good in our owne fantasie but onely that which God commandeth vs to aske of him All which things be contained in the Lords prayer Quest Rehearse the Lords prayer Answere OVr Father which art in heauen hallowed be thy name thy kingdome come thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen Giue vs this day our dayly bread And forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. And lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill For thine is the kingdome the power and the glory for euer and euer Amen Qu. What dost thou desire of God in this prayer An. First I desire of our heauenly Father that his name may be hallowed First in his excellent works which is when we acknowledge his mercy wisedom iustice and prouidence that he alone worketh ell things and that only the Lord God be had in honour all other set aside Secondly that his name may bee glorifyed in our godly liuing and conuersation 2 In the 2. petition wee desire that God his Kingdome may come that is that he will declare himself to be King ouer his Church in guiding and defending it in encreasing the number of the faithfull in thrusting forth Laborers into the haruest and blessing their Labours and suppressing the rage of the wicked Tyrants Secondly that he will exercise his kingdome seuerally in euery one of his killing sinne in vs and all worldlie care and renewing of vs to righteousnesse of life 3 In the third petition wee desire that Gods will may bee done that is that wee may willingly in euerie thing resigne our selues vnto Gods will without murmuring or grudging 4 In the fourth petition we pray that he wil giue vnto vs walking faithfully in our calling our daily bread that is all things needful for our liuing in this present life 5 In the fift petition we pray that our sinnes may bee forgiuen vs that he will not lay to our charge our sinnes nor the punishment due vnto them but that he will accept the death and passion of Christ as the full satisfaction for our sins and that we may hereof haue iust assurance in our Conscience that the punishment of our sinnes is fully discharged in Christ and therefore freely forgiuen vnto vs as surely as we do forgiue others and that we may loue one another from the bottom of our hearts all desire of reuenge set aside 6. In the sixt and last petition we doe pray God that he wil not lead vs into temptation but deliuer vs that is that he will not bring vs further into that battell with our spirituall Enemies then we by his holy spirit shall be able to preuaile and ouercome Que. And why is this added For thine is the kingdom the power and the glory for euer and euer Amen An. Not onely to kindle in our hearts to desire the glory of God but also to teach vs that this Prayer is grounded vpon none other then God onely and that we should not thinke the kingdome of God to bee weake and voyd of force might Also that he is not onely to be honored praised and gloryfied and that his power is infinite perpetuall and euerlasting And in this word Amen is expressed the feruent desire to obtaine those things which wee aske of God and our hope is confirmed that those things which we aske bee granted vnto vs by which our consciences are pacified and so we end our prayers Qu. Tell mee now briefely the effect of all thou hast said An. By the tenne Comdements I see my miserable estate that I deserue death damnation and the curse of God which must needs bee paid because God is iust whereas I my selfe am not able to pay it the holy ghost through the preaching of the Gospell worketh in me Faith which assureth mee that the Sonne of God being made man for me hath euen in my nature suffered whatsoeuer my sinnes deserued and hath made me with him the childe of God and heire of euerlasting Life Whereof least I should doubt or wauer he hath appointed two Sacraments as outward signes and Tokens to be seene and felt of mee that as surely as I see my self made partaker of them outwardly so the holie Ghost inwardly bee partaker of Christ himselfe with all his benefits his ransome righteousnesse and holinesse to be mine that in him through him I shall haue life euerlasting And thus being borne anew into this liuely hope by the holy ghost my waies should be directed guided by the same Spirit to walke in holinesse and righteousnes all the daies of my life So be it A prayer containing the effect of this Catechisme O Mercifull and heauenly Father for so much as at euerie light occasion I am withdrawn from thy holy lawes to the vanities of this life vnto all sinne and wickednesse I beseech thee in mercy set before mine eyes alwaies the remembrance of thy iudgement seate and my last end whereby I may be daily stirred to consider in what great danger I stand through the horrible punishment due for my sinnes that daily groaning vnder the burthen of them I may flye for succour to thy beloued Son Iesus Christ who hath fully paid suffred and ouercome the punishment due to them and through the working of thy holy Spirite in me I may be fully assured in my soule and Conscience that the curse condemnation and death which these my sinnes deserue is fully paid suffered and ouercome in Christ that his righteousnesse obedience holines is mine and whatsoeuer he hath wrought for mans saluation is wholly mine Strengthen this faith