of God wherein you say God hath declared himself unto us Answer It is the holy Scriptures Rom. 1.2 Question How can the Scriptures be called the word of God seeing they are written by men Answer Although holy men wrote the Scriptures yet did not they write by their own power or in their own name but by the power of the Spirit of God and in the name of God himself and therefore what they wrote is to be accounted the word of God himself Hos 8.12 1 Pet. 1.20 21. 2 Sam. 23.2 Question What hath God in the Scripture declared himself to be Answer An eternall most gracious most wise most just unchangeable infinite and all glorious Majesty from whom all things have their being and by whom all things are Governed and preserved Isa 43.10 13. Jude 25. Exod. 34.6 Deut. 32.4 Num. 23.19 Question Who is God the father in whom you believe The Father Answer He is the first person of these three the Father Son and Holy Ghost who are the one and onely God Eternall 2 Chron. 6.18 Psal 119.91 Acts 17.28 1 John 5.7 Question Why is the first person in the blessed Trinity called Father Answer He is called so especially in respect of his only begotten Son Jesus Christ our Lord and secondarily in respect of all his Saints who are adopted to be his Children by grace in Jesus Christ Jer. 20.17 Ephes 1.5 Question Why doe you call God the father Almighty Almighty Answer Because he is abundantly sufficient to accomplish his will so that he can doe whatsoever he will doe Psal 115.3 Question Whereby doth the Almighty power of God appear Answer It appears by this Maker of Heaven and Earth that he is the Maker of Heaven and Earth Question Why doe you call God the Maker of heaven and earth Answer Because God did at first make and doth still preserve the heaven and earth and all things that are in them Jer. 42.5 Question Of what did God at first make the Heaven and Earth Answer God created that is made the Heaven and Earth of nothing in the beginning and then brought them into that order wherein they now stand in six dayes Gen. 1. Question What did God doe in the first day of the world Answer He made the light and divided it from the darknesse calling the light day and the darknesse night Gen. 1.3 Question What did God in the second day Answer He made the firmament and therewith he divided the waters calling it Heaven Gen. 1.7 9. Question What did God in the third day Answer He made the dry Land calling it Earth and Seas and all kinds of Grasse and Hearbs and Trees Gen. 1.9 10 11 12. Question What did God in the fourth day Answer He made the Son the Moon and the Stars and placed them in the Firmament of Heaven that they might divide the day from the night and be for signs and seasons and dayes and years Gen. 1.3 5. Question What did God in the fifth day Answer He made all such Creatures as live in the water and all kind of Fowles which fly about the earth Gen. 1.20 21 22. Question What did God in the sixth day Answer He made creeping things of the earth and all Cattel and Beasts of the Earth and last of all he made man to whom he gave dominion over the Fish of the Sea Fowles of the aire and every living thing that moveth upon the earth Gen. 1.24 28. Question Whereof did the Lord God make man Answer The Lord God made man of the dust of the earth Gen. 2.7 Question Is there no part of man which was not made of the dust Answer Yes there is an immortall spirit in man which the Lord God breathed into him after he had formed his body of the dust Gen. 2.7 Eccles 12.8 Question How many more did the Lord at first make Answer He made only one and that was Adam the father of all mankind Gen. 2.7 Question How was woman made Answer The Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and whilst he slept the Lord God took out one rib of his and made a woman of it Gen. 2.21 22. Question How many women did the Lord at first make Answer He made onely one and that was Evah whom he gave to Adam for wife and so they two became the first Parents of all mankind Gen. 2.22 23. Question Were Adam and Evah our first parents created sinfull and miserable as we are now Answer No the Lord God created them holy glorious and upright in his Image according to his likenesse Gen. 1.26 27. Eccles 7.3 Question How did they become then sinfull and miserable Answer By breaking the Commandement of their God Question What Commandement was it that they brake Answer That Commandment whereby the Lord forbad them to eat of the fruit of the Tree of the knowledge of good and ill which was in the midst of the Garden of Eden wherein God put the man Gen. 2.17.3.6.2.8 Question Seeing the Lord God created our first Parents holy and perfectly able to fullfill his will how became they so rebellious as to transgresse his Commandement Answer The Devil by his subtilty deceived them and so caused them to transgresse the Commandement of their God in eating the forbidden fruit Gen. 3.1 2 3 4. Question Was this sin of our first parents a small offence Question No it was a great and most