of death is the Master day and Iudge of all other daies it is the triall and touchstone of our life if you die a good death it honoreth all your Actions if an euill it defameth them all it is the last act of the worlds Comedie and most difficult wherfore I will shew those consolations vnto you and will repeate them in your health that you may thinke of them better vpon your sicke bed wherefore against the feare of death consider 1 That wee neither liue nor die to our selues but whether we liue we liue to the Lord and whether we die wee die to the Lord. Rom. 14.8 2 That Christ is to vs in life gaine and in death aduantage Phil. 1.21 3 That Christ is to vs the resurrection and the life and whosoeuer beleeueth in him though he were dead yet shall hee liue Iohn 11.25 4 That God doth both mitigate and abbreuiate the dolours of death to his seruants 5 That our death being conuerted into a swéet sléepe is the complement of the mortification of our flesh so that hee which is dead is fréed from sinne Roman 6.7 6 That we Christians know that when this earthly tabernacle of our house shal be dissolued we shall haue a building euen of God that is an house made without hands eternall in the heauens 2. Cor. 5.1 7 That if we die in the Lord we goe to Christ which is best of all for vs. Phil. 1.23 8 That this way of all flesh is sanctified to vs by the death of Christ 9 That if euer at other times the Spirit of Christ doth cause vs to beare afflictions patiently it doth especially by the comfort which it ministreth in death inestimablie ouercome the sorrowes of death 10 That the spirit indeede is ready but the flesh is weake Matth. 26.41 so that the inward man doth not feare death but only the outward man Quest Can you yet giue any more of these most sweet consolations Answ Meditate therefore againe with me that 1 The desire you should haue to behold the most bright eies of God and so to be deliuered from this body of sinne will extinguish and extenuate both the grieuous feare and fearefull griefe of present death 2 That though wée can bée content to liue with the faithfull that are aliue and must die yet we must as well desire to be with those Saints who hauing ouercome death are gone before vs to the kingdome of heauen 3 That wee must not more estéeme of this naturall then of the spirituall life but that the loue of the one must abolish the griefe of the other 4 That we are assured of the soules immortality that it shall goe by the transportation of Angels to the assembly and societie of the first borne which are written in heauen Luk. 16.22 Heb. 11.23 and that our bodies doe rest in the earth so that one doth not vnfitly call the graue an Hauen for the bodie to arriue at 5 That wee beleeue the resurrection of the body and euerlasting life after death for this is the faith of Christians onely 6 That wee seeing euidently Gods great mercy towards our young children at their departure out of this life ought at our last end to be the more couragious especially since wee know that wee haue the seale and earnest of Gods spirit in our hearts 7 That as in our whole life so in the agony of death God doth not suffer vs his seruants to be tempted aboue that which we are able to beare 1. Cor. 10.13 but giueth an happy issue with and out of that temptation It is in truth admirable which Gregorie in his Morals saith That some doe with laughter entertaine death wee may better say that by couragious patience they doe ouercome it 8 That we ought not so much to thinke of a peaceable end as of a godly life Augustine said well Where a good life goeth before an euill death must not bee thought to follow And He cannot die ill who liues well And He seldome dies well who hath liued ill And Reade saith he and reade ouer all the monuments of learned men and you shall find nothing more horrible then that person who doth liue in such an estate that he is afraid to die 9 That death is neuer vntimely whether we respect the good or the bad They die soone that they may no longer be vexed by the wicked these die soone that they may not euer persecute the godly as the same Augustine said 10 That this life is so full of miseries that in comparison thereof death may bee thought rather a remedy then a punishment as Ambrose thought Quest Once againe giue mee more comforts against the feare of death for such is the corruptiō of my nature that al is little enough Answ I will thinke therefore but thinke you seriously 1 That he onely feares death extreamly who cannot be perswaded that he shall liue after death as Chysostome saith 2 That it is best to offer that willingly to God as a gift which one day wee must else surrender as a debt to wit this spirit and life of ours as Chrysostome said 3 That as death to the euill is euill so is it good to the good to whom all things worke for their good 4 That death is the way to life as Ambrose said very fitly And another said This day which so affrighteth thee as if it were the last day is the birthday of eternitie 5 That this death is but a repairing of our life 6 That as Bernard said the death of the righteous is good in regard of rest better in regard of nouelty best of all in regard of security and that as the same Father said the death of the godly is good better best of al Contrariwise the death of the godlesse is bad worse and worst of al. 7 That death doth not abolish but establish life in a farre better estate 8 That then death frees vs from death life from error grace from sinne 9 That if Chrysostome say true death is but a bare name 10 That God doth so temper death vnto vs that it can be no cause of euil vnto vs. And therefore if you be wise remember the saying euen of an Heathen man Summum nec metuas diem nec optes Nether feare death when it commeth nor desire it too much before it commeth Quest These are all of them sweet consolations indeed yet because Satan and my flesh may bring vpon me many feares as first that God is angry with me by reason of my sinnes how may I comfort my selfe against this temptation Quest Say vnto your soule why should I feare the wrath of God For it is written God sent not his Sonne into the world to condemne the world but that by him the world might be saued Ioh. 3. Hee that beleeueth in him shall not sée death He that beléeueth in him hath eternal life Hee that beléeueth in him shall neuer perish Who shall lay any thing to the charge
thy Sonne Sanctifie vs by thy Gospell that we may haue spirituall contentation in the possession of Christ extraordinary sweetnesse in the fruits of thy Spirit an holy admiration of these workes of mercy tendernesse of conscience in allour actions boldnesse to approch to the throne of grace a minde estranged from the loue of this world readinesse and patience to endure the crosse and a desire to be dissolued and to be with thée Wee must one day O Lord leaue this world yet it is thy pleasure that we should serue thee in it so long as we liue and why should we not serue thee all the daies of our life thou requirest it at our hands wee haue thy Spirit to that purpose it was the practise of thy Saints we were redeemed to this end and Christ prayeth that we may doe it Doth Satan daily tempt vs wee must daily resist him Is our life vncertaine we must euer be ready are we strangers in this world we must each day set one foote forward towards our countrey O therfore grant vnto vs thy grace that we may know we haue no time allotted to sin but al must be spent in thy seruice and this seruice of ours euer to bee harty without hypocrisie generall without partiality continuall without vncertainty conscionable without indifferency cheerefull without difficâ—â—ty and spirituall without carnality that by this way of obedience we may be assured of our saluation get the mastery of inconstancy performe holy duties more easily haue sweeter fellowship with thy Spirit and preuent many noysome lusts which otherwise would fasten vpon vs. We confesse O Lord that vnlesse we as watchmen doe looke vnto our selues and séeke to please thée in all things we cannot bee freed from many temporall iudgements our score wil be the greater in the day of account our couersation cannot be in heauen we cannot be armed against temptation nor weaned from the loue of this wrethed world We must euer be readie to meete our Sauiour let vs euer haue this oyle in our lamps we must sée our vnsufficiency to serue thee let vs labour to please thee that wee may see it wée must winne others to the knowledge of thée let our light of good life euer shine before them we must grow forward toward perfection leade vs forward in a constant course that we may obtaine the end of our faith which is the saluation of our soules Now because our best seruice must bee sanctified by repentance giue vs true and vnfained repentance for all our sins make vs to see them in the glasse of thy Law to mourne for them in the clossets of our harts and to confesse them in the bitternesse of our soules We haue O Lord we haue sinned against thée yea our forefathers did our people haue and wee all doe transgresse thy commandements We haue omitted much good and committed much euill partly of ignorance partly of infirmity and partly of knowledge and if we did but know our vnknowne sinnes wee would bee ashamed of our selues When we consider the excellencie our selues When wee consider the excellencie of thy Maiestie whom wee haue offended the vilenesse of our selues who durst offend the danger wee are in by reason of our offence and the greatnesse of the price which was paid for our offences we begin O Lord to abhorre our selues for our vnthankfulnesse against the blood of thy couenant that we haue grieued thy good Spirit quenched thy graces and done as much as we could to make the blood of Christ of none effect Giue vs O Lord what wilt thou giue vs giue vs a true and a liuely