at the Day of Iudgement If wee haue beene faithfull and diligent in our Masters seruice wee shall haue nothing to doe then but to receiue with ioy our reward and wages If wee walke not after the flesh but after Rom. 8. 1. the Spirit wee are in Iesus Christ and there is no condemnation due vnto vs for hee was condemned that wee might bee acquitted and suffered the punishment of our sinnes that Gods Iustice being satisfied and wrath appeased wee might bee freed from hell and death If wee bee partakers of the first Resurrection from the death Apoc. 20. 6. of sinne to the life of righteousnesse the second death shall haue no power ouer vs. Now what stronger motiues can there bee vnto a godly life then to bee thereby assured of deliuerance from these greatest euils For how terrible a thing is it to fall into the hands Heb. 10. 31. of the euer-liuing God and to bee called to account before his Iudgement Seate who searcheth the heart and reines and will call vs to a reckoning for euery idle word Whose iustice is so perfect and his examination so strict that though wee were as Matth. 12. 33. iust as Iob yet wee should not bee able to answere one of a thousand Iob 9. 2 3. Though wee were as holy as Dauid yet had wee neede to pray with him Enter not into Iudgement with thy Seruant O Lord for Psal 143. 2. in thy sight shall no man liuing bee iustified How fearefull and intolerable endlesse and easelesse are those hellish torments which they must indure who are not in this life acquitted from them And consequently how inestimable is this benefit and worthy to bee valued more then ten thousand worlds to bee fully assured that wee haue through Christ escaped this seuere Iudgement hellish condemnation and euerlasting torments with the deuill and his angels which assurance wee can no otherwise attaine vnto then by seruing God in the duties of a godly life and bringing forth the fruits of our faith in repentance and new obedience But I shall not neede to presse these points any further although much more might bee said of them as being most effectuall motiues to perswade vs to flee all sinne and to practise all Christian duties in the whole course of our liues seeing they are much beaten vpon and largely handled by many others there beeing scarce any that omit them who write of and perswade vnto Christian resolution CAP. XLII Other reasons taken from those singular priuiledges which are peculiar vnto those who serue God in the duties of a godly life §. Sect. 1 The first priuiledge is that the image of God is repayred in vs. ANd so much concerning the priuatiue benefits which accompany a godly life The positiue benefits which we receiue by it are manifold For first hereby the image of God is repayred in vs and wee are made like vnto him seeing this image chiefely consisteth in wisedome holinesse and righteousnesse whereby knowing God and his will we are transformed in all holy obedience vnto it So the Apostle saith that we haue put on the New man which is renued in knowledge after the image Col. 3. 10. of him that created vs. And exhorteth vs to bee renewed in the Spirit of Ephe. 4. 23 24. our mindes and to put on the new man which after God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse So that if we be renewed in wisedome and knowledge in holinesse and righteousnesse we shall become like vnto God hauing his image through Christ renewed in vs after which wee were created but had it defaced in vs by the fall of Adam And this argument the Scriptures doe often vse to perswade vs vnto an holy and righteous life So the Lord himselfe presseth this reason to his people For I am the Lord your God ye shall therefore sanctifie your selues and Leuit. 11. 44. Leuit. 19. 2. 20. 7. yee shall bee holy for I am holy And againe Yee shall sanctifie your selues and be ye holy for I am the Lord your God And our Sauiour Christ exhorteth vs to bee therefore perfect that as children of our heauenly Father Matth. 5. 45 48 wee may resemble him in perfection So the Apostle would haue vs to approue our selues to be the sonnes of God by being blamelesse harmelesse Phil. 2 15. without rebuke in the midst of a crooked peruerse nation And the Apostle Iohn teacheth vs how we may approue our selues to haue fellowship 1. Iohn 1. 6 7. with God namely by walking in the light as he is in the light And Eph. 5. 1. finally the Apostle Peter perswadeth vs to an holy life by the same reason As he that hath called you is holy so bee yee holy in all manner of 1. Pet. 1. 15 16. conuersation because it is written Be ye holy for I am holy Neither in truth can any thing bee more effectuall to perswade vs to an holy life then this argument if it bee well waighed For the neerer wee come to this most absolute and perfect patterne the more we shall bee restored to that state of excellency and perfection in which we were created the more wee resemble him who is the chiefe Goodnesse and blessednesse the more wee shall exceede in goodnesse and glory in holinesse and happinesse the which alwaies accompany one another The more like we are vnto God the more communion we shall haue with him the more hee will loue vs and delight in vs as a Father ordinarily best loueth that childe that most resembleth him in fauour and nature though oftentimes out of meere selfe-loue because hee seemeth to liue in him and not for any excellencie that is in those parts and qualities which hee loueth in him And if generally likenesse causeth loue when there is no worth in the thing beloued how much more will God infinitely loue vs when as by our likenesse we shall be made most louely and that for his owne sake with a pure and perfect loue because his Image is stamped in vs and he after a sort liueth in vs and we in him his holinesse and righteousnesse being manifested in our godly life and conuersation §. Sect. 2 The second priuiledge is that by a godly life we haue title interest in all Gods promises and first of temporall blessings Secondly by a godly life wee haue interest vnto all Gods promises whereby he hath assured vs of all his blessings and benefits both temporall 1. Tim. 4. 