grievous sin and that in a three-fold respect 1 Because it proceeded from the belief of the Devils lye before and against the knowne truth of God 2 Because it proceeded from a causeless and wicked distrust of Gods goodnes to them as if he envying their happines had by his Commandements restrained them from a principall means thereof 3 Because it was a willfull act of disobedience even against their Creators revealed will Question What effect wrought this disobedience in our first parents Answer It made them subject unto death and so to him who hath the power of death which is the Devil Rom. 5.12 Gen. 2.17 Heb. 2.14 Question What death were our first parents subjected unto by sin Answer They were subjected to a three-fold death The first of sin The second corporall The third everlasting Question How did our first parents disobedience make them subject to the death of sin Answer By depriving them of that righteousnesse wherein they were created making their hearts inclinable to all wickednesse and working darknesse in their understandings perversenesse in their wills disorder in their affections readinesse in all the members of their bodies to serve uncleanesse and so wholly subjecting them to the Dominion of sin and death Gen. 6.5 21. Ephes 2.3.4.8 Pro. 1.24 25. 1 Pet. 2.11 Rom 6.19 Ephes 2.5 Rom. 6.17 Question What is that corporall death which sin brought upon our first parents Answer It is that death which is caused by the separation of the body from the soul when the body returneth to the ground whence it was taken
brought but he willingly descended or went down into hell and overcame the power thereof John 10.15 Question What was done to the body of our Saviour after it was layed in the grave Answer It was sealed up fast into the Sepulchre and watched by Souldiers that it might not be stoln away Mat. 27.66 Question When our Saviour was buried was he for ever holden in the grave Answer No He roseagain from the dead he arose againe from the dead Question What doe ye mean when you say that He arose againe from the dead Answer I understand thereby that the body of our Saviour was raised out of the grave and that by the joyning againe of his soule unto it he became of a dead a living man Rev. 18. Question How long was it after our Saviours buriall before he arose againe Answer He arose againe from the dead the third day Luke 24. The third day Question By what power did our Saviour rise from the dead Answer By the power of his eternall Godhead wherein he is one with the Eather and the Holy-Ghost 1 Pet. 3.18 Question What testimonies have we to assure us of our Saviours resurrection Answer We have the testimony of the Prophets of Angells of those many witnesses who saw him and spake with him and handled him after his resurrection and of those works of a truly living man which he did after he was risen from the dead Psal 16.10 11. Luke 24.5 6. Acts 13.22 Question How long continued our Saviour upon the earth after his resurrection Answer By the space of forty dayes Acts 3. Question What became of our Saviour after those dayes Answer He ascended in to heaven He ascended into Heaven Question What doe you understand by these words He ascended into Heaven Answer I understand thereby that our Saviour went up from the earth into Heaven where the glory and majesty of God doth appear in the presence of his holy Argells Luke 24.51 Eph. 4.10 Mat. 18.10 Question Why did our Saviour ascend into heaven Answer That he might prepare a place of rest and glory for the children of God and appear in the presence of God to intercede for them to the end of the world John 14.2 Heb. 7.25 Heb. 9.24 Question Is our Saviour then at this day in heaven Answer And sitteth at the right hand of God the Father almighty Yes there he sitteth at the right hand of God the Father almighty Acts 1.34 Question What doe you mean when you say that our Saviour sitteth at the right hand of God Answer I understand thereby that Christ Jesus our Lord is in the Heaven exalted to the highest degree of Heavenly glory and dignity being made much more powerfull and excellent then men and Angells Eph. 1.20 21 22. 1 Pet. 3.22 Question Shall our Saviour returne from the heaven whether he is ascended Answer Yes From thence he shall come to judge from thence shall he come to judge both the quick and the dead 2 Tim. 4.1 Question Whom doe you undestand by quick and dead Answer By the quick I understand all those who shall be living at the time of the appearing or second coming of our Saviour to Judgement the quick and the dead and by the dead all those who shall die before that day 1 Thes 4.15 Question Shall all then both dead and living be judged by our Saviour at his second appearing Answer Yes they shall appear before the judgement seat of Christ and receive from his mouth a most just and unresistable sentence of blessednesse or misery everlasting Rom. 14.10 2 Cor. 5.16 Mat. 25.34 35 36. Question Doe you believe onely in the Father and his Sonne