faith to apprehend and applie all the promises of saluation to our sinfull soules giue vs hope of pardon by thy mercies in Christ an hungring and thirsting after him his merits let vs prise it aboue all treasure ioy in it aboue all other comfort sue for it as our best acquittance and take hold on it against the curse of the law And because that liuely faith hath her life in the heart giue vnto vs wee beséech thée a pure heart which is the delight of thy Maiestie and the fountaine of all actions Awaken it O Lord that it sléepe not in death so that neither by ignorance of it selfe neglect of the meanes ceasing of thy Spirit committing of sin or securitie in prosperitie and sin or presumption of thy mercies or stupiditie after iudgements or spirituall blindnesse and hardnesse therof it be at any time in a dead fléepe Make vs euer to watch ouer it that neither the terrors of conscience nor loathing of holy duties nor loue of any one sin nor vnwillingnesse to depart this life do cast our hearts into a spirituall slumber We do know good God and often times by wofull experience doe know that our hearts lie open to all temptations and many are our enemies who doe assault vs teach vs therfore to put on thine appointed armor Giue vnto vs a rectified iudgemeÌ„t to know soundly thy truth not obstinate in error but desirous to bee reformed in what it mistaketh Sanctifie our consciences that they may witnes our adoption checke vs for sin approue our vprightnes procure our peace make vs euer content cheerefull in seruice couragious in the truth victorious in troubles and willing to die Rectifie our willes that they may be cheerfull in well doing resisting of all the occasions of sinne yeelding to no sinne without griefe and rising by repentance out of the same Order in such sort euery one of our affections that by the benefit thereof we may subdue our most vnruly thoughts bee comforted and contented in our Christian callings more readie prest to all good actions deliuered from many noisome temptations and better enabled for the conuersion of our brethren And because thou hast afforded vs the benefit of speech which thou hast denied to all other creatures we desire that we may euer speake as in thy presence considering that wee haue no libertie giuen vs for idle talke but that all our spéech must be to edification and that one day wee must giue an account of our words Are we to take thy name into our mouthes let it only be vpon weightie occasions and in all reuerence and loue to thy Maiestie Are wee to speake at any time of our neighbours good make vs to doe it cheerefully without repining wisely without dissembling indifferently without part-taking constantly without recalling truly without deluding and chartablie to the preseruing of his good name Is he fallen let vs restore him doth hee stand let vs comfort him make thou our spéeches euer gracious to others Wee desire also to please thée in all our actions O let them euer proceed from a good ground bee performed in an holie manner and aime at the best end which is the glorie of thy great name Principally let vs aiâ— at the duties of the first table consequently at the duties of the second let vs haue a respect to all thy
banket Giue mee grace to put on my wedding garment that the Bridegrome of this feast neuer say vnto me Frind how camest thou hither not hauing on thy wedding garment Hast thou now commanded me to examin my selfe let me now trie and examine mine heart and looke how I stand in thy sight The Iewes would not eate with vnwashen hands dare I eat with an vnwashen heart they would not drink but their vessels must be purified and dare I now drinke and my soule not purified Before the passeouer they sanctified themselues and before this sacrament shall not I now sanctifie my self I desire to doe it Lord helpe my desire lest eating and drinking vnworthily I eate and drinke mine owne damnation I therefore being now readie to come to thy Table doe acknowledge and confesse mine owne vnworthinesse I haue sinned against thée many waies and that since I last receiued this Sacrament I haue not knowne thée in thy word beheld thée in thy workes apprehended thée in thy Sonne serued thée in the spirit applied thee by faith feared thée for thy iustice nor admired thée as I ought for thy great mercies I haue not frequented thine house heard thy word laid it vp in mine heart nor practised it in my life as I should I euen I by the lusts of mine eyes the lusts of my flesh and the pride of life haue dishonoured thy great and glorious name And when thou hast forgiuen me ten thousand talents I would not forgiue my brother and hundred pence What shall I say vnto my selfe I haue sinned I will doe so no more I haue sinned Lord forgiue me all my sins and grant that in the whole course of my life hereafter I may liue to the honour of thy great name Giue vnto me now a broken heart a contrite spirit a sorrowfull soule and a minde hungring and thirsting after Christ and his righteousnes Giue me now grace to know thée the only true God the Creator and preseruer of mankinde Giue me grace now to féele the burden of my sinnes and that I am eased of them by the blood of Christ Iesus I doe beléeue in him helpe my vnbeléefe I am sorrie for my sins make me to be heartily and vnfainedly sorrowfull I promise now to liue neerer to thée then euer I haue done giue mee power to performe my promise I forgiue all that haue wronged me euen as thou for Christs sake hast forgiuen me Let this forgiuenesse of mine be without dissimulation And because I am now to taste of bread and wine make mee to consider the vse of them I know O Lord that this sacramentall bread is not the body of thy Son this sacramentall wine is not the blood of thy Sonne but this I know out of thy holy word that they are seales of his bodie and blood Teach me therefore now most gracious God that I seeing bread and wine on the table may behold Christ vpon the crosse and obseruing the bread broken to me may consider of Christs body crucified for mee looking vpon the wine powred out of the vessell may thinke how Christs blood was powred out for my sinnes And as I receiue this bread wine into my stomack for bodily sustenance so cause me to féede on the body and blood of our Sauiour Christ that it may be nourishment for my soule Grant O Lord that I may so now come to thy holy table that hereafter I may bee partaker of thy heauenly Table through Christ my Lord and only Sauiour Amen Our Father which art c. A THANKESGIVING after the Communion ALL glorie honour and praise be giuen to thée most glorious God for all thy mercies bestowed vpon mee for mine election in thy loue my redemption by thy Sonne my sanctification by thy spirit in this life and hope of glorification in the life to come I thank thée for thy word in which I beare of thy goodnesse and I thanke thee for this Sacrament in which I behold thy fauour I haue now béene partaker of bread and wine Lord make mee partaker of Christs bodie and blood Those they will turne to the nourishment of my body let these turne to the nourishment of my soule By those I féele some refreshing for a while by these let mee feele refreshing for euer O let not Christs blood be shed in vaine for me but by it cleanse me from all my sinnes I haue now cast vp all the poyson of impietie suffer me not hereafter to licke it vp againe I haue now disgorged my selfe of reuenge let me neuer returne to my vomit againe I am now washed from all my pollution make me to remember that it is the part of a swine to wallow againe in mud or mire I haue promised now to liue better than before make the latter part of my life better than the former I am a liuing stone in thy building knit me fast to the corner stone I am a branch of the vine set mee fast in that roote I am a member of Christs body kéepe mee that I neuer bee cut off I haue renued this day my couenant with thée grant that I may kéep it to my liues end I haue this day béen put in mind of the benefit by Christs death let me euery day thinke often of his death that therby I may learn to die vnto sin And grant that euer hereafter I may so walk before thee that all such as know that I haue béen at thy table may see that I am become a new creature As for the rest of this day in which thou hast thus shewed thy selfe vnto mee grant that I may spend the same not in surfetting and drunkennesse not in chambring and wantonnesse not in sporting and idlenesse but in hearing of thy word calling on thy name meditation of thy mercies and in holy conference about heauenly things Vnto thee O Father my Creator and preseruer vnto thee O Christ my Redéemer and Iustifier vnto thee O Holy Ghost my Sanctifier and Instructor bee ascribed of mee and thy whole Church all praise and power might and Maiestie glorie and dominion both now whilest we doe liue and for euer whilest we shal liue Amen Our Father which art c. NOw the very God of peace sanctifie me throughout and I pray God that my whole spirit and soule and body may be kept blamelesse vnto the comming of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ Amen Amen A THANKESGIVING FOR our late Deliuerance from that vnnaturall conspiracie against our King and State ALmightie Lord God Father of our Lord Iesus Christ and in him our most gracious and mercifull Father many are thy mercies towards vs and that our soules know right well And as we cannot be ignorant of them vnlesse wee bee senselesse so we may not be forgetfull vnlesse we be thanklesse By thée our lot is fallen into a good soile and by thée wée haue a goodly inheritance by thée are our bodies deliuered from sicknesse and by thée are our soules