8. Psal 34. 9 10. Psal 84. 11. 2. Pet. 1. 3 4. and eternall according to that of the Apostle Godlinesse is profitable vnto all things hauing the promise of the life that now is and that which is to come So the Psalmist saith that they which seeke and feare the Lord shall not want any good thing For the Lord God is a sunne and shield he will giue grace and glory and no good thing will hee
which might hinder vs as infidelity impenitencie carnall security worldly distractions and earthly-mindednesse prophanenesse and small esteeme of the Word excessiue eating or drinking conceite of our owne knowledge as though little or nothing could be added vnto it preiudice and forestalled opinions of our teachers hypocrisie curiosity itching Iam. 1. 21. Luke 18. 34. Acts 17. 20. 2. Tim. 4. 3. 1. Cor. 1. 11 12. eares factious affections whereby men haue the truth of God in respect of persons hearing or not hearing according to that opinion which they haue conceiued of him that speaketh And partly this preparation consisteth in vsing all good helpes and meanes which may enable vs to the carefull and conscionable hearing of the Word As to consider the waightinesse of the action which wee are about to performe namely an high and holy seruice vnto God which will further and seale vp vnto vs our saluation or condemnation and be either the sauour of life vnto life or of death vnto death soften vs like waxe or harden vs like clay and make vs one step neerer eyther to heauen or hell For Gods Word shall neuer returne voide but accomplish what he pleaseth and shall prosper in the thing whereto he sends it Secondly to meditate on the ends for Esa 55. 11. which we heare which are to glorifie God in the meanes of our saluation to be built vp in all sauing grace knowledge faith obedience loue of God zeale patience and the rest Thirdly we must examine our selues to finde out our sinnes that we may gather strength for the mortifying of them and our spirituall wants that we may haue them supplied in this spirituall market of our soules Fourthly we must renew our repentance Heb. 4. 2. that wee come not in our sinnes and our faith without which our hearing will not profit vs. Finally we must vse faithfull and feruent prayer that God will so assist with his holy Spirit the Minister in speaking and vs in hearing and sanctifie to our vse his holy ordinances that they may be effectuall to build vs vp in our most holy faith and more and more inrich vs with all sanctifying and sauing graces And being thus prepared our next duty is that setting aside all worldly impediments we resort vnto the holy assemblies to be made partakers of Gods holy Word that wee may profit thereby §. Sect. 5 Of the duties required in hearing and after we haue heard The second sort of duties respect the action of hearing it selfe vnto which is required that wee set our selues in the presence of God and 〈…〉 s. 10. 33. ◠Thes 2. 13. 〈…〉 4. 20. ◠19. 48. heare the Word preached not as the word of mortall man but as the Word of the euerliuing God with all feare and reuerence with all diligence and attention with alacrity and cheerefulnesse humility and a good conscience auoiding as much as lieth in vs all distractions wandring thoughts priuate reading dulnesse drowzinesse and carnall wearinesse Finally with hungring and thirsting after the foode of our soules and earnest desire to profit by it To which end we must apply and fit our selues to euery thing which is spoken to profit by it whether it be doctrine Luke 8. 15. 2 19. Pro. 4. 21. confutation reproofe or consolation receiue the Word into good and honest hearts and there reserue it as a precious treasure for our vse in the whole course of our liues and conuersation The third and last sort are those duties which are to be performed after we haue heard which are First to meditate on that which hath beene deliuered vnto vs that we may imprint it in our memories and worke it into our hearts Secondly conference with others that wee may be mutuall helpers for the vnderstanding remembring imbracing and practising of that which we haue heard Thirdly that we sanctifie the Word vnto our vse by effectuall prayer desiring that God will giue a blessing vnto it and make it effectuall by his Spirit for the inlightning of our minds the sanctifying of our hearts and affections and the reforming and amending of our sinfull liues Lastly we must on euery fit occasion call to mind what wee haue Rom. 2. 13. Iam. 1. 22. Luk. 8. 