is slow to anger Psal 103.8 A God that delighteth not in the death of a sinner His own nature inclines him to save us our sins urge and provoke him to damne us Therefore if he must punish he comes as it were unwillingly to it and reserves it for the last place CAP. III. The sentence of condemnation THe sentence of Condemnation shal be denounced in these words Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Divel his angels Mat. 25.41 Not a word in this sentence but is a wound not a syllable but is a sword piercing the heart not a letter but is as loud and terrible as a clap of thunder How shall the loyns of the wicked tremble and their joynts be loosed their knees knock together to hear Christ pronounce them cursed Cursed because of the punishment of losse Depart ye There is their banishment exclusion from him who is the fountain of life the light of glory and in whose presence there is fulnesse of joy Cursed because of the punishment of Sense Depart ye into fire there is the extremity Into fire everlasting there is the eternity Prepared for the Divel and his Angels there is their Company Immediately after these sentences are pronounced shall follow execution The wicked shall goe away into everlasting punishment but the righteous into life eternall Mat. 25.46 SECTION V. IT remains now in the last place to view the use and influence which the consideratiō of this great day of the Lord ought to have upon our affections It is matter of terrour to some of comfort to others but of instruction to all CAP. I. Terrour to the wicked AS Paul reasoned of righteousnesse temperance and judgment to come Felix trembled Acts 24.25 The Jews fell backward when they came to apprehend Christ in the days of his humility how then shal they stand before him when he shal come in glory and majesty How terrible must this day needs be when The mountaines shall quake at him and the hills melt and the earth bee burnt up at his presence yea the world and all that dwell therein Who can stand before his indignation and who can abide the fiercenesse of his anger his fury is poured out like fire and the rocks are throwne down by him Nah. 1.5 6. What a hard distresse shall the wicked be in when they shall have On one side their sins accusing On the other the justice of God terrifying The gulf of hell gaping under them An angry Judge frowning over them Within them a conscience stinging Without them the world burning Anselme Surely the Kings of the earth and the great men and the rich men and the chief Captains and the mighty men and every bondman and every free man shall hide themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains and shall say to the mountains and rocks fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of his wrath is come and who shall be able to stand Rev. 6.15 16 17. Rejoyce ô young man in thy youth and let thy heart chear thee in the days of thy youth and walk in the ways of thine own heart in the sight of thine eyes but know thou that for all these things God will bring thee to judgment Eccles 11.9 O consider this you that forget God lest he tear you in pieces and there be none to deliver you Psal 50.22 Knowing the terrors of the Lord we perswade men 2 Cor. 5.11 CAP. II. Comfort to the godly THen shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory And when these things begin to come to passe then look up and lift up your heads for your redemption draweth nigh Luke 21.27 28. The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the Archangell and with the trump of God c. Wherfore comfort ye one another with these words 1 Thes 4.16 17. When Christ ascended the Angels comforted the Disciples in this manner This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven Acts 1.11 Hence it is that the righteous are said to love the day of his appearing for then they shall receive a crown of righteousness 2 Tim. 4.8 The Lord is good a strong hold in the day of trouble and he knoweth them that trust in him Nahum 1.7 But of this we have heard before where this day in respect of the godly is called a day of refreshing redemption CAP. III. Instruction to all IF it be thus what manner of men ought we to be in all holy conversation on and godliness 2 Pet. 3.11 That which raised up the soul of S. Jerome to such a pitch of devotion was the continuall meditation of this day Whether I eat or drink or whatsoever I do me thinks I hear the last trump sounding in my ears Arise ye dead and come to judgment We must give an account not only for our presumptuous sins but for our smallest sins I say unto you That of every idle word that men shal speak they shall give account thereof at the day of judgment Mat. 12.36 We shall reckon not only for our own sins but for the sins of others which we have occasioned by our command company counsell or ill example We shall reckon for the talents of grace and nature and for the precious time afforded to us Hear the end of all fear God and keep his Commandments for God will bring every work into Judgment Eccles 12.13 14. Abound in the works of mercy and charity for according to them wee shall be judged Mat. 25. Judge your selves here you shall not be judged hereafter 1 Cor. 11.31 As for the time when or the place where the Judgment seat of Christ shall be erected O my soul enter not into these secrets Such knowledg is too wonderfull for thee Secret things belong to the Lord our God and revealed things to us and our children A short Prayer for the day of Judgment O Most blessed Lord Jesus who now sittest at the right hand of God the Father and from thence shalt come to judg both the quick and the dead in power and great glory I confess and acknowledge that such is the hainousnesse of my sins the guiltinesse of my Conscience and the dreadfulness of that day that my very flesh trembleth and my heart melteth within me when I consider that I must appear before the tribunall of thy just Judgment to give an account of whatsoever I have done in the flesh whether good or evil I know ô Lord that if thou shalt enter into Judgment with me I cannot be justified in thy sight and if thou shalt be extreme to mark what amisse hath passed from me I shall not be able to answer thee one for a thousand I appeal