Oedypus to dissolue our doubts it is our commentarie to vnderstand Gods word d Clauis Scriptura Origen It is a e Deo sacrificium diabolo flagellum homini subsidium August The praise of praier sacrifice to God a scourge to the diuell and an helpe to our selues in all our troubles Wherefore as the Apostle by examples commended faith to the Hebrewes so may I by examples commend prayer to you By it Abrahams seruant obtained a wife for Isaac and by it Moses obtained a pardon for Israel By this the same Moses ouercame the Amalekites and by this Abraham interceded for the Sodomites By prayer Iacob was deliuered from Esau Iosuah from the men of Aie Dauid from Goliah The Prophet from Ieroboam Elizeus from the Samaritans Hezechiah from death Iehosophat from the Aramites Manasses from captiuitie Ieremiah from his aduersaries and Daniel from the Lions the dâ—seased from his leprosie the Apostles from prison the Church from persecution By prayer Hannah obtained a sonne Dauid deliuerance Salomon wisedome Elias the restoring of a dead child Elizeus the opening of his seruants eyes Nehemiah the kings fauour the Centurion his seruants health Christ comfort in his agonie the Apostles a successor to Iudas Stephen pardon for Paul and Monima the conuersion of her sonne S. Austin In Psal 63 Thus true it is which that Austin saith Great is the profit of pure prayer and as a faithfull messenger deliuers her arrand and pierceth thither whither flesh cannot come And this it was which made Bernard to say Brethren let none of vs lightly esteeme his prayer I tell you that hee to whom wee pray doth not lightly esteeme it after it is out of our mouth he writes it in his Booke and one of these two wee may doubtlesse expect either that hee will grant our petition or that which hee knoweth to be better for vs. Call vpon me and I will heare saith God aske and you shall haue saith Christ Before they crie I will heare them saith Isaiah The Lord is nigh to all that call vpon him saith Dauid but to such as call vpon him in truth And if we may belieue the Apostle Iames the prayer of a righteous man auaileth much Pray therefore and we had need to pray Why wee ought to Pray Satan will deuoure thee pray for deliuerance The world will allure thee pray for assistance The flesh will betray thee pray for defence The wicked will seduce thee pray for continuance What beloued If God had commaunded vs a great thing ought wee not to doe it how much more when he saith pray and preuaile aske and haue seeke and finde knock and it shall bee opened vnto you aske Temporall things and haue them seeke for Spirituall things and find them knocke for Eternall things and the gates of heauen shall stand as open to you as the gates of the prison did to the Apostle Peter By this with Eliah you may open and shut the verie gates of heauen and by this with the Apostle you may shake the foundations of the earth O pretious praier what could not onely wee but euen the whole world doe without thee Thou increasest the earth calmest the sea asswagest the fire purgest the ayre protectest our Gouernours confoundest our enemies preseruest our health instructest our mindes blessest our actions encreasest our wealth exaltest our honour speakest but the word and we are preserued Prayer in all places Pray wee therefore in all places at all times for all persons and for all things Pray wee in all places but in euery place lifting vp pure hands vnto God Thus Isaac prayed in the field Iakob in his bed Israel in Egypt Moses on the Mount Iosuah at Iericho Elias in the chamber Hezekiah on his couch Ieremie in the dungeon Ionah in the Whales bellie Daniel in the Lions den Christ in the Garden the Disciples in a ship Peter in a Tanners house Paul at the sea side and the Iewes at Ierusalem Call vpon him in thy priuate chamber and crie vnto him with thy familie in thy parlour Thou needest not to fall downe at some piller with hypocrites but praise him especially in the congregation of Saints for there many voices are Gods best melodie Pray also at all times at euening Pray at all times and morning and at noone day will I pray vnto thee yea at midnight will I rise to call vpon thee nay seuen times a day wil I praise thee saith Dauid Daniel did so three times a day Paul did it day and night Hannah did it all the daies of her life and the Psalmographer vowes it I will praise the Lord as long as I liue as long as I haue any being I will sing praises to my God Pray continually not as those Heretiques Euchitae who would euer do so but as Christians who know when to do so With morning prayer the day begin With euening prayer the night shut in Without this prayer sit not to eate Without Gods praise rise not from meate And forget not to pray for all persons Pray for ad persons for the King as the head his Senatours as the eyes his Clergie as the mouth his Souldiers as the hands his Subiects to all trades as the feete vpon which the Common-wealth doth stand Art thou a Minister pray for thy flocke An Auditor for thy Preacher A Father for thy child an Husband for thy wife a Master for thy seruant or a Gouernour pray for thy family Is any Sicke pray for his health Poore for his wealth Imprisoned for his libertie Seduced for his recouerie Confirmed for his constancie or in any Distresse for his deliuerie Pray for all men that their bodies may be preserued soules saued estates maintained that thy and their thoughts may bee sanctified your words seasoned and your actions ordered by the Spirit of God To whom we must Pray Will you know now to whom wee must pray not to a Calfe as the Israelites did nor to Baal as his Priests did nor to an Image as Idolaters did nor to any Saints as our fathers did but as we are bound to serue God alone so are we bounden to pray to God alone for hee alone knoweth our wants heareth our petitions hath promised to helpe vs is able to doe for vs and is the alone present helper in the needfull time of trouble I will draw to an end You haue seene beloued the necessitie of this seruice How wee must Pray let mee shew you a litle the qualities of this seruice Pray we must in knowledge with vnderstanding in faith by beleeuing in remorse with feeling in zeale without cooling in intention without wandering in reuerence without contemning in constancie without reuolting and in loue without reuenging Let our eyes be fastned hearts fixed knees bowed mouthes opened our hands lifted vp as to the King of Kings And as Iacob would not let the Angell goe till he were blessed so let not vs let
and others pride of heart that wee labour more for our owne credit then Gods glorie f Luk. 18.11 2 Our hardnes of heart that we cannot as wee ought sée Gods glorie in his Creatures g Mar 6.52 3 Our vnthankfulnesse that we praise him not as we ought for his many fauours towards Mankind aboue all Creatures h Psal 51 15 4 Our impietie that in our liues wee dishonour God i Psal 119.136 Euch. What then doe you pray for in this petition Phil. I pray that God by mee and all men whether Magistrates Ministers or people may in feare and dread be glorified in the reuerend speaking of his name holy meditation of his properties diligent hearing of his word often receiuing of the Sacrament patient bearing of the crosse and daily admiring of his workes And in a word that wee may know in minde acknowledge in heart loue in truth speake with tongue doe in our actions both naturall ciuil and religious all such things as God may be glorified by All Nations must praise God Psal 117. and all must pray that not only they but also all others may thus praise him at all times Psal 113. in all places without intermission and that by their good workes they may stirre vp others to glorifie God Matth. 5.2 1. Pet. 2.12 Euch. What doe you pray against Phil. I pray against all ignorance error vanitie of minde Infidelitie Prophanesse Atheisme Worldlinesse Securitie Pride and all blasphemous spéeches false dealing scoffing Idolatrie Superstition Sorcerie Sacriledge Simonie Periurie Persecution Impenitencie Vnreuerend vsing of Gods Word Sacraments or workes and in a word against all such disorder in mans life as may any way obscure the glorie of God Euch. VVhat doe you heere giue God thankes for Phil. That it hath pleased him to glorifie his great Name in all the former and hath giuen mee and many others grace of his méere mercie to glorifie his Name in that which before I prayed for as also that he hath bestowed vpon vs the benefit of saÌ„ctification by the word of truth Ioh. 17. and the perfection of sanctification in the life to come Coloss 1.12 If thus wee desire to honour God wee loose not by it he in the end will honour vs. 1. Sam. 2.30 2. Thess 1.12 Euch. Why doe you vse in this and other petitions this order First to bewaile Secondly to pray for Thirdly to pray against And lastly to giue thankes Phil. Because confession petition deprecation and thankesgiuing being the speciall parts of Prayer 1. Tim. 2.1 I must vnderstand them all to bee in euery Petition of this absolute forme of Prayer Euch. Which is the second petition Phil. Thy Kingdom come Thy Kingdome come Euch. Why doth it next follow Hallowed be thy name Phil. 1. Because it is the first meanes by which Gods name is hallowed 2 Because next to the hallowing of his Name we ought chiefly to pray that Gods Kingdome may come k Mat. 6.31 Euch. Why is it set before Thy will beâ— done Phil. Because no man can euer do Gods will in any thing till such time as Gods Kingdome be erected in his heart Euch. How proue you this Phil. By these reasons 1 Because no man can doe Gods will that is not Gods subiect l Ioh. 1.24 2 No man can kéepe Gods Law but by Gods grace m Psal 119 32. 