Jesus Christ Answer No I believe in the holy Ghost I believe also in the holy Ghost Mat. 28. Question What doe you mean when you say I believe in the holy Ghost Answer I mean that I doe believe that there is a holy Ghost who is one God with the Father and the Son in whom the children of God ought to trust because he abideth in them to be their instructer comforter and sanctifier uniting them into the mysticall body of Jesus Christ and making them parts of the holy Catholick Church 1 John 5.7 John 16.13 1 John 2.27 John 14.16 Rom. 8.5 1 Cor. 12.13 Question Hath God an holy Catholick Curch Answer Yes The holy Catholick Church I believe the holy Catholick Church Eph. 1.22 Question What doe you meane when you say I believe the holy Catholick Church Answer I mean that I doe believe that there is an holy congregation of men women and children in all ages and out of all quarters of the world by Gods speciall grace according to his eternall purpose from the midst and miserable estate of wicked men to be Gods peculiar people on earth and the inheritance of his kingdome in Heaven Heb. 12.23 1 Pet. 3.7 1 Cor. 7.14 Heb. 11. Isa 60.4 Gal. 1.15 Rom. 8.28 1 Pet. 2.9 1 Thes 2.12 Question What is the meaning of the word Church Answer A Church is as much as a Congregation called out from among others Acts 15.14 Question What is the meaning of the word Catholique Answer Catholique signifieth as much as universall or generall Question Doe you believe that Gods Church is universall or generall Answer Yes I believe that the Congregation or assembly of Gods Saints which is called his Church is generally called in all times and out of all places in the earth Question How doth God call men into his Church Answer God calleth men into his Church after a two-fold way or manner 1 Ordinarily when he doth at once speak unto their eares by his Spirit moving them by faith to receive the word Acts 16.14 2 Extraordinarily when he doth without the means or ministry of the word work powerfully by his Spirit upon the hearts of men inlightning and sanctifying them Acts 9.6 Question May a man who neglecteth the call of God in his worke warrantably expect to be called of God by his Spirit Answer No in no wise because it is most just with God to deny those his extraordinary calling who most wickedly contemn the blessed call of his holy word Prov. 1.24 25 26 27. Question Why is the Catholike Church called holy Answer Because the Catholique Church consisteth onely of such as are holy to whom alone belongeth the kingdome of God Acts 20.32 Question What good doe men receive by being members of this holy Church Answer They are thereby made partakers of the communion of Saints the forgivenesse of sins and the resurrection of the body unto life everlasting Acts 2 47. Question VVhat doe you understand by the communion of Saints Answer I understand thereby that especiall joyfull and heavenly fellowship which the Saints have with God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ The communion of Saints and one with another 1 John 1.3 Question Have the Saints an especiall communion above others with God the Father Answer Yes
THE Protestants Practice Or the Compleat CHRISTIAN BEING The true and perfect way to the Celestiall Canaan Necessary for the bringing up of young and the establishing of old Christians in the faith of the Gospel The use whereof in Families will preserve them from the Errors of the Times By a Reverend Father of the Church of England Deut. 6.6 7 8 9. And these words which I command thee this day shall be in thy heart c. Pietas Sapientia summa est LONDON Printed by M. S. for Lodowyke Lloyd at the Castle in Cornhill 1656. To all the truly Religious Protestant LADIES AND GENTLEWOMEN In the County of Glamorgan or elswhere Most Noble Ladies AUGUSTUS being invited by a private Gentleman to his house and but slenderly entertained far below the Majesty of so great an Emperour instead of thanking him gave him a secret but a smart checke for it Nesciebam me tibi tam familiarem esse I knew not saith he before that we were such familiars Though Augustus like your Ladiships might justly taske and check me for my over-boldnesse in commending this Babe of Providence unto your Protection yet I am more then confident when I reflect upon your Ladiships candor and goodnesse not to mention any other of that golden chain of Heroine vertues wherewith you are in the highest measure beautified and adorned that the presumption of these my addresses unto your most noble Ladiships will be no lesse then favourably excused if not graciously accepted In regard whereof I cannot but conceive my selfe highly honoured at this juncture of time to be in a capacity to serve yee in presenting this Christian Orphan to your Ladiships most gracious tuition And indeed I should be very much wanting in my duty by being accessary to the worst of vices Ingratitude if upon the uninterrupted continuance of so many liberall expressions and indulgent effects of your