in mee dayly more and more that I may inwardly feele comfort and consolation in this that I feele thy holye Spirit beare record vnto my spirit that I am thy Childe grafted into the body of thy Sonne and made with him fellow heire of thine euerlasting kingdome So worke in me by thy holy spirit that daily more and more I may feele sinne die in mee that I do not delight therein but daily may groane vnder the burthen therof vtterly hate detest and loath sinne set my selfe and all the powers of my soule and body against sinne and haue full delight ioy comfort and pleasure in those things which be agreeable to thy will that I may walke as becommeth the child of light looking still for that good time when it shal please thee to call mee vnto thine euerlasting kingdome for Iesus Christ his sake Amen FINIS GODLY PRIVATE Prayers for Householders to Meditate vpon and to say in their particular Families Made by Mr. Edw. Dering sometime Reader of the Diuinitie Lecture in Paules Marke 11.24 Whatsoeuer ye desire when ye pray beleeue that yee shall haue it and it shall be done vnto you LONDON Printed by Isaac Iaggard 1624. Godly priuat Prayers to bee saide at all times in Christian Families A prayer containing the effect of the Housholders Catechisme ALmighty God and most mercifull Father I see in thy
vnnecessary luggage and fretting cares nor setting vp my rest in any present Inne of outward happinesse or inward means therto but still casting away euery thing that presseth down and the sinne that hangeth so fast vpon me I may run with ioy the race that is set before looking vnto Christ Iesus the Authour and finisher of my Faith and so by him seeing within the rule into the glory that is set before mee I may despise the shame and waite with patience the great recompence of Reward That so neither riches may daunt my Faith by presuming too farre nor depth may quayle it by stooping too low That Principalities may not shake it by force of tentation nor Powers ouercome it by their violent impressions that neither things present may abase it by groueling thereon nor things to come may deiect it by doubtings or false feares That neither life may corrupt it by doting thereon nor death may confound it by vnpreparednesse thereto That nothing may separate me from the loue of God in Iesus Christ in whom by Faith I am more then Conqueror ouer all things Thus grant mee gracious God to walke by Faith and not by sight And that I may receiue the end of my Faith euen the saluation of my soule Oh keepe me by thy mighty power through faith vnto saluation and guide me by the word of Faith in all my wayes that I may not leane to mine owne wisdom bur to thy sure Word as to a Light shining in a dark place that so I may daily grow in knowledge and in the grace of Iesus Christ from Faith to Faith filled with all ioy and peace in beleeuing abounding in all fruits of righteousnesse and perfect holines that so I may be perfect and intyre wanting nothing waiting for the appearance of Iesus Christ that so my Conuersation being in heauen an entrance may bee thereby made vnto me into the euerlasting kingdom of thy deare Sonne euen to take possession by faith in this life therof and to see a farre off by faith into the fulnesse of that glory that so I may fight the good fight of Faith and lay hold of eternall life in full assurance of what I haue alreadie the earnest of by Faith and so in that hâ—pe daily purging my selfe of all wickednesse of the Spirit and of the Flesh that I mâ—y grow vp to perfect holinesse in thâ— fauor of GOD waiting daily by Faith the adoption of the sonnes of God and laboring to attaine the resurrection of the dead that so I may bee kept blamelesse in Soule Body and Spirit vnto the comming of my Sauiour Iesus Christ Grant these things gracious Father euen for his sake in whome thou art well pleased Iesus Christ the righteous To whome with thine owne blessed Spirite one glorious Vnitiue Trinity be glory and prayse Dominion now and for euer Amen A Prayer to feele in heart Spirituall comfort and the liuely sence of our Adoption by Faith O Lord God most mercifull Father now I fully perceiue know that the heart of man is not in his owne hand for thou hast taught mee by diminishing thy Spirit of comfort in my heart that it resteth wholie in thy power to make ioyfull the heart of man and to diminish the same ioy according to thy good pleasure and will For if O God it had beene in mine owne power and will to haue receiued comfort in thy holie word or to haue beleeued thy promises from my hart I would long since haue enioyed comfort and beene confirmed in faith but I cannot most mercifull Father it is thy meere worke I looke therefore O gracious God for thy blessed comfort strength of faith which I beseech thee O Lord send into my heart to fill the same with spirituall ioy that by the working of thy holy Spirit in mee the comfortable promises of thy mercifull protection may be throughly sealed in mine heart and sinke downe deep into my soule that I may be fully assured that thou art my strong rocke and house of defence that thou dost keepe mee as the apple of thine eye as thou hast promised in thy blessed word that thou wilt not lay more vppon mee then thou wilt giue mee strength to abide and that thou wilt assuredly at thine