we thanke thée for all thy mercies and for this mercifull libertie wée inioye to come before thée Wee render from the bottome of our heartes all vnfained prayses vnto thy Maiestie for our creation and continuall preseruation for our health life libertie and peace for our foode rayment and all other thy benefites for the good of our bodies But especiallie wee confesse our selues infinitelie bounden for those blessings which are greater as our election before all worldes our redemption by Christ Iesus our vocation and calling by the gospel our sanctification by the Spirit for calling vs out of darkenes into thy meruellous light and for seperating vs in suche poore measure from the loue of this worlde and worldly commoditie We praise thée for thy worde for thy Sacraments and all thy vndeserued mercies not only vppon our selues but also vpon our Prince and countrey wée thanke thée for her gratious Maiestie and the peace we enioy vnder her wée thanke thée for the wise and honorable Counsellors the godly Maiestrates faithfull Ministers for all thy faithfull people Lorde continue still mercifull vnto vs in Christ Iesus Confirme vs in the Faith and obedience of thy Sonne as many as thou hast alreadie called and call all those that goe astray and hauing finished thy worke come spéedely in the cloudes for our full deliuerance we pray thée yea come Lorde Iesus come quickly Now Lord we commend our selues our soules and bodies into thy good handes beséeching thée to kéep and preserue vs this night to giue quiet rest and sléepe to our bodies and peace of conscience to our soules that we being preserued from daungers and restored to the vse of thy fauor the next day we may be careful to performe all good duties to thy Maiestie most to thy glorye and our comfortes in Christ Iesus In whose name for the continuance of thy fauor in graunting all these and all other good graces we praye as he hath taught vs saying Our father wich art in heauen halowed be thy name c. 7 Certaine petitions to be vsed in morning or euening prayer as occasion shall serue In time of any generall visitation as warre sickenes famine c. Say this petition O Lorde our God thou doost iustly correcte vs for our sinnes by this thy hand make it profitable vnto vs wée beséech thée and afflict not our land aboue measure least the enemie say where is their God become Wee are thy people the workemanship of thy handes remember therfore thy auncient mercies to our forefathers Abraham Isaac Iaacob and for Christs sake suffer not our enemies to preuaile ouer vs but put an ende to our miseries that we may liue and dwell in peace and inioy our former libertie to serue thée and the fruites of the earth in due time Let vs therfore sée the sinnes that most displease thée and repent truely of them that so thou mayest turne thy fauourable countenance towardes vs in our Lorde and Sauiour Christ Jesus In any particular visitation of thy selfe or anie of thy familie say this petition O Lorde our God thou art righteous in all thy dooings but wee are moste vnrighteous open our eyes to sée our sinnes which thus displease thée and touch our hartes with vnfaigned sorrow for the same that we may no longer prouoke thy displeasure And good Lorde graunt that we may sée thy purpose in thus afflicting vs that wée may finde out the cause and repent vs of it lay no more vpon this thy seruant then he is able to beare let not the enemie haue power ouer him but assist him with thy spirit against all assaults whatsoeuer graunt him patience and deliuerance out of this miserie in thy good time which way shal séeme best to thy Maiestie These and all good graces wee craue for Christ Iesus sake our onely Lorde and Sauiour Amen 8 Note That the night season must not bee spent in idle and filthie talking which becommeth not Christians but shall be giuen accompt of See Ephes 5 4. Math. 12.36 Therfore foure nightes in the weeke let them bee spent in honest and vertuous conference that tendeth to edification in reading Gods worde in singing of Psalmes as these scriptures commaunde vz. Ephes 4.29 Colloss 4.6 Ephes 5.19 Collossians 3.16 The other 2. nights let them bee passed away as oportunitie and health shall permit in conferring with our family and examining them in foure or fiue questions of these principles of Faith which followe as the scriptures commaund and exhort vs vz. Deu. 6.6.7.8.9 Eccle. 