flesh but upon the willingness of my spirit and so cover all my imperfections with the perfect and absolute obedience of thy dear Son that those Sacrifices which I have offered up unto thee this day may be accepted in and for that sacrifice which Christ Jesus offered up upon the cross for me And as I desire that my sacrifices may be pleasing to thee so let thine ordinances be profitable to me And as thou hast this day sown my heart with the precious seed of thy Word so let neither the fowls of the air devour it nor the cares of the world choak it but let the gracious rain of thy blessing come often upon it that it may bring forth in mee the fruits of repentance and amendment of life And forasmuch as thy Word is an unvaluable inestimable treasure better then thousands of gold and silver sweeter also then the hony the hony comb blessed Lord God be pleased still to continue it to our Land and Nation let not our crying sins of unthankfulnesse impenitency hardness of heart unfruitfulnesse under so great means of grace cause thee to remove thy candlestick or to quench the light of our Israel Inlighten also with the beams of thy Gospel those nations which yet sit in darkness and in the shadow of death adde unto thy Church daily such as shal be saved that so these sinful days being shortned the number of thine elect accomplished we may celebrate that eternal rest and Sabbath of our souls with thee in thy Kingdome Blesse O Lord all the people of this land from the highest to the lowest our King Queen our Prince the rest of the roiall stock our Ministers and Magistrates thy whole Church and every member of it in what place or case soever and prosper all designs and enterprises that are undertaken for the advancement of the Gospel and the inlargement of thy Kingdome Finally O Lord as thou hast been good to me in the passages of this day refreshing my body with thy good creatures and my soul with the spirituall rest of this holy Day so continue thy goodness to mee this night receive me into the arms of thy providence cover me with the feathers of thy wings that I may lay me down in peace and take my rest that being awakened to the comforts of the next day my mouth may be filled with thy praises and I may doe thee service in the duties of that calling wherein thou hast placed disposed of me that so thy good blessing may be still upon me and thou maist never be weary to doe me good all this and what else thou knowest needfull and expedient for me I beg in the name merits mediation and words of thy Sonne Christ Jesus saying as he himself hath taught me Our Father which art in heaven c. Directions for the due receiving of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper WEE may not presume to come to the Lords Table without a due serious preparation That which is holy must not bee given to Dogges neither must pearls bee cast before swine Mat. 7.6 Josiah charged the Levites to prepare themselves and to pray for their brethren and so to kill the passeover 2 Chr. 35.4 6. The neglect of preparation is very dangerous After the sop Satan enters into Judas John 13.27 Whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily shal be guilty of the body and bloud of the Lord 1 Cor. 11.27 Hee that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation unto himself 1 Cor. 11.29 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you and many sleep 1 Cor. 11.30 Now this preparation consists principally in five things The first is a self-examination Let a man examine himself and so let him eate of that bread and drink of that cup. 1 Cor. 11.28 The thing chiefly to be examined is sin 1. In thought The thoughts of our hearts are only evil and that continually Gen 6.5 Out of the heart proceed evill thoughts Mat. 15.19 2. In word Idle words I say unto you that of every idle word that men shall speak they shall give account thereof at the day of judgement Mat. 12.36 Filthy and immodest words Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth Eph. 4.22 Angry and rash words As calling our borther Raca or Thou fool Mat. 5.29 False and untrue words as lies slanders defamations c. Whosoever loveth or maketh a lie is shut out of the new Jerusalem Rev. 22.15 Profane and impious words Against GOD oathes and blasphemies Let your communication be yea yea nay nay for whatsoever is more then these commeth of evil Mat. 5.37 Against our selves or others as curses imprecations c. As he loved cursing so let it come unto him As he clothed himself with cursing like as with a garment so let it come into his bowels like water and like oyle into his bones Psal 109.18.19 3. In deed This is either of Omission or Commission Both are pointed at in that sentence of the Apostle The good which I would do I doe not But the evill which I would not do that I do Rom. 7.19 Thus you have the thing to be examined Now the rule of this examination must be the Law of God For by the Law is the knowledg of sin Rom. 3.20 I had not known sin but by the Law Rom. 7.7 Hence it is that our Church which hath disposed all things wisely and sweetly in the Liturgy hath appointed the commandments to be read before the admimstration of this Sacrament that men might see their sins in the glasse of Gods Law The second thing required of a worthy receiver is Repentance and Contrition The Paschall Lambe was to be eaten with sowr herbs And Christ our Passeover must be received with a broken and a contrite spirit With a bitter soul With a weeping eye This bread must be eaten with the sweat of our brows i.e. our tears And I may say of the wine in this Sacrament as the Mother of Solomon said unto him Prov. 31.6 Give this wine unto such as bee of heavy hearts And though in the sense of our own unworthinesse we may cry out with Paul Who is fit for these things Yet we may comfort our selves with that of the Psalmist A broken and a contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise Ps 51. The third thing required of a Comunicant is Faith He must beleeve that Jesus Christ is the Messias and Saviour of the world He must beleeve that he was crucified shed his bloud He must beleeve that the merits of his crosse and passion are able to save sinners He must beleeve that these merits are conveyed to him in this Sacrament being rightly administred and duly received For what was bequeathed in the Testament is dispensed in the Sacraments This faith is the wedding garment he that intruded to the feast without it was bound hand foot and cast into utter darkness Mat.
