Remember that thou keep holy c. M. What is the breach of this commandement C. In doing any thing of our own for profit or pleasure M. What is the fift commandement C. Honour thy Father and thy Mother c. M. What is the breach of this commandement C. Disobedience to our Superiours or want of duty to our Inferiours M. What is the sixt commandement C. Thou shalt not kill M. What is the breach of this commandement C. Vnlawfull smiting of the hand or malice of the heart M. VVhat is the seuenth commandement C. Thou shalt not commit adulterie M. What is the breach of this commandement C. All vncleannesse of bodie and minde M. What is the eight commandement C. Thou shalt not steale M. What is the breach of this commandement C. The taking away of my neighbors goods by fraude or violence M. What is the ninth commandement C. Thou shalt not beare false witnes M. What is the breach of this commandement C. All lying and backbiting M. What is the tenth commandement C. Thou shalt not couet c. M. What is the breach of this commandement C. All euill desires and motions of the heart They that will see this more at large let them reade Mr. Dod on the commandements M. To whom doest thou pray C. To God alone M. In whose name C. In the name of Iesus Christ M. After what manner C. As Christ taught his disciples M. What be the words C. Our Father c. M. How many Petitions bee there in this Prayer C. Six M. How bee they diuided C. The first three for the glorie of God the second for our commoditie of bodie and soule M. What bee the first words C. Our Father which art in heauen M. What is meant by this C. It is a Preface to breede reuerence before prayer M. Why is this title our and not my C. I pray for my brethren as for my selfe M. VVhy doe you call God father C. Hee is so to vs in Christ Iesus M. Why doe you place him in Heauen C. It is the seat of his Maiestie M. What is the first Petition C. Hallowed bee thy name M. How is his name hallowed C. When wee know him in vnderstanding and in practice M. What is the second petition C. Thy Kingdome come M. What is meant by this C. The kingdome of grace and of glory M. What is the third petition C. Thy will be done in earth c. M. What doe you pray for here C. VVilling obedience and contentation M. What is the fourth petition C. Giue vs this day our dayly bread M. What doe you aske in this Petition C. All things necessary for this present life M. What is the fift Petition C. Forgiue vs our trespasses M. What is the forgiuenes of sinne C. Iustification by Christ M. What meaneth as wee forgiue c C. It is our comfort if we feele our readinesse to forgiue others M. What is the sixt Petition C. Lead vs not into temptation M. What do you desire in this C. To bee kept from those that lead to sinne M. VVhy is it added for thine is thy kingdome power c C. To shew vs that all praise is to be giuen to God at all times Amen Wee trust it shall be so FINIS COMFORTAble and fruitfull Meditations on the Lords Prayer LONDON Printed by H. L. for T. M. and Ionas Man and are to be sold at the signe of the Talbot in Pater noster Rowe 1611. Meditations vpon the Lords Prayer O My God I come vnto thee as to the cōmon Father of all the world euen vnto thee doe I make my supplication who in the creation and preseruation of all thy works hast manifested thy more then fatherly loue and affection I come to thee as to my true and gracious Father which hast not onely giuen me my being life and motion as thou diddest to other creatures but powred out thy spirit vpon me and lightened my soule with the heauenly rayes of thy diuinity I come vnto thee my God beeing regenerate and incorporated into thy family by thy free grace and boundless bounty I come hauing appeased the anger of my Father by the satisfaction of my Redeemer I come because it hath pleased thee to call mee and to spread out thy gracious armes ready to receiue me Receiue me then not in the austeritie of a iust Iudge but in the tender compassion of a mercifull Father And accept this my humble prayer which my heart hath conceiued my lippes disclose and my voice doth send vp to the fauourable eares of my heauenly Father And since it is thy good pleasure O Lord that I thus cal vpon thee Grant O grāt I beseech thee gracious God that it may reach euen vnto thee which art in heauen I know assuredly that thy throne is in the highest heauens that the Sunne the Moone and the stars are vnder thy feet that the earth is but a point to thee and I the least part of the earth yea lesse then nothing VVho then hath made mee so hardy as to dare to lift vp mine eyes to thy most glorious Maiestie It is euen thou my God who hast set thy selfe so high to behold all the workes of thine hands to supply all our wants and dayly to distill downe thy grace into our hearts as a most sweet morning deaw It is thou who hast said Aske and yee shall receiue Call vpon mee and I will heare thee But how can I call vpon thee vnlesse I put my confidence in thee and take fast hold of thy promises by a firme and fast faith O then infuse it into my soule and engraft it in my heart for it is a gift that commeth from the store-house of thy grace And as sometimes thou didst cause the mouthes of babes and sucklings to resound thy praise so at this time gouerne the Infancy and strengthen the weakenes of my hart that it may send out that prayer which is acceptable in thy sight And that it may appeare that the prayer of my lips proceedeth from the meditation of my heart and that notwithstanding the heauie masse of my sinfull flesh doth oppresse my spirit yet vnder that burthen it doth breath fotth thy honour and praise The first request which I make vnto thee is that thy name may be sanctified or rather that thy Name may so sanctifie mee as that I may be able to blesse and magnifie it But which of thy names shall I blesse That wherewith thou hast destroyed and confounded all the enemies of thy people or that wherewith thou hast blessed all the Nations of the earth Wilt thou bee praised as Lord of Hostes the God of power or as the Sauiour and Redeemer of the world Shall I declare how thou hast made all things of nothing how thou hast spangled the heauens with starres adorned the earth with fruits and flowers watered it with rivers and filled it with liuing creatures yea and aboue all hast created man
thee 10 My heart panteth my strength faileth me and the sight of my eies is gone from me 11 My louers and my neighbors did stand looking vpon my trouble and my kinsmen stood a far off 12 They also that sought after my life laide snares for me they that went about to do me euill talked of wickednes and imagiced deceit all the day long 13 As for mee I was like a deafe man and heard not and as one that is dumb that doth not open his mouth 14 And I am as a man that heareth not and in whose mouthe are found no reproofs 15 For in thee O Lord haue I put my trust Thou shalt answere for for me O Lord my God 16 I haue required that they euen mine enemies shuld not triumph ouer me for when my feet slipt they reioiced greatly against me 17 And surely I am set in the plague and my heauinesse is euer in my sight 18 For I will confesse my wickednesse and be sorry for my sinne 19 But my enemies liue and are mighty they that hate mee wrongfully are many in number 20 They also that reward euill for good are against me because I follow the thing that is good 21 Forsake me not O Lord my God be not thou far froÌ„ me 22 Hast thee to help me O Lord God of my saluation 1 Haue mercie vpon mee O Lord after thy great goodnes according to the multitude of thy mercie doe away my offences 2 Wash me thorowly from my wickednes and cleanse me from my sinne 3 For I acknowledge my fault and my sin is euer before me 4 Against thee onely haue I sinned and done this euill in thy sight that thou mightest be iustified in thy saying and cleare when thou art iudged 5 Behold I was shapen in wickednes and in sinne my mother coÌ„ceiued me 6 But loe thou requirest truth in the inward parts and shalt make mee vnderstand wisedome secretly 7 Thou shalt purge me with hysop and I shall be cleane thou shalt wash me and I shall be whiter then snow 8 Thou shalt make me heare of ioy and gladnes that the bones which thou hast broken may reioice 9 Turne thy face from my sinnes and blotte out all my misdeedes 10 Make me a cleane hart O God and renew a right spirit within me 11 Cast mee not away from thy presence and take not thy holy spirit from me 12 O giue me the comfort of thy help again and establish mee with thy free spirit 13 Then shall I teach thy wayes vnto the wicked and sinners shall bee conuerted vnto thee 14 Deliuer me froÌ„ bloud-thirstiness O God thou that art the God of my health and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousnes 15 Thou shalt open my lippes O Lord and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise 16 For thou desirest no sacrifice else would I giue it thee but thou delightest not in burnt offerings 17 The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit and a contrite heart O Lord shalt thou not despise 18 O be fauourable and gracious vnto Sion build thou the wals of Ierusalem 19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousnes with the burnt offerings and oblations then shall they offer yong bullockes vpon thy aultar 1 Heare my prayer O Lord and let my crying come vnto thee 2 Hide not thy face from me in the time of trouble Incline thine eares vnto mee when I call O hear me and that right soone 3 For my dayes are consumed away like a smoake my bones are burnt vp as it were with a firebrand 4 My heart is smitten downe and withered like grasse so that I forget to eate my bread 5 For the voice of my groaning my bones will scarce cleaue to my flesh 6 I am becom like a Pellicane in the wilderness and like an Owle that is in the desert 7 I haue watched and am euen as it were a sparrow that sitteth alone vpon the house toppe 8 Mine enemies reuile me all the day long and they that are mad vpon me are sworne togither against me 9 For I haue eaten ashes as it were bread and mingled my drinke with weeping 10 And that because of thine indignation and wrath for thou hast taken me vp and cast mee downe 11 My dayes are gone like a shadow and I am withered like grasse 12 But thou O Lord shalt endure for euer and thy remembrance throughout all generations 13 Thou shalt arise and haue pitie vpon Sion for it is time that thou haue mercy vpon her yea the time is come 14 And why thy seruaÌ„ts think vpon her stones and it pitieth them to see her in the dust 15 The Heathen shall feare thy name O Lord and al the kings of the earth thy maiestie 16 When the Lord shall build vp Sion and when his glory shall appeare 18 This shall be written for them that come after and the people which shall bee borne shall praise the Lord. 19 For hee hath looked down from his sancturie out of the heauen did the Lord behold the earth 20 That he might hear the mournings of such as be in captiuitie and deliuer the children appointed vnto death 21 That they may declare the name of the Lord in Sion and his worship at Ierusalem 22 When the people are gathered togither the kingdomes also to serue the Lord. 23 He broght downe my strength in my iourney and shortened my dayes 24 But I said O my God take me not away in the midst of my age as for thy yeeres they endure throughout all generations 25 Thou Lord in the beginning hast laide the foundation of the earth and the heauens are the workes of thy hands 26 They shall perish but thou shalt endure they shal all waxe olde as doth a garment And as a vesture shalt thou change them and they shal be changed 27 But thou art the same and thy yeares shall not faile 28 The children of thy seruants shall continue and their seed shall stand fast in thy sight 1 Out of the deepe haue I called vnto thee O Lord Lord heare my voice 2 O let thine eares consider well the voice of my complaint 3 If thou Lord wilt be extreme to marke what is don amisse Oh Lord who may abide it 4 For theâ—â— mercy wiâ—â— thee therfore shalt thou be feared 5 I looke for the Lord my soule doth waite for him in his word is my trust 6 My soule flyeth vnto the Lord before the morning watch I say before the morning watch 7 O Israel trust in the Lord for with the Lord there is mercy and with him there is plentious redeÌ„ption 8 And he shal redeeme Israel from all his sins 1 Heare my prayer O Lord and consider my desire hearken vnto me for thy truth and righteousnes sake 2 And enter not into iudgement with thy seruant for in thy sight shall no man liuing bee iustified 3 For the enemie hath persecuted my soule hee hath smitten my life down to the grouÌ„d he hath laid me in the darknes as one that had been long dead 4 Therefore is my spirit vexed within mee and my heart within mee is desolate 5 Yet doe I remember the time past I muse vpon al thy workes yea I exercise my selfe in the workes of thy hands 6 I stretch forth my hand vnto thee my soule gaspeth vnto thee as a thirsty land 7 Heare me O Lord and that soone for my spirit waxeth faint hide not thy face from mee least I be like them that goe downe into the pit 8 O let me heare of thy louing kindnes betimes in the morning for in thee is my trust shew me then the way that I should walk in for I lift vp my soule vnto thee 9 Deliuer me O Lord from my enemies for I flye vnto thee to hide me 10 Teach mee to doe the thing that pleaseth thee for thou art my God let thy louing spirit leade me forth into the land of righteousnes 11 Quicken me O Lord for thy name sake and for thy righteousnes sake bring my soule out of trouble 12 And of thy goodnes slay mine enemies and destroy all them that vexe my soule for I am thy seruant
world Wherin then shall I receiue comfort O my God In my selfe Alas there is no health in any part of my body the marrowe is consumed in my bones there is no rest in my bodie euerie part reproacheth mee with my sinne and suffereth the paine thereof I pine away with griefe and heauinesse and no man comforteth me my eyes serue me onely to see my misery and my soule hath no vnderstanding or knowledge but only of my wretchednes I cast mine eyes on euerie side and I see my sinnes begirt me round about and I am ready to faint and sink down vnder the burden of mine iniquities they are mounted aloft vpon my head and are heauier then I can beare How shall I resist them What strength haue I to defend my selfe seeing all my bones are out of ioint The filth of my sores runneth the stench and corruption of my wounds and vlcers is grieuous and if my body be ill is my soule any better Is not shee also full of confusion fearfulnes and trembling Maladie hath worn away my body and brought it to the doore of death and heauiness hath oppressed my soule and disrobed her of her Vertue And as the young and tender budde of the Vine is congealed into sheer-wool by the sharpe cold and fadeth away so the finger of the Lord which hath touched my soule maketh her to languish faint and lose her courage But alas O my God what courage can I expect to haue when I see my self so full of sores and no part of my bodie is exempt from paine and which is farre beyond this miserie the memorie of my deceitfull Pleasures representeth it selfe vnto me and casteth mee in the teeth with my vices and mocketh me for my vanitie I say vnto my selfe did I therfore prolong my dayes in the honny of so many delights that I might after wash away all with the gall of bitter anguish Where art thou now O deceitful pleasure which hast made my soule drunke with the sweet liquor of thy delights how hast thou now forsaken me Haue I not yet suffered inough O Lord hath not my humilitie yet sufficiently chastened mine arrogance I haue sinned through sottish corruption alas since that I haue cast my selfe downe vpon the earth I haue couered my head with ashes I haue clouen my heart with cryes I haue dimmd my eyes with teares and yet thine anger ceaseth not Is it possible O Lord that thou hast not seene my teares Thou who with the very turne of thine eye doest trauerse heauen and earth Thou whose sight pierceth the very bottom of our hearts Thou Lord knowest my thoughts and vnderstandest my cogitations What is it that I desire but thy mercie In what doe I hope but in thy bountie Wherefore haue I mourned and made open profession of my repentance but to condemne my selfe And if my tongue hath not sufficiently expressed my minde and is not able to vtter what I desire Thou O Lord knowest what wee would before we can think it It is inough that we lift vp our heart vnto thee and thou wilt presently grant what we desire But wherefore delayest thou O Lord to giue thy blessed consolation which thou hast promised mee Alas I am not able to hold out any longer my heart faileth mee my senses are troubled my sight is waxed dimme my flitting soule is euen readie to leaue my bodie All my friends about me do bewaile my death they haue giuen ouer all hope of my health all their care is for my exequies and say amongst themselues where is the help that he expected from his God where is that fauour whereof hee made himself so sure They that priuily haue laide wait for my life are come about me they haue thought of parting my spoile among them so hatefull am I become to the world since thou hast deiected mee They whispered among themselues and haue imagined a thousand wayes to doe mee mischiefe they haue daily laide snares to entrappe me Hee is said they vpon his death-bed he shall neuer rise vp again wherefore should we feare him who is now but as the shadowe of a man As for me I was as deafe as a man that heareth not and as one that is dumbe I answered them not my patience was my buckler and constancie my bulwarke Euery one that saw my patience in aduersity said that I was dumb because when they reproached I answered not he hath said they put vp all indignities if there remained in him any sense of honour how could he shew such little courage wee may well iudge him to be guiltie for innocencie is alwaies hardy