his advantage since even thus it is not invocated by but on them and thence would fain perswade his Readers that Jacob here exhorts his Sons to pray to him when dead and to their forefathers Though I can hardly think this Author himself was so perswaded but offerred as much violence to his conscience as to the Text when he alledged it as a proof of that to which it hath not the least reference being spoke onely of his taking Ephraim and Manasseh into the number of his Sons according to ver 5. of that Chap. and so they were afterwards reckoned with the rest as Heads of their respective Tribes Is it any wonder by the way if this sort of men have such a low esteem of Scripture when they can have no more service from it at their greatest needs Upon this occasion it was that before the Exposition of the Lords Prayer I have in an Answer or two shewn to whom it is we ought to direct our prayers viz. to God onely through Jesus Christ of which I have there I hope given sufficient evidence So plain and justifiable is the doctrine and practice of our Church in this and all other matters of moment in controversie betwixt us and the Church of Rome they themselves not daring to disapprove of what we doe whilst we justly reject and sufficiently disprove their additions to Christianity wherewith they have loaded and corrupted it Throughout the explication of the Creed there being seldome any need under the other Heads I have been careful to annex Scripture-Proofs to all those points which might in the least seem to need them and were capable of that way of Proof In the end I have added two Forms of prayer useful for families that have no better helps two also for the younger sort together with two graces to be used before and after meat In the drawing up of which I have been so careful that I hope there lies no considerable objection against the matter of them And then as for those who think a Form it self unlawful I shall not stand to concern my self with their objections or censure May but these weak endeavours conduce any thing to the promoting of the knowledge and practice of that Doctrine which is according to Godliness that is of our Christian Religion all whose doctrines and Precepts are every way sitted to make men godly here and blessed hereafter I shall then have my end and let God have the praise AN EXPLICATION OF THE CREED Q. SInce by your Baptism you have taken upon you the profession of Christianity what is required of you to make good this profession A. I must believe all that God by Jesus Christ hath revealed and do all that he hath commanded Q. What brief Summary have you of the Christian Faith A. The Creed commonly called the Apostles Q. Rehearse the Articles of your Creed A. I believe in God the Father Almighty maker of heaven and earth and in Jesus Christ his onely Son our Lord who was conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried he descended into hell the third day he rose again from the dead he ascended into heaven sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty from thence he shall come to judg the quick and the dead I believe in the Holy-Ghost the holy Catholick Church the communion of Saints the Forgiveness of Sins the Resurrection of the Body and the life everlasting Amen Q. What mean you by saying you believe in God c A. I believe there is one first and most glorious Being without beginning or end the Maker of all things who is infinite in wisdom power goodness and all perfections Q. What reason have you to believe there is such a Being since you cannot see him A. Because I see those things which can come from no other cause Q. What be those A. This great world and all the Creatures in it which arè made and governed in so wonderful a manner Q. How was the world made A. Out of nothing by the word of God in the space of six days Q. Are there more Gods than one A. No there is but one Q. Why do you call God Father A. Principally as he is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ in a peculiar and unspeakable manner Q. Have you any other reason A. Yes as also he is the Father of Spirits both Angels and men and especially of those who love and serve him as dear children Q. What mean you by saying God is Almighty A. I thereby mean that God hath power to do all things that contradict not his wisdome and goodness and hath right and authority to dispose of all things as he pleaseth Q. How is Iesus Christ the Son of God A. As he was begotten by the Father before all worlds in a manner peculiar to himself alone and by us not to be declared or understood Q. What do you apprehend of Christ by this eternal generation A. That he is true God one with the Father being the Second person of the blessed Trinity Q. But is he not man as well as God A. Yes he is both God and man in one person the humane nature being united to his Divine person Q. How did the Son of God become man A. He was conceived by the Holy Ghost in the womb of the Virgin Mary and in this respect also he is styled the Son of God Q. Wherefore was this wonderful conception A. One reason was that he might be pure from all sin wherewith the nature of others is polluted Q. Why should so glorious a person stoop solow as to become man A. That he might be fit to obtain Redemption and salvation for mankind Q. What is signified by his names Jesus and Christ A. Iesus signifies Saviour and Christ Anointed to let us understand that he is anointed or set apart to be our Saviour and Redeemer Q. How came man to stand in need of a Redeemer A. By reason of that sinful and miserable estate into which he fell Q. How came sin and misery first into the world A. By the disobedience of our first Parents Adam and Eve Q. In what estate were they created A. In an holy and happy estate Q. What was the particular Sin by which they fell A. Their eating of the fruit of a certain tree in the Garden of Eden of which God had commanded them not to eat called the Tree of knowledge of good and evil Q. What mischief did this their sin and fall bring upon us A. By one mans disobedience many were made sinners and the Fountain being unclean so are the streams Q. And what is our danger by reason of this our sinful condition A. We are liable to the wrath of God and to whatever miseries it shall please him to inflict either here or for ever hereafter Q.