and him that serveth him not Mal. 3.17 18. I confesse the wicked are sometimes punished in this world to assure us there is a God yet it is but sometimes to assure us there is a day of judgment Verily there is a reward for the righteous verily there is a God that judgeth the earth Psal 58.11 CAP. II. An Objection answered IT is certain that the soul so soon as it is separated from the body is presented to God and receives an irrevocable doome either of woe or weal. The rich man died and presently was in hell in torments the begger died and was immediately carried by Angels into Abrahams bosome Luke 16.22 23. So that it may be demanded What need is there of a general day of judgment seeing every man is judged at the day of his death Answ 1. Every man consists of a Soul and a Body The Soul is judged at the day of death the Body also at the day of judgment For as these two doe either sin together or serve God together so they shall either burn together or reign together Every man must receive the things done in his Body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad 2 Cor. 5.10 Yet because the Soul may and often doth sin or serve God without the Body it may in the state of separation be either punished or rewarded though the Body rest in the grave Answ 2. There must be a general Judgment for the manifestation of Gods Justice God disposes of every man at the day of his death that according to the rule of Justice yet that which he did in secret he will doe in the view of the whole world that so the generall Assembly of men and Angels may give this testimony and applause of his just proceedings Righteous art thou O Lord and righteous are thy judgments Psal 119.137 Answ 3. There must be a judgment besides that at the day of death because men after they be dead may be Instruments and occasions either of vice or vertue of sin or the service of God The Patriarchs Prophets Apostles Martyrs and Fathers of the Church are dead and gone yet still they doe good in the Church of God by their godly examples and holy writings Jeroboam Machiavel Marcion all Heriticks and prophane persons die yet they poison the air with ill example wicked books divelish principles and after their death infect posterity for many generations Their word eats as doth a canker or gangrene 2 Tim. 2.17 Hence it is that as there is a particular Judgment to reward the good or punish the evil they have done themselves in their life time so there shall be a generall Judgment to reward or punish them for that which after their death they have occasioned to be done by others V.S. Basil in l. de vera virginit CAP. III. The Names given to this Day THis day is called in the Scripture The day of the Lord. Alas for the day for the day of the Lord is at hand Joel 1.15 Your selves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night 1 Thes 5.2 Looking for and hastning unto the coming of the day of GOD 2 Pet. 3.12 This life is called Our Day O Jerusalem if thou hadst known at least in this Thy day the things that belong to thy peace Luke 19.42 For we think our own thoughts speak our own words and doe our own pleasure But that shall be the Lords day for the lofty looks of man shall be humbled the haughtiness of men shal be bowed down and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day Isa 2.11 Secondly it is called a Day of Revelation or Opening Rom. 2.5 Never was there such an opening as will be at that day The heavens shall be opened and those everlasting doors shall be lift up that the King of glory may go forth with his Angels to judge the world and return back again with his Saints when he hath judged it The Earth shall be opened for the stone shall be rolled from the mouth of every Sepulchre and the graves shall give up their dead The Books shall be opened I saw the dead small and great stand before the Lord and the books were opened and another book was opened which was the book of life and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their works Rev. 20.12 The secrets of all hearts shall be opened There is nothing hid that shall not be manifested neither any thing kept secret that shall not come abroad Mar. 4.22 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my Gospell Rom. 2.16 Hell shall be opened to receive those wretches to whom it shall be said Goe ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the divel and his angels Thirdly it is called a Day of refreshing Repent ye therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord Acts 3.19 What a refreshing wil it be when our rotten and worm-eaten carkasses shall rise up in honor and in incorruption as flowers after a long winter What a refreshing wil it be when these two ancient friends the soul and the body after so long a separation shall imbrace and kisse each other What a refreshing will it be to see the Divel our worst enemy and Death our last enemy cast into the lake of fire What a refreshing wil it be to see Jesus Christ the Savior of the world and the head of his Church come in his glory attended with an innumerable company of Angels What a refreshing wil it be to hear those sweet sentences of absolution Well done good and faithfull servant enter thou into thy Masters joy Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdome prepared for you Fourthly in respect of the wicked it is called a day of wrath After thy hardnesse and impenitent heart thou treasurest up for thy self wrath against the day of wrath Rom. 2.5 As also a day of darknesse and gloominesse a day of clouds and of thick darknesse Joel 2.2 The Sun is pleasing to a good eye but offensive to an eye that is ill affected The day of judgment is a bath of refreshing to the godly but a burning Oven to the wicked Behold the day cometh that shall burn as an Oven and all the proud yea and all that doe wickedly shall be stubble Mal. 4.1 Fiftly it is called a great day The Angels which kept not their first estate but left their own habitation he hath reserved in everlasting chains of darknesse unto the judgment of the Great day Jude 6. The Sun shall be turned into darknesse and the Moon into blood before that great and notable day of the Lord come Acts 2.20 It is a great day indeed sith so many great and notable things shall be done in it For the Lord himself shall descend
from heaven with a shout with the voice of the Archangel 1 Thes 4.16 And he shall send his Angels with a great sound of a trumpet and they shall gather together the Elect from the four winds from one end of heaven unto the other Mat. 24.31 And then the heavens shall passe away with a great noise and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up 2 Pet. 3.10 How great a day must that needs be wherein the accompts and reckonings of all Days must be audited and cast up Lastly it is commonly and usually called the Day of Judgment for it is the generall Assise wherein every man must be arraigned and hold up his hand at the barre Both old men and maidens young men and children Kings of the earth and all people Princes and all Judges of the earth SECTION II. THus having seen that there shall be not only a particular but a generall judgement also let us in the next place inquire who what manner of Judg he is who shall pronounce the sentence of life or death upon us CAP. I. Christ is the Judge IT is true that the whole Trinity shall judge us for so great an action cannot passe without the consent and authority of the three Persons Yet it is ascribed to Christ in respect of