3 Because without faith wee cannot please God n Heb. 11.6 4 Because The end of the Commandement is Loue out of a pure heart good conscience and faith vnfained o 1. Tim. 1.5 Euch. But may not a bad man doe that which is good Phil. Hee may doe that which is good in it selfe but because he is out of Christ p Ioh. 15.5 or being in Christ doth it to a bad end it shall not bée good to him q 1. Cor. 13.3 So to giue almes is a good thing but if our persons be not iustified before God and this action bee not to the glorie of God it will neuer proue good to vs. Euch. Why doe you pray that Gods Kingdome may come Phil. Because if my Father raigne I his Sonne raigne in him and his dignitie is a dignitie to me And I pray for it as the first of the good thinges which concerne our selues because in order and nature it is the first Matth. 6.31 Philip. 3.9 Euch. How many sorts of Kingdomes are there Phil. Thrée The Kingdome of Sathan the Kingdomes of men and the Kingdome of God r Eph. 6.12 Euch. What is â—he Kingdome of Sathan Phil. It is that tyranicall regencie by which as the Prince of darknesse hee by Gods iust permission ruleth in the Children of darknesse and rageth against the Children of light 2. Cor. 4.4 Reuel 12.3 Erecting vp two other Kingdomes the one of sinne Rom. 6.12.5.21 the other of death Rom. 5.14 all which are Enemies to this Kingdome we pray for Sathan ruling ouer all the children of pride Iob. 41.34 and teaching them to say wee will not haue this man to rule ouer vs Luk. 19.14 Euch. What is the Kingdome of Man Phil. It is the humane gouernment by which one or diuers doe by Gods ordinance command their people Euch. What is the Kingdome of God Phil. It is that spirituall rule which God through Christ doth by grace begin in vs in this life and by glorie will accomplish in the life to come * Dan. 2.37 Matth. 25.37.6.31 RoÌ„ 14.17 Euch. Is the Kingdome of God manifolde Phil. It is thréefold 1. The Kingdome of Power Psal 99.1.2 The Kingdome of Grace Matth. 3.2.3 The Kingdome of Glorie Luk. 23.42 By the first hee ruleth Sathan and all his Enemies Psal 2.9.145 13. commands all Creatures and preserueth his owne people By the second he ruleth the godly and raignes in their heartes by the Word and Spirit Luk. 17.20 By the third hee crowneth the godly with celestiall happinesse So then the first Kingdome is externall the second internal the third eternall the first is a gouernment of all the second of the elect the third of the departed out of this life into Heauen Euch. How many thinges may we obserue in this Kingdome Phil. Twelue 1 That Christ is King a Mat. 2.2 2 The Subiects are Christians b Psal 2.8 3 The Lawes are the Word c Psal 119.105 4 The Enemies are Sathan Sinne Death Hell Damnation the Flesh and the Wicked d Eph. 6.12 Rom. 6.12 1. Cor. 15.51 Rom. 8.1 Gal. 5.17 Gen. 3.15 5 The rewardes are the good thinges of this life and eternall happinesse in the life to come e Mar. 10.30 6 The Chastisements are afflictions f Heb. 12.6 7 The weapons are Faith Hope Loue the Word and Prayer g Eph. 6.16 8 The time of it is to the Worlds end h Mat. 28.20 9 The place is this World and the World to come i Reuel 5.10 Mat. 25.34 10 The Officers are Preachers k 2.
confession of sinnes in great Congregations scarce fortie are present vpon the Sabbath day yet none hereby may take occasion or be permitted so to rest wholly in such forme of Prayer as alwaies to kéepe idle the spirit within them or grace giuen them for growth in the power of Prayer to dull let or burie the gift or grace of the Spirit tending to riper perfection But euerie one ought to stirre vp and whet the Spirit and exercise the grace and power receiued to be fitted not only to repeate or reade but euen to endite any good matter and to be fitted by readinesse of inuention sutable to all occasions being as in the whole inward man so in the ripenesse of inuention facultie of conceuing increased and more and more perfected not alwayes to remaine like Children or Weakelings néeding to créepe vpon all foure or to walke with a staffe but able to goe without such helpes which any shall doe through Gods assistance by vse and frequent exercising themselues in Prayer and obseruation and imitation of other good Prayers heard or read and by kéeping a good method and order in praying A briefe Prayer vpon the Lords PRAYER OVR Father By the benefit of creation through thine omnipotencie assistance of preseruation through thy prouidence gift of Adoption through thy grace communication of eternitie through thy Christ Which art in Heauen euer raigning by thy power enlightining by Spirit forgiuing by thy mercy ruling by thy Maiesty Hallowed be thy name of vs by an honest coÌ„uersâ—tioâ— in vs by a cléere conscience from vs by an honest report aboue vs by the representation of Angels Thy Kingdome come in thy Holy Church by the sanctification of the Spirit in thy faithfull soules by iustification of faith in thine Holy Scriptures by instruction of Ministers in thy celestiall Pâ—radise by assimilation to Angels Thy will bee done in Earth in singlenesse of heart by humilitie chastitie of bodie by abstinence holinesse of will by custome truth of action by discretion As it is in heauen willingly without murmuring speedily without delaying constantly without ceasing vniuersally without omitting Giue vs this day our daily bread For humane necessitie to couer our shame future prosâ—eritie to maintaine our calling present liberalitie to doe good to others eternall glorie to lay vp in Heauen And forgiue vs our trespasses of omission in thinges commaunded commission in thinges forbidden of the first Table against thy selfe and the second Table against our neighbour As wee forgiue them that trespasse against vs Heartily in puritie chearefully in curtesie continually in Christianitie forgetfully in not requiting like for like And leade vs not into temptation either importunate which wearieth or sudden which discourageth or fradulent which deceiueth or violent which ouercommeth But deliuer vs from all euils of mundane aduersitie which will disquiet vs Sathans subtiltie which will destroy vs humane crueltie which will ouerthrow vs eternall misery which may torment vs. For thine is the Kingdome powerfull in it selfe comfortable to vs terrible to thine enemies eternall in Heauen Power great in our creation mightie in our preseruation mercifull in our iustification and wonderfull in our glorification And glorie For which thou diddest make all thinges to which we referre all thinges in which all thinges doe remaine on Earth and by which all thy Saints shal reioyce in Heauen For euer and euer in themselues by continuance in thy Saints by practise in thy creatures by proofe in the wicked by torment Amen so bee it by intention of the mind serious inuocation of thy name diligent execution of thy Commandements continuall communication of all thy mercies prayed for Another of the like Argument O Our Father high in Creation swéet in loue rich in mercie Which art in Heauen the glasse of eternitie the crowne of incunditie the treasure of felicitie Hallowed be thy name that it may bee honie to the mouth musicke to the eare a fire in the heart Thy Kingdome come pleasant without mixture safe without annoyance sure without losse Thy will bee done that wee may flie that thou hatest loue that thou louest and by thee doe that thou commandest In earth as it is in Heauen willingly readily faithfully Giue vs this day our daily bread necessarie for this life not superfluous for our delights nor waÌ„ting to our necessities And forgiue vs our debts against thée our neighbour and our selfe As wee forgiue our debters who haue wronged vs in our bodie goods name And lead vs not into temptation of the World Flesh Diuell But deliuer vs from euill past present to come Spiritual Corporall Eternall And this we aske because thine is the Kingdome for thou rulest all Power for thou canst doe all and Glorie for thou giuest all now whilest we doe liue and for euer whilest we shall liue Amen neither doubt we but that wee shall certainely obtaine these thinges because thou art louing as our Father and powerfull in Heauen Thou sayest Amen by commanding art Amen by performing we say Amen by beléeuing and hoping say but the word and we shall be cured Dauid tentatur tentatus orat orans Liberatur liberatus gratias agit August Dauid is tempted being tempted hee prayeth praying is deliuered and being deliuered he giueth thankes This is the summe both of Dauids Psalmes and the Lords Prayer MATTH 26.41 Watch and pray that you fall not into temptation A COMMVNICANT INSTRVCTED THOV SHALT LABOR FOR LONDON Printed for Edward Blunt and William Barret 1613. To the right Honourable the Ladie FRANCIS Daughter to the most honourable the Countesse of Darbie and wife to the honourable Sir IOHN EGERTON Knight of the BATHE ALbeit the houses of the poore are not at any time as of the rich alike adorned with gorgeous furniture yet the gardens of the poore as well as the rich are in the spring-time a-like couered with flowers furniture That great flower of the Sunne it is not indeede found but amongst the rich but the Marigold Heliotropiuim which openeth and setteth with the Sunne and which is as profitable as the other is beautifull this is amongst other sweet and holesome hearbs ordinarie in the poorest Orchard These kinde of hearbs sometime they vse for meate and medicine and often wanting things to present their betters with of these they doe offer a poesie of flowers As they haue receiued so they giue That spirituall Garden which is committed to my keeping hath not at this time any rare flowers in it but such as being planted some few yeares past doe now shew themselues in a more Orient colour and in greater aboundance Out of them this spring-time I haue gathered three seuerall nose-gaies and two of them are presented to two most honourable Counsellers this Third I am bold to present to your Honour I hope there is no such Antipathie betwixt flowers and you as there was betwixt a worthie Ladie and a Rose The Ladie Hennage especially such flowers as these since Religion which giueth colour