And does that sign agree to that Sect who absurdly call themselvos Romane Catholicks A. Less than to any other Sect whatever for they are bound by the definitions of Popes Councils which if they contradict they cannot be Papists to judge all men damn'd that are not of their Sect thereby condemning many millions of Christians far better than themselves which horrid uncharitableness is enough to keep wise men from amongst them Q. Are the Churches which be reformed from Popish innovations parts of the Catholick Church of Christ A. Yes and the best and soundest parts thereof agreeing in all matters of substance with the Church of Christ in all ages and nations of the world Q. How prove you that A. In that these reformed Churches as particularly our Church of England do profess to hold nothing as necessary to salvation which is not contained in the holy Scriptures which same Scriptures are received and believ'd by all other Christian Churches who do thereby approve of all that we hold as necessary Q. But why did these reformed Churches at first depart from Communion with the Church of Rome A. Because the Romish Church imposed such new fangled doctrines and practises as were plainly contrary to the word of God and therefore it was in those things to be departed from by all those who would conform themselves to the ancient Church as it was settled by Christ and his Apostles Q. What mean you by Communion of Saints A. That Communion which Saints have with God and Christ their Head by partaking of his Holy Spirit and with one another in their mutual likeness and love and in their assembling together for the worship of God Q. What mean you by saying you believe the Forgiveness of Sins A. I hereby profess to believe that they who repent of their sins trust in and obey the Lord Jesus shall for his sake find God so gracious to them as to free them from that condemnation and punishment to which their sins made them liable Q. What mean you by Resurrection of the Body A. I hereby profess to believe that at the last day God will raise up all that were dead and change those that are then alive and that they shall appear before the Judgment-Seat of Christ. Q. What mean you by Life everlasting A. I do hereby profess my belief of a future state after this life wherein the Righteous shall enjoy everlasting happiness and the wicked shall be sentenced into everlasting torments Q. But does it not seem very harsh to think that God should punish any the worst of sinners with everlasting torments A. No not when we consider what graciou terms were proposed to them for their obtaining of glory and escaping of this misery and how they themselves did wilfully refuse the offers of grace when they knew this misery would follow upon that refusal Q. What then is safest for us all to do in this case A. So to believe and fear these terrible threatnings of Christ as to take the only sure way to escape them by obeying his commands rather than to quarrel with them or presume they will prove false So much for the Articles of your Belief HAve you also a brief Summary of the whole duty of man in reference to is practice A. Yes the ten commandments Q. Rehearse the first A. I am the Lord thy God which brought the out of the land of AEgypt out of the house of bondage Thou shalt have no other Gods before me Q. What learn you from the first commandment and the Preface set before it A. I hence learn that we are bound to acknowledge that God who is our Maker Owner and the giver of all our mercies to be the only true and living God and to behave our selves toward him accordingly Q. How doth it beseem us creatures to behave our selves toward this our God A. We are bound to love him with our highest love to put our whole confidence in him to reverence admire and rejoyce in him to pray to him and praise him to obey all his commands without grudging and to submit to all his providences without murmuring or repining Q. Which is the second Commandment A. Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven Image or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above or that is in the earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth thou shalt not bow down thy self to them nor serve them for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God visiting the iniquity of the Fathers upon the Children unto the third and fourth Generation of them that hate me and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments Q. What are we taught in the second Commandment A. The second Commandment teacheth us to worship God according to his own appointment and to take special heed that we make not any image or picture of him nor give religious worship to an Image upon any pretence whatsoever Q. What reason do you find given for the engaging our obedience to this Command A. The reason here given is that God is a jealous God who therefore will not suffer himself to be dishonoured by mens making and worshipping any thing as an Image of him but will severely punish such idolaters and their posterity whilst the true lovers and worshippers of him shall be plenteously rewarded even to many generations Q. What other reason do you find given in the repetition of the Law Deut. 4. 12 15 16. c. A. We there find this farther added that when God spake to the children of Israel they only heard a voice but saw no similitude or bodily shape and therefore it is unreasonable to make any image or resemblance of him Q. How ought we then to conceive of God when we worship him A. We ought not to conceive of him under any bodily shape but as a spiritual Being infinitely wise and powerful holy just and good who fills both heaven and earth with his presence and in his essence is unsearchable Q. What is the third commandment A. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain Q. What are we taught in the third Commandment A. The third Commandment enjoyns us to have so great reverence for God as not to take his name in vain Q. Who are they that take Gods name in vain A. Chiefly they who dare swear falsly by the name of God and they also who in their passion or ordinary discourse break forth into swearing Q. What Rule hath Christ given for our ordinary communication that we may avoid swearing A. That we should barely affirm or deny a thing using yes or no or the like expressions without oaths or imprecations Q. Is it enough to justifie these common oaths that some men will not as is pretended believe others except