immediate execution He shall appear visibly in his humane nature give the sentence The Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgment to the Son John 5.22 He hath appointed a day wherein he will judg the world in righteousnesse by that man whom he hath ordained Acts 7.31 We shall all stand before the Judgment seat of Christ Rom. 14.10 So that where Christ sayes he came not to judg the world Joh. 12.47 understand it of his first not of his second coming Fit it is that Christ should judg the world who was judged by it that so once in this world he may shew his power and Majesty in the sight of all his creatures especially of Pontius Pilate Annas Caiaphas and the Jews who condemned and crucified him They shall look upon me whom they have pierced Zach. 12.10 Fit it is that Men should be judged by one that is a Man The comfort that we have against the terrors of this day is that we shall be judged by the Man Christ Jesus One man is a God unto another Fear not I am your brother Ioseph CAP. II. Christ a severe Judge CHrist in his first coming was a Lambe but in his second he shall be a Lion His fan is in his hand and he will throng hly purge his floor and gather his wheat into his garner but will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire Mat. 3.12 Hence it is that the very best of the Saints tremble at the apprehension of this day David was a man after Gods own heart yet My flesh trembleth for fear of thee I am afraid of thy judgments Psal 119.120 Enter not into judgment with thy servant ô Lord for in thy sight shall no man living be justified Psal 143.2 Job was a man eminent for all graces yet he stood amazed at the consideration of this Iudge Whom though I were righteous I would not answer but I would make supplication to my Iudg Iob 9.15 What shall I do when God riseth up when he visiteth what shall I answer him Iob 31.14 Paul was a chosen vessell one that knew nothing by himself yet says he I am not thereby justified for it is the Lord that judges me And the Lord judges not as a man judges 1 Cor. 4.4 S. Ierome confesseth that his whole body trembled so oft as hee thought upon this day The righteous shall scarcely be saved 1 Pet. 4.18 Many there are who passe currant in the judgment of the world who when they shal be weighed in Christs ballances will be found too light Good reason then hath every man to pray as the Church teaches him In the day of Judgement good Lord deliver me CAP. III. Christ an upright Judge HEE shall judge the world in righteousnesse he shall minister judgment to the people in uprighteness Psal 9.8 The Lord cometh to judge the earth with righteousnesse shall he judg the world and the people with equity Psal 98.9 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousnesse which the Lord the righteous Iudge shall give me at that day 2 Tim. 4.8 The Iudges of the earth may absolve the guilty and condemn the innocent being corrupted By fear Pilate for the fear of Caesar condemned Christ whom the testimony of his own conscience pronounced innocent But this judge cannot be thus corrupted for Whom shall he fear that is omnipotent or of whom shall he be afraid that shal come with great power and glory Mar. 14.26 Or they may be corrupted with their own affection of love or hatred Herod adjudges John Baptist to death for the love of Herodias daughter Josephs brethren cast him into the pit because they hated him Ge. 37.4 But this Judg cannot be thus corrupted for He is no accepter of persons Acts 10.34 He shall not judg after the sight of his eyes but with righteousnesse shall he judge his people Isa 11.3 4. He will render to every man according to his deeds whether Iew or Gentile Rom. 2.6.9 Or they may be corrupted with bribes Jethro well advised Moses to chuse such men for Judges as hated covetousnesse Exod. 18.21 Thou shalt not wrest judgment thou shalt not respect persons neither take a gift for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise and pervert the words of the righteous Deut. 16.19 Christ our Iudge cannot be so corrupted If he would take a bribe thou shalt have none to give him at that day But if thou couldest give him the Kingdoms of the world the glory of them he would refuse for he is the Lord of lords a great God a mighty and a terrible which regardeth not persons nor taketh reward Deut. 10.17 A good conscience wil doe us more good then then a full purse Riches profit not in the day of wrath but righteousnesse delivereth from death Prov. 11.4 CAP. IV. Christ an All knowing Judge AS his uprightnesse is such that he cannot be corrupted so his knowledge is such that he cannot be deceived He shall not reprove after the hearing of his ears Isa 11.3 He shall not judge us according to the report and testimony of others which is uncertain but according to his own intuitive knowledg which is infallible Come and see a man which told me all the things that ever I did Is not this the Christ John 4.29 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight but all things are naked opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do Heb 4.13 The word in the Originall imports such an openness as when the skin is pulled off the back chined down so that the very entrails
Behold this Publican i' th Temple praying Plac'd in the front as of our book beginner The form of whose devotiō was this saying O Lord be mercifull to me a sinner God heard his suit though short 't is not deni'd He came a sinner but went justify'd Priuate DEVOTIONS Lord 〈◊〉 mercifull to me a 〈◊〉 London Printed for Geo Badger and are to bee sould at his shopp at St Dunstons-Churchyard in fleetstreet 〈…〉 PRIVATE DEVOTIONS Digested into SIX LETANIES I. Of Confession II. Of Deprecation III. Of Supplication IV. Of Thanksgiving V. Of Intercession VI. For the Sick VVith Directions and Prayers For the Lords Day Sacrament day of Death Judgment And two daily Prayers One for the Morning Another for the Evening The thirteenth Edition London Printed for H. Moseley at the Princes Arms in S. Pauls Church yard 1654. To the right Honorable THOMAS Lo COVENTRY Baron of Ailesborough and Lord Keeper of the great Seale of England c. My good Lord THe Law permitted a man that was not able to bring a lamb to the Altar to offer a pair of Turtle Doves or two young Pigeons The Gospel commends Charity in a cup of cold water magnifies the devotion affection of the widow that cast in 2 mites into the Treasury I must ever acknowledge that mine obligation to your Lordship might challenge a volume but wanting that I have presumed to present you with this Manuall and Enchiridion of private Devotions the love and exercise whereof hath advanced your Lordship to publike honour It is but a little one yet since it was first presented to your hands it hath so thriven by your Lordships patronage that it hath had many Editions Additions And I am glad of it for the bigger it grows the better proportion it will carry with his service that is ever devoted to Your Lop. in all Duty Henry Valentine ORATIO Deo Sacrificium Oranti subsidium Daemonibus flagellum That is PRAYER IS a Sacrifice to God Succour to the soule Scourge to the divel Praier is Clavis Diei Sera Noctis 1 A Key to open the Morning My voice shalt thou heare in the morning O Lord in the Morning will I direct my prayer unto thee and will look up Psal 5.3 Unto thee have I cryed ô Lord and in the Morning shall my prayer prevent thee Psal 81.13 2 A lock to shut up the Evening At Evening will I pray and cry aloud and he