favours and bounty towards me had I buried them all in silence by omitting the present opportunity so strangely offered as to the Dedication of this Treatise which together with all my best services I once more humbly recommend to your Ladiships Acceptation Perusall and Patronage not thereby presuming to informe yee of any thing you know not or confirme you in any thing you scruple at for I am too mean an Orator to give yee Characters correspondent to your Ladiships merits 't is as far above my ability as I am below your Eminency I must therefore doe by your Ladiships as the Ancient Heathen did by the Images of their Gods on whose heads when by reason of their height they could not place the Crownes offered to their Deities they humbly laid them at their feet ever vowing my constant prayers for your Ladiships Improvement of all vertues and saving graces in order to the eternity of glory it being the height of my Ambition so to prostrate my endeavours and expresse my self as I am Your Ladiships most humble Votarist Athanasius Davies To the READER Reader IF thou doest but enter into a serious consideration of the world the deceitfullnesse of Riches the shame of Pleasures the folly of Sports the inconstancy of Honours the danger of Greatness and the strict Account thou must one day give for All thou must needs with Solomon confess and acknowledge all this worlds Magnalia to be but Vanity of vanities and all but vanity Divert thy course then and doe as the Wise-men did goe another way Trade for spirituall Merchandize travel towards Heaven Labour far the meat that perisheth not search diligently for the Pearl of the Gospel Seeke the Kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof account nothing so precious as Gods favour nothing so fearfull as his displeasure nothing so hatefull as sin nothing so desireable as grace Remember thou art a Kings Son said Menedemus to his Pupill Remember thou art the King of Kings Son say I to thee Christian Reader Think not speak not act not any thing unworthy of thy selfe The consideration of this Dignity made Theodosius to thank God more that he was a Christian then a King Moses to refuse the Crowne of Aegypt David to desire the place of Gods Door-keeper and Paul to make a base accompt of all things in this world The consideration thereof I say made Abel to sacrifice his sheep Abraham his Son Joseph to fly Adultery and the 3 Children Idolatry Nehemiah Tyranny yea all Gods Children to abandon impiety See then that thou behave thy selfe in all things like thy self Beware of temporary faith partiall obedience mercenary love pretended zeal legall sorrow and feigned Humility these have the form not the power of godlinesse Except thy righteousnesse exceed that of the Pharisees thy spirituall sacrifice that of Cains thy confessing of sins that of Pharaoh's thy fasting that of Ahabs thy weeping that of Sauls thy reformation that of Jehn's thy compunction and restitution that of Judas thy believing that of Simon Magus thy fear and trembling that of Felix thou mayest have a name that thou livest and yet art dead thou mayest be said to travell towards Heaven yet never arrive thither Remember Lots wife Beware lest a promise being made thou seem to come short of it Work out thy salvation with fear and reverence Love Gods House honour his Ministers Messengers forsake not the publick Assemblies as the manner of some is Slight not Christs Ordinances desire to be with him pray heartily unto him depend on his providence be content with thine allowance patient under corrections and above all things reverence his sacred word meditate therein day and night let that be thy counseller the directer of thy wayes thy comfort in calamity a Lanthorn to thy feet and a light to thy paths there Old men may learn Instruction and Young men Reformation and all edifying knowledge to their eternall salvation Next to these sacred Oracles of God I commend unto thy reading this Breviary of Divinity intituled The Compleat Christian comprising the chief grounds of Christian Religion be not over curious and inquisitive to know the Authors name whose ability is much above his ambition The fear of envy some other ill consequences at present press a concealment and have denyed a subscription to the Book which if thou doest good Reader but diligently read and peruse thou shalt find it for Order Methodicall for Matter Judiciall for brevity compendious for plainness perspicuous for use precious Buy this truth therefore but sell it not read well this little Book and forget it not for thou shalt buy much for little cost and read much to thy great gain Let it be thy guide and thy counsell and thou shalt hardly doe amisse What further profit thou shalt reap therein give God the more praise and remember the Publisher in thy prayers who offereth both life labours to further thy salvation A. Davies EDitus è fausto puer est hic pectore parvus Et vium Coeli dulce repentè bibit Infantem pulchrum nutrivit docta
