THE COVNTRY-MAN WITH HIS HOVSHOLD Being A familiar Conference concerning Faith towards God and Good Workes before Men fitted for the capacitie of the meanest By R. S. Preacher of the word at ARLEY See the Contents more particularly before the Booke IOSVA 24.13 But as for me and my house we will serue the Lord. 1 PET. 2.17 Feare God NEHEM 1.11 Desire to feare him Imprinted at London by Edward Griffin for Ionah Man at the Talbot in Pater-noster Row 1620. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE SIR WALTER ASTON KNIGHT OF THE BATHE BARONET AT THIS PRESENT LORD AMBASSADOR FOR HIS MAIESTIE TO THE KING OF SPAINE AND TO THE LADY GERTRVDE HIS MOST VERTVOVS AND BELOVED WIFE R. S. CONSECRATETH THESE HIS MEDITATIONS TOGITHER WITH HIS BEST WISHES AND SERVICES An Admonition to the Reader I Presume thou knowest very well good Reader that as the gifts of Teachers in deliuering are diuers so are those of the Hearers for conceiuing and profiting For which cause the Christian Scribe must as the great Diuinitie-Reader teacheth a Mat. 13.52 bring forth out of his treasure things both new and olde that is as I vnderstand it fit his setting forth of sauing truth after sundry good sorts to the estate and capacitie of the Learners b Phil. 3.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. minimè lubricum and for them it is safe to write the same things vnto them Thinke me not then to tautologize ouermuch in this Booke neither yet blame me for lacke of exact method therein For besides that a familiar Conference especially of the Country-man with his Houshold for whose sake chiefly I publish these my country-meditations is not so absolutely freed from the one nor so strictly tyed to the other note I pray thee that my studie and endeuour herein hath beene purposely to convey the truth to the more ignorant and ruder sort in such forme and so many words as I supposed them able to receiue it c Esai 28.9 10 11. 1 Cor. 3.1 2. 9.22 Heb. 5.11 12 13. and if they should not rightly conceiue and lay hold on the truth in one place speech or passage of the Booke yet in another they might attaine to it if it shall please the Lord. To which end I haue retained chiefly in the weightiest principles some common phrases and kindes of speech vsed in Catechismes because I take them to be plainest more generally knowne Namely I haue here and there vsed some answers out of Master William Perkins of worthy memorie his Catechisme And in some three or foure places also I haue imitated others a litle in some respects The reasons against Transubstantiation and many of those Questions and Answers about fit and worthy Receiuers and some few about Receiuing worthily are the labours of that judicious man and mine especiall frend Mr A. N. All the rest so far as I remember * Neither yet hath my paines beene the lesser in those few things that I haue taken from others as the discreet Reader may easily perceiue by my manner of vsing them are my poore indeuours togither with the frame of the whole so shaped as I thought fittest for my purpose Indeed when I began with this Worke I intended onely some briefer thing as a short Catechisme but afterwards partly considering the great and manifold necessities of the ignorant and partly following the aduise of diuers godly persons whom I consulted withall I haue inlarged my selfe to so many matters as you may see The doctrine and substance I assure my selfe is sound and I am priuie proceedeth from a heart that is willing to promote the common saluation d vers 3. as Iude calleth it Let it not want therefore judicious Reader thy Christian good word at least let it be free from thy blame though it may be there shall be found some shew of Reason for such censure considering not onely my defence premised but also the cause and honour of Him who is too often pierced through the sides of his poore seruants and fearing the offence of the weake who God knoweth are soone turned out of the way Albeit I take it had bin no great difficultie for me to haue made it both shorter and more methodicall saue that if I do not mistake I iudge this often repeating the surest or likeliest way to effect my intent and desire And if God shall moue any few of those Housholders hearts who haue hitherto vsed litle or no meanes in this behalfe to vse this so that it be with conscience I haue inough And why should they alwayes e Psal 2.3 breake Christs bands asunder and cast away his cords from them Now the Lord of his deere mercy conueyed vnto vs by the blood of of his onely Sonne by his all-working Spirit blesse my simple labour thy fauourable allowance and euery ones Christian vse of it vnto his owne praise in the building of his Church Amen Thine in the Lord R. S. The Table of the Contents THE drift of the Author in this Booke and concerning the instructing and reforming of the Country-mans-houshould in generall and particularly some directions and formes of teaching Children so soone as they can speake and such as hauing spent a great part of their time in ignorance carelesness can repeat some things as the Creed the Lords Prayer c. but yet vnderstand little or nothing thereof and therfore cannot put what they say to any good vse pag. 1. to 59. I The First part Concerning the Law of God contained in the tenne Commandements which are summarily expounded and the vses of the Law in generall briefly set downe pag. 59. to 79. II The second part Concerning the Gospell where the Creed is explaned pag. 79. to 111. III The third part concerning the Meanes of Grace in generall And first of the Word of God and of the Exercises thereof pag. 111. to 115. Secondly of Prayer Where 1 An Exposition of the Lords prayer pag. 115. to 126 2. Two formes of Prayer for the vse of the Country-mans-Household on worke-daies the one for the Morning the other for the Euening pag. 126. to 148. 3. Two formes of Thanksgiuing the one before meat the other after meat pag. 148. to 149. 4. A forme of Prayer for one in priuate for preparation to the Sabbath pag. 150. to 161. 5. Certayne godly Hymnes or Psalms for priuate vse pag. 167. to 174. IIII The fourth part Of the Sacraments of the New Testament p. 174. to 178 1. Of Baptisme pag. 178. to 182. 2. Of the Lords Supper pag. 188. to 194 where of fit and worthy Receiuers c. p. 194. to 206. V The last Part where 1. Of the Practise of the Communion of Saints pag. 206. to 110. 2. Of the Effects of the foure meanes of Grace both in good and bad p. 209 to 211. 3. Of the consideration of Gods works pag. 211 to 212. 4. Of Christs Protecting of his Church pag. 212 to 213. 5. Of Christs Disposing of