and resolute in her owne defence but notwithstanding all this I held my peace For why my hope is in God and I am verely perswaded that hee will assist me Though all the world band themselues against mee though heauen and earth conspire my ruine yet through the help of my God I shall still be the vanquisher With the breath of his mouth hath he created all things and with the same breath he can destroy whatsoeuer it pleaseth him I will fight vnder his banner and so I shall be certain of victorie I haue oft said vnto them Reioyce not at my harme and insult not ouer mee when I am afflicted tormented for the hand of the Lord is not so short but it may stretch vnto you also and presume not too much vpon his long suffering for as his feete are of wool so his arme is of iron if hee once stretch it ouer your heads O ye impenitent soules hee vvill breake you in peeces like a potters vessell and the very remembraunce of you shall be rooted out As for me I haue taken the rodde in mine hand and haue made the print of my condemnation for my sinne on my shoulders I haue appeared in thy presence O Lord with teares in mine eyes repentance in my mouth and warre in my heart I haue beaten downe my selfe for feare least mine enemie shoulde triumph ouer me I haue openly confessed my fault I haue acknowledged my sin in an acceptable time I haue bin carefull to runne vnto thee for mercie whilst thou wast to be found But the more I humble my selfe before thee to taste of the liuing water of this fountaine of grace which distilleth from thy bountie the more mine enemies encrease and they that would deuoure mee guiltlesse are mighty They gather themselues on euerie side little foreseeing the tempest that will scatter and disperse them They kindle through their pride the coales of thine ire they despite thy power which they shall too too soone proue to their vtter ruine and destruction In a word caring for nothing in heauen or earth they wallow in their filthy pleasures and as much as in them lyeth deface that stampe of divinitie which thou hast imprinted printed in their soul shut their eyes against the hope of
sunne riseth higher and higher ouer it vntill it appeare but as a point so as soone as thine anger was risen ouer me O Lord my life my goods and my greatnesse did by little vanish turne to nought so that now behold I am but as the haye spread vpon the ground without grace and without colour they bind it vp in bottles to feede their sheep and al those glorious flowers which before were so sweet fragrant are now bound vp togither with the thistle and hemlocke But what shal I therfore giue ouer all hope Not so my God for thy might is immense and shall neuer decay Thy mercy is infinite shall extend ouer all those that trust in thee One age succeedeth another but the memorial of thy louing kindness shall endure for euer One generation goeth and another generation succeedeth and all shall recount thy praise and magnifie thy goodnes Thou shalt at length arise O Lord and be mercifull vnto Sion for the time approacheth Behold I see it at hand The Riuers doe not sēd so much water into the wide bosome of the Ocean as thy bountie will showre bounty and graces vpon the face of this land Open your hearts O yee people open your hearts wide for the liberall hand of my God will fill you with a holy zeale vvhich shall purifie you and make you as faire beaten gold For the edifice of Sion O Lord is the refuge for thy seruants this is it they loue so well this is it they desire so ardently this is it where they waite for thy mercie this is the temple O Lord which thou wilt destroy in three daies and in three daies build againe to be the mansion of life eternall the seate of saluation the store-house of grace the temple of eternitie Then my God shall the nations stand amazed and the kings of the earth shall tremble at the brightnes of thy glorie What corner of the earth shall bee so secret but that thither also shall spread the fruit of thy blessed comming What people shall there bee so remote from the sunne so confined in darknes which shall not open their eyes to behold the glorious lustre of saluation which shall shine vnto them The heauen shall encrease the number of his lampes to giue light at thy glorious entrance into the world and kings shall come from far to doe homage to the King of Kings and Lord of heauen and earth For hee hath exalted his throane in Sion with great and magnificent preparation there shall men see him enuironed with glory and obscuring the Sun Moon with the brightness of his countenance But wherfore hast thou O Lord so highly exalted the throne of thy glory Is it to this end that thou mightest contemne the humble prayers of thy faith full seruants and to neglect all the world which is nothing in comparison to thy greatness Ah nay my Lord. Thou hast therefore set thy self in a place so eminent to the end that all the inhabitants of the earth might see acknowledge thee to bee their God and to run to thee for grace and mercy for thou art euer ready prest to incline to the humble call of thy seruants and neuer disdainest their pitifull request Look now vpon them al arraignd like poore prisoners condemned to the chaine who attend the view of some King to bee by him deliuered at the day of his coronation Euen so deliuer these O Lord who are sold vnder the slauery of sinne and at the turne of thine eye all their irons shall fall from them Then shall they be heard to chaunt out the song of glory to the victorious king their voice shall bee heard throughout all the parts of the earth and the memoriall of thy singular bounty and infinite mercy shall bee engrauen in mens harts to remain from generation to generation to all posteritie The Earth shall melt away the waters shall be dried vp the aire shal vanish the heauens shall passe away and be no more but the memoriall of thine aboundant kindnes O eternall God shall endure for euer Thou art the euerlasting God who hast daind to cast down thine eyes from heauen to behold the neathermost parts of the Earth to take notice of their torments who lye fast bound in the depth who hast heard their groanings and immediately runne to their succour to vnbinde and set at liberty these poore prisoners and their whole posteritie Death hath vanquished them by the strength of sin and had shutte them vp in darke dungeons but the Lord of life hath conquered death and hath giuen full deliuerance That so they might declare thy praise O Lord in Sion and proclaim thy clemencie in Hierusalem But though euery one of them had an hundred tongues though their voice were as strong as thunder yet would they not bee able to reach vnto the greatness of thy glory though all the parts of the world conspire in one to represent in their motions some part of thy might and infinite bounty yet can they reach no further for these are depths and the depths of depths which haue no bottom nor bound and which wee are not able to see but a far off Let it then suffice O my God that thy people assembled revnited both in body and minde doe vvith humble deuotion offer vp vnto thee the wil they haue to honour thee for the effect is not able to approach to that which to thee is due Let it be acceptable in thy sight O Lord that the kings of the earth doe prostrate themselues at thy feet and do tender that homage and seruice which is due to thee as to their soueraigne Lord. They shall lay down their scepters on the earth and their crownes at their feet and shall present an innocent conscience as a sacrifice of an humble deuotion I will bee the first O my God that wil prostrate my self before thee to worship and serue thee with my whole heart On thee onely will I fixe my thoughts to thee will I consecrate my spirit Quicken it O Lord that beeing purified with the sacred ardour of thy loue it may as a most pure mirrour receiue in it the image of thy incomprehensible beauty and perfection and may feele in it selfe the reflexion of thy sincere amitie vntill thy infinite beautie shall associate it vnto the number of thine elect to be with them coheir of euerlasting life Now my God doe I feele that thou hast enlightened my soule with thy grace and haue first felt the fauor which thou wilt bestowe vpon the sons of men My spirit hath already seen a far off how thou wilt come to redeeme the world but it feareth it shall dye before thy comming and this is the cause why it hath cried vnto thee saying Tell me O Lord what shall be thee course of mine age when thou wilt ende my dayes Cut not off the thread of my life O
