thou hast and a supply of those which thou wantest But especially pray that thou maist have Grace to hear the word of God read and preached with profit and that thou maist receive the holy Sacrament with comfort if it be Communion day that God by his Holy Spirit would assist the Preacher to speak something that may kill thy sin and comfort thy soul which thou maist do in this or the like sort A morning Prayer for the Sabbath-day O Lord most high O God eternal all whose works are glorious and whose thoughts are very deep there can be no better thing than to praise thy Name and to declare thy loving kindness in the morning on thy holy and blessed Sabbath day For it is thy Will and Commandment that we should sanctiâ—ie this day in thy service and praise and in the thankful remembrance as of the creation of the world by the power of thy Word so of the redemption of Mankind by the death of thy Son Thine O Lord I confess is greatness and power and glory and victory and praise for all that is in heaven and earth is thine Thine is the Kingdom O Lord and thou excellest as head over all Both riches and honour come of thee and thou reignest over all and in thine hand is power and strength and in thine hand it is to make great and to give grace unto all Now therefore O my God I praise thy glorious Name that whereas I a wretched sinner having so many ways provoked thy Majesty to anger and displeasure thou notwithstanding of thy favour and goodness passing by my prophaneness and infirmities hast vouchsafed to add this Sabbath again unto the number of my days And vouchsafe O heavenly Father for the merits of Jesus Christ thy Son whose glorious resurrection thy whole Church celebrateth this day to pardon and forgive me all my sins and misdeeds Especially O Lord cleanse my soul from those filthy sins with the blood of thy most pure and undefiled Lamb which taketh away the sins of the world And let thy Holy Spirit more and more subdue my corruptions that I may be renewed after thine own Image to serve thee in newness of life and holiness of conversation And as of thy mercy thou hast brought me to the beginning of this blessed day so I do beseech thee make it a day of Reconciliation betwixt my sinful Soul and thy Divine Majesty Give me grace to make it a day of Repentance unto thee that thy goodness may seal iâ— to be a day of pardon unto me and that I may remember that the keeping holy of this day is a Commandment which thine own finger hath written That on this day I might meditate on thy glorious works of our Creation and Redemption and learn how to know and to keep all the rest of thy holy Laws and Commandments And when anon I shall with the rest of the holy Assembly appear before thy Presence in thy House to offer unto thee our Morning Sacrifice of praise and Prayer and to hear what thy Spirit by the preaching of thy Word shall speak unto thy servant Oh let not my sins stand as a Cloud to stop my Prayers from ascending unto thee or to keep back thy grace from descending by thy Word into my heart I know O Lord and tremble to think that three parts of the good seed falls upon bad ground O let not my heart be like the high-way which through hardness and want of true understanding receives not the seed till the evil one cometh and catcheth it away nor like to the stony ground which heareth with joy for a time but falleth away as soon as persecution ariseth for the Gospel's sake nor like the thorny ground which by the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choaketh the Word which it heareth and makes it altogether unfruitful but thâ—t like unto the good ground I may hear thy Word with an honest and good heart understand it and keep it and bring forth fruit with patience in that measure that thy Wisdom shall think meet for thy glory and mine everlasting comfort Open likewise I beseech thee O Lord the door of utterance unto thy faithful servant whom thou hast sent unto us to open our Eyes that we may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God that we may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith in Christ. And give me grace to submit my self unto his Ministery as well when he terriâ—ieth me with judgments as when he comforteth me with thy Mercies And that I may have him in singular love for his works sake because he watcheth for my soul as he that must give an account for the same unto his Master And give me grace to behave my self in the holy Congregation with comeliness and reverence as in thy presence and in the sight of thy holy Angels Keep me from drowsiness and sleeping and from all wandring thoughts and worldly imaginations sanctifie my Memory that it may be apt to receive and firm to remember those good and profitable doctrines which shall be taught unto us out of thy Word And that through the assistance of thy holy Spirit I may put the same Lessons in practice for my direction in Prosperity for my consolation in Misery for the amendment of my Life and the glory of thy Name And that this day which godless and prophane Persons spend in their own Lusts and Pleasures I as one of thy obedient Servants may make my chief delight to consecrate to thy glory and honour not doing mine own ways nor seeking mine own will nor speaking a vain word but that ceasing from the works of sin as well as from the works of mine ordinary calling I may through thy blessing feel in my heart the beginning of that eternal Sabbath which in unspeakable joy and glory I shall celebrate with Saints and Angels to thy praise and worship in thy heavenly Kingdom for evermore All which I humbly crave at thy hands in the name and mediation of my Lord Jesus in that form of Prayer which he hath taught me Our Father which art in Heaven c. Having thus in private prepared thine own soul if thou hasâ— the charge of a Family call all thy Houshold together read a Chapter and pray as in the week-days but remember so to dispatch these private preparations and duties as that thou and thy family may be in the Church before the beginning of Prayers Else your private exercises are rather an hindranâ—e than a preparation And as thou and thy Houshold do go in all reverence towards the Church let every one meditate thus with himself Things to be meditated as thou goest to the Church 1. That thou art going to the Court of the Lord and to speak with the great God by prayer and to hear his Majesty speak unto
their sins and that they might be found ready at the coming of Christ. And how that David was not concent to pray at Morning at Evening and at Noon but he would also rise up at midnight to pray unto God And if Christ did chide his Disciples because they would not watch with him one hour in praying what chiding dost thou deserve who thinkest it too long to continue in prayer but one quarter of an hour If thou hast spent divers hours in seeing a vain Mask or Play yea whole days and nights in carding and dicing to please thy flesh be ashamed to think a Prayer of a quarter of an hour long to be too long an exercise for the service of God 5. Consider that if the Papists in their blind superstition do in an unknown and therefore unedifying Tongue fit only for the Children of mystical Babylon mutter over upon their Beads every morning and evening so many scores of Ave-Maries Pater-Nosters and idolatrous prayers how shall they in their superstitious devotion rise up in judgment against thee professing thy self to be a true worshipper of Christ If that thou thinkest these Prayers to be too long a task being shorter for quantity than theirs but far more profitable for quality tending only to God's glory and thy good and so compiled of Scripture phrase as that thou may'st speak to God as well in his own holy words as in thine own native language Be ashamed that Papists in their superstitious worshipping of creatures should shew themselves more devout than thou in the sincere worshipping of the true and only God And indeed a prayer in private devotion should be one continued speech rather than many broken fragments 6. Lastly When such thoughts come into thy head either to keep thee from prayer or to distract thee in praying remember that those are the Fowls which the evil one sends to devour the good seed and the carcases of thy spiritual Sacrifices but endeavour with Abraham to drive them away Yet notwithstanding if thou perceivest at some times that thy spirits are dull and thy mind not apt for Prayer and holy devotion strive not too much for that time but humbling thy self at the sense of thine infirmity and dulness knowing that God accepteth the willing mind tho' it be oppressed with the heaviness of the flesh endeavour the next time to recompence this dulness by redoubling the zeal and for the time present commend thy soul to God in this or the like short Prayer Another shorter Morning Prayer O Most gracious God and merciful Father I thine unworthy Servant do here acknowledge that as I have been born in sin so I have lived in iniquity and broken every one of thy Commandments in thought word and deed following the desires of mine own will and lusts of my flesh not caring to be governed by thy holy Word and Spirit and therefore I have justly deserved all shame and misery in this life and everlasting condemnation in hell-fire if thou shouldest but deal with me according to thy Justice and my desert Wherefore O heavenly Father I beseech thee for thy Son Jesus Christ his sake and for the Merits of that bitter Death and bloody Passion which I believe that he hath suffered for me that thou wouldest pardon and forgive unto me all my sins and deliver me from the shame and vengeance which is due to me for them And send thy Holy Spirit into my heart which may assure me that thou art my Father and that I am thy Child and that thou lovest me with an unchangeable love and let the same thy good Spirit lead me in thy truth and crucifie in me more and more all worldly and carnal lusts that my sins may more and more die in me and that I may serve thee in unfeigned righteousness and holiness this day and all the days of my life That when this mortal life is ended I may through thy mercy in CHRIST be made partaker of everlasting glory in thy heavenly Kingdom And here O Lord from the bottom of my heart I thank thee for all thy blessings which thou hast bestowed upon my soul and body for electing me in thy love redeeming me by thy Son sanctifying me by thy Spirit and preserving me from my youth up until this present day and hour by thy most gracious providence I thaâ—k thee more especially for that thou hast defended me this night from all perils and dangers and hast brought me safe to the beginning of this day And now good Lord I beseech thee keep me this day from all evil that may hurt me and from falliâ—g into any gross sin that should offend thee Set thy fear before mine eyes and let thy spirit so rule my heart that all that I shall think do or speak this day may tend to thy glory the good of others and the peace of mine own conscience And to this end I commend my self and all my ways and actions together with all that do belong unto me unto thy gracious direction and protection praying thee to keep both them and me from all evil and to give a blessing to all our honest labours and endeavours Defend thy whole Church from the tyranny of the world and of Antichrist Preserve our gracious King from all conspiracies and treasons grant him a long and prosperous reign over us Bless our gracious Queen Mary Prince Charles the Lady Maâ—â— the Lady Elizabeth and her Princely â—â—sue endue them with thy grace and defend them from all evil Bless all our Ministers and Magistrates with those graces and gifts which thou knowest necessary for their places Be favourable to all that fear thee and tremble at thy judgments comfort all those that are sick and comfortless Lord keep me in a continual readiness by faith and repentance â—or my last end that whether I live or die I may be found thine own to thine eternal glory and mine everlasting salvation through Jesus Christ my only Saviour In whose blessed name I beg these mercies at thy hands and give unto thee thy praise and glory in that praâ—er which he hath sanctifyed with his own lips saving Our Father which art in Heaven hallâ—â—â—d be thy Name c. Further Meditations to stir us up to Prayer in the Morning THink not any business or haste though never so great a sufficient excuse to omit prayer in the Morning but meditate 1. That the greater thy business is by so much the more need thou hast to pray for God's good speed and blessing thereon seeing it is certain that nothing can prosper without his blessing 2. That many a Man when he thought himself surest hath been soonest crossed so maist thou 3. That many a Man hath gone out of his door and never come in again Many a Man who rose well and lively in the morning hath been seen a dead Man ere night So may it befal thee and if thou
outward man doth decay so my inward man may more and more by thy grace and consolation increase and gather strength O Saviour put my Soul in a readiness that like a wise Virgin having the Wedding Garment of thy Righteousness and holiness she may be ready to meet thee at thy comming with Oyl in her Lamp Marry her unto thy self that she may be one with thee in everlasting love and fellowship O Lord reprove Satan and chase him away Deliver my soul from the power of the Dog Save me from the Lyon's mouth I thank thee O Lord for all thy blessings both spiritual and temporal bestowed upon me especially for my Redemption by the death of my Saviour Christ. I thank thee that thou hast protected me with thy holy Angels from my youth up until now Lord I beseech thee give them a charge to attend upon me till thou callest for my soul and then to carry her as they did the soul of Lazarus into thy Heavenly Kingdom And as the time of my departure shall approach nearer unto me so grant O Lord that my Soul may draw nearer unto thee and that I may joy fully commend my Soul into thy hands as into the hands of a loving Father and merciful Redeemer and at that instant O Lord graciously receive my Spirit All which that I may do assist me I beseech thee with thy Grace and let thy holy spirit continue with me unto the end and in the end for Jesus Christ his sake thy Son my Lord and only Saviour In whose Name I give thee the glory and beg these things at thy hand in that Prayer which Christ himself hath â—aught me saying Our Father which art in Heaven c. Meditations against Despair or doubting of God's Mercy IT is found by continual experience that near the time of Death when the Children of God are weakest then Satan makes the greatest flourish of his strength and assails them with his strongest temptations For he knoweth that either he must now or never prevail for if their souls once go to Heaven he shall never vex nor trouble them any more And therefore he will now bestir himself as much as he can and labour to set before their eyes all the gross sins which ever they committed and the Judgments of God which are due unto them thereby to drive them if he can unto despair which is a grievouser sin than all the sins hat they committed or he can accuse them of If Satan therefore trouble thy Conscience more towards thy death than in thy life 1. Confess thy sins unto God not only in general but also in particular 2. Make satisfaction unto those Men whom thou hast wronged if thou beâ—st able And if thou dost injuriously or fraudulently detain or keep in thy possession any Lands or Goods that of right do belong to any Widow or Fatherless Child presume not as thou tenderest thy Soul's health to look Christ the righteous Judge in the face unless thou dost first make a restitution thereof to the right owners for the Law of God under the penalty of his curse requireth thee to restore whatsoever was given thee to keep or which was committed to thy trust or whatsoever by robbery or violent oppression thou tookest from thy neighbour with a fifth part for amends added to the principal And unless that like Zaccheus thou dost make restitâ—tion of such Goods and Lands according to God's Law thou canst never truly repent and