12.1 Dan. 12.3 2. Tim. 3.14.15 He. 5.12 1. Pet. 3.15 which Scriptures I pray you look ouer with aduise ¶ The Lords day must thus bee spent vz. IN hearing the worde and ioyning with the Congregation in praier and thankesgiuing In receauing the Sacraments when occasion shal serue In visiting the sicke reléeuing the poore meditating on Gods worde and his workes auoyding all lewd companie as also carding dycing c. at night to follow the example of the Church of Berea in calling to minde the things wee haue learned as these scriptures teach vs 1. Iohn 4.1.1 Th. 5.21 Act. 17.11 And in thus dooing the peace of God shall be vpon you ¶ A breefe Cathechisme Conteining the principles of the Christian faith meete to bee learned of all true Christian Families Question IS there any creature in heauen or in earth which must not be subiect vnto God Aunswere No Gen. 2.1 1.27 2.7 Exod. 20.2 Ioshua 24.14.15.24 Rom 11.36 1. Tim. 6.15 Apoc. 19.16 for he hath created both Angels and men and all other creatures both in Heauen and earth and all places to that ende that they shoulde serue and obey him Q. How is this seruice and obedience performed A. When we reuerence his word and kéepe his commaundements Luk. 12.47.48 17.9.10 because thereby wee manyfest both our subiection and his authoritie ouer vs as our Lorde and the God of power to require the same of vs. Quest What call you the worde of God or which are his commaundements Ans I call that the worde of God which is contained in sacred and holye Scriptures Iohn 5.39 Heb. 2.2 3.4 Luke 16.29.31 Deut. 4.13 Exo. 19.18.20 of the olde and new Testament commonly called the Byble and those are his commaundements which he gaue in Mount Sinay which are as it were an abridgement and summe of the whole scriptures Q. How many commaundements be there A. Ten. Q. Rehearse them Ans Then God spake all these wordes c. Exod. 20.1 ad Q. How can these silly and dumbe creatures bserue Gods woorde and Commaundements for you say that al creatures must obey him A. In continuing in that first order and estate wherein the Lord first placed them Psal 148.5.6 Psal 104.9 and whereto by his word hee first enioyned them Q. Howe is man inferiour to the vnreasonable creatures in this obedience A. In that our first Parentes hauing broken Gods Commandements Gen. 3
truely call vppon him but perish in his ignorance Iam. 10.23 and bee numbred amongst the enemes of God Therefore as thou louest the Lord thy owne soule and the soules of thy family delay not deferre not but procure prouide a Bible aboue all thinges else whatsoeuer God giue thée this grace 3 The Scriptures of God contained in the holy Byble being thus prouided It is next to bee obserued that the word and prayer bee alwaies ioyned together viz. At al times before we humble our selues to praier to read one chapter for the better stirring vs vp to that holy dutie that is to say Before morning prayer one Chapter out of the olde Testament beginning at Genesis and at night also before euening prayer a Chapter out of the newe Testament And if any place as wee reade séemeth hard vnto vs it is good rather with reuerence to let it passe then with rashnesse to enterpret the same wayting with patience till that either by some learned expositor godly preacher or some other place of scripture we can attain to find out the sence of the place alwaies hauing a care to obserue those places that séeme hard vnto vs till wee haue learned the true vnderstanding of them ¶ Before the reading of the worde and Cathechising vse this short Prayer O Lord open our eyes that we may sée the wonderfull things and excellent doctrines which are written in thy word and may receiue comfort by thy gracious promises contained in the same Let vs learne hereby more perfitly to hate sinne and loue righteousnesse and graunt that wee may so vnderstand the things which wee heareâ— and so beléeue the things which we vnderstand and praysing that which wee beléeue that we may bee more more able to glorifie thy name in this world and be fully confirmed in assured hope of that glorie prepared for the faithfull in the world to come Amen 4 The word being thus read with reuerence and care then let the Gouernours Here obâ—erue that 