Lord at the first or second turne of the spindle and take mee not away in the middle of my course Let me liue O my God vntill the time come wherein thou shalt open the treasures of thy graces to bestowe among men the largesse of saluation or at least if thou hast so determined of mine ende that my life may not continue till then remember my posteritie and let him spring of my race that by his comming shall redeeme and sanctifie the earth I know O Lord that thou hast from the beginning fashioned the heauen and the earth and whatsoeuer is good and excellent in the world is the worke of thine hands But all the vniuersal shall wax old as doth a garment they vanish away and shall be no more to be found it hath been created and it shall bee dissolued it hath had a beginning and must haue an ende But thou O Lord art from euerlasting and thou shalt continue the same for euer Time and continuance which consume all things doe onely serue to confirme thy being and to publish thy diuinitie and men do liue vpon the earth that they may contemplate on the one side thine incomprehensible greatnesse and on the other side their owne infirmitie Man goeth from place to place the same land doth change her inhabitants one driueth out another and all is renewed in a moment but thou my GOD art yesterday and to day and the same for euer Euery province of the earth can reckon vp great numbers of Kings which haue raigned one after another but the the heauen and the earth doe continually sing that thou hast euer been God alone alwaies admirable alone and that thy goings out and thy commings in haue euer beene vvithout change Now O Lord when I shall depart hence I doe verely beleeue that I shal taste of that sweet fruit which shall heale vs of this contagious maladie which hath been deriued from our first Parents for eating the forbidden fruit of death and sinne For our children shal come after vs and thou O Lord shalt continue our posteritie vntill wee shall come to appeare togither before thy face not to receiue a rigorous doome but by the merit and intercession of thy beloued Son to enter into that inheritance of euerlasting blessednesse which shall be giuen to all thy faithfull by the adoption of the sonnes in the family of thy seruant Dauid Psalme 130. De profundis OVt of the deepe bottome of the depth I cryed vnto thee my God lost couered in the fearefull cauernes of the earth I called vppon thy name Hearken vnto my voice giue eare vnto my prayer For all hope of succour was gone I looked about mee and behold nothing but horrour and fearfulness yet haue I not lost courage but waited for that which thou hast promised to all those who liue in feare of thy name and are obedient to thy commandements Bow down then O Lord a fauourable eare to my complaint If sinne haue interposed it selfe betweene thee and me to exasperate thee against mine offences and to mooue thee against my prayer which I make vnto thee driue it out of the sight of thine eye of mercie or rather O Lord close for a while thine eye of iustice vntil the eare of thy clemencie haue receiued my confession the humble request which I make vnto thee For I come not to stand vppon mine owne iustification but vpon thy gentleness and bounty If thou shouldst keepe a register of our faults and cal vs to a strict account for them who could endure O Lord the rigour of thy iudgement What day is there of my whole life that deserueth not a whole age of torments Thou mightest bring vpon mee all the punishments of hell and yet the greater part of my sinnes remain vnpunished But thou art ready to receiue to mercie the sinner that commeth to thee with confession in the mouth and contrition in the heart No sooner hath he looked toward thy mercie but he feeleth it work in him breaking and dissoluing sinne which had frozen his heart with feare and amazement The punishment vvhich hangeth ouer his head departeth farre from him carying away with it this miserable carefulnes which is a hel to the coÌ„sciences contaminated with iniquitie For this cause O Lord would I neuer vtterly forsake thy lawe but haue alwaies attended when it would please thee to bee gracious vnto me For hee that is ill aduised and desperate in his sin and abandoneth his soule as past recouerie doth like to the abhominable vsurer who because he hath suffered some losse of goods goes and hangs himselfe My soule hath not done so for euen then when she felt thine hand heauie vpon me exacting part of the punishment which my faults had merited yet did shee still hold fast the hope in thy promises When the stripes vvere multiplyed vpon my back I cryed vnto thee O Lord Thy wil be done only giue me as much strength as affliction Measure my paine according to my vigour and if thou encrease my â—orment augment my couâ—age and so hast thou dealt with me O Lord. Let all true Israelites therfore both day night but their coÌ„fidence in God â—ook vpon him and to him â—lone for all their succour â—or his succour is readie â—nd neuer faileth those that with integritie of conscience and puritie of wil call vpon him Though their trouble be great terrible as soone as the Lord doth incline his eare to their cry so soone shall they finde themselues deliuered For he aboundeth with mercie and neuer faileth to succor those who make their recourse to him Insomuch that his bountie taketh away all the sorrow that we had for beeing sinners and makes vs as it were reioice that we had fallen as at the cause for which wee haue had such trial of his mercy for if our faults surmount measure his grace exceedeth all imagination Wee haue deserued a long and hard captiuitie but loe he hath deliuered vs and set vs at most sweet libertie wee haue blinded the eyes of our vnderstanding and lo â—ee commeth to illighten â—s O Israel ye haue sinned against the Lord yee haue made a mocke at his lawe and sported your selues in â—he breach of his commandements and forgotten his â—ounty so plentifully powâ—ed vpon you He hath freed thee from miserable bondage he hath â—ed thee with bread from â—eauen hee hath made â—â—reames to gush out of the â—ard rocke to giue thee drinke he hath giuen thee the most delicious garden of the earth for thine habitation he hath made a couenant with thee made thee know his will But ye haue conspired against his honour gone a whoring after strange Gods and troden his lawe vnder your feet in a word ye haue merited all the punishments of hell and yet still doth he offer himselfe most graciously vnto thee he will redeeme thee with the price of his
THE MOTHER AND the Child A short Catechisme or briefe summe of Religion gathered out of Mr. Cragges Catechisme for the fitting of little Children for the publick Ministery With short very comfortable and fruitfull Meditations on the Lords Prayer Together with other briefe and profitable Meditations on the seuen penitentiall Psalmes London printed by H. L. for T. M. Ionas Man and are to be sold at the signe of the Talbot in Pater-noster Rowe 1611. A Short Catechisme Mother WHo made you Child God M. VVhy did God make you C. To serue him M. How will God be serued C. According to his word M. VVhere is that word written C. In the old and new Testament M. VVhat is the olde Testament C. The Law of God M. VVhat is the Law of God C. To loue God and my neighbour M. VVhat doth the Law shew vs C. Condemnation M. VVhether doth the lawe lead vs C. To Iesus Christ our Sauiour M. VVhat is the new Testament C. The Gospell of Christ M. What is the Gospell of Christ C. The power of God to saluation M. To whom C. To them that doe beleeue M. In whom do you beleeue C. I beleeue in God the Father c. M. Why doe you say I beleeue and not wee beleeue C. Euery one must bee saued by his owne faith M. Why doe you call God Father C. Hee is so to vs in Christ Iesus M. Why doe you call God Almightie C. Because he rules all things M. Why is this added maker of heauen and earth C. Because we should seeke God in his creatures M. Why should we seeke God in his creatures C. Wee cannot comprehend his diuine Maiesty otherwise M. Why do you beleeue in Iesus Christ C. Because hee is God M. VVhy is he called Iesus C. Because he saueth vs from our sinnes M. Why is hee called Christ C. Because hee is our King Priest and Prophet M. VVhy is he our King C. Because he ruleth vs. M. VVhy our Priest Because hee prayeth for vs. M. VVhy our Prophet C. Because he teacheth vs. M. VVhat gather yee of this C. Whom hee doth not rule and teach hee will not pray for them M. Why is he called Gods onely Sonne C. He is so by nature and we by grace M. VVhy was he conceiued by the holy Ghost C. Because hee should be without sinne and so sanctifie vs. M. Why was he borne of the Virgin Mary C. To shew that hee was a very man M. VVhy did hee suffer death C. To deliuer vs from death M. VVhat was Pontius Pilate C. A wicked Iudge M. VVhy was he crucified on the Crosse C. Because that death was accursed of God M Why was he buried in a new graue C. To shew that hee rose againe by his own power M. Why did he rise againe C. For our Iustification M VVhy did he descend into hell in his soule to the place of the damned C. To deliuer vs from thence M. VVhy did he ascend into heauen C. To take possession for vs and to make intercession for vs. M. VVhat is meant by sitting at the right hand of God C. That all power is giuen him in heauen and earth M. Hath God a right hand C. No but it s spoken for our capacitie M. VVhat is it to vs that Christ shall come to iudge C. Great comfort M. Why C. Because our Sauior shal be our Iudge M. What meane you by the quick and the dead C. Them that bee aliue then and them that bee dead before M. Why doe you beleeue in the holy Ghost C. Because hee is God M. Be there three Gods C. No one God and three persons M. Which be they C. The Father Son and holy Ghost M. What is the Church C. A company of elect people appointed of God to bee saued M. How many markes hath it C Three preaching of the word ministring of the Sacraments and discipline M. What is preaching C. A solemne declaration and true interpretation of the worde of GOD by doctrine to beget faith and increase it M. What is a Sacrament C. A publicke action ordained of God being a visible signe signifying Christ to bee vsed of his Church for the strengthening of faith till Christ come againe M. How many Sacraments be there C. Two Baptisme and the Lords Supper M. What is Baptisme C. The first Sacrament of the new Testament that sealeth vnto vs by the washing of water the forgiuenes of sins by the bloud of Christ M. What is the Lords Supper C The second Sacrament of the newe Testament that sealeth vnto vs by receiuing bread and wine the partaking with Christ and his benefits M. Who must receiue this Sacrament C. They that can examine themselues M. Who must deliuer the Sacraments C. They that haue authority to preach the word M. Which of the Sacraments haue ye receiued C. Baptisme M. Why receiue yee not the Lords Supper C. Because wee bee children and ignorant and cannot discerne the Lords body M. What is discipline C. Orders in the Church agreeable with the word M. How long must these Orders continue C. Till Iesus Christ come againe M. What if any be not of the Church C. They that be not of the communion of Saints cannot haue the forgiuenesse of sins M. What is the forgiuenes of sinnes C. Iustification peace of conscience ioy in the holy Ghost and deliuerance from the wrath to come M. Doe ye beleeue that your bodies shall rise againe C. Yea but of another qualitie M. What reason haue ye for it C. It is a matter of faith and not of reason M. What haue yee to strengthen your faith C. The almightinesse of God and the likenes of Christ M. What learne you by this C. That God beeing Almightie can doe things impossible M. What more C. That Christ died and rose againe and so shall we M. Shall not the wicked also rise againe C. Yes but to euerlasting paine as the godly to euerlasting ioy M. Doe yee beleeue all these articles of our Creed C. Yea and the Lord strengthen my weake beliefe Commandements M. What is the Law of God C. To loue God and my neighbour M. Of how many commandements doth the law consist C. Of ten M. How bee they diuided C. Into two tables M. How many are in the first table C. Foure which shew our dutie to God M How many in the â—â—cond table C. Six which shew our dutie to our neighbour M. Which is the first commandement C. Thou shalt haue no other Gods c. M. What is the breach of this commandement C. Atheisme Papisme Ignorance and Infidelitie M. What is the second commandement C. Thou shalt not make to thy selfe c. M. What is the breach 〈◊〉 C. To worship God according to mens inuentions M. What is the third commandement C. Thou shalt not take the name c. M. What is the breach of this commandement C. Vaine swearing and a wicked conuersation M. What is the fourth commandement C.
formed him after thine owne Image Or shall I speak only of this incredible loue wherby thou hast giuen-ouer vnto death thine only Sonne that we might bee restored to euerlasting life My spirits O Lord are too faint for so great an enterprise and my breath would faile before I could recount the least part of them Let it therefore suffice that I sanctifie thy name in an humble and chast thought and that my minde may euer be fast fixed in the meditation of thy goodnes forasmuch as it hath pleased thee at all times to bee so good and gracious to mee So that I and all those whom thou hast placed in this world as in the midst of a rich and glorious Temple to behold and admire thy diuine Maiestie may wholly apply all our faculties and vnderstanding to the apprehending of thy will That so beeing all of vs re-vnited and linked in one and the selfe-same desire to serue thee thy Kingdome may come that wee hauing cast off the yoake of sin which hath so long held vs in thraldome thy loue alone may rule in our consciences full of happiness and true felicitie For to obey thee is to commaund our disordinate affections to commaund them is to be Maisters of our selues and to bee Maisters of our selues is more then soueraigne principalitie A sweet thing it is to serue thee O my God thy yoake is easie and al the tribute thou exactest of vs is onely that wee will be willing to be made happie Confirme and strengthen in vs this will and graciously assist the zeale of thy seruants to the beating downe and repressing of their insolence who blaspheame thy sacred Maiestie to the ende that thy Law and truth may raigne ouer all the world O thou King of Kings who rulest in our hearts and in our humilitie obedience doest establish thine Empire subdue our wils vnto thy law that so whilest all of vs with one accord shall aime at the same marke aspire to the aduancement of thy glorie our good workes may testifie the discipline of our heauenly King to whom as his deuoted subiects wee render homage and fealtie for those manifold and great gifts and graces which wee hold of his bountie But what obeisance can wee render thee How can wee attaine to that height of perfection as is due vnto thee who is able to sound the depth of thy thoughts or who is able to fulfill thy will All wee can doe is but to pray vnto thee that thy will may bee done For seeing that thou art euen goodnes it selfe and therefore wilt nothing but what is good and that with thee to will and to doe is all one wee doe in this Prayer whollie commit our selues to thy will who art neuer wanting to will vs well and to do whatsoeuer thou in thy goodnes knowest to be expedient for vs. Whatsoeuer thou hast vvilled O Lord hath been done and from this thy good wil and pleasure as from an euer-flowing fountaine are deriued so many good things as the whole Globe of the earth is filled and the immense circle of the heauens is beautified therewith Continue then this thy goodnes vnto vs and forasmuch as thy loue is as fire which augmenteth where it meeteth with combustible matter and that it encreaseth in wel-doing to vs euen to vs poore miserable wretches in whose misery and infirmitie it may finde matter enough to worke vpon when I pray to thee my God that thy will may bee done the intent of my prayer is that it may please thee to roote out of mine hart all worldly wil which springing from the corruption of the flesh is no waies compatible with the law of the spirit That thou wilt neuer giue me the raines to liue at mine owne pleasure and seeing that thou hast vouchsafed to honour me with so high a title as to be stiled thy sonne thou wilt not emancipate or giue me ouer to mine affections but keepe me vnder the rodde of thy lawe vnder the tutelage of thy Commandements So shall I togither with all those that haue vowed alleageance and are thy faithfull seruants readily and cheerefully betake our selues to thy seruice and during our abode in this life striue to set forth thy glorie here on earth which is sounded without ceasing by that heauenlie quire of blessed Saints and Angels in thy holie and heauenly habitation But such is the frailetie of our mortall bodies daily fading and falling away that without dayly repairing and sustenance they make vs vnapt to serue thee wee therefore make our daily recourse vnto thee for such things as are necessarie to the maintenance of our life beseeching thee to giue vs our daily bread But giue vs withall O God grace so to vse it and all other good gifts that in nourishing our bodies wee starue not our soules and make them vnable to attaine to the knowledge of thy truth That togither with thy bountie receiuing also thy benediction we settle not our affections vpon worldly and transitorie things so passing through things temporall that wee finally lose not the eternall Let not the taste of this earthly bread make vs to forget that heauenly Manna that bread of life which nourisheth and cherisheth our feeble soules filleth our mouthes with heauenlie plenty and maketh vs the liuing Temples of our God by receiuing him into our bodies through a stedfast and liuely faith Grant vnto vs my God that by receiuing this bread our hearts consciences may bee fullie assured that wee are incorporate with our Redeemer and become fellow-members of our head Christ Iesus and that as hee taking vpon him our flesh did vndergoe our death so wee clad and inuested with his may bee made partakers of his immortalitie And since it hath pleased thee to make vs the vessels and receptacles of thy diuinitie purifie and cleanse our hearts and renew and rectifie all our affections that there may bee nothing to cause thee retire and leaue vs destitute of thy grace and our saluation But wee cannot bee cleansed vnlesse thou forgiue vs our trespasses and wipe away our iniquities For wee haue beene slaues vnto sinne and death and whatsoeuer wee can call ours belongeth vnto them Neither haue wee so much as one mite toward the paying of our ransome or acquiting our debt Of thee therefore must wee expect forgiuenes who hast once redeemed vs by thy precious bloud and made vs free from Satan our arch enemie but wee daily fall againe into the hands of our enemies by committing millions of sins which bring into slauerie and make vs lyable to grieuous punishment Yet let not this O my God cause thee to shutte vp that treasure from vs whence wee may take the price of our libertie Let not O Lord our obstinacie in back-sliding take away thy constancy in pardoning but let thy mercifull hand be euer ready to reforme vs. For sinne euer since the fall of our first father Adam is as