without true Repentance thou canst never be saved But though by the temptation of the Devil thou hast done wrong and injury yet if thou dost truly repent and make restitution to thy power the Lord hath promised to be merciful unto thee to hear the Prayers of his faithful Ministers for thee to forgive thee thy trespass and sin and to receive thy Soul in the Merits of Christ's Blood as a Lamb without blemish 3. Ask God for Christ his sake pardon and forgiveness And then these troubles of mind are no Discouragements but rather Comforts Exercises not Punishments They are assurances unto thee that thou art in the right way for the way to Heaven is by the gates of Hell that is by suffering pains in the body and such doubtings in the mind that thy estate in this life being every way made bitter the joys of eternal life may relish unto thee better and more sweet If Satan tell thee that thou hast no Faith because thou hast no feeling Meditate 1. That the truest Faith hath oftentimes the least feeling and greatest doubts but so long as thou hatest such doubtings they shall not be laid unto thy charge for they belong to the flesh from which thou art divorced When thy flesh shall perish thy weak inward man which hates them and loves the Lord Jesus shall be saved 2. That it is a better Faith to believe without feeling than with feeling The least Faith so much as a grain of Mustard-seed so much as is in an Infant baptized is enough to save the Soul which loveth Christ and believeth in him 3. That the Child of God which desireth to feel the assurance of God's favour shall have his desire when God shall see it to be for his good For God hath promised to give them the Water of Life who thirst for it we have an example in Mr. Glover the holy Martyr who could have no comfortable feeling till he came to the sight of the Stake and then cryed out and clapped his hands for joy to his Friends saying O Austin he is come he is come meaning the feeling joy of Faith and the Holy Ghost Tarry therefore the Lord's leisure be strong and he shall comfort thine heart If Satan shall aggravate unto thee the greatness the multitude and hainousness of thy sins meditate 1. That upon true Repentance it is as easie with God to forgive the greatest sin as the least and he is as willing to forgive many as to pardon one And his mercy shineth more in pardoning great sinners than small offenders as appears in the Examples of Manasses Magdalen Peter Paul c. And where sin most aboundeth there doth his Grace rejoyce to abound much more 2. That God did never forsake any man till a man did first forsake God as appears in the examples of Cain Saul Achitophel Ahazia Judas c. 3. That God calleth all even those sinners who were heavy laden with sin and that he did never deny his mercy to any sinner that asked his mercy with a penitent heart This the history of the Gospel witnesseth There came unto Christ all sorts of sick sinners the blind lame halt Lepers such as were sick of Palsies Dropsies Bloody-fluxes such as were Lunatick and possessed with unclean Spirits and Devils Yet of all these not one that came and asked his mercy and help went
many do profess all other parts of God Worship and Religion with so much irrverence and hypocrisie whereas if they dâ— truly know God they durst not but coâ—â— to his holy Service and coming serve hiâ— with fear and reverence for so far do a Man fear God as he knows him aâ— then doth a Man truly know God whâ— he joyns practice to speculation And thâ— is First When a Man doth so acknowled and celebrate God's Majesty as he 〈◊〉 revealed himself in his Word Secondly When from the true and liâ—â— sense of God's Attributes there is bred in â— Man 's heart a love awe and confidence in God for saith God himself If I be a Father where is my honour If I be a Lord where is my fear O taste and see that the Lord is good saith David He that hath not by experience tasted his goodness knoweth not how good he is He saith John that saith he knoweth God and keepeth not his Commandments is a lyar and the truth is not â—n him So far therefore as we imitate 〈◊〉 in his Goodness Love Justice Mercy Patience and other Attributes so far do we know him Thirdly When with inward groans and â—he serious desires of our hearts we long â—o attain to the perfect and plenary knowâ—edge of his Majesty in the life which is to come Lastly This discovers how few there â—re who do truly know God for no Man knoweth God but he that loveth him and how can a Man chuse but love him being the sovereign good if he know him seeing the Nature of God is to enamour with â—he Love of his Goodness And whosoever â—oveth any thing more than God is not worthy of God and such is every one who â—ettles the love and rest of his heart upon â—ny thing besides God If therefore thou â—â—ost believe that God is Almights why â—â—ost thou fear Devils and Enemies and not confidently trust in God and crave his help in all thy troubles and dangers If â—hou believest that God is Infinite how darest thou provoke him to Anger If thou believest that God is simple with what Heart canst thou dissemble and play the Hypocrite If thou believest that God is the sovereign Good why is not thy heart more settled upon him than on all worldly good If thou dost indeed believe that God is a just Judge how darest thou live so securely in sin without Repentance If thou dost truly believe that God is most wise why dost thou not referr the Events of Crosses and Disgraces unto him 〈◊〉 knows how to turn all things to the best unto them that love him If thou art perswaded that God is true why dost thou doubt of his promises And if thou believest that God is Beauty and perfection it self why dost not thou make him alone the chief end of all thy Affections and Desires For if thou lovest Beauty He is most fair if thou desirest Riches he is most wealthy if thou seekest Wisdom He is most wise Whatsoever excellency thou hast seen in any Creature it is nothing but a sparkle of that which is in infinite Perfection in God And when in Heaven we shall have an immediate Communion with God we shall have them all perfectly in him communicated unto us Briefly in all goodness he is all in all Love that one good God and thou shalt love him in whom all the good of goodness consisteth He that would therefore attain to the saving knowledge of God must learn to know him by love For God is Love and the knowledge of the Love of God passeth all knowledge For all knowledge besides to know how to love God and to serve him only is nothing upon Solomon's credit but vanity of vanities and vexation of spirit Kindle therefore O my Lady nay rather O my Lord Charity the love of thy self in my Soul especially seeing it was thy good pleasure that being reconciled by the blood of Christ I should be brought by the knowledge of thy grace to the Communion of thy glory wherein only consists my soveraign good and happiness for ever Thus by the light of his own word we have seen the back parts of JEHOVAH Elohim the eternal Trinity whom to believe is saving faith and verity and unto whom from all Creatures in Heaven and Earth be all Praise Dominion and Glory for ever Amen Thus far of the Knowledge of God now of the Knowledge of a Man's self And first of the state of his misery and corruption without renovation by Christ. Meditations of the misery of a man not reconciled to God in Christ. O Wretched man where shall I begin to describe thine endless misery who art condemned as soon as conceived and adjudged to eternal Death before thou wast born to a temporal Lifeâ— A beginning Indeed I find but no end of thy miseries For when Adam and Eve beiâ—g created after God's own Image and placed in Paradise that they and their Posterity might live in a blessed state of Life Immortal having dominion over all earthly Creatures and only restrained from the Fruit of one Tree as a sign of their subjection to the Almighty Creator tho' God forbad them this one small thing under the penalty of eternal Death yet they believed the Devil's Word before the Word of God making God as much as in them lay a Lyar. And so being unthankful for all the benefits which God bestowed on them they became male-content with their present state as if God had dealt enviously or niggardly with them and believed that the Devil would make them pertakers of far more glorious things than ever God had bestowed upon them and in their pride they fell into High Treason against the most High and disdaining to be God's Subjects they affected blasphemously to be Gods themselves Equals unto God Hence till they repented losing God's Image they became like unto the Devil and so all their posterity as a traiterous brood whilst they remain impenitent like thee are subject in this life to all cursed miseries and in the life to come to the everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels Lay the aside for a while thy doting vanities and take the view with me of thy doleful miseries which duly survey'd I doubt not but that thou wilt conclude that it is far better never to have Natures Being than not to be by Grace a Practitioner of Religious Piety Consider therefore thy misery 1. In thy Life 2. In thy Death 3. After Death in thy Life 1. The miseries accompanying thy Body 2. the miseries which deform thy Soul In thy Death The miseries which shall oppress thy Body and Soul After Death The miseries which overwhelm both Body and Soul together in Hell And first let us take a view of those miseries which accompany the Body according to the four Ages of thy Life 1. Infancy 2. Youth 3. Manhood 4. Old Age. Meditations of the Miseries of
every true Mordecai who mourned under the Sackeloth of this corrupt Flesh shall be arrayed with the King 's Royal Apparel and have the Crown Royal set upon his Head that all the World may see how it shall be done to him whom the King of Kings delighteth to honour If now the rising of one Sun makes the morning so glorious how glorious shall that Day be when innumerable Millions of Millions of Bodies of Saints and Angels shall appear more glorious than the brightness of the Sun the Body of Christ in glory surpassing all 4. In Agility whereby our bodies shall be able to ascend and meet the Lord at his glorious coming in the Air as Eagles flying unto their Blessed Carcass To this Agility of the Saints glorious Bodies the Prophet alludes saying They shall renew their strength They shall mount up with wings as Eagles They shall run and not be weary They shall walk and not faint And to this state may that saying of Wisdom be referred In the time of their Vision they shall shine and run to and fro as sparks amongst the stubble And in respect of these four Qualities Paul calleth the raised bodies of the Elect Spiritual for they shall be spiritual in qualities but the same still in substance And howsoever sin and corruption make a Man in this state of Mortality lower than Angels yet surely when God shall thus crown him with glory and honour I cannot see how Man shall be any thing inferiour to Angels For are they Spirits so is Man also in respect of his Soul yea more than this they shall have also a spiritual body fashioned like unto the glorious body of the Lord Jesus Christ in whom Man's Nature is exalted by a personal Vnion into the Glory of the Godhead and individual Society of the Blessed Trinity an Honour which he never vouchsafed Angels And in this respect Man hath a Prerogative above them Nay they are but Spirits appointed to be Ministers unto the Elect and as many of them who at the first disdained this Office and would not keep their first standing were for their pride hurried into Hell This lesseneth not the Dignity of Angels but extols the greatness of God's love to Mankind But as for all the Elect who at that second and sudden coming of Christ shall be found quick and living the fire that shall burn up the corruption of the world and the works therein shall in a moment in the twinkling of an Eye overtake them as it finds them either grinding in the Mill of Provision or walking in the Fields of pleasure or lying in the bed of ease and so burning up their dross and corruption of Mortal make them Immortal Bodies and this change shall be unto them instead of Death Then shall the Soul with joyfulness greet her Body saying O well met again my dear Sister How sweet is thy Voice How comely is thy countenance having lain hid so long in the Clefts of the Rocks and in the secret places of the grave thou art indeed an habitation fit not only for me to dwell in but such as the H. Ghost thinks meet to reside in as his Temple for ever The Winter of our affliction is now past the storm of our misery is blown over and gone The Bodies of our Elect Brethren appear more glorious than the Lily-flowers on the Earth the time of singing Hallelujahs is come and the voice of the Trumpet is heard in the Land Thou hast been my Yoke-fellow in the Lord's labours and companion in persecutions and wrongs for Christ and his Gospel sake now shall we enter together into our Master's Joy As thou hast born with me the Cross so shalt thou now wear with me the Crown As thou hast with me sowed plenteously in tears so shalt thou reap with me abundantly in joy O blessed ay blessed be that God! who when yonder Reprobates spent their whole time in Pride fleshly Lusts eating drinking and prophane Vanities gave us grace to join together in watching fasting praying reading the Scriptures keeping his Sabbaths hearing Sermons receiving the holy Communion relieving the Poor exercising in all humility the works of Piety to God and walking conscionably in the Duties of our calling towards Men. Thou shalt anon hear no mention of thy sins for they are remitted and covered but every good work which thou hast done for the Lord's sake shall be rehearsed and rewarded Chear up thy heart for thy Judge is flesh of thy flesh and bone of thy bone Lift up thy head behold these glorious Angels like so many Gabriels flying towards us to tell us That the day of our Redemption is come and to convey us in the Clouds to meet our Redeemer in the Air. Lo they are at hand Arise therefore my Dove my Love my fair One and come away And so like Roes or young Harts they run with Angels towards Christ over the trembling Mountains of Bether 6. Both quick and dead being thus revived and gloâ—â—fied shall forthwith by the ministry of God's holy Angels be gathered from all the quarters and parts of the world and caught up together in the Clouds to meet the Lord in the Air and so shall come with him as a part of his glorious Train to judge the Reprobates and evil Angels The twelve Apostles shall sit upon twelve thrones next Christ to judge the twelve Tribes who refused to hear the Gospel preached by their Ministry and all the Saints inâ— honour and order shall stand next unto them as Judges also to judge the evil Angels and earthly-minded Men. And as every of them received grace in this life to be more zealous of his glory and more faithful in his service than others so shall their glory and reward be greater than others in that Day The place whither they shall be gathered unto Christ and where Christ shall sit in judgment shall be in the Air over the Valley of Jehoshaphat by Mount Olivet near unto Jerusalem Eastward from the Temple as it is probable for four reasons 1. Because the holy Scripture seeâ—s to intimate so much in plain words I wiâ— gather all Nations into the valley of Jehoshaâ—phat and plead with them there Cause thy mighty one to come down O Lord let the heathen be wakened and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat for there will I sit to judge aâ— the heathen round about Jehoshaphat signifieth the Lord will judge And this Valley was so called from the great victory which the Lord gave Jehoshaphat and his people over the Ammonites Moabites and inhabitants of Mount Seir. Which victory was a type of the final victory which Christ â—he supream Judge shall give his Elect over â—ll their enemies in that place at the last â—ay as all the Jews interpret it See Zech. â— 4 5. Psalm 51. 1 2 c. all agreeing