is spirituall and secret And as we haue feeling of Christ dwelling on our hearts so the more shall wee haue feeling of this blessed societie by which we haue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an vnion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fellowship and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 participation with whole Christ and his merits and meet altogether in the vnitie of faith and knowledge of the sonne of God vnto a perfect man and vnto the measure of the age of the fulnesse of Christ Ephes 4.13.5.30 But as in our separation from God by the spirit of Satan our mindes heart and wils were first seuered and then followed the whole man so the first thing in this coniunction which must be ioyned with God by his spirit is the vnderstanding by knowledge the heart by affiance the will by obedience after which will follow all the new man By the humanitie of Christ we are conioyned to him and by his Spirit he is ioyned to vs. Not either by an actuall falling of Christs flesh into ours or a naturall contiguitie or conexion of our persons or essentiall comixtion of his body with ours but by a copulation and connexion altogether spirituall felt by grace in this life and seene by glorie in the life to come when Christ and his Church before Gods iudgement seate shall appeare as one Christ. But Christ is in heauen and we vpon earth Send thy faith into heauen and hee in heauen is ioyned to thee heere vpon earth Thy sight in a moment can visiblie touch the starres of heauen much more may thy faith touch that morning starre and sunne of righteousnesse which is in heauen Say that the wife bee in England the husband in India the head aboue the feete below the branches on the top the roote in the ground the spring in one place the riuers in an other the foundation on the earth the building in the ayre is there not notwithstanding an vnion betwixt them Surely there is Christ is our husband the Church is his spouse Christ is our head ech Christian is a member Christ is the roote the righteous are branches Christ is the fountaine the Religious are riuers Christ is the foundation belieuers are Gods building Be hee neuer so high euen in the highest heauens we vpon earth are so ioyned vnto him that by vertue of this vnion our soules do receiue the life of grace in this world and our bodies shall receiue the life of glorie in the world to come Heere this coniunction appeares in the vnitie of spirit for in it there is neither a commixtion of persons nor an vnion of substances but a confederation of our affections and concatenation of our wils there it shall appeare in the consociation of our persons For wee shall enioy there a most holy and comfortable conuersation with Christ see him as he is conferre with him face to face and as in this sacrament as by a marriage ring wee are espoused to him heere so there wee shall be solemnly maried to him for euer And all this comes vnto vs because the word was made flesh not because that Flesh hath any such vertue in it selfe it is the spirit that quickneth the flesh profiteth nothing but in that it is caro verbi flesh vnited to the word to that word which is the fountaine of life quickning all things and causing the death of that flesh to obtaine for vs eternall life The flesh is not quickning in it selfe but in the word Hypostatically vnited vnto it saith Cyrill This word by personall vnion quickneth Christs humanitie and giueth it for our saluation merite and efficacie and by mysticall vnion quickneth Christian consciences and ioyneth them in loue and life vnto God so that now there is a mutuall giuing and receiuing betwixt Christ and his Church From Christ wee receiue first him selfe which the Father and their Spirit to become our portion Secondly Adoption to be actually made the children of God Thirdly a title and right to Christs righteousnesse in his sufferings and with all to his fulfilling of the whole law Lastly a right to the Kingdome of heauen which now is made the inheritance of the Saints And what doth he now receiue from vs surely drosse for gold euil for good shame for glorie sorrow for solace and a curse for this blessing For he receiues ftom vs first our sinnes with the punishment thereof made his by imputation and suertie-ship Secondly our afflictions which hee accounts his owne so long as we suffer for righteousnesse sake And this is our communion which we haue with Christ But because we are all members of one bodie and are all baptized into one Spirit and after do eate of one bread there is also a communion with all Christians one with an other Art thou a liuing saint vpon earth thou art in regard of minde of one iudgement in the grounds of pietie affection of one heart alike affected to God Christ Iesus and euery good Christian though thou wast neuer acquainted with them And in regard of the gifts of the spirit like a good candle thou wilt spend them al to the good of others be ready to serue thy brother in loue and both by example admonition exhortation consolation prayer to conuey all graces in thee to an other yea not to be wanting to him in communicating thy goods And for our communion with the dead they in heauen do pray generally for al vs and we on earth do desire our dissolution to be with them But that we may enioy this blessed societie we must walke in the light For if we say that we haue fellowship with him yet walke in darknesse we lie but if we walke in the light as hee is in the light then haue wee fellowship one with an other 1. Ioh. 1.7 that is God with vs we with God and godly people and the blood of Iesus Christ his Sonne purgeth vs from all sinne Thus then Christ in heauen by his spirit is so vnited to vs we on earth by our faith are so vnited to him that without him we can do nothing with him we are able to do al things Of his fulnesse we receiue grace for grace And as by the power of the sunne in the second heauen all things are made fruitfull heere vpon earth so by the power of Christ in the third heauen all men become sanctified in the Church yet not by the alone inward operation of his spirit without the outward vse of the word and sacraments By the word alone when the sacraments are not administred and both by word and sacraments when they are ioined together Is the word preached in it Christ speaketh by his spitit to vs. Are the sacraments administred by baptisme we are receiued in to the communion of Gods couenant and by the Eucharist wee are more confirmed in the same By the word God enters by one gate into vs namely by the eare by the Eucharist he knocks at al the gates
institute this Sacrament in bread not in flesh Answ 1 Because bread is more fit to nourish than flesh 2 As bread is made nourishment by fire so Christ by the Crosse 3 As bread is corporall food so Christ is spirituall food 4 As bread taketh away corporall hunger so Christ spirituall 5 As bread is giuen to the hungrie not to full bellies so is Christ 6 As bread distributed to many is a token of loue so is Christs bodie giuen for many Quest And why vsed he wine especially Answ Because 1 As wine is the most swéet liquor so is Christs bloud 2 As wine quencheth corporall thirst so Christs bloud doth spirituall thirst 3 As wine chéereth so doth Christs bloud 4 As wine heateth so doth Christs bloud 5 As wine is pressed out of the grape so was Christs bloud out of his side 6 As wine maketh man secure bold eloquent and of good colour so doth Christs bloud Quest What is the forme of this Sacrament Answ The coniunction of the thing signified with the signe the action of God with the action of the Minister and the action of faith with the action of the receiuer Quest What doth the action of the Minister signifie Answ His taking bread and wine into his hands doth signifie Gods sealing of Christ to beare the office of a Mediator Ioh. 6.27 His blessing of the bread the sending of Christ to be a Mediator His breaking of bread and powring out of wine the execrable passion of Christ effusion of his bloud The giuing of bread and wine to the receiuer the offering of Christ to all euen Hypocrites but the giuing him only to true Christians Quest. What doth the action of the receiuer signifie Answ His taking of bread and wine into his hand doth signifie his apprehension of Iesus Christ by faith his eating of bread and drinking of wine for the nourishment of his body his applying of Christ vnto himselfe that his true communion with him may be more increased Quest What is the end of this Sacrament Answ 1 The assurance of Gods fauour 2 The increasing of my faith 3 Fellowship with Christ 4 Communion with the Saints Quest You said in the second place that you must examine your faith tell mee therefore what this faith is Answ It is a miraculous worke of God wrought in the heart of a regenerate man by the preaching of the Gospell whereby hée doth apprehend and applie to himselfe particularly Christ Iesus with al his benefits to the pardon and forgiuenesse of all his sinnes Quest Why must you examine whether you haue faith Answ Because 1 Without faith I cannot please God Hebr. 11.6 2 By it I must liue both in my particular and generall calling Hab. 2.4 3 By it I am iustified before God Rom. 5.1 4 By it I put on Christ Galath 3 27. 5 By it I féed on Christ Iohn 6.35 6 By it alone I obey Gods word Rom. 14.23 7 By it I am the child of God Gal. 3.2 8 By it Christ dwelleth in mine heart Ephes 3.17 9 By it I procure Gods blessings vpon my selfe and others Matth. 