What then did Christ intend in becoming the Redeemer of mankind A. To deliver men from under the guilt and power of sin and to save them from misery and restore them to the love and favour of God Q. How did he bring to pass this great work A. Becoming man he lived a most holy and afflicted life by his doctrine and example shewing to men their duty and died a shameful painful death upon the Cross that he might purchase for us pardon of sin with grace to heal our natures and sit us for glory Q. By whom was Christ put to death A. Through the malice and procurement of the Iews he was condemned to be crucified by Pontius Pilate a Roman Governour the Iews being then in subjection to the Romans Q. But why did God spare man who had sinned and lay such sufferings on his innocent and beloved Son A. Because by this means he discovered his infinite mercy to mankind and yet in a way that gave great honour to his justice an atonement being made for sin and a ransome paid that the sinner might be redeemed Q. How is it for the honour of God not to pardon sin without an Atonement A. When God had made a law and threatned misery to the transgressours if he had given no testimony of his displeasure upon the transgression of it the world would have been apt to call his wisdome and holiness in question to slight his authority and be more bold to sin against him Q. How then do the sufferings of Christ vindicate the holiness and justice of God A. In that they do fully discover the horrid evil of sin and the holiness and justice of God in his hatred of it who would grant no pardon without the death of so glorious a person Q. What is the proper effect of this Consideration A. To make men sensible of their danger and humbled for their sins and thereupon to hate and forsake them Q. How doth the death of Christ engage us to Repentance and Obedience A. The infinite love of God and the Redeemer herein revealed is apt to make men love so good a God and to be careful to please him Q. What farther motive doth it afford hereto A. The consideration of what Christ himself suffered for our sakes only may assure us that dreadful vengeance will fall upon all those who reject this Saviour and must in their own persons suffer for their sins which consideration may well work upon all that love themselves to forsake their sins Q. For whom did Christ die A. Christ died for all men that they might be saved upon condition of their believing in him and so he is Lord of all as having bought them with his blood and hath full power of ruling judging and disposing of them Q. But who shall be actually saved by Christ A. Only they who upon hearing the Gospel perform the condition therein required of Believing in him Q. What plainly is meant by this Believing in Christ which is of so great necessity to our salvation A. Hereby is meant that we must so effectually believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and Saviour of the world as to become heartily willing to be saved by him in the way appointed in his Gospel Q. What way hath he appointed in the Gospel for our obtaining of salvation A. That we should unfeignedly repent us of all our sins obey his commands imitate his example and for his sake alone hope for mercy and salvation from the free grace of God Q. Is it not enough then for our salvation to believe that our sins shall be pardoned and to rely upon Christ for this pardon A. No for unless we forsake our sins all our confidence and reliance upon Christ is but sond presumption since he is the Author of eternal salvation onely to those that obey him Q. What then are Obedience and Holiness as necessary as Faith A. Yes they are absolutely necessary since without holiness we shall never see God nor can we be put into a state of justification but by that faith which if life be continued will certainly produce obedience Q. When may a man be said to be in a state of justification A. When he is so far brought into the favour of God that according to the rule and tenour of the Gospel if he should die in that estate he should not be condemn'd for his sins Q. And is there any thing beside a reliance on Christs merits necessary to put us at first into this state of justification A. Yes there is also required of us Repentance for sin with a sincere resolution to lead an holy life which is as necessarily included in a right reliance on Christ as a resolution to follow the directions of a Physician is included in our relying on him for our recovery Q. Are we then to account obedience the meritorious cause of our justification A. No by no means nor Faith neither for that is to be ascrib'd purely to the sufferings of Christ only our dependance upon him and resolution to obey him both which do ever follow upon a true faith are required as the condition of this our justification Q. What more is required of us to continue us in this state and that we may be justified and saved at the day of judgment A. Even the actual performance of these resolutions in living an holy life and persevering therein to the end is the necessary condition of our continuance in Gods favour and of our compleat justification and salvation at the last day Q. What mean you by that Phrase that Christ descended into Hell A. I thereby understand his remaining under the power of death his soul being all this while in an invisible state as the souls of dead men are Q. How long did he thus remain under the power of death A. Till the third day on which he rose again from the dead Q. How long did he remain on earth after his Resurrection A. Fourty days only to give assurance of his Resurrection and to instruct his Disciples after which he ascended into the highest heavens Q. What mean you by his sitting at the right hand of God A. His being exal ed as Mediatour to divine dominion and glory all things being delivered into his hands by the Father Q. When will he fully manifest and declare his power A. When at the last day he shall come in power and glory to judge the world Q. Who are the quick and the dead A. All that shall then be found alive and all that had been dead before Q. For what are they to be judg'd A. For all actions done in the body whether good or bad open or secret Q. For what end must there be this future judgment A. That God the righteous governour of the world may be glorified in his condemning and punishing the wicked in his