saluation which shineth vnto them out of thy word I cease not my God to warne them but they render mee euill for good and make a mocke of whatsoeuer I doe to please thee and bee an example to them they traduce and slander mee in the open streets and impose vpon mee a thousand wrongful imputations I confesse O Lord I now beginne to lose patitience But O my God repaire mine infirmitie and forsake me not for else I shall stumble as a little child at the first precipice that shall lye in my way Increase in mee O Lord strēgth courage to ouercom my affliction and keep mee vnder the shadow of thy wings giuing me euermore constancie and perseuerance and bee vnto mee as a tender-hearted mother which can not but tender him her dugges as oft as her babe cries for it Nourish mee then O Lord vvith the milke of thy sacred loue that so encreasing from strength to strength I may bee able to walke night and day in thy pathes which leade vnto that saluation the hope whereof shineth in thy promises that if my sinne present it selfe to stoppe mee in my way I may open the floudgates of mine eyes and neuer shutte them vntill I haue drowned and sunke it with my teares Psalme 51. Miserere mei Deus HAue mercy vpon me my God according to thy great clemencie and for thy boundless mercies sake forgiue me the punishment which I haue iustly deserued For if thou expect vntill my fastings watchings and prayers shal satisfie for my sinne alas Lord when can this bee My trespasse reacheth frō earth vnto heauen and surpasseth in immensitie of greatnes Who then is able to compasse it or bring it down saue only thy sacred mercie which as far surpasseth the measure of our sinnes as the greatness of thy iustice is beyond ours It is thy mercie O Lord which compasseth this vniuerse which holdeth togither the whole frame of this world which otherwise is readie to dissolue and fall vpon our heads to burie through his ruine the memory of our sinnes to destroy from before thy face our ingrate disloyall and felonious race which disclaimeth her birth creation and preseruation all which it holdeth of thy bountie O then let this mercifull bounty which shineth in thy Diuinitie now extend it selfe vnto me not sparingly or niggardly but fully and plentifully As thou didst once cause the waters to passe their bounds and couer the toppes of the highest mountaines to extirpate and sweepe away the wicked inhabitans of the earth so now cast out the torrent of thy mercie vpon mee O Lord not to swallow mee vp but to bathe mee and clense mee from my wickednesse But let it not content thee O Lord once to haue made mee cleane and to say how thou hast regenerated and washed me in the bloud of thy chaste and innocent lamb for thou diddest not make me so white and pure but thou maiest now finde mee as foule and vncleane I haue plunged my selfe into the depth of filth I am so besmeared and so disfigured that thou wilt not acknowledge mee for thine Yea it maketh me demaund sometimes of my selfe vvhether I be hee whom thy hands haue created and my heart is so ful of shame and confusion that it dareth not resolue me O my God thou hast created me of durt clay and behold I am become such as I was before thou spreddest thine hand ouer me I haue despoyled me of my strength and my beauty to reuest my selfe in mire and filth But wherefore O Lord dost thou not forme and fashion mee anew Is thy hand shortned is thy willingness to shewe mercie to thy creature fallen away Oh thou that art Almightie Oh thou that art euen goodnes it selfe wherfore art thou so slack O Lord thine own worke is become obstinate against thee and taketh pleasure in disfiguring and disforming it selfe be thou as obstinate against thy worke to make it faire and perfect in despight of it But O my God I will no longer stand out in mine owne conceit against thee hold and take mee to thee turne me as thou wilt put a new print vpon this clay renew it put a new stampe vpon it for loe it is prest to follow thy will But when thou hast fashioned me anew do not then leaue me to my self O Lord Put thy bridle within my mouth that it may through abstinence allay that gourmandizing which fouleth it through chastitie it may coole the shamelesse heates of lustes which enflame it through humilitie it may beate downe that pride and arrogance which biting enuie hath bred in it that cōpassionate charitie may driue from it hatefull and greedy couetize that a care to serue and worship thee my bee as a spurre alwaies in the sides of lazie and fetarde negligence For otherwise O my God too much haue I proued how I shall bee handled by these troopes of vices which enuiron mee They will deface and throwe downe in such sort thy handie work that when thou shalt come thou shalt finde onely the shells and shiuers all broken and bruised I haue known them too well these are they that haue brought me to that state wherin I now stand and loe they stand in aray round about me reproaching mee and vpbrayding mee with these blottes wherewith they themselues haue defiled mee and making me guilty of those iniuries which they haue done me I haue sinned I confesse O my God I haue sinned loe I offer vnto thee the bottome of my heart take a view of my whole life I haue sinned in the fight of heauen and earth and all the world is witness of my fault But if I had not sinned how could thy mercy be shewed how wouldest thou acquite thee of thy promises of grace which thou hast so long before proclaimed by the mouth of thy holie Prophets When thou shalt come to sit vpon thy eternall throne of iustice who would feare thee if we were all iust But that men may know and acknowledge thy greatness it is meete that when we shal appear before thee wee cast downe our selues humbly vpon our face and cry O sweet Lord we will not stand in our owne defence before thee our fault is too manifest but behold our pardon is in our hand thou thy selfe hast giuen it vs loe it is signed with thy bloud sealed with thy image which for our redemption hath been printed in the infirmitie of our flesh Thinkest thou my GOD that when I shall appear before thee I will put any confidence in mine owne innocencie or dare to iustifie my selfe in thy presence Alas I know Lord I was no sooner borne but I sinned my mother looked to bee deliuered of a childe and loe a lumpe of sinne How much better had it beene if such fruite had prov'd abortiue which shameth the tree that bare it the earth that nourished it and the ayre that breathed vppon it I did nourish my selfe with
sinne when I was yet in my mothers wombe I sucked it in with her milke and lo it is so growen vp with me that it ouer-shadoweth my head and casteth a miste before mine eyes But when I see the eyes of my bodie so seeled with sin which compasseth me I opē the eyes of my soule and begin to discerne a far off the rayes of thine infallible trueth and acknowledge the marueilous secrets of wisedome which thou hast manifested to me Then my soule abandoning the impuritie of my bodie lifteth it selfe to heauen vieweth the circuite thereof and casting her eye vpon the book of life there doth she peruse the treatie of the newe Couenaunt which thou hast made with men and after returning into her miserable bodie doth fill it with hope of ioy promising it assured victorie ouer sinne For shee hath learned in heauen that thou wilt take a branch of odoriferous hysope in thine hand wilt sprinkle vpon me the water of purification thou wilt wash me and I shall be whiter then snow there shal no more sportes of sinnes appeare in me What pure lee shall this bee O Lord which made of the cinders of my sinnes consumed by the fire of thy loue with the water of those teares which my repentance hath distilled from my heart and in the sun of thy grace shall wash away our weeping and shall breede in vs spiritual ioy and in the end shall whiten in the puritie and candor of iustice to make vs hereafter shine as the starres in the firmament Then shall no sound enter into our eares but of that ioifull trumpet