15.28 10 By it I receiue Christ in this Sacrament Quest How may a man know whether he haue this faith Answ By these signes 1 If wee can from our hearts renounce our false supposed goodnesse and can wholly relie vpon Christ in the matter of our saluation this nature cannot doe 2 If we haue peace of conscience arising from the apprehension of GODS loue in Christ and our reconciliation with him Quest Which are the wants of faith Answ 1 Doubting and distrust of Gods mercy 2 Presumption and vaine confidence in our selues Quest To come to the third part of our examination tell me what repentance is Answ 1 It is a worke of grace arising of a godly sorrow whereby a man turneth from all his sins to God and bringeth forth fruit worthie amendement of life Quest Why must you examine whether you haue this repentance Answ Because 1 Mans heart is deceitfull and subtill Ierm 17.9 2 Without it I cannot beleeue Mark 1.15 3 Impenitency is a fore-runner of iudgement Rom. 2.5 4 By repentance I am assured of my saluation Acts 2.38 5 Till then I can haue no comfort Psal 51.12.13.12.32.6 6 If I want it I can neither pray a nor b heare nor c reprehend sin in others d nor yet be a fit guest for the Lords Table a Psa 50.16 Prou. 28.9 b Matth. 3.7 c Iohn 8.7 d 1. Sam. 16.6 Quest. Giue some reasons to moue to repentance Answ I will wée are moued to repent 1 By Gods mercies Rom. 2.4 2 By his patience 2. Pet. 3.15 3 By his iudgements Isai 26.9 4 By the word preached in the Law and Gospell Ionah 2. Math. 3. 5 By the Sacraments Marke 1.4 6 By sinne past 1. Pet. 4.2 7 By the shortnesse and vncertaintie of this life Psal 90.12 8 By the certaintie of death Eccles 12.13 9 By the paucitie of such as shall bee saued Luke 13.25 10 By thinking of the day of iudgement Acts 17.31 11 For feare we go not to hell 12 That we may be partakers of heauen 13 That else we are not assured of our election 14 Without it we cannot die comfortable 15 It is difficult to performe on our death-beds 16 If we repent not our score will increase 17 Without it God will not heare vs. 18 We else run into hardnes of heart 19 If wee doe not so wee bring Gods plagues vpon others 20 By repentance we honour God and assure our consciences that God hath forgiuen vs for Sin discouered by triall and cast out by repentance will neuer condemne vs. Quest And why then do not men repent Answ Because 1 They haue gotten a custome of sinning 2 They escape vnpunished héere 3 They euer think on mercie 4 They feare not iudgement 5 They beléeue not Gods word 6 They sée that most do so 7 They obserue the life of bad Ministers 8 They looke vpon great men that are bad 9 They sée not the vilenesse of sinne 10 They meditate not how God hath plagued the impenitent Quest How shall you know whether you haue this repentance or not Answ By these markes 1 If I haue a godly sorrow whereby I am displeased with my selfe because by sin I haue displeased God 2 If there bee in mee a changing of the mind and a purpose to forsake sin and euer after to please God 3 If I do daily more and more break off my sinnes and abstaine from inward practise kéeping vnder my corruptions and vngodly thoughts 4 If I can mourne for the present corruption of my nature 5 If I haue béen grieued and craued pardon for my late sinnes euen fithence I was last partaker of the Lords Table Quest You said that obedience was the fourth part of our examination can you tell me what obedience is Answ It is a frée heartie vniuersall euangelicall personall and perpetuall kéeping of Gods Commandements Quest What reasons can you
vs by the Word and Sacraments The secōd Position I beléeue this faith to bee wrought in vs of the holy Ghost by the Word and Sacraments that by this faith wee might immediatly receiue and eate the bodie of Christ which was deliuered vp for vs and receiue and drinke the bloud of Christ which was shed for vs for remission of sinnes And so we might more and more bee engraffed and immediatly vnited vnto the bodie of Christ as our Mediatour who died for vs. For euen as the Bread and Wine being Earthly and Materiall Bodies cannot bee incorporated into our Earthly bodies vnlesse wee receiue them in at our mouth and eate them and drinke them So wee cannot bée vnited and incorporated into the bodie and bloud of Christ which Irenaeus calleth an Heauenly thing vnlesse by faith we take hold on Christ eate him and drinke him that is applie him vnto vs. The third Position OF the vse for which we eate the body of Christ and drinke his bloud I beléeue that the bodie of Christ in the Supper is offered and exhibited vnto vs to be eaten and his bloud to bee drunke and that faith by the Word and Sacraments by the helpe of the Holy Ghost being wrought in our hearts it is eaten of vs indéed to the end that we being more neerely and effectually incorporated into Christ we may also bee more throughly confirmed in the New Couenant which in Christ is communicated vnto vs. For as Christ did therefore deliuer his bodie vnto death and shed his bloud that by his death and bloud our sinnes being purged hee might confirme and for euer establish the couenant being renued betwéene God the Father and vs euen as the words of the Supper concerning the bloud doe teach vs and other bookes of the Scripture especially the Epistle to the Hebrewes doe confirme euen so for this end also the body and bloud of Christ is communicated vnto vs that by the participation of them we in like manner being more and more incorporated into Christ might be more and more confirmed in the New Testament Therefore when Christ gaue forth the cuppe in plaine wordes hee named the New Testament that the Apostles might vnderstand to what end the bloud of the sonne of God was not only shed and powred out but also was exhibited to be drunken of them Verily to this end that as by the shedding of his bloud their sinnes and the sinnes of all Gods Elect were purged and being purged the couenant betweene them and God was for all eternitie confirmed So also by drinking of the same both they and all the Elect being more and more incorporated may know themselues to be confirmed and established in the euerlasting Couenant But yet because the Couenant and the flesh and bloud of Christ are diuers obiects and the one is ordinated vnto the other therefore for doctrine sake I distinguish the one from the other and shew what is the proper vse of either of them The fourth Position OF the benefit or vse of the Couenant communicated vnto vs. Lastly I beléeue the couenant it selfe being ratified and confirmed in the bodie of Christ and by the bloud of Christ to bee more and more communicated vnto vs in the same bodie and bloud of Christ that by the bond thereof wee may wholy whatsoeuer we are bee vnited more and more vnto God the Father the Fountaine as of the whole Diuinitie so of all goodnesse and blessednesse by Christ the Mediatour the Spirit working and dwelling in vs and that we may be so vnited that in mind wee may daily more clearely acknowledge him by the Holy Ghost to be our true and our best Father in Christ and in our heart loue him more feruently in Iesus Christ through the Holy Ghost yea with all the powers of soule and bodie wee may daily more sincerely honour him and may bee made like vnto him in Holinesse and Iustice vntill at length sinne being vtterly destroyed and death abolished and the perfect Image of God recouered wee may so perfectly through Christ in the Spirit of God bee vnited and coupled after this life vnto God the Father that he may be all in all Amen For this is the last end vnto which not only the Supper of the Lord but also Baptisme yea the whole Word of God all his benefits all his corrections lastly all the words and works of God doe lead vs vnto CHAP. III. Of the dutie of a Christian man in the Supper of the Lord. WHerefore I thinke and beléeue that these are the duties of a Christian man in the Lords Supper First that he set before his eyes the perfect Communion with God which is none at al without Christ and is to be found only in him and that he direct all things vnto it as vnto the last end Secondly that hee may come vnto this end hee must make his beginning from the meanes which doe incurre into our senses as those things which are first perceiued by our vnderstanding and are better knowne by nature as also hee must heare the word attentiuely and come vnto the Sacraments reuerently and diligently consider as well what the word signifieth as what the Sacraments doe represent and what is offered vnto vs by the Ministerie of them both which is this that Christ hath offered vp his bodie vnto death for vs and shedde his bloud for remission of sinnes and therefore hee hath by his bloud sealed and confirmed in himselfe being Mediatour the New Testament of our euerlasting reconciliation and peace with God And these things are so signified by the Sacraments that they are also offered and giuen vnto vs to be receiued Whereby it comes to passe that they are truly called Signes not only signifying but also exhibiting and giuing the things which they signifie Thirdly I beleeue because the thinges signified and offered by the Signes are to be receiued by faith and faith is the gift of God therefore God is to be praied vnto as hee who offereth the things by the Signes and who commands vs to receiue them by faith He also can giue and increase faith whereby we are able to receiue them Fourthly I beléeue that faith being begotten in vs by hearing of the Word and increased by the diligent consideration of the Sacraments through the Holy Ghost it is the dutie of a Christian man while he receiueth the Externall and Visible Signes with his hand being also Externall and Visible and eateth them with the mouth of his body and drinketh them heare vpon Earth together also to receiue with the hand and mouth of faith and to eate and drinke the Heauenly and Inuisible thinges namely the flesh and bloud of Christ with a faithful heart lifted vp vnto the Heauenly Table that hee being more and more coupled vnto Christ and made flesh of his flesh and bone of his bones may liue in Christ and Christ in him For I beleeue the faithfull in the Supper truly to