c Rom. 4.1 13 16. the father of the faithfull and the Heire of the world and in making him great promises to the same and other purposes and repeating them often vnto him chiefly concerning the Messias who should proceed of d Math. 1.1 2 c. Gal. 3. 4. with Gen. 12.15.17 22. chap. 2 Chron. 20.7 him and of his posteritie according to the flesh concerning himselfe and his seede both by nature faith and by faith I say both of Iew and Gentile temporally and eternally All which God hath performed and will accomplish to the full in Christ the blessed seed And of Abrahams Faith and Thankfulnesse on th' other part His Faith in giuing full trust and credit vnto Gods loue and promises His Thankfulnes in behauing himselfe as the speciall friend of God and of his glory throughout his whole drift and course labouring to promote and maintaine Gods name and seruice vnto the vttermost For Abraham e Gen. 12.1 4 5 c. 17.23 c. 18.19 22.1 2. c 12. 24. Ios 24.14 15. Esai 41.8 Iohn 8. Heb. 11.8 15. Jam. 2.23 approued himselfe to be the worthy and trustie champion propagator and maintainer of Gods glory and honor by his faithfull cleauing vnto God his vprightnesse his carefull shunning of defection impugning of Idolatrie and abhorring of all iniquitie This then was the speciall frendship betwixt God and Abraham which was sealed on both parts f Genes 17. by the Sacrament of Circumcision giuen and receiued as also by other diuine signes amongst which that was not the least that God gaue Abraham g Gen. 21.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. a Sonne in his old age and Abraham h Gen. 22. would haue offered him willingly in sacrifice to the Lord at his commandement Secondly i Philem. v. 17. 1 Sam. 18.3 20.14 15 16 17. speciall inward friends do count ech others friends and enimies common as we see not onely amongst those that are meerly naturall but also with those that haue beene the children of grace Now this we finde also betwixt God and Abraham For the Lord out of his speciall loue made this promise to Abraham and to his true seede after him k Genes 12.3 I will blesse them that blesse thee and curse him that curseth thee and euermore duly kept it both towards him and his wife and towards his children l Gal. 3.7 of which sort are all they which are of faith For God did manifestly reueale what reckoning he made of Abraham and Sarah his wife their friends and enimies first m Genes 12.17 19. by his seuere plaguing of Pharaoh the Aegyptian King his house for taking Sarai into his house though none of them abused her for the Lord preserued her being his Friends wife from their filthinesse And afterwards by his jealous and sharpe n Gen. 20.3 7 17 18. Psal 105.15 rebuking Abimelech King of Gerar for the like cause telling him that He and all His should surely die vnlesse he restored vnto Abraham his wife yea and striking his wife maid-seruants with barrennesse but in conclusion o Gen. 20.13 14 15 16 17 18. after that he had restored vnto Abraham his wife vndefiled and shewed other kindnesses both to him and her the Lord at this his great Friends request healed Abimelechs wife and maid-seruants so that they bare children And as for Abrahams children the Faithfull the holy Scriptures and all experience doe euidently shew the like dealing of God for them Againe Abraham declared his loue to his best Friend the Lord in hating Gods enimies as if they had bin his owne and so in entertaining reuerencing and succouring the friends messengers and seruants of the Lord as his owne or rather aboue his owne all which things we read p Genes 14. in the storie of Abrahams slaying Chedarlaomer and the Kings that were with him who were not onely his owne enimies but also of Melchizedec the Priest of the most High God of Lot and others of Gods Church and consequently of God himselfe q Gen. 24.3 in the storie of his auoyding the mariage of the daughters of Canaan with his sonne Isaac for the Canaanites being out of the Couenant of God were to be reckoned amongst his enimies and r Gen. 14. in the stories of his rescuing Lot paying tithes to Melchizedec Å¿ Genes 18. entertaining the Angels and praying for what righteous persons he supposed were in Sodom Gomorrhe Lastly Great and speciall friends are wont to resort and continue much togither and therein to conferre familiarly of their most weighty and secret matters and occasions And I pray you how many apparitions did the Lord vouchsafe to Abraham How familiarly did the Lord conferre with him at sundry times And how weightie and secret were the occasions which they did communicate th' one to th' other As namely concerning Abraham and his estate his wife and progenie the blessed seed CHRIST IESVS and all others of Abrahams seede the matter of Sodom and Gomorrhe Abrahams prayers and thanksgiuings which vndoubtedly were many and feruent and finally his meditations vpon the will of God to him reuealed which in the secret of his soule he spiritually talked of vnto God For seeing he had that zeale holinesse and loue that he did pray so long and so earnestly for the wicked and filthy Sodomites we may easily iudge how plentifull hee was in his consultations and supplications with the Lord for himselfe and the rest of Gods Church and to conclude what a heauenly fellowship and holy commerce was exercised between them Parent But what vse is there of all this to vs Pastor Very great both for our instruction and comfort For if we be faithfull as Abraham was we ought to be certainly perswaded that the Lord is the same God to vs as he was to Abraham though we haue not the like extraordinarie signes and testimonies The proofes whereof are cheifly two First t Act. 10.34 35. Rom. 2.10 11. 1 Ioh. 1.3 4. 4.15 16 17. Ioh. 17.20 21 22 23 24 25 26. Gods loue is one and the same towards all his people and seruants in Christ Iesus whom he gaue vnto the death aswell for euery one and the least of them as for any one and the greatest of them And secondly the Lord telleth vs in generall that u Rom. 15.4 whatsoeuer things were written aforetime were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might haue hope yea and specifieth this thing expresly saying * Galat. 3.9 they which be of faith are blessed with faithfull Abraham and to put vs out of all doubt he giueth all true beleeuers as friendly and gratious speeches as he did to Abraham both in the Old and New Testaments In the Old thus he vttereth his minde x Zechar. 2.8 he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of my eye In the new thus
