more than rudely describe it It is the general inclination and tendency of the whole man of all his heart and soul and strength of all his powers and affections and of the utmost strength of them all to God as his chief and onely and perfect and infinite Good Q. Is this love of God taught in the Catechism A. The Catechism having in the entrance of it presented to our choice the happiness of a Christian does throughout all the remaining parts of it instruct us in the duties of a Christian by which that happiness is to be attain'd which are all sum'd up in the love of God which is here most methodically taught Q. In what method does the Catechism teach the love of God A. In a method so excellent and natural that if by God's help I can but faithfully observe it I shall not fail of the love of God Q. Explain this method to me A. It teaches me how the love of God is produc'd how practis'd and how preserved Q. Shew me more distinctly in what parts of the Catechism each of these particulars is coucht A. If I seriously desire the love God I must first expell all contrary loves out of my heart and then consider the motives and causes that excite it the former is taught in the Vow of Baptism the latter in the Creed When divine love is once produc'd my next care is to put it in practice and that is by bringing forth the fruits or effects of Love which are all contain'd in the Ten Commandments When the love of God is produc'd in my heart and is set on work my last concern is to preserve and ensure and quicken it It is preserv'd by Prayer the pattern of which is the Lord's Prayer It is ensured to us by the Sacraments which are the Pledges of Love and more particularly it is quickned by the Holy Eucharist which is the feast of Love So that the plain order of the Catechism teaches me the rise the progress and the perfection of Divine love which God of his great mercy give me grace to follow Q. I beseech God to give you the grace you pray for that you may prosecute this method with your heart as well as with your words A. It is the full purpose of my Soul so to doe and I trust in God I shall doe it Q. You are to begin with the vow you made at your Baptism Tell me What did your Godfathers and Godmothers then for you A. They did promise and vow three things in my name First That I should renounce the Devil and all his works the pomps and vanities of this wicked World and all the sinfull lusts of the flesh Secondly That I should believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith And thirdly That I should keep God's holy Will and Commandments and walk in the same all the days of my life Q. Dost thou not think thou art bound to believe and to doe as they have promised for thee A. Yes verily and by God's help so I will and I heartily thank our Heavenly Father that he hath call'd me to this state of Salvation through Iesus Christ our Saviour And I pray unto God to give me his grace that I may continue in the same unto my lives end Q. The promises of faith and obedience which you made in your baptism will be mention'd in their proper places when you come to the Creed and to the Decalogue that which now lies before you is to shew how your Abrenunciation is preparatory to the love of God A. As all particular graces are but the love of God varied by different instances and relations so all particular sins are nothing but concupiscence or the love of one Creature or other in competition with or opposition to the love of God Now all the Creatures on which we set our love are reducible to these three the Devil the World and the Flesh and my heart must be emptied of these impure Loves before it is capable of entertaining the pure love of God Q. If you are conscious to your self that you have entertained these impure Loves and have violated your baptismal Vow and have in your heart renounc'd God instead of renouncing his Enemies what must you doe to recover that favour of God you have lost and to be deliver'd from the wrath to come A. I must throughly repent of all the breaches of my vow and I must seriously renew it Q. Express your repentance for breaking it A. I express it thus O Lord God with shame and sorrow and confusion of Face I confess and acknowledge thy infinite mercy and goodness to me my infinite vileness and ingratitude to thee Thou Lord infinitely good and gratious wast pleas'd out of thy own free mercy first to love me to excite me to love again glory be to thee Thou Lord didst vouchsafe of a miserable Sinner to make me a Member of my Saviour thy own Child and an Heir of Heaven glory be to thee I infinitely wicked and unworthy have despis'd and rejected and forfeited all the inestimable Blessings to which I was intitled by my Baptism Lord have mercy upon me Woe is me wretch that I am I have cut my self off by my sins from being a true Member of Christ's Mystical Body and from all the gratious influences I might have deriv'd from my union to him Lord have mercy upon me Woe is me wretch that I am I have by my numerous provocations lost that holy Spirit of Adoption whereby I might become thy Child O God and call thee Father and am become a Child of wrath Lord have mercy upon me Woe is me wretch that I am I have by my own willfull impiety disclaimed my being an Inheritour of the Kingdom of Heaven and am become an Heir to the Kingdom of Darkness Lord have mercy upon me Woe is me I have easily yielded to the temptations of Satan and have wrought the works of my Father the Devil Lord have mercy upon me Woe is me I have greedily coveted and pursued the pomps and vanity of this wicked World Lord have mercy upon me Woe is me I have often indulg'd the sinfull lusts of the Flesh Lord have mercy upon me Woe is me I have lov'd all things which thou Lord hatest and am my self become odious in thy sight Lord have mercy upon me Woe is me I have neither believ'd in thee O my God nor obey'd thee nor lov'd thee as I ought and as I solemnly vow'd I would Lord have mercy upon me O Lord God most gratious and reconcileable Pitty and pardon me I lament O Lord God my detestable impiety for having so long and so often and so obstinately offended thee In the bitterness of my Soul O Father of mercy I bewail and abhor my unworthiness and the hardness of my heart that has despis'd the riches of thy goodness and forbearance and long-suffering which should have lead me to repentance O Lord God whatever thou