shall hear my voice Psa 55.17 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as Incense and the lifting up of mine hands as the evening sacrifice Ps 141.2 Morning and Evening Aaron shall burn sweet incense every morning And when he lighteth the Lamps at Even he shall burn sweet incense Exod. 30.7 8. In the Morning sow thy seed and in the Evening with-hold not thine hand for thou knowest not whether shall prosper either this or that or whether they both shall be alike good Ecc. 11.6 I. CONFESSION OF SINNES COnfession is a branch of praier which searches out our sins and discloses and spreads them open before the Lord as Hezekiah did those letters which he received from the King of Assyria or as Josuah opened the cave of Makkedah and brought out the five Kings that were there hidden so this opens the heart and brings out our hidden and bosome sins to light and execution And as the opening of a vein rectifies the distempers of the body so this cures the maladies of the soul for if we confesse our sinnes God is faithfull and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness In a word it is commanded by God and practised by the Saints and Solomon makes it the character of a righteous man to accuse himself in the beginning of his praier A man dreames when he is asleep but cannot declare his dream till he awake Confession is a sign that we are awakned from the sleep of sin by the grace of God I said I will confesse my transgressions to the Lord and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin Psal 32.5 I have not covered my transgressions as Adam by hiding mine iniquity in my bosome Job 31.33 But I acknowledge my transgressions and my sin is ever before me Psal 51.3 THE LETANY of Confession BEhold I was shapen in wickedness and in sin hath my mother conceived me Lord be merciful to me a sinner When I was a childe I spake as a childe I understood as a childe I thought as a child and as yet have not put away childish things from me Lord be mercifull to me a sinner When I grew up the lusts of the flesh grew too strong for me they fought against me and prevailed the cares of the world distracted me the pleasures of the world deceived me the pride of life swelled me desire of revenge inflamed me and sin reigned in my mortal body Lord be merciful to me a sinner I have given up the members of my body as weapons of sin and instruments of unrighteousness my head to imagine mischief my hands to work wickedness my tongue to swearing and blasphemy my eares to filthy and corrupt communication my eyes to behold vanity my feet to stand in the way of sinners and to walk in the counsell of the ungodly so that from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot there is no sound part in me Lord be merciful to me a sinner I have either omitted good duties or done them slightly and wearily I have neglected the time of my visitation I have not known in my day the things that belong to my peace Lord be merciful to me a sinner I have offended thee and trespassed my neighbour by my improvidence and rashnesse by my anger and intemperate speech by my wilfulness envy malice and uncharitableness Lord be merciful to me a sinner I have sinned in all them whom I have corrupted by my words counsel or example in all them whom I should have reproved whom I might have reformed and did not Lord be merciful to me a sinner I have sinned in neglecting opportunities to visit the house and table of the Lord in unworthy and unprepared resort thither in wandring and idle thoughts there either diverting me from the work of thy holy worship or distracting me in it Lord be merciful to me a sinner I have sinned in unreverent and unprofitable hearing thy Word in cold and careless invocation of thy Name without zeale and holy affection which turned my prayers into sin Lord be merciful to me a sinner I have sinned by unthankfull passing over thy many good favours by slighting them with an unhearty commemoration so that my sacrifice of praise became the sacrifice of fools Lord be merciful to me a sinner I have broken all my vows and purposes I have not kept my solemn promises of forsaking my sin amending my life Lord be merciful to me a sinner I have delaied my repentance I have resisted the checks of mine
Ezekiah call thy self to an account for all thy sins mourn for them in the bitternesse of thy soul confesse them to God and ask forgivenesse 2. Send for thy Minister To whom if need be make a speciall confession and take along with thee the benefit of his absolution Whos 's soever sins ye remit they are remitted unto them and whose soever sins ye retain they are retained John 20.23 If I forgave any thing to whom I forgave it I forgave it in the person of Christ 2 Cor. 2.10 Secondly let thy Minister pray over thee Is any sick among you let him call for the Elders of the Church and let them pray over him If he hath commited sins they shall be forgiven him Jam. 5.14 15. Thirdly let him give thee the Sacrament of the Lords Supper This is the best viaticum and provision for so long a journey I may say to thee as the Angel to Eliah Arise and eat for the journey is too great for thee And if with Eliah thou dost eat and drink thou maist travell in the strength of this meat to Horeb the mount of God 1 Kings 19.7 8. This is the bread that came down from Heaven that a man may eat thereof and not die Who so eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud hath eternall life and I will raise him up at the last day Joh. 6.51 54. V. Euseb hist l. 5. c. 45.3 Set thine house in order 2 Kings 20.1 This will not make thee die more quickly but more quietly 4. Remember the poor When we have beene kindly entertained at a friends house it is good manners to give the servants something when we goe away Blessed is he that considereth the poore the Lord will deliver him in the time of trouble The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing and will make all his bed in his sicknesse Psal 41.1 3. 5. If thou beest a father or mother of children call them before thee and blesse them So did Jacob when he departed Gen. 49.1 6. Make restitution if thou beest able to such as thou hast wronged and defrauded Without restitution there is no remission Enquire with Samuel whose oxe thou hast taken or whose asse thou hast taken whom thou hast defrauded whom thou hast oppressed or of whose hand thou hast received a bribe and restore it Send for them who have offended thee and forgive them and for those whom thou hast offended and ask forgivenesse Lastly resign and give over thy self to God Behold here I am let the Lord do to me as seemeth good to him 1 Sam. 15.26 Not my wil but thine be done And if thus thou beest prepared at the day of death oh well is thee and happy shalt thou be Psal 128.2 Blessed is that servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall finde thus doing thus dying Mat. 24.46 A short prayer for a happy departure O Most glorious Lord the GOD of the spirits of all flesh in whose hands are the times of all men and the keys of the Grave I most meekly beseech thee of thy goodnesse to pardon and forgive me all my sins and to make me ever mindfull of my mortality Lay often before mine eyes by thy remembring spirit that the days of my pilgrimage are but few and evil that I have here no abiding and continuing City that all flesh and the goodlinesse thereof is but a flower that fadeth a shadow that vanisheth away that so numbring my days I may apply my heart to wisedome and