y Matth. 18.6 Who so shall offend one of these litle ones which beleeue in me it were better for him that a mill-stone were hanged about his necke and that he were drowned in the depth of the Sea And how honorable are those titles z Tit. 1.1 the elect of God a Reuel 1.6 Kings Priests b 2 Cor. 6.18 Sonnes and Daughters of the Almighty c Heb. 2.11 12. the brethren of Christ d Rom 8.17 fellow heires with Christ c And e Iohn 15.13 14 15. our Sauiour intituleth those for whom hee laid downe his life who doe whatsoeuer he commandeth them and to whom he maketh knowne his Fathers will and those verily are all such as are effectually called with this very name His friends Wherefore this great title ☞ The friend of God f Rō 4.23 24. Psal 105.6 to 16. was not written for Abrahams sake alone but for all the beleeuers sakes also that they being indued with such grace as Abraham was might assure themselues that God is their speciall friend and they his Parent What was the example of Iosua Pastor Iosuah his example is laid forth for our imitation in these words g Iosua 24.15 But as for me and my house we will serue the Lord. For he hauing made most earnest exhortation to the Israelites to feare and serue the Lord in sinceritie and truth he avoucheth that though they should generally fall away from God to Idols yet he and his familie would constantly cleaue vnto the Lord. Which teacheth those Housholders who are inlightned that they ought to reforme themselues and their houses but yet thinke themselues excused or do deferre the worke either because other men and specially their neighbours and friends doe not goe about the same thing or because they are afraid of the Reproch to be counted too forward to acknowledge their errour and to shake off all these and other their wicked shifts and delayes learning and practising with Iosua whatsoeuer other men doe or not doe to promote the seruice of God in themselues and in the people of their houses Parent And what is the example we haue from Dauid Pastor Dauid a King of gteat estate did solemnly protest and vow vnto the Lord h Psal 101.2 3 6 7. that he would walke within his house with a perfect heart that he would set no wicked thing before him that his eyes should be vpon the faithfull of the Land that they might dwell with him that he that walked in a perfect way should serue him that he that wrought deceit should not dwell within his house and that he who told lyes should not tarry in his sight By which his course he giueth a worthy paterne to Housholders though neuer so great of place and worth in the world to labour the practise of godlinesse in their houshold-conuersation and gouernment with vprightnesse sinceritie of heart and to see it likewise practised of all others abandoning the froward and deceitfull so far as possibly they can procure Parent But many of vs that are poore men and simple persons as Husbandmen Labourers c. do perswade our selues that the Examples of Abraham who was a Prophet and great Lord or Noble man of Iosua a great Captaine or rather an Emperor and of Dauid a Prophet and King doe not belong to vs sillie meane men for our imitation Pastor I know it to be true which you say for although the Gospell hath shone very cleare amongst vs and that so long time as I verily thinke that scarcely any Nation hath had the like yet England for the greatest number is not onely simple but rude and for the most part turneth of all holy examples from their vse Howbeit I would these Objectors would consider that the Precept of God in this behalfe is deliuered generally and indefinitely to all without exception of any either great or small noble or vnnoble rich or poore Magistrate or Subiect Landlord or Tenent Minister or Hearer as we may easily perceiue not onely by the words in Deuteronomie aboue recited but also by Psalm 78. vers 1 2 3 4 5 6 c. Giue eare O my people to my Law incline your eares to the words of my mouth I will open my mouth in a parable I will vtter darke sayings of old which we haue heard and knowne and our fathers haue told vs. We will not hide them from their children shewing to the generations to come the praises of the Lord and his strength and his wonderfull workes that he hath done For he established a testimonie in Iacob and appointed a Law in Israel which he commanded our fathers that they should make them knowne to their children That the generation to come might know them euen the children which should be borne who should arise and declare them to their children That they might set their hope in God and not forget the workes of God but keepe his commandements c. and many i Exod. 12.26 27. Ephes 6.4 Deut. 4.0 other places And further that there are examples of godly Housholders recorded for our imitation who haue bin of meaner note for their outward estate in this life as k Gen. 29. 30. chap. Iacob when he was a seruant l Ruth 2.1 2 c. Naomi a poore widow who sent her daughter in law Ruth that was one of Christs grand-mothers according to his manhood to gleane come after the reapers of Boaz thereby to satisfie their present necessities m 2 Tim. 1.5 3.15 Lois the grand-mother and Eunice the mother of Timothie n Act. 18.2 3. Aquila and Priscilla the tent-maker and his wife o Act. 16.31 32 33 34. the laylour at Philippi and diuers others mentioned in the Holy Scriptures Parent But many of our children are so yong and raw that they can learne litle or nothing and though they could learne by heart yet they cannot vnderstand Pastor You are deceiued For if you will dispose your selfe to glorifie the Lord with a godly minde call vpon him for his blessing and vse diligence in teaching your children you shall finde by Gods grace that they shall learne euen so soone as they shall be able to speake and that to begin betime is the surest way to make them vnderstand the soonest and to further those that do vnderstand already And finally that the fruit of it will continue euen in old age as Solomon saith p Prov. 22.6 Traine vp a childe in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it Parent What is ment by training vp Pastor An instructing or Catechising q Esai 28.10 by litle and litle that is easily and familiarly r Deut. 32.2 as it were by some small drops and not a powring in of hard doctrine as by showres where you are directed ſ Mark 4.33 Heb. 5.12 13 2 Tim. 2. 15.24 25. to vse discretion and meekenesse in teaching