15. heard that we may bring it vnto vse and conscionably practise what wee haue learned §. Sect. 6 Of the administration of the Sacraments The third sort of duties required in this Commandement respect the administration of the Sacraments which are only two Baptisme and the Lords Supper Vnto both which it is generally required that they bee administred First by a lawfull Minister and no other Secondly only to those which are in the Couenant either the faithfull or their seede Thirdly that they be administred according to Christs institution without the mixture of humane inuentions More especially vnto the receiuing of the Lords Supper there is required that we receiue it worthily to which purpose diuers duties are required before in and after the Communion Before that wee duely prepare our selues for this holy action which consisteth first in an examination of our selues how we are qualified with such sauing graces as are necessary to the worthy receiuing of the Lords Supper the which are an hungring and thirsting after Christ and his benefits as after that spirituall foode which alone is sufficient to nourish vs to life euerlasting Secondly knowledge of the mayne principles of Christian Religion respecting either God or our selues without which we cannot discerne the Lords body no more then a blind man can by his bodily sight discerne the outward signes of bread and wine Thirdly faith in Iesus Christ approoued to be true and liuely by the fruits of it in the inward sanctification of our hearts and in our outward workes of piety mercy and righteousnesse Fourthly vnfained repentance consisting in an hearty sorrow for our sinnes past springing out of faith and the apprehension of the loue of God towards vs and a settled purpose and resolution not onely to leaue them for the time to come but also to serue the Lord in the contrary duties of holinesse righteousnesse and sobriety Fourthly loue and charity towards our neighbours approoued by our willingnesse and readinesse to giue vnto those that want and to forgiue those that offend Secondly after this examination there is required vnfained humiliation in the sight and sense of our wants and weakenesses especially in these sauing graces before spoken of Secondly an hungring after the meanes whereby they may be supplied especially the Sacrament which was purposely ordained to supply our wants and strengthen our weakenesse in these graces Thirdly humble confession of our sinnes in generall and especially of those which haue come to our mind in our examination wherein we renewed our faith and repentance Fourthly a stedfast resolution in our hearts and faithfull promise to God that if he will in Christ accept of vs though not prepared according to the preparation of the Sanctuary but
things and reioyce in nothing so much as in the assurance of thy loue and when the light of thy countenance shineth vpon mee Remooue out of my way all lets and impediments which might hinder me in my Christian course or so assist mee with thy grace that I may ouercome them Stablish me with thy free Spirit that I may not onely begin well but also continue in all grace and goodnesse vnto the very end of my life and let me be stedfast vnmoueable and alwayes abounding in the worke of the Lord. And with these my prayers and supplications I doe also ioyne my praises and thankesgiuing lauding and magnifying thy great and glorious Name for thine inestimable loue and the fruits and testimonies thereof shewed vnto me euen from before all beginnings vnto this present day For that thou hast of thy free grace chosen mee to life and saluation created mee after thine owne similitude and likenesse in wisedome holinesse and righteousnesse redeemed me at so deare a price out of the miserable bondage of my spirituall enemies effectually called mee by the sound of the Gospell to the knowledge of thy truth vnited me vnto Christ by thy Spirit and a liuely faith and made me partaker of all his benefits for my iustification by his righteousnesse and obedience and for some degrees of sanctification begun in mee whereby thou hast subdued the power of sinne that though it dwelleth yet it doth not raigne in me and hast wrought in me some desire resolution and indeuour to serue and please thee For that thou hast watched ouer me with thy prouidence in the whole course of my life and namely this night past and hast thereby preserued mee from all perils from the terrours of the night and the malice of mine enemies and hast refreshed me with quiet rest and now raised me vp in the strength thereof to doe thee seruice O Lord inlarge my heart that I may duly consider of thy manifold and rich mercies and bee thorowly inflamed with the apprehension of thy loue What am I my God that thou shouldest be thus gracious vnto mee who am altogether lesse then the least of thy mercies yea worthy of thy greatest punishments O that I could loue and praise thee according to thy bounty and goodnesse And being so poore that I haue nothing to repay and thou so rich that thou neither needest nor requirest any thing else O that I could euer remaine a gratefull debter hauing mine heart filled with thankfulnesse and my mouth with thankesgiuing And now Lord I further beseech thee to continue still my God and guide to direct leade and vphold mee in all the wayes of holinesse and righteousnesse Take mee into thy gracious protection this day and euer and watch so ouer mee with thy all-ruling prouidence that I may be preserued safe from all enemies worldly and spirituall and from those manifold dangers which incompasse mee on euery side Giue mee grace so to spend this day that some glory