with the wise Virgins provide Oil in my Lamp and make my calling and election sure before I go hence be no more seen And when it shall please thee to cast me upon the bed of sickness and to compasse me about with the sorrows of the grave I beseech thee for thy names sake for thy mercies sake for thy Son Jesus Christ his sake not to be far from me in that needfull time of trouble when I shall finde heavinesse in my flesh and there be none to deliver me But draw near unto my soul and be about my bed to pardon my sins to pacifie my conscience to strengthen my faith to mitigate my pains to receive my soul when it shall be commended unto thee Receive it O God the Father for thou hast created it Receive it O God the Son for thou hast redeemed it Receive it O God the Holy Ghost for thou hast sanctified it Receive it ô holy blessed and glorious Trinity that being translated out of this vale of misery it may raign with thee one everliving and immortall God in the Kingdome of Glory world without end Amen SECTION I. Of the day of Judgement CHristian Reader let my Meditations now passe as thou thy self must from the day of death to the day of Judgment For it is appointed for all men once to die and after that to come to judgment Heb. 9.27 CAP. I. There shall bee a day of Judgment IT is an Article of our faith that CHRIST who nâ—w sits at the right hand of his Father shall come from thence to judg the quick and the dead Enoch the seventh from Adam prophesied of it saying Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his Saints To execute Judgment upon all and to convince all that are ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against hâ—m Iude 14 15. God shall bring every work into judgement with every secret thing whether it be good or whether it be evill Eccles 12.14 I saw the dead small and great stand before God The Sea gave up the dead which were in it and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them and they were judged every man according to his works Rev. 20.13 It is very observable that all other Articles of the Creed have been opposed by Heretiques either in whole or in part but no Heretique denied a day of judgment Vide Danaeum in his Cat. of heresies against the Creed In this world Solomon says no man can know love or hatred by all that is before them For all things come alike to all there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked to the good and to the clean and to the unclean to him that sacrificeth to him that sacrificeth not as is the good so is the sinner he that sweareth as he that feareth an oath Eccles 9.1 2. Now shall not the Judge of all the world do right Gen. 18.25 There must be a day wherein the wicked shall be punished and the vertuous rewarded A day wherein God will put a difference betwixt an Israelite and an Aegyptian betwixt a Sheep and a Goat betwixt wheat and tares There shall be a day when I will make up my Jewels and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him Then shall ye return and discern between the righteous and the wicked between him that serveth God
and most secret passages of nature may be discerned These things hast thou done and I kept silence thou thoughtest I was altogether such a one as thy self but I will reprove thee and set them in order before thine eys Psal 50.21 Hence it is that he is said to keep a book of remembrance by him Mal. 3.16 Some sins are said to be secret in respect of him that commits them Who can understand his errours Cleanse thou me from my secret faults Ps 19.12 Or in respect of the world The Adulterer eats his pleasant bread in secret Prov. 9.17 But no sins are secret in respect of God for He sets our iniquities before him even our secret sins in the sight of his countenance Psal 90.8 At that day then in vain will it be for us to deny the fact or to excuse it or to shift and transferre it from one to another for The Lord seeth not as man seeth 1 Sam. 16.7 CAP. V. Christ is an inexorable Judg. AS this Iudge cannot be corrupted nor deceived so neither can he be intreated Now is the accepted time now is the day of salvation 2 Cor. 6.2 Seek the Lord whilst he may be found call upon him whilst he is near Isa 55.6 That is a time of judgment and though we cry as loud as thunder he will not hear us though we cut our selves with lancers as Baals Priests till the blood gush out he will not regard us Wil God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him Job 27.9 Because I have called and ye refused I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded I also will laugh at your calamity and mock when your fear cometh Then shall they call upon me but I will not answer they shall seek me early but they shall not find me Prov. 1.24 26 28. The foolish Virgins knock at the door of mercy but it is shut against them Mat. 25.11 Then will I professe unto them I never knew you depart from me ye that work iniquity Mat. 7.23 SECTION III. HAving now seen who and what manner of Judge thou shalt have suppose him now set upon the judgment seat attended with his glorious Angels and calling thee up to answer these Interrogatories CAP. I. Who art thou TO this thy answer wil be that thou art a Man Christ wilâ— reply unto thee If a man shew me my Image wherein I created thee Caesars peny was known by Caesars Image and superscription When Jacob saw the coat of his son Joseph It is my sons coat says he but an evil beast hath devoured him Gen. 37.33 So Christ will say to us at the day of judgement This is the face and figure of a man but an evil beast hath devoured my Image The Drunkard hath lost the Image of God and laid a swine in the room of it The Covetous hath lost the Image of God and laid a ravenous wolf in the room of it The Adulterer hath lost the Image of God and laid a goat or an horse in the room of it The crafty and contentious person hath lost the Image of God and laid a fox and a dog in the room of it They have corrupted themselves and their spot is not the spot of his children Deut. 32.5 Man that is in honour and understandeth not may be compared to the beasts that perish Psal 49.20 And no beast shall enter into the new Jerusalem for Without are dogs Rev. 22.15 CAP. II. Of what Religion The next Interrogatory will be Of what Religion art thou TO passe by Turks Iewes Infidels thy answer will be I am a Christian. Jacob professes to his Father that he was his very son Esau and yet was not The Church of Sardis had a name to be alive yet was dead Rev. 3.1 Many shall say at that day Lord Lord we have been baptized in thy Name we have called upon thy Name we have prophesied in thy Name who notwithstanding are workers of iniquity A Christian is a name of Duty as well as of Dignity You are my Friends if you doe whatsoever I command you Ioh. 15.14 By this shall all men know that you are my Disciples if ye love one another Iohn 13.35 As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ Gal. 3.27 They that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts Gal. 5.24 Art thou a Christian who hast taken the members of Christ and made them the members of an harlot 1 Cor. 6.15 Art thou a Christian who hast seen Christ naked hast not clothed him hungry and hast not fed him thirsty and hast given him no drink sick and in prison and hast not visited him In a word art thou a Christian that hast lived in the practice of grosse and known sins What Communion is there betwixt Christ and Belial betwixt light and darknesse betwixt righteousnesse unrighteousness 