wee omit and leaue vndone those things which thou commandest vs to doe and commit those things which thou forbiddest And of these some are done Ignorantly others Of our own knowledge Vnwillingly others Wittingly greedily Before our calling others Being called Against God others Against our neighbours and our selues In heart others In word deed By our selues others By others as authors or prouokers Of Commission others Omission Secretly others Of which our heart reprooueth vs. Forgiue them O Lord retaine not the offence exact not the punishment Be reconciled vnto vs By laying aside thy displeasure By receiuing vs to Grace Forgiue Acts 7.60 2. Tim. 4.16 And as thou forgiuest vs. So also forgiue our enemies As we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. Not to prescribe an example to God to imitate vs nor that we merit in forgiuing others but to testifie how great a matter it seemeth to vs to forgiue offences Blessed bee thou O Lord for propounding to vs so easie a condition To forgiue a mite and be forgiuen a Talent Oh happy exchange to receiue gold for drosse Herein O Lord thou dealest wonderfully and mercifully with vs that we daily praying thus are daily to forgiue and to be forgiuen And thou dost binde vs by this condition of mutuall forgiuenes For he that forgiueth not doth pray against himselfe and in effect doth pray thus Lord forgiue not me for I doe not forgiue Graunt vs therefore grace to follow thy Example fully and freely to forgiue the offence and not retaine the punishment or any malice against those whom we seeme to forgiue As we Not so much in quantitie but the like in qualitie For wee forgiue imperfectly thou absolutely and perfectly And lead vs not into temptation There are two sorts of Tentation 1. Of Triall 2. Of Deceit or Seducing 1. That of Tryall is when God doth any thing to proue the constancy and affections of his Seruants and this is good As of a Gen. 22.1 Abraham of b Iob 1. Iob of his c Exo. 15.25.16.4.20.20 people 2. That of seducing is when we are tempted by the Deuill his ministers or our owne flesh Deut. 8.2.16.13.3 to forsake God and his Commandements and this temptation we pray against For what Benefit will redound to vs in forgiuing our old sinnes if wee contract new O Lord not only pardon that which is past but preuent vs from committing the like Let vs not be encouraged to sinne because of thy bounty in blotting out our former offences but rather to Thankefulnesse and care to offend thee no more Deliuer vs from that which is past Subuention Keepe vs frō that which is to come Preuention Let vs not turne with the dog to the vomite or the Sow to the mire 2. Pet. 2.22 It is enough 1. Pet. 4.3 that we haue spent the time past in the workes of the flesh For the enemie is neuer readier or neerer to vs then when the house is cleane swept Mat. 12.44 Therefore the danger being so neere vs giue vs grace to be the more wary of him For behold O Lord hee is at hand to ensnare vs either with his owne Malice the delights of the World or the pleasures of the flesh If he cannot preuaile by faire meanes yet by force to compell vs. If he cannot puffe vs vp with delight yet to deiect vs with sorrow Wherefore O Lord forsake vs not and by forsaking vs Lead vs into tentation For of our selues without thee we haue no power to resist Sathan neither hath Sathan without thee any power to Tempt vs. Let no Tentation but such as is common to man 1. Cor. 10.13 take hold on vs. Giue vs a happy issue with our Tentation let it bee to the Triall of our faith and the Confusion of Sathan Lead vs no further in then thou wilt bring vs out againe Thou O Lord leadest none in but who first leadeth in himselfe nor hardnest any but those who first harden themselues Ecclus. 3.26 Let not vs bee rebellious and prouoke the Tempter nor loue danger lest we perish therein It is a dangerous thing to bee tempted for the vncertainty of the victory It is Presumption to desire it but Humilitie to decline it It is ioyfully to be endured but by no meanes to be desired But deliuer vs from euil Not only Lead vs not That is not sufficient except thou deliuer vs also If we cannot be free from Tentation yet deliuer vs from the Euill of it From Tentation that is Euill From euill All things are Euill which diuert vs from Thee but especially That Euill enemie of thine and for Thy sake our Enemie for he is not our enemie in respect of our selues for we are not of such strength as that he should desire to oppose vs but he is our Enemy because we are thy children and belong to Thee Deliuer vs O Lord from his bondage Psal 68.1 Let God arise and let his enemies be scattered Psal 89.23 Let not the enemy be able to doe vs violence nor the sonne of wickednesse hurt vs. Psal 86.13 Deliuer our Soules O Lord From the nethermost Hell Psal 22.20 From the power of the dogge Psal 