estate for evermore Therefore it is termed everlasting life and Christ saith that our joy no man shall take from us All other joys be they never so great have an end Ahasuerus's Feast lasted an hundred and eighty days but he and it and all his joys are gone For mortal man to be assumed to heavenly glory to be associated to Angels to be satiated with an delights and joys but for a time were much but to enjoy them for ever without intermission of end who can hear it and not admire it who can muse of it and not â—e amazed at it All the Saints of Christ as soon as they felt once but a true taste of these eternal joys counted all the riches and pleasures of this life to be but loss and dung in respect of that And therefore with uncessant prayers fastings alms-deeds tears faith and good life they laboured to ascertain themselves of this eternal life and for the love thereof they willingly either sold or parted with all their earthly goods and possessions Christ calleth all Christians Merchants Luke 19. and Eternal Life a precious Pearl which a wise Merchant will purchase tho' it cost him all that he hath Matth. 13. Alexander hearing the report of the great riches of the Eastern Country divided forthwith among his Captains and Soldiers all his Kingdom of Macedonia He phaestion asking him what he meant in so doing Alexander answered That he preferr'd the riches of India whereof he hoped shortly to be master before all that his Father Philip had left him in Macedonia And should not Christians then preferr the eternal riches of Heaven so greatly renowned which they shall enjoy ere long before the corruptible trash of the Earth which lasts but for a season Abraham and Sarah left their own Country and Possessions to look for a City whose builder and maker is God and therefore bought no Land but only a place of Burial David preferred one day in this place before a thousand elsewhere yea to be a door-keeper in the house of God rather than to dwell in the richest Tabernacles of wickedness Elias earnestly besought the Lord to receive his Soul into his Kingdom and went willingly tho in a fiery Chariot thitherâ— St. Paul having once seen Heaven continually desired to be dissolved that he might be with Christ. St. Peter having espied but a glimpse of that eternal glory in the Mount wished â—hat he might dwell there all the days of his life saying Master it is good for us to be here How much better doth Peter now think it to be in Heaven it self Christ a little before his death prayeth his Father to receive him into that excellent Glory And the Apostle witnesseth that for the joy which was set before him he endured the Cross and despised the shame If a Man did but once see those joys if it were possible he would endure a hundred deaths to enjoy that happiness but one day Saint Augustine saith That he would be content to endure the torments of hell to gain this joy rather than to lose it Ignatius St. Paul's Scholar Being threatned as he was going to suffer with the cruelty of Torments answered with great courage of Faith Fire Gallows Beasts breaking of my bones quartering of my members crushing of my body all the torments of the devil together let them come upon me so I may enjoy my Lord Jesus and his Kingdom The same constancy shewed Polycarp who could not by any terrours of any kind of death be moved to deny Christ in the least measure With the like resolution answered Basil his persecutors when they would terrifie him with death I will never said he fear Death which can do no more than restore me to him that made me If Ruth left her own Country and followed Naâ—â—i her Mother-in-law to go and dwell with her in the land of Canaan which was by a type of Heaven only upon the fame which she heard of the God of Israel though she had no promise of any portion therein how shouldst thou follow thy holy Mother the Chruch to go unto Christ into the heavenly Canaan wherein God hath given thee an eternal inheritance assured by an holy Covenaâ—t made in the word of God signed with the Blood of his Son and sealed with his Spirit and Sacraments this shall be rhine eternal happiness in the Kingdom of Heaven where thy life shall be a communion with the blessed Trinity thy joy the presence of the Lamb thy exercise singing thy ditty hallelujah thy consorts Saints and Angels where youth flâ—urisheth that never waxeth old beauty lasteth that never fadeth love aboundeth that never cooleth health continueth that never slacketh and â—ife remaineth that never endeth Meditations directing a Christian how to apply to himself without delay the aforesaid knowledge of God and himself THou seest therefore O Man how wretched and cursed thy state is by corruption of â—â—ture without Christ insomuch that whereas the Scriptures do liken wicked men unto Lions Bears Bulls Horses Dogs and such like savage Creatures in their lives it is certain that the condition of an unregenerate man is in his Death more vile than a Dog or the filthiest Creature in the World For the Beast being made but for Man's use when he dieth endeth all his miseries with his death But Man endued with a reasonable and immortal soul made after God's image to serve God when he ends the miseries of this life must account for all his misdeeds and begin to endure these miseries that never shall know end No creature but man is liable to yield at his death an account for his life The brute creatures not having reason shall not be required to make any account for their deeds and good Angels tho' they have reason yet shall they yield no account because they have no sin And as for evil Angels they are without all hope already condemned so that they need not make any further accounts Man only in his death must be God's accountant for his life On the other side thou seest O Man how happy and blessed thy estate is being truly reconciled unto God in Christ in that through the restauration of God's Image and thy restitution into thy soveraignty over other creatures thou art in this life little inferiour to the Angels and shall be in the life to come equal to the Angels Yea in respect of thy Nature exalted by a personal Vnion to the Son of God and by him to the glory of the Trinity superior to the Angels a Fellow-Brother with Angels in spiritual Grace and everlasting Glory Thou hast seen how glorious and perfect God is and how that all thy chief bliss and happiness consisteth in having an eternal Communion with his Majesty Now therefore O impenitent sinner in the bowels of Christ Jesus I intreat thee nay I conjure thee as thou tenderest thy own salvation seriously
and receiving of the Sacrament to the knowledge of thy saving grace and obedience of thy blessed will for that thou hast bought and redeemed me with the blood of thine only begotten Son from the torments of Hell amd thrall of Satan for that thou hast by faith in Christ freely justified me who am by nature the Child of wrath for that thou hast in good measure sanctified me by thy holy Spirit and given me so large a time to repent together with the means of repentance I thank thee likewise good Lord for my life health wealth food raiment peace prosperity and plenty and for that thou hast preserved me this night from all perils and dangers of body and soul and hast brought me lafe to the beginning of this day And as thou hast now wakned my body from sleep so I beseech thee waken my soul from sin and carnal security and as thou hast caused the light of the day to shine in my bodily eyes so good Lord cause the light of thy Word and holy Spirit to illuminate my heart and give me grace as one of thy children of light to walk in all holy obedience before thy face this day and that I may endeavour to keep faith and a clear conscience towards thee and towards all men in all my thoughts words and dealings And so good Lord bless all my studies and actions which I shall take in hand this day as that they may tend to thy glory the good of others and the comfort of mine own Soul and Conscience in that day when I shall make my final accounts unto thee for them Oh my God keep thy servant that I do no evil unto any man this day and let it be thy blessed will not to suffer the Devil nor his wicked Angels nor any of his evil Members or any malicious enemies to have any power to do me any hurt or violence But let the eye of thy holy providence watch over me for good and not for evil and command thy holy Angels to pitch their Tents round about me for my defence and safety in me going out and coming in as thou hast promised they should do about them that fear thy Name For into thy hands O Father I do here commend my soul and body my actions and all that ever I have to be guided defended and protected by thee being assured that whatsoever thou takest into thy custody cannot perish nor suffer any hurt or harm And if I at any time this day shall through frailty forget thee yet Lord I beseech thee do thou in mercy remember me And I pray not unto thee O Father for my self alone but I beseech thee also be merciful unto thy whole Church and chosen people wheresoever they live upon the face of the earth Defend them from the Rage and Tyranny of the Devil the World and Antichrist Give thy Gospel a free and a joyful passage through the world for the conversion of those who belong to thine Election and Kingdom Bless the Churches and Kingdoms wherein we live with the continuance of Peace Justice and true Religion Defend the King's Majesty from all his Enemies and grant him a long life in health and all happiness to reign over us Bless our gracious Queen Mary Prince Charles the Lady Mary the Lady Elizabeth and her Princely Issue Increase in them all heroical gifts and spiritual graces which may make them fit for those places for which thou hast ordained them Direct all the Nobility Bishops Ministers and Magistrates of this Church and Common-wealth to govern the Commons in true religion justice obedience and tranquility Be merciful unto all the Brethren which fear thee and call upon thy name and comfort as many among them as are sick and comfortless in body or mind especially be favourable to all such as suffer any trouble or persecution for the testimony of thy truth and holy Gospel And give them a gracious deliverance out of all their troubles which way it shall seem best to thy Wisdom for the glory of thy Name the further enlarging of the truth and the more ample increase of their own Comfort and Consolation Hasten thy coming O blessed Saviour and end these sinful days And give me grace that like a wife Virgin I may be prepared with oil in my Lamp to meet thee the sweet Bridegroom of my Soul at thy coming whether it be by the day of Death or of Judgment and then Lord Jesus come when thou wilt even Lord Jesus come quickly These and all other graces which thou knowest needful and necessary for me this day and evermore I humbly beg and crave at thy hands O Father giving thee thy glory in that form of Prayer which Christ himself hath taught me to say unto thee Our Father which art in heaven hallowed be thy Name c. Meditations to stir us up to Morning Prayer IF when thou art about to pray Satan shall suggest that thy Prayers are too long and that therefore it were better either to omit Prayers or else to cut them shorter meditate that Prayer is thy spiritual sacrifice wherewith God is well pleased and therefore it is so displeasing to the Devil and so irksome to thy Flesh. Bend therefore thy Affections will they nill thy to so holy an exercise assuring thy self that it doth by so much the more please God by how much the more it is unpleasing to thy flesh 2. Forget not how the Holy Ghost puts at down as a special note of reprobates they call not upon the Lord they call not upon God And when Eliphaz supposed that Job had cast off the fear of God and tha◠God had cast Job out of his favour he chargeth him that he restrained prayer 〈◊〉 God making that a sure none of the 〈◊〉 and a sufficient cause of the other On the other side that God hath promised that whosoever shall call on his name shall be saved It is certain that he who maketh no conscience of the duty of Prayer hath no grace of the holy Spirit in him For the spirit of grace and of prayer are one And therefore Grace and Prayer go together But he that can from a penitent heart morning and evening pray unto God it is sure that he hath his measure of grace in this world and he shall have his portion of glory in the life which is to come 3. Remember that as loathing of meat and painfulness of speaking are two symptoms of a sick body So irkesomness of praying when thou talkest with God and carelesness in hearing when God by his Word speaks unto thee are two sure signs of a sick Soul 4. Call to mind the zealous devotions of the Christians in the Primitive Church who spent many whole nights and vigils in watching and praying for the forgiveness of
be so careful before thou goest abroad to drink to fence thy body from ill airs how much more careful shouldest thou be to pray to preserve thy soul from evil temptations 4. That the time spent in prayer never hindreth but furthereth and prospereth a Man's journey and business 5. That in going abroad into the world thou goest into a Forest full of unknown dangers where thou shalt meet many briars to tear thy good name many snares to crap thy life and my hunters to devour thy Soul It is a Field of pleasant Grass but full of poisonous Serpents Adventure not therefore to go naked amongst these briars till thou hast prayed Christ to clothe thee with his righteousness nor to pass thorow these snares and ambushments till thou hast prayed for God's providence to be thy guide nor to walk barefoot through this snaky field till having thy feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace thou hast prayed to have still the brazen Serpent in the eyes of thy faith that so if thou comest not home holier thou maist be sure not to return worser than when thou wentest out of door Therefore tho' thy haste be never so much or thy business never so great yet go not about it nor out of thy doors till thou hast at least used this or the like short Prayer A brief Prayer for the Morning O Merciful Father for Jesus Christ his sake I beseech thee forgive me all my known and secret sins which in thought word or deed I have committed against thy Divine Majesty and deliver me from all those judgments which are due unto me for them and sanctifie my heart with thy holy Spirit that I may henceforth lead a more godly and religious life And hear O Lord I praise thy holy name for that thou hast refreshed me this night with moderate sleep and rest I beseech thee likewise defend mâ— this day from all perils and dangers of body and soul. And to this end I commend my self and all my actions unâ—o thy blessed protection and government beseeching thee that whether I live or die I may live and die to thy glory and the salvation of my poor soul which thou hast bought with thy precious Blood Bless me therefore O Lord in my going out and coming in and grant that whatsoever I shall think speak or take in hand this day may tend to the glory of thy name the good of others and the comfort of mine own conscience when I shall come to make before thee my last accounts Grant this O heavenly Father for Jesus Christ thy Son's sake In whose blessed Name I give thee thy glory and beg at thy hands all other graces which thou seest to be needful for me this day and ever in that prayer which Christ himself hath taught me saying Our Father c. Meditations directing a Christian how he may walk all the day with God like Enoch HAving thus begun keep all the day after as diligent a watch as thou canst over all thy thoughts words and actions which thou maiest easily do by craving the assistance of God's holy Spirit and observing these few rules First for thy thoughts 1. BE careful to suppress every sin in the first motion Dash Babylon's children whilst they are young against the stones Tread Betimes the Cockatrice's egg lest it break out into a Serpent Let sin be to thy heart a stranger not a home-dweller Take heed of falling oft into the same sin lest the custom of sinning take away the conscience of sin and then shalt thou was so impudently wicked that