these foure Scholler Euery one of them haue seuerall reasons added which in the first commandement goeth before and in the other thrée doe come after Seruant Which is the Reason of the first commandement Scholler I am the Lord thy God which haue brought thée out of the land of Egypt out of the house of bondage Seruant What doth it principally and generally teach Scholler l Deut. 6.4 5 c. Because God is the Lord my God the author of all good gifts and blessings and the only Sauiour and deliuerer of his people that therefore I am bound to serue him with all my hart Parent Which is the first commandement it selfe Child Thou shalt haue no other Gods before me Parent What doth the first commandement injoyne Child m 1 Chron. 28.9 Pro. 3.5 The inward worship of the true God alone which is both to know him and also to feare loue and trust in him and in nothing else Parent Which is the second commandement Child Thou shalt not make vnto thee any grauen Image or any likenesse of any thing that is in heauen aboue or that is in the earth beneath or that is in the water vnder the earth Thou shalt not bow downe thy selfe to them nor serue them Parent What doth the second commandement enjoyne Child n Deut. 12.30 31 32. Math. 15.9 The outward worship of the true God only according to his appointment set downe in the holy Scriptures Seruant Which is the reason of the second commandement Scholler For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God visiting the iniquitie of the fathers vpon the children vnto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me and shewing mercy vnto thousands of them that loue me and kéepe my commandements Seruant What doth it teach Scholler o Psal 44.21 106.36 37. 2 Chron. 19.2 That God being jealous of his owne worship is greatly displeased with all those that do worship him in a false manner as the speciall haters of his name but that he vouchsafed singular mercy to all them that doe maintaine his pure worship accounting them his speciall louers Parents Why doth the Lord speake so particularly both of the transgressors of this commandement as though he had no other Haters but they and also of the followers of his true worship as though he had no other Louers but they seeing it is often and plainely shewed in the Scriptures that all the wicked for their transgressing other commandements as well as this are censured to be his Haters or Enemies and all the righteous hauing respect to other commandements as well as to this are esteemed to be his Friends or Louers Pastor For two causes First the Lord would preuent mans erroneous conceipt concerning this commandement aboue all the rest for man is not only p Exo. 32.7.8 Num. 15.39 Deut. 31.16.29 Esai 2.8 9. Gal. 5.16.17 c. exceedingly prone to Idolatrie Wil-worship and Superstition through the corruption of his nature but also his blinde and deceitfull heart q 2 King 18.22.25 peruersely iudgeth the follower of Gods true worship to be Gods speciall Enemie and r Iud. 17 4 5.10.12 13. Iere. 44.15 16 17 18. confidently beareth himselfe and others in hand that by his false worshipping he doth highly please God Secondly Å¿ Deut. 4.23 24. with Exod. 32.19 Idolatrie is a notable breach of Gods couenant t Ezek. 16. * Hos 1.2 2.1 â—â— 4.5 whence it is that God abhorreth both Idolaters and their Progenie continuing in this sinne as a jealous husband lotheth his whorish wife and her children u Gen. 17.7 1 Cor. 11.2 3. but he embraceth with his loue the true worshippers and their seed keeping couenant with God as the husband doth his chaste wife and her children Parent Which is the third commandement Child Thou shalt not take the name of thy Lord thy God in vaine Parent What doth the third commandement injoyne Child * 1 Tim. 6. â— To auoyde all dishonouring and abusing of Gods name in his titles words and workes Seruant Which is the reason of the third commandement Scholler For the Lord will not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his name in vaine Seruant What doth it teach Scholler x Zach. 5.4 Iâ—m 5.12 That God will certainly punish that person in fearfull manner who dishonoureth his holy name either in word or déede Parent Which is the fourth commandement Childe Remember the Sabbath day to kéepe it holy Sixe daies shalt thou labour and doe all thy worke But the seauenth day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt not doe any worke thou nor thy son nor thy daughter thy man-seruant nor thy maid-seruant nor thy cattell nor thy stranger that is within thy gates Parent What doth the fourth commandement injoyne Child y Gen. 2.2 3. Act. 20.7 c. 1 Cor. 16.1 Nehem. 13.21 Esai 58.13.14 Apoc. 1.10 To separate our selues and our people vpon the Lords day from all other exercises to the seruice and worship of God alone Seruant VVhat is the reason of the fourth commandement Scholler For in sixe dayes the Lord made heauen and earth the sea and all that in them is and rested the seauenth day wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and hallowed it Seruant VVhat doth it teach Scholler z Gen 2.2 3. Exod 16.23 24 25 26 27.29 Because God himselfe hauing made all things in sixe dayes both rested the seauenth from creating any more Esai 56.4.7 58.13 14. with Iohn 20.19.26 and also sanctified the sabbath for the vse of his worship wee are bound to imitate his example in kéeping of the Lords day assuring our selues that it is the way to true blessednesse Parent VVhat doth the second table containe Child a Math. 22.39 40. My dutie to man in the sixe last commandements b Epbs 6.2 whereof the first is with promise Parent Which is the fifth commandemenr being the first of the second table Child Honour thy Father and thy Mother Parent VVhat doth the fifth commandement injoyne Child c 1 Tim. 6.1 1 Pet. 3.7 All speciall duties to man in regard of his and our speciall calling and degree whether Superiors Inferiors or Equalls Parent VVhich is the Promise Child That thy daies may bée long vpon the Land which the Lord thy God giueth thée Parent VVhat doth it teach Child d Iere. 35.19 with 1 King 14.12.13 That if I make conscience of this Commandement my life shall be happie vpon the earth Parent Which is the sixth commandement Child Thou shalt not kill Parent What doth the sixth commandement injoyne Child e Math. 5.22 Ezâ—k 33.8 All duties to man in respect of his person and that both to body and soule Parent Which is the seauenth commandement Child Thou shalt not commit adulterie Parent What doth the seauenth commandement injoyne Child f Math. 5.27 28. 1 Thes 4.4.5 All duties to man in respect of Chastitie