22.21 From the Lyons mouth and the hornes of the Vnicornes Psal 69.15 Out of the myre that wee sinke not Psal 69.16 From the deepe and let not the pit shut her mouth vpon vs. And not only deliuer vs from Him but from his Malice also From whatsoeuer poysou he hath breathed on the Creatures From the Enmity of the World From whatsoeuer is ill in our flesh Deliuer vs also O Lord from the Euill of Punishment from the Euils and miseries of this life Especially of the life to come Amen Behold O Father we haue according to thy Sonnes Directions and forme presumed to craue those things which wee want we haue made our neede knowne vnto thee We desire of thee O Father that thou wouldest graunt vs those things which wee haue craued of thee Wee sigh and groane to thee and pray thee to confirme our votes and wishes with thy Seale So be it Grant vs our petitions for his sake that is a true and faithfull witnesse and in whom all thy promises are Yea and Amen Honour him in vs who deserue of our selues without him no good but much euill at thy hands And say to our petitions Amen So be it Our Father which art in heauen O Almightie Lord and our Heauenly Father whose Fatherly power and goodnesse is seene in the Creation preseruation and gouerning of all things and vpon whom as a Father we waite and depend for all that is good who art in all places by thy presence but especially in Heauen by thy Excellence We thy poore children whom thou hast preferred before the rest of thy creatures Psal 8. doe from the bottome of our hearts Hallowed bee thy Name wish and
O Lord. Psal 119.31 Put me not to shame Psal 119.39 Turne away reproch from me Psal 25.2 Let not mine enemies triumph ouer me Psal 27.12 Deliuer mee not ouer to their will Psal 64.1 Preserue my life from them Deliuer me O Lord From Eph. 4.19 hardnesse of heart to impenitence Act. 28.27 Grossenesse of heart Prou 7.13 Impudence of countenance Esa 48.4 Hardnesse of countenance From a seared conscience Tit. 1.16 A reprobate minde 1. Ioh. 5.16 Sinne vnto death Viz. Mat. 12.32 against the holy Ghost From Ia. 1.21 all superfluity of naughtines Heb. 12.1 The waight of sinne 1. Ioh. 2.16 The lusts of the flesh and eyes and pride of life All wicked vaine desires Hurtful vncleane thoghts Desire of Vaine-glory From a deceitfull tongue Mat. 6.2 Ecclus. 51.5 Vnpure lips Hands stretched out to couetousnesse Feet swift to euill Eyes open to Vanity Eares open to Toyes From blindnesse of heart Inconstancie of minde Scurrilitie of speech Intemperance of the belly From desire of Riches Reproch of my neighbours Contempt of the poore Oppression of the weake Rancor of minde Roote out of me O Lord. Prophanenesse and Superstition Pride and Vndecency Anger and Contention Swearing and Cursing Passion and Corruption Fraud and Rapine Lying and Slander Enuy and Malice Take from me The sinne of Gluttony Giue to me The Vertue of Abstinence Take from me The spirit of vncleanenesse Giue to me The Loue of Chastitie Take from me The Desire of the World Giue to me Content of Minde Take from me The heate of Anger Giue to me The spirit of meeknesse Take from me The Care of this Life Giue to me Thy SPIRITVALL Ioy. Take from me Haughtinesse of Minde Giue to me Compunction of Heart Deliuer me O Lord From All euill and mischiefe All noysome diseases All things hurtfull to my Soule Health Estate Quiet From all Scandall Griefe Infamy From all enemies Secret Open Crafty Potent From Sudden death Violent death In all my Prayers and petitions Distresses and dangers Infirmities and neede Tentations and tribulations Good Lord deliuer me and helpe me From the Terrors of Hell Eternall Damnation Apo. 6.6 The angry countenance of the Iudge The fearefull sentence of Mat. 25.41 8.12 Depart from me into vtter darknesse Iude. 6. The chaines of euerlasting darknesse The Apo. 20.10 Lake of Fire and Brimstone The Apo. 14.11 smoke of the torment which ascends for euer Good Lord of thy great mercy deliuer me In Affliction MOst mercifull Redeemer alwaies louing to vs whither thou sendest vs heauinesse or ioy for thy mercy is great whilest by afflictions as by bitter pilles thou curest the inward diseased man and by temporary troubles thou preparest vs and makest vs fit for Ioyes Eternall Grant O Sweete Sauiour that I may drinke of this cup of aduersitie and all others as reached to me by thy hand Thou knowest O Lord that they are bitter to flesh and blood yet withall I know that thou didst endure farre greater things for mee and that I haue deserued to suffer much more then thou hast laid vpon me O Lord thou knowest also the weakenesse and frailtie of mans nature and therefore I doe assuredly beleeue that thou the good Samaritan wilt not only cleanse the woundes of my sinnes Luc. 10.33 with the sharpe Wine of thy Iustice but wilt also adde the oyle of thy Mercy and comfort