take Heavenly delight in thy Gracious Presence that with Praise and Thansgiving with Jubilation and Triumph I may receive thee into my Heart there I will have Love only Love always Love to entertain thee Lord when I present my self and my Love as all the Gift I have to offer at thy Altar next to my Love to thee and for the sake of thy infinite Love to me which I there remember give me Grace to love my Neighbour and to be in Charity wiâ—h all men and to walk in Love as thou hast loved us and hast given thy self for us an Offering and a Sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour for which all Love all Glory be to thee O most Reconcileable Jesu in this Memorial of thy Sufferings I see how thou didst forgive me and didst love me when I was thy Enemy O for thy dearest Love to me give me Love to forgive all my Enemies and to be at peace with the world as I desire to be Loved and Forgiven and to be at peace with thee All that have any way injured me O my God I freely forgive for thy sake O do thou also forgive them incline them to Brotherly Charity and let them at last feel the comfort of that Reconciliation thou didst make upon the Cross for which I will ever Adore and Love thee O my God if I have wronged or injured my Neigbour O give me Grace to beg his pardon and as I have opportunity to make him satisfaction and restitution according to my power O crucified Love whenever I see thee in any of thy poor Members Hungry or Naked or in Distress O let the Remembrance of thy Love in Dying for me engage me to contribute all I can to thy relief O may I ever be liberal in my Alms to thee who wert so liberal of thy inestimable Blood for me It is very adviseable that persons before they Communicate should read over the whole Communion-Office or at least the exhortations there which they will find to contain very proper and plain and excellent Instructions It were much to be wish'd that people would make more use of their Common Prayer Books than they do and apply the Prayers they meet with there to their own particular conditions for the Book is always at hand and the Prayers are most safe and familiar and devout and the more they affect us in our Closet the more they will affect us in the Congregation and well meaning souls will reap great spiritual advantage from this practice For example an humble poor Christian who it may be has no other Book but his Common Prayer Book and who intends to come to the Holy Communion may learn to turn the Communion-Office to his own private use after this manner Almighty God unto whom all hearts be open all desires known and from whom no secrets are hid cleanse the thoughts of my heart by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit that I may perfectly love thee and worthily magnifie thy Holy Name through Christ our Lord. Amen I give most humble and hearty thanks to thee O God the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost for the Redemption of the World by the Death and Passion of our Saviour Christ both God and man who did humble himself even to the death upon the Cross for us miserable sinners who lay in darkness and the shadow of death that he might make us the Children of God and exalt us to everlasting Life Glory be to thee O Jesus our master and only Saviour who to the end that we should always remember thy exceeding great Love in thus dying for us and the innumerable benefits which by thy precious Blood-sheding thou hast obtained to us hast Instituted and Ordained Holy Mysteries as Pledges of thy Love and for a continual remembrance of thy Death to our great endless Comfort To thee therefore O blessed Saviour with the Father and the Holy Ghost I will give as I am most bounden continual thanks I submit my self wholly to thy Holy Will and Pleasure and will study to serve thee in true Holiness and Righteousness all the days of my Life Almighty God Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Maker of all things Judg of all men I acknowledg and bewail my manifold sins c. I lift up my heart unto thee O Lord I give thanks unto thee O Lord our God it is meet and right so to do it is very meet right and my bounden duty that I should at all times and in all places give thanks unto thee O Lord Holy Father Almighty everlasting God But chiefly am I bound to praise thee for giving thy only Son Jesus to dye for my Sins and to rise a-again for my Justification Therefore with Angels and Archangels and with all the Company of Heaven I laud and magnifie c. I do not presume to come to thy Table O merciful Lord trusting in my own righteousness c. Glory be to God on high and on earth Peace good will towards men I praise thee c. To these as you see occasion you may add many very good Prayers short and plain and pertinent to your purpose which you may collect out of the Common Prayer and which will much further your Devotion such as these O Lord who never â—ailest to help and govern them whom thou doest bring up in thy stedfast Fear and Love keep me I beseech thee under the protection of thy good Providence and make me to have a perpetual Fear and Love of thy Holy Name through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen O God who hast prepared for them that love thee such good things as pass Mans understanding pour into my heart such Love toward thee that I loving thee above all things may obtain thy promises which exceed all that I can desire through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen Lord of all power and migâ—t who art the Author and Giver of all gooâ— things graft in my Heart the Love of thy Name encrease in me true Religion nourish me with all goodness and of thy great mercy keep me in the same through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen O Lord who hast taught me that all my doings without Charity are nothing worth send thy Holy Ghost and pour into my Heart that most excellent gift of Charity the very bond of Peace and of all Vertues without which whosoever liveth is counted dead before thee Grant this for thy only Son Jesus Christs sake Amen Almighty God who hast given thy only Son to be unto us both a Sacrifice for Sin and also an example of Godly life give me grace that I may always most thankfully receive that his inestimable Benefit and also daily endeavour my self to follow the blessed steps of his most holy Life through the same Jesus Christ our Lord Amen They that are ignorant or that cannot read should go to their Parish Priest or to some
and the wants of all faithful People which I 〈◊〉 up in the words of thy own beloved Son Our Father which art in Heaven c. After the like manner you may pray at night Evening Prayer Glory be to thee O Lord for my preservation and for all the Blessings of the day past for which all love all praise be to thee Father forgive me all the sins I have this day committed either in thought or word or deed either against thee or against my neighbor for the sake of Iesus my Saviour Amen Amen It grieves me O merciful God that I should daily offend thee But I repent O pitty and pardon me for the sake of Iesus thy Beloved Amen Amen O my God keep and protect and bless me this night and preserve me from sin and danger for the sake of Iesus Amen Amen Lord refresh me this night with seasonable sleep that I may rise the next morning more fit and able to serve thee in my Calling for the sake of Iesus thy Beloved Amen Amen I believe in God the Father c. All love all glory be to thee our God the Father who c. as in the Morning I desire thee O Lord God O Heavenly Father who art the Giver of all goodness to send thy Grace unto me and to my Wife and Children to my Husband and Children