appointed time renew my heart the whole powers of my mind that I may fully glorifie thy holy name But in the meane time O Lord alas my heart is cleane voyde of spirituall ioy yea euen as hard as a stone so that the louing promises of thy holy word although I know them to bee true yet they cannot sinke into my hard stony heart vntill such time as thou by encreasing of thy holy Spirit to me shalt mollifie and make tender my hard heart that it may bee meete to receiue the sweet comfort of thy Spirit Thy holy Spirit O Lord in mee which is the assurance of my saluation doth continually send forth vnspeakable sighs and longings for thy full ioyfull presence I beseech thee therefore deere Father for thy Sonne Christ Iesus sake harken vnto my prayers and grant my requests make tender my hard and stony heart by thy holy Spirit that I may from the bottome of my heart acknowledge thee to bee my most mercifull God and Father and all things in thy holy word contained to be most certaine and true reuerently embrace the same and into my soule take comfort and ioy in the same that I may deere Father euen vnto my liues end walke before thy face in sinceritie of heart being assured of my saluation through that one alone sufficient sacrifice for my sinnes made by thy deere Sonne Christ Iesu to whom with thee and the holy Ghost bee all honor and glory world without end Amen A Prayer against doubting to strengthen a weake Faith and to perseuere therin GLorious and mightie Lord who by â—hy Soueraigne All-sufficient power as thou madest al things of nothing so thou callest those things which are not as if they were and dost command light to shine out of darkenesse that so wee might bee translated out of darknesse into this maruelous light Holy Father it is thine vnspeakable mercy that I thy most vnworthy seruant being once the child of hell yea darknesse it selfe am now through thy free grace illightning mine heart by Faith enabled to behold thy face in Iesus Christ and so through this light am become light in the Lord being enabled by faith to discerne the great Mystery of Christ and so by faith to lay hold thereon as to bee freely thereby discharged from the guilt of my sinne and to be inuested with the perfect righteousnesse of my Sauiour that so I might bee found acceptable vnto thee Holy Father how vnspeakable herein haue beene thy mercies to me a vilde sinner that passing by the wise and noble of the world it hath pleased thee of thy free grace to visite mee a very reprobate branch with thy sauing health and to
day of affliction wherein I called vpon the name of the Lord and hee heard mee and I found that his rod comforted me Neuerthelesse O good Lord consider and helpe two dayes of health take away the fruite of many dayes of sicknesse wee are as men Sea-sicke that comming on the shore presently returne to ioy and mirth and forget both dangers on the Sea and dangers on the Land So came it to passe from age to age in thy people of Israel being tied fast in miserie and iron they called vpon thee and receiued mercie being deliuered they soone turned backe like a bow and became drunken with prosperitie Then thy face was against them thy anger was kindled and they cast into affliction againe but in their miseries they renewed their prayers and thou diddest renew thy grace but new prosperitie brought new rebellion and new rebellion new punishments and new punishments new conuersation The house of mirth was to them and is to all a baite to wantonnesse but in the house of sorrow a prouocation of humilitie and prayer Prosperitie is as a Cup of wine mingled with poyson as a bed of securitie and a way to destruction Therefore O Lord with the fulnesse of earthly things giue mee also the fulnesse of spiâ—ituall thinges that I forget thee not in vanity of life or in the false delights of sinfull flesh O keepe my heart that it bee not made drunken with prosperity but grant mee in sobernesse to vse thy blessings to thy glory and to the releefe of my Brethren and when I reioyce not to reioyce in these base things for that reioycing is euill but to reioyce in thee turning my mirth from wanton Daunces from vaine Songs from other carnall delights to exercises of Religion to helpes of knowledge singing of Psalmes with melodie to thee in my heart Finally O Lord seeing that in this earthly prosperity there is so great abuse and so present danger for want of grace to abuse them O Lord teach mee the true vse of them that I may not set my heart thereon but in thee giuing thee thanks for them and labouring with all diligence through thy grace in Iesus Christ that they bee not through my wickednesse turned into curses As Salomon teacheth wisedome to take heede of an Harlot so teach mee to take heed of vaine pleasures in worldly matters that I be not bewitched with prosperity and forget thee bathing my selfe in pleasures and neuer setting thee before mine eyes O mercifull Father for thy deerely beloued Sonne Iesus Christ worke this in mee that I may bee rich in good workes that I may haue as not hauing that I may vse the world as not abusing it but vsing it to thy glory and praise through Iesus Christ our Lord and onely Sauiour to whom with thee and the holy Ghost three persons and one God bee all praise honor and glory both now and