world all the shame and disgrace that may be to set forth the honour of God if hee may be glorified by the same this shewes that such haue a desire of the glory of God and that this sincere affection commeth from the Lords mercy being powred into our hearts by his blessed Spirit whereby we can effectually cry out Hallowed be thy Name 2. PETITION Thy Kingdome come Petition 2 IN the former Petition we are taught to pray for the glory of God which is preferred before the Kingdome of God to shew that all our care must be for Gods glory Now in the next Petition we are taught to pray for the meanes of his glory that the Kingdome of God may come c. for then indeed God shall haue his glory when looking for the Kingdome of God it comes into our hearts to inable vs to performe his commandements and that we be alwayes ready to doe his will for vntill it be so God shall haue little glory or honour amongst vs so that first we pray for the glory of God and then for the meanes of his glory It is the error of the world to desire the End without the meanes The glory of God which is the End they would haue But the meanes of his glory which is the Kingdome of God to come and his will to be done this they care not for The wicked Iewes Isa. 66. 5. could say Let the Lord bee glorified which is spoken of all those who be worshippers of the true God So the Pharises Iohn 9. 24. were contented to say vnto the blindman Giue glory to God but they would not allow of Christ the meanes of their saluation for said they vnto him we know that this man is a sinner whereby it appeares that the common course of the world is to desire the glory of God without the meanes of his glory In this Petition also we may obserue three things First when we pray that the Kingdome of God may come It is in opposition to another Kingdome that is already in the world for the sinnes of men The kingdome of darknesse and of the Diuell which is a great and mighty kingdome and hath a number of proppes and pillars to vphold it as for the Kingdome of Christ there be a very small company to vphold it but the kingdome of darknesse hath a number of great ones to sustaine it whole swarmes of people in euery corner one would wonder at the multitude and at their conditions For howsoeuer men will say I defie the diuell and according to the custome spit at him yet as long as they doe the will of the Diuell practising workes of darkenesse there is no hope that by their indeuours they can aduance the Kingdome of God or labour that it should come vpon them Doth not either ignorance or blindnesse eate vp their soules so that they bee either lyars swearers adulterers fornicators couetous drunkards contentious c. wherein so long as they continue they be the very proppes and pillars to vphold and shouldor vp the kingdome of darkenesse and the Diuell Thus it appeares the Diuell is a great Monarch because the greatest part of the subiects in all Kingdomes serue him be obedient to him and disobedient vnto God they runne as the Apostle speakes Ephes. 2. 2. After the Prince that ruleth in the ayrel euen the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience So 2 Cor. 4 4. It is said That the God of this world hath blinded their mindes c. For as God spake the word and it was done saying Let there be light and there was light So the Diuell cannot so soone speake the word but by and by it is done by worldly men He can no sooner say let there bee an oath lye bribe quarrell fashion or wickednesse but by and by some one or other puts it in practise Thus he rules like a God in this world a great pitty it is that men should so be deceiued for God will pull downe the Kingdome of darkenesse and set
reach it Now there be many wayes for our imitation wherein Angels performe the will of God First They doe the will of God in purity of affection not for any by-reasons or respects but in sincere obedience onely because it is the will of God as it is said by the Prophet Dauid Psal. 103. 20. Yee Angels that excell in strength that doe his commandements in obeying the voyce of his word c. So must we performe the will of God in purity of affection because it is the will of God onely desiring to please him in doing thereof Thus Saint Pauls exhortation is Ephes. 6. 6 That we doe the will of God from the heart And Psal. 119 56. saith the Prophet This I had because I kept thy Precepts So our care must be to doe that which he commands in soundnesse of heart without any worldly respects Many times indeed men doe the will of God but it is not out of any purity of affection to Gods will but because it is for their owne profit and brings them worldly ease false comfort or some other respects as Pharaoh who would let the people goe not in any obedience vnto God or because God had commanded it but in hope of his own ease The like of Abner 2 Sam. 3. Who thought to establish the Kingdome to Dauid not in obedience to God but to maintaine his owne greatnesse and power and out of priuate reuenge vpon others Secondly Angels doe the will of God with readinesse neuer disputing or reasoning vpon the matter but as soone as they vnderstand it to be the pleasure of God and his will by and by they are ready to performe it So Ezek. 9 7. As soone as the Angels had their charge by and by they went forth to performe it And Daniel 8 16. No sooner did the voyce command Gabriel to make the man vnderstand the vision but he came and stood neere vnto him So must we doe neuer to dispute or debate the matter pretending excuses but as soone as we know his will by and by addresse our selues to performe it So did Peter Luke 5. 