whereby I may be strengthned againe If thou thinkest not yet sufficient or that enough which thou hast laid vpon mee yet adde patience I beseech thee to my further griefe and grant that these thy punishments may prouoke mee to true repentance whereby I may by thy merits obtaine remission of my sinnes But if thy Fatherly clemencie shall be contented with this gentle and milde chastisement take off thy corrections and heauy hand from me that so I may for both thy mercies to me praise thy holy Name as well that thou hast so gently dealt with me in amending me so vnprofitable a Seruant as that thou hast in time taken of the bitternesse of affliction and not vtterly confounded mee in the first of thy workes of mercy respecting my Necessity and in the last not forgetting my Infirmity To thee O Sauiour with the Father and Holy Spirit be all Praise Laud and Glory now and euermore Amen In time of Pestilence O Lord God who reiectest none that trusting in thy goodnesse and beleeuing in thy promises come to thee for succour and helpe Behold wee beseech thee with the eyes of compassion and mercy thy poore sinfull and miserable people who now are much afflicted and visited with the Plague of Pestilence with the scourge of thine angry hand Our streets are full of griefe and our houses are filled with heauinesse and all our ioy is turned into mourning by reason of thy heauy wrath and hot displeasure which now is gone out to destroy and consume vs from the face of the earth Wee confesse O Lord it is but iust that all thy Creatures should rebell against man and oppose themselues against him who hath so desperately rebelled against thee his Creator for they are all obedient to thee only Man sinfull and wretched Man is continually stubborne and rebellious dayly abusing thy Blessings and hourly transgressing thy Commandements not leauing his euill waies for feare of thy threates nor being allured to goodnesse with the hope of thy promises We daily heare by thy messengers and read in thy Sacred Word what thou hast threatned of old to thy rebellious people and in them to vs. How that if they kept not thy Commandements thou wouldest send vpon them the Sword Leuit. 26.25 to auenge the quarrell of thy couenant and when they should be gathered in their Cities Ierem. 14.12 thou wouldest send the Pestilence among them and they should be deliuered into the hands of the enemie and yet wee haue hitherto beene so sencelesse thereof that wee feare not to adde sinne to sinne and to multiply iniquitie vpon iniquitie And now O Lord we reape the iust reward of our impiety and feele too soone that we are iustly plagued for our disobedience O Lord we confesse that thy Iudgements are iust and withall humbly acknowledge our misdeeds and heartily repent vs of them and earnestly beg and craue that thou wouldest in mercy pardon them and remit the punishment which in Iustice is due vnto vs for them O Lord In thy iust anger remember thy mercy encline thine eare and heare open thine eyes and behold our desolations and vpon our repentance and humiliation remooue this thy punishment which in thy displeasure thou hast begunne to inflict vpon vs. Command thy destroying Angell to spare vs Ezech. 9. and not to strike vs to vtter desolation Be mercifull vnto vs who are euery houre in danger of thy heauy Iudgements Take away the vnwholsomnesse of the ayre and purifie our
him and forgaue him the debt Not only ready to forgiue but profuse in mercy Psal 130.7 With thee is plenteous Redemption Luc. 15.22 The father of the Prodigall not only pardoned him but put on him the best Robe and a Ring and killed the fat Calfe for him Luc. 15.7 He will haue ioy in Heauen for a sinner repenting Thy pardon extendeth not only to small but great sinnes and sinners Such as Peter Luc. 26.74 who forsware thee Paul â— Tim. 1.13 who blaspheamed thee The Luc. 23.43 Theefe on the Crosse The Ioh 8. Adultresse Luc. 7.36 Mary Magdalen Ier. 3.1 They say if a man put away his Wife and shee goe from him and become another mans shall he returne vnto her againe shall not the Land be greatly polluted But thou hast played the harlot with many Louers yet returne againe to me saith the Lord. Luc. 6.35 He is kinde to the vnthankefull and euill But all these are recapitulated and summed vp in Christ Iesus 1. Pet. 1.4 In whom he hath giuen vs great and precious promises 2. Cor. 1.19 And in whom all the promises of God are Yea and Amen In Ioh. 16.23 naming of whom it will bee sufficient Mat. 15.22 Iesu thou Sonne of Dauid haue mercy on me Mat. 1.21 Which name Iesus was giuen vnto him because he saueth vs from our sinnes Aug. Lord doe not so earnestly marke our sinnes as that thereby thou forget thine owne Name Thou Sonne of Dauid 2. Sam. 19. who forgaue Shemei his sworne enemie reuiling him Forgiue me O Christ heare me Intercede for me Make the