till thou have greater strength Question 85. What is the sixth Christian duty Answer Sympathizing or a rejoycing with the people of God that doe rejoyce and a weeping with them that weep Psa 106.5 Rom. 12.15 Question 86. In what manner should we take to heart the case of distressed Christians Answer As those that be members of the same body yea as if we our selves were with them in the same bonds and misery Heb. 13.3 Question 87. Wherein is our compassion to be shewed to persons afflicted Answer 1 In making enquiry into their condition Nehem. 1.2 2 In praying for their comfort Psal 25. last 122.6 3 In providing for their relief John 3.17 Question 88. What 's the seventh Christian duty Answer Edifying one another 1 Thess 5.11 unto which we may refer Christian visits and conferences Acts 15.36 Mal. 3.16 Question 89. What Rule is to be observed for the better building up of our Brethren Answer It is to be done â—ither with compassion and favour or with fear and terrour as there is occasion Jude 20 21 22. Question 90. What help is there for this duty Answer We must consider and take a view one of another as those doe that are about to repair and when we see what 's lacking or amisse we must accordingly put to our helping hands not commending our company in that which is good and winking at them wherein they are defective but letting that alone which is well and setting to work and building where there is need Heb. 10.24 1 Thess 3.10 Question 91. What is the duty of those that are dealt withall in this kind Answer They ought not to be stern and stout and to fling away in a chafe but quietly to suffer the word of Exhortation and Edification accounting it a matter of the greatest favour and faithfullnesse to keep their ruinous soules in repaire Heb. 13.22 Prov. 27.6 Question 92. What 's the eighth Christian duty Answer Alms-giving or charitable Contributions Heb. 13.16 Question 93. What Rules are there to be observed for this duty Answer It is to be performed 1 In regard of persons wisely and with due distinction ever preferring the houshold of faith as sometimes Joseph did his beloved Benjamin Gal. 6.10 Gen. 43.34 2 In regard of our states proportionally that is we must help others as God enables and prospers us 1 Cor. 16.2 3 In regard of our affection chearfully without harshnesse of spirit and inward grudgings and compassionately without hardnesse of heart and inward deadnesse 2 Cor. 9.7 1 John 3.17 A man should not onely open his purse to give Alms but his bowels also 4 In regard of God humbly not dreaming of merit but accounting it a great mercy that we have any thing to give or any mind to give it withall 1 Chron. 29.14 16. And seeking Gods glory in it and not our owne 1 Cor. 10.3 Mat. 6.2 3. Question 94. What help is there for this duty Answer First that we may be able to give we must strengthen our hearts with faith and look upon our Alms not as upon water that is spilt but as upon seed that is sown and that in well watred ground still remembring that liberality makes no man lean Eccl. 11.1 Prov. 11.25 Question 95. What 's the ninth Christian duty Answer Mourning for the sins and abominations of the Times Ezek. 9.4 Ezra 10.6 1 Cor. 13.21 Question 96. What help is there for this duty Answer We may help our selves therein with these four considerations 1 The great dishonour that is done to God by such sins for if there be any love to God in us it cannot but vex us that such dead Dogs as the sinners of the times are should so dishonour so glorious a God yea it will grieve our souls that any shame should be done to him who is our onely friend although it be by our own father 2 Sam. 16.9 2 Sam. 20.3 4. 2 The great danger upon which the sinners in Zion run themselves by those their sins that be comitted in the height of evill Times For can we behold the destruction of thousands of people and many of them perhaps our neere friends and kindred also without lamenting seriously so sad a spectacle Jer. 13.17 Luke 19.41 3 The grievous calamity and desolations that the sins of wicked men bring upon the whole Church of God Micah 2. last For how can we endure to see the destruction of Gods people In this regard if any enquire with wonder of our more abundant weeping for the sins of the time the answer is at hand because I know the evill that thou O sin wilt doe to the Church of God 2 Kings 8.12 4 Even respect to our selves and our owne security may make us mourn for the sins of the time because that onely assures us that we shall be marked and preserved when a generall destruction is decreed Ezek. 9 4. Question 97. Hitherto of those principall duties of our generall calling that are to be performed shew me in â—â—e second place at what time they are to be performed Answer The principall time is the Sabbath the observation whereof is a duty enjoyned in the fourth Commandement Question 98. The fourth Commandement was given to the Jewes and enjoynes the Jewish day which was Saturday now that day being gone how