of saluation which shall proclaime grace and mercie to all that will receiue them Then shall wee see our carcasses which were consumed with rottenness rise vp out of their beds to be partakers of this vniuersall ioy wherevnto thou hast inuited the vvhole world But that I may appeare before thee in such honourable attire as is befitting such honourable magnificence treade downe O my God all my faults vnder foote burie them in the centre of the earth that no eye may bee able to see them make an euerlasting separation betwixt me and mine iniquitie which at this present I forsake and from whom I vow an irrevocable diuorce Receiue my soule which I offer vnto thee make it pure and cleane renewe in my heart such a spirite as shall conceiue nothing but truth and holiness Make it O Lord God a temple for thy holy spirit to dwell in that henceforth all my thoughts may breath out nothing but the praises of my God that thy will bee alway imprinted in my breast and thy glorie written in my lippes When thou hast so reuested and adorned mee with pietie and integritie then shall I bee assured that nothing can separate mee from thy presence and then as the true eagle looketh right vpon the sunne so will I fixe my eyes vppon the face of thine eternitie and shall beholde in thy maruellous and glorious countenance all the perfections which I am not able now to conceiue O let thy sacred spirite neuer more dislodge from my hart for hee it is which vpon the wings of zealous loue shall carrie me into thy bosome there to make me partaker of thine heauenly ioyes Make me then euermore to taste the sweetnes of this immortall life saue mee speedily from the rockes of this world which on euerie side threaten shippewracke And as the Mariner now comne vnto the hauen crowneth the maste of his shippe with garlands in signe of safetie so crown me my God with the precious giftes of thine holy spirit for pledges of euerlasting blessednesse which thou hast promised mee I say of thy spirit which raigneth among thy faithfull which giueth faith to thine elect loue to thy beloued and hope to them whom thou hast predestinated And so whilst my soule shal abide in this exile waiting when thou shalt call him home I will teach thy wayes vnto the wicked by following which they may please thee and will direct them how to passe through the darknesse of this world without stumbling at such offences as daily offer themselues they shall beleeue mee and so be conuerted vnto thee O father of light they shall receiue thy faith into their hearts and shall walke in thine obedience I know O Lord that some will against my voice stoppe their eares and obstinately persist in their vices they will conspire my death and seeke to drench their barbarous crueltie with my bloud Deliuer me from their hands O God and preserue mee that I may declare thy iustice and pronounce their condemnation I will foretell their wretchednes and they shall feele it yea as soon as I haue made an ende of speaking it thy hand shall smite them and no sooner shal thy hands haue smitten them but they shal be broken like a Potters vessell and come to sodaine destruction Then shalt thou open my lippes and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise declare thy victory the aire shall bee calme the winde shall cease the riuers shall stay their course to hearken to my voice whilst it shall chaunt resound the maruellous actes of the eternall God For thy praise shall euer be the sacrifice which I will offer vnto thee and which shall bee euer acceptable in thy sight I would ere this haue filled thine aultars with the bloud of beasts I would haue slaine a thousand oxen a thousand sheep to thine honour but bloud doth stinke in thy nostrils thou art not pleased with flesh the smoke of such offerings doth but vanish in the ayre and can not ascend vp vnto thee it is the voice alone of a righteous man vvhich findeth passage into heauen and therin is presented vnto thee Oh how acceptable a sacrifice before thee is a hart pierc't with repentance an hart humbled and deiected in the knowledge of its sins neuer shall such a one be reiected For the way to ascend vnto thee is to descēd in our selues to touch the heauens we must fall down grouelling vpon the earth to bee heard of thee wee must bee silent and to bee crowned in thy kingdome wee must suffer paine and affliction in this vvorld These are the sacrifices by which wee must make an attonement to thee and enter into that couenaunt which thou hast appointed And if thou wilt O Lord that we offer oxen and buls that wee make thine aultar fatte with the bloude of beasts if thou wilt that by the death of the innocent holocaust wee shall represent the death and innocencie of him whom thou hast destinied for the redemption of our soules if the figuring of that which is to come in the person of that immaculate lamb bee acceptable in killing of Sheepe and Rammes O then look downe with thy eye of pitie vpon thy poore people comfort thy distressed Sion giue courage to her poore inhabitants that they may repayre the
bloud from the slauerie of sin to which thou hadst of thine own accord bound thy selfe Behold him who himselfe payeth the ransome for those that haue betrayed him vvho taketh vppon himselfe the punishment of our backsliding and the paiment of our forfeit With what words shall we render him thankes Open my lippes my God my Creator my Redeemer that my voice may bee lifted vp in that measure as mine heart is enflamed with a boyling affection to giue thee praise and thankes and to abase my selfe in the knowledge of my self that I may rouse vp my spirits in the knowledge of that sacred mysterie whereby wee are reincorporated with thee and admitted againe to thy couenant to enter into this blessed participation of glorie wherein all those shall triumph who shall be partakers of the merite of the passion of thy welbeloued Sonne the true and onely Sauiour of the world Psalme 143. Domine exaudi O Lord man is weary in the ende of all things the continuance of his course putteth him out of breath too much seeing dimmeth and dazeleth his eyes the clatering sound deafeth his eares but the more I crye unto thee the stronger is my voice my courage increaseth and my prayer is the more pleasing to mee and all because I begin my daily petitions with Lord heare my prayer and giue eare to my supplication for in praying to thee my God consisteth al my comfort This is my prayer O Lord which doth coniure thy clemencie to expiate my sinnes not by the rigour of thy punishment but by the effect of thy grace whereby thou hast abolished cast away from thy soueraigne and powerfull might and maiesty the memory of mine offences Deale not then in iustice with thy seruant neither giue him ouer to the rigour of thy lawe for of all men â—â—uing that shal appeare before the seate of thy iudgement no man shall bee iustified no man shall escape this fearefull condemnation the punishment whereof is horrible and the horrour immortall Alas O Lord who can iustifie himselfe before thee It is thou that art offended it is thou that shalt accuse vs it is thou that hast seene our faults and wilt beare witnesse it is thou that wilt iudge vs. When the accuser shall be witness and the witnesse iudge what shall then become of the guiltie what cause shall serue to cleare him But I will not stand out O Lord to come to this issue I will arme me with thy grace and oppose that as a buckler to thy iustice Thy grace is procured by the acknowledgement of our faults humbling of our spirit Loe I lye prostrate before thy feete confessing my sinne O Lord haue mercie vpon me My sinne O my God the capitall enemie of my soule hath so discomfited and beaten me down that I goe groueling vppon the earth not daring to lift vp mine eyes vnto heauen For as soone as I lift vp mine eyes loe the light shineth vpon mee to bring vnto light all my manifold offences which accuse my conscience And I feele withall shame to couer my face a face vnworthy to looke vp vnto heauen the king whereof it hath so grieuously offended a face too cowardly to cast vp his eyes to those places where are so many thunders and lightning prepared for the destruction of guiltie sinners My spirit then hath led me into the darknesse and hath buried mee in the graue as one that is dead My soule within mee is heauie my heart is troubled euen like him vvho walking loftie with hye bent lookes falleth vnawares into the bottome of some pitte presently his soule is troubled he loseth his vnderstanding he vexeth and tormenteth himselfe he knoweth neither what to will or what to do vntill his spirits returning vnto him he beginneth to consider his estate and the place wherein hee is and the manner of his fall then hee beginneth by little and little to regaine the toppe and with great paine and labour to winde himselfe out of the place into which he so easily fell so I hauing called to minde as much as is possible things past and hauing entred into a profound meditation of the workes