and suitable to his nature to haue mercy but hee is hardly drawne to punish as being a worke altogither vnsuitable to his disposition To them that loue mee With their whole heart without hypocrisie and doe not impart that worship to others which is due to him And keepe my Commandements In obedience walking in his waies All his Commandements but chiefely this concerning his worship The third Commandement Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vaine for the Lord wil not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his Name in vaine THe Name of the LORD which in it selfe is Holy True and Iust Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord in vaine And therefore wee ought not to prophane it or take it in our mouthes lightly or vpon euery small occasion Herein we offend When we Blaspheme God either openly or in our hearts When we vse his Holy Word to any prophane scurrilous or impure end When we commit Periurie When we murmure against him When we leaue his Prouidence and consult with Witches or the like When we sweare vpon triuiall and light causes When we curse or vse vnlawfull Imprecations When wee performe not that which we faithfully promise When we in any action of our owne detract from Gods Glory and attribute and arrogate too much to our selues For the Lord will not c. The Lord and Iudge of Heauen and Earth who seeth and obserueth all our actions is so farre from conniuing at this sinne that without repentance he will condemne euery one that offendeth therein Saul 1. Sam. 14. â—… for vnaduised Cursing and adiuration lost a victory against the Philistims 1. Sam. 14.24 For consulting with a Witch 31.4 was with his sonnes brought to vntimely ends Sennacherib 2. Kings 19.10 for blaspheming God was slaine by his owne sonnes Ananias Act. 5.5 for lying to the holy Ghost died suddenly The fourth Commandement Remember that thou keepe holy the Sabboth day c. IN this Commandement are two things contained 1. A Precept or declaration of the will of God To set apart some day 1. To the publique worship of God 2. In ceasing from our labours 2. A Reason of the Commandement 1. Because God after the Creation rested on the seuenth day 2. Because he also blessed and Sanctified it Remember Let not worldly cares put it out of thy minde but obserue it with all care and Religion 1. Not without great cause was this Precept so strictly vrged 1. Because by the neglect of it ariseth the neglect of all Spirituall duties 2. Because that in it was contained a Type or shadow of the great and euerlasting Sabboth which is our Sanctification 3. Because that we haue therby some time to shew mercy to our seruants and beasts wearied with labour That thou keepe holy c. In frequenting the Church and there to exercise thy selfe In Prayer Hearing the Word Receiuing the Sacraments In pious and religious workes as Visiting the sicke Releeuing the poore Meditating on Gods worke Praising him for them In refraining from sinne In resting from seruile labour And although that part of the Iewes Sabboth be abrogated which respected the Seuenth day Sacrifices and other exterior acts of Gods worship commanded and enioyned to the Iewes yet the Church hath appointed in stead thereof the Lords day or Sonday called the first day of the weeke wherein all Christians are bound to retaine and obserue all the duties of the first Sabboth Reue. 1.10 Act. 20.7 1. Cor. 16.2 auoiding the Iewish strict and superstitious Ceremonies Sixe dayes c. In following the vocation appointed there by God wherein thou art to omit nothing necessary for the sustentation of thy family And not to spend those sixe dayes wholly in idlenesse pleasures or excesse Nor in the publique duties of the Sabboth and thereby neglecting the care ouer thy family But the seuenth day In that day neither thou nor any of thy familie or cattell shall doe any seruile labour except in case of necessity and preseruation of Gods Creatures from damage or losse but ye shall spend it in those religious duties formerly set downe In case of necessitie Mar. 2.27 The Sabboth being made for man and not man for the Sabboth we are to conceiue that it was ordeined not to destroy but to preserue him and therefore all workes are not forbidden that day 1. As dressing of meate Numb 28.1 By the example of the Priests who on the Sabboth killed the Beasts for sacrifice and dressed the rest And of Christs Disciples plucking eares of corne Mat. 12.1 and Tertullian saith that the Ancient and Primitiue Church neuer fasted on the Sabboth day De Coron militis c. 3. 2. Ministring Phisicke to the sicke Luc. 6. By the example of our Sauiour healing on that day Io. 5. 