〈◊〉 that wil perswade vs that all 〈◊〉 sport 〈◊〉 Gods 〈◊〉 is too much and so will breed tediousnes in vs. together with their whole family humbly fall downe on their knees and the Master himselfe or one in his absence whome hee shall appoint to be the mouth for all and with a true heart inuocate vpon God as followeth Morning Prayer O Most glorious and blessed Lorde God who art the Father of mercie and fountaine of all grace and goodnes Thou Lord who hast commaunded vs that in all our distresses wee should come vnto thée and offring our prayers vnto thée with a right hart and true faith in the name of Christ hast promised to heare vs behold Lord euen before thée who hast thus commaunded and promised we sinfull and vnrighteous creatures doe humble our selues at this time both in our soules and bodies beséeching thy excellent Maiestie to looke from heauen with thy mercifull fauour vppon vs accepting our praiers which we shall powre out before thée and directing vs so to prefer the same vnto thy holinesse that thou mayest accept them in Christ Iesus We confesse O Lord God of heauen that we are most vnworthie to appeare before thee and more vnworthie to obtaine any fauour at thy gratious hands in regarde of the infinite hainous offences which we haue committed against the puritie and excellent vertue of thy lawes which condemne vs in our sinnes and reuealed vnto vs our rebellion and vnthankfulnes For O Lord wee haue a lawe in our members resisting and fighting against the law of our mindes whereby through the infirmitie and vanitie of the fleshe we finde in our selues no pronenes to that which is good nor any courage to resist the thinges which are euill and this our vntowardnesse is so much the greater by howe much the more wee violate thy will and transgresse thy holy precepts not onely in ignorance but also in knowledge and many times against knowledge both gréeuously and fearefully so that thy authoritie on the one side nor thy mercies on the other haue neither moued nor allured vs to obey or serue thée as we ought to haue doone and these our sinnes which are sufficient to condemne vs go not alone but haue too many companions for O Lord our infidelitie impaciencie hardnes of heart abuse of thy patience contempt of thy worde and little profiting by it are erdinarie sins into the which we fal daily wee being such by nature as estéeme more of our owne pleasures and profites then of thy glorious blessed seruice our harts as corrupt fountaines yéelding foorth nothing but distrust of thy prouidence hypocrisie couetousnes carnall and worldly concupiscences and neglect of all good duties towwards thée and all men the flesh continually rebelling against the spirite so that O Lorde if thou shouldest haue dealt with vs according to iustice wée had all perished in these our sinnes and ignorances before this present therefore obteining this fauour to come before thée we vnfeignedly confesse that against thée O Lord euen against thée alone we haue committed these sinnes and wickednesses beséeching thy Maiestie to pardon our ignorance blindnes that we cannot see them more fully and confesse them more penitentlye then now we doe wherein wee must néedes acknowledge our sinnes to bee the greater by how much the lesse our repentaunce appeareth to bee at this houre Yet forasmuch as that O Lorde God thou hast reuealed thy selfe in thy word to be God of infinite mercy and goodnes to them that truely repent come vnto thée in the name of Christ Iesus Wee are hereby imbouldned to humble our selues before thy Maiestie beseeching thee for Christ his sake to touch our harts with vnfained sorrow and true contricion for all these all other our sinnes graunt we may both so sée and abhorre our guiltines and filthines that wee may obtaine mercie forgiuenes through his precious death and passion which we beséeche thee to accept as a ful satisfaction for the same wiping them all out of thy booke of remembraunce that they may neuer be laid to our charge nor rise vp in iudgement against vs. Giue vs a lyuelie and true faith to lay holde on these thy mercies promises vnto vs in him that wée may be able to resist all the fierie darts of the deuill And as wee craue this grace for that which is past so let it please thée of thy Fatherly mercie to assist strengthen vs in the residue of our life to performe and accomplish all that obedience which thy Maiestie requireth of vs and as thou art our Father so regarde vs as thy children and send down the power of thy Spirit into our hearts that wée considering how thou sittest in the heauens and searchest the secrets of all mens hearts may haue continuall care to set our affections on thinges which are aboue and not on thinges which are beneath but if that thy wisdome power goodnes mercie and trueth or