may redound vnto thee by my seruice some profit and benefit vnto those with whom I liue and some further assurance vnto my selfe from the increase of sauing graces discerned in mee and spirituall strength in all good duties of my saluation and eternall happinesse Order and gouerne all my thoughts that they may be religious and honest my speeches that they may bee wise and seasoned with grace and all my workes and actions for the well performing both of the generall duties of Christianity and the speciall duties of my calling blessing so all my labours that I may be cheered and comforted in them by my prosperous successe in all my good indeuours Supply vnto mee all temporall blessings and the necessary comforts of this life and let mee liue at thy finding and receiue whatsoeuer I inioy as the gifts of thine owne hand and pledges of thy loue that I may returne the praise which is due vnto thee for them and vse them as helpes to further mee in all duties of thy seruice Finally I beseech thee good Lord to vouchsafe these and all other benefits not onely vnto mee but also to thy whole Church and euery particular member thereof especially to this in which I liue Multiply thy fauours vpon our Soueraigne Lord the King our noble Prince the Prince Electour Palatine and the Lady Elizabeth his wife with their issue vpon the honourable Lords of the Priuie Councell the Magistrates and Ministers of thy Word and Sacraments the afflicted members of Iesus Christ my friends and benefactours kindred and acquaintance and especially vpon this whole family giuing vnto vs all grace that wee may keepe the vnity of the Spirit in the bond of peace and so ioyne together with our hearts and minds in all duties of thy seruice as that we may ioyntly inherit that eternall happinesse of thy Kingdome through Iesus Christ our Lord to whom with thee and thine holy Spirit bee rendred all glory and praise might Maiesty and Dominion both now and euermore Amen Another priuate Prayer for the Morning O Almighty and eternall God our most gracious and louing Father in Iesus Christ I thy poore sinfull seruant being in my selfe vtterly vnworthy to appeare in thy glorious presence doe yet in the Name and mediation of Iesus Christ offer vnto thee my prayers and supplications in obedience to thy Commandements and in some assurance of thy gracious promises rendring vnto thee from the bottome of mine heart all humble and hearty thankes for thy manifold mercies and abundant blessings multiplied vpon mee both in respect of spirituall and heauenly priuiledges which concerne my euerlasting saluation and of temporall and earthly benefits appertaining to the good of this life and my present estate in this place of my Pilgrimage For that thou hast freely loued mee from all eternity and of thy meere grace hast chosen mee vnto life and glory without any respect of my workes or worthinesse For creating mee according to thine owne Image and redeeming me out of the estate of sinne and death For calling mee effectually by thy Word and Spirit and making mee a seruant of thine owne family and a member of Iesus Christ whereby thou hast giuen mee iust title vnto him and all his benefits For making with mee the Couenant of grace adopting mee in him to bee thy child vnto a liuely hope of my heauenly inheritance For iustifying mee in his righteousnesse imputed vnto mee and applyed by a liuely faith and sanctifying mee with thy Spirit giuing mee some power ouer my corruptions and some desire and indeuour to serue and please thee in the duties of a godly life For watching ouer mee with thy prouidence euer since I had my being and birth shielding mee from dangers deliuering mee out of manifold euils and prouiding for mee all things necessary both for my soule and body For preseruing mee this night past from all perils giuing vnto mee quiet rest and bringing mee in safety to see the light adding yet another day to
for all thy blessings and benefits both spirituall and temporall which thou hast multiplyed vpon vs and continue them vnto vs this day and euer preseruing vs from all perils and furnishing vs with all necessaries that we may be the fitter with all cheerfulnesse to doe thee seruice And vouchsafe all these blessings which wee haue craued for our selues with all other things which in thy wisdome thou seest needful vnto euery true member of thy Church c. euen for Iesus Christ his sake to whom with thee thine holy Spirit we ascribe all praise and glory power and dominion both now and for euermore Amen A Prayer for the Euening of the Lords Day O Eternall God who art glorious in Maiesty and power and of infinite goodnesse and mercy vnto all those who are reconciled vnto thee in thy Sonne wee thine vnworthy seruants hauing nothing else to returne vnto thee for the innumerable testimonies of thy loue which with a bountifull hand thou hast multiplyed vpon vs doe here offer vnto thee the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiuing for all thy blessings and benefits which either respect our soules or bodies this life or the life to come More especially wee laud and magnifie thy great and glorious Name for that thou hast loued vs from all eternity and of thy meere grace without any respect of our worthinesse hast made vs vessels of grace by thy free election created vs according to thine owne Image redeemed vs out of the hands of all our spirituall enemies by giuing thy