Father propitious to me Say vnto my Soule Psal 35.3 I am thy Saluation Let not thy Apostle comfort me in vaine when he saith 1. Tim. 1.15 This is a faithfull saying and worthy of all acceptation that Iesus Christ came into the world to saue sinners Rom. 5.20 Where six hath abounded there grace hath super-abounded God hath concluded all vnder Rom. 11.32 sinne that he might haue mercy vpon all Rom. 5.10 When we were Gods enemies we were reconciled to him by the death of his Sonne Let not another of thy Apostles say in vaine 1. Pet. 3.18 Christ once suffered for sinne the iust for the vniust that hee might bring vs to God Let not the third Ia. 2.13 Mercy reioyceth aboue Iudgement Let not the fourth 1. Ioh. 2.1 If any man sinne wee haue an Aduocate with the Father Christ Iesus the Righteous 1. Ioh. 2.2 And hee is the propitiation for our sinnes and not for ours only but for the sinnes of the whole world Let not thine owne Words be spoken in vaine Mat. 11.28 Come vnto mee all yee that labour and are heauie laden and I will giue yee rest Luc. 5.32 I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance Ioh. 12.47 I came not to Iudge the World but to saue it These things are not cannot be spoken in vaine Psal 94.19 Wherefore in the multitude of the sorrowes that are in my heart thy comforts O Lord haue refreshed my soule Heb. 4.16 Let vs therefore come boldly to the Throne of Grace that we may obtaine mercy and finde Grace to helpe in time of neede Which I beseech thee to grant me For thy great and many mercies Thy Names sake The Glory of thy Name Thy promise sake Thy practize sake My misery My infirmitie Euen for thy Sonne Iesus Christs sake The seuen penitentiall Psalmes analysed 1 Psalme 6. 1 O Lord my God rebuke me not I beseech thee in thy fierce indignation against my sinnes either in this life or at the day of Iudgement neither chasten or correct mee in thy hot displeasure by condemning mee to eternall death 2 Haue mercy and compassion vpon me according to thy accustomed goodnesse O Lord for I am weake and fraile by nature strengthen me therefore by thy Grace O Lord and heale me by curing the infirmities of my soule for they are multiplied so greatly vpon me that my bones and all my inward parts are vexed and disquieted with the remembrance of them 3 My sinfull Soule considering my manifold offences and trembling at the thought of thy iust anger against them is also like as is my flesh sore troubled and almost at the point of desperation but thou O Lord that desirest not the death of a sinner how long will it be ere thou looke vpon me and bring mee out of this misery 4 Returne from the rigour of thy Iustice O Lord to the sweetnesse of thy mercie and deliuer my soule from the bondage of sinne O Lord saue mee from the assaults of the Deuill not for any merits of mine but for thy mercies sake in Christ Iesus my Sauiour 5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee to praise and glorifie thy Name and who surely none there is that shall giue thee thankes or celebrate thy goodnesse in the Graue of Hell where nothing is to be heard but weeping gnashing of teeth and blasphemies 6 I am weary and faint with my groaning and sighing for my transgressions euery night when I should take my rest I wash my bed weeping for them and I water my couch the place of my rest with my teares of vnfeined repentance 7 Mine eye of reason and vnderstanding is consumed and groweth weake because of the griefe I take fearing thy Iudgements yet it waxeth Old and I continue in sinne because of the vnited forces of all mine enemies the World the Flesh and the Deuill 8 Depart therefore farre from me all ye mine enemies which are and haue beene the workers and causers of mine iniquitie by your tentations and euill examples for henceforth I will haue no more to doe with you for my conscience assureth mee that the Lord of his infinite goodnesse hath heard and pittied the voyce of my weeping and therefore I should be vnthankefull to him to returne to those sinnes which he in his mercy hath forgiuen 9 The Lord I cannot repeat it too often hath gratiously heard my earnest supplication for the pardon of my sinnes and he The Lord plentifull in pittie hath not only now but will also hereafter receiue my prayer whensoeuer I call faithfully vpon him 10 Let all mine enemies therefore who haue sought my destruction be ashamed at my conuersion and bee sore vexed and troubled at the consideration of Gods Iudgements Let them no longer delay but repent and returne to the Lord and bee ashamed that they haue so long deferred their conuersion and suddenly without any longer delay make their peace with him by vnfeined repentance Glory be to the Father c. 2 Psalme 32. BLessed is he in this life in assured hope and thrice blessed in full and perfect fruition in the life to come Whose transgression by Gods mercy is forgiuen in respect of the offence and whose sinne by the imputation of Christs