thou wilt neither fear God nor reverence Man 2. Suffer not thy mind to feed it self upon any imagination which is either impossible for thee to do or unprofitable if it be done but rather think of the world's vanity to contemn it of death to expect it of judgment to avoid it of Hell to escape it and of Heaven to desire it 3. Desire not to fulfil thy mind in all things but learn to deny thy self those desires tho' never so pleasing to thy nature which being attained will draw either scandal on thy Religion or hatred to thy Person Consider in every thing the end before thou attempt the Action 4. Labour daily more and more to see thine own miseri through unbelief self-love and wilful Breaches of God's Law and the necessity of God's mercy through the merits of Christ's Passion to be such that if thou wert demanded What is the vilest creature upon earth Thy Conscience may answer Mine own self by reason of my great sins and that if on the other side thou wert asked What thou esteemest to be the mâ—st precious thing in the world thy heart might answer One drop of Christ's blood to wash away my sins And as thou tenderest the salvation of thy soul live not in any wilful filthiness For true faith and the purpose of sinning can never stand together 5. Approve thy self to be a true servant of Christ not only in thy general Calling as in the frequent use of the Word and Sacraments but also in thy particular in making conscience to eschew every known sin and to obey God in every one of his Commandments like Josias who turned to God with all his heart according to all the law of Moses and Zachary and Elizabeth who walked in all the Commandments of God without reproof But if at any time through frailty thou slippest into any sin lie not in it but speedily rise out of it by unfeigned repentance praying for pardoâ— till thy conscience be pacified thy hatred of sin encreased and thy purpose of amendment confirmed 6. Beware of affecting Popularity by adulation the end never proves good and though attained by due deserts yet manage it wisely lest it prove more dangerous than contempt For States desire but to keep down whom they contemn for their unworthiness but to cut off whom they envy for their greatness He therefore is truly prudent who considering the premises neither affecteth nor neglecteth popularity But in any wise take heed of harbouring a discontented mind for it may work thee more woe than thou art aware of It is a special mercy in the multitude of so many blessings as thou dost enjoy to have some crosses God gives thee many blessings lest through want being his child thou shouldst despair and he sends thee some crosses lest by too much prosperity playing the fool thou shouldst presume Many who have mounted to great dignities would have contented themselves with meaner had they known their great dangers affect therefore competency rather than eminency And in all thy will have ever an eye to God's will lest thy self-action turn to thine own destruction Happy the Man who in this short life is least known of the World so that he doth truly know God and himself whatsoever cross therefore thou hast to discontent thee remember that it is less than
man to travel in and the night for him to take his rest so I beseech thee sanctifie unto me this night's rest and sleep that I may enjoy the same as thy sweet blessing and benefit That so this dull and wearied body of mine being refreshed with moderate sleep and rest I may be the better enabled to walk before thee doing all such good works as thou hast appointed when it shall please thee by thy divine Power to waken me the next morning And whilst I sleep do thou O Lord who art the keeper of Israel that neither slamberest nor sleepest watch over me in thy holy providence to protect me from all dangers so that neither the evil Angels of Satan nor any wicked enemy may have any power to do me any harm or evil And to this end give a charge unto thy holy Angels that they at thine appointment may pitch their tents round about me for my defence and safety as thou hast promised that they should do about them that fear thy name And knowing that thy name is a strong Tower of defence unto all those that trust therein I here recommend my self and all that do belong unto me unto thy holy protection and custody If it be thy blessed will to call for me in my sleep O Lord for Christ his sake have mercy upon me and receive my soul into thy heavenly kingdom And if it be thy blessed pleasure to add more days unto my Life O Lord add more amendment unto my days and wean my mind from the love of the world and worldly vanities and cause me more and more to settle my conversation on heaven and heavenly things And perfect daily in me that good work which thou hast begun to the glory of thy Name and the salvation of my sinful soul. O Lord I beseech thee likewise save and defend from all evil and danger thy whole Church our King Charles Queen Mary the noble and hopeful Prince Charles with the rest of the Royal Progeny the religious Lady Elizabeth the King 's only Sister and her Princely Issue keep them all in the sincerity of thy Truth and prosper them in all grace and happiness Bless the Nobility Ministers and Magistrates of these Churches and Kingdoms each of them with those graces which are expedient for their place and calling And be thou O Lord a comfort and consolation to all thy people whom thou hast thought meet to visit with any kind of sickness cross or calamity Hasten O Father the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Make me ever mindful of my last end and of the reckoning that I am to make unto thee therein and in the mean while careful so to foâ—â—ow Christ in the regeneration during this life as that with Christ I may have a portion in the resurrection of the just when this mortal life is ended These graces and all other blessings which thou O Father knowest to be requisite and necessary for me I humbly beg and crave at thy hands in the name and meditation of Jesus Christ thy Son and in that form of Prayer which he himself hath taught me to say unto thee Our Father which art in Heaven c. Another short Evening Prayer O Eternal God and heavenly Father if I were not taught and assured by the promises of thy Gospel and the examples of Peter Mary Magdalen the Publican the Prodigal child and many other penitent sinners that thou art so full of Compassion and so ready to forgive the greatest sinners who are heaviest laden with sin at what time soever they return unto thee with penitent hearts lamenting their sins and imploring thy grace I should despair for mine own sins and be utterly discouraged from presuming to come into thy presence considering the hardness of my heart the unruliness of my affections and the uncleanness of my conversation by means whereof I have trangressed all thy laws and deserved thy curse which might cause my body to be smitten with some fearful disease my soul to languish with the death of sin my good name to be traduced with scandalous reproaches and make mine estate liable to all manner of crosses and casualties And I confess O Lord that thy mercy is the cause that I have not been long ago confounded But O my God as thy mercy only staied thy judgment from falling upon me hitherto so I humbly beseech thee in the bowels of the mercy of Jesus Christ in whom only thou art well pleased that thou wilt not deal with me according to my deserts but that thou wouldst freely and fully remit unto me all my sins and transgressions and that thou wouldst wash them clean from me with the vertue of that most precious blood which thy Son Jesus Christ hath shed for me For he alone is the Phâ—sician and his blood only is the medicine that ean heal my sickness And he is the true brazen Serpent that can cure that poison wherewith the fiery Serpent of my sins have stung and poisoned my sick and wounded soul. And give me I beseech thee thine holy Spirit which may assure me of mine adoption and that may confirm my faith encrease my repentance enlighten my understanding purifie my heart rectifie my will and affections and so sanctifie me â—hroughout that my whole body soul and spiâ—it may be kept unblameable until the glorious â—oming of my Lord Jesus Christ. And now O Lord I give thee most hearty thanks â—nd praise for that thou hast this day preserved me from all harms and perils notwithstanding all my sins and ill deserts And I beseech thee likewise defend me â—his night from the roaring Lyon which â—ight and day seeketh to devour me Watch â—hou O Lord over me this night to keep â—e from his temptations and tyranny and â—et thy mercy shield me from his unappeaâ—ble rage and malice And to this end I â—ommend my self into thy hands and proâ—ection beseeching thee O my Lord and God not to suffer Satan nor any of his eâ—il members to have power to do unto me â—ny hurt or violence this night And grant â—ood Lord that whether I sleep or wake â—ve or die I may sleep wake live and die â—nto thee and to the glory of thy name â—nd the salvation of my soul. Lord bless â—nd defend all thy chosen People every â—here Grant our King a long and happy â—eign over us Bless our gracious Queen Mary with their Princely Progeny the â—ady Elizabeth the King 's only Sister and â—er Princely Issue together with all our â—agistrates and Ministers comfort them â—ho are in misery need or sickness good â—ord give me grace to be one of those â—ise Virgins which may have my heart â—repared like a Lamp furnished with the 〈◊〉 of faith and light of good works to meet the Lord Jesus the sweet Bridegroom of my soul
the greatest sins of the chiefest sinner in the World And for the other let not O Lord thy long sufferance either too much discourage them or too much incourage their enemies but grant them patience in suffering and a gracious and speedy deliverance which way may stand best with their comfort and thy glory Give every one of us grace to be always mindful of his last end and to be prepared with faith and repentance as with a wedding garment against the time that thou shalt call for us out of this sinful World And that in the mean while we may so in all things and above all things seek thy Glory that when this mortal life is ended we may then be made partakers of immortality and life eternal in thy most blessed and glorious Kingdom These and all other graces which thou O Father seest to be necessary for us and for thy whole Church we humbly beg and crave at thy hands concluding this our imperfect prayer in that absolute form of prayer which Christ himself hath taught us saying Our Father c. After prayers let every one of thy Houshold taking in the fear of God such a breakfast or refreshing as is fit depart the children to School the servants to their work every one to his office the Master and Mistress of the Family to their callings or to some honest exercises for recreation as they think fit The Practice of Piety at meals and the manner of feeding BEfore Dinner and Supper when the Table is covered ponder with thy self upon these Meditations to work a deeper impression in thy heart of God's fatherly providence and goodness towards thee Meditations before Dinner and Supper 1. MEditate that Hunger is like the sickness called a Wolf which if thou dost not â—eed will devour thee and eat thee up and that meat and drink are but as physick or means which God hath ordained to relieve and cure this natural infirmity and necessity of Man Use therefore to eat and to drink rather to sustain and refresh the weakness of nature than to satisfie the sensuality and delights of the flesh Eat therefore to live but live not to eat A Scavenger whose living is to empty is to be preferred before him that liveth but to fill Privies There is no service so base as for a man to be a slave to his belly The Apostle termeth such Belly-Gods Phil. 3. 19. Therefore we may boldly term them as the Scriptures do other idols Gillulim Dungy gods Hab. 2. 18 19. 2 King 17. 12. And as no one action God's ordinances excepted makes a man more to resemble a beast than eating and drinking so the abuse of eating and drinking to surfeiting drunkenness and spewing makes a man more vile than a beast 2. Meditate on the omnipotenâ—â— of God who made all these creatures of nothing of his wisdom who feedeth so many infinite Creatures through the universal World maintaining all their lives which he hath given them which surpasseth the wisdom of all the Angels in heaven and of his clemency and goodness in feeding also his very enemies 3. Meditate how many sorts of Creatures as beasts fish and fowl have lost their lives to become food to nourish thee and how God's Providence from remote places hath brought all these portions together on thy table for thy nourishment and how by these dead creatures he maintains thee in health and life 4. Meditate that seeing thou hast so many pledges of God's fatherly bounty goodness and mercy towards thee as there are dishes of meat on thy Table Oh suffer not in such a place so gracious a God to be abused by scurrility ribauldry or swearing or thy fellow brother by disgraceful back-biting taunting or slandering 5. Meditate how that thy Master Jesus Christ did never eat any food but first he blessed the Creatures and gave thanks to his heavenly Father for the same And after his last Supper we read that he sung a Psalm For this was the Commandment of God When thau hast eaten and filled thy self thou shalt bless the Lord thy God c. This was the Practice of the Prophets For people would not eat at their feast till Samuel came to bless their meat And saith Joel to God's people Ye shall eat and be satisfied and praise the Name of the Lord your God This also was the practice of the Apostles For St. Paul in the ship gave thanks before meat in the presence of all the people that were therein Imitate thou therefore in so holy an action so blessed a Master and so many worthy Precedents that have followed him and gone before thee It may be because thou hast never used to give thanks at meals therefore thou art now ashamed to begin Think it no shame to do what Christ did but be rather ashamed that thou hast so long neglected so Christian a duty And if the Son of God gave his Father such great thanks for a dinner of barley bread and broiled fish what thanks should such a sinful man as thou art render unto God for such variety of good and dainty cheer How many a true Christian would be glad to fill his belly with the morsels which thou refusest and do lack that which thou leavest How hardly do others labour for that which they eat and thou hast thy food provided for thee without either care or labour To conclude if Pagan Idolaters at their Feasts were accustomed to praise their false Gods what a shame is it for a Christian at his dinners and suppers not to praise the true God in whom we live move and have our being 6. Meditate that thy body which thou dost now so daintily feed must be thou knowest not how soon meat for worms When thou shalt say to corruption thou art my Father and to the Worm thou art my Mother and my Sister 7. Meditate how that many a Man's table is made his snare so that through his intemperance and unthankfulness the meat which should nourish his body kills him with a surfeit insomuch that more are killed with this snare than with the sword And seeing that since the Curse the use as of all creatures so likewise of meat and drink is unto us unclean till the same be sanctified by the Word of God and Prayer and that man liveth not by bread only but by the Word of God's Ordinance and his blessing which is called the staff of bread Sit not therefore down to eat before you pray and rise not before you give God thanks Feed to suffice nature yet rise with an appetite and remember thy poor Christian brethren who suffer hunger and want those good things wherewith thou dost abound These things or some of them premeditated if there be not a Samuel present lift up with all comely reverence thy heart with thy hands