they swear A. No this is but a vain excuse since sober and good men are easily believed on their bare word and common swearers are seldome thought to make conscience even of what they swear Q. Is it not enough to justifie these oaths that what is sworn is truth A. No for an oath must be taken only when we are lawfully called thereto in some weighty case which cannot otherwise be well determined Q. Who else may be said to take the name of God in vain A. They who are careless and irreverent in the worship of God and they who upon every light occasion cry out oh God or oh Lord when they have no sense nor thought of that glorious Majesty whose sacred name they rashly mention Q. What reason is urged to keep us from this sin A. The consideration of that vengeance which sooner or later God will certainly execute upon those who are guilty of this profaneness and contempt of his Majesty Q. What is the fourth Commandment A. Remember the Sabboth day to keep it holy six days shalt thou labour and do all thy work but the seventh day is the Sabboth of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt not do any work thou nor thy Son nor thy daughter thy man-servant nor thy maid-servant nor thy cattel nor the stranger that is within thy gates for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth the Sea and all that in them is and rested the seventh day wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabboth day and hallowed it Q. What are you taught in the fourth Commandment A. The fourth Commandment teacheth us that it is our duty to set apart one day in seven for the solemn worship and service of God Q. What reason is here mentioned for the enforcing this Command A. Gods allowance of six days in the week for our worldly employments and his own example in resting on the seventh when he had made the world in six days before Q. Which day in the seven did the Jews keep their Sabboth A. They kept the seventh day which we now call Saturday Q. Why do we Christians keep the first day of the week A. In remembrance of our redemption wrought by the Lord Jesus especially of his Resurrection which was upon the first day of the week Q. What warrant have we for so doing A. The example of the Apostles and primitive Christians recorded in Scripture where this day is styled the Lords day the practice of the Church of God in all ages since as also the custom of our own Church and the commands of our Rulers both in Church and State Q. How ought we to spend the Lords day A. In the worship and Service of God both publick and private especially in meditating on and praising him for his works of Creation and Redemption Q. Are there no works lawful on this day A. Yes works of necessity and mercy whether to man or beast but we ought to abstain from such employments and recreations as either prevent the duties of this day or else hinder our due profiting by them Q. What is to be done in private that we may best profit by the publick service of this day A. We ought by prayer and serious consideration to prepare our selves before-hand for the publick worship of God and when we come home to meditate on what we have heard and Masters of Families ought to pray with and instruct those that are under their charge Q. Who are they then that do not remember this day to keep it holy but profane it A. They who without any necessity take journeys or follow their employments on this day or else spend the same in idleness and pleasure neglecting the service of God in publick or in their Family accounting it a burden to spend a day in works of Piety and devotion Thus much of the Commandments of the first Table which enjoyn the duties we owe more immediately to God Now follow those of the second Table which respect our duty to man What is the fifth Commandment A. Honour thy Father and thy Mother that thy days may be long upon the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee Q. What are we taught in the fifth Commandment A. The fifth Commandment teacheth us to honour our Parents obeying all their lawful commands succouring and maintaining them if they stand in need of our help Q. Are there none beside our natural Parents to whom we owe obedience A. Yes we are also bound to reverence and obey all those who by their place and power may well be called our Parents to wit the civil Magistrate and our Spiritual Pastours and Teachers Servants must be subject to their Masters shewing all diligence and faithfulness and we must give due honour and respect to all those who are in any regard our Superiours Q. What promise is made to those who keep this Commandment A. A promise of long life and prosperity so far as God shall see it for their good Q. What reason may be given why this promise was made peculiarly to the keeping of this Command A. Because obedience and Subjection both in families and kingdomes ordinarily produce that peace and quietness which tends very much to our happiness even in this world Q. What is the sixth Commandment A. Thou shalt not kill Q. What is forbidden in this Commandment A. The murdering of our selves or any other person Q. Is it sufficient if we abstain only from murder A. No but we moreover ought to abstain from all rash anger inward malice and revenge from railing and provoking language from quarrelling and fighting Q. But what if others shall injure us in word or deed may we not return the like to them A. No but we must bless them who curse us do good to them that hate us forgive and love our very enemies that so we may overcome evil with good Q. Is there then no way of seeking our own right when we are injured and abused A. Yes by just and lawful means we may seek our right but without any malice or revenge in our hearts Q. Is there any case wherein the taking away of a mans life may be allowed A. Yes in execution of publick justice upon malefactours in a lawful war or when we are constrained to it in the just defence of our own lives Q. Who may be said to break this Command by taking away their own lives A. Not only they who lay violent hands on themselves but all those who by immoderate eating and drinking or any such wicked and wilful course destroy their health and so shorten their days Q. What is the seventh Commandment A. Thou shalt not commit adultery Q. What is forbidden in the seventh Commandment A. The seventh Commandment forbiddeth adultery and fornication with all the occasions and beginnings of these sins Q. From what particularly ought we to abstain in obedience to this Commandment A. We ought carefully to abstain