for euer Amen A Prayer against Whoredome and vncleannesse O God which by thy holy word hast commanded that for the auoyding of the filthy sinne of fornication eueâ—y man should haue his lawfull wife and euery woman enioy her lawfull husband threatning death and damnation to all such as seek to liue contrary to thy commandement herein I humbly beseech thee for Christs sake that thou wilt mortifie and kill in me all carnall concupiscence filthy motions and fleshly desires by the operation of thy holy Spirit in me that I neuer defile either my body or soule in this loathsome and stinking sinne of whoredome adultery fornication Incest or other vncleannesse of body whatsoeuer but liuing purely vnpolluted therewith all the dayes of my life I may practise to please thee in all my proceedings I know O Lord that flesh and blood the filthy vncleane workes of flesh and blood cannot enter into thy habitation nor yet possesse any portion in thine euerlasting kingdome of glory therefore whensoeuer the diuell his wicked members the world or the flesh shall tempt and prouoke mee to preparation hereto giue me power and strength to withstand their assaults and put into my minde to consider that thine eyes doe behold me and thine holy Angels looke vpon me also that the horrible company of diuels compasse me about ready to register my filthy fact in a booke of memoâ—ials against the great day of the Lord. And so by thy gracious assistance and thâ—se good considerations I may beâ— partly terrified and partly ashamed for euer to commit the same knowing that thou who sparedst not the former world but destroyedst Sodom and Gomorrha with fire brimstone from heauen the whole world with water the Citty of the Sichemites with the edge of the sword and the children of Israel at sundry times slaying infinite Millions of them for this horrible vice wilt not spare me a most wicked and abhominable sinner if I commit the like offence Wherefore blessed Father suffer mee not thy deere Child in Iesus Christ bought with thy most precious blood to bee once spotted stained or blemished either in body or mind with this filthy stinking sinne of whoredome fornication that I appearing cleane in thy sight may after this life ended liue with thee thy Sonne Iesus Christ and the holy Ghost one true and euer liuing God world without end Amen A Prayer against Couetousnes and ambition ALmighty God and most mercifull Father who hast commanded euery man to labour and trauaile in his vocation and calling thereby to releeue his necessities and to maintaine his estate and hast promised thereto thy blessing Blesse I beseech thee all my actions and laboures which I shall at any time take in hand in thy name and thereby I receiuing sufficent sustentation maintenance for mine estate and calling may be free from the insatiable desires of couetousnes ambition auarice and all desire of vnlawfull gaine knowing that those that desire to bee rich fall into diuers temâ—ptations and snares of the diuel From which coÌ„tagious infection I beseech thee so much more warily to keepe mee by how much more I finde the same forbidden in thy holy word The holy Apostle calleth it idolatry worshipping of Idols and the roote of all euill excluding them out of the kingdome of heauen that be infected therewith And thy deere Son Iesus Christ telleth vs that it shall be easier for the Camell to goe through the eye of a needle then for a rich man that is a couetous rich man whose affiance is in his riches to enter into the kingdome of heauen Wherefore good Father keepe me farre from this filthy vice of couetousnesse and ambition grant that I hauing food for my body and cloathes for my backe with all other necessaries incident to this life may bee well contented therewith not coueting or desiring any more and all the daies of my life in true simplicity of heart may giue thee praise for the same Finally grant that I seeking the kingdome of heauen and the righteousnesse thereof as thou hast
be now and shall bee to the end of the world Of the which number I beleeue that I am one I beleeue that God knoweth them all and hath a most tender care ouer them Que. What callest thou the Communion of Saints An. The Communion of Saints is the society that all we which beleeue haue one with another as members of one head Iesus Christ whereby wee are ready to communicate all Gods benefites both Spirituall and Temporall to the mutuall health and comfort one of another according vnto the measure which we haue receyued of God in this life Que. What is it to beleeue the forgiuenesse of sinnes An. I beleeue that Iesus Christ hath wholy appeased God for my sinnes paide the full punishment due to them and therfore that they be freely forgiuen mee and shall neuer be laide vnto my charge Que. What beleeuest thou of the rising againe of the body Ans I beleeue that after this life eÌ„nded my soule shal go to God that gaue it and my body shall rest in the graue vntill the appoynted time and then I shall see God in my flesh and mine eyes shall looke vpon him and this my bodie shall bee made like to the glorious body of Christ without al corruption Que. What is it that thou sayest of Life euerlasting An. I beleeue that when God shall raise againe this my body and ioyn it againe together with my soule that