5. When hee was commanded to let downe his net and you know the successe they were scarce able to pull in the net for the multitude of fishes So the Gouernours seruants John 2. 7. When Christ bid them fill the pots with water which he turned into wine neuer reasoned nor disputed vpon it but did as they were commanded So Psal. 18. 44. It is foretold of that change to be wrought by Christ As soone as they heare of me they shall obey mee Thus must we adresse our selues to doe the will of God with all readinesse in euery thing But if wee examine our selues we shall finde such a strange backewardnesse and reluctation in our hearts how vnwilling bee wee to come to this duty what adoe hath the Lord with vs as is wonderfull ere we can be brought to learne this lesson how oft doe we flye off and yeeld to sense and reason Well we must learne to see dislike and pray against this vntowardnesse in ourselues and that GOD would giue vs more true iudgement and vnderstanding with cheerefull willingnesse to doe what he commands vs. Thirdly Angels doe the will of God with delectation that is take singular delight and comfort in doing of it so must we endeuour to doe it with delight and ioy like as Christ speakes of Himselfe Iohn 4. 34. My meat is to doe the will of him that sent mee and finish his worke And it must not be grieuous in Abrahams sight for the Childe and the Bond-woman to be turned out of dores So we must not thinke it enough to do good duties but also looke that wee haue speciall delight in doing of them as Dauid professes Psal. 119. 16. I will delight my selfe in thy statutes c. And Psal. 4. 7. Thou hast put gladnesse in my heart more then in the time when their corne and their wine increased But now this is our sinne that though in many things wee are content to obey God and to doe his will yet we doe it with so little delight or spirituall ioy with such irkesomnesse tediousnesse and vnwillingnesse that wee endanger all the grace of our well-doing In this case it fares with vs as it did with Ezekiel who saith of himselfe that he went in the bitternesse and heate of his spirit So though we are contented to goe that is to doe as God wils yet it is with that repining and backewardnesse that it looseth the benefit of the action Againe The Angels with earnestnesse and intentiuenesse doe the will of God they doe not freeze in their businesse but bend all their strength about it So Dan. 9. 21. sayes The Angel came swiftly flying vnto me so must we doe the will of God not coldly and idlely but with all our intention and power yea this should also moue vs in that this is the commandement of the Lord. Thou shalt loue the Lord with all thy heart with all thy soule and with all thy might Thus much also Dauid confesses Psal. 119. 4 Thou hast commanded vs to keepe thy precepts diligently Many indeed doe the will of God in shew but coldly loosely lasily with dead affections there is no life in their obedience nor spirit in their prayers how then can they thinke that God will accept of them He that strikes vpon a little Violl and would know whether it bee sound or not hearkens to the sound for if it giue but a dull sound If the ringing bee not shrill he knowes that there is some cracke or flaw in it So it is with vs in our obedience when we giue but a dead sound be not shrill full of spirit and life and when good duties come but slacke and coldly from vs certainely wee haue some dangerous cracke and flaw within vs against which wee must pray and seeke for reformation Fiftly They doe the will of God with constancy and continuance not at one time and neglect it at another but they are alwayes ready and seruiceable So must wee bee ready to doe at all times and in all places As Dauid prayes Psal. 119. 33. Teach me O Lord the way of thy statutes and I shall keepe it vnto the end So Psal. 44 18. the Church professes Our heart is not turned backe neither haue our steppes declined from thy way And Luke 1. 75. It is said we should serue him all the dayes of our life in holinesse and righteousnesse Indeed for a fit or a spirt we can be content to doe so heare the word and frame our selues to some good courses but to walke on in a constant course and doe the will of God as well at one time as another this is hard for commonly men doe by their Religion as great men doe by their Retayners on Feast dayes they come vp and are all put
the physicke is alwayes tempered to the stâ—ength of the diseased but the longer it is deferred the more dangerous is the cure So it is with vs for our sinnes wee must haue the Physicke of Repentance cure vs according to the measure of our sinnes as I haue shewed If a man haue made himselfe a great burden to carry and should assay it on his backe and so hee findes it vneasie and to presse him very much if he should then throw it downe and put a great deale more vnto it and then begin to lift it againe but vpon the second tryall finding it heauier then before if hee should fall in a great rage till hee adde twice as much strength and labour to carry it the lighter would wee not thinke such a one foolish thus wilfully to increase his burden so is it with the children of this world because they finde Repentance somewhat vneasie at first they cast it from them and by that time they come againe hauing added more sinnes and made their burden heauier they are compelled to their greater sorrow and greater Repentance to wrastle with so grieuous a burden at a wondrous great disaduantage The Fifth Reason why early Repentanâ— is better then late is Because it is more pleasing vnto God for hee for the most part reckoneth more of an old disciple then of a new As wee see in experience vsually one will make more account of an old seruant then of a new hee will commit more trust to him and bee more familiar with him Euen so the Lord makes more reckoning of an old Disciple then of a new wherefore by all these reasons wee may see that early Repentance is better then late And therefore now let vs doe as it is said 1. Chron. 