doth the Commandement bind us Answer The fourth Commandement requires three things 1 A Sabbath day 2 A Sabbath day every week for we must not work longer then six dayes together 3 The Jewes Sabbath day now it is true that the last of these viz. the Jewes Sabbath is gone and another day fitter for Christians is put in the place thereof but for the first and second that is a Sabbath and a weekly Sabbath the fourth Commandement gives us a perpetuall Law Question 99 To clear this the better shew me what reason there is why there should be a Sabbath day for ever Answer Because of the ends for which a Sabbath was appointed which are these three 1 That the work of Creation might be remembred and whereby the true God who is known so to be by the making of Heaven and Earth in six dayes Isa 45.12 Jer. 10.11 12. might be acknowledged and advanced 2 That the publick worship of God might be setledly solemnly uniformly conveniently performed by the whole Church of God and so Religion it self upheld and strengthned for duties are preserved by dayes and times Now that the service of God may be performed setledly and constantly there must be a set day that it may be performed solemnly and uniformly there must be one and the same set day that it may be peformed conveniently that set and standing day must still return in a due distance from all which will arise firm reason for a weekly Sabbath 3 The Sabbath was made form an that is that the souls of men might be sustained and built up unto salvation by a sweet and free fellowship with God that whole day in his holy Ordinances and
Minerva Atque Deus tenero mox benedixit ei Hunc peperit faetum Mater Sanctissima Nostrae Ecclesiae Mammas saxit ipse duas Haeres pariter mandns è pneumate sacro Nobilis est natu dignus habere gradum Tu graduatu eas subitò quo Trina potestas Permittit miseros te revocare viros Tu contra canctos reprobos sis lamine testis Durus in ignavos qui tua ditla negant Contra Schismaticos sis semper testis acerbus Illos quo pudeat de servisse fidem Denique qui temnunt Sanctâ—ssima dogmata Matris Contra illos firn è bella benigâ—ia geâ—as Indoctos doceas peccant Vulnera sana Et derisores corrige frange minis Vtilis es pueris puer es magnalia tractans Et magna Annoses fertilitate doces Aetatis suae 8â— Ed Davies GOds Spirit moved on that waters face Wherein was found this pretty Babe of grace As soon as there they did him but baptize He straight began Christs flock to catechize His Infant lisping is pure Eloquence His lips drop Honey his breath Frankincense Three of our Senses these may well delight And it's perusall the Internall fight And to the Sense of our true inward feeling Here is an Object for our sick soule healing Some Quere's quarrells breed some jests some sadnesse But these produce our inward peace and gladnesse These are Divine pen'd Catecheticall All Orthodox not one Schismaticall This is the marrow of Theologie And the Elixir of all Pietie Of Law and Gospel the pure quintessence And the true Marchâ—fit extract from thence It is the powder that turns brasse to gold Revives the New man dest oy the Oâ—d Aged 86. Ed. Davies THus Anchor'd may I live and dye Fraught with secure Divinity Whilst Babel-builders doe devise Unto themselves a thousand lies Weather cock soules that float upon The waters of Religion Whose Moon-like fancies are become The zealous bane of Christendome Willfully blind they tear and rent The seamlesse Coat of Christ intent To Sects they doe make that their sport Which ought to be their onely Foâ—t Dow-bak't prosessors who to shun Rome's Rocks into flat Atheisme run Unning'd and hovering they fall To Hellish errors these they call Religion reform'd mean while The Turk doth laugh the Jew doth smile But here with safety saile ne're here Shipwrack of Religion feare This Pilot Primitive may refine A two-three-four hour-glasse Divine Wherefore to thee fixt Protestant I give This Counsell read practice this Book live Tho Morgan On the solid Author and the Publication of this Piece MIstake not Reader here 's a Câ—techisme That 's Orthodox no Heresie no Schisme Nor new-light drops from the Seraphick pen Here 's milk for children yet strong meat for men Thus to all Readers all things he doth fly Low to the unlearned to the learned high Blush Sons of Impudence of little wit And lesse true Gospel-knowledge it â—s fit You should turn Catechumens No disgrace To sing your Palinode your looks to grace These lines we beg not Your Owle Eagle sight They 'll dazle you 'll one day confes his light Let either Ford or Bridge or Minster come And view 't here 's neither whey nor froth nor scum Concocted to Elixar here is Cream Sound nutriment in this pure Nectarstream Tho. Wilkins Vpon the Author 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 CAll for the Conjectors and let them try Each Species of Physiognomy Judge Intercisions Stars and Crosses all Speak this year to Books Climactericall What then this instar omnium doth comprise The