and eyes unto the great Creator and Feeder of all Creatures and before Meat pray unto him thus Grace before Meat O Most gracious God and loving Father who feedest all creatures living which depend upon thy divine providence we beseech the sanctifie these creatures which thou hast ordained for us give them virtue to nourish our bodies in life and health and give us grace to receive them soberly and thankfully as from thy hands that so in the strength of these and other thy blessings we may walk in the uprightness of our hearts before thy face this day and all the days of our lives through Jesus Christ our Lord and only Saviour Amen Or thus MOst gracious God and merciful Father we beseech thee sanctifie these Creatures to our use make them healthful for our nourishment and us thankful for all thy blessings through Christ our Lord and only Saviour Amen Another Grace before Meat O Eternal God in whom we live move and have our being we beseech thee bless unto thy Servants these Creatures that in the strength of them we may live to the setting forth of thy praise and glory through Jesus Christ our Lord and only Saviour Amen After every meal be careful of thy self and family as Job was for himself and his Children Job 1. 4. lest that in the chearfulness of eating and drinking some speech hath slipped out which might be either offensive to God or injurious to man and therefore with the like comely gâ—sture and reverence give thanks unto God and pâ—ay in this manner BLessed be thy holy Name O Lord our God for these thy good benefits wherewith thou hast so plentifully at this time refreshed our bodies O Lord vouchsafe likewise to feed our souls with the spiritual food of thy holy Word and Spirit unto life everlasting Lord defend and save thy whole Church our gracious King Charles Queen Mary the noble and hopeful Prince Charles with the rest of the royal progeny the Lady Elizabeth the Kings only Sister and her Princely issue Forgive us our sins and unthankfulness pass by our manifold infirmities make us all mindful of our last end and of the reckoning that we are to make to thee therein and in the mean while grant unto us health peace and truth in Jesus Christ our Lord and only Saviour Amen Or thus BLessed be thy Holy name O Lord for these thy good benefits wherewith thou hast refreshed us at this time Lord forgive us all our sins and frailties save and defend thy whole Church our King and his Royal posterity and grant us health peace and truth in Christ our only Saviour Amen Or thus WE give thee thanks O heavenly Father for feeding our bodies so graciously with thy good creatures to this temporal life beseeching thee likewise to feed our souls with thy holy Word unto life everlasting Defend O Lord thine universal Church the King and his royal Posterity and grant us continuance of thy grace and mercy in Christ our only Saviour Amen The Practice of Piety at Evening At Evening when the due time of repairing to rest approacheth call together again all thy Family Read a Chapter in the same manner that was prescribed in the morning Then in holy imitation of our Lord and his Disciples sing a Psalm But in singing of Psalms either after Supper or at any other time observe these rules Rules to be observed in singing of Psalm 1. BEware of singing divine Psalms for an ordinary recreation as do men of impure Spirits who sing holy Psalms intermingled with prophane Ballads They are God's Word take them not in thy mouth in vain 2 Remember to sing David's Psalms with David's Spirit 3. Practise Saint Paul's rule I will sing with the spirit but I will sing with the understanding also 4. As you sing uncover your heads and behave your selves in comely reverence as in the sight of God singing to God in God's own words but be sure that the matter make more melody in your hearts than the Musick in your ear for the singing with grace in our hearts is that which the Lord is delighted withal according to that old verse Non vox sed votum non musica cordula sed cor Non clamans sed amans psallit in aure Dei 'T is not the voice but vow Sound heart not sounding string True zeal not outward show That in God's ear doth ring 5. Thou maiest if thou thinkest good sing all the Psalms over in order for all are most divine and comfortable But if thou wilt chuse some special Psalms as more fit for some times and purposes and such as by the oft usage thy people may the easilier commit to memory Then sing In the Morning Psal. 3. 5. 16. 22. 144. In the Evening Psal. 4. 127. 141. For mercy after a sin committed Psal 51. 103. In sickness or heaviness Psal. 6. 13. 89. 90. 91. 137. 146. When thou art recovered Psal. 30. 32. On the Sabbath day Psal. 19. 92. 95. In time of joy Psal. 80. 98. 107. 136. 145. Before Sermon Psal. 1. 12. 147. the 1. and 5. Part of the 119. After Sermon any Psalm which concerneth the chief argument of the Sermon At the Communion Psal. 22. 23. 103. 111. 116. For spiritual solace Psal. 15. 19. 25. 46. 67. 112. 116. After wrong and disgrace received Psal. 42. 69. 70. 140. 144. After the Psalm all kneeling down in reverent manner as is before described let the Father of the Family or the chiefest in his absence pray thus Evening Prayer for a Family O Eternal God and most gracious Father we thine unworthy Servants here assembled do cast down our selves at the footstool of thy grace acknowledging that we have inherited our Fathers corruption and actually in thought word and deed transgressed all thy holy Commandments so that in us naturally there dwelleth nothing that is good for our hearts are full of secret pride anger impatience dissembling lying lust vanity prophanâ—ness distruâ—â— too much love of our selves and the World too little love of thee and thy Kingdom but empty and void of faith love patience and every spiritual grace If thou therefore shouldst but enter into judgment with us and search out our natural corruption and observe all the cursed fruits and effects that we have derived from thence Satan might justly challenge us for his own and we could noâ— expect any thing from thy Majesty but thy wrath and our condemnation which we have long ago deserved But good Father for Jesus Christ thy dear Son's sake in whom only thou art well pleased and for the merits of that bitter death and bloody passion which we believe that he hath suffered for us have mercy upon us pardon and forgive us all our sins and free us from the shame and confusion which are due unto us for them that they may never seize upon us to our confusion in this life nor to our condemnation in the world
which is to come And for as much as thou hast created us to serve thee as all other Creatures to serve us so we beseech thee inspire thy holy Spirit into our hearts that by his illumination and effectual working we may have the inward sight and feeling of our sins and natural corruptions and that we may not be blinded in them through custom as the Reprobates are but that we may more and more loath them and be heartily grieved for them endeavouring by the use of all good means to overcome and get out of them O let us feel the Power of Christ's Death killing sin in our mortal Bodies and the vertue of his Resurrection raising up our Souls to newness of life Convert our hearts subdue our affections regenerate our minds and purifie our nature and suffer us not to be drowned in the stream of those filthy vices and sinful pleasures of thâ—s time where with thousands are carried headlong to eternal destruction but daily frame us more and more to the likeness of thy Son Jesus Christ that in righteousness and true holiness we may so serve and glorifie thee that living in thy fear and dying in thy favour we may in thine appointed time attain to the blessed resurrection of the just unto eternal life In the mean while O Lord increase our faith in the sweet promises of the Gospel and our repentance from dead works the assurance of our hope in thy promises our fear of thy name the hatred of all our sins and our love unto thy children especially those whom we shall see to stand in need of our help and comfort that so by the fruits of Piety and a righteous life we may be assured that thy Holy Spirit doth dwell in us and that we are thy Children by Grace and Adoption And grant us good Father the continuance of health peace maintenance and all other outward things so far forth as thy Divine Wisdom shall think meet and necessary for every one of us And here O Lord according to our bounden duty we confess that thou hast been exceeding merciful unto us all in things of this life but infinitely more merciful in the things of a better life and therefore we do here from our very souls render unto thee all humble and hearty thanks for all thy blessings and benefits bestowed upon our souls and bodies acknowledging thee to be that Father of lights from whom we have received all those good and perfect gifts and unto thee alone for them we ascribe to be due all glory honour and praise both now and evermore But more especially we praise thy divine Majesty for that thou hast defended us this day from all perils and dangersâ— so that none of those judgments which our sins have deserved have fall'n upon any one of us Good Lord forgive us the sins which this day we have committed against thy Divine Majesty and our brethren for Christ his sake be reconciled unto us for them And we beseech thee likewise of the same thine infinite goodness and mercy to defend and protect us and all that belong unto us this night from all dangers of fire robberry terrours of evil angels or any other fear or peril which for our sins might justly fall upon us And that we may be safe under the shadow of thy wings we here commend our Bodies and Souls and all that we have unto thine Almighty protection Lord bless and defend both us and them from all evil And whilst we sleep do thou O Father who never slumberest nor sleepest watch over thy Children and give a charge to thy Holy Angels to pitch their tents round about our House and Dwelling to gâ—ard us from all dangers that sleeping wiâ—h thee we may in the next morning be awakened by thee and so being reâ—reshed with moderate sleep we may be the fitter to set forth thy glory in the conscionable duties of our callings And we beseech thee O Lord to be merciful likewise to thy whole Church and to continue the tranquility of these Kingdoms wherein we live turning from us those plagues which the crying sins of this Nation do cry for Preserve our Religious King Charles Queen Mary the Noble and Hopeful Prince Charles with the rest of the Royal Progeny the religious Lady Elizabeth the King 's only Sister and her Princely Issue all our Magistrates and Ministers all that fear thee and call upon thy Name all our Christian Brethren and Sisters that suffer sickness or any other affliction or misery especially those who any where do suffer persecution for the testimony of thy holy Gospel grant them patience to bear thy cross and deliverance when and which way it shall seem best to thy Divine Wisdom And Lord suffer us never to forget our last end and those reckonings which then we must render unto thee In health and prosperity mâ—ke us mindful of sickness and of the evil day that is behind that these things may not overtake us as a 〈◊〉 but that we may in good measure like wise Virgins be found prepared for the coming of Christ the sweet Bridegroom of our Souls And now O Lord most holy and just we coâ—fess that there is no cause why thou who art so much displeased with sin shouldest hear the prayer of sinners but for his sake only who suffered for sin and sinned not In the only mediation therefore of thine eternal Son Jesus our Lord and Saviour we humbly beg these and all other graces which thou knowest to be needful for us shutting up these our imperfect requests in that most holy Prayer which Christ himself hath taught us to say unto thee Our Father c. Thy grace O Lord Jesus Christ thy love O heavenly Father thy comfort and consolation O holy and blessed Spirit be with us and remain with us this night and for evermore Amen Then saluting one another as becometh Christians who are the Vessels of grace and Temples of the holy Ghost let them in the fear of God depart every one to his rest using some of the former private Meditations for Evening Thus far of the Housholder's publick Practice of Piety with his Family every day Now followeth his Practice of Piety with the Church on the Sabbath-day Meditations of the true manner of practising Piety on the Sabbath-day ALmighty God will have himself worshipped not only in a private manner by private Persons and Families but also in a more publick sort of all the godly joyned together in a visible Church that by this means he may be known not only to be the God and Lord of every singular Person but also of the Creatures of the whole universal World Quest. But why do not we Christians under the New keep the Sabbath on the same seventh day whereon it was kept under the Old Testament I answer because that our Lord Jesus who is the Lord of the Sabbath and whom the Law
the Creation the first day wherein it was finished was consecrated for a Sabbath so in the time of Redemption the first day wherein it was perfected must be dedicated to a holy rest but still a seventh day kept according to God's moral Commandment The Jews kept the last day of the week beginning their Sabbath with the night when God rested but Christians honour the Lord better on the first day of the week beginning the Sabbath with the day when the Lord arose They kept their Sabbath in remembrance of the World's Creation but Christians celebrate it in memorial of the World's Redemption yea the Lord's-day being the first of the Creation and Redemption puts us in mind both of the making of the old and redeeming of the new World As therefore under the old Testament God by the glory consisting of seven Lamps seven Branches c. put them in remembrance of the Creation Light and Sabbath's â—est So under the New Testament Christ the true light of the world appeareth in the midst of the 7 lampâ— and seven golden candle-sticks to put us in minâ— to honour our Redeemer in in the light of the Gospel of the Lord's seventh day of rest And seeing the Redemption both for might and mercy so fâ—r exceedeth the Câ—cation it stood with great reason thee the greater work should carry the honour of the day Neither doth he honourable title of the Lord's-day diminish the glory of the Sabbath but rather being added augments the dignity thereof as the name of Israel added unto Jacob made the Patriarch the more renowned The reason taken from the example of God's resting from the work of the Creation of the World continued in force till the Son of God ceased from the work of the Redemption of the World and then the former gave place to the latter 4. Because it was foretold in the Old Testament that the Sabbath should be kept under the New Testament on the first-day of the week For first in the 110 Psalm which is a Prophecy of Christ and his Kingdom it is plainly foretold that there should be a solemn day of assembling wherein all Christ's people should willingly come together in the beauty of holiness Insomuch that no rain of peace shall be upon those Families that in the feast will not go up to Jerusalem the Church to worship the King the Lord of hosts Now on what day this holy Feast and Assembly should be kept David sheweth plainly in Psal. 118 which was a prophecy of Christ as appears Mat. 21. 42 Acts 4. 11. Ephes. 2. 20. as also by the consent of all the Jews as Jerom witnesseth For shewing how Christ by his ignominious death should be as a stone rejected of the Builders or chief Rulers of Judea and yet by his glorious Resurrection should become the chief stâ—ne of the Corner he wisheth the whole Church to keep holy that day whereupon Christ should effect this wonderful work saying This is the day which the Lord hath made let us rejoyce and be glad in it And seeing that upon this day that which Peter saith of Christ appeareth to be true That God made him both Lord and Christ Acts 2. 