2 Cor. 6.15 The Jews boasted they were the children of Abraham but Christ tels them they were the children of the Divell because they did his works John 8.44 If thou beest not a true but a titular Christian having a form of godlinesse but not the power of it thy judgment wil be more heavy and intolerable then that of Turks and Infidels The Servant that knows his Masters will and does it not shall be beaten with many stripes Unto whomsoever much is given of him shall much be required Luke 12.47 48. Verily I say unto you it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah at the day of judgement then for you Mat. 10.15 It had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness then after they have known it to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them 2 Pet. 2.21 I therefore beseech you to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called Ephes 4.1 And let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity 2 Tim. 2.19 And let us pray as our Church teaches us in the Collect for the third Sunday after Easter ALmighty God c. Grant unto all them that be admitted into the fellowship of Christs Religion that they may eschew those things that be contrary to their profession and follow all such things as be agreeable to the same through our Lord Iesus Christ Amen CAP. III. Of what Profession THe next Interrogatory will be the same that the Marriners put to Jonas What is thine occupation Jonah 1.8 Art thou a Magistrate Supreme an Emperour King c. or subordinate an inferiour officer Governor 1 Pet. 2.13 14. Thou shalt be examined First if thou hast maintained Gods true Religion and beene a nursing Father to the Church Isa 49.23 If thou hast rooted out Heresie Idolatry superstition 1 King 15.12 If thou hast provided Ministers to instruct the people and maintenance for those Ministers Jehoshaphat sent the Priests and Levites and the Book of the Law of the Lord with them and they went about throughout all the Cities of Iudah and taught the
people 2 Chron. 17.9 Hezekiah commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the Priests the Levites that they might be encouraged in the Law of the Lord 2 Chron. 31.4 If thou hast built and repaired the house of God and places of his worship as did Solomon Josiah Secondly if thou hast been an example of vertue and godlinesse to thy people David himself dances before the Ark and the house of Israel follow him 2 Sam. 6.14 The King of Ninivie was the first that humbled himself in sackcloth and ashes and then the inhabitants of the City did likewise Examples of great personages have a strong influence nay as it were a violence upon inferiors Caesar filled the Empire with Soldiers Augustus with Scholars c. Thirdly if they have provided good Laws executed them that such as live under them may be godly and quietly governed Good Laws are such as are agreeable to the Law of Nature and the word of God And they are then executed when great flies are taken as well as small ones Fourthly if thou hast punished the wicked and cherished the good Mine eyes shall be upon the faithfull of the Land that they may dwell with me he that walketh in a perfect way shall be my servant But I will early destroy all the wicked of the Land that I may cut off all wicked doers from the City of God Psal 101.6 8. Kings and Governors are sent by God for the punishment of evill doers and for the praise of them that doe well 1 Pet. 2.14 It cannot be wel then if Crows be pardoned Pigeons punished Fiftly if thou hast heard the cries of the poor received their petitions redressed their wrongs Defend the poor and fatherlesse do justice to the afflicted and needy Deliver the poor and needy rid them out of the hand of the wicked Psal 82.3 4. Be wise now therefore O ye kings be instructed ye that are Judges of the earth Psal 2.10 Remember there will be Deus dies ultionis A God and a day of vengeance But art thou a Minister Thou shalt be examined First if thou didst enter in at the doore or climb in at the window if thou wert called of God or intrudest thy self A man may know if he be called of God by those talents which are committed to him It is required that every Minister have scientiam competentem if not eminentem that is competent though not eminent knowledge For the Priests lips must keep knowledge the people must seek it at his lips Mal. 2.7 Secondly if thou hast taught and instructed the people committed to thee Feed my sheep John 21.16 I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsell of God Take heed therefore unto your selves and to all the flock over the which the Lord hath made you overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own Blood Acts 20.27 28. It is required of a Minister that he be διδακτικὸς apt and able to teach 2 Tim. 2.24 He that is ignorant and cannot teach is a dumb dog He that can and will not is a dumb Divel unless lawfully detained Where no vision is there the people perish Prov. 29.18 His bloud will I require at thy hand Ezek. 33.6 Who then is a faithfull and wise servant whom his Lord hath made ruler over all his houshold to give them meat in due season Blessed is that servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing Mat. 24.45 46. Thirdly if thy life hath agreed with thy Doctrine He that was mis-shapen or had any blemish might not come nigh to offer the offerings of the Lord Lev. 21.21 Moses when he blesses the tribe of Levi desires of God that his Thummim and Urim might be with his Holy One i.e. integrity of life as well as the light of Learning Deut. 33.8 It is said of Christ that he was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people Luke 24.19 Thou that teachest another teachest thou not thy self thou that preachest a man should not steal dost thou steal Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery dost thou commit adultery thou that abhorrest Idols dost thou commit sacriledg Rom. 2.21 22. Be thou an example of the beleevers in word in conversation in charity in purity in spirit in faith 1 Tim. 4.12 Or art thou an Officer Thou shall be examined If thou hast not exacted more then was appointed for thee Luke 3.13 If thou hast not dealt with the poor as the servants of Elies sons did If thou wilt not give it me I will take it by force 1 Sam. 2.16 Or art thou a Souldier Thou shalt be examined If thou hast done violence to no man If thou hast not accused any falsly If thou hast been content with thy wages Luke 3.14 Or art thou a tradesman Thou shalt be examined If thou hast not used false weights deceitfull ballances unjust measures all which are an abomination to the Lord Prov. 20.10 If thou hast not sometimes taken the name of God in vain to obtrude a bad commodity upon thy neighbour sic de caeteris I may now say of our Judg as Jacobs sons said of the Governor of Egypt The man asked us straitly of our state Gen. 43.7 SECTION IV. WE have now seene how Christ will proceed with us in the day Judgment let us in the next place consider that final and irrevocable Sentence which shal pass upon us and it is either the Sentence of Absolution or Condemnation The sentence of Absolution THe sentence of Absolution shall be pronounced in these words Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world Mat 25.34 In which sentence there is not a word a syllable a letter but is musick to the care hony to the mouth and a Jubilee to the heart How wil our ears be ravished and our hearts dance within us to hear Christ pronounce us the blessed ones of his Father To hear that sweet cal invitation Come ye To hear the glory of that inheritāce to which we must come A Kingdome The Kingdome Prepared for us of old Blessed are the people that shall hear this joyfull sound Psal 89.15 CAP. II. The sentence of Absolution shall be first pronounced THE good Servant was rewarded admitted into his Masters joy and then the evil unprofitable servant was punished and cast into utter darkness Mat. 25. They on the right hand are called to a kingdome and then they on the left are cast into fire Mat. 25. God will not cast the wicked into hell till they have seen something of the happinesse of the Saints which increaseth their grief and torment The wicked shall see it be grieved he shall gnash with his teeth and melt away Psal 112.10 Or else it may bee Christ begins with the sentence of Absolution to shew that he had rather save us then damn us He