Seruants to whom in particular thou extendest thy mercy shall blesse and continually praise thee for the same 11 They especially shall not bee silent but speake of and declare vnto those that haue not knowne thy Name the Glory and Maiestie of thy Kingdome which is aboue all the kingdomes of the earth and shall wheresoeuer they come talke of and set forth thy mightie power which no potentate is able to resist 12 To make knowne and to make manifest thereby to the sonnes of men euen all the gratiousnesse to come his mightie and wonderfull acts which he hath done in our time and in the ages foregoing and also the glorious Maiestie and super-excellency of his Kingdome and power 13 Thy kingdome O Lord is not temporary or of short continuance but it is an euerlasting Kingdome was without beginning and neuer shall haue end and this thy dominion and rule endureth firme stable throughout all generations to the end of the world 14 The Lord in his mercy vpholdeth and lifteth vp all those that fall by frailty and weakenesse and raiseth vp by the grace of his holy Spirit all those that be deiected bowed and cast downe with the thought of their sinnes 15 The eyes of all creatures waite and are fixed vpon thee as vpon their carefull father for sustenance and helpe and they no sooner call vnto thee but thou of thy prouidence suppliest their wants and giuest them their meate and all things necessary for them not onely in due proportion but in due season and time also 16 Thou openest thy hand of bounty and satisfiest the insatiable desire of men which nothing but thy selfe can satisfie and of euery other liuing thing besides 17 The Lord is only righteous iust and vnreproueable in all his wayes and actions and it is hee only that is holy and pure in all his workes 18 The Lord is nigh and ready at hand vnto all them that in distresse call vpon him and seeke vnto him for helpe Yea to all without respect of persons that call vpon him in truth faith and vprightnesse of heart 19 He is so gratious that he will not only heare them but grant their petitions and fulfill and satisfie the desire and request of them that feare and serue him he also will heare their cry in time of affliction and will saue and deliuer them out of all their trouble 20 The Lord by his omnipotent power preserueth and keepeth all them that loue him sincerely and obey his Commandements but as for all the wicked and vnrepentant obstinate sinners those will he destroy from the face of the earth 21 My mouth shall as long as I haue any being speake of and declare the praise and Maiestie of the Lord most mightie and as I doe so Let all flesh people nations and kindreds from the rising of the Sunne to the going downe thereof blesse land and magnifie together with me his holy and great Name euen for euer and euer from this time forth for euermore Glory be to the father ' c. Imprecation THis part of Deuotion or of zeale as I may call it although it seeme harsh and not well to stand with the Charitie of a Christian yet in these Cases it hath beene and may be lawfully vsed 1 When the Church of God in any part of the World lyeth as it were at the stake and groaneth vnder the burden of Persecution and the enemies thereof are incorrigeable and not to be reconciled in this case not onely a priuate man in his Deuotions but the Church also in generall may vse these Imprecations to the end that the Church may by these kind of Prayers and Gods assistance recouer its former peace and quiet 2 When as a Christian man shall perceiue that his enemies ayme altogether against the Rules of Charitie at his vtter subuersion both in Body and Soule in this case also a man may without breach of Charitie vse these Imprecations And in either of these Cases if the children either of Gods or our owne enemies shall ioyne assist or persist maliciously in the steps of their Parents they are in our estimation to be accounted of no better nay not so well as the very Heathen who haue not knowne the name of God at all And to this end I haue onely giuen you a taste of some of the zealous wishes and earnest desires or Imprecations of some Holy men Prophets and Apostles which are set downe in sacred Scripture and left no doubt for our imitation in the seuerall Cases before named Imprecations against the enemies of God and his Church REspect not thou their offering Num. 16.15 The Lord shall trouble thee Ios 7.25 Destroy them Psal 5.10 let them fall by their owne counsels Breake the arme of the wicked Psal 10.15 Breake their teeth O God Psal 58.6 Let them be scattered Psal 68.1.2 Let them flee Driue them as Smoake melt them as waxe Powre out thy wrath vpon them Psal 79.6 Make them like a wheele Psal 83.13 and as the stubble before the winde Burne