receiue and eate but by the Spirit and by faith the very true bodie of Christ the which was crucified for vs and so farre forth as it was deliuered vp for vs and that they drinke his bloud which was shed for vs for the remission of sinnes according as the wordes of Christ doe manifestly testifie And that indéed the bodie is present and the bloud is present but vnto the Spirit and vnto the inward man For vnto the Spirit all thinges which hee receiueth by faith are in truth present according to that that Christ dwelleth in our hearts by faith And no distance of place can effect that the thinges wee receiue by faith should bée absent from vs euen as the Sunne cannot be said to be absent from the eyes of which it is perceiued Fiftly I beléeue because the new couenant in Christ is established by his bloud and the Testament is confirmed by the death of the Testator and because by the bloud of the eternall couenant wee are for euer ioyned vnto God therefore a Christian man who now by faith féeleth himselfe to be incorporated into Iesus Christ ought also to beléeue that hee is confirmed in the couenant with God the Father by a bond that cannot bee broken and therefore that all his sinnes are forgiuen him of God and that hee is destinated and assured to bée the Sonne of God and Heire of eternall life without all feare to be disherited For these thinges which we on our part according to the condition of the couenant owe vnto God namely Faith Loue Obedience wee may firmely beléeue that all those things are fully by Christ the first begotten effected for vs and imputed vnto vs. Further wee ought to bee certainly perswaded that by the assistance of Christ wee shall neuer be forsaken but that we may in some part performe the same And that because Christ himselfe hath both performed those things for vs and hath promised vs this assistance that the New Testament should remaine sure and perpetual as on Gods part so also on our part vntil at length we being receiued into the full possession of the Heauenly Inheritance doe liue in perfect happinesse with the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost our God For there are thrée principall heads of the couenant on Gods part The forgiuenesse of sinnes Adoption which is ioyned with a promise of Gods perpetual good wil grace protection and at last the full possession of Heauenly Inheritance There are also thrée thinges which on our part God doth require by couenant faith in God charitie towards our Neighbour and holinesse of life or perfect obedience Christ by his perfect obedience euen vnto death and by his owne bloud and death hath obtained for vs both those thinges which God hath promised as also hath performed those things which God by couenant required at our hand In testimonie whereof he giueth vs faith whereby wee beléeue in God and charitie whereby wee loue our Neighbour and the Spirit of regeneration whereby we endeuour vnto holinesse of life and true obedience is begun in vs. So Christ bringeth to passe that not only the couenant on Gods part but also on our part remaineth sure and perpetuall It is therefore our dutie that first by faith giuen vnto vs by Christ as wee doe eate his flesh and drinke his bloud so also wee beléeue our selues to be confirmed in the couenant with God and therefore both our sinnes to bee remitted and God to be our Father and that he will perpetually loue and protect vs and lastly that we shall bee heires of eternall life and shall arise to glorie and life euerlasting and that through Christ with whose flesh we are fed in the Supper and we ought to be perswaded that we our selues also are nourished to the end we may bee partakers of a blessed resurrection And therefore wee ought to giue due thankes for so many and so great benefits we ought also to embrace in loue our Neighbour and especially our faithfull brethren That as wee are all one with Christ so wee may also grow vp together in one bodie more and more with the Church Euen as the Apostle Paul exhorteth vs by this argument that wee are all one Bodie and one Bread because we are all partakers of the same Bread With the endeuour of an holy life and and true obedience which is also the gift of Christ wee ought alwayes to glorifie God and declare indéed that wee are true and liuely members of Christ and therefore haue intrest to that true felicitie which cōsisteth in that most perfect vniō with God wherein hee shall bee all in all Thus I beléeue concerning the dutie of a Christian man in the Supper wherein hee may worthily and for his Saluation eate the Bread of the Lord and drinke of his cup. CHAP. IIII. Of the words of the Supper SEeing all things are so as I haue before shewed my opinion is that the wordes of the Lods Supper cannot bee well vnderstood and declared without some trope First for the cup it is manifest as well by the Euangelists as by the Apostle Paul Then for the Bread it is also manifest because where as Christ saith This that is the bread which I haue broken is my bodie the Apostle expounding it saith The Bread which we breake is the Communion of the bodie of the Lord. Thirdly according to the rule of Saint Austen in his third Booke of the institution of a Christian man Cap. 16. Because when wee are commanded to eate the flesh of Christ it yée take the word of eating properly it séemes wee are commanded to doe an heinous déede therefore the spéech of Christ concerning the eating of his flesh is to be vnderstood figuratiuely Moreouer because if you shall vnderstand the wordes without a trope tt will follow that the Bread of Christ was indéed deliuered vp for vs and the bloud shed for the remission of our sinnes Lastly because Luther himselfe vpon the sixth Chapter of Esay saith that in the words of the Supper there is a Synecdoche with whom in this point Bucer doth alwayes agrée Therefore albeit each word in that spéech This is my bodie bee taken in his proper signification so that the true and essential bodie of Christ is attributed to the Bread as indéede it is attributed yet in the whole spéech there must néeds be some trope Séeing that the bread which is giuen for vs and was not crucified cannot properly be said to bee the bodie of Christ which was deliuered vp for vs. So then the controuersie is only concerning the kinde of trope by which the Bread is called the bodie of Christ I say that true bodie which was truly deliuered vp for vs. And I thinke this controuersie not so great worth that for it the peace of the Church bée troubled that he that saith it is a Synecdoche doth condemne him that saith it is a Metonymie And contrariwise he that saith it is a Metonymie condemneth him which
content our selues with a profession of piety and labour not for the power of godlinesse And as for our liues they abound with actuall transgression against euery one of thy ten Commandements hauing broken the same ten thousand tims We Lord haue liued in contempt of thy prouidence committing idolatry with thy creatures taking thy glorious name in vaine and profaning of thy most holy Sabbaths We euen we who should haue been vpright haue not regarded our betters but enuied our brethrē defiled our soules with vnchaste desires laboured to be rich by vnlawfull meanes disgraced our neighbours and longed after that which was none of ours Wee haue heard thy word O Lord but we haue not beleeued it we haue known the word but haue not practised it Wee haue come to thine house without reuerence approched to thy Table without repentance and practised many sins without remorse Doe we any good wee please our selues too much Doe we any euil we feare thée too little we are wearie of praying when we talke with thée we are carelesse in hearing when thou speakest to vs. If we reade thy Sacred and Holy Word it is not swéete vnto vs as the hony combe but wee delight more euen in vngodly bookes Yea O Lord the pampering of our bellies the pride of our apparel the negligence in our calling the mispending of our time our vaine conference at table our wandring eyes our wanton lusts our ambitious minds our couetous desires our vngodly spéeches our lasciuious eares our censuring of our brethren our sinne in recreations our vnwillingnesse to labour our vnfaithfulnesse in life our forgetfulnesse of death and our abuse of thy mercies especially in Christ doe testifie against vs that wée haue sinned against Heauen and against thee and are no more worthie to be called thy children Are wee ashamed at this and reclaimed from it no Lord wee are not ashamed but howsoeuer it hath pleased thee to vse many meanes as partly by thy Word and partly by thy Spirit and partly by thy mercies partly by thy iudgments to the end we might bee reclaimed from our crooked wayes yet we haue contemned thy Word the Ministerie of saluation greiued thy spirit the earnest of our inheritance abused thy mercies the pledges of thy loue and forgotten thy iudgments the messengers of thy wrath Enter not into iudgement with vs thy seruants O Lord for then shall no flesh liuing bee iustified in thy sight Be mercifull vnto vs in forgiuing sinnes past and be gracious vnto vs in preuenting sinnes to come Correct vs O Lord but with mercie not in thy iudgement for then shall we be consumed and brought to nought Open our blind eyes that we may come to a particular knowledge of our particular sinnes especially such as wee are most giuen vnto Soften our hard and stonie hearts that wee may sigh and grone vnder the burden of them make vs good God displeased with our selues because by sinne wee haue dishonoured thy Maiestie Stirre vp our dead and dul hearts that we may hunger after Christ and his righteousnesse and after euery drop of his precious bloud In that Sonne of thine looke on vs thy seruants and for his merits and righteousnesse vouchsafe good God mercifully and fréely to do away al our offences Wash them away in his blood and by the purity of his spirit clense our hearts from the