3. Sauing Corne Hay Houses and the like from perishing By our Sauiours question to the Pharises Mat. 12.11 2. The Reason why God commanded the obseruation of the first Sabbath was 1. Because after God by his Word had created the vniuerse of nothing hee rested himselfe from all the worke that he had made Gen. 2.2 2. Because this day was by him blessed and sanctified And the Reason why the Seuenth day was changed into the first day of the weeke vpon which the Christians Sabbath is obserued was in remembrance of our Sauiours Resurrection which hapned on this day as may be gathered by Christs selecting that day to appeare twice to his Apostles after his Resurrection Ioh. 20,19.26 The second Table The fifth Commandement Honour thy Father and thy Mother that thy dayes may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God giueth thee AS the first Table teacheth the Honor and loue of God so doth the second the Dutie we owe to our Neighbour And the first Commandement of this Table enioyneth vs to honour and reuerence our Parents as being the thing which God esteemeth next in degree to his Honor. And it containeth First A Precept Secondly A Promise 1 The Precept is Generall and Particular 1 The Generall comprehendeth our Dutie to all our Elders and Superiors whom God hath set ouer vs for our gouernement and preseruation which dutie is of necessitie to be performed in respect of the vpholding of Politique gouernement 2. The particular Precept conteineth our dutie to our naturall Parents Father and Mother of what degree estate or condition soeuer they be Whether Poore or Rich Good or Bad this Commandement layeth hold on vs. Honour thy Father and Mother That which we are enioyned to doe by these words is to Reuerence them as from whom we receiued our being Loue them for their care sorrow and paines in our education Obey them in all lawfull things as being appointed by God to command ouer vs. Be thankefull to them In requiting their charge and loue In ministring to their necessities Be
assisting grace that they may perseuere in goodnesse To all my friends kindred and enemies and to those which pray for me giue all thy good blessings Keepe vs all from all euill and make vs to continue in thy Seruice to our liues end and after the course of this miserable life ended bring vs to thine euerlasting Kingdome through Iesus Christ our Lord. Or thus ALmighty and Euerlasting GOD I praise and blesse thee from the bottome of my heart that of thy infinite goodnesse thou hast preserued me this night past and hast with the impregnable defence of thy Prouidence defended mee from the power and malice of the Deuill and kept me both in soule and body from all his deuices and snares and raised me from sleepe the Image of death and not left me to be stifled in the darknesse of my sinnes but hast giuen me a longer space to repent me of them I humbly intreat thee that thou wouldest not withdraw thy hand of Protection from me but take mee into thy Tuition Watch ouer me with the eyes of thy mercy and direct me in the way of thy Commandements Endue me with those graces of thy Holy Spirit which may assist me to passe this day and the rest of my life to the praise and glory of thy holy Name the benefit of my Neighbour and the saluation of my sinfull soule Keepe me O Lord from all sinne bridle and mortifie my flesh that I offend not nor fall into any transgressions which may prouoke thy wrath against mee Direct my soule and body my words and actions according to the rule of thy Will Diuert my heart from fastning too much on transitory pleasures and conuert it to the delight of eternall ioyes And because I am not worthy O Lord that thou shouldest heare me poore wretched sinner behold I set before thee the merits of thy only Sonne who is the propitiation of our sinnes looke vpon him and for his Righteousnesse pardon the offences of thy Seruant and grant to me Those things by thy mercy which by the strict Rule of thy Iustice are not due to me Defend me O Lord from all mine enemies Arme me with thy Spirituall weapons put on me the Clothing of wisedome and strength Ephes 6. the Brestplate of Righteousnesse the Helmet of Saluation the Shield of Faith and the Sword of the Spirit that in this earthly Pilgrimage I may manfully oppose the enemies of my Soule the Concupiscence of the Flesh Tentations of the World and Malice of the Deuill that so hauing finished valiantly the course of this Terrestriall warfare I may hereafter praise thee in thy Celestiall Kingdome And thou O Lord who giuest food to euery liuing Creature Psal 147.9 and feedest the young Rauens which call vpon thee be mercifull vnto me in the supply of those necessaries which I dayly want Preserue mee in health 1. Tim. 6.8 giue mee foode and rayment and sufficient to maintaine me in that course of life to which it hath pleased thee to call mee that hauing sufficient in all things I may abound in good workes And grant that I may leade a quiet life in all Godly conuersation that hauing and vsing thy blessings worthily I may passe this life with ioy and comfort till it please thee to call me to a better Giue thy blessings to the Kings Maiestie the Queene and the whole estate of this Kingdome and grant that we all may bend our thoughts and studies to please