because willingly from God vpon the inticement of the Deuill and inwrapped our selues with vnspeakable guilt slauerie and woe rebelling against the Law of God which is holy iust and good and lying open to Gods curse for euermore t t Iohn 3.16 Rom. 5.12 13 14 c. sent forth for the praise of his glorious grace And in Iesus Christ his onely Sonne our Lord the second Person of the Trinitie euen his onely begotten Sonne to be u u Act. 2.36 our Lord for our Redemption and so to become our Sauiour which is ment by the name * * Matth. 1.21 Iesus and therefore he x x Esai 61.1 2 c. Heb. 1.9 Iohn 3.34 annointed him for the name Christ signifieth Annointed with the Spirit aboue measure that he might be our holy y y Deut. 18.18 c. Prophet to teach vs the way of saluation z z Heb. 10.12 14. our mercifull High Priest to offer himself a sacrifice for vs and our a a Luk. 1.32 33. Psal 72. 1 Cor. 3.21 22 23. powerfull King to worke in our hearts his sauing grace to gouerne vs to protect vs and continually to minister vnto vs all blessings néedfull both for soule and bodie Who was conceiued by the Holy Ghost Borne of the Virgin Marie b b Luk. 1.35 2.6 7. Which Iesus Christ to the end he might be a fit Mediator for vs Rom. 5.15 18 19. 8.2 3. tooke the true nature of man vpon him in all things sinne onely excepted and so was holily conceiued by the extraordinarie operation of the Holy Ghost in the wombe of a Virgin called Marie thereby sanctifying our sinfull conceptions and of her was he borne and brought forth into the world after the common fashion of all men c c Gal. 4.4 5. Heb. 2.16 17. that we might be sure that by the partaking of our nature he hath communicated himselfe and all his goodnes to vs. d d Rom. 5.19 Who in the same our nature led a holy life according to all Gods commandements that it might be imputed vnto vs and e e Esai 53. Luk 22.44 23.1 c. Iohn 18. 19. chapter withal suffred vnspeakable torments both in soule and bodie sufficient to haue purged the sinnes of the whole world though none but the faithfull shall receiue any benefit thereby f f Deut. 21.23 Galat. 3.13 1 Thess 1.10 1 Iohn 3.8 Was crucified Who being made a Curse for vs was bound as a guilty person that we might be loosed out of the spirituall chaine and slauerie of Satan and sinne g g Matth. 27. Coloss 2 13 14. Phil. 1.29 Gal. 6.14 Ps 119. 67 71. 2 Cor. 12.20 1 Thess 1.10 Who was condemned wrongfully by the Iudge Pilate that we which are guilty of innumerable transgressions might be discharged before the Tribunall Seat of Gods fearefull iustice and who thereupon was most shamefully executed as a most hainous Malefactor notwithstanding he was most iust and innocent his hands and féete being fastned with nailes to a Crosse and thereon tormented till he was slaine his side pierced with a speare his blood shed both while he was aliue and dead dead and buried and so being truly dead his bodie was buried All which was to satisfie Gods wrath to wrath to take the curse which otherwise was our due desert because h h Rom. 5.6 8 10. wee were vngodly sinners and Gods enemies to kill and burie all our sins with him i i Ephes 2.16 to reconcile God and vs to slay the enmitie k k Philip. 3.10 2 Cor. 4.17 and to sanctifie and make happy and comfortable all our afflictions and persecutions l l Act. 2.24 27 29 30. Ps 16.10 Math. 12.40 1 Cor. 15.54 55. He descended into Hell Yea he abased himselfe yet further euen to the lowest degrée of humiliation continuing thrée dayes and thrée nights contemptibly in the bands of death that he might vtterly abolish the sting of death that he might vtterly abolish the sting of death and teach vs thorow humiliation for our sinnes m m Act. 2.24 2 Cor. 13.4 Iohn 10.18 Notwithstanding hauing payed the vttermost price for all our sinnes and conquered Satan Rom. 4.25 6.4 5 9 10 11. 1 Pet. 1.3 4 5. 3.21 Reuel 20.5 6. Sinne Hell Damnation the third day he rose againe frō the dead he triumphantly rose againe from death to life vpon the third day both to assure vs that God will count vs righteous that doe beléeue in his name and also to quicken and restore vs to a new and holy life which is the first resurrection n n 1 Cor. 15.4 5 6. Act. 1.2 3 4 c. And so his soule taking his bodie againe and quickning it by his diuine power he continued for a season vpon the earth He ascended into heauen and o o Act. 1.9 11. Mark 16.19 Heb. 9 24. Ephes 4.10 11. Iohn 14 2. 17.24 Col. 3.2 afterwards did thence gloriously ascend into heauen to take possession of it in our name to appeare in the presence of God for vs and to fill all things and specially his Church with his gifts and graces thereby to lead it thither whence by sinne and iniquitie it was banished And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty p p 1 Tim. 3.16 Heb. 7.25 1 Cor. 15.25 27. There he sitteth at the Fathers right hand making intercession for vs by offering to his Father Act. 2.33 36. Psal 110.1 and applying to vs the merit of his passion where he hath all power and authoritie committed vnto him to be the onely Lord and King for the gouernment of all things vnto the saluation of his people and destruction of his enimies q q Act. 3.21 Iohn 17.24 And there he shall remaine as touching his manhood vntill the latter day to the end we might haue assured and constant comfort because our flesh dwelleth there in the person of our Redéemer Frō thence hee shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead r r Act. 17.30 31. 2 Cor. 5.9 10. Math. 25.32 c. Rom. 2.6 At that day he shall returne to pronounce execute iust iudgement vpon all mankinde both the good and bad whether dead afore or found aliue at his comming vnto the praise of his glorious iustice rendring vnto euery one according as their workes shall testifie their faith or vnbeléefe This Iesus Christ then I acknowledge and beléeue to be both my Sauiour my Intercessor and my Iudge vnto whom I earnestly cry ſ ſ Rev. 22.20 Come Lord Iesus come quickly t t Act. 24.16 with 2 Cor. 5.6 8 9 10 11. labouring alwaies to haue a cleare conscience that I may haue boldnes at that day and so I trust that he will pronounce for me and make mée partaker of his glory I beleeue in the Holy Ghost And withall I do u u 1