dearely beloued Sonne to dye for vs when as we were strangers and enemies for calling vs by thy Word and Spirit to the sauing knowledge and effectuall participation of him and all his benefits for our iustification by his obedience our sanctification by thy Spirit and for that assurance which thou hast giuen vs of a better life in the world to come For all temporall benefits as health wealth peace plenty preseruation from dangers and protection from all our enemies both worldly and spirituall And especially wee praise and glorifie thee for vouchsafing vnto vs in such a gracious manner the meanes of our saluation for our blessed opportunities and liberties with peace and safety in sanctifying thy Sabbaths publikely and priuately by hearing thy Word and calling vpon thy Name and performing other duties of thy seruice that thereby we may glorifie thee and make our owne calling and election sure and for giuing vnto vs hearts wherein by thy Spirit thou hast wrought some poore desires and indeuours to make vse of these thy benefits for the inriching of our soules with all spirituall graces as at other times heretofore so namely this day past O that our soules could be rauished with the sweet apprehension of such inestimable blessings O that we could exceed all others in loue and thankfulnesse as farre as wee exceed them in these high and holy priuiledges and were able to expresse them in our carefull and conscionable indeuours to glorifie and please thee in all things who hast been so gracious and good vnto vs But alas how vnworthy haue we made our selues of the least of these thy benefits by our manifold and grieuous sinnes both our originall corruption which hauing ouer-spred all the powers and parts of our soules and bodies hath vtterly disabled them vnto all duties of thy seruice and our manifold actuall transgressions which in number and waight exceed all things but thy mercies which are aboue all thy workes and the merits and satisfaction of thy Sonne which are of infinite worth and value More especially we humbly acknowledge our fearfull abuse of those great priuiledges and meanes of our saluation which for a long time thou hast graciously granted vnto vs. For not onely haue we in the dayes of our ignorance vtterly neglected all duties of thy seruice spending our whole strength in the miserable slauery of sinne and Satan and prophaned and mis-spent thy Sabbaths in pleasing our carnall lusts and performing the workes of darknesse in greater measure and worse manner then any other dayes besides but euen since wee haue been called to the knowledge of thy truth and haue consecrated our selues to thy seruice wee haue either vpon slight occasions neglected those holy duties of thy publike and priuate worship or performed them with many wants and weaknesses discouering vnto thee who searchest the heart many imperfections and great corruptions For we haue not remembred thy Sabbaths nor with feruent desires longed after thine holy Day We haue not delighted in them nor consecrated them vnto thee as an holy Rest but though the spirit hath been willing yet the flesh hath been weake and soone tyred with spirituall exercises We haue been much defectiue in our zeale and deuotion and haue been too too cold and formall in religious duties and haue not performed them with that care and conscience nor haue serued thee with our hearts and soules in spirit and truth in that degree which thou requirest but externally and with the outward man hauing in the meane while our minds and hearts carried away with many distractions and worldly imaginations Our cogitations haue not bin takē wholly vp with spirituall and heauenly things but we haue suffered them to roue wander after earthly trifles Our tongues haue not in that measure as they ought been exercised in setting forth thy praise nor in such holy and religious conferences as tend to the edification one of another but we haue spoken our own words on thine holy Day and many of our speeches haue been idle and vaine worldly and vnsauoury We haue not as we ought priuately prepared and fitted our selues for thy publike seruice by prayer and meditation by renewing our faith and repentance but haue come into thy glorious presence without due feare and reuerence hauing our hearts clogged and choked with many corruptions which haue disabled them to the duties of thy seruice and haue made them like vnfallowed and vnweeded grounds vnfit to receiue the seed of thy Word We haue not called vpon thy Name with faith and feruency of spirit nor giuen thankes vnto thee for all thy benefits with such cheerfulnes as became vs. We haue not with due reuerence and attention heard thy holy Word nor laid it vp in our memories nor applyed it to our hearts and consciences nor made an holy vse of it by putting it in practice in our liues and conuersations We haue not meditated as we ought on thy Word which we haue heard nor on thy maruellous works of Creation Preseruation Redemption nor diligently read and studied in thy holy Book nor exercised our selues in the works of mercy and Christian charity towards our brethren in that manner and measure which thou requirest especially in those spirituall duties which tend to the mutuall edification of one another In which and many other kinds as we haue often offended heretofore so we cannot excuse our selues of many imperfections and corruptions which wee haue shewed