36. therefore the whole Church under the New Testament must celebrate the day of Christ's Resurrection Rabby Bachay also saw by the fall of Adam on the sixth day that on the same day the Messias should finish the work of man's redemption And alluding to the speech of Boaz to Ruth sleep unto the Morning that Messias should rest in his grave all their Sabbath-day And he gathereth from that speech Gen. 1. on the first day Let their be light that the Messias should rise on the first day of the week from death to life and cause the spiritual light of the Gospel to enlighten the World that lay in the shadow of darkness and death The Hebrew Author of the Book called Sedar Olam Rabbi cap. 7. recordeth many memorable things which were done upon the first day of the week as so many Types that the chief worship of God should under the New Testament be celebrated upon this day As that on this day the cloud of God's Majesty first sate upon his people Aaron and his Children first executed their Priesthood God first solemnly blessed his people The Princes of his people first offered publickly unto God The first day wherein fire descended from heaven The first day of the World of the Year of the Month of the week c. All shadowing that it should be the first and chief holy-day of the New Testament St. Augustine proveth by divers places and reasons out of the holy Scripture that the Fathers and all the holy Prophets under the Old Testament did foresee and know that our Lord's-day was shadowed by their eighth day of Circumcision And that the Sabbath should be changed from the seventh day to the eighth or first day of the week And Junius out of Cyprian saith that Circumcision was commanded on the eighth day as a Sacrament of the eighth day when Christ should arise from the dead The Council Foro-Juliense affirms That Esay prophesied of the keeping of the Sabbath upon the first day of the week If this Mystery was so clearly seen by the Fathers under the shadows of the Old Testament sure the God of this World hath deeply blinded their minds who cannot see the Truth thereof under the shining light of the Gospel Therefore this change of the Sabbath-day under the New was nothing but a fulfilling of that which was prefigured and fore-prophesied under the Old Testament 5. According to their Lord's Mind and Commandment and the direction of the Holy Ghost which alway assisted them in their Ministerial Office the Apostles in all the Christian Churches which they planted ordained that the Christians should keep the holy Sabbath upon that seventh Day which is the first Day of the week Concerning the gathering for the Saints as I have ordained in the Churches of Galatia so do ye also Every first-day of the week c. When ye come together in the Church being the Lord's-day to eat the Lord's-Supper to remember and shew the Lord's death till he come c. In which words note 1. That the Apostle ordained this Day to be kept holy therefore a divine Institution 2. That the Day is named the first-day of the week therefore not the Jewish seventh or any other 3. Every first-day of the week which sheweth a perpetuity 4. That it was ordained in the Churches of Galatia as well as of Corinth and he settled one uniform order in all the Churches of the Saints therefore it was universal 5. That the exercises of this day were Collections for the poor which appears by Acts 2. 42. and Justin Martyr's testimony Apolog. 2. which were gathered in the holy Assembly after Prayer preaching of the Word and Administration of the Sacraments therefore it
I am fully O Lord assured that all the 〈◊〉 fare wherewith the disdainfull Phaâ—isee entertained thee at his Table did not so much please thee as those tears which penitent Mary poured under the â—â—ble I would therefore wish with Jeremy that my head were a fountain of tears that seeing I can by no means yield sufficient thanks for thy love to me yet I might by continual Tears testifie my love unto thee And though no man is worthy of so infinite a grace yet this is my comfort That he is worthy whom thou in favour accountest worthy And seeing that now of thy mere grace thou hast counted me among others thy chosen worthy of this unspeakable favour and sealed by thy Sacrament the assurance of thy love and the forgiveness of my sins O Lord confirm thy favour unto thy Servant and say of me as Isaac did of Jacob I have blessed him therefore he shall be blessed And that I may say unto thee with David Thou O Lord hast blessed my Soul and made it thy house and it shall be blessed for ever And seeing it pleased thee to bless the house of Obed-edom and all his houshold whilest the Ark of the Lord remained in his house I doubt not but thou wilt much more bless my soul and body and all that do belong unto me now that it hath pleased thy Majesty of thine own good will to enter under my roof and to dwell for ever in my poor cottage Bless me O Lord so that my sins may wholly be remitted by thy Blood my conscience sanctified by thy Spirit my mind enlightned by thy Truth my Heart guided by thy Spirit and my Will in all things subdued to thy blessed Will and Pleasure Bless me with all graces which I want and increase in me those good gifts which thou hast already bestowed upon me And seeing that I hold thee not by the arms as Jacob wrestling without me but inwardly dwelling by Faith within me surely Lord I will never let thee go except thou bless me and give me a new name a new heart a new spirit and strength by the power of God to prevail over sin and Satan And I beseech thee O Lord desire not to depart from me as thou didst from Jacob because the day breaketh and thy grace beginneth to dawn and appear But I from my soul humbly with the Emmauites intreat thee O sweet Jesus to abide with me because it draweth towards night For the night of temptation the night of tribulation yea my last long night of death approacheth O blessed Saviour stay with me therefore now and ever And if thy presence go not home with me carry me not from hence Go with me and live with me and let neither death nor life separate me from thee Drive me from my self draw me unto thee Let me be sick but sound in thee and in my weakness let thy strength appear Let me seem as dead that thou alone mayest be seen to live in me so that all my members may be but instruments to act thy motions Set me as a seal upon thine heart and let thy zeal be setled upon mine that I may be out of love with all that I may be only in love with thee And grant O Lord that as thou now vouchsafest me this favour to sit at thy Table to receive this Sacrament in thy house of grace so I may hereafter through thy mercy be received to â— eat and drink at thy Table in thy kingdom of Glory And for thy mercy I do here with the four beasts and twenty four Elders cast my self down before thy Throne of Grace acknowledging that it is thou that hast redeemed with thy blood and that salvation cometh only from thee And therefore unto thee I do yield all praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honour and power and might and Majesty O my Lord and my God for evermore Amen Thirdly Seeing Christ hath sacrificed himself for thee and all that thou canst give is too little therefore thou must offer thy self to be a living holy and acceptable sacrifice unto God by serving him in righteousness and holiness all thy days Thus Iertullian witnesseth that in his time a Christian was known from another man only by the holiness and uprightness of his life 2. Of the duties which we are to do after the Communion joyntly with the Congregation THE duties to be performed joyntly with the Church are Three First publick thanksgiving both by Prayers and singing of Psalms Thus Christ himself and his Apostles did Secondly joining with the Church in giving every man according to his ability towards the relief of the poor This was the manner of the Primitive Churches to make Collections and Love Feasts after the Lord's Supper for the relief of the poor Christians Thirdly when thanks and praise is ended then with all reverence to stand up and to receive the blessing of God by the mouth of his Minister and to receive it as if thou didst hear God himself pronouncing it unto thee from Heaven For by their blessing God doth bless his people Thus far of the Duties to be practised in the Church The Duties which thou art to practise after that thou art departed home are three First to observe diligently whether thou hast truly received Christ in the Sacrament Which thou maist thus easily perceive for seeing his flesh is meat indeed and his blood is drink indeed and that he is so full of grace that no man ever touched him by faith but he received virtue from him it cannot possibly be that if thou hast eaten his flesh or drunk his blood but thou shalt receive grace and power to be cleansed from thy sins and filthiness For if the Hemorrhoise that did but touch his garment had her bloody issue that continued so long forthwith stanched how much more will the bloody issue of thy sin be stanched if thou then hast truly eaten and drunk the very flesh and blood of Christ But if thy issue still runneth thou maist justly suspect thou hast never yet truly touched Christ Secondly seeing thou hast now reconciled thy self to God and renewed thy Covenant and vowed newness and amendment of life thou must therefore have a special care that thou dost not yield to commit thy former sins any more knowing that the unclean spirit if ever he can get into thy Soul again after that it is swept and garnished he will enter forcible possession with seven other devils worse than himself So that the end of that man shall be worse than his beginning Be ye not therefore like the Dog that returns to his vomit or the washed Sow that walloweth in the mire again And return not to thy malice like to the Adder who laying aside her poyson while she drinks takes it up again when she hath done But when either the devil or thy flesh shall offer to
are always in my sight Oh what a wretched sinner am I void of all goodness by nature and full of evil by sinful custom Oh what a world of sin have I committed against thee whilst thy long-sufferance expected my conversion and thy blessings wooed me to repentance Yet O my God seeing it is thy property more to respect the goodness of thine own nature than the deserts of sinners I beseech thee O Father for thy Son Jesus Christ his sake and for the merits of that all saving death which he hath voluntarily suffered for all which believe in him Have mercy upon me according to the multitude of thy mercies turn thy face away from my sins and blot out all mine iniquities Cast me not out of thy presence neither reward me according to my deserts For if thou dost reject me who will receive me or who will succour me if thou dost forsake me But thou O Lord art the helper of the helpless and in thee the fatherless findeth mercy for though my sins be exceeding great yet thy mercy O Lord far exceedeth them all neither can I commit so many as thy grace can remit and pardon Wash therefore O Christ my sins with the vertue of thy precious Blood especially those sins which from a penitent heart I have confessed unto thee but chiefly O Lord for Christ his sake forgive me And seeing that of thy love thou didst lay down thy life for my ransom when I was thine enemy Oh save now the price of thine own Blood when it shall cost thee but a smile upon me or a gracious appearance in thy Father's sight in my behalf Reconcile me once again O merciful Mediator unto thy Father for though there be nothing in me that can please him yet I know that in thee and for thy sake he is well pleased with all whom thou acceptest and lovest And if it be thy blessed Will remove this sicknes from me and restore me to my former health again that I may live longer to set forth thy glory and to be a comfort to my friends which depend upon me and to procure to my self a more setled assurance of that heavenly inheritance which thou hast prepared for me And then Lord thou shalt see how religiously and wisely I shall redeem the time which heretofore I have so lewdly and prophanely spent And to the end that I may the sooner and the easier be delivered from this pain and sickness direct me O Lord I beseech thee by thy divine providence to such a Physician and helper as that by thy blessing upon the means I may recover my former health and welfare again And good Lord vouchsafe that as thou hast sent this sickness unto me so thou wouldst likewise be pleased to send thy holy Spirit into my heart whereby this present sickness may be sanctified unto me that I may use it as thy School wherein I may learn to know the greatness of my misery and the riches of thy mercy that I may be so humbled at the one that I despair not of the other and that I may so renounce all confidence of help in my self or in any other creature that I may only put the whole rest of my salvation in thy all sufficient merits And forasmuch as thou knowest Lord how weak a vessel I am full of frailty and imperfections and that by Nature I am angry and froward under every Cross and Affliction O Lord who art the giver of all good gifts arm me with patience to endure thy blessed will and pleasure and of thy mercy lay no more upon me than I shall be able to endure and suffer Give me grace to behave my self in all patience love and meekness unto those that shall come and visit me that I may thankfully receive and willingly embrace all good counsels and consolations from them and that they may likewise see in me such a good example of Patience and hear from me such godly lessons of comfort as may be arguments of my Christian faith and profession and instructions unto them how to behave themselves when it shall please thee to visit them with the like affliction of sickness I know O Lord I have deserved to die and I desire not longer to live than to amend my wicked life and in some better measure to set forth thy glory Therefore O Father if it be thy blessed will restore me to health again and grant me a longer life But if thou hast according to thine eternal decree appointed by this sickness to call for me out of this transitory life I resign my self into thy hands and holy pleasure thy blessed will be done whether it be by life or by death Only I beseech thee of thy mercy forgive me all my sins and prepare my poor soul that by a true faith and unfeigned repentance she may be ready against the time that thou shalt call for her out of my sick and sinful body O heavenly Father who art the hearer of prayers hear thou in heaven this my prayer and in this extremity grant me these requests not for any worthiness that is in me but for the merits of thy beloved Son Jesus my only Saviour and Mediator for whose sake thou hast promised to hear us and to grant whatsoever we shall ask of thee in his Name In his Name therefore and in his own words I conclude this my imperfect Prayer saying Our Father which art in Heaven Hallowed by thy Name c. Having thus reconciled thy self unto God in Christ 1. Let thy next care be to set thy House in order as Esay advised King Hezekias making thy last Will and Testament if it be not already made If it be made then peruse it confirm it and for avoiding all doubts and contention publish it before Wittnesses that if God call for thee out of this life it may stand in force and unalterable as thy last Will and Testament and so deliver it locked or sealed up in some Box to the keeping of a faithful Friend in the presence of honest Witnesses 2. But in making thy Testament take a Religious Divine's Advice how to bestow thy Benevolence and some honest Lawâ—er 's counsel to continue it according to Law Dispatch this before thy sickness doth â—â—crease and thy memory decay lest otherwise thy Testament prove a dotement and so be another man's fancy rather than thy Will 3. To prevent many inconveniences let me recommend to thy discretion two things 1. If God hath blessed thee with any competent state of wealth make thy Will in thy health-time It will neither put thee farther from thy goods nor hasten thee sooner to thy Death but it will be a greater ease to thy mind in freeing thee from a great trouble when thou shalt have most need of quiet for when thy House is set in order thou shalt be better enabled to set thy Soul in order and to dispose of thy