from all immodest looks unchast thoughts and discourses from wanton songs books and pictures from lascivious dalliance light carriage and attire from idleness and intemperance the usual occasions of farther wickedness Q. What is the eighth Commandment A. Thou shalt not steal Q. What is forbidden in the eighth Commandment A. The eighth Commandment forbiddeth our doing any thing unjustly to the lessening of our neighbours estate whether by stealing from him or by cozenage and cheating in our bargains by wilful neglect to pay our debts or by oppression and extortion Q. Is this all that is required of us not to rob others of their wealth A. No But we must moreover be ready to lend or give to those that need according to our ability Q. What especially is to be done by us that we may avoid the breach of this Commandment A. We ought diligently to follow our several honest callings and employments and to live in such a sober and thrifty manner suitable to our estates and conditions that we may be able to pay our debts and relieve the poor and so shall not be put upon stealing gaming cheating or any wicked course for our livelihood Q. What is the ninth Commandment A. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour Q. What are we especially enjoyned in this ninth Commandment A. That when in any case we are called to be witnesses we speak nothing but the truth Q. What farther ought we to abstain from A. We ought to abstain from raising receiving or spreading false reports of our neighbour and from doing any thing to lessen his just esteem from rash and uncharitable censures from tale-bearing and tatling of other mens matters and from all lying in our communication one with another Q. What is the tenth Commandment A. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours house thou shalt not covet thy neighbours wife nor his man servant nor his maid-servant nor his ox nor his asse nor any thing that is thy neighbours Q. What are we enjoyned in this Commandment A. The tenth Commandment enjoyneth us to be so thoroughly well content with our own condition that we should not envy or repine at any thing our neighbour enjoys nor covetously desire it from him Q. What are those general rules in the Gospel which include the whole of our duty to one another A. That we should love our neighbour as our selves and deal with all others as we our selves desire to be dealt with were we in their case Q. Give me some particular instances of this last Rule A. Masters ought to deal with their Servants as they themselves were they servants would in reason desire to be dealt with we must not give that ill language to others nor raise or entertain such stories of them as we our selves cannot bear when we are so us'd The Seller must deal as honestly and justly as he desires to be dealt with when he comes to buy c. Q. Can you by your own power perform these duties required of you A. No but we need the assistance of Gods grace which we are to seek for by prayer Q. To whom ought our prayers to be made A. To God only in the name of Iesus Christ. Q. May we not then pray to Angels and Saints A. No for we have no warrant for it from Scripture which in so weighty a matter of religion is necessary but very much against it Q. Name to me some one Text of Scripture where we are commanded to worship God only A. Mat. 4. 10. Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve Q. Where are we expresly forbidden the worship of Angels A. In Rev. 22. 9. when St. Iohn being about to worship the Angel he said to him see thou do it not for I am thy sellow-servant worship God Q. But may we not pray to Saints and Angels as our Mediatours that they would pray to God for us as when we put up a petition to the King we make use of some Courtier to present it for us A No for there is no likeness in the case God himself being most gracious and always near to us and moreover it tends to the great dishonour of the Lord Jesus who is our only Mediatour by whom we are to offer up our prayers to God Q. Name me some one Text to prove that Christ is our onely Mediatour A. 1 Tim. 2. 5. There is one God and one Mediatour betwixt God and Men the Man Christ Iesus Q. What farther reason can you alledge against praying to Saints and Angels A. It is in vain to pray to them because we have no reason to believe that they can hear the prayers that are made to them from several parts of the world it being proper to God only to be in all places at once Q. Is it lawful before hand to know the words we intend to use in prayer that is to use a form of our own or others making A. Yes it is lawful since it is no where forbidden in Scripture and the directions there given concerning prayer may be practised either with or without a form Q. But we are taught in Scripture to pray with or in the Script and does not that forbid the use of a Form A. No not at all since we may pray with the Spirit even then when we use a Form Q. When therefore may a man be said to pray with the Spirit A. When in his prayers he is hearty and serious his soul being filled with those holy desire and affections which are wrought in him by the Spirit of God Q. Is there in the Gospel any Form given us for our direction in prayer A. Yes that which Christ taught his Disciples and therefore called the Lords prayer Q. Let me hear you repeat it A. Our Father which art in heaven Hallowed be thy name Thy kingdom come Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us and Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is the Kingdom the power and the glory for ever and ever Amen Q. Into what parts may this prayer fitly be divided A. The Preface six petitions and the Conclusion Q. What learn you from the Preface Our Father which art in heaven A. That in all our addresses to God we ought to come before him with humility and reverence and yet with a firm confidence in his fatherly mercy and goodness Q. What do you pray for in the first Petition Hallowed be thy name A. That God may be known honoured and worshiped aright both by us and the whole world Q. What do you pray for in the second Petition Thy kingdom come A. That God may rule in the hearts and lives of men by his Spirit and laws that the Church may be enlarged by the conversion of