therefore from the bar of thy justice to the bowels of thy mercy beseeching thee in that day to deal with the soul of thy servant not as a severe Judge but as a mercifull Jesus It will be O Lord a day of wrath but gather me under the shadow of thy wings untill the indignation be past over It will be a day of darknesse of gloominesse but lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon me and I shall be saved It will be a day of Judgment but in that day by thine agony and bloody passion and by whatsoever thou hast done or suffered for me good Lord deliver me And to this end I beseech thee give me grace to live soberly righteously and godly in this present world to keep a good conscience void of offence towards thee my God and towards all men to abound always in the works of charity and mercy and to judg and condemn my self here that I may not be condemned hereafter That so whensoever this day shall seise upon me I may not be bound up with the bundle of tares which shall be cast into unquenchable fire but gathered with the wheat into thy garners and set with the sheep upon thy right hand and called in the number of those blessed ones to inherit a Kingdom that Crown of righteousnesse which thou hast purchased and prepared for all those that love and expect that day of thy appearing Now unto thee ô Christ together with thy Father thy blessed Spirit be ascribed all power praise dignity and dominion now and for ever Amen A PRAYER FOR the Morning OEternall and most glorious Lord God and in Iesus Christ our merciful and loving Father we thine unworthy creatures sinful dust and ashes are here in all humility of souls bodies prostrate at the lowest footstool of thy glorious Majesty beseeching thee to bow down thine ears unto our prayers and to open thine eyes upon our supplication who from the ground bottom of our hearts do acknowledg and confess that we have been unprofitable servants prodigall children bad stewards of that time which thou hast afforded us for repentance good works of those talents which thou hast committed to our improvement If we put our hands into our bosomes we must needs draw them out all leprous For we are the brood of rebellious and disobedient Parents our hearts are cages of unclean birds of noisome lusts and the thoughts thereof have been evil and only evill and that continually And if ô Lord we look forth unto the actions of our lives there is no sin which we have not committed no commandment which we have not broken These eys which now look up unto heaven have beheld vanity these tongues which now call upon thee have blasphemed thee and these hands which we now lift up unto thee have been many times lift up against thee and thy Statutes So that we have made our selves unworthy of the least of thy mercies but worthy of the greatest of thy judgments But deal not with us after our sins neither reward us according to our iniquities Spare us good Lord spare thy people whom thou hast created after thine own Image and redeemed with thine own Blood And according to the multitude of thy tender compassions which have ever been of old to us blot out the multitude of our transgressions Pardon our sins and receive us again unto thy favour for his sake and sufferings who hath satisfied thy Justice to the utmost farthing And for the short residue and remainder of our days give us grace to consecrate it to thy service to redeem that time which we cannot recall and to make our calling and election sure before we go hence and be no more seen And because the corruptions of our nature are too many and too strong for us and the Divel like a roaring Lion goes about continually to devour us leave us not to our selves but assist us by thy grace perfect thy strength in our weaknesse and preserve both our bodies and souls spotlesse and unblameable that when we shall have finished our course and run the race of our naturall Pilgrimage we may receive that crown of righteousnesse which thou the righteous and just Judg hast laid up for all them that love and expect the day of thy appearing And together with us we intreat thee for a blessing upon our King Queen Prince and the rest of the Roiall Progeny upon our Councellors Ministers Magistrates upon our friends kinred and acquaintance upon the whole Church and every afflicted member of it And accept of our morning sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving for all the mercies and favours comforts and deliverances which from time to time thou hast afforded and continued to us We thank thee for thy last mercy in preserving us from the dangers of this night past for refreshing our bodies with seasonable rest and bringing us safe to the beginning of this day Lord what is man that thou art so mindfull of him or the Son of man that thou shouldest thus visit remember him Give us grace O Lord to remember thee and to be mindfull of thy mercies that we may praise thee for all the truth and faithfulnesse which thou shewest to us in the land of the living that as thou hast brought us to the comforts of this day so thou mayest go along with us in the same to enable us for the duties of those callings wherein we are placed and to deliver us from those dangers to which we are exposed even for Jesus Christ his sake in whose most blessed name and words we conclude these our weak and imperfect prayers saying as he himself hath taught us in his holy Gospel O our Father c. A PRAYER FOR the Evening O Most glorious and ever living LORD God which inhabitest eternity and dwellest in that light which no mortall eye can attain unto the God in whom we live and move and have our being we thine unworthy servants do here in all lowlinesse and humility present our persons and prayers before thy divine Majesty confessing acknowledging that we were conceived in sin and brought forth in iniquity and as if that had been but a smal matter we have heaped up our actuall transgressions as the sand upon the Sea shore and as the stars in the firmament for number We have broken thy Commandements we have prophaned thy Sabbaths we have dishonoured thy name we have abused thy creatures we have neglected the day of our visitation turned thy grace into wantonness whereby we have most justly provoked thy wrath and everlasting displeasure we have wounded our own consciences weakned our assurance of salvation grieved thy good Spirit which sealeth us up unto the day of our redemption And now Lord if thou shouldest deal with us after our deservings thou mightest pour upon us the deluge of thy wrath and fury to sweep us out of the land of the living into that place