Father and Mother Brethren and Sisters Kindred and Friends Master and Mistris you must name these Relations according as you stand related and to all people that we may worship thee serve thee and obey thee as we ought to do And I pray unto thee that thou would'st send us all things that be needful both for our souls and bodies and that thou wilt be merciful unto us and forgive us our sins and that it will please thee to save and defend us in all dangers ghostly and bodily and that thou wilt keep us from all sin and wickedness and from our ghostly enemy and from everlasting death And this I trust thou wilt do of thy meecy and goodness through our Lord Iesus Christ. Amen Lord so be it Lord hear me help me pardon my failings supply all my wants and the wants of all for whom I pray which I sum up in the words of thy own beloved Son Our Father which art in Heaven c. As you are going to bed say I will lay me down in peace and take my rest for it is thou Lord only that makest me dwell in safety Psal. 4.9 As you began the day so end it with glorifying God and when you are in bed say Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost three Persons and one God blessed for evermore All praise all love be to thee I earnestly beg of God to make you sensible your selves and to give you grace to make your Children and Servants sensible also how Necessary and Happy and Heavenly a Duty Prayer is and how many exceeding great precious Promises God has made to those that devoutly pray to him and if you are thus sensible you will not content your selves with Morning and Evening Prayer onely but you will be desirous if you have Opportunity to retire about Mid-day for a few Minutes that you may imitate the Devotion of Holy David and of Daniel and pray three times a day Dan. 6.10 and that you may not want a help for Noon tide Prayer the Catechism shall supply you Prayer at Noon At evening and at morning and at noon-day will I pray and that instantly Lord hear my voice Psal. 55.19 Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be world without end Amen All love all glory be to thee O God the Father who hast first loved us and hast given thy beloved Son to die for our Sins and to rise again for our Iustification Have mercy upon me O God after thy great goodness according to the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences Wash me throughly from my wickedness and cleanse me from my sin Make me a clean heart O God and renew a right Spirit within me for the sake of Iesus thy Beloved Amen O Lord God who seest I am not able of my self to walk in thy Commandments and to serve thee be pleased to help and strengthen me by thy special Grace that I may daily and sincerely perform my duty towards thee and my duty towards my neighbor for the sake of Iesus my Saviour Amen O my God give me grace to believe in thee and to love thee with all my heart with all my mind with all my soul and with all my strength to worship thee to give thee thanks to put my whole trust in thee to call upon thee to honor thy holy Name and thy Word and to serve thee truly all the days of my life for the sake of Iesus thy Beloved Amen O my God give me grace to love my neighbor as my self to do to all men as I would they should do to me to love honor and succor my Father and Mother this clause must be left out if your Father and Mother be dead to honor and obey the King and all that are put in Authority under him to submit my self to all my Governors Teachers Spiritual Pastors and Masters to order my sâ—â—f lowly and reverently to all my betters to hurt no body by word or deed to be true and just in all my dealing to bear no malice nor hatred in my heart to keep my hands from picking and stealing and my tongue from evil speaking lying and slandering to keep my body in temperance soberness and chastity not to covet or desire other mens goods but to learn and labor truly to get mine own living and to do my duty in that state of life unto which it has pleased thee to call me for the sake of Iesus thy Beloved Amen Lord hear me help me pardon my failings supply all my wants which I sum up in the words of thy Beloved Son Our Father which art in Heaven c. Instead of these two last Prayers you may sometimes say the Ten Commandments which you may turn into a very good Prayer by saying after every one Lord have mercy upon me and incline my heart to keep this Law Where you not onely beg pardon for the sins you have committed against each Commandment but you also beg Grace to keep it At the end of them you may say Lord have mercy upon me and write all these thy Laws in my heart I beseech thee And so conclude with the Lords Prayer Do not think that this Practice of Prayer will be too hard or too long for young persons or for labouring people for if you cannot say them all say as much as you can or if you are at Day Labour or have not time or convenience to say them offer up to God two or three hearty Ejaculations in their place But
XII And the life everlasting Amen Q. What dost thou chiefly learn in these Articles of thy belief A. First I learn to believe in God the Father who hath made me and all the world Secondly in God the Son who hath redeemed me and all mankind Thirdly In God the Holy Ghost who sanctifieth me and all the Elect people of God Q. What is the method of the Creed A. The Creed teaches me to believe in God and to believe his Church Q. How in God A. It teaches me to believe in God with respect to his Unity and then to the Trinity of Persons in that Unity Father Son and holy Ghost Q. How does it teach you to believe the Church A. It teaches me to believe the Church with regard to its two different states either Militant below or Triumphant above Q. How are the Articles of the Creed Motives of Love A. Every Article includes a Blessing as well as a Mystery and is as proper to excite our Love as to engage our Faith Q. Give me such a Paraphrase on the Creed that throughout the whole your Faith may work by Love A. I shall doe it to the best of my power in such Instructive and Pathetical Aspirations as follow I Believe My Lord and my God with a full free and firm assent I believe all the Articles of my Creed because thou hast revealed them I know thou art infallible Truth and canst not thou art infinite Love and wilt not deceive me Glory be to thee With all my heart O my God do I love and praise thee who art so infinitely amiable in thy self and so full of love to us that all I can know or believe of thee excites me to love thee Lord daily increase my Faith make it active and fruitfull that I may believe and love thee as entirely as becomes one entirely devoted to thee In God I believe O my God that thou art One and that there is no other God besides thee thou art that One infinite and independent Being that One onely true God whom all Men and all Angels are to Adore All glory be to thee O Lord God help me to love and to praise thee with God-like affections and a sutable Devotion I believe O my God that in the Unity of thy Godhead