22. 16. Arise therefore and bee doing the Lord will be with thee So seeing wee haue so many sinnes to repent vs of and that God must haue the temple of our soules new built and re-edified let vs vp betimes and be doing with our Repentance As Pro. 3. 28. Say not vnto thy neighbour goe and come againe tomorrow but giue when thou hast it by thee So say not vnto God when he offers thee Repentance goe and come againe I will listen to this another time but listen while it is time and refuse not mercie when it is so neere thee Wee see that in the practise of men they cannot indure to bee put off from day to day in those things they desire to haue but they will take it as an iniurie done vnto them So the Lord takes it as a great iâ—iurie and wrong done vnto him when men put off their repentance from day to day The common course of the world is to deferre Repentance vnto the day of death thinking that to be the fittest time for it But such are deceiued for of all other times this is the worst for it and that because of two impediments 1. One in Nature 2. The other in Grace The first impediment in Nature is The Dolour and paine wherein the partie at that time is for when paines bee vpon a man how vnfit is he then to repent when it is tedious and irksome to speake or heare any noyse O how vnfit is a man then to set all his sinnes in order before him to sorrow and mourne for them and that hee hath offended by them so gratious and good a God In this case it befalls vnto many at such times as it did with the Israelites Exod. 6. 9. Moses told them that the Lord would bring them out of Egypt that hee would take away the burdens from their shoulders and that hee would bring them into the land of Canaan which hee had sworne vnto their Fathers to giue vnto them But the text shewes That they did not hearken vnto Moses for the anguish of spirit and because of the cruell bondage they were in So for the most part when paines and sicknesse are vpon one hee is not fit to listen vnto any good counsell or admonition that any one can bring him be it neuer so comfortable vnto others therefore the time of death is a most vnfit time for the beginning of Repentance Secondly Because the time of death to a naturall man vntill hee hath repented is of all other times the most terrible and fearfull Vntill hee haue obtained the assurance of the forgiuenesse of sinnes and that heauen and happinesse belongs vnto him If a Physitian should come to take away a legge or an arme from a man what a fearfull thing would it bee how much more fearefull to a naturall man is death which comes not to take away a legge or an arme onely but to rent body and soule asunder to bee at last tormented for euer So that when death comes with so dolefull an errand to seperate two old friends this time must needs bee a most vndisposed season to repent in Thirdly Because of worldly Cogitations as the disposing of wife and children house and lands and other goods all these must needs hinder the motions of Repentance As if a man haue a candle lighted in a Mine vnder the earth if it bee neere or vnder a dampe this will come and put out the candle So when in the time of sicknesse there is a candle lighted of good motions and meditations of Repentance then these new mutinous cogitations enter in to thinke what shall become of wife and children this and that friend and how to bestow our goods these like a dampe extinguish the good thoughts of Repentance The fourth is That God then ordinarily punishes our neglect of this duty in our health with hardnesse of heart on our death-beds As it is Pro. 1. Because hee called then to vs and wee would not answer therefore we call vnto him and he will not answer vs euen when our feares come like a whirlewinde and our desolation posteth vpon vs. O saith Christ to Ierusalem Would to God thou hadst knowne in this thy day the things which belong vnto thy peace but now they are hid from thine eyes Worke saith our Sauiour to the Iewes whilst it is called to day for the night commeth in which no man can worke So that this night time of sicknesse is of all times the most vnfit to repent in when God may iustly leaue vs comfortlesse because wee would not ere that time hearken to the words of instruction and walke in new obedience 2 The Impediments of Grace At that time may bee these First God may deny vs the meanes to worke Faith and Repentance in vs our comforters and helpers then shall be silent tongue tyed or absent when wee most wish desire and languish for comfort and helpe then one of a thousand may be denyed vs. Secondly Though hee doe giue vs meanes yet it may bee hee will not blesse them or make them powerfull and effectuall vnto vs. And though hee doe blesse the