thee that at the last by the merits and intercession of Iesus Christ we may bee receiued to thy Heauenly Kingdome Amen Or thus O Almighty Lord God which day after day dost minister to sinfull man infinite occasions whereby hee may be stirred vp to praise thy holy Name and art most plentifull in pittie and fauourable to those which with pure hearts and vnfained faith call vpon thee behold me thy poore vnworthy seruant with the eyes of compassion that at this time aâ—… bold to offer vp vnto thee a morning Sacrifice of praise and thankes for all thy blessings and amongst the rest for that thou hast vouchsafed after a sufficient and quiet sleepe to raise me safe from my bed againe which fauour thou hast not affoorded to many others who in farre greater measure haue deserued it then my selfe for which mercy of thine I am not able through my insufficiencie and weakenesse to giue vnto thee due praise and thankesgiuing I pray thee therefore in thy deare Sounes Name In whom thou art well pleased to accept these poore and weake thankes and for his sake also to be further aiding and assisting vnto me this day following in whatsoeuer I shall take in hand For thou knowest O Lord how feeble mans nature is insomuch that if he trust to his owne strength of necessitie he must fall into many miseries errors and dangers Haue mercy therefore vpon mine infirmities and be propitious and helping to me that by thine Illumination I may discerne and perceiue good from euill and by thy leading and direction may follow the one and auoid the other Lord so guide me with thy Holy Spirit that I may neither doe speake nor thinke any thing this day contrary to thy holy Will Behold O Lord I offer my selfe a Liuing Sacrifice to thee and humbly pray thee to aceept it Good God direct my soule in the way of thy Commandements increase my faith strengthen my Hope enlarge my Charitie and infuse all the good graces of thy Holy Spirit into me Giue me grace so to remember my sinnes as that thou mayest forget them and so to forsake them as that thou mayest forgiue them Instruct me in all goodnesse and giue me the grace of Perseuerance that I flye not backe from any good courses in this life but that I may goe forward and continue in them to the end of my dayes O Lord who hast promised the necessaries of this life to those which shall first seeke thy Kingdome I humbly intreat thee to giue vnto me this day all things necessary for my sustentation as foode rayment health of body ioy of heart peace of conscience and a blessing to all my endeauours giue me a minde contented with that which shal be sufficient and not desirous of that which is superfluous that I may passe the rest of my dayes on earth religiously honestly and soberly as becommeth thy seruant to thy honour and my endlesse comfort Bee gratious to the Kings most excellent Maiestie his Royall Queene the whole Estate Cleargie Nobility Gentry Magistrates and Commons giue vs all grace in our seuerall places to doe our Duties as in thy sight that at the last by the merits of Iesus Christ our Sauiour we may receiue the reward thereof in thy Eternall Kingdome where thou raignest together with the same our Lord Iesus Christ and the Holy Spirit World without end Morning Prayer for a Family O Almighty Lord God heauenly Father we giue thee most humble and heartie thankes in that thou
patient with them In their Correction and bearing with all their Infirmities That which we are forbidden to do against them is Exo. 21.17 Leuit. 20.9 Not to speake euill of them or to curse them Mat. 15.5 Mat. 7.11 Not to see them want Not to be ashamed of them for pouerty or other cause whatsoeuer That thy dayes may c. 2. The Promise is made to all such as shall keepe this Precept which is Long dayes of life here and happy too else they would be no better then a Curse Long dayes hereafter for euer in blisse which is the highest blessing that can befall to any This Promise God made 1. To prouoke vs to that Dutie of reuerencing and obeying our Parents and Superiours 2. To shew how highly he esteemeth of it The sixth Commandement Thou shalt not kill THis Commandement followeth properly and in order in the next place for mans life being the most previous thing in this world and vpon which all other things depend God seemeth to take care by this Commandement for peace and quietnesse whereby mans life may be preserued Thou shalt not kill Neither thy selfe nor others Neither shalt thou haue any desire to doe any such act Vnder this Commandement are diuers other particulars forbidden for as God forbiddeth the Act so doth he command that all occasions or meanes to execute that Act be forborne and taken away If God command vs not to kil then he prohibits Anger Quarrelling Chiding Hatred Mat. 5.22 And all other things of this nature which may be as prouocations ro flaughter And on the contrary hee enioyneth vs. To loue our neighbours as our selues To liue peaceably and quietly with them To doe good