Oh cleanse thou us from all secret sins and let not presumptuous sins have dominion over us But let thy holy Spirit ever rule in our hearts and so guide us in all our thoughts words and actions that we may ever render a sincere and chearful obedience to all thy commands Fill us with such a sense of thine infinite goodness that we may love thee our God with all our heart and soul. And help us to shew this our love to thee by our unfeigned love to thy people and to all men And make us still careful to deal with others so justly and charitably as we our selves desire to be dealt with Keep us ever depending upon thy grace for strength and assistance without which we can do nothing Oh do not thou leave us to our selves for then we perish Forsake us not oh God at any time through our whole lives nor suffer us to depart from thee but keep us ever stedfast and unwearied in well doing Wean our hearts from this world and all the comforts thereof make us always sensible that we are hasting away hence into eternity and prepare us for that time when we must e're long be called away thither Help us now to live in such frequent serious thoughts of death that it may not be terrible nor hurtful when it comes Now make us wise to set our affections on things above and to lay up for our selves a treasure in the heavens that when all things here below shall fail we may then be received into those everlasting habitations which thou hast provided for them that love thee With us shew mercy to the whole world Let the Gospel of thy Son run and be glorified throughout all the earth make it known to heathens and Infidels and let it be obeyed by all that are called Christians Let all Popish darkness ignorance and Idolatry with all other errours and heresies be driven away by the light and truth of thy pure Gospel and let the coming of Christ in glory be hastned Be merciful to these nations wherein we live and grant we may be so humbled and reformed that we may be pardoned and spared Be gracious to our dread Soveraign and all his Royal Relations enrich them with the graces of thy holy Spirit and make all our Magistrates faithful and zealous in punishing and suppressing wickedness and in promoting vertue and godliness Let thy blessing be upon the faithful Preachers of thy Gospel encrease daily their number and let their labours be blest and succeeded Let all our differences be so compos'd that we may live in peace and love and with one heart and one mouth may glorifie thee our God Bless our Friends and Relations and make them thy faithful servants Visit in mercy all the children of affliction whatever their particular necessities and burthens are whether of soul or body do thou seasonably and suitably comfort and relieve them And now oh God since through thy good providence thou hast brought us to the beginning of another day afford us we beseech thee thy gracious presence throughout the same Let thy blessing be upon us in our lawful Callings and endeavours Preserve us and all ours if it be thy will from all bodily dangers especially we beg that we may be kept from sin the worst of evils Where-ever we are or whatever we are doing keep us sensible of thy eye that is ever upon us that in all companies and employments we may approve our selves to thee in well doing and make us ever watchful against all sin and the temptations that lead to it As we now have prayed to thee in the Morning so let us remain in thy fear and service all the day long And do thou so guide us this day and all our days here on earth by thy counsel that we may at last be received to thy Glory And all we humbly beg for the Lord Jesus our dear Saviours sake with whose words we conclude these our imperfect prayers saying as he himself hath taught us Our Father which art c. EVENING PRAYER for a Family OH Eternal and ever-blessed God thou art the maker and Lord of all things who dost uphold the world by thy power and govern it with infinite wisdome and justice and we are the workmanship of thy hands who depend upon thy providence and in thee live move and have our beings From thy bounty we are daly supplied with mercies for our bodies and through thy patience it is we have yet leave to wait on thee and to seek from thee grace and glory for our immortal souls Oh what are we vile sinners that thou shouldst have such regard to us and so earnestly invite us to thy service who deserve not so much as to live on thy earth or once to appear in thy presence And 't is onely through thy forbearance of us that we have not long since met with the just wages of our sins in those eternal torments from which there is no recovery For we confess our selves to be by nature children of wrath even as others being stained with that foul Leprosy and pollution of sin which was derived from our first Parents But so little sense have we had of the evil and danger of this our estate that we have even taken the direct course to make our selves more miserable by adding daily our own actual sins to this corruption of our natures Oh how justly may we blush and be confounded in our selves when we look back upon our carriage in the world from our childhood and youth up even until now How much of this our time have we spent in sin and vanity but how little in thy service In every place and condition of life that we have been we may easily remember the many sins we have been guilty of but how little have we made it our business to obey thy laws and honour thy name either by doing good to others or getting good to our own souls We had soon learnt in words to acknowledge that we were made to serve thee our God but in works we have denyed and disobeyed thee We have been very forgetful of thee and of thy authority over us and have lived as if we owed thee no service as if we thought thou hadst no regard to our actions now nor wouldst ever call us to a reckoning for them hereafter Though in our infancy we were baptized into thy name and thereby bound to serve thee all our days in newness of life yet we have often broke this Covenant which we then entred into Instead of performing our vows to renounce this world and its pomps and vanities with the flesh and the lusts thereof we have been most eager lovers and followers of the world and have made provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof Oh how often hath the temptation of some worldly profit or carnal sensual pleasure drawn us to cross thy will and wound our own consciences and to endanger the damning