of thine hands and hauing exactly considered the perfection of all things which thou hast created then calling to minde the estate wherein thou hast created me and then proposing to my selfe that wherein now I finde my selfe as it were ouerwhelmed vnder the ruine of sinne I curse to my self the houre wherein my mother conceiued me and the day that first opened my eye-liddes to make me see heauen and earth the witnesses of mine infirmitie and in the ende finding nothing in this world that could comfort mee in this distresse I addresse my selfe yet further vnto thee I fall down on my knees before thee and stretch out my hands and armes to thee and my soule thirsting after thy grace doth attend with as great desire as the thirstie and scorched earth doth expect a gracious raine in the heat of summer Help me then and that soone O my GOD for I am alreadie cleane out of breath my heart faileth loe how I fall into a swoun Wilt thou Lord delay till death hath seised on mee I am euen alreadie at Deaths doore if thou make not hast for my senses decay by little and little my soule is as it were in a trance and my body without motion If thou O Lord be farre from mee if thou hide thy face from mee I shall bee like vnto those that goe downe into the depth of Hell Pale death will sit vpon my face and seize on my senses and which is worst spirituall death will slay my soule fill it with fright and horrour and vtterly depriue it of the knowledge of thy singular bountie and the hope of grace which shineth in thy miracles as a glittering starre in the obscure darkness of the night Cause mee then to vnderstand and feele the effects of thy mercy betimes and in the morning vvhen the sunne beginneth to rise vpon the earth let thy mercie also rise vpon me to enlighten mine ignorance and conduct mee in the wayes of thy commandements Yet let it not O Lord bee wholly like the sunne which at the ende of his course goes to plunge himselfe in the sea hiding for a time his light from silly men but let it assist mee perpetually be as indiuidual a guide vnto my soule as is my soule vnto my bodie for the life of my soul doth more strictly depend vpon thy mercy then the life of my bodie doth vpon my soule O then let her neuer forsake mee but let her light alwaies direct my goings in thy wayes that I neuer wander out of that path through which alone I must come vnto thee For otherwise my spirit which is entangled amongst the briers and brambles of this world and wandereth in the thickets were neuer able to finde out the right way but posting along at aduenture might
lose both labour and trauell neuer neere that place where shee desireth to arriue But my hope is alwaies in thine aide and I look for succour from aboue I am held captiue of those that cruelly thirst after my life hasten thee O Lord to my deliuerance to thee I flye for succour O receiue me into thy protection teach mee what I shall doe for to thee alone my God doe I tender my seruice Away away from mee thou deceitfull pleasure which heretofore hast bewitched my soule and poisoned my spirit thou hast fedde me with thy too too pleasing delicates to make me with a little hony swallow down a deadly poison of hemlocke which distilling into all my members hath made them half dead and voide of sense so that now I am little better then a dead man But which is worse not my body alone but euen my soule also the fountain of my life present and to come is benumm'd It is time thē that thy spirit come to rouse vp my dying soule to take her by the hand and leade her into a place of safetie to quicken her and imprint in her the image of thy iustice that that may bee her shield against all temptations which besiege her on euery side and threaten her finall ruine Thou shalt come then and by thy comming drawe my soule out of tribulation receiue mee vnto to mercie and destroy all those that haue conspired against me Then shall my warre be at an ende and theirs beginne yea with such a beginning as shall continue in endlesse griefe and as the riuers running from their fountaine still enlarge themselues vntil they come into the sea so shall their miserie increase from day to day and in the ende plunge them into extreame languor and hopelesse distresse And this shall bee the ende of all those that vexe my soule for I am thy faithfull seruant O Lord and thou wilt not cast me out of thy remembrance but wilt call those to account who in reproach of my GOD haue so shamefully handled mee They laughed at my harme but loe the time is at hand vvhen they shall bewaile their owne Thy vengeance beginneth to flame against them and men shal see them fall away as leaues from the trees at the approaching of vvinter How shall I glorifie thy name O GOD And where shall I beginne to set forth thy praise Shall I declare thy bountie in the creation of so many admirable vvorkes as are vnder the Sunne and thy wisedome in preseruing them Shall I proclaime thy iustice in condemning and taking vengeance of the pride of Angels and disobedience of men Shall I sing of thy mercy in redeeming of those who by forsaking of thy law fell headlong into the slauerie of eternal death To what part of thy praises is the base tune of my voice able to stretch or were my voice sufficient what eares were able to receiue it All things faile mee O Lord in this enterprise saue onely courage and will vvhich filled with a vehement and feruent affection cry out vnto thee as lowde as they can Assist their vveake essayes with thy grace and since the teares of my repentance haue vvashed away the foulenesse of my sinnes vvherewith my spirit vvas ouercharged deiected and pressed downe giue mee henceforth the wings of faith and hope whose swift flight may carrie mee into thy bosome to bee revnited to his first originall that I may neuer hereafter entertaine any other thought then vvhat may tende to the furtherance of thy seruice and the aduancement of thy glorie FINIS Those that will see further of this looke his Maiesties Catechisme made by Mr Craige Our Father Which art in Heauen Hallowed be thy name Thy Kingdom come Thy will be done In earth as it is in heauen Giue vs this day our daily bread Forgiue vs our trespasses As we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. Lead vs not into temptation But deliuer vs from euil O Lord rebuke me not in thine indignation neither chasten me in thy displeasure 2 Haue mercy vpon me O Lord for I am weake O Lord heale me for my bones are vexed 3 My soule is also sore troubled but Lord how long wilt thou punish me 4 Turne thee O Lord and deliuer my soule oh saue me for thy mercies sake 5 For in death no man remembreth thee and who will giue thee thankes in the pit 6 I am wearie of my grouing euery night wash I my bed and water my couch with my teares 7 My beauty is gone for very trouble worn away because of all mine enemies 8 Away from me all ye that worke vanity for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping 9 The Lord hath heard my petition the Lord shall receiue my prayer 10 All mine enemies shal be confounded and sore vexed they shal be turned back and put to shame suddenly Blessed is he whose vnrighteousnes is forgiuen and whose sinne is couered 2 Blessed is the man vnto whom the Lord imputeth no sin and in whose heart there is no guile 3 For while I held my tongue my bones consumed away through my dayly cōplaining 4 For thy hād is heauy vpon me day and night and my moisture is as the drought in summer 5 I will acknowledge my sin vnto thee and mine vnrighteousnes haue I not hid 6 I said I will confesse my sins vnto the Lord and so thou forgauest the wickednes of my sinne 7 For this shal euery one that is godly make his prayer vnto thee in a time when thou maist bee found but in the great water flouds they shall not come nigh him 8 Thou art a place to hide me in thou shalt preserue me from trouble thou shalt compasse me about with songs of deliuerance Be not like Horse and Mule which haue no vnderstanding whose mouthes must be holden with bit bridle least they fall vpon thee 2 Great plagues remaine for the vngodly but who so putteth his trust in the Lord mercy embraceth him on euery side 12 Be glad O ye righteous and reioyce in the Lord and be ioifull all ye that are true of heart Put me not to rebuke O Lord in thine anger neither chasten mee in thy heauy displeasure 2 For thine arrowes sticke fast in mee and thy hand presseth me sore 3 There is no health in my flesh because of thy displeasure neither is there any rest in my bones by reason of my sinne 4 For my wickedness are gone ouer my head and are like a sore burthen too heauie for me to bear 5 Mo woūds stinke and are corrupt through my foolishnes 6 I am broght into so great trouble and misery that I goe mourning all the day long 7 For my loynes are filled with a sore disease and there is no whole part in my body 8 I am feeble and sore smitten I haue rored for the very disquietnes of my hart 9 O Lord thou knowest all my desire and my groaning is not hid from