pollution and impurity of them all say vnto our soules thou art our saluation let thy spirit in our hearts crie Abba Father Teach vs. O Lord thy way we shal walk in thy truth O knit our hearts vnto thée that we may feare thy Name And because through corruption in our hearts and sinne in our liues our faith is féeble and our confidence small wée doe humbly beséech thée to strengthen our faith by the daily meditation and particular application of thy mercifull promises made vnto vs in thy Sonne Christ that neither in the dangers of this world nor in the troubles of conscience nor in the houre of death we may fall from thée Gracious Father expell out of our hearts al carnal confidence the vnderminer of our faith teach vs in the spirit of true humilitie to denie our selues and to relie only vpon thée and the merit of Christ in the matter of our saluation And because it is not enough to come vnto thée by prayer and to sue vnto thée for pardon but all that are in Christ must be new creatures therefore we call vpon thée for the spirit of regeneration mortifie therby the corruptions of our flesh quicken vs thereby in the inner man By the power of Christs death let vs die vnto sinne and by the power of his resurrection let vs rise to righteousnesse and newnes of life let the one as a corrasiue eate vp the dead flesh of vngodlinesse and the other as a spur stir vs vp to holinesse Illuminate our mindes that wee may know thy will giue vs spirituall vnderstanding to discerne good and euill Sanctifie our memories to treasure vp good things purifie our consciences to haue peace in thée reforme our willes to doe thy will and let all our affections be ordered aright Teach vs to feare thée continually wheresoeuer wee are to neglect all things in regard of Christ to loue thée and our brethren for thy sake to be zealous of thy glorie to bée grieued at our owne and others sinnes and ioyfull when we can please thée Let our bodies the instruments of sinne be euer hereafter clensed by thy spirit that they may bee temples for that spirit to dwell in keepe our eyes from beholding vanitie our eares from hearkening to variety our mouthes from speaking blasphemie our hands from committing of iniquitie and our bodies from the action of adulterie Let our light so shine before men that they séeing our good workes may glorifie thee our heauenly Father Make vs to remember that as we are sonnes we must depend vpon thée as wee are seruants we must obey thée and as wee are Christians we ought to walke worthy of our vocation calling And because we haue all some particular calling either of rule or seruice or trust or fauour make vs from the highest to the lowest faithfull in our callings and to remember that a day will come in which wee must giue an account vnto thée of all our actions done in this flesh whether they bée good or euill Take away from vs all opportunitie of sinning and make vs euer thankfull that wee liue so as wée want allurements to many sinnes Cause vs to sée how deformed sinne is in it selfe and to what confusion it is like to bring vs Lord make vs to flie the very occasions of sinne and to resist the beginnings of all temptatition let not a night passe ouer our heads in which wee examine not how wée haue spent the day neuer let vs come into any companie wherein wee may not doe or receiue some good Keepe vs that wee fashion not
a true and liuely faith to apprehend and applie all the promises of saluation to my sinfull soule and to this purpose illuminate mine vnderstanding confirme my memorie purifie my conscience inlarge mine heart rectifie my will order al the members of my body and so sanctifie me throughout that my whole bodie soule and spirit may be kept blamelesse till the glorious appearance of my Sauiour Christ Grant me I beséech thée knowledge of thy truth faith in thy promises feare of thy Maiestie zeale of thy glorie obedience to thy statutes faithfulnesse in my calling patience in troubles hungring after righteousnesse and a tender affection towards all my brethren Grant me I beséech thée the gift of Regeneration to become thy childe of faith to beléeue thy promises of obedience to doe thy will of prayer to séeke thy presence of comfort to endure thy trials and of strength to continue thy seruant to my liues end Grant me again and grant it I intreate thée the sauing knowledge of thy word let it bee in my minde by vnderstanding memorie by remembring thought by meditating heart by affecting tongue by speaking and mine actions by performing it to my dying day Mine heart O Lord is deceitfull let mée watch ouer it my will is vnwilling to all goodnesse let it run the way to thy commandements Many behold my life conuersation let it I beséech thée be ordered aright To this end teach mee to sanctifie thy name aduance thy kingdome doe thy will Thou hast placed me in a calling make me painfull in it that thereby from thée I may haue my daily bread If I haue it kéepe me from pride if not kéepe me from despaire And forgiue mee the abuse of all thy good blessings And howsoeuer I must néeds liue in this world yet let me vse it as though I vsed it not let my conuersation be in heauen mine eyes on thy presence my trust in thy prouidence my delight in thy word and the communion of Saints Make me thinke often of heauen that I may loue it of hel that I may feare it of death that I may exspect it of iudgement that I may escape it and of the vanitie of this present world that thereby I may learne to contemne it I liue by thy prouidence a life of nature I desire by thy spirit to liue the life of grace put on this desire O my God by thy spirit and draw me from good desires to delights from delights to actions from actions to continuance in dooing that which is good And because Satan the aduersarie of thine elect goeth about as a roring lion séeking whom he may deuoure let mee not be ignorant of all his enterprises Make mee wise to foresée his stratagems vigilant to beware his pitfals circumspect to preuent his practises couragious to resist his temptations and constant to ouercome his suggestions He is strong be thou stronger in me he is wise be thou wiser for me hee is watchfull be thou more watchfull about mee hee is malitious bee thou mercifull vnto me Let him neuer finde me idle for then he will allure nor carelesse for then he will surprise nor sinning for then hee will subdue O Iesu be thou Iesus vnto me saue me O Lord from this enemie of mine that this Dragon neuer infect mee with his poyson this Serpent neuer kill mee with his sting this Lion neuer teare mee with his teeth and this aduersarie neuer haue power to ouerthrow me O Christ bee thou Christ vnto mee and anoint mee so with the oile of thy Spirit that of thy fulnesse I may bee filled with grace euen that grace which may further my saluation By it I acknowledge my misery by it let mee féele thy mercie giue mee by it a broken heart a contrite spirit a sorrowfull soule an humble minde a liuely faith that by humbling my selfe I may bee lifted vp by thée and by beléeuing thy promises I may come vnto thée and that as by the one I may mourne for my sinnes so by the other I may beléeue they are pardoned I durst not bee so bold as craue this thy fauour but that I am incouraged by confidence of thy mercie Doe the simple beg wisdome thou giuest it doe the afflicted beg deliuerance thou grantest it doth he that is troubled with his sinnes come vnto thée thou séest him a farre off thou embracest him in thine armes receiuest him into thy grace againe Thou commandest why should I not obey thou promisest why should I not beléeue thou hearest why should I not speake I speake vnto thée in the language of Canaan kéepe not silence at these my prayers Thou O my Sauiour hast died for my sinnes let the power of thy death make me die vnto sin especially to my beloued sins and such as I can hardly get the mastery of Thou O Lord Christ art risen from the dead let the power of thy resurrection make mee to rise vnto newnesse of life And that which is impossible to flesh and blood make it possible by the vertue of thy blood Thou hast redéemed me suffer me not to be in sinnes captiuitie thou hast triumphed ouer Satan for me suffer mee not to be vnder his tyrannie Thou hast couered mee with the robes of righteousnesse teach mee to cast off the rags of iniquitie Thou hast washed me and I am cleane kéepe me that I return not with the swine to my wallow Thou hast begun thy good work in me performe the worke that thou hast begun and strengthen mee in the workes which I doe haue or shall take in hand Kéepe mée good Lord in my old age forsake mee not when I am gray-headed And when it shall please thée to cast me vpon my sicke bed as what man liueth who shall not sée death grant that I may take my sicknesse patiently and at the last gaspe let not either sinne or Satan take such hold vpon me that I depart this life with crying and scrichings and words of despaire but that beleeuing thy word and yéelding to thine ordinance my last houre may bee my best houre and I may say with the Psalmist Lord into thine hands I commend my spirit for thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of truth Thus I still crie vnto thée for mercie because my sins crie against mee for iustice Preserue me O Lord for I trust in thée and let me in all things see that I am preserued by thee let me see it in the health of my body the peace of my conscience the gifts of my minde the credit of my name the works of my calling and vpon all such as are neere and deare vnto me Thou hast beene good vnto me in times past O that I could depend vpon thee for the time to come Thou hast by thy mercie kept mee from grosse sinnes cleanse mee I pray thée from my secret sinnes especially such as put forth their heads when I am but a little moued Am I prouoked stay mine anger is my enemy