grace and mercy Yea we read of many in the Gospel that by sicknesses and afflictions were driven to câ—me unto Christ who if they had had health and prosperity as others would have like others neglected or contemn'd their Saviour and never have sought unto him for his saving health and grace For as the Ark of Noah the higher it was tossed with the Flood the nearer it mounted towards Heaven so the sanctified Soul the more it is exercised with affliction the nearer it is lifted towards God O blessed is that Cross that draweth a sinner to come upon the knees of his heart unto Christ to confess his own misery and to implore his endless mercy Oh blessed ever blessed be that Christ that never refuseth the sinner that cometh unto him though weather-driven by affliction and misery 7. Affliction worketh in us pity and compassion towards our fellow brethren that be in distress and misery whereby we learn to have a fellow-feeling of their Calamities and to condole their estate as if we suffer'd with them And for this cause Christ himself would suffer and be tempted in all things like unto us sin only excepted that he might be a merciful High Priest touched with the feeling of our infirmities For none can so heartily bemoan the misery of another as he who first suffered himself the same affliction Hereupon a Sinner in misery may boldly say unto Christ Non ignare mali miseris succurito Christe Our frailty sith O Christ thou didst perceive Condole our state who still in frailty cleave 8. God useth our sicknesses and afflictions as means and examples both to manifest unto others the faith and vertues which he hath bestowed upon us as also to strengthen those who have not received so great a measure of Faith as we For there can be no greater encouragement to a weak Christian than behold a true Professor in the extreamest sickness of his Body supported with greater patience and consolation in his Soul And the comfortable and blessed departure of such a man will arm him against the fear of death and assure him that the hope of the godly is a far more precious thing than that flesh and blood can understand or mortal eyes behold in this vale of misery And were it not that we did see many of those whom we know to be the undoubted Children of God to have endured such afflictions and calamities before us the greatness of the miseries and crosses which oft-times we endure would make us doubt whether we be the Children of God or no. And to this purpose St. James saith God made Job and the Prophets an example of suffering adversity and of long patience 9. By afflictions God makes us conformable to the Image of Christ his Son who being the Captain of our Salvation was made perfect through sufferings And therefore he first bare the Cross in shame before he was crowned with glory and did first taste gall before he did eat the honey-comb and was first derided King of the Jews by the Soldiers in the High-Priests Hall before he was saluted King of Glory by the angels in his Father's Court. And the more lively our Heavenly Father shall perceive the Image of his natural Son to appear in us the better he will love us and when we have for a time born his likeness in his sufferings and fought and overcome we shall be crowned by Christ and with Christ sit on his Throne and of Christ receive the precious white Stone and morning Star that shall make us shine like Christ for ever in his Glory 10. Lastly That the godly may be humbled in respect of their own state and misery and God glorified by delivering them out of their Troubles and Afflictions when they call upon him for his help and succour For though there be no Man so pure but if the Lord will straitly mark Iniquities he shall find in him just cause to punish him for his sin yet the Lord in mercy doth not always in the affliction of his Children respect their sins but sometimes layeth afflictions and crosses upon them for his glories sake Thus our Saviour Christ told his Disciples That the man was not born blind for his own or his Parents sin but that the work of God should be shewed on him So he told them likewise that Lazarus's sickness was not unto the death but for the glory of God O the unspeakable goodness of God which turneth those afflictions which are the shame and punishment due to our sins to be the subject of his honour and glory These are the blessed and profitable ends wherefore God sendeth sickness and affliction upon his Children whereby it may plainly appear that afflictions are not signs either of God's hatred or of our reprobation but rather tokens and pledges of his fatherly love unto his Children whom he loveth and therefore chasteneth them in this life where upon repentance there remains hope of pardon rather than to refer the punishment to that life where there is no hope of pardon nor end of punishment For this cause the Christians in the Primitive Church were wont to give God great thanks for afflicting them in this life So the Apostles rejoyced that they were counted worthy to suffer for Christ's Name Acts 5. 41. And the Christian Hebrews suffered with joy the spoiling of their goods knowing that they had in Heaven a better and an enduring substance Heb. 10. 34. And in respect of those holy Ends the Apostle saith That though no affliction for the present seemeth joyous but grievous yet afterwards it bringeth the quiet fruit of righteousness to them who are thereby exercised Pray therefore heartily that as God hath sent unto thee this sickness so it would please him to come himself unto thee with thy sickness by teaching thee to make those sanctified uses of it for which he hath inflicted the same upon thee Meditations for one that is recovered from Sickness IF God hath of his mercy heard thy Prayers and restored thee to thy health again consider with thy self 1. That thou hast now received from God as it were another life Spend it therefore to the honour of God in newness of life Let thy sin die with thy sickness but live thou by grace to holiness 2. Be not the more secure that thou art restored to health neither insult in thy self that thou hast escaped Death but think rather that God seeing how unprepared thou wast hath of his mercy heard thy Prayer spared thee and given thee some little longer time of respite that thou maist both amend thy life and put thy self in a better readiness against the time that he shall call for thee without further delay out of this World For though thou hast escaped this it may be thou shalt not escape the next sickness 3. Consider how fearful a reckoning
thou hadst made before the Judgment-seat of Christ by this time if thou hadst died of this Sickness Spend therefore the time that remains so as that thou mayst be able to make a more chearful account of thy life when it must be expired indeed 4. Put not far off the day of Death thou knowest not for all this how near it is at hand and being so fairly warned be wiser For if thou be taken unprovided the next time thy excuse will be less and thy Judgment greater 5. Remember that thou hast vowed amendment and newness of life Thou hast vowed a vow unto God defer not to pay it for he delighteth not in fools pay therefore that thou hast vowed The unclean Spirit is cast out O let him not re-enter with seven worse than himself Thou hast sighed out the groans of Contrition thou hast wept the tears of Repentâ—nce thou are washed in the Pool of Bâ—thesda streaming with five bloody Wounds not of a troubling angel but of the Angel of God's presence troubled with the wrath due to thy sins who descended into Hell to restore thee to saving health and Heaven Return not now with the Dog to thine own vomit nor like the washed Sow to wallow again in the mire of thy former sins and uncleanness lest being intangled and overcome again with the filthiness of sin which now thou hast escaped thy latter end prove worse than thy first beginning Twice therefore doth our Saviour Christ give the same cautionary warning to healed Sinners First To the Man cured of his 38 years desease Behold thou art made whole sin no more lest a worse thing fall upon thee Secondly to the woman taken in adultery Neither do I condemn thee Go thy way and sin no more Teaching us how dangerous a thing it is to relapse and fall again into the former excess of Riot Take heed therefore unto thy ways and pray for grace that thou mayest apply thy heart unto wisdom during that small number of days which yet remain behind And for thy present mercy and health received imitate the thankful Leper and return unto God this or the like Thanksgiving A Thanksgiving to be said of one that is recovered from sickness O Gracious and merciful Father who art the Lord of Health and Sickness of Life and of Death who killest and makest alive who bringest down to the Grave and raisest up again who art the only preserver of all those that trust in thee I thy poor and unworthy Servant having now by experience of my painful sickness felt the grievousness of misery due unto sin and the greatness of thy mercy in forgiving sinners and perceiving with what a fatherly compassion thou hast heard my Prayers and restored me to my health and strength again do here upon the bended knees of my heart return with the thankful Leper to acknowledge thee alone to be the God of my health and salvation and to give thee the praise and glory for my strength and deliverance out of that grievous Disease and Malady and for thus turning my mourning into mirth my sickness into health and my death into life My sins deserved punishment and thou hast corrected me but hast not given me over unto death I looked from the day to the night when thou would'st make an end of me I did chatter like a Crane or a Swallow I mourned as a Dove when the bitterness of sickness oppressed me I lifted up mine eyes unto thee O Lord and thou didst comfort me for thou didst cast all my sins behind thy back and didst deliver my soul from the pit of corruption and when I found no help in my self nor in any other creature saying I am deprived of the residue of my years I shall see man no more among the Inhabitants of the World then didst thou restore me to health again and gavest life unto me I found thee O Lord ready to save me And now Lord I confess that I can never yield unto thee such a measure of thanks as thou hast for this benefit deserved at my hands And seeing that I can never be able to repay thy goodness with acceptable works O that I could with Mary Magdalen testifie the love and thankfulness of my heart with abounding tears O what shall I be able to render unto thee O Lord for all these benefits which thou bestowedst upon my Soul Surely as in my Sickness when I had nothing else to give unto thee I offered Christ and his merits unto thee as a Ransom for my sins so being now restored by thy Grace unto my health and strength and having no better thing to give behold O Lord I do here offer up my self unto thee beseeching thee so to assist me with thy Holy Spirit that the remainder of my life may be wholly spent in setting forth thy praise and glory O Lord forgive me my former follies and unthankfulness that I was no more careful to love thee according to thy goodness nor to serve thee according to thy Will nor to obey thee according to thy Commandments nor to thank thee according to thy Benefits And seeing thou knowest that of my self I am not sufficient so much as to think a good thought much less to do that which is good and acceptable in thy sight assist me with thy grace and holy Spirit that I may in my prosperity as devoutly spend my health in thy service as I was earnest in my sickness to beg it at thy hands And suffer me never to forget either this thy mercy in restoring me to my health or those Vows and Promises which I have made unto thee in my sickness With my new health renew in me O Lord a right Spirit which may free me from the slavery of sin and establish my heart in the service of grace Work in me a greater detestation of all sins which were the causes of thy anger and my sickness and increase my Faith in Jesus Christ who is the Author of my health and salvation Let thy good Spirit lead me in the way that I should walk and teach me to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live soberly righteously and godly in this world that others by my Example may think better of thy Truth And sith this time which I have yet to live is but a little respite and small remnant of days which cannot long continue Teach me O my God so to number my days that I may apply my heart to that spiritual wisdom which directeth to salvation And to this end make me more zealous than I have been in Religion more devout in Prayer more servent in Spirit more careful to hear and profit by the preaching of thy Gospel more helpful to my poor Brethren more watchful over my ways more faithful in my calling and every way more abundant in all good works Let me in the joyful time of prosperity fear the evil
the power of Satan and in the fire of Faith and perfume of Prayer ascend up with Angels victoriously into Heaven An Admonition to them who come to visit the sick THey who come to visit the sick must have a special care not to stand dumb and staring in the sick person's face to disquiet him nor yet to speak idly and to ask unprofitable questions as most do If they see therefore that the sick party is like to die let them not dissemble but lovingly and discreetly admonish him of his weakness and to prepare for eternal life One hour well spent when a man's life is almost out-spent may gain a man the assurance of eternal life Sooth him not with the vain hope of this life lest thou betray his Soul to eternal death Admonish him plainly of his estate and ask him briefly these or the like Questions Questions to be asked of a sick Man that is like to die DOst thou believe that Almighty God the Trinity of Persons in Unity of Essence hath by his Power made Heaven and Earth and all things therein and that he doth still by his Divine Providence govern the same So that nothing comes to pass in the world nor to thy self but what his divine hand and counsel had determined before to be done 2. Dost thou confess that thou hast transgressed and broken the holy Commandments of Almighty God in thought word and deed and hast deserved for breaking his holy Laws the Curse of God which containeth all the miseries of this life and everlasting torments in Hell fire when this life is ended if so be that God should deal with thee according to thy deserts 3. Art thou not sorry in thy heart that thou hast so broken his Laws and neglected his Service and Worship and so much followed the world and thine own vain pleasures And would'st thou not lead a holier life if thou wert to begin again 4. Dost thou not from thy heart desire to be reconciled unto God in Jesus Christ his blessed Son thy Mediator who is at the right hand of God in heaven now appearing for thee in the sight of God and making request unto him for thy Soul 5. Dost thou renounce all confidence in all other Mediators or Intercessors Saints or Angels believing that Jesus Christ the only Mediator of the New Testament is able perfectly to save them that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them And wilt thou with David say unto Christ whom have I in heaven but thee And there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee 6. Dost thou confidently believe and hope to be saved by the only merits of that bloody death and passion which thy Saviour Jesus Christ hath suffered for thee not putting any hope of Salvation in thine own Merits nor in any other means or Creatures being assuredly perswaded that there is no salvation in any other and that there is none other name under Heaven whereby thou must be saved 7. Dost thou heartily forgive all wrongs and offences done or offered unto thee by any manner of Person whatsoever And dost thou as willingly from thy heart ask forgiveness of them whom thou hast grievously wronged in word or deed And dost thou cast out of thy heart all malice and hatred which thou hast born to any body that thou mayest appear before the Face oâ— Christ the Prince of Peace in perfect love and charity 8. Doth thy Conscience