for euill And all this because Man is the Image of God Flesh of our Flesh The thing that Christ paid so deare for The seuenth Commandement Thou shalt not commit Adulterie Thou shalt not commit adulterie THe chiefe aime and scope of this Commandement is to preserue the marriage bed inuiolate And with great reason it is placed next to the prohibiting of homicide because that next and dearest to a man after his owne life is the preseruation and Honot of his wife for they two are but one flesh Gen. 2.24 And by this Commandement is also implicitly and secretly forbidden Whoredome Incest Sodomy a Rom. 1.26 Sinnes against Nature b Mat. 5.28 Vnlawfull desires and affections Vncleannesse Euill talke Obscene songs and impudent behauiour vnciuill sights Lasciuions Pictures Intemperance of diet Delicacy and excesse in Apparrell and the like being prouocations to the Sinne here forbidden And as wee are prohibited these things so are we commanded hereby To liue Chastely Temperately Mat. 5.8 Modestly and Purely in heart For by these Vertues as our Sauiour telleth vs wee shall come to the beatificiall vision of God and enioy that Blessednesse which he hath promised to those that in purenesse of heart loue and serue him The eight Commandement Thou shalt not steale Thou shalt not steale THat is thou shalt not take from another any thing which is not thine owne And against this Commandement we may offend diuers waies By committing Sacriledge taking any thing from the Church By with holding that which is due to King or Prince By robbing on the high way or out of houses By deceiuing any man In bargaining In false weights and measures In being bankrupt without cause By oppressing the poore or keeping his pledge By encroching vpon the possessions of any other either by violence openly or by fraud in remouing Land markes c. By keeping that which is found from the true owner By denying or concealing a trust By detaining the Laborers hire By Liuing idlely and eating out of another mans labour By neglecting a Masters Seruice and mispending his goods The Ninth Commandement Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy Neighbour Thou shalt not beare false witnesse c. THou shalt not giue false euidence before a Iudge against any man Whosoeuer doth so is not only guilty of the breach of this Commandement but of the Third also in committing Periurie Neither is false Testimony with an Oath forbidden only but also without an Oath 1 Thou shalt not accuse thy brother vniustly Slander him Reuile him Backebite him Abuse him by vnciuill iests 2 Thou shalt not lie or equiuocate Either for sport Or to auoid danger or losse For although some seeme to approue Of Iacob Gen. 27.19 in lying to his Father that he was Esau The Midwines Exo. 1.19 to saue the Children Rahab the Harlot Iosu 2.4.5 to saue the spies Michol 1. Sam. 19.14 to saue Dauid her Husband Iudith Iud. 11.5 to deceiue Holofernes Aug. Yet it is safer with Saint August to hold that all lyes being directly opposite to truth must needs be sinne The Tenth Commandement Thou shalt not couet thy Neighbours house Thou shalt not c. THis Commandement is directly against Couetousnesse or euill Concupiscence the issue of Originall Sinne which was deriued to all mankinde after the fall of Adam Not Couet No man ought to couet or desire no not so much as in his heart any thing which belongeth to another man and whereby he may receiue any damage or detriment Neither his house which is his inheritance and his defence against the heate of the Sunne and the sharpnesse of the cold Nor his wife which is bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh His partner as well in sorrow as pleasure Nor his Seruants without whose helpe and labour he cannot dispatch his affaires Nor his Cattell which doe his worke In conclusion nothing which may any way preiudice him Now seeing that Ia. 2.10 He which is guiltie in breaking one part of the Law offendeth in all and that to the keeping of it the whole inward and outward man is required and that the flesh while wee are in this world is wholly opposite to the Spirit It is impossible for vs to fulfill the same by our owne endeauours For it is with vs as it was with Saint Paul Rom. 7.18 In our flesh dwelleth no good thing and the good that we would we doe not but the euill which we would not that we doe And seeing also that Rom. 3.20 by thee deedes of the Lawe no man can be iustified not that the Lawe is in fault being good of it selfe but our owne flesh Rom. 8.7.8 the carnall minde being enmitie with God and they which are in the flesh not being able to please him for the comfort therefore of all when as neither the workes of the Law could iustifie vs nor we were able to fulfill the same God of his infinite mercy sent his Sonne Christ Iesus into the world Galat. 3.13.14 that he suffering death for vs might redeeme vs from the curse of the Law that we might receiue the promise of the Spirit through Faith For in him all the