then I shall liue with Christ for euer in his euerlasting kingdome of glory Que. By what means do we attaine to this which thou hast heere confessed An. The holy Ghost hath appointed the preaching of the word to be the ordinary meanes whereby hee worketh in our hearts this true and liuely faith and without this preaching of the Word we can neuer haue faith Que. After that GOD by the meanes of his word hath wrought in our hearts faith by what meanes afterward doeth he strengthen the same An. This faith doth God strengthen in vs by the selfe same preaching of the word and also by the vse of the Sacraments Que. What callest thou the Sacraments An. Sacraments bee outward signes ordaind of God for the greater assurance and strengthening of our Faith beeing vnto vs sure pledges of these benefits of our Saluation which we receiue in Christ to be ours and are represented vnto vs by the outward signes of water in baptisme and Bread and Wine in the Supper of the Lord. They serue also for a marke of our profession whereby we differ from other people which be Heathen Qu. How many Sacraments be there An. There be two Sacraments that is to say Baptisme and the Supper of the Lord. Qu. What strength of faith hast thou through Baptisme Ans I am taught and assured by Baptisme that my sinnes are forgiuen mee for as the water washeth away the filthinesse of my bodie euen so should I through the holy Ghost be thereby fully certified and perswaded that the bloud of Christ beeing sprinkled vpon my soule by the hand of Faith hath washed away both the guiltinesse of my sinne and the punishment due vnto the same the fruite and effect whereof appeareth heerein that through the power of Christ his death and resurrection I am dead as touching sin and raised vp againe in newnesse of life vvhich two things in whomsoeuer they appeare not they may well haue the name title of Baptisme but indeed they are no Christians Qu. What strength of faith do wee finde in the vse of the Lords Supper Ans The Supper of the Lord thorough the holy-Ghost doth strengthen my Faith that I should not doubt but as surely as I receiue the Bread and Wine into my body to become wholly mine so my soule receiueth withall Christ with his passion and righteousnesse to be wholy mine as surely as if I had wrought them mine owne selfe Que. Are not then the bread and wine in the supper of the Lord turned into the body and bloud of Christ An. The bread and wine as touching their nature and substance are not turned but as touching the vse of them they differ from common Bread and Wine in that they are appointed of God to serue vnto vs as Seales â—ledges of those benefits which Christ in his body hath wrought for vs. Qu. In what maner oughtest thou to prepare thy selfe to the receiuing these misteries An. In preparing my selfe to receiue the supper of the Lord I ought diligently to obserue these three things First to examine my selfe whether I stand in faith or no which I shall know if I feele my hart assured by the Spirit of God that the punishment of my sins is fully discharged in Christ and that whatsoeuer hee hath done pertaineth not onely to others but euen to me Secondly to examine my selfe whether I find my hart inwardly sorry for my sins with inward hatred and lothing of sin and an earnest desire and sure purpose wholy to conforme my selfe to the will of Gods word Thirdly if any offence be betwixt others and me that I reconcile my selfe vnto them All these things although they ought earnestly to be considered in the whole course of our life yet then especially when wee come to the supper of the Lord. Que. Now seeing wee be saued by Christes Works without our deseruings wherto then now serueth our wel doings or what auaileth it to do good workes An. We must do good workes not to deserue our saluation by them but by our works to glorifie God in walking as becommeth Gods Children declaring thereby our thankfulnes to God for our redemption Secondly by our works to make our election more certaine vnto our selues Thirdly to winne others vnto Christ by our holy life and conuersation Quest What works callest thou good works An. Our works can neuer be accepable and good in the sight of God vnlesse in doing them wee keepe these two things First that they be framed according to the rule of Gods lawes Commandements not after our owne deuice Secondly that they proceede from an heart purged by faith If either of these two pointes be lacking our workes are abhominable in the eyes of Almighty God although they appeare neuer so glorious in the sight of men Que. Because prayer is one especiall meanes which Gad will haue vs vse to increase our faith tell me what belongeth to true prayer An. It is requisite in true prayer that we obserue these fiue things First that we make our prayers onely to God thorough Christ and not to Saints Secondly that we be inwardly touched with neede of the thing we aske hauing our minde wholly bent therupon and not caried away with by-thoghts Thirdly that our prayers be grounded vppon Gods promise with full assurance that they shall be granted so farre as the Lord doth know them to be meete and needfull for vs. Fourthly that we continue in prayer although we haue not our requests at the first Fiftly that we aske not those things which we thinke