them as the fire burneth the wood Psal 83.14 Persecute them with thy tempest Psal 83.15 Fill their faces with shame Psal 83.16 Let them be confounded and troubled for euer Psal 83.17 Let them be as grasse on the house top Psal 129.6 Grant not their desires Psa 140.8 Let the mischiefe of their owne lips couer them Psa 140.9 Let burning coales fall vpon them Psa 140.10 Let them not be established vpon the earth Psa 140.11 Let euill hunt them If any man loue not the Lord Iesus Christ 1. Cor. 16.22 let him be Anathema Maranatha If any man preach any other Gospell Gal. 1.9 c. Let him be accursed I would they were euen cut off Gal. 5.12 Against the enemies of our Soules Let them be confounded and put to shame Psal 35.4 that seeke after my soule Let them be as chaffe before the winde Psal 35.5 Let the Angell of the Lord chase them Let their way be darke and slipery Psal 35.6 Let the Angell of the Lord persecute them Let Destruction come vpon them Psal 35.8 Let them be confounded and ashamed Psal 40.14 Let them bee driuen backward Let them be desolate Psal 40.15 Let death seize vpon them Psal 55.15 Let them go downe quicke to Hell Let them be couered with reproach and dishonour Psal 71.13 Set a wicked man ouer him Psal 109.6 Let Satan stand at his right hand Let his prayer become sinne Psal 109.7 Let his daies be few Psal 109.8 Let his children bee fatherlesse Psal 109.9 and his wife a widdow Let his children be vagabonds and beggers Psal 109.10 Let the extortioner catch all he hath Psal 109.11 Let there be none to extend mercy to him or his children Psal 109.12 Let his posteritie be cut of Psal
dishonest and fleshly lusts let not the heate of vnlawfull concupiscene take hold of me but make me to bee fully pleased and satisfied with her loue and to loue her as Christ loued his Church to cherish and comfort her as mine owne bodie and to haue as great a care of her health as of mine owne Grant that we may liue in peace without debate in vnity without discord like the members of one bodie equally desirous to praise thy holy Name And as thou hast O Lord bestowed many children vpon vs giue vs discreet hearts and vnderstanding mindes to bring them vp in thy Faith and Feare in a religious honest and ciuill manner Giue them obedient hearts to thee and to thy commandements and to all that thou requirest of them to be performed in duety towards vs their Parents Keepe them from those which are ready to seduce them and so lead them in thy Faith Feare and Knowledge that they prooue not a curse but a blessing vnto vs and thereby attaine to that blessing which thou hast promised to those which honor and obey their Parents Grant likewise O Lord that I may guide and instruct the familie which is vnder me in thy feare and in honest and carefull manner prouide as well for their bodies as their soules And giue them the like Grace O Lord to performe their duties in feare and obedience not as eye-seruers but in simplicitie of heart as in thy sight And giue vs O Lord a competencie of estate to mainetaine our selues children and family according to that ranke or calling wherein thou of thy goodnesse hast placed vs without excesse riot or vaine-glory and in singlenesse and purenesse of heart with all humility relying vpon thy blessed will who knowest better then wee our selues what is needfull for vs To thee be all Honour and Glory now and for euer For a married Woman O Mercifull and louing Lord God who in the beginning for the propagation of mankinde didst take Eue out of the side of Adam Gen. 2.22 and gaue her to him as an helper Gen. 2.20 I giue thee humble thankes that thou hast vouchsafed to call me to the honourable estate of Matrimony Giue me grace O Lord that I may lead a life worthy thereof that I may loue my husband with a pure and chaste loue acknowledge him for my Head and truly reuerence and obay him in all good things that thereby I may please him and liue quietly with him Grant that I bee not carried away with the vaine fashions of this World but may put on such habits as shal be agreeable and suitable with the estate of my husband and may become a modest woman to weare Helpe me O Lord that I may vnder him prudently and discreetly guide and gouerne his houshould and family and carefully looke that nothing be either carelesly lost or wickedly committed in my house Fit me with those good Graces which the wise man described in a good woman Pro. 31. and Saint Peter in Holy and Sanctified Matrons Giue me such care 1. Pet. 3. concerning the education of my Children as belongeth to my part that I may liue to see them prosper in this life and afterwards we may all be receiued to thy eternall Kingdome through Iesus Christ our Lord. For a Childe O Almighty Lord God to whom the obedience of Children to their Parents is most acceptable and all disobedience most displeasing