not be given up to idleness gaming nor the excessive love of any sports or pleasures nor may venture amongst such wicked companions as would entice me to ungodly courses neither let their jeers and scorns ever make me ashamed of a strict and holy life Make me ever careful to hearken to the reproofs and instructions of godly friends and to keep my self employed in honest and lawful labours or in the duties of religion And whilst I shall continue in this dangerous world be thou oh God my upholder and my guide I desire heartily to give up my self to thee to be disposed of as seems good in thy sight begging only that in every condition through my whole life I may be kept faithful to thee and diligent in thy service that so at length I may be brought safe through all difficulties and dangers into that everlasting rest which remains for thy people Be merciful to the whole world fill the same with the knowledge of thy Gospel and let the coming of Christ in glory be hastned Be gracious to these nations to our King with all his royal Relations and all Magistrates under him Bless the Ministers of thy holy word with all thy people and my kindred and friends Shew mercy to all them that are in affliction and let thy blessing be upon this Family to which I belong I praise thy name for the mercies of this last night and beg thy presence with me this day that I may not do any thing which is displeasing to thee but may ever so live in thy fear that I may be sure of thy favour both here and to all eternity And all I humbly beg for thy dear Son Jesus sake who hath taught us to pray saying Our Father which art in heaven Hallowed c. EVENING PRAYER MOst great and glorious Lord God Thou dwellest in the highest heavens and yet thou regardest the meanest of thy creatures here on this earth and art ever ready to shew mercy to such as do humbly and earnestly seek to thee for the same Wherefore I do now most humbly beseech thee to take pity on me a weak and worthless creature and to deal with me not after my deserts but according to the multitude of thy tender compassions I cannot alas plead any deserts of my own for though I am thy creature yet am I a vile sinner one that deserves not the least of all thy mercies I was born into this world with a sinful and corrupt nature which is prone to wickedness and very backward and listless to any thing that is good And I have already shewn forth the sinfulness of my nature in those sins which I have committed against thee Though my years have been but few yet my sins have been many and very grievous Of that little time which I have lived in the world I have wasted much in folly and idleness in sports and pleasures seldom thinking what I was sent into the world for or how I might do to make my self happy for ever I have indeed been often taught that I was made on purpose to serve thee oh God in obeying thy commandments that so I might live with thee for ever in heaven yet have I grievously neglected thy service and have not made it my business to get acquainted with thy holy laws and those plain commands which I have known I have often wilfully broken Little delight have I had in praying to thee in reading or hearing thy holy word but have greatly neglected these duties and have oft spent the Lords day in idleness and playing Yea with shame I must confess I have taken pleasure in reading any foolish book rather than in the holy Bible And though I could well enough remember idle stories vain and wanton songs yet have I soon forgotten thy blessed word after I have read or heard the same Many times have I been disobedient to my Parents and to those who have had rule over me and when I have committed faults I have been presently ready to tell lies for the excusing my self though I knew I did ill therein Very easily have I been drawn into ill company and to joyn with them in doing evil and though I have seen many of my companions as young as I die before me yet have I seldome thought with my self how I should do to get fitted for death or what would become of me after death in another world Now oh Lord I beseech thee to open my eyes and soften my heart and work in me a true sorrow and repentance for these and all other the sins which I have at any time committed against thee that so I may find mercy and forgiveness from thee Have mercy upon me oh thou God of mercy and for the Lord Jesus sake be at peace with me Let his precious blood wash me from all my sins and procure thy favour that I may escape those eternal torments which I have most justly deserved Through the Lord Jesus do thou become my gracious loving Father owning me as thy dutiful child And help me to shew that I am so by living in a careful obedience to all thy holy laws Oh that the time past of my life may suffice to have spent so vainly and carelesly Lord make me for the time to come diligent and careful in serving thee and in working out my own salvation Make me so wise for my own good that I may put off the amending of my ways and leading a godly life till hereafter Let me not think it too soon to set about that work for which all my life was given me and is all little enough Justly then maist thou shorten my days if I should wilfully defer my repentance and reformation Yea justly maist thou refuse to accept of me in old age if now I spend my youth and the best of my days in serving the Devil and satisfying my own lusts Wherefore oh Lord I beseech thee now betimes to encline my heart to thy fear and service that when I am old I may never depart from thee Make me always sensible of the shortness and uncertainty of my life that numbring my days I may apply my heart to wisdome and through my whole life may make this my great study and care to get an everlasting happiness in the world to come Oh never suffer me good God to become so foolish as for any pleasures of sin to part with the hopes of eternal glory and to sell my soul into the hands of Satan to be tormented with him for ever But do thou oh Lord strengthen me by thy grace against all his temptations and against the allurements of the world and the flesh that they may not prevail over me Help me to flee all youthful lusts and to follow after sobriety chastity and all manner of purity virtue and godliness When-ever I am ready to run into sin oh then fill my mind with the thoughts of that Hell to which sin leads and let the hopes of