tell thee of any thing which thou hast wrongfully taken and dost still withhold from any widow or fatherless Children or from any other persons whomsoever Be assured that unless thou shalt restore like Zaccheus those goods and lands if thou be'st able thou canst not truly repent and without true Repentance thou canst not be saved nor look Christ in the face when thou shalt appear before his Judgment-seat 9. Dost thou firmly believe that thy body shall be raised up out of the Grave at the sound of the last Trumpet and that thy Body and Soul shall be united together again in the Resurrection Day to appear before the Lord Jesus Christ and thence to go with him into the Kingdom of Heaven to live in everlasting bliss and glory If the sick party shall answer to all these questions like a faithful Christian then let all who are present joyn together and pray for him in these or the like words A Prayer to be said for the sick by them who visit him O Merciful Father who art the Lord and giver of life and to whom belong the issues of Death we thy Children here assembled do acknowledge that in respect of our manifold sins we are not worthy to ask any blessing for our selves at thy hands much less to become suiters unto thy Majesty in the behalf of others yet because thou hast commanded us to pray one for another especially for the sick and hast promised that the Prayers of the righteous shall avail much with thee in obedience therefore to thy Commandment and confidence of thy gracious Promise we are bold to become humble Suiters to thy Divine Majesty in the behalf of this our dear Brother or Sister whom thou hast hast visited with the Chastisement of thine own fatherly hand We could gladly wish the Restitution of his health and a longer continuance of his life and Christian â—ellowship amongst us but forasmuch as it â—ppeareth as far as we can discern that â—hou hast appointed by this visitation to â—â—ll for him out of this mortal life we subâ—it our wills to thy blessed will and humâ—ly intreat for Jesus Christ his sake and â—e merits of his bitter death and passion which he hath suffered for him that â—ou would'st pardon and forgive unto â—im all his sins as well that wherein he â—as conceived and born as also all the offenâ—es and transgressions which ever since to â—his day and hour he hath committed in â—hought word and deed against thy Divine â—ajesty Cast them behind thy back reâ—ive them as far from thy presence as the East â— from the West Blot them out of thy reâ—embrance lay them not to his charge â—ash them away with the Blood of Christ â—hat they may no more be seen and deliâ—er him from all the Judgments which are â—ue unto him for his sins that they may â—ever trouble his conscience nor rise in â—udgment against his Soul and impute unâ—o him the righteousness of Jesus Christ whereby he may appear righteous in thy â—â—ght And in his extremity at this time we â—eseech the look down from heaven upâ—n him with those eyes of grace and comâ—assion wherewith thou art wont to look â—pon thy children in their affliction and misery Pity thy wounded Servant like â—he good Samaritan for here is a sick soul â—hat needeth the help of such a heavenâ—â— Physician O Lord increase his Faith that he may believe that Christ died for him and that his blood
the wi◠〈…〉 C. To teach thee what thou 〈…〉 do in all thy afflictions and how willingly thou should'st yield to bear with 〈◊〉 that Cross which thou seest to come from the just hand of thy heavenly Father S. Lord wherefore dist thou 〈…〉 drops of water and blood C. That I might cleanse thee from thy stains and 〈…〉 S. Lord why would'st thou be taken 〈◊〉 thou mightest have escaped thine Enemies C. That thy spiritual enemies should not take thee and cast thee into the prison of utter darkness S. Lord wherefore would'st thou be forsaken of all thy Disciples C. That I might reconcile thee unto God of whom thou wast forsaken for thy sins S. Lord wherefore wouldst thou stand to be apprehended alone C. To shew thee that my love of thy salvation was more than the love of all my Disciples S. Lord wherefore was the young man caught by the soldiers and unstrip'd of his linen who came out of his bed hearing the stir at thy apprehension and leading to the high Priest C. To shew their outrage in apprehending me and my power in preserving out of their outragious hands all my Disciples who otherwise had been worse handled by them than was that young man S. Lord wherefore would'st thou be bound C. That I might loose the Cords of thine iniquities S. Lord why wast thou denied of Peter C. that I might confess thee before my Father and thou mightest learn that there is no trust in man and that salvation proceeds of my meer mercy S. Lord wherefore would'st thou bring Peter to repentance by the crowing of a Cock C. That none should despise the means which God hath appointed for their conversion tho' they seem never so mean S. Lord wherefore didst thou at the Cock-crowing turn and look upon Peter C. Because thou might'st know that without the help of my grace no means can turn a sinner unto God when he is once fallen from him S. Lord wherefore wast thou cover'd with a purple robe C. That thou might'st perceive that it was I that did away thy scarlet sins S. Lord wherefore would'st thou be crown'd with thorns C. That by wearing thorns the first fruits of the Curse it might appear that it is I which take away the sins and curse of the world and crown thee with the Crown of life and glory S. Lord why was a reed put into thy hand C. That it might appear that I came not to break the bruised reed S. Lord wherefore wast thou mock'd of the Jews C. That thou mightest insult over Devils who otherwise would have mocked thee as the Philistines did Samson S. Lord wherefore would'st thou have thy blessed face defiled with spittle C. That I might cleanse thy face from the shame of sin S. Wherefore Lord were thine eyes hood-winkt with a veil C. That thy spiritual blindness being removed thou mightest behold the face of my Father in heaven S. Lord wherefore did they buffet thee with fists and beat thee with slaves C. That thou mightest be freed from the stroaks and tearings of infernal fiends S. Lord wherefore would'st thou be reviled C. That God might speak peace unto thee by his Word and Spirit S. Lord wherefore was thy face disfigur'd with blows and blood C. That thy face might shine glorious as the Angels in heaven S. Lord wherefore would'st thou be so â—â—â—elly scâ—urged C. That thou mightest be freed from the sting of Conscience and whips of everlasting torments S. Lord wherefore would'st thou be arraigned at Pilate's Bar C. That thou mightest at the last day be acquitted before my Judgment-seat S. Lord wherefore would'st thou be falsly accused C. That thou should'st not be justly condemned S. Lord where wast thou turned over to be condemned by a strange Judge C. That thou being redeemed from the capâ—ivity of a hellish Tyrant mightest be restored to God whose own thou art by right S. Wherefore O Christ didst thou acknowledge that Pilate had power over thee from above C. That Antichrist under pretence of being my Vicar should not exalt himself above all Principalities and Powers S. Lord why would'st thou suffer thy Passion under Pontius Pilate being a Roman President to Caesar of Rome C. To shew that the Caesarian and Pontifician Polity of Rome should chiefly persecute my Church and crucifie me in my members S. But why Lord would'st thou be condemn'd C. That the Law being condemned in me thou mightest not be condemned by it S. But why wast thou condemned seeing nothing could be proved against thee C. That thou might'st know that it was not for my faults but for thine that I suffered S. Lord wherefore wast thou led to suffer out of the city C. That I might bring thee to rest in the heavenly City S. Lord why did the Jews compel Simon of Cyrene coming out of the field to carry thy Cross C. To shew the weakness whereunto the burden of thy sins brought me and what must be every Christians case which goeth out of the field of this world toward the heavenly Jerusalem S. Lord why wast thou unstripped of thy garments C. That thou mightest see how I forsook all to redeem thee S. Lord wherefore would'st thou be liâ—t up upon a Cross C. That I might lift thee up with me to Heaven S. Lord wherefore didst thou hang upon a cursed tree C. That I might satisfie for thy sin committed in eatiâ—g the forbidden fruit of a Tree S. Lord wherefore would'st thou hang between two thieves C. That thou my dear Soul might'st have place in the midst of heavenly Angels S. Lord wherefore were thy hands and feet nailed to the Cross C. To enlarge thy hands to do the works of righteousness and to set thy feet at liberty to walk in the ways of Peace S. Lord wherefore did they crucifie thee in Golgoâ—ha the place of dead mens sculls C. To assure thee that my death is life unto the dead S. Lord why did not the Soldiers divide thy seamless coat C. To shew that my Church is one without rent or schism S. Lord wherefore didst thou taste Vinegar and Gall C. That thou mightest eat the bread of Angels and drink the water of life S. Lord why saidst thou upon the Cross It is finished C. That thou mightest know that by my death the Law was fulfilled and thy Redemption effected S. Lord why didst thou cry out upon the Cross My God my God why hast thou forsaken me C. Lest thou being forsaken of God shouldst have been driven to cry in the pains of Hell Wo and alas for evermore S. Lord wherefore was there such a general darkness when thou didst suffer and cry out on the Cross C. That thou mightest see an Image of those
this second and sudden coming in glory Grant this good Father for Christ Jesus sake my only Saviour and Mediator in whose blessed Name and in whose own words I call upon thee as he hath taught me Our Father which art c. Afterwards say Thy Grace O Lord Jesus Christ thy love O heavenly Father thy comfort and consolation O holy and blessed Spirit be with me and dwell in my heart this night and evermore Amen Then rising up in a holy Reverence meditate as thou art putting off thy Clothes Things to be meditated upon as thou art putting off thy Clothes 1. THat the day is coming when thou must be as barely unstript of alâ— that thou hast in the World as thou arâ— now of thy Clothes thou hast therefore here but the use of all things as a Steward for a time and that upon accounts Whilst therefore thou art trusted with thiâ— Stewardship be wise and faithful 2. When thou seest thy Bed let it puâ— thee in mind of thy grave which is now the bed of Christ for Christ by laying hiâ— holy body to rest three days and three nights in the grave hath sanctified anâ— as it were warmed it for the bodies oâ— his Saints to rest and sleep in till thâ— morning of the Resurrection so that now unto the faithful death is but a sweet sleep and the grave is but Christ's bed where their bodies rest and sleep in peace until the joyful morning of the Resurrection-day shall dawn unto them Let therefore thy Bed-clothes represent unto thee the mould of the Earth that shall cover thee thy sheets thy winding sheet thy sleep thy death thy waking thy resurrection And being laid down in thy bed when thou perceivest sleep to approach say I will lay me down and sleep in peace for thou Lord only makest me dwell in safety Thus religiously opening every Morning thy heart and shutting it up again every Evening with the Word of God and Prayer as it were with a Lock and Key and so beginning the day with God's Worship continuing it in his fear and ending it in his favour thou shalt be sure to find the blessing of God upon all thy days labours and good endeavours and at night thou maist assure thy self thou shalt sleep safely and sweetly in the arms of thy heavenly Father's providence Thus far of the Piety which every Christian in private ought to practise every day Now followeth that which he being an Housholder must practise publickly with his Family Meditations for Houshold Piety 1. IF thou beest called to the government of a Family thou must not hold it sufficient to serve God and live uprightly in thine own person unless thou causest all under thy charge to do the same with thee For the performance of this duty God was so well pleased with Abraham that he would not hide from him his counsel For saith God I know him that he will command his sons and his houshold after him that they keep the way of the Lord to do righteousness and judgment that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that he hath spoken unto him And Abraham had 318 Men servants which were thus born and catechized in his house With whose help he rescued also his Nephew Lot from the captivity of his Enemies And religiously valiant Joshua protesteth before all the people That if they all would fall away from the true Worship of God yet that he and his house would serve the Lord. And God himself gives a special charge to all Housholders that they do instruct their Family in his Word and train them up in his fear and service These words which I command thee this day shall be in thy heart and thou shalt whet them continually upon thy Children and shalt talk of them when thou tarriest in thine house and as thou walkest by the way and when thou liest down and when thou risest up c. Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God and serve him David according to this Law had so ordered his Family That no deceitful person should dwell in his house but such as would serve God and walk in his way and religious Esther had taught her Maids to serve God in fasting and prayer And the more to further thy family in the zeal of religion settle ever thy chiefest affection on those whom thou shalt perceive to be best addicted to true Religion This also will turn to thine own advantage in a double respect First God will the rather bless and prosper the labour and handy-work of such godly servants For Laban perceived that God blessed him for Jacob's sake And Potiphar saw that the Lord made all that Jeseph did to prosper in his hand yea when innocent Joseph was cast into prison his keeper saw that whatsoever he did the Lord made it to prosper and therefore the keeper committed all the charge of the Prisoners into Joseph's hand 2. The trulier a man doth serve God the faithfullier he will serve thee 2. If every Houshoulder were thus careful according to his duty to bring up his Children and Family in the service and fear of God in his own house then the house of God would be better filled and the Lord's Table more frequented every Sabbath day and the Pastor's publick preaching and labour would take more effect than it doth The streets of Towns and Cities would not abound with so many drunkards swearers whore-mongers and prophane scorners of true Piety and Religion Westminister-Hall would not be so full of contentions wrangling suits and unchristian debates and the prisons would not be every Sessions so full of Thieves Robbers Traitors and Murtherers But alas most Housholders make no other use of their Servants than they do of their Beasts Whilst they may have their Bodies to do their service they care not if their Souls serve the Devil Yet the common complaint is that faithful and good servants are scarce to be found True but the reason is because there are so many prophane and irreligious Masters for the example and instruction of a Godly and Religious Master will make a good and a faithful servant as may witness the examples of Abraham Joshua David Cornelius c. who had good servants because they were religious Masters such as were careful to make their servants God's servants It is the chief labour and care of most men to raise and to advance their house yet let them rise up early and lie down late and eat the bread of carefulness all will be but in vain for except the Lord build an house that is raise up a Family they labour in vain For God hath sealed this as an irrevocable decree That he will pour his wrath upon the Families that call not upon his name yea God will take the wicked and pluck him out of his tabernacle and root him out of the land c. Yea when his