the strength of sin and wrought the power of godlinesse in me Seruant I pray you declare more particularly when you can perceiue that Scholler First i Rom. 7.15 16. c. to the end Phil. 3.10 11 c. Psal 51. when I haue an vnfained hatred and striuing against all sinne but specially against mine owne corruption and contrariwise an earnest studie and delight to all vertue but speciallie to doe mine owne dutie Secondly k Psal 119.1 2 3 4 5 6. Deut. 10.12 13 16. Mat. 5.48 Col. 2.6 7. when I doe constantly labour both for sincerity and vprightnesse of heart in all duties which I vndertake and also for perfection to kéep all the Commandements of God vnto the vttermost Thirdly l 1 Cor. 6.19 20 10.31 Deut. 30.20 1 Thes 5.18 Col. 2.6 7. when I am moued with a holy zeale to doe all things to the glory of God for obedience to his supreame authoritie and in way of thankefulnesse vnto him for all his benefits but chiefelie for giuing me Iesus Christ and his gospell Fourthly and lastly m Psal 15.4 16.3 1 Pet. 1.22 23. 1 John 3.14 5.1 Ps 139.21 22. when I bear a singular loue towards godly persons because they are godly and contrariwise a holy hatred against the vngodlie because of their vngodlinesse * Parent But what if one shall alwaies continue vnregenerate for vnsanctified after his baptisme Childe n Deut. 10.16 Eccles 5.4 5. Ezek. 44.9 Ierem 9.26 Iohn 3.3 5 18 19 c. Rom. 2.28 29. That is a plaine token that such a one wanteth faith therefore is vnbaptized in heart whose damnation must néeds be the greater because he breaketh his vow made vnto God ☞ Of the Lords Supper in particular Parent WHat is the Lords Supper Child o Mat. 26.26 c. 1 Cor. 11.23 c. The seale of our spirituall nourishment and growth in Christianitie Parent What are the outward parts in the Lords Supper Childe p Mat. 26.26 27 c. Bread and Wine Parent What be the inward parts or graces Childe q Mat. 26.26 27 c. Iohn 6.35 51. The Body and Bloud of Christ yea whole Christ God and Man with all his merits Parent What is the worke of the Minister and the right forme of administring the Lords Supper Childe First r 1 Cor. 11.24.25 26. 1 Tim. 4.5 2 Chr. 30.16 17 21 22 c. Exod. 12.6 26 27. to consecrate the bread and wine to this holy vse by Praier and Thanksgiuing declaring the Institution and vsing them accordingly together with a cleere opening of the Couenant of Grace Secondly ſ 1 Cor. 10.16 11.24 Acts 2.42 to breake the bread and poure out the Wine Thirdly t 1 Cor. 11.23 24 25. to deliuer them to the people in Christs owne words or to that effect Parent Which are Christs owne words Child Of the Sacramentall bread Christ said u Math. 26.26 27 28. Mark 14.22 23 24. Luk. 22.17 19 20.1 Cor. 11.24 25. compared Take eat * That is an effectuall Sacrament of my bodie that shall be broken and of my blood which shall be shed this is my bodie which is broken for you do this in remembrance of me And of the sacramentall wine thus u Math. 26.26 27 28. Mark 14.22 23 24. Luk. 22.17 19 20. 1 Cor. 11.24 25. compared Take this diuide it among you for * That is an effectuall Sacrament of my bodie that shall be broken and of my blood which shall be shed this is my blood of the new Testament which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sinnes this do in remembrance of me Parent And what is the outward worke of the Receiuers Child ’ 1 Cor. 11.24 25 26 28. with 10.16 14.40 Reuerently decently to take with their hands the bread and wine so consecrated and deliuered and to eat and drinke them Parent Which are then the principall outward actions in the vse of the creatures when we celebrate the Lords Supper Child First the Ministers breaking of the bread and powring out of the wine Secondly the Ministers giuing and the Peoples taking of both the bread and wine into their hands Thirdly the eating of the bread the drinking of the wine by all the Receiuers Parent What grace of Christ is set forth by the Ministers breaking of the bread and powring out of the wine Child x Esai 53. Math. 26.37 38. 27.46 Luk. 22.44 Iob. 19.17 18 33 34. 20.25 27. 1 Cor. 5.7 The most gréeuous and vnspeakable torments that Iesus Christ suffered in soule and bodie for his elect yea euen vnto the death and specially the breaking of his bodie the shedding of his blood vpon the Crosse Parent What inward worke of Christ is sealed by the Ministers giuing and the peoples taking of both the bread and wine into their hands Child y John 6.27 29 35 47 c. Rom. 8.30 Eph. 3.17 c. with 1 Cor. 11.24 25. 1. Iob. 1.12 That Christ offereth to all but truly giueth himselfe and all his merits vnto euery one of them particularly that doe receiue him by the hand of faith Parent And what graces do the eating of the bread and the drinking of the wine assure vnto vs Child First z Math. 26.26 27. Ioh. 6.35 40 51 56. 1 Cor. 10.16 17. that Iesus Christ with all his benefits is become wholy the true beléeuers to the féeding vp of their soules in the Couenant of Grace Secondly a Iohn 17.21 22 23. 1 Cor. 10.16 17. that they are made one with him Thirdly b 1 Cor. 10.16 12.13 Ephes 4.15 16. that they shall increase and grow in the féeling and enioying of him and of his grace Parent What then is the cheifest inward action of the Receiuers Child c 1 Cor. 10.16 The Communion or partaking of the Bodie and Blood of Christ Parent How doe you communicate or partake the bodie and blood of Christ in the Lords Supper Child First d Act. 2.42 Rom. 4.11 with 1 Cor. 10.16 I féede spiritually by faith in my soule on Christ and his merits vnto a more comfortable assurance and féeling of the forgiuenesse of my sinnes and of my further iustification Secondly e 1 Cor. 12.13 with Ephes 5.26 27. Deut. 16.6 7 12 16 17. Exod. 13.8 9 10. 2 Chr. 30.19 Ezra 6.21 22. with Deut. 26.16 17. in remembring his Loue with thankfulnes I gather more and more strength to dye vnto my sinnes and to liue vnto God in new obedience whereunto by receiuing this Sacrament I do vow my selfe in my best endeuours Parent But what is represented by this that you receiue the same creatures in the Lords Supper which all other the faithfull doe throughout the whole world and that in the companie of the faithfull in the Congregation Child f 1 Cor. 10.16 17. The Communion mutuall loue and vnitie that I and
Conference with good men and chéefely with the Minister Seruant May notorious offenders that are impenitent fooles madde men and children be admitted to the Lords Supper Scholler ſ 1 Cor. 11.28 Exod. 12.15 18 19 20 43. Numb 9.6 No for they either cannot or doe not examine themselues aright before they come and therefore are not rightly prepared II. Dispositiō in the action Parent What disposition is required in the whole action of celebrating the Lords Supper Childe First t Num. 9.3 5. 1 Cor. 11.24 25. a diligent obseruing of al the holy signes and actions together with a wise vnderstanding of their right vses and applying them accordingly by each particular person vnto himselfe for his owne spirituall profit Secondly u 1 Cor. 11.20 c. and 14.40 The reason of due preparation and disposition such decent behauiour and gesture of the body as are agréeable vnto euery holy action Parent Why must wee thus prepare and behaue our selues Child * 1 Cor. 11.20 c. to the end of the chapter Because otherwise wée shall receiue vnworthily Parent What danger is it to receiue vnworthily Child Very great x Ibid. and 1. Sam. 4.3 4 10. 5.6 7 9 11 12. for then wée are guilty of the body and bloud of the Lord and so doe eat and drinke our own damnation or temporary iudgement at the least because we discerne not the Lords body Seruant How is the vnworthy Receiuer guilty of the Body and Bloud of the Lord Scholler y 1 Sam. 2.29 30. Because the indignation or reproach which hee offereth to this holy Sacrament redoundeth to the things thereby signified and set forth to wit to the body and bloud of Christ as the disgrace done to the Kings picture Broad Seale or Ambassador turneth to the disgrace of the King himselfe Seruant What indignity or reproch is that Scholler z Psal 50.21 Rom. 2.24 In that the vnworthy Receiuer himselfe estéemeth and giueth cause for others also to thinke that Christ is the Sauiour of euill men or otherwise to blaspheme Seruant How is it said that the vnworthy Receiuer discerneth not the Lords body Scholler a 1 Cor. 11.20 c. to the end Exo. 12.11 14 15 16 17 c. Because he commeth to receiue the Sacrament with no other preparation nor deuotion then as if it were but common bread and wine III. Of duties afterward Parent What dueties are required after we haue receiued the Lords Supper Child First b Psal 26.7 to blesse God heartily for our redemption Secondly c Nehem. 8.10 1 Cor. 16.2 to giue to the poore as God hath prospered vs. Thirdly d Deut. 10.16 to labour to féele in our selues the strength and comfort of this Sacrament Parent What shall a true Receiuer feel in himselfe after the partaking of the Lords Supper Childe e 1 Cor. 10.16 17. 11.24 Acts 16.33.34 The increase of his faith and sanctification in Christ and so a greater measure of cōfort in Christs merits and a greater care power to dye vnto sinne and to walke in newnesse of life Parent What if one after the receiuing of the Sacrament neuer find any such thing in himselfe Child f Act. 8.13 14 c. 10 24. John 12.4 5 6. 13.21 26 27 c. and 18 2 3 c. He may well suspect himselfe whether hee did euer repent or not thereupon is to vse meanes to come to sound faith and repentance ☞ THE FIFTH AND LAST PART Concerning the Practise of the Communion of Saints The fourth outward meane of Grace Parent WHat is the Practise of the Communion of Saints Childe g Heb. 10 24.25 1 Thes 5.11 12. Act. 2.42.44 Such holy fellowship as the faithfull doe exercise among themselues according to the word of God Seruant What faithfull doe you meane Scholler h Psalm 16.3 Gal. 4.15 Act. 18.3 26. Iames 2. All and euery one of the godly whether teacher or learner gouernor or gouerned great or small Seruant When is this followship exercised Scholler i Ioh. 20.19 26 Acts. 20.6 7 c. Psal 101.6 122. Acts. 18.3 Not onely in the publike vse of Gods worship as vpon the Sabbath daies but also in priuate as much as may be throughout their daily conuersation Seruant And how and after what manner exercised Scholler k 1 Tim. 4.6 2 Tim. 3.16 1 Thes 4.18 Iam. 5 1◠Rom. 12.15 Gal. 6.1 Luk 22.31 1 Sam. 15.24 c. 1 Cor. 5. 2 Cor. 2. By teaching admonishing remembring exhorting comforting reproouing confessing praying and giuing thankes each with other and for other mutuall reioycing and mourning conferring aduising considering to stirre vp reléeuing correcting accompanying and otherwise as is taught in the holy Scriptures Seruant But what saith the Word concerning fellowship with the wicked Scholler l 1 Sam. 25.14 17 18 19 25. c. Psal 120.5 101.6 7. 1 Cor. 5.11 Luke 5.30 31 32. 2 Cor. 6.14 15 16 17 18 c. If your calling estate will permit we must carefully auoid all speciall fellowship with them vnlesse it be to heale them and chiefely those that are hardned in their sinnes and doe contemne admonition Seruant What reasons bee there why a Christian must make speciall conscience of his company in his dailie conuersation Scholler First m Mal. 3.16 2 Cor. 6.17 18. God noteth it in his book of remembrance as being specially delighted with it how they that feare the Lord speake often one to another Secondly n Pro. 1.10 13.20 1 King 11.1 2 3 4 5. Psalm 106.34 35 36. Companie whether it good or ill will intise men to be like vnto themselues and the euent is commonly answerable that Euerie man is like his companions So hée that maketh little conscience of his company vsually maketh little of sin Thirdly o Psal 1 33.1 2 3. 1 Thes 5.11 not only the benefit that we receiue yea and yéeld to other the faithfull by keeping brotherly fellowship with them Euen Iudas absteined frō much euill in his Maisters fellowes company Eccles 4.9 10 11.12 1 Pet. 4.9 10 11 is vndoubted and oftentimes very great in ministring of grace as sauing knowledge wisedome loue zeale comfort cheerefulnesse and such like at least restraint from the outward committing of sin and that euen in the hypocrites but also we inable one another thereby against the enmiful courses of the wicked on the one side and for the performance of many actuall dueties on the other and all to the glory of God Fourthly p Gen. 19.8 42 16. Psalm 119.115 though wee be not grossely corrupted and peruerted by them nor yet apparantly defiled with their pitch yet our nigh and speciall fellowship with them will eyther diminish our zeale to goodnesse and our hatred of euill and so q Reuel 3.15 16 c. luke warmenesse which is an estate very odious in the sight of God will creepe
all the rest of the faithfull haue amongst our selues from and vnder Iesus Christ our Head Parent How do you then communicate with the faithfull in the Lords Supper Child First g Ephes 4.1 2 3 4 5 6 15 16. I am confirmed in all such graces as other the Faithfull do receiue from Christ that they do also belong to me Secondly h Col. 3.14 Act. 2.41 42 c. 1 Cor. 12. 13. I binde my selfe in a speciall bond of Loue to practise all the duties thereof vnto them in generall as to the ioynt members of the same mysticall bodie and particularly to remember the poore Seruant Is there any change as the Papists say of the bread and wine into the naturall bodie and blood of Christ Scholler i 1 Cor. 11.26 27 28 29. There is a change of their vse but not of their substance Seruant What is their vse at that time Scholler Twofold First k 1 Cor. 11.26 a solemne shewing forth of the Lords death Secondly l 1 Cor. 10.16 17. with 11.27 29. the nourishment of our soules and bodies vnto euerlasting life Seruant Whence haue they that strength and vse Scholler m 1 Cor. 11.23 24 c. From the ordinance and blessing of Christ whereby they are consecrated to that purpose Seruant How do you proue that bread and wine remaine still in their owne nature after consecration Scholler n 1 Cor. 11.26 27 28 29. First the word of God calleth them so after Secondly o 1 Cor. 11.26 there must néedes be true outward signes Thirdly p Experience this consecrated bread and wine will corrupt in time Fourthly q The Reason is good vnles wee had a word of faith to build a matter of faith vpon we sée féele and taste nothing but bread and wine Seruant But seeing Christ saith This is my Bodie and This is my Blood why should we not beleeue that they are changed into his bodie and blood Scholler There are many reasons why we should not beléeue so Seruant Let vs heare some of them Scholler First the naturall sense of those words teacheth no such change Secondly Christ was neuer corporally present in any of the Iewish Sacraments Thirdly Christ was not corporally present in this Supper when he did first administer it Fourthly r Act. 3.21 Christs bodie shall not come downe from heauen till the last day Fiftly it possesseth but one place of a true naturall bodie wheresoeuer it is Sixtly it is absurd and wicked to hold that Christ hath many bodies and in many places at once and that men though Reprobates yea Dogs Cats and Mice may chew his flesh in their téeth Seruant Why are they then called his bodie and blood Scholler First because they are the Sacraments of his bodie and blood Secondly for the great similitude betwéene them And thirdly to assure vs more strongly of his spirituall presence Seruant Is it lawfull to with hold either the bread or the wine from any of the Communicants Scholler No for first the Lord Iesus ordained both and secondly there is necessarie vse of both Seruant What necessarie vse Scholler ſ Iohn 6.35 53 54 55 56. Act. 4.12 To shew that he is our full and sufficient foode Parent You said that Christ giueth himselfe and all his merits vnto euery true beleeuer in receiuing the Lords Supper Of fit and worthy Receiuers Child Yes t Luk. 3.8 20.35 Col. 1.12 Reuel 3.4 for the Lord in his frée Grace and Mercy estéemeth such to be worthy Receiuers Parent Shew mee more at large whom the Lord esteemeth worthy Receiuers Child They that are furnished with such Graces as are both necessarie and fit in this case and that do vse it as Christ hath appointed and as becommeth so heauenly mysteries Parent Which are those Graces that are most necessarie and fit Child These fiue First u Ioh. 17.3 Knowledge Secondly * 2 Cor. 13.5 a true and liuely faith Thirdly x 1 Cor. 11.31 Repentance newnesse of life Fourthly y Col. 3.14 Charitie towards men Fiftly z Luk. 22.15 Act. 8.36 an earnest desire to receiue this Sacrament Parent 1. Of Knowledge What knowledge is required at the least for the worthy receiuing of the Lords Supper Child Some true knowledge of God of his Law of his Gospell of our selues or our owne estate and of the Sacraments Parent What knowledge of God is required Child That there is a 1 Cor. 8.4 but one God b Gen. 1.1 the maker and c Act. 17.28 gouernor of all things and d 1 Ioh. 5.7 distinguished into the persons of the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost Parent What is God Pastor e Reuel 4.9 God is a liuing f Iohn 4.24 spirituall g 1 Tim. 1.17 eternall h Job 11.7 8 9. infinite and i Revel 4.8 most holy essence k Exod. 3.14 existing onely of himselfe in all perfection l Psal 135.6 Esai 46.10 11. Iam. 1.17 Mal. 3.6 as touching his will most absolute free and vnchangeable m Psal 147.5 Gen. 17.1 in his working all-sufficient for wisedome and strength n Mica 7.18 19 20. Ps 99.8 145.17 Exod. 34.6 7. and to his creatures most mercifull and iust Parent What is a Person Pastor o Iohn 14.9 16 17 18. 17.21 A distinct manner of subsisting in the Godhead Parent Declare vnto mee more largely how the one onely God is distinguished into three persons and how the three persons subsist in the one God which we commonly call the Vnitie in Trinitie and the Trinitie in Vnitie Pastor The three persons are so distinguished one from another that they are neither separated nor confounded either in themselues or in their working * A mysterie to be reuerently beleeued not curiously searched Hypostases inseratabiles Diuinitas indiuidualis personarum proprietates incommunicabiles Ioh 1.33 5.19 20 21 22 23. 8.16 17 18 19. 10.30 14.9 10 11 13 14 15 16 17 23 16. In themselues for First ech person hath the whole Godhead in it in such sort as the Vnitie of the essence or nature of God is neither diuided into parts nor destroyed Secondly ech person is coeternall coequall without difference of time or greatnesse Thirdly ech person is in and with ech other and possesseth ech other so that yet the Father is not the same with the Sonne or the Holy Ghost or the Sonne the same with the Father or the Holy Ghost or the Holy Ghost the same with the Father or the Sonne as touching their persons And fourthly ech person enjoyeth equall glory with other and ech hath euerlasting delight in other yet not the same but according to the distinct manner of ech persons subsistence in the Godhead In their working for though ech person doth the same things that the other do in euery thing that is done without absence or weaknesse yet