heaven make me ever chearful and constant in thy service Let thy word be my chief study and delight and thy people my constant companions and let thy holy Spirit ever guide and assist me in the ways of Holiness till at length I shall be advanced to that happiness which shall never end Be merciful to the whole world fill the same with the knowledge of thy Gospel and let the coming of Christ in glory be hastned Be gracious to these nations to our King and all his Royal Relations and to all Magistrates under him Bless the Ministers of thy holy word with all thy people and my kindred and friends Shew mercy to all them that are in affliction and let thy blessing be upon this family to which I belong I praise thy name for the mercies of this day and humbly beg pardon for the sins I have herein been guilty of whether in thought word or deed Take me into thy care I beseech thee this night and preserve both soul and body from evil and so refresh me with quiet rest and sleep that I may be better fitted for thy service in the following day And all I humbly beg of thy divine Majesty for the Lord Christ Jesus sake who hath taught us to pray saying Our Father c. Grace before Meat GIve thy blessing oh God we beseech thee to thy good creatures now provided for us that by a sober and moderate use of them our bodies may be strengthned and fitted for thy service for Jesus Christs sake Amen Grace after Meat WE bless thee oh God for the refreshments at this time afforded to us and for all other the comforts we enjoy whether for soul or body Help us we pray thee to shew our thankfulness for thy mercies by living to thy praise in a sincere obedience to all thy commandments for Jesus Christs sake Amen FINIS Psal. 90. 2. Rev. 4. 11. 1 Tim. 1. 17 Psal. 62. 11. 1 Ioh. 4. 8. Ioh. 11. 7. Rom. 1. 20. Gen. 1. Deut. 6. 4. Gal. 3. 20. Mat. 28. 19. Ioh. 5. 23. Col. 1. 3. Heb. 12. 9. Act. 17. 29. 2 Cor. 6. 18. Eph. 5. 1. Ier. 32. 17. 19. Iob 9. 12. 1 Sam. 3. 18. Ioh. 1. 1 2. 14. Col. 1. 15 16 17. Isa. 53. 8. 1 Ioh. 5. 7. 20. Ioh. 10. 30. Isa. 9. 6. Rom. 9. 5. 1 Tim. 3. 16. Phil. 2. 6 7. Ioh. 3. 13. Luk. 1. 35. Heb. 7. 26. Heb. 2. 14 15 16 17. Rom. 5 6 7 8. 1 Ioh. 3. 5. 8. Rom 5. 12. Gen. 1. 26. 27 31. Gen. 3. Rom. 3. 23. Rom. 5. 17 18 19. Iob. 14. 4. Psal. 51. 5. Rom. 5. 15 16. 2 Cor. 5. 14. Eph. 2. 1 2 3. Mat. 1. 21. Act. 3. 26. Col. 1. 21. 22. Luk. 9. 58. Ioh. 8. 46. 1 Pet. 2. 21 22 23 24. 1 Pet. 3. 18. Rom. 5. 1 2. Heb. 9. 14. Mark 15. 15. Mat. 22. 20. 21. Ioh. 3. 16. 1 Ioh. 4. 10. Rom. 3. 25 26. Mat. 20. 28. Rom. 5. 11. 1 Cor. 6. 20. Rom. 3. 25. Heb. 9. 22 23. 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. 2 Cor. 5. 15. Rom. 2. 4. 1 Ioh. 4. 19. Luk. 23. 31. Heb. 10. 29. 1 Tim. 2. 6. 1 Tim. 4. 10. Heb. 2. 9. 1 Ioh. 2. 2. 2 Pet. 2. 1. Rom. 14. 7 8 9. 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. Ioh. 3. Mar. 1â— 16. Ioh. 1. 12. Ioh. 7. 37 38. Ioh. 20. 31. Act. 2. 38. Mat. 16. 24. Ioh. 14 15. 1 Ioh. 2. 2. 3 4. 5 6. Rom. 3. 24 25. 1 Ioh. 1. 6 7. Mat. 7. 21. Heb. 5. 9. Heb. 12. 14. Gal. 5 6. Act. 15. 9. Act. 26. 18. Rom. 5. 1. Act. 3. 19. 2 Cor. 8. 5. 1 Pet. 1 2. Heb. 1. 4. Heb. 9. 12. Eph. 2. 8 9 10. Iam. 2. 14. 17 18 19 20. c. Col. 1. 23. Mat. 24. 13. Mat. 25. 34 35. c. 2 Ioh. 9. Rev. 22. 14. Act. 2. 24. 26 27. 31. â—uk 24. â—6 1 Cor. 15. 4. Act. 13. 9. Mat. 28. 18. Heb. 1. 3. Phil. 2. 9. 10 11. Mat. 24. 30. 2 Tim. 4. 1. Eccles. 12. 14. Rom. 2. 16. 2 Cor. 5. 10. 2 Thess. 1. 5 6 7 8. 9. 10. Iude 15. Ioh. 15. 26. 1 Cor. 2. 10 11. 2 Cor. 13 14 1 Ioh. 5. 7. 2 Thess. 2. 13. Tit. 3. 5. 2 Pet. 1. 21. Ioh. 16. 13. Rom. 8. 13. Gal. 5. 22. Mat. 28 20. 2 Tim. 3. 15 16 17. Rev. 22. 18 19. Mat. 15. 9. 1 Cor. 2. 12. 1 Cor. 6. 11. Rom. 5. 5. 1 Cor. 12. 3. Act. 16. 14. 1 Thess. 2 13. Ioh. 17. 17. Ier. 31. 33. Ioh. 3. 8. Ioh. 3. 5. Rom. 8 9. 1 Thess. 5. 23 24. 2 Thess. 2. 16 17. Eph. 6. 10. Rom. 8. 26. Eph. 2. 8 9. 10. Phil. 2. 13. Hos. 13. 9. Isa. 5. 4. Ioh. 3. 19. Ioh. 5. 40. Act. 7. 51. Mat. 13. 12. Phil. 2. 12. Prov. 14. 20. 21. 1 Tim. 4. 13. 15. Ioh. 5 39. 1 Cor. 13. 5. Eph. 6. 18. Luk. 11. 13. Iam. 1. 5. Eph. 4. 4. 15. Col. 1. 18. 1 Cor. 12. 12. Isa. 49. 23. Rom. 13. 1. Act. 20. 28. Heb. 13. 17. Eph. 2. 20. 21. Eph. 5. 26 27. 1 Thess. 4. 7. Rom. 6. 4. 1 Pet. 1. 15. Mat. 28. 19. Eph. 4. 4 5. Act. 8. 37. Rom. 10. 9 10. Rom. 2. 29. Ioh. 15. 5. 8. 14. Rom. 2. 10 11. Col. 3. 11. 1 Cor. 1. 13. 1 Cor. 1. 12. The Cephas here named was St. Peter see Ioh. 1. 42. who therefore could not be Head of the whole church much less the Popes his pretended Successours Mar. 16 16. Act. 10. 34 35. Gal. 6. 15. 16. Rom. 14. 17 18. Ioh. 13. 35. Rom. 14. 3 4. Rom. 16 17 18. 1 Ioh. 1. 3. 1 Cor. 12 13. Act. 2. 4. 2. Heb. 10. 25. 1 Ioh. 1. 7. 9. Eph. 4. 32. 1 Thess. 1. 10. 1 Cor. 15. 51. 1 Thess. 4. 14. 15 16. Ioh. 5. 28 29. 2 Tim. 1. 10. Mat. 25. 26. Rom. 2. 6 7 8 9 10. Deut. 30. 15. c. Ioh. 3. 16 17. Prov. 8. 36. Ioh. 5. 40. Act. 13. 46. Mar. 9. 43 44. c. Ezek. 18. 29 30. Ier. 5. 12 13 14. Exod. 20. 1 2 3. c. Mark 12. 30. 1 Tim. 6. 17. Heb. 12. 28. Psal. 86. 9. Phil. 4. 4. 6. Deut. 28. 14 15. Psal. 119. 127 128. 1 Cor. 10. 10. 1 Pet. 5 6. Isa. 40. 18. Ioh. 4. 24. 1 Tim. 1. 17. Psal. 116. 5. Ier. 23 23 24. Iob 11. 7. Lev. 19. 12. Prov. 30. 9. Mat. 5. 33 34 35 36. Mat. 5. 37. Iam. 5. 12. Heb. 6. 16. Mar. 16. 9. Ioh. 20. 19. 26. Act. 2. 1. 1 Cor. 16. 2. Rev. 1. 10. 1 Cor. 11. 16. Heb. 13. 17. Luk. 13. 15 16. Mark 7. 10 11 12 13. Rom. 13. 1. Heb. 13. 17. Col. 3. 22. Rom. 13. 7. Mat. 5. 5. Mat. 5. 22. Eph. 4. 31. Gal. 5 20. Col. 3. 12. 13. 1 Pet. 3. 9. Mat. 5. 44. Rom. 12. 19 20 21. 1 Cor. 6 4 5. Rom. 13. 4. Mat. 5. 28. Eph. 5. 4. 1. Tim. 2. 9. Rom. 13. 13. 1 Cor. 6. 8 9 10. Rom. 13. 8. Iam. 5. 4. Mat. 5. 42. Gal. 6 10. Eph. 4. 28. Tit. 3. 14. 2 Thess. 3. 10. 11 12. Rom. 1. 29 30. Tit. 3. 2. Iam. 4. 11. Mat. 7. 1. Lev. 19. 16. 1 Tim. 5. 13. Col. 3. 9. Heb. 13. 5. Gal. 5. 21. 26. Iam. 5. 9. Rom. 13. â— Mat. 7. 12. 2 Cor. 3. 5. Iam. 1. 5. Psal. 65. 2. Col. 3. 17. Col. 2. 18. Psal. 34. 15. Ier. 23. 23. Iob. 14. 21. Isa. 63. 16. Ier. 23 24. Iude 20. Eph. 6. 18. Mat 6. 9. c. Mat. 6. 14 15. Mat. 18. 32 33 34 35.