Quintessence of all approv'd Excise Astrologers their Credit once may save Pry its Nativity and Judgement have Th' Ascendant with a Fortune Planets be see All dignifi'd none in their Cadency Who viewes this face of Heav'n they say may see This the Paragon of futurity Writers have their exit from hence must all Like the next year be turn'd Platonicall The revolutions inexpir'd Now try What you can guesse by your Ouroscopy Physitian try symptoms pulse and all Inspect each region of the Urinall Their doom in truth each tyn panized story Would wear an Age much more one Century Of Books this spares the labour and will lap The Gangraen'd and the luxuriant tap The blazing Meteor which did impend Did point the Babe this with a different end As a wise Pilot steers the way to Joy Where he transcended nothing can annoy Though Preachers silenc'd our heavenly passage To the port of rest each by his steerage Hath accesse to the Celestiall Throne Though to the Prototype High-Priests alone He that with the Interrogant did conspire To burn all Books in the Censorious fire Plutarch excepted would gladly reverse This Sentence command to bring his herse That he for one might make the Company If living would subscribe his destiny This to preserve As the diffused light Fill'd one Horizon and the other night At last it was contracted to the Sun The fourth day's work of the Creation So what the Universe hath bee 't grace or wit This Author hath Epitomized it Whitgift Gibbons Vpon the Author's Catechisticall Paraphrase of our English Church-Catechism THis namelesse blamelesse Author in each line Presents a piece o'th'Gospel Preach'd Divine Instructions all throughout 'T is best perus'd When unto practice in our lives reduc'd That Sermon is wel heard that Book well read Whose Subject Use and Doctrine's practiced These times pretend new lights reformed times But did we act those virtues shua those crimes This Author points us out then should we be The Great Exemplars of Christianity What Councils Fathers Schoolmen all Divines As well of Antient as of Modern Times Have studi'd writ read preach'd Catechiz'd This Author hath couch'd and Epitomiz'd This Author Moses like Anonymus To Pharaoh and his Daughter and to Us The Way unto All happinesse and blisse Mercurius-like describes which if we misse Who is most Ignorant cannot pretend Want of a Guide unto his Journey 's End May God a Blessing add and Sanctify This Bible to our Soules Eternity A PRAYER for the Sabbath OR LORDS DAY ALL possible praise and thanks be given to thee O most gracious God and mercifull father for all those most holy and helpfull means of grace which it hath pleased thee to appoint for the sanctification salvation of corrupt and sinfull man Amongst other means we blesse thee O Lord for this as for a principall and speciall means which contains many other in it even thy blessed Sabbath Magnified for ever be thy wisedome and goodnesse who fore-seeing how this wretched world would fill the hands yea and take up the hearts of us earthly-minded Creatures hast been pleased by a perpetuall Law written with thine own finger to set apart for thine own self for our souls one day in seaven wherein we being called out of the world and having our minds taken off from all earthly businesses on that day forbidden us may delight our selves in thee our God being joyful in
thy House of prayer and have our conversation truly and wholly in Heaven and all heavenly exercises Have mercy upon us O Lord in regard of that light estimation that worldly and vain mis-spending of this precious time whereof we have been so often and so deeply guilty heretofore and put thy Spirit into us we beseech thee to incline our hearts for the time to come to keep this Statute Ezek. 36.27 and to cause us to observe this great Commandement And first of all enable us we pray thee unto a meet preparation for this dayes service help us for that purpose so to examine our ways and carriage the week past as to repent truly of what hath been amisse and to renew our Covenant for a better carriage the week following Assist us withall for the through purging of our hearts from those dregs and defilements which the world hath left behind it as also for the stirring up of our souls by heavenly meditations and prayer that so we may come with devout minds and hungring hearts into thy Sanctuary as those that being poor and blind and miserable and naked stand in great need of thy provision Grant moreover O Lord that coming in due time and in a reverent manner into thy Temple our care may be attentively and without distractions of mind watchfully and without heavinesse of heart devoutly and without dulnesse of spirit reverently and without uncomelinesse of carriage to abide in thy presence and for the whole time to attend thee in thine Ordinances Make us mindfull afterward of those private exercises reading repeating conferring meditating praying whereby the publick may be made more profitable to us and