there is a Trinity of Persons I believe in thee O Father Son and Holy Ghost in whose Name I was baptized to whose Service I am religiously devoted All glory be to thee I believe I admire I love I praise I adore thee O most blessed and glorious Trinity God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost for being the joint Authours of our Salvation All glory be to thee O sacred and dreadfull and mysterious Trinity though I cannot conceive thee yet let me daily experiment thy goodness Let thy Grace O Lord Iesus let thy Love O God the Father let thy Communications O Holy Spirit be ever with me The Father I believe and love and praise thee O my God the first Person in the most Adorable Trinity the Fountain of the Godhead the Eternal Father of thy coeternal Son Jesus my Saviour Glory be to thee O God the Father for so loving the world as to give thy onely begotten Son to redeem us Glory be to thee O Heavenly Father for first loving us and giving the dearest thing thou hadst for us O help me to love again and to think nothing too dear for thee Almighty I believe O my God that thou art a Spirit most pure and holy and infinite in all perfections in Power and Knowledge and Goodness that thou art Eternal Immutable and Omnipresent all love all glory be to thee I believe O Lord that thou art most wise and just most happy and glorious and all-sufficient most gratious and mercifull and tender and benign and liberal and beneficent all love all glory be to thee I believe thy Divine Nature O my God to be in all respects amiable to be Amiableness it self to be Love it self and therefore I love I admire I praise and fear and adore thee Thou Lord art my Hope my Trust my Life my Joy my Glory my God my All my Love Maker of Heaven and Earth I believe that thou O Father Almighty didst create Heaven and Earth the whole World and all things in it visible and invisible out of nothing and by thy Word onely All glory be to thee I believe O thou great Creatour that thy Divine Love made thee communicate Being to thy Creatures that thou lovest all things and hatest nothing thou hast made Glory be to thee I believe O God that thou art the sole Lord and Proprietour of all things thou hast made that all things do necessarily depend on thee that 't is in thee onely we live and move and have our Being All Love all Glory be to thee I believe O thou Communicative Goodness that thou dost preserve and sustain and protect and bless all things thou hast made sutably to the Natures thou hast given them All Love all Glory be to thee I believe O mighty Wisedom that thou dost most sweetly order and govern and dispose all things even the most minute even the very sins of men to conspire in thy Glory O do thou conduct my whole life steer every motion of my soul towards the great End of our Creation to love and to glorifie thee I believe O Lord that thy Love was more illustrious in the Creation of Man than in all the rest of the visible World thou wert pleased to make him in thy own Image and after thy own divine likeness All Love all Glory be to thee Thou Lord didst make Man for thy self and all things visible for Man Thou designedst all creatures for his use and didst subject them to his Dominion the very Angels thou didst charge to keep him in all his ways All Love all Glory be to thee Thy Works O Lord are wonderfull and amiable I love and admire and praise thy Universal Providence over the whole World the perpetual flux of thy Goodness on every Creature All glory be to thee I love and praise thee O my God for all the particular vouchsafements of thy love to me for all thy deliverances and blessings either to my body or to my soul known or unknown for all that I do not remember or did not consider All Love all Glory be to thee The longer I live O my God the more reason I have to love thee because every day supplies me with fresh experiments and new motives of thy manifold love to me and therefore all Love all Glory be to thee And in Iesus I believe in thee O Jesus and I rejoice in that dear Name which is so full
Bondage I. Thou shalt have none other Gods but me II. Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven Image nor the likeness of any thing that is in Heaven above or in the Earth beneath or in the water under the Earth Thou shalt not bow down to them nor worship them For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God and visit the sins of the Fathers upon the Children unto the third and fourth Generation of them that hate me and shew mercy unto thousands in them that love me and keep my Commandments III. 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 IV. Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day Six days shalt thou labour and doe all that thou hast to doe but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God In it thou shalt doe no manner of work thou and thy Son and thy Daughter thy Man-servant and thy Maid-servant thy Cattel and 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 seventh day and hallowed it V. Honour thy Father and thy Mother that thy days may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee VI. Thou shalt doe no Murther VII Thou shalt not commit Adultery VIII Thou shalt not Steal IX Thou shalt not bear false Witness against thy Neighbour X. Thou shalt not covet thy Neighbour's House thou shalt not covet thy Neighbour's Wife nor his Servant nor his Maid nor his Ox nor his Ass nor any thing that is his Q. What dost thou chiefly learn by these Commandments A. I learn two things my duty towards God and my duty towards my Neighbour Q. What is thy duty towards God A. My duty towards God is I. II. To believe in him to fear him and to love him with all my heart with all my mind with all my Soul and with all my strength to worship him to give him thanks to put my whole trust in him to call upon him III. To honour his holy Name and his Word IV. And to serve him truly all the days of my life Q. What is thy duty towards thy Neighbour A. My duty towards my Neighbour is To love him as my self and to doe to all men as I would they should doe to me V. To love honour and succour my Father and Mother To honour and obey the King and all that are put in Authority under him To submit my self to all my Governours Teachers spiritual Pastours and Masters To order my self lowly and reverently to all my betters VI. To hurt no body by word or deed VII To be true and just in all my dealings VIII To bear no malice nor hatred in my heart IX To keep my hands from picking and stealing X. And my tongue from evil-speaking lying and slandering XI To keep my body in temperance soberness and chastity XII Not to covet and desire other mens goods but to learn and labour truly to get mine own living and to doe my duty in that state of life unto which it shall please God to call me Q. You have shew'd me how the Creed presents to us the Motives shew me next how the Ten Commandments contain the Fruits or Effects of Divine love A. Jesus our Love the great Prophet of Love has given us this trial