fruits thereof Matth. 3.11 which will burst forth as a flame of fire Q. Which be those fruites A. They be these First loue a Math. 22.37 Mark 12.29 Exod. 20.2 Deut. 6.2 to the Lord and his worde worshipping him in soule and bodye and b Iob 13.15 Iohn 14.15 depending vpon his prouidence both in prosperitie and aduersitie Secondly a full c Rom. 8.10 Luke 1.75 10.4.2 alteration in my self that I am dead to sinne and the maners of the world and that I am now giuen to delight in Gods word and the hearing of it d Heb. 3.12 1. Thes 5.14 Coloss 3.16 Iam. 5.20 to exhorte others vnto well doing especially e Iosh 20.15 Psalm 101. Ephes 6 4. those that are vnder my charge being f Psal 8.8 116.12 Rom. 12.1 Psal 50.14.15 1. Thes 5.16 thankefull to God for all his mercies in Christ Iesus vsing all exercises of Christianitie which tend to a godly and new life g Math 6.2 1. Cor 13.3 hauing charitie towardes all men and expressing the same by some signes of my loue and to conclude holding fast the holy h Heb. 25. Ephes 2.20.11.22 communion with the rest of the members whereof Christ is the head Q. How are these graces of the spirit obtained A. Euen by the same meanes that the spirit it selfe is obtained which is by faithfull prayer vnto God only that he will not harden our heartes cause vs to erre but giue the pledge of his spirit vnto vs the graces therof vide Psal 51.10 11. Isai 63.17 Psal 50.25 Q. Must wee praye for nothing but for our faith and the spirit A. Yes Act. a. 24.29 Ephes 6.18.19 1. Tim. 2.12 we must praye not onely for our selues but also for the whole Church especiallye hauing a care to aske those thinges at Gods handes which may most set foorth his glory as we are taught in the Lords prayer Q. Rehearse the Lordes prayer A. Our father which art in c. Q. How way we be assured that God will giue an aunswere to our prayer Iohn 16.23 1. Iohn 2.1 1. Pet. 25. Mark 11.24 Luke 11.9 A. First if we aske the thinges we néede in and for Christs sake Secondly if we aske in faith Q. What say you then to the prayer of the wicked A. They are vndoubtedly abhominable to the Lorde Prou. 1.28.29.30 28.9 not onely in respect that they want faith but also because they perfourme not obedience to the Lordes voyce when hee calleth but turne their eares from it Q. Rehearse now the summe of all that thou hast learned A. The summe of all is this 1 That I finde my selfe to be most miserable in respect of Gods lawe which condemneth me in my sinne In that it requireth I should loue God aboue all and my neighbour as my selfe and yet I violate the same both in thought worde and déede 2. That through Gods vnspeakeable fauour I finde remedy for my sin that although the Lorde hath giuen such a lawe as I cannot performe and kéep because no other lawe then such a perfect rule of righteousnesse would agrée with his nature therefore not by my owne deseruing but by the mercie of our Lord God in the death of his Son and our Sauiour the guiltines of my sinnes taken away and I am discharged 3 And lastly that I rest thankefull all my life long for this exceeding benefite and shewe foorth the fruites of my redemption by a righteous and holy conuersation springing from a liuely and true faith which is begotten by his worde and sealed by his Spirite This is the summe FINIS A Carde for Communicants to looke vpon before they presume to come to the Lordes Table fit to be learned of all that will not receiue vnworthelye Question HOw many thinges are to be regarded and learned of them that approche to the Lordes Table to receiue the holye misterie of his holye Supper Answere Principally one thing which is to examine themselues before they eate least not discerning the Lordes bodye they eate and drinke vnworthely and so the bread and wine be vnto them of no greater force then the supper was