lusteth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other so that we cannot doe the things that we would we wretched persons do intreat thée p p Rom 7.24 to deliuer vs from the body of this death through Iesus Christ our Lord q q verse 22. that we may not only delight in the law of God after the inward man but also r r Gal 5.16.24 walke in the spirit and crucifie the flesh with the affections lusts And seeing Å¿ Å¿ 1 Iohn 5.19 the whole world lieth in wickednesse t t Ioh. 17.14.15 and hateth vs because we are not of the world wee pray not that thou wouldst take vs out of this world but that thou wouldest kéep vs from euill u u Rom. 12.2 that we may not be conformed vnto the children of this world * * Luke 16.8 who are in their generation wiser then the children of light x x 1 Cor. 1.27 28.29 Thou hast made foolish the wisdome of this world for not many wise not many mighty not many noble are called but thou hast chosen the foolish things the weake the base the despised and things that are not that no flesh should glory in thy presence Oh then giue vs grace O Lord y y Jam. 4.4 not to affect the friendship of this world which is enmity with God nor z z 1 Ioh. 2.15 16.17 to loue the world nor the things that are in the world which passeth away and the lust therof and is not of the father but to doe thy will O God and so to abide for euer And now Lord a a Psal 139.2.3.4 who knowest our downe sitting our vprising who vnderstaÌ„dest our thoughts a farre off who compassest our paths art acquainted with all our waies For there is not a word in our tongues but lo O Lord thou knowst it altogether b b Esai 26.9 stirre vs vp that with our spirits within vs we may séeke thee earely c c 1 Thes 5.6 Suffer vs not to sleepe as others do d d Eph. 5.11.14 1 Cor. 15.34 in the vnfruitful works of darknes but cause vs to arise from the dead to awake to righteousnesse the thy son Christ may giue vs light e e 1 Thes 5.10 who died for vs that whether we wake or sleepe we should liue together with him f f Luk. 2.37 so let vs serue thee night day g g Psal 3.5 4 8. and lye downe in peace and not be afraid and let our sleepe bee sweet Af-Afterwards i i Psal 104.23 let vs awake and goe forth vnto our works to our labors vntill the euening k k Psal 31.15 for our times are in thy hand l l Psal 3 5. 4.8 and thou Lord onely sustainest vs and makest vs dwell in safetie m m Psal 127.2 And because it is vaine for vs to rise vp early and to sit vp late to eate the bread of sorrowes n n Psal 129 8. the blessing of the Lord be vpon vs. If for these earthly things thou Lord dost say o o 2. Sam. 15.26 I haue no pleasure in you behold here are we do thou to vs as seemeth good vnto thée p p 1 Cor. 10.31 And Lord whether wée eat or drinke or whatsoeuer we doe moue our hearts to doe all to thy glory q q Esai 64.5 and so let vs reioyce working righteousnesse and remembring thée in thy waies And for our selues r r Psal 90.12 teach vs to number our daies and because Å¿ Å¿ Iob 4.19 our houses of clay whose foundation is the dust are crushed before the moath t t Deut. 32.29 to consider our latter end u u Eccles 12.13 Make vs mindfull also good Lord that thou shalt bring euery worke into iudgement with euery secret thing whether it be good or whether it be euill and therfore * * Psal 119.37.60 quicken vs we desire thee in thy way that wee may make haste and not delay to kéepe thy commandements with our whole man x x Psal 51.18 Do good in thy pleasure vnto Zion build thou the walls of Ierusalem y y Acts 9.5 Luk 21 19. Grant thy persecuted members may possesse their soules in their patience z z Math. 11.28 29. Giue rest vnto the soules of all that labour and are heauy laden a a Psal 147.4 Heale the broken in heart and binde vp their wounds b b Psal 72.12.13 14. Deliuer the poore and them that haue no helpers redéem their soules from deceit and â—â—olence and precious let their bloud be in thy sight c c Psal 146.7.8 9. Execute iudgement for the oppressed giue food to thy hungry ones loose thy prisoners preserue the strangers reléeue the fatherlesse and widdowes d d Psal 41.3 Strengthen thy mercifull ones vpon their beds of languishing and make their beds in their sicknesse e e Psal 3.8 Let thy blessing be vpon all thy people f f 2 Sam. 15 31 O Lord we pray thée turne the counsel of the vngodly into foolishnes yea and g g Psal 10.5 breake thou the arme of the wicked euill men notwithstanding let h h Psal 141.5 our prayers be in their calamities i i 1 Tim. 2.2 Blesse our noble King and the hopefull Prince and all that are in authority ouer vs that wee may leade a quiet and peaceable life in all godlines honesty k k 2 Thes 3.1 Let thy word haue frée course and be glorified l l Eph. 6.19.20 Giue vtterance vnto thy Ministers in generall particularly to ours that they may open their mouthes boldly and speake as they ought to speake making knowne the mysterie of the gospell m m 2 Cor. 6.4 and in al things approue themselues as the Ministers of God n n Act. 17.11 Grant we may receiue the Word with all readines and search the Scriptures daily whether those things be so o o Psal 67 2 6 7. And let thy way be known vpon earth thy sauing health among all nations and so let the earth yéeld her increase and let God euen our owne God blesse vs let God blesse vs and let all the ends of the earth feare him p p 2 Tim. 2.19 Let euery one of vs that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity q q 1 Sam. 25.6 Peace be to vs and peace be to our house and peace be vnto all that wee haue r r Psal 145.15 Let our eyes wait on thee O Lord and giue thou vs our meat in due season Å¿ Å¿ Psal 108.12 Giue vs help from trouble and t t 1 Cor. 10 13. suffer vs not to be tempted aboue that we are able but with the temptation make a way to escape that