who hast promised a Blessing to the dutifull and threatned a curse Exod. 20. to the disobedient children I beseech thee to put away from me the detestable sinne of disobedience and rebellion against my Parents and giue me grace to obserue them with all kinde of dutie to obey them in all their iust commands and to be aiding and helpefull to them at all time of their need Giue me grace to beare all their reproofes and errors patiently and not to grieue them by stubborne and euill courses Let me not bee so farre depriued of thy Grace that I scoffe or deride them though by age or infirmitie they shall faile in their Iudgement or Reason but cause me to supply their wants lest that I hauing plenty and they being in any neede or distresse I not supplying it nor succouring them their liues to whom I owe mine may be in danger to be shortned Lord forgiue all the offences which I haue heretofore committed against them Increase the number of their dayes keepe them safe in body and minde let them see their Childrens Children to their comfort and thy Glory Let them gouerne vs and the rest of their family with wholsome Discipline and good example that at the last they may in their due time depart this life in peace and come to thy Kingdome vnspotted through Iesus Christ our Lord. For a woman with Childe O Blessed Lord God who for the offence of the first woman Gen. 3.16 didst denounce and impose an ineuitable curse vpon all her posterity namely that they should conceiue in sinne and bee subiect to many grieuous paines and should bring forth their children with great danger Asswage I beseech thee of thy goodnesse the sharpnesse of that decree and preserue mee that I may ouercome and escape this great danger and be deliuered of the fruite of my body without perill of death and that it may safely be brought to the Sacred Font of Baptisme and be regenerated and ingraffed into the mysticall body of Christ and be made partaker of his death and passion And as thou hast of thy bounty giuen bodily life to it and me so grant to vs both life spirituall and so Sanctifie our Bodies and Soules heere that hereafter we may liue among thy blessed Saints for euer in the life to come For a young man or Maid O Lord forasmuch as I am at these yeares in the heate of the flesh and in the most dangerous time of my life I beseech thee take not thy mercy and fatherly prouidence from me but by how much the greater danger of tentations I am in with so much the more care let thy grace preserue me lest happily I become a prey to mine enemies who goe about to load me with so many sinnes that if they preuaile I shall neuer of my selfe to get from vnder the burthen of them But O mercifull Father distrusting in mine owne strength I betake my selfe wholly to thy protection and desire thee both now and euer to keepe me Let me not get that habit of sinning in my younger yeeres that I be forced in my age if I be not stifled before in my offences to be waile the sins of my youth and to say with Dauid Remember not O Lord Psal 25.6 the offences of my youth but rather accustome me from this time forward to all goodnesse that I may daily more and more profit therein and that seruing thee with a pure heart now I may in mine age say with good King Ezekias O Lord remember I beseech
109.13 Let the iniquitie of his Fathers be remembred Psal 109.14 Cast foorth lightning Psal 144.6 and scatter them shoote out thine arrowes and destroy them THE TENNE COMMANDEMENTS analysed THe Law of the Two Tables was written by the a Deut. 4.13.10.3.4 Finger of God and deliuered and promulgated by the Ministery of b Exo. 19.24 Moses and c Act. 7.53 Gal. 3 19. Heb. 2.2 Angels and contained summarily what God commanded the people to obserue and what to auoid It is diuided into two Parts Our Dutie towards God Our Dutie towards our Neighbour The foure first Commandements enioyne the first Duty The sixe last the last And thus follow The preface Exo. 20. God spake all these words saying I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the Land of Egypt out of the house of bondage God spake c. This Preface belongeth to all the Decalogue and containeth a description of the Person who gaue the Lawe Who being God the Creator and disposer of all things is to be obeyed neither are we to make any scruple or doubt but that all things which he commandeth vs in his Lawe are iust and Holy I am the Lord. Who only is Omnipotent and was from all Eternitie from whom all things that are had their beginning and who hath absolute and sole power to command and prescribe Lawes vnto vs. Thy God Psal 144.15 Happie is the people who haue the Lord for their God By these words thy God euery one of vs may receiue particular comfort that as he is able so hee is willing and ready by making this couenant to be ours in his particular prouidence and care to doe good to euery one of us in our need if wee keepe his Commandements God A God to releeue and aide vs not a seuere Iudge to condemne vs. Let vs therefore With all reuerence serue him as a Lord. With earnest desire repaire to him in our need as to a mercifull God With heartie zeale loue him for his goodnesse With trembling feare to offend him for his Iustice Leuit. 