of our love If ye love me keep my Commandments Q. Are there not some general Rules very usefull to be observ'd in expounding the Commandments A. Divine Love does suggest to us the best Rules and is the best Expositour to teach us the full importance of every Command Q. Shew me how A. The Love of God does necessarily include these two things a tenderness to please and a fearfulness to offend our Beloved and this Love will be a sure guide to us in both the affirmative and the negative part of each Command Q. Express this more distinctly A. I shall doe it in these following Particulars 1. O my God when in any of thy Commands a duty is enjoin'd Love tells me the contrary evil is forbidden when any evil is forbidden Love tells me the contrary duty is enjoin'd O do thou daily increase my love to good and my antipathy to evil 2. Though thy Commands and Prohibitions O Lord are in general terms yet let thy love direct my particular practice and teach me that in one general are imply'd all the kinds and degrees and occasions and incitements and approaches and allowances relating to that good or evil which are also commanded or forbidden and give me grace to pursue or to fly them 3. O my God keep my love always watchfull and on its guard that in thy negative Precepts I may continually resist evil keep my love warm with an habitual zeal that in all thy affirmative Precepts I may lay hold on all seasons and opportunities of doing good 4. Let thy love O thou that onely art worthy to be belov'd make me carefull to persuade and engage others to love thee and to keep thy Commands as well as my self 5. None can love thee O Lord and endeavour to keep thy holy Commands but his daily failings in his duty his frequent involuntary and unavoidable slips and surreptions and wandrings afflict and humble him the infirmities of lapst nature create him a kind of perpetual martyrdom because he can love thee no more because he can so little serve thee But thou O most compassionate Father in thy Covenant of Grace dost require sincerity not perfection and therefore I praise and love thee O my God though I cannot love and obey thee as much as I desire I will doe it as much as I am able I will to the utmost of my power keep all thy Commandments with my whole heart and to the end O accept of my imperfect duty and supply all the defects of it by the merits and love and obedience of Jesus thy Beloved 6. Glory be to thee O thou supreme Law-giver for delivering these Commands to sinfull men they are the words which thou thy self O great Iehovah didst speak O let me ever have an awfull regard for every word thou hast spoken O let me ever love thee for speaking them and for giving us the Laws of Love 7. Glory be to thee O Lord God who to make every one of us sensible of our obligation hast given all thy Commands in the second Person and by saying Thou hast spoken in particular to every Soul that every Soul might love and obey thee Glory be to thee O my God who in this short abstract in these Ten Commandments hast compris'd the full extent of our Duty all the effects of Divine Love Teach me O Lord to examine my Love by thy Commands that I may know how to please thee that I may know
Devil I know Lord the Sin lies in yielding to the Temptation O my God if thou for trial of my Love lead me into any great Temptation and let me continue under it thy Will Lord be done not mine O let thy paternal tenderness limit and controul the Tempter O let thy All-sufficient Grace restrain my consent and keep me always on my guard watching and praying and let me at last be more than Conquerour I am content Lord to be tried and assaulted so I be not wicked though it be grievous for those that Love thee to be tempted to offend thee But deliver us from evil O Father of mercy if thou thinkest fit to lead me into Temptation deliver me from the Evil to which I am tempted Deliver me from the Evil of Sin and the Evil of Punishment from the evil one from the evil World and from my own evil Heart and from all suggestions to Evil for all that is Evil is most hateful to thee who art infinite goodness and most destructive of thy Love And therefore from all that is Evil O Almighty Lord defend me For thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory for ever and ever I adore and Love thee O Jesu who by concluding this Prayer with a Doxology hast taught us that the right end of our Prayers should be the Glory of God that we should be ever careful to mix Praise with our Prayers and to be as zealous to give thanks for what we receive as to Pray for what we want To thee O Lord God do we pray on thee only we rely and depend for acceptance to thee only we offer up our Praises for thine is the Kingdom and Sovereign Right to dispose of all things thine is the Power Almighty to relieve and bless us thine is the Glory All the Communications of thy Goodness as they flow from thee return to thee again in Sacrifices of Love of Praise and Adoration Amen For the sake O Heavenly Father of thy beloved in whom all thy Promises are Amen and who is himself the Amen the faithful and true Witness of thy Love to us Hear me and pardon my wandrings and coldness and help me to sum up and enforce my whole Prayer all my own wants and all the wants of those I pray for in a hearty and fervent and comprehensive Amen Q. How many Sacraments hath Christ ordained in his Church A. Two only as generally necessary to Salvation that is to say Baptism and the Supper of the Lord. Glory be to thee O Crucified Love out of thy Wounded Side flowed Water and Blood the two Sacraments which thou hast Ordained in thy Church Baptism and the Supper of the Lord the one to initiate the other to confirm us in our Christianity Glory be to thee O Lord who having Ordained two Sacraments only and made them Generally necessary to Salvation art yet pleased to have Mercy rather than Sacrifice in cases where they cannot be had and where a surprise of Death may prevent their Administration thou dost supply the want of them by thy merciful acceptation of those persons who earnestly desire and who are disposed to receive them O blessed Jesu the greater thy Compassion is to those sincere persons who want thy Sacraments by reason of their infelicity not their choice the greater will be thy indignation against those who wilfully neglect or contemn what thy Adorable Love has ordained to be throughout thy whole Church used and revered from which neglect and contempt of thy Love good Lord deliver me Q. What meanest thou by this word Sacrament A. I mean an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace given unto us ordained by Christ himself as a means whereby we receive the same and a pledge to assure us thereof Q. How many parts are there in a Sacrament A. Two the outward visible sign and the inward spiritual grace Glory be to thee O tenderest Love who to stoop to our weak and gross apprehension hast in the two Sacraments made an Outward and visible and familiar thing to be the sign and memorial and representation of an Inward and invisible Mysterious and Spiritual Grace Glory be to thee O bountiful Love for Ordaining and Giving us the Holy Sacraments thou thy self only art the Author and Fountain of Grace and thou only hast the right of instituting the conveyances of thy own Grace all Love all Glory be to thee Glory be to thee O mighty Love who hast elevated these obvious and outward signs to an efficacy far above their Natures not only to signifie but to be happy Means and instruments to convey thy Grace to us to be Seals and Pledâ—es to confirm and 〈◊〉 to us the Communications of thy Love that our sight may assist our Faith that if with due preparation we receive them both parts of the Sacrament will go together as certainly as we receive the Outward and Visible sign so certainly shall we receive the Inward and invisible Grace for which all Love all Glory be to thee Q. What is the outward visible sign or form in Baptism A. Water wherein the person is baptized In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost Q. What is the inward and spiritual grace A. A death unto sin and a new birth unto righteousness for being by nature born in sin and the children of wrath we are hereby made the children of grace Q. What is required of persons to be baptized A. Repentance whereby they forsake sin and faith whereby they stedfastly believe the promises of God made to them in that Sacrament Q. Why then are infants baptized when by reason of their tender age they cannot perform them A. Because they promise them both by their sureties which promise when they come to age themselves are bound to perform Glory be to thee O Lover of Souls it was by thy preventing Love that I was Baptized with the outward sign Water in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost That I should believe in the most Holy Trinity that I should depend on the gracious assistances and live wholly devoted to the three most adorable Persons that it should be my chief care to Love and Glorifie that tri-une Love the Author of my Salvation Glory be to thee O Jesu who by Water that washes away the filth of the Body dost represent to my Faith thy invisible Grace in Baptism which spiritually washes and cleanses the Soul Glory be to thee O blessed Lord who in Baptism savest us not by the outward washing but by the inward purifying Grace accompanied with a sincere Vow and â—â—â—pulation of a good Conscience towards God by which thy propitious Love brought me into thy Church the spiritual Ark to save me from perishing in the Deluge of Sin which overwhelms the
Saviour Glory be to thee O adorable Jesus who under the outward and visible part the Breâ—d and Wine things obvious and easily prepared both which thou hast commanded to be received dost communicate to our Souls the Mystery of divine Love the inward and invisible Grace thy own most blessed Body and Blood which are verily and indeed taken and received by the faithful in thy Supâ—eâ— for which all Love all Glory be to thee O God incarnate how thou canst give us thy Flesh to eat and thy Blood to drink How thy Flesh is Meat indeed and thy Blood is Drink indeed How he that eateth thy Flesh and drinketh thy Blood dwelleth in thee and thou in him How he shall live by thee and shall be raised up by thee to Life Eternal How thou who art in Heaven art present on the Altar I can by no means explain but I firmly believe it all because thou hast said it and I firmly rely on thy Love and on thy Omnipotence to make good thy Word though the manner of doing it I cannot comprehend I believe O Crucified Lord that the Bread which we break in the Celebration of the Holy Mysteries is the Communication of thy Body and the Cup of Blessing which we bless is the Communication of thy Blood and that thou dost as effectually and really conveigh thy Body and Blood to our Souls by the Bread and Wine as thou didst thy holy Spirit by thy Breath to thy Disciples for which all Love all Glory be to thee Lord what need I labour in vain to search out the manner of thy mysterious presence in the Sacrament when my Love assures me thou art there All the faithful who approach thee with prepared hearts they well know thou art there they feel the Vertue of Divine Love going out of thee to heal their infirmities and to enflame their affections for which all Love all Glory be to thee O Holy Jesu when at thy Altar I see the Bread broken and the Wine poured out O Teach me to discern thy Body there O let those Sacred and Significant actions create in me a most lively Remembrance of thy Sufferings how thy most blessed Body was scourged and wounded and bruised and tormented how thy most pretious Blood was shed for my sins and set all my powers on work to Love thee and to celebrate thy Love in thus dying for me Glory be to thee O Jesu who didst institute the Holy Eucharist in both Kinds and hast Commanded both to be received both the Bread and the Wine both thy Body broken and thy Blood shed thy Love O Lord has given me both and both are equally Significative and Productive of thy Love I do as much Thirst after the one as I Hunger after the other I equally want both and it would be grievous to my Love to be deprived of either Ah Lord who is there that truely Loves thee when thou givest him two distinct Pledges of thy Love can be content with one only what Lover can endure to have one half of thy Love withheld from him And therefore all Love all Glory be to thee for giving both O my Lord and my God do thou so dispose my heart to be thy Guest at thy Holy Table that I may feel all the sweet influences of Love Crucified the Strengthning and Refreshing of my soul as our Bodies are by the Bread and Wine for which I will ever Adore and Love thee O merciful Jesu let that immortal food which in the Holy Eucharist thou vouchsaâ—est me instil into my weak and languishing soul new supplies of Grace new Life new Love new Vigour and new Resolution that I may never more faint or droop or tire in my duty O Crucified Love raise in me fresh ardours of Love and Consolation that it may be henceforth the greatest torment I can endure ever to offend thee that it may be my greatest delight to please thee O amiable Jesu when I devoutly receive the outward Elements as sure as I receive them I receive thee I receive the Pledges of thy Love to quicken mine O Indulge me though but for a moment one Beatisick foretast of the deliciousness of thy Love that in the strength of that deliciousness I may perseveringly love thee Glory be to thee my Lord and my God who hast now given me an invitation to thy Heavenly Feast All Love all Glory be to thee Lord give me Grace that I may approach thy awful Mystery with Penitential preparation and with a heart sully disposed to love thee O my God my Judge give me Grace I most humbly beseech thee to Eâ—amine my whole life past by the Rule of thy Commandments before I presume to Eat of that Bread and Drink of that Cup give me Grace sadly to reflect on and deplore all my provocations lest coming to the Holy Eucharist impenitent and unprepared I receive Vnworthily and Eat and drink my own damnation O thou Great Searcher of Hearts thou knowest all the Load of Impiety and Guilt under which I lie O Help me so Impartially to Judge and Condemn my self so humbly to Repent and beg Pardon that I may not be Condemned at thy Tribunal when I shall appear there at the last day that I may be set at thy Right Hand amongst thy Lovers Lord give me Grace to search every secret of my Heart to leave no sin if possible unrepented of â—ill my Eyes full of Tears of Love that with those Tears I may lament all the Indignities I have offered thy Love But alas alas after the most strict examinatinon we can make who can number his impieties who can tell how oft he offendeth Lord therefore cleanse me from my secret faults which in general I renounce and bewail O my God thou who alone changest the Heart O be thou pleased to change 〈◊〉 change my aversion to thee into an intire Lâ—ve of thee O give me a filial Repentance that with a Broken and Contrite Heart I may Grieve and Mourn and Repent for all my â—ormâ—r sins and may for ever forsake them and return to my Obedience Let thy Love O my God so perfectly exhaust my soul that I may for the future stedfastly â—urpose to leâ—d a new life that I may renew my Baptismal Vow that I may hereafter live as a sworn Votary to thy Love O Heavenly Father settle in my soul a Livelâ— Faith in thy Mercy through Christ a steddy belief of all thy Love to sinners and an affectionate Reliance on the Merits and Mediation of thy Crucified Son of my being Accepted in the Beloved for whom I will ever Adore and Love thee O my Crucified God thou Soveraign Inflammative of Love let the Remembrance of thy Death set all the powers of my Soul on work that I may desire and pant after thee that I may Admire and Adore thee that I may
if you can get time and convenience say them all and I dare assure you that all the three Forms of Prayer which I commend to you will not in all take up a quarter of an hour and certainly that Person has very little sense of his Duty very little concern for his immortal Soul very little Honour for God or value for Heaven who will not spend one quarter of an hour in the space of four and twenty hours in the Service of God and the Salvation of his own Soul I do by all means exhort you to give your Servants a few Minutes leisure at Noon to Pray after your Example and to use your Children to do the same for they will soon be able to say the Lords Prayer and two or three Ejaculations and teach them to say these at Noon as well as at Morning and at Night and 't is incredible to think how much good this Practice will do them and what great comfort you your selves will reap from the early Devotion of your Children To further this Devotion in your Children instead of Idle Tales and Songs which pollute their Souls and when they come to be serious will cost them great pains to unlearn You must teach them short Psalms by heart which will exercise their Memories and Piety both together and as you teach the Psalms to your Children I exhort you to learn them your selves You cannot imagine the great benefit of learning Psalms by heart for when you are under any Temptation or are in any Affliction or when you lye waking in the Night or when you are Sick these Psalms will come into your mind and the Devout repeating them will yield you most seasonable Consolations The very Common People in the first and purest Ages of the Church were so sensible of the Spiritual advantages of learning Psalms that they learn'd the whole Psalter by heart and sang or said the Psalms in their Shops and at the Plow insomuch that St. Iames makes it the proper expression of Christian mirth Iamâ— 5.13 If any be merry let him sâ—â—g Psalms This is the way to store your own and your Childrens minds with Ejaculations or short Prayers for all Occasions which I advise both Old and Young to accustom themselves to because it is the true way of Praying without ceasing and it is a kind of Prayer most easie and may be used at any time of the day or in any place and is one of the most efficacious means in the World to keep us in Gods favour 〈◊〉 is of all things most desirable Ejaculations At going out or coming in Lord bless my going out and my coming in from this time forth for evermore Psal. 121.8 At Meals Lord grant that whether I eat or drink or whatever I do I may do all to thy Glory 1 Cor. 10.31 At Work Prosper thou the work of my hands O Lord O prosper thou my handy work Psal. 90.17 In the Shop or Market Lord give me grace to use this World so as not to abuse it 1 Cor. 7.31 Lord grant that I may never go beyond or defraud my brother in any matter for thou art the Avenger of all such 1 Thess. 4.6 In temptation or danger O God make speed to save me O Lord make haste to help me At any time of the day Wherever I am whatever I do Thou Lord seest me O keep me in thy fear all the day long Prov. 23.17 Lord give me grace to keep always a conscience void of offence towards thee and towards men Acts 24.16 Lord teach me so to number my days that I may apply my heart to Wisdom Psal. 90.12 O let my mouth be filled with thy Praise that I may sing of thy Glory and Honor all the day long Psal. 71.7 All love all glory be to thee O God who didst first love me Unto him that lov'd us and wash'd us from our â—â—ns in his own Blood be glory and dominion for ever and ever Amen Rev. 1.5 O blessed Spirit shed abroad the love of God in my heart Praise the Lord O my soul and all that is within me Praise his holy Name Psal. 103.1 Praise the Lord O my soul while I live will I praise the Lord yea as long as I have any being I will sing Praises unto my God Psal. 146.1 You that have Families I do further exhort that besides your private Prayers you would offer up to God a Morning and Evening Sacrifice in your Families and that every one of you would take up the Holy Resolution of Ioshua As for me and my House we will serve the Lord Iosh. 24.15 And the Prayers I advise you to use are taken out of the Common Prayer as being most familiar and of greatest Authority withall If any of your Family are gone abroad to their Work before the rest can be ready call that little Congregation about you that is at home and you that are present pray for those that are absent and by this means those that are absent upon necessary Employments will share in the blessings for which you pray Morning Prayer for a Family Let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be alway acceptable in thy sight O Lord our Strength and our Redeemer O God the Father of Heaven have mercy upon us miserable sinners O God the Son Redeemer of the World have mercy upon us miserable sinners O God the Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son have mercy upon us miserable sinners O Holy Blessed and Glorious Trinity three Persons and one God have mercy upon us miserable sinners O Lord we beseech thee mercifully hear our Prayers and spare all those who confess their sins unto thee that they whose consciences by sin are accused by thy merciful pardon may be absolved through Christ our Lord. Amen Almighty God who seest that we have no power of our selves to help our selves we give thee humble thanks for thy preservation of us this day past or this night past and for all the blessings thou daily vouchsafest us and we beseech thee to keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Almighty God whose Kingdom is everlasting and power Infinite have mercy upon the whole Church and so rule the heart of thy chosen Servant James our King and Governor that he knowing whose Minister he is may above all things seek thy Honor and Glory and that we and all his Subjects duly considering whose Authority he hath may faithfully serve honor and humbly obey him in thee and for thee according to thy blessed Word and Ordinance through Iesus Christ our Lord who liveth and reigneth ever one God World without end Amen Unto thy gracious mercy and protection O Lord do we commit our selves this day or this night and all our