THE COVNTRY-MAN WITH HIS HOVSHOLD Being A familiar Conference concerning Faith towards God and Good Workes before Men fitted for the capacitie of the meanest By R. S. Preacher of the word at ARLEY See the Contents more particularly before the Booke IOSVA 24.13 But as for me and my house we will serue the Lord. 1 PET. 2.17 Feare God NEHEM 1.11 Desire to feare him Imprinted at London by Edward Griffin for Ionah Man at the Talbot in Pater-noster Row 1620. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE SIR WALTER ASTON KNIGHT OF THE BATHE BARONET AT THIS PRESENT LORD AMBASSADOR FOR HIS MAIESTIE TO THE KING OF SPAINE AND TO THE LADY GERTRVDE HIS MOST VERTVOVS AND BELOVED WIFE R. S. CONSECRATETH THESE HIS MEDITATIONS TOGITHER WITH HIS BEST WISHES AND SERVICES An Admonition to the Reader I Presume thou knowest very well good Reader that as the gifts of Teachers in deliuering are diuers so are those of the Hearers for conceiuing and profiting For which cause the Christian Scribe must as the great Diuinitie-Reader teacheth a Mat. 13.52 bring forth out of his treasure things both new and olde that is as I vnderstand it fit his setting forth of sauing truth after sundry good sorts to the estate and capacitie of the Learners b Phil. 3.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. minimè lubricum and for them it is safe to write the same things vnto them Thinke me not then to tautologize ouermuch in this Booke neither yet blame me for lacke of exact method therein For besides that a familiar Conference especially of the Country-man with his Houshold for whose sake chiefly I publish these my country-meditations is not so absolutely freed from the one nor so strictly tyed to the other note I pray thee that my studie and endeuour herein hath beene purposely to convey the truth to the more ignorant and ruder sort in such forme and so many words as I supposed them able to receiue it c Esai 28.9 10 11. 1 Cor. 3.1 2. 9.22 Heb. 5.11 12 13. and if they should not rightly conceiue and lay hold on the truth in one place speech or passage of the Booke yet in another they might attaine to it if it shall please the Lord. To which end I haue retained chiefly in the weightiest principles some common phrases and kindes of speech vsed in Catechismes because I take them to be plainest more generally knowne Namely I haue here and there vsed some answers out of Master William Perkins of worthy memorie his Catechisme And in some three or foure places also I haue imitated others a litle in some respects The reasons against Transubstantiation and many of those Questions and Answers about fit and worthy Receiuers and some few about Receiuing worthily are the labours of that judicious man and mine especiall frend Mr A. N. All the rest so far as I remember * Neither yet hath my paines beene the lesser in those few things that I haue taken from others as the discreet Reader may easily perceiue by my manner of vsing them are my poore indeuours togither with the frame of the whole so shaped as I thought fittest for my purpose Indeed when I began with this Worke I intended onely some briefer thing as a short Catechisme but afterwards partly considering the great and manifold necessities of the ignorant and partly following the aduise of diuers godly persons whom I consulted withall I haue inlarged my selfe to so many matters as you may see The doctrine and substance I assure my selfe is sound and I am priuie proceedeth from a heart that is willing to promote the common saluation d vers 3. as Iude calleth it Let it not want therefore judicious Reader thy Christian good word at least let it be free from thy blame though it may be there shall be found some shew of Reason for such censure considering not onely my defence premised but also the cause and honour of Him who is too often pierced through the sides of his poore seruants and fearing the offence of the weake who God knoweth are soone turned out of the way Albeit I take it had bin no great difficultie for me to haue made it both shorter and more methodicall saue that if I do not mistake I iudge this often repeating the surest or likeliest way to effect my intent and desire And if God shall moue any few of those Housholders hearts who haue hitherto vsed litle or no meanes in this behalfe to vse this so that it be with conscience I haue inough And why should they alwayes e Psal 2.3 breake Christs bands asunder and cast away his cords from them Now the Lord of his deere mercy conueyed vnto vs by the blood of of his onely Sonne by his all-working Spirit blesse my simple labour thy fauourable allowance and euery ones Christian vse of it vnto his owne praise in the building of his Church Amen Thine in the Lord R. S. The Table of the Contents THE drift of the Author in this Booke and concerning the instructing and reforming of the Country-mans-houshould in generall and particularly some directions and formes of teaching Children so soone as they can speake and such as hauing spent a great part of their time in ignorance carelesness can repeat some things as the Creed the Lords Prayer c. but yet vnderstand little or nothing thereof and therfore cannot put what they say to any good vse pag. 1. to 59. I The First part Concerning the Law of God contained in the tenne Commandements which are summarily expounded and the vses of the Law in generall briefly set downe pag. 59. to 79. II The second part Concerning the Gospell where the Creed is explaned pag. 79. to 111. III The third part concerning the Meanes of Grace in generall And first of the Word of God and of the Exercises thereof pag. 111. to 115. Secondly of Prayer Where 1 An Exposition of the Lords prayer pag. 115. to 126 2. Two formes of Prayer for the vse of the Country-mans-Household on worke-daies the one for the Morning the other for the Euening pag. 126. to 148. 3. Two formes of Thanksgiuing the one before meat the other after meat pag. 148. to 149. 4. A forme of Prayer for one in priuate for preparation to the Sabbath pag. 150. to 161. 5. Certayne godly Hymnes or Psalms for priuate vse pag. 167. to 174. IIII The fourth part Of the Sacraments of the New Testament p. 174. to 178 1. Of Baptisme pag. 178. to 182. 2. Of the Lords Supper pag. 188. to 194 where of fit and worthy Receiuers c. p. 194. to 206. V The last Part where 1. Of the Practise of the Communion of Saints pag. 206. to 110. 2. Of the Effects of the foure meanes of Grace both in good and bad p. 209 to 211. 3. Of the consideration of Gods works pag. 211 to 212. 4. Of Christs Protecting of his Church pag. 212 to 213. 5. Of Christs Disposing of
all things to its greatest good as of Sinne Afflictions Death c. pag. 214. to 221. 6. Of the last Resurrection Iudgement generall pag. 221. to 228 7. Of watching pag. 228. to 235 8. And of Christs full glorifying of his Church in Heauen pag. 235. The Peroration or Summe of the whole composed in easie plaine meeter pag. 238. to 254. THE COVNTRY-MAN WITH HIS HOVSHOLD Being A familiar Conference concerning Faith towards God and Good Works before Men fitted for the capacitie of the meanest The Speakers conferring be these fiue The Pastor Parent Childe Seruant Scholler Pastor GOd a 2 Ioh. v. 10. speed you Parent And you also b Act. 16.15 If you haue iudged me to be faithfull to the Lord come into my house c vers 9. and helpe vs that we may learne and be stirred vp to d 1 Thess 2.11 walke worthy of God who hath called vs vnto his kingdome and glory Pastor Indeed I haue often and long time marueiled of the generall-grosse neglect and strangenesse of your selfe other housholders in that you haue contented your selues with a bare and fashionable vse of your Ministers labours in publicke without seeking any fellowship whiles you are in prosperitie with them in priuate as touching the matters of God Wherein now at the length it seemeth you desire my helpe For hitherto you and other Housholders haue by your carelessnes this way not onely hindred and discouraged your Ministers in the worke of the Gospell but also wronged your selues and your owne people besides the euill example you haue giuen to others in such sort that neither the judicious can well tell what to thinke of you nor yet you your selues for the greater number I feare know whether you profit or not by the publike preaching of the word though it be both plentifully and fitly set forth of the Ministers and also ordinarily frequented by you I say litle of the want yea of the alienating of the affectiōs of Loue and Delight yea and of Zeale oftentimes which as they are on the one side procured and nourished by often societie and familiaritie and therevpon doe much further the soule for the knowledge beleefe and practise of Godlinesse not vnlike to good handmaides