wée may be able to bear it u u Mark 9.24 We belieue Lord help our vnbeliefe * * Esai 26.8 The desire of our soule is thy name and to the remembrance of thee x x Dan. 9.18.19 O our God encline thine eare and heare open thine eyes and behold our desolations and the City which is called by thy name for we doe not present our supplications before thée for our righteousnesses but for thy great mercies y y Eph. 3.20 Now vnto thée that art able to doe excéeding abundantly aboue all that we aske or thinke according to the power that worketh in vs z z Vers 21. vnto thée be glory in the Church by Christ Iesus throughout al ages world without end Amen Parent Thirdly I pray you giue vs two easie and plaine formes of thanksgiuing for our daily vse at euery meale the one before the receiuing of our food and the other after to be vttered by my selfe if I be present or by some other of my house in the name of all that partake of the same meale Pastor I will A forme of Thankesgiuing to be vsed of an ignorant familie before meales MOst gratious God we acknowledge thée to be the author of all good gifts and blessings wée humbly pray thée to forgiue vs all our sinnes Grant vs faith and sobernesse in receiuing these thy good creatures blesse them to our nourishment and stirre vs vp thereupon to serue thy holy maiesty with true thanksgiuing through Iesus Christ thy Sonne and our Sauiour by thy holy spirit Amen After Meales TO thee our most bountifull Father and gracious Lord who hast made redeemed and euer hitherto preserued vs and at this time fedde and refreshed vs with thy good gifts and creatures be all glory and obedience rendred of vs and of all other thy people both now and euermore God saue the Church vniuersall blesse the kings Maiesty continue thy Gospell make thy holy word effectuall in our hearts comfort all thy poore and afflicted seruants and giue vs thy peace and whole truth in Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Parent Fourthly I pray you giue vs some formes of prayer for morning and euening on the Lords day for the whole houshold as you haue done for the worke-dayes Pastor Nay I would rather exhort you to vse your best indeuours to conceiue prayers of your selues according as the spirit of God shall inable you and your estate shall require for on the Sabbath day you haue most time to labour in prayer if you will make conscience to redeeme your time and verily if you would set your selues vnfainedly to the studie heereof by your humble and constant crauing * Zach. 12.10 of the Spirit of Prayer at the Lords hands by a conscionable exercising of your selues in the holy Scriptures of a true purpose and holy desire to wrestle with God * Gen. 32.24 25 c. with Hos 12.3 4. as Iacob did in supplication to his glory the Lord will bestow this ability vpon you Howbeit if you desire any further direction to traine you vp in this duty of prayer you may profitably imploy your selues for some conuenient space on the Lords days in that singular help which the Lord hath prouided for you by the paines of Master Iohn Brinsley in his second part of the True Watch containing The perfect Rule and Summe of Prayer whereunto I referre you for this your fourth request Yet I will giue you a forme of prayer for solitarie vse vpon the Lords day morning I meane for each one by himselfe apart For although it bee a Christians part both to pray solitarilie euery worke day and also to ioyn with the whole familie in priuate prayer on the Lords day and the same more largely and oftner then on other daies yet there seemeth to bee speciall reason and need for euery particular person to call vpon God by himselfe alone for preparation towards the beginning of the Lords day Because I. God must be intreated by al manner praier and means possible to inable vs vnto the duties of this day Reasons for solitary or secret prayer in the entrance of the Lords day II. This solitary praying will occasion and further vs to seeke our neerer reconciliation with God which as at al other times so cheefly on that day we must giue greatest diligence to be sure of III. It is a speciall meane to make vs the more carefull both to bestow the more time and labour vpon Gods seruice and to profit the better thereby on that day IV. Euery one knoweth best his owne particular corruptions and wants in former abuse of the Sabbath whereof hee ought to begge forgiuenesse at Gods hands in secret and to seeke his owne particular healing and comfort V. Lastly consider I pray you how you know that your heart is sincere and earnest in seeking the Lord on his day and what sound comfort you can haue in your selfe against the accusation of hypocrisie or of vaine glory when Satan shall by anie meanes charge you therewith if you be cold in your secret and solitarie prayers on that day and specially if you neglect them thereon altogether Furthermore remember that the Sabbath is the Bond of all Religion for which cause the Lord doth often stile * Esai 56.2 Lam. 1.7 Ezek. 20.11 c. his whole Religion by the name of the Sabbath and that therefore it is your part being a Christian Housholder as to haue a care of your selfe and of all your people for resorting vnto the publike worship of God with firme constancie and there to continue with reuerence from the beginning to the end of the whole so to call your selfe to a secret reckoning with God for your profiting that day and your people all togither before you inquiring of them one by one what they haue gained by ech Sermon and to teach them diligently labouring to haue conscience put vpon them by the Lord and to the same ends imploying your selfe and them more that day than any other in praiers and thanksgiuings singing of Psalmes and vse of the word in publike and priuate and * Psal 93. 107. throughout but specially v. 42 43. in a wise and holy obseruation and application of the workes of God For whosoeuer you be vnlesse you make conscience of all these things how can you expect Gods blessing vpon any publike exercise though neuer so holy in it selfe which you shall haue to doe withall on that day Therefore if you iudge this forme following fit for your estate vse it ech one seuerally by himselfe during your present ignorance and weaknesse A Forme of Prayer for the Sabbath day morning or the euening before to be vsed of a weake Christian by himselfe alone tending to his better preparation for the duties of the Sabbath A forme of solitarie prayer for the beginning of the Lords day a a Psal 21.1 VNto thée O Lord doe I lift vp my soule and