relations and friends Lord prosper us in our callings Lord bless us and keep us Lord make thy face to shine upon us and be gracious unto us Lord lift up thy countenance upon us and give us Peace both now and evermore for the sake of Iesus thy beloved in whose own blessed Words we sum up all our wants Our Father which art in Heaven c. The same form changing but one word is proper for the Night as well as the Morning to make Family Prayer the more easie to you That Prayer which I have set down wherein you pray for the King and pray for your selves also that you may be good Subjects I exhort you never to omit because you know that the Countrey wherein you live was the onely seat of the late Rebellion and the Tares of Sedition have been Industriously sown among you and you have the greater reason to pray that you may continue firm in your Allegiance besides St. Paul teaches you that to Pray for Kings is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour 1 Tim. 2.2 3. To your Family Prayers you may add as you see occasion one of these following Almighty and everlasting God give unto us the increase of Faith Hope and Charity and that we may obtain that which thou doest promise make us to love that which thou doest command through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Lord we beseech thee Grant thy people grace to withstand the temptations of the World the Flesh and the Devil and with pure hearts and minds to follow thee the only God through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Prevent us O Lord in all our doings with thy most gracious favor and further us with thy continual help that in all our works begun continued and ended in thee we may glorifie thy holy Name and finally by thy mercy obtain everlasting life through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen These and â—he like short Prayers may be said alone in the Closet as well as in the Family by changing onely the number and for we saying all along I and for us saying me As for Example when you read any part of the Holy Scripture either alone by your selves or with your Families both which you should do daily if you have leisure but if you have not see that you do both on the Lord's days and on Holy days and before Reading say this Prayer Blessed Lord who hast caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning Grant that we I may in such wise hear them read mark learn and inwardly digest them that by patience and comfort of thy Holy Word we I may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life which thou hast given us in our Saviour Iesus Christ. Amen God of his infinite Mercy bless these Instructions to his Glory and to the furtherance of your Devotions through Jesus the Beloved Amen Amen FINIS See the Rubrick after the Catechism * Am. 1.1 John 21.15 16. * James 2.23 †Gen. 18.19 | 2 Tim. 1.5 * 3.15 †Eph. 6.4 * Phil. 1.6 †Heb. 13.17 The Happiness of a Christian. The Christian's Choice a Deut. 30.19 b Ezek. 23.11 Hos. 13.9 His Duty is Love c Luk. 10.27 28. The nature of Love The method of Love Expulsion of contrary Loves in our Baptismal Vow Repentance for our Vow broken d Rom. 2.4 e Psal. 51.17 f Ier. 9.1 g Luke 7.47 Our Vow renew'd h Psal. 38.18 1 Cor. 10.20 Eph. 2.2.12 k Iohn 13.2 l 2 Cor. 4.4 m Mat. 4.3 n Acts 19.19 o 1 Tim. 3.6 p Iohn 8.44 q 6.70 r Acts 13.10 s Iude 6. t Tit. 2.12 v 1 Cor. 7.30 31. w Rom. 12.2 x Prov. 1.10 1 Cor. 15.33 y Iohn 17.15 1 Iohn 5.19 z Iames 4.4 * Luke 14.26 †Rom. 7.18.25.8.7 a 1 Pet. 2.11 1 Iohn 2.15 Gal. 5.19 b 2 Cor. 7.1 c Pro. 15.9 d Psal. 97.10 e Ier. 31.18 f 2 Cor. 3.4 Iohn 15.5 g Phil. 4.13 h 1 Eph. 3. 1 Pet. 1.3 i Rev. 2.10 k Ps. 119.106 l 1 Cor. 12.13 27. m Eph. 1.23 n 4.15 2 Col. 19. o Luke 15.18 p Gal. 3.26 27. q Rom. 8.16 17. r Mat. 3.17 The Motives of Love Faith wâ—â—king by loâ—â— It s Object The Vnitâ— of God The Trim in Vnity * Gal. 5.6 Faith working by love †Deut. 32.4 Heb. 6.18 | Psal. 25.8 * Iam. 2.20 Its Objects * Deut. 4.35 Isa. 44.6.45.5 6. The Vnity of God The Trinity in Vnity †Mat. 3.17.28.19 Ioh. 1.5 7. * 2 Cor. 13.14 The first Person of the Trinity †Ioh. 1.18.5.18 His distinctive Property Father | Ioh. 3.16 His Attributes a Ioh. 4.23 24. b 1 Pet. 1.16 c Ps. 145.3 d Ps. 115.3 * Isai. 40.28 f Mat. 19.17 g Ps. 90.2 h Iames 1.17 i Psal. 139.1 c. k Ps. 147.5 l Rom. 2.6 m Psal. 16.11 n 1 Tim. 6.16 o 2 Cor. 12.9 p Tit. 3.4 Eph. 2.4 Psal. 51.1 q Cant. 5.16 1 Ioh. 4.8 16. His Works * Gen. 1.1 Heb. 11.3 Psal. 33.6 †Deut. 10.14 Psal. 89.11 | Acts 17.28 * Reade the 145 Psalm * Psal. 104.24 †Mat. 6.26 28.10.30 | Gen. 50.20 * Gen. 1.26 * Psal. 8. †Ps. 91.11 * Psal. 111.2 3 4. * Ps. 68.19 †Reade the 103 Psalm The second Person in the Trinity God the Son His Offices * Mat. 1.21 †1 Cor. 16.22 a Ioh. 1.41 Dan. 9.26 b Gen. 3.15 c Luk. 2.25 d Acts 10.43 * Col 2.17 f Hag. 2.7 g Acts 10.38 Heb. 1.9 h Ioh. 3.34 k 1.16 k 1 Sam. 15.1 l Lev. 4.3.5.16 m 1 Kings 19.16 n Mat. 3.16 o Ioh. 4.25 Acts 7.37 Luk. 4.18 p Luk. 1.33 q Act. 3.26 r Isa. 53.10 Eph. 5.2 Heb. 9.14 s Rom. 8.34 Heb. 7.25 His two Natures 1. Of God His Eternal generation t Heb. 1.5 Isa. 53.8 Iohn 1.1 v Heb. 1.3 w Ioh. 1.14.18.5.18 Rom. 8.32 Mat. 3.17 x Phil. 2.6 y 1 Io. 5.1 His Deity a Tit. 2.13 b 1 Io. 5.20 c Ier. 23.6 d Rom. 9.5 v Isa. 63.1 x Iohn 1.3 y Heb. 1.3 10. z Heb. 1.6 Phil. 2.10 Ioh. 5.23 a Rev. 19.16 b Eph. 1.21 22.2.10 c 1 Cor. 6.20 d Luk. 6.46 2 Of Man in his state of Humiliation His Conception e Luk. 1.31 34 35 42. His Birth f Luk. 2.6 7. g Luke 1.48 h 1 Iohn 2.1 2. i Iob 14.4 k Ioh. 1.29 l 1 Tim. 2.5 m Eph. 4.5 n Ioh. 1.14 His Life of sorrow a Luke 2.21 b Mat. 2.13 16. c Isa. 53.3 d Mat. 8.20 e Heb. 4.15 f Acts 10.38 g Mat. 4.17 Luke 4.18 h Mat. 10.1 5. i 11.5 k 2 Cor. 5.14 l Rom. 8.29 Phil. 2.5 His Sufferings previous to his Crucifixion Heb. 5.7 m Mat. 26.38 Luke 22.43 44. n Mat. 26.47.52.57 Iohn 18.4 o Mat. 26.49 56 70. p Iohn 18.12 q Mat. 26.57 59. Luke 22.66 r Mat. 26.67 Luke 22.63 s Mat. 27.2 t Luke 23.6.11.12 v Luke 23.14 18 19 21. Mat. 27.3 4.5 x Iohn