20.7 And let vs be holy as he is holy Which brought thee c. In this deliuery of the Iewes from their seruitude is his infinite Power described whereby he is declared to be as well able to saue his Seruants as to confound his enemies And this deliuerance is foretold and paraleld by the Prophet as a Type of our deliuerance Esa 52. from the seruitude of sinne The first Commandement Thou shalt haue no other Gods before me Thou shalt haue no other Gods HAuing as it were setled in our hearts his Authoritie and Power to prescribe and make Lawes vnto vs his first precept is that wee haue no other Gods before him 1 Neither by abating any reuerence due to him But to worship him with all our heart By acknowledging him to be the only true God By honouring seruing and praising him aboue all things By trusting and relying wholly vpon him By expecting all good from him By humbling our selues before him and patiently bearing whatsoeuer he shall please to lay vpon vs and subiecting our wils wholly to his 2 Nor by attributing any honour to other Gods or Idols or putting any confidence in Saints or Angels Earthly pleasures Riches Honours or the like lest we offend thereby As Rachel did Gen. 30.1 by asking children of Iacob As the King of Syria 2. Kings 5.6 by desiring Ioram to heale Naamans leprosie As Asa 2. Chr. 16.12 by too much trusting to his Phisicians As the Foole in the Gospell Luc. 12.16 trusting to his riches Before me Neither secretly in thy heart Nor in the view of God and the World openly Not but that God is euery where and seeth into the secret corners of our hearts and is omniscient but to set a note or brand of impudence vpon vs for our indignity to him if wee shall make open profession of our Idolatry to any false God or Idoll in worshipping it or of our excessiue loue or doting vpon any Creature by putting confidence in it and neglecting our dependance on God who is only able by his omnipotencie to relieue vs. The second Commandement Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any grauen Image c. AS in the first Commandement God requireth that we worship him only so in this he forbiddeth all vndue and indirect worshipping of him and enioyneth vs not to make any resemblance to worship him by because he is a Spirit and is only to bee worshipped in Spirit and Truth Thou shalt not c. 1 Therefore wee are not to graue or make any Image or resemblance of him For when hee gaue the Law saith Moses Deut. 4.15 he appeared in no manner of similitude Esa 40.18 To whom then will ye liken God or to what likenesse will ye compare him 2 Neither are wee to make the likenesse of any thing to worship it For as wee ought not to make any resemblance of him so neither when we make the similitude of any thing else the true vse of making pictures and the like being lawfull not to worship it or attribute any honour to it Saint Paul saith Rom. 1.23 that the Gentiles changed the Glory of the incorruptible God into an Image like to corruptible man and to Birds and foure footed Beasts and creeping things wherefore God gaue them vp to vncleannesse c. Thou shalt not bow downe c. 1 Either by bowing the body vncouering the head or bending the knee to them 2. Or by setting the same in any eminent place to worship them bestowing extraordinary cost on them making Pilgrimages to them or dedicating Altars Lampes or the like to them For I the Lord c. By this Commination hee sheweth his Power to punish offendors and that hee is able and all sufficient to supply our wants likewise Am a iealous God And suffereth no Corriuall Competitor or sharer in his Seruice My Sonne giue me thy heart thy whole heart And visite the sinnes c. Punishing them that run after false Gods in many descents euen as long as they shall continue in their Idolatrous courses As the Iewes in generall Salomon and others 1 To shew how odious Idolatry is to him 2 To force men who naturally haue a loue and care to their posteritie by this commination to abstaine from it least their issue be plagued Psal 97.7 Confounded bee all they that worship carued Images and that delight in vaine Gods And shewing mercy c. The mercy of the Lord is a Psal 145.9 ouer all his Works b Ia. 2.13 ouer his Iustice For whereas he punisheth Idolaters in his Iustice but to three or foure generations He is mercifull to thousands of those that worship him aright throughout all generations Luc. 1.50 His reward is alwaies greater then his punishment It is his proper worke Esa 28.21