to Judas euen a seale of their condemnation Q. What meane you by discerning the Lordes Supper A. I meane that we must not come to the Lordes Table as to a common feast or banquet regarding onely the outward elements as though bread and wine were become our spirituall nourishment but that by the outward signes wee be ledde as it were by the hand to that which they signifie namely that Christ Jesus hath suffered the death of the crosse to take away my sinnes which are the cause of my condemnation and to bring me vnto euerlasting life through that fulnes of grace which resteth in him Q. You say the principall thing to be regarded is to examine our selues wherein dooth this examination consiste A. In these foure pointes especially which are not lightly to be considered off Q. Which be they tell me briefely A. 1. That I haue some knowledge to discerne the Lords body as is aforesaide and be able by a liuely and true saith to apply Christ and all his merites to my soule for my consolation comfort least otherwise by hauing no féeling of Gods mercie loue towards me the Sacrament doe appeare to be but a dead letter vnto me 2. That I finde my selfe inwardly and truely grieued for all my sinnes both lesser and greater yea for all my idle wordes and vnprofitable workes and for all sinnes whatsoeuer whether actuall or originall and that I purpose not to sinne againe for any pleasure or prosite whatsoeuer but to behaue my selfe before him all the dayes of my life in performance of all holy duties according to his worde 2. That as I sée by the breaking or cutting of the bread and powring out the wine that Christs bodie and bloud was deuided broken and powred out for my sinne so to finde my heart lyfted vp vnto God and prepared to giue humble and heauenly thankes vnto him as for all his mercies so especially for those present benefites which we sée before our eyes and pertake at his holy Table And to conclude to bee as ready to be broken slaine for Christs sake as he was for mine by taking vp his crosse and following him 4. And lastly as I finde by the vewe of all these mercies that God loueth me vndeseruedly so that I finde and féele my selfe readie to loue all men in like sorte though they deserue it not yea my very enemies Q. Are these sufficient rules to examine our selues by A. These being conceaued in our heads imprinted in our heartes and expressed in our lyues will further our worthie receiuing to our euerlasting comforte Certaine formes of Thankesgiuing Grace before meate O Gracious and blessed Lorde God who giuest al things abound antly to thy seruants and féedest them in due season we humbly beséeche thée to sanctifie these thy good creatures prouided for vs forgiuing our sinnes which haue deserued the contrary Vouchsafing for Christs sake to giue vs a sober and moderate vse of thy creatures so that whatsoeuer strength wée receiue from them we may bestowe the same in thy seruice to the setting foorth of thy glory in thy onely Sonne our Lord and blessed Sauiour Christ Iesus Grace after meate WE thanke thy Maiestie most mercifull and heauenly Father for these and all thy mercies vpon our selues and all thy people beseeching thée of thy Fatherlye goodnesse to continue thy fauour vppon vs and vpon thy whole Church To send thy word into all places and to graunt a continuall increase of the faithfull disposers thereof To blesse our Prince and countrey to be mercifull to all our sinnes Comforte all the afflicted members of Christ arme vs against the day of tryall Shorten these dayes of sinne and increase our faith euermore Graunt these and all good graces euen for Christ Iesus sake to whome with thée and the holy spirite be al honour praise and glory for euer Amen A thankesgiuing to be vsed after Cathechising WE magnifie thy name O Lorde our God for thy patience and vse of thy word at this and al other times beséeching thy Maiestie to pardon our vnreuerent handling of the same and to write in our heartes the thinges which wee haue learned and giue vs the practise thereof in our liues Lorde continue thy fauour still towardes vs by giuing a long prosperous reigne to our gratious Soueraigne that vnder her godly and peaceable gouernement we may still enioye this libertie to thy glory and our comfortes both now and for euer Amen FINIS