powerfull in us And let us not forget according to the time and ability we have to meditate upon thy Creatures but this being the day wherein it pleased thy Majesty to put thine hand first for the making of them let it be our day also wherein to thy praise and honour to remember them especially let us not forget upon this good day those labours of love and charitable works for our brethrens good which thou O Lord forgettest not Heb. 6.10 And while we doe good to their bodies let us not be unmindfull of that which is the greatest matter the doing of all the good we can unto their soules That all this may be done the better grant we may abstain the day throughout not only from vain pastimes and sinfull practises but also from those every dayes works and words and thoughts more then truly necessary whereby we shall use as our own any part of that sacred time which thou O Lord hast set apart wholly and only for thy self Help us O Lord our God without whom we can doe nothing by thine own strength thus to observe thine owne time Sanctifie us that we may sanctifie it unto thee and be our selves sanctified by it it being made to us as it is to all good observers a blessed day by all the exercises thereof blessed to our use and spirituall advantage And let this work of sanctification by the service of this day as a speciall means be continued still and more and more perfected in us till we come to that place where perpetually resting from all our labours we shall enjoy an eternall and all-satisfying Sabbath with thine own glorious Majesty and thy blessed Son and Lord of the Sabbath Jesus Christ and that for the same Jesus Christs sake To whom with thee O Father and the blessed Spirit for the Creation of the world this day begun for the Redemption of the world this day finished for the Sanctification of the world this day by the descending of the Holy Ghost fully manifested and ordinarily most effected we acknowledge to be due and desire to give all honour power might Majesty and Dominion both now and for evermore Amen and Amen A Prayer to be used before the Hearing of the Word especially on the Sabbath I Doe humbly and heartily thanke thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth for that I live by thy goodnesse and good providence in thy Church in a Land of uprightnesse wherein there is the means of grace and that in these last dayes wherein it hath pleased thee to speak unto us by thy onely Son and so to make known unto me a poor Babe in Christ onely because it seemed good in thy sight things hid from the wise and prudent yea from Kings and Prophets who heretofore have desired to see the things that we see and have not seen them and to hear the things that we hear and have not heard them withall I doe with sorrow and grief of heart acknowledge how unworthily and with how little fruit I have entertained that holy word of thine and blessed means of salvation which thou hast in so much mercy and plenty afforded not understanding what I have heard for want of marking it not remembring what I have understood for want of making account of it not delighting in what I have remembred for want of love unto it not practising what for a time I have delighted in for want of considering the end of Preaching and the necessity of practising not persevering in what for a time I have practised for want of a through resolution to hold out in a holy conversation O Lord I deserve not to escape but to be seized upon by some grievous heavy judgement for neglecting so great salvation Notwithstanding gracious Father since thou hast been pleased to work in my heart a love unto thy word and a loathing of my self for my light esteeming of it heretofore I beseech thee pardon my former neglect and for the time to come let the eyes of my understanding be enlightned that I may know what formerly I have been ignorant of yea let my heart be opened that I may receive remember and delight in that word of thine which formerly I have shut out let slip and not regarded Give me thy Spirit to cause me to walk in those Statutes of thine which formerly I have not observed and uphold me with thy constant Spirit that I may persevere unto the end in all holy courses This day in particular wherein thou offerest the means and callest me unto the hearing of thy holy word vouchsafe to free me from all pride of heart Jer. 13.15 distractions of mind tentations of Satan from all drowsinesse deadnesse and dullnesse of spirit and withall make mine heart by that good disposition which thou shalt work in it like well prepared ground fit in the most kindly manner to receive that seed of thy word which thou preparest for it Assist thy Servant and Minister who is to deliver thy message that he may speak as he ought to speak even that which shall be profitable to the soules of all thy people and powerfull upon my soule in particular and for that purpose Paul may plant and Apollo water but thou O Lord givest the increase let it please thee so to blesse