Conference with good men and chéefely with the Minister Seruant May notorious offenders that are impenitent fooles madde men and children be admitted to the Lords Supper Scholler ſ 1 Cor. 11.28 Exod. 12.15 18 19 20 43. Numb 9.6 No for they either cannot or doe not examine themselues aright before they come and therefore are not rightly prepared II. Dispositiō in the action Parent What disposition is required in the whole action of celebrating the Lords Supper Childe First t Num. 9.3 5. 1 Cor. 11.24 25. a diligent obseruing of al the holy signes and actions together with a wise vnderstanding of their right vses and applying them accordingly by each particular person vnto himselfe for his owne spirituall profit Secondly u 1 Cor. 11.20 c. and 14.40 The reason of due preparation and disposition such decent behauiour and gesture of the body as are agréeable vnto euery holy action Parent Why must wee thus prepare and behaue our selues Child * 1 Cor. 11.20 c. to the end of the chapter Because otherwise wée shall receiue vnworthily Parent What danger is it to receiue vnworthily Child Very great x Ibid. and 1. Sam. 4.3 4 10. 5.6 7 9 11 12. for then wée are guilty of the body and bloud of the Lord and so doe eat and drinke our own damnation or temporary iudgement at the least because we discerne not the Lords body Seruant How is the vnworthy Receiuer guilty of the Body and Bloud of the Lord Scholler y 1 Sam. 2.29 30. Because the indignation or reproach which hee offereth to this holy Sacrament redoundeth to the things thereby signified and set forth to wit to the body and bloud of Christ as the disgrace done to the Kings picture Broad Seale or Ambassador turneth to the disgrace of the King himselfe Seruant What indignity or reproch is that Scholler z Psal 50.21 Rom. 2.24 In that the vnworthy Receiuer himselfe estéemeth and giueth cause for others also to thinke that Christ is the Sauiour of euill men or otherwise to blaspheme Seruant How is it said that the vnworthy Receiuer discerneth not the Lords body Scholler a 1 Cor. 11.20 c. to the end Exo. 12.11 14 15 16 17 c. Because he commeth to receiue the Sacrament with no other preparation nor deuotion then as if it were but common bread and wine III. Of duties afterward Parent What dueties are required after we haue receiued the Lords Supper Child First b Psal 26.7 to blesse God heartily for our redemption Secondly c Nehem. 8.10 1 Cor. 16.2 to giue to the poore as God hath prospered vs. Thirdly d Deut. 10.16 to labour to féele in our selues the strength and comfort of this Sacrament Parent What shall a true Receiuer feel in himselfe after the partaking of the Lords Supper Childe e 1 Cor. 10.16 17. 11.24 Acts 16.33.34 The increase of his faith and sanctification in Christ and so a greater measure of cōfort in Christs merits and a greater care power to dye vnto sinne and to walke in newnesse of life Parent What if one after the receiuing of the Sacrament neuer find any such thing in himselfe Child f Act. 8.13 14 c. 10 24. John 12.4 5 6. 13.21 26 27 c. and 18 2 3 c. He may well suspect himselfe whether hee did euer repent or not thereupon is to vse meanes to come to sound faith and repentance ☞ THE FIFTH AND LAST PART Concerning the Practise of the Communion of Saints The fourth outward meane of Grace Parent WHat is the Practise of the Communion of Saints Childe g Heb. 10 24.25 1 Thes 5.11 12. Act. 2.42.44 Such holy fellowship as the faithfull doe exercise among themselues according to the word of God Seruant What faithfull doe you meane Scholler h Psalm 16.3 Gal. 4.15 Act. 18.3 26. Iames 2. All and euery one of the godly whether teacher or learner gouernor or gouerned great or small Seruant When is this followship exercised Scholler i Ioh. 20.19 26 Acts. 20.6 7 c. Psal 101.6 122. Acts. 18.3 Not onely in the publike vse of Gods worship as vpon the Sabbath daies but also in priuate as much as may be throughout their daily conuersation Seruant And how and after what manner exercised Scholler k 1 Tim. 4.6 2 Tim. 3.16 1 Thes 4.18 Iam. 5 1◠Rom. 12.15 Gal. 6.1 Luk 22.31 1 Sam. 15.24 c. 1 Cor. 5. 2 Cor. 2. By teaching admonishing remembring exhorting comforting reproouing confessing praying and giuing thankes each with other and for other mutuall reioycing and mourning conferring aduising considering to stirre vp reléeuing correcting accompanying and otherwise as is taught in the holy Scriptures Seruant But what saith the Word concerning fellowship with the wicked Scholler l 1 Sam. 25.14 17 18 19 25. c. Psal 120.5 101.6 7. 1 Cor. 5.11 Luke 5.30 31 32. 2 Cor. 6.14 15 16 17 18 c. If your calling estate will permit we must carefully auoid all speciall fellowship with them vnlesse it be to heale them and chiefely those that are hardned in their sinnes and doe contemne admonition Seruant What reasons bee there why a Christian must make speciall conscience of his company in his dailie conuersation Scholler First m Mal. 3.16 2 Cor. 6.17 18. God noteth it in his book of remembrance as being specially delighted with it how they that feare the Lord speake often one to another Secondly n Pro. 1.10 13.20 1 King 11.1 2 3 4 5. Psalm 106.34 35 36. Companie whether it good or ill will intise men to be like vnto themselues and the euent is commonly answerable that Euerie man is like his companions So hée that maketh little conscience of his company vsually maketh little of sin Thirdly o Psal 1 33.1 2 3. 1 Thes 5.11 not only the benefit that we receiue yea and yéeld to other the faithfull by keeping brotherly fellowship with them Euen Iudas absteined frō much euill in his Maisters fellowes company Eccles 4.9 10 11.12 1 Pet. 4.9 10 11 is vndoubted and oftentimes very great in ministring of grace as sauing knowledge wisedome loue zeale comfort cheerefulnesse and such like at least restraint from the outward committing of sin and that euen in the hypocrites but also we inable one another thereby against the enmiful courses of the wicked on the one side and for the performance of many actuall dueties on the other and all to the glory of God Fourthly p Gen. 19.8 42 16. Psalm 119.115 though wee be not grossely corrupted and peruerted by them nor yet apparantly defiled with their pitch yet our nigh and speciall fellowship with them will eyther diminish our zeale to goodnesse and our hatred of euill and so q Reuel 3.15 16 c. luke warmenesse which is an estate very odious in the sight of God will creepe