who by their continuall industry do set forward their Mistresse businesse and therein promote her welfare So on the other side these being wanting or estranged many good things become vnprofitable and vsually very wholsome orders and directions are either refused or litle or nothing vsed and so the soule is neuer the neerer and it may be the further off from piety as it commeth to passe by such maides as either do not minde diligence or addict themselues to other matters then their seruice and therefore are so farre from profiting their Mistres that contrarily they do rather incomber her and hindeer her good estate And what dishonour the Lord sustaineth by this profane course I leaue to be lamented of all those that know what Gods glory meaneth and haue any feeling of the greiuous and intolerable losse of it But I pray you what haue you thought of e Act. 20.20 31. S. Paul his three yeeres diligence at Ephesus by night and day in teaching and warning euery one of the Church of God with teares from house to house And what vse haue you made of his plaine exhortation to f Heb. 13.17 obey them that haue the rule ouer you and to submit your selues and likewise of his request g 1 Thess 5.12 13. to know them which labour among you and are ouer you in the Lord and admonish you and to esteeme them very highly in loue for their workes sake Parent For my part I must confes that albeit I haue knowne such testimonies of holy writ yet I haue not so seriously considered applied them to my selfe as now of late time euery day more and more I doe And for others I beséech God to moue their hearts likewise to h Psal 30.1 1 Cor. 16.15 16 dedicate themselues and their houses to God that euery one may helpe and labour with you for the entertainment and promoting of the Gospell of Christ Pastor Verily you haue caused me much greefe because through your strangenesse I haue bin but slenderly able to follow the Lords will i Ezek. 34. by seeking out his sheepe specially those that are lost feeding them in fat pastures laying them in good folds bringing them againe that were driuen away binding that which was broken strengthning that which was sicke c. And for that I could not approue my selfe to be that good and carefull k Iohn 10.3 4. Shepheard who calleth his owne sheepe by name leadeth them out and goeth before them that they may follow him And withall you haue made me much ashamed that I am so ignorant and vncertaine of the particular persons estate in my flocke and the more when I thinke of Cyrus the Persian King of whom it is recorded l Plinie Solin Val. Max. others that he knew both the faces names of all the souldiers in his armie which was very great so that he could salute and as neede required exhort euery one by name to vertue and manhood and yet his drift was but for earthly glory and a temporall victorie But my office is ordained of Christ the Captaine of our Faith to direct and incourage his Souldiers to get the greatest victorie that euer was or can be euen ouer the Deuill Sinne Death and Damnation and to obtaine euerlasting glory and that with Christ the Lord of glory Howbeit it is come to passe through the subtiltie of Sathan and Mans corruption in the lacke of a religious familiar societie betwixt me and my charge that I haue but litle certaine knowledge of their spirituall estate and therefore am forced to expect the lesser fruit of my publike labours eftsoones censuring my selfe as doing my office but by the halues onely in preaching a Sermon or two out of the pulpit ech weeke vpon the Lords day which yet I cannot so profitably performe in fitting my labour to their estate as otherwise I might to wit if I and they had such priuate fellowship as the Lord commendeth vnto vs in his holy word For which and diuers other reasons I doe not onely seeke and take some likely opportunities with them to set on foote this holy Ordinance of the Lord but withall I cease not to pray the Almighty the Author of all good gifts and Father of lights as well to inable and guide mee with necessarie graces and godly wisedome in some good constant course to bestow some priuate paines this way as to open the dores of my peoples hearts and houses to make some good vse thereof and I waite for the mercy of God in raising vp some helpers to the same end and in vouchsafing me some happy entrance into so worthy a meane of his glory and of our spirituall aduantage
c Rom. 4.1 13 16. the father of the faithfull and the Heire of the world and in making him great promises to the same and other purposes and repeating them often vnto him chiefly concerning the Messias who should proceed of d Math. 1.1 2 c. Gal. 3. 4. with Gen. 12.15.17 22. chap. 2 Chron. 20.7 him and of his posteritie according to the flesh concerning himselfe and his seede both by nature faith and by faith I say both of Iew and Gentile temporally and eternally All which God hath performed and will accomplish to the full in Christ the blessed seed And of Abrahams Faith and Thankfulnesse on th' other part His Faith in giuing full trust and credit vnto Gods loue and promises His Thankfulnes in behauing himselfe as the speciall friend of God and of his glory throughout his whole drift and course labouring to promote and maintaine Gods name and seruice vnto the vttermost For Abraham e Gen. 12.1 4 5 c. 17.23 c. 18.19 22.1 2. c 12. 24. Ios 24.14 15. Esai 41.8 Iohn 8. Heb. 11.8 15. Jam. 2.23 approued himselfe to be the worthy and trustie champion propagator and maintainer of Gods glory and honor by his faithfull cleauing vnto God his vprightnesse his carefull shunning of defection impugning of Idolatrie and abhorring of all iniquitie This then was the speciall frendship betwixt God and Abraham which was sealed on both parts f Genes 17. by the Sacrament of Circumcision giuen and receiued as also by other diuine signes amongst which that was not the least that God gaue Abraham g Gen. 21.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. a Sonne in his old age and Abraham h Gen. 22. would haue offered him willingly in sacrifice to the Lord at his commandement Secondly i Philem. v. 17. 1 Sam. 18.3 20.14 15 16 17. speciall inward friends do count ech others friends and enimies common as we see not onely amongst those that are meerly naturall but also with those that haue beene the children of grace Now this we finde also betwixt God and Abraham For the Lord out of his speciall loue made this promise to Abraham and to his true seede after him k Genes 12.3 I will blesse them that blesse thee and curse him that curseth thee and euermore duly kept it both towards him and his wife and towards his children l Gal. 3.7 of which sort are all they which are of faith For God did manifestly reueale what reckoning he made of Abraham and Sarah his wife their friends and enimies first m Genes 12.17 19. by his seuere plaguing of Pharaoh the Aegyptian King his house for taking Sarai into his house though none of them abused her for the Lord preserued her being his Friends wife from their filthinesse And afterwards by his jealous and sharpe n Gen. 20.3 7 17 18. Psal 105.15 rebuking Abimelech King of Gerar for the like cause telling him that He and all His should surely die vnlesse he restored vnto Abraham his wife yea and striking his wife maid-seruants with barrennesse but in conclusion o Gen. 20.13 14 15 16 17 18. after that he had restored vnto Abraham his wife vndefiled and shewed other kindnesses both to him and her the Lord at this his great Friends request healed Abimelechs wife and maid-seruants so that they bare children And as for Abrahams children the Faithfull the holy Scriptures and all experience doe euidently shew the like dealing of God for them Againe Abraham declared his loue to his best Friend the Lord in hating Gods enimies as if they had bin his owne and so in entertaining reuerencing and succouring the friends messengers and seruants of the Lord as his owne or rather aboue his owne all which things we read p Genes 14. in the storie of Abrahams slaying Chedarlaomer and the Kings that were with him who were not onely his owne enimies but also of Melchizedec the Priest of the most High God of Lot and others of Gods Church and consequently of God himselfe q Gen. 24.3 in the storie of his auoyding the mariage of the daughters of Canaan with his sonne Isaac for the Canaanites being out of the Couenant of God were to be reckoned amongst his enimies and r Gen. 14. in the stories of his rescuing Lot paying tithes to Melchizedec Å¿ Genes 18. entertaining the Angels and praying for what righteous persons he supposed were in Sodom Gomorrhe Lastly Great and speciall friends are wont to resort and continue much togither and therein to conferre familiarly of their most weighty and secret matters and occasions And I pray you how many apparitions did the Lord vouchsafe to Abraham How familiarly did the Lord conferre with him at sundry times And how weightie and secret were the occasions which they did communicate th' one to th' other As namely concerning Abraham and his estate his wife and progenie the blessed seed CHRIST IESVS and all others of Abrahams seede the matter of Sodom and Gomorrhe Abrahams prayers and thanksgiuings which vndoubtedly were many and feruent and finally his meditations vpon the will of God to him reuealed which in the secret of his soule he spiritually talked of vnto God For seeing he had that zeale holinesse and loue that he did pray so long and so earnestly for the wicked and filthy Sodomites we may easily iudge how plentifull hee was in his consultations and supplications with the Lord for himselfe and the rest of Gods Church and to conclude what a heauenly fellowship and holy commerce was exercised between them Parent But what vse is there of all this to vs Pastor Very great both for our instruction and comfort For if we be faithfull as Abraham was we ought to be certainly perswaded that the Lord is the same God to vs as he was to Abraham though we haue not the like extraordinarie signes and testimonies The proofes whereof are cheifly two First t Act. 10.34 35. Rom. 2.10 11. 1 Ioh. 1.3 4. 4.15 16 17. Ioh. 17.20 21 22 23 24 25 26. Gods loue is one and the same towards all his people and seruants in Christ Iesus whom he gaue vnto the death aswell for euery one and the least of them as for any one and the greatest of them And secondly the Lord telleth vs in generall that u Rom. 15.4 whatsoeuer things were written aforetime were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might haue hope yea and specifieth this thing expresly saying * Galat. 3.9 they which be of faith are blessed with faithfull Abraham and to put vs out of all doubt he giueth all true beleeuers as friendly and gratious speeches as he did to Abraham both in the Old and New Testaments In the Old thus he vttereth his minde x Zechar. 2.8 he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of my eye In the new thus
and are now come to Mens and Womens estate who also are wont as you said to learne loddly and remember badly Pastor You must take the more paines with such to teach them the true meaning and right vse of the Lord prayer the Creede and the Ten Commandements the words whereof they can babble without vnderstanding as also you must vse the like diligence for the doctrine of the Sacraments according to the Conference or some Catechisme or Treatise made for that purpose Parent It passeth my skill to teach some of them any vnderstanding or profitable vse of that which they confesse in words and specially such as put a confidence in the saying and rehearsing of the words A kinde of Opus operatum as though there were some secret vertue and efficacie in the words that of themselues and of the sounding or pronouncing of them do please God and make them that can and do vtter them to be Christians as they doe superstitiously suppose Pastor Then I aduise you to follow these two courses which haue bin sound very profitable with such blinde soules First for the vnderstanding and vse of the Creede Secondly for Application both of the Creede the Lords prayer the Ten Commandements and the Sacraments Parent What is your course to conuey the vnderstanding and vse of the Creede vnto an ignorant soule that can say the words without sense in himselfe Pastor Prouided alwayes that you humbly beseech God to blesse your labour and likewise that you deale kindly and louingly with such a one you must vse to reason with him or her suppose it be your seruant or any other in as familiar and plaine manner as you can to this effect Housholder The forme of instructing such ignorant soules as are of riper age In whom doe you beleeue Seruant In God Housholder What is God Seruant The Father Almighty Housholder How do you know that God is almighty Seruant Because he is the maker of heauen and earth Housholder In whom do you beleeue besides the Father Seruant In Iesus Christ Housholder Who is Iesus Christ Seruant The Fathers onely Son and our Lord. Housholder What meane you by Our Lord Seruant That he is our Redéemer and Gouernor Housholder How came Christ to be so Seruant He was conceiued by the Holy Ghost and borne of the Virgin Marie Housholder What did he for vs as he is our Lord Seruant He suffered for vs vnder Ponce Pilate Housholder Who was Ponce Pilate Seruant He was a Iudge that condemned Christ to death Housholder To what kinde of death did Pilate condemne our Sauiour Christ Seruant To be crucified Housholder What is that Seruant Hée was lifted vp to a Crosse of wood and nailed vpon it with nailes * This crucifying was in those times among the Iewes a most shamefull execution of Male-factors such as Hanging upon the Gallowes is now amongst vs. Housholder How long was he crufied Seruant Till he was dead Housholder Wherefore was Christ willing to suffer so shamefull a death Seruant For to saue vs from Hell which we deserued for our sins Housholder What did they with Christ when he was dead Seruant They buried his bodie in a Tombe Housholder How long did it lye buried in the Tombe Seruant Vntill the third day Housholder What did Christ then Seruant He rose againe from the dead and so liued and walked vpon the earth againe Housholder What did hee afterwards Seruant After forty dayes he ascended into Heauen that is He went vp into Heauen Housholder What doth our Sauiour in Heauen Seruant He fitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty Housholder What is the meaning of that Seruant He is the great King that raigneth ouer vs all Housholder How long shall Christ raigne so Seruant Till the day of Iudgement Housholder What shall he do then Seruant He shall come againe to iudge both the quicke and the dead Housholder Who are the quicke Seruant They that shall be then found aliue vpon the earth Housholder And what dead persons shall he then iudge Seruant All that haue beene dead before that day Housholder In whom doe you beleeue else besides the Father and the Sonne Seruant In the Holy Ghost Housholder What Are the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost three Gods Seruant No Thrée persons but one God Housholder Doth no body beleeue thus but onely you Seruant Yes the Holy Catholike Church Housholder Who are that Church Seruant The Saints that dwell vpon earth Housholder Why do you call the Saints on earth Holy Seruant Because they are made holy in Christ by Faith and a New life Housholder Why do you call the Saints or Church of God vpon earth Catholike Seruant Because they are vniuersally scattered ouer all the world Housholder What haue they among themselues Seruant A speciall Communion or Fellowship of Loue one with another Housholder What benefits doth God by his Holy Spirit bestow vpon these his beleeuing and penitent people for his Sonne Iesus Christs sake Seruant Forgiuenes of their sins the resurrection of their bodies and the life euerlasting Parent And what is your other course for application of the Creede the Lords Prayer the Ten Commandements and the Sacraments vnto the capacitie and vse of such ignorant persons Pastor Whatsoeuer you shall learne in the preaching of the word or in the daily reading thereof that may informe such simple persons in any of those things you must acquaint them with it fitting it for manner of speech and words to their abilitie And so for all the workes of God his benefits and strokes you must apply them to their estate declare vnto them their great manifold necessitie of sauing grace and alwayes haue recourse vnto such things as they can say in the Creede the Lords Prayer the Ten Commandements * How euer you doe you must labour to inform and settle them on the one side in the vse of the Law discouering sinne and denouncing the curse of damnation and on the other side in the comforts of the Gospell giuing grace by Jesus Christ and assuring the beleeuers and penitent of eternall saluation c. And withall incourage them both to answer your questions and to inquire boldly and cheerefully of you what they thinke good or do make any doubt of Parent I trust the Lord will make me mindfull to vse these good helps which you haue sought out and fitted for such purposes as neede shall require But I haue a great desire to looke into the substance of the Booke that you haue giuen me where I hope to finde directions and furtherances for my selfe and those that are better able to learne and practise than either children or such ignorant persons as we haue last spoken of Pastor I doubt not but you shall gaine somewhat by that which hath passed betwixt you me already since we met togither albeit indeed the greatest vse be of the points of Religion which are handled in the Booke that I
haue deliuered vnto you But because l 1 Cor. 3.7 neither he that planteth is any thing nor he that watereth but God that giueth the increase therefore you must not presume vpon your own strength resolution and diligence in vsing this or any other Meane of Grace neither can you make a right conscience of your promise and dutie to bestow your carefull endeuour in following any good directions nor looke for any blessing of God at all vpon your paines vnlesse you shall make speciall prayer vnto him For which causes I haue framed you one short forme of prayer to be vsed by you during your infirmitie at such times as you shall set your selfe in any speciall manner to learne or teach by heart any part of the booke when you begin and I haue copied out on of S. Pauls prayers with some small addition thereto for the conclusion of your labour The former is placed in the forefront of the conference and the latter in the end of all Parent How much am I and such weaklings as I bound to praise God for your Loue and Paines who haue so carefully prouided fit helps for our guidance in our great weaknes m Heb. 6.1 that we may goe on to perfection if we be not very retchlesse Pastor Beware then you bee not retchlesse Remember Gods promise that n Luk. 11.9 10. if you will seeke you shall finde o Psal 145.18 and the Lord will be neere vnto you if you will call vpon him in truth yea p 2 Chron. 15.2 with you while you be with him q 2 Chr. 16.9 for the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to shew himselfe strong in the behalfe of them whose heart is perfect toward him Who euer sought the Lord in holinesse and failed of sauing grace or of any necessarie comfort or succor r Luk. 11.13 Who hath truly desired the Holy Spirit and our heauenly Father hath not giuen him Debate the matter with your selfe Hath God intrusted you with soules putting them vnder your hands Å¿ Gen. 33.5 35.2 yea and made you instruments to beget soules the noblest creatures in earth and will you be carelesse of their eternall saluation Hath God honoured you with them and will you not honour God by them Or will you seeme to teach them to honour God and will not your selfe honour God with and amongst them Do you looke that they should learne the word of God at your mouth and will you not guide them by your owne conuersation Will you not commend that vnto them by the liuely and constant practise of your example which they may imitate vnto eternall life What delight I pray you hath the Lord in you that content yourselues to receiue honour and obedience at your peoples hands and t Iohn 5.44 seeke not the honour that commeth from God onely And what u Mat. 16.26 can all your earthly meanes aduantage them when they want the true treasure For cast the eye of your minde vpon that base esteeme which the supreme God the Possessor of Heauen Earth hath of that Householder his people that are prophane and carelesse of true pietie and vpon that his most fearefull curse inflicted and to be inflicted on the impenitent and obdurate in their sinne though they seeme for the present to be in neuer so great safegard and flourishing prosperitie which curse they cannot any waies escape but by timely repentance and conuersion vnto God For as Zophar saith * Iob. 20 24 25 26 27 28 29. He shall flee from the yron weapon and the bowe of steele shall strike him through It is drawne and commeth out of the bodie yea the glistering sword commeth out of his gall terrours are vpon him All darknes shall be hid in his secret places * That is The vengeance of God is apt and prone to seize vpon him as vpon its proper and right subiect A metaphor taken from such matter as towe drystraw c. which being put into the fire neede no blowing as greene wood doth but taketh fire and flame straight-waies a fire not blowne shall consume him It shall goe ill with him that is left in his tabernacle The heauen shall reueale his iniquitie and the earth shall rise vp against him The increase of his house shall depart and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath This is the portion of a wicked man from God and the Heritage appointed vnto him by God Yea and though as Iob sheweth x Iob. 21.14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21. their seed seemeth to be established in their sight with them and their of spring before their eyes Their houses are safe from feare neither is the rod of God vpon them Their Bull gendreth and faileth not their Cow calueth and casteth not her calfe They send forth their litle ones like a flocke and their children dance They take the timbrell and harpe and rtioyce at the sound of the Organe They spend their dayes in wealth Yet in a moment goe downe to the graue Therefore they say vnto God Depart from vs for we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes What is the Almighty that we should serue him and what profit should we haue if we pray vnto him Lo their good is not in their hand The counsell of the wicked is far from me How oft is the candle of the wicked put out and how oft commeth their destruction vpon them God distributeth sorrowes in his anger They are as stubble before the winde and as chaffe that the storme carrieth away God layeth vp his iniquitie for his children he rewardeth him and he shall know it His eyes shall see his destruction and he shall drinke of the wrath of the Almighty What pleasure then hath he in his house after him when the number of his moneths is out of in the middest Wherefore it is your wisdome to forecast what sufficient answer you shall be able to make vnto the Great Iudge at that day when he will demand Giue an account of thy stewardship for thou maist be no longer steward Luk. 16.2 Parent But it is a lamentable thing to see how most folkes do reject all this counsell of God which you haue stood vpon as needlesse fantasticall new and vpstart Pastor The obiection or rather blasphemous slander that it is needlesse and fantasticall hath bin sufficiently confuted by the Holy Scriptures as you haue heard already The same we may say for their shamelesse censure that it is new and vpstart For besides that the Lord himselfe in his holy word doth call vpon vs to aske for the old wayes or pathes where is the good way and to walke therein assuring vs that we shall finde rest for our soules Ier. 6.16 the godly Fathers in all ages haue cryed vnto the people for the same thing And amongst those that haue laboured in the Church of God since Christ we may
read many worthy testimonies to this purpose of which I will onely acquaint you with the graue and memorable speech of Chrysostome in his second Sermon vpon IOHN * Chrysost in Joan. Hom. 2. Illud vos admonendos hortandosque censeo pernecessarium vt quo nunc estis animo perseueretis neque in hoc tantùm consessu sed domi quoque vir cum vxore pater cū filio invitem de his frequenter vltro citroque suam ferant inquirant sententiam velintque probatissimam hanc pulcherrimā inducere consuetudinem Nec mihi quispiam dicat pueros in his occupari non oportere Non enim tantùm opus est vt his vacent admonitionibus verùm etiam solis And afterwards Nonne irā Dei in vos meritò provocatis cùm caeteris rebus certo tempore diligenti curâ adhibitâ in diuinarum rerum dectrinâ pueros exerceri molestū intempestivūque ducitis Nō sic non sic inquā fratres dilectissimi Haec profecto atas his maximè admonitionibus indiget Tenera est citò qua ei instillantur imbibit audita accipit tanquā sigillo auditus cera hoc est puerorū animis impresso Praeterea vita cius in auditu est in ipsis ferè inanis vt vel ad virtutem vel ad vitiū facilè possit deflectere Si quis igitur eos ab ipsis incunabulis quaso vitiorum vestibulis ad viam virtulis abstraheret in habitu quodā natura rectè viuendi cos confirmaret neque sponte sua facilè in deteriora prolaberentur cùm ciusmodi à teneris ad virtutem eos alliceret c. I iudge it very necessarie saith he to admonish and exhort you that you would continue in the minde you are now in and not onely in this assembly but at home also you would oftentimes speake reason and inquire of these things too and fro one with another bringing in this most commendable and excellent custome the husband with the wife and the father with the childe And let none obiect to me that children ought not to be busied herein For they haue neede not onely to intend these admonitions but also to giue themselues to nothing else And afterwards Do you not deseruedly prouoke the wrath of God against your selues seeing you take certaine times and vse diligent care for other matters but count it troublesome and vnseasonable to exercise your children in the learning of Gods matters These things ought not to be so as you doe my most beloued brethren Verily this age of childhood standeth in greatest neede of these admonitions For it is tender and quickly sucketh in whatsoeuer is instilled into it and what it heareth it receiueth and like as waxe taketh the impression of a seale so childrens mindes doe in hearing Moreouer their manner of life consisteth much in hearing and they are of that qualitie for the most part that they may easily be bowed either to vertue or vice If any then would waine them from their cradles as it were from the entry of vices vnto the way of vertue he may settle them in a certaine habit and nature of liuing well from whence they shall not easily fal back of their owne accord vnto any very bad courses sithens by such vsage they are allured vnto vertue from their tender age And vpon Matthew in Sermon 5. he exhorteth Housholders to call to remembrance and to repeat Sermons newly heard vpon the weeke day with their familie at home before they do busie themselues with other matters Now then you must not be discouraged by any such reprochfull termes from seeking and setting forth the sweet y 2 Cor. 2.14 sauour of the knowledg of God in your place and calling for Satan is euer wont z 1 Thess 2.18 to labor the hindrance of Gods word by the a Iude ver 14 15 16 17 18. vngodly speeches of foolish and malitious persons as by all other meanes he can vse whom b 1 Pet. 5.9 Ephes 6.10 11 c. to 21. 2 Thess 3.1 2. 2 Cor. 2.11 you must resist by Faith Prayer Wisdome and Diligence in all holy meanes vnto the vttermost of your power and then surely the Lord will bruise him vnder your feete shortly Rom. 16.20 To conclude I require you c 2 Tim. 4.1 c. before God and the Lord Iesus Christ who shall iudge the quicke and dead at his appearing in his kingdom that you neither neglect the publike preaching of his word d Act. 17.11 nor the tryall of doctrine by the holy Scriptures nor yet the priuate reading of the same vnder pretence of vsing this or any other good Bookes whatsoeuer For the holy Bible is the Booke of Bookes whereof I would wish you to read one Chapter at the least euery worke-day morning and to cause your folkes euery one both great and small seuerally to render you a sentence thereof in the euening before you goe to prayers with them * For their rawnesse sake you may appoint ech of them by name some short and pithy sentence out of the Chapter as soone as you haue read it in the morning and wish them to thinke of it in the day time that so they may giue you an account of it the more easily in the euening remembring that they are e Psal 1.2 Deut. 5.32 33. blessed who exercise themselues in Gods Law both day and night to do thereafter And f Act. 20.32 I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you vp and to giue you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified g Philip. 1.9 10 11. And I pray God that your loue may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all iudgement that you may approue things that are excellent that you may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ being filled with the fruits of righteousnes which are by Iesus Christ vnto the glory and praise of God Parent Amen Pastor So I leaue you to your Booke h 2 Cor. 13.11 Farewell Parent i 2 Thess 3.16 The Lord be with you THE COVNTRY-MAN WITH HIS HOVSHOLD A Forme of Prayer before Conference Parent TEach vs O Lord by thy most holy Spirit we heartily pray thée that wée may know Thée thy Law thy Gospell our selues our sinnes and duties aright and that we may put all to good vse namely to the glory of thy blessed Name to the further humiliation sanctification and true comfort of our owne Soules and Bodies and to the edification and profit of our Neighbours through thy onely Son Christ Iesus our Lord and Sauiour Childe Amen Seruant Amen Scholler Amen ☞ THE FIRST PART Concerning the Law or Couenant of Workes Parent WHat is the voice of the Law or Couenant of workes Child a Rom. 10.5 with Mat. 19.16 17. Do this and thou shalt liue for euer Parent Which is
the Summe of the Law Child b Exod. 20.1 c. Deut. 5.1 2 3 c. The ten Commandements Parent Say them Child c Exod. 20. v. 1. God spake all these words saying vers 2. I. I am the Lord thy God which haue brought thée out of the Land of Egypt out of the house of bondage Thou shalt haue no other Gods before me vers 3. vers 4. II. Thou shalt not make vnto thée any grauen Image or any likenesse of any thing that is in Heauen aboue or that is in the Earth beneath or that is in the water vnder the earth Thou shalt not bow downe thy selfe to them nor serue them vers 5. For I the Lord thy God am a iealous God visiting the iniquitie of the Fathers vpon the children vers 6. vnto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me and shewing mercy vnto thousands of them that loue me and kéepe my commandements III. vers 7. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine for the Lord will not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his name in vaine IV. Remember the Sabbath day vers 8. vers 9. vers 10. to kéepe it holy Six daies shalt thou labour and do all thy worke But the seuenth day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God In it thou shalt not do any worke thou nor thy sonne nor thy daughter thy man-seruant nor thy maid-seruant nor thy cattell nor thy stranger that is within thy gates vers 11. For in six daies the Lord made heauen and earth the sea and all that in them is and rested the seuenth day wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it vers 12. V. Honour thy father and thy mother that thy daies may be long vpon the Land which the Lord thy God giueth thée vers 13. VI. Thou shalt not kill vers 14. VII Thou shalt not commit adulterie vers 15. VIII Thou shalt not steale vers 16. IX Thou shalt not beare false witnes against thy Neighbour vers 17. X. Thou shalt not couet thy neighbours house thou shalt not couet thy neighbours wife nor his man-seruant nor his maid-seruant nor his oxe nor his asse nor any thing that is thy neighbours Parent But the Papists do not diuide the Commandements thus some of them dashing the second quite out of the Text and others adioyning it to the first and so making the first and second both one and therefore both sorts of them are forced to diuide the tenth Commandement as we reckon it into two thereby to make vp the number of ten counting the first member of the tenth for the ninth and all the other members remaining for the tenth Pastor They do so indeed But they are confuted by good and apparent reason For First they that quite dash out the second out of the text of the ten Commandements are flatly impious because they goe about to abrogate and d Ps 119.126 destroy that which God would haue continued for the guidance of his people vnto the end of the world seeing at his appointment Moses wrote it in the Tables of stone as well as all the rest And the reason of this their sacriledge is vile and abhominable euen to hide their manifold Idolatry Imagerie and other wretched inuentions in the worship of God which they see cleerely condemned in the second commandement Secondly they that adjoyne the second to the first as a part thereof do not consider how God himselfe by his Spirit of wisedome hath noted the diuersitie of the matter throughout all the ten in such sort that euery seuerall commandement hath one principall verbe wherein the greatest force of the commandement doth consist as in a word that beareth the sway throughout all that precept or prohibition where it is placed in the very forefront or neere vnto it as in the Originall tongue is plaine to the judicious and learned For there are ten seuerall verbes for ech commandement one whereupon the matter and drift of ech commandement doth chiefly depend Now the verbe of the second doth manifestly differ from the verbe of the first according to the diuers matter thereof for the first imposeth vpon our soules that the true God onely must be our God and thereby excludeth all false Gods or Idols but the second requireth vs to take and vse such outward worship onely of the true God which he himselfe hath prescribed and forbiddeth to Make or vse any other outward worship of himselfe and all outward worship or approbation of any false God or Idoll at all And as for the verbe of the ninth and tenth Commandements as they diuide it is but one as the matter is but one to wit that we should not Couet meaning with an euill concupiscence although the things forbidden to be coueted are diuers as our neighbours house wife seruant c. and therefore it is but one Commandement And it is to be noted that by their manner of diuiding they might make so many seuerall Commandements as there be seuerall things forbidden to be coueted which were absurd The truth then is that the grosser and more sensible breach of all the particular members mentioned in the tenth Commandement are forbidden in the fiue Commandements going next before and the Lord maketh a Collection of them all togither as touching the first hatching and breeding of those grosser breaches in our wretched concupiscence and condemneth it wholly and apart by it selfe in this one Commandement which he hath in most conuenient sort put in the last place All which being indifferently weighed we may not vnfitly say as our Sauiour in a case not much vnlike e Math. 19.6 What God hath ioyned togither let no man put asunder And this that I haue said is confirmed by the Repetition that Moses maketh of the Ten Commandements in f Deut. 5.21 Deutronomie where the neighbours wife is specified before his house which at the giuing of the Law recorded in Exodus g Exod. 20 17. was otherwise Vndoubtedly it was to teach vs to referre them both togither with the members that follow vnto one chiefe head or commandement If it were not so there might bee giuen an occasion of doubting which were the ninth commandement and which the tenth but now by our diuision all such occasion is preuented Seruant What are those words God spake all these words saying Scholler They are a Preface to all the Commandements following Seruant What lesson doe they teach Scholler h Deut. 5.28 c. Because God himselfe deliuered all the commandements with his owne holy mouth that therefore it concerneth mee to learne and kéepe them Parent How are the Commandements diuided Childe i Deut. 10.1 2 c. Into two Tables Parents What doth the first table containe Childe k Math. 22.36 37 38 39 40. My duty towards God in the foure first commandements Seruant What is common to
these foure Scholler Euery one of them haue seuerall reasons added which in the first commandement goeth before and in the other thrée doe come after Seruant Which is the Reason of the first commandement Scholler I am the Lord thy God which haue brought thée out of the land of Egypt out of the house of bondage Seruant What doth it principally and generally teach Scholler l Deut. 6.4 5 c. Because God is the Lord my God the author of all good gifts and blessings and the only Sauiour and deliuerer of his people that therefore I am bound to serue him with all my hart Parent Which is the first commandement it selfe Child Thou shalt haue no other Gods before me Parent What doth the first commandement injoyne Child m 1 Chron. 28.9 Pro. 3.5 The inward worship of the true God alone which is both to know him and also to feare loue and trust in him and in nothing else Parent Which is the second commandement Child Thou shalt not make vnto thee any grauen Image or any likenesse of any thing that is in heauen aboue or that is in the earth beneath or that is in the water vnder the earth Thou shalt not bow downe thy selfe to them nor serue them Parent What doth the second commandement enjoyne Child n Deut. 12.30 31 32. Math. 15.9 The outward worship of the true God only according to his appointment set downe in the holy Scriptures Seruant Which is the reason of the second commandement Scholler For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God visiting the iniquitie of the fathers vpon the children vnto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me and shewing mercy vnto thousands of them that loue me and kéepe my commandements Seruant What doth it teach Scholler o Psal 44.21 106.36 37. 2 Chron. 19.2 That God being jealous of his owne worship is greatly displeased with all those that do worship him in a false manner as the speciall haters of his name but that he vouchsafed singular mercy to all them that doe maintaine his pure worship accounting them his speciall louers Parents Why doth the Lord speake so particularly both of the transgressors of this commandement as though he had no other Haters but they and also of the followers of his true worship as though he had no other Louers but they seeing it is often and plainely shewed in the Scriptures that all the wicked for their transgressing other commandements as well as this are censured to be his Haters or Enemies and all the righteous hauing respect to other commandements as well as to this are esteemed to be his Friends or Louers Pastor For two causes First the Lord would preuent mans erroneous conceipt concerning this commandement aboue all the rest for man is not only p Exo. 32.7.8 Num. 15.39 Deut. 31.16.29 Esai 2.8 9. Gal. 5.16.17 c. exceedingly prone to Idolatrie Wil-worship and Superstition through the corruption of his nature but also his blinde and deceitfull heart q 2 King 18.22.25 peruersely iudgeth the follower of Gods true worship to be Gods speciall Enemie and r Iud. 17 4 5.10.12 13. Iere. 44.15 16 17 18. confidently beareth himselfe and others in hand that by his false worshipping he doth highly please God Secondly Å¿ Deut. 4.23 24. with Exod. 32.19 Idolatrie is a notable breach of Gods couenant t Ezek. 16. * Hos 1.2 2.1 â—â— 4.5 whence it is that God abhorreth both Idolaters and their Progenie continuing in this sinne as a jealous husband lotheth his whorish wife and her children u Gen. 17.7 1 Cor. 11.2 3. but he embraceth with his loue the true worshippers and their seed keeping couenant with God as the husband doth his chaste wife and her children Parent Which is the third commandement Child Thou shalt not take the name of thy Lord thy God in vaine Parent What doth the third commandement injoyne Child * 1 Tim. 6. â— To auoyde all dishonouring and abusing of Gods name in his titles words and workes Seruant Which is the reason of the third commandement Scholler For the Lord will not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his name in vaine Seruant What doth it teach Scholler x Zach. 5.4 Iâ—m 5.12 That God will certainly punish that person in fearfull manner who dishonoureth his holy name either in word or déede Parent Which is the fourth commandement Childe Remember the Sabbath day to kéepe it holy Sixe daies shalt thou labour and doe all thy worke But the seauenth day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt not doe any worke thou nor thy son nor thy daughter thy man-seruant nor thy maid-seruant nor thy cattell nor thy stranger that is within thy gates Parent What doth the fourth commandement injoyne Child y Gen. 2.2 3. Act. 20.7 c. 1 Cor. 16.1 Nehem. 13.21 Esai 58.13.14 Apoc. 1.10 To separate our selues and our people vpon the Lords day from all other exercises to the seruice and worship of God alone Seruant VVhat is the reason of the fourth commandement Scholler For in sixe dayes the Lord made heauen and earth the sea and all that in them is and rested the seauenth day wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and hallowed it Seruant VVhat doth it teach Scholler z Gen 2.2 3. Exod 16.23 24 25 26 27.29 Because God himselfe hauing made all things in sixe dayes both rested the seauenth from creating any more Esai 56.4.7 58.13 14. with Iohn 20.19.26 and also sanctified the sabbath for the vse of his worship wee are bound to imitate his example in kéeping of the Lords day assuring our selues that it is the way to true blessednesse Parent VVhat doth the second table containe Child a Math. 22.39 40. My dutie to man in the sixe last commandements b Epbs 6.2 whereof the first is with promise Parent Which is the fifth commandemenr being the first of the second table Child Honour thy Father and thy Mother Parent VVhat doth the fifth commandement injoyne Child c 1 Tim. 6.1 1 Pet. 3.7 All speciall duties to man in regard of his and our speciall calling and degree whether Superiors Inferiors or Equalls Parent VVhich is the Promise Child That thy daies may bée long vpon the Land which the Lord thy God giueth thée Parent VVhat doth it teach Child d Iere. 35.19 with 1 King 14.12.13 That if I make conscience of this Commandement my life shall be happie vpon the earth Parent Which is the sixth commandement Child Thou shalt not kill Parent What doth the sixth commandement injoyne Child e Math. 5.22 Ezâ—k 33.8 All duties to man in respect of his person and that both to body and soule Parent Which is the seauenth commandement Child Thou shalt not commit adulterie Parent What doth the seauenth commandement injoyne Child f Math. 5.27 28. 1 Thes 4.4.5 All duties to man in respect of Chastitie
assuredly Child u Rom. 8.34 Heb. 6.19 20. 9.24 Reuel 1.5 Because he sitteth at the right hand of God his Father and so is become our continuall Remembrancer Parent How is Christ the King of his Church Child * Luk. 1.32 33. 1 Cor. 15.25 c. By ruling it in this world and glorifying it in the world to come Parent How doth Christ rule his Church in this world Child First x Phil. 2.13 by working grace in the heart Secondly y Psal 121. by protecting and defending it Thirdly z Rom. 8.28 by disposing all things to its greatest good Parent What Graces doth Christ the King of his Church *** The first way of Christs ruling of his Church in this world worke in the heart Child a Phil. 1.29 1 Cor. 6.11 Faith and Sanctification or Regeneration Parent What is Faith Child b Eph. 3.12 17. Rom. 4.18 21. Faith is a true perswasion of my heart grounded vpon the Promises of God that whatsoeuer Christ hath wrought for the saluation of Man he hath done it as well for me as for any others Parent In what words is Faith in Christ taught Child Gal. 2.20 The Sonne of God hath loued me and giuen himselfe for me Seruant What is the least measure of true Faith that any one can haue who is of yeeres of discretion Scholler d Gen. 4.13 Rom. 8.9 23.24 25. Ephes 3.17 Math. 5.6 Psal 51.8 9. compared When one is perswaded that his sinnes may be forgiuen and withall prayeth from the bottome of his heart that whatsoeuer els God doth for him he would forgiue him Seruant But when Faith groweth to some strength how may you know then that you haue a true and liuely faith Scholler First e Rom. 5 1. Gal. 4.6 by the inward peace of my conscience féeling Gods loue in Christ and assuring me of the forgiuenesse of all my sinnes Secondly f Act. 15.9 Rom. 6.19 Iam. 2.14 15 16. c. by my good workes which are the fruits of a liuely faith * See more of Faith in Part. 4. and in Part. 5. Seruant Where are the chiefest points of Faith as touching the things themselues that are to be beleeued of a Christian comprised and set all togither in one short summe for the help of the more ignorant sort of weake memories Scholler In the Confession of Faith commonly called the Articles of our Beléefe and by some The Apostles Creed Seruant Why is it called The Creed Scholler Of the Latine word Credo which is the first word in this Confession and signifieth in our English tongue I beleeue Seruant And why beareth it the name of the Apostles Scholler Because it was taken out of the doctrine of the Apostles Seruant Vnto whom was it prescribed Scholler Vnto euery one to confesse in his owne person as being indéed the Summe of all Religion Parent Rehearse the Creed Child The forme of Confession of Faith I beléeue in God the Father almighty maker of heauen and earth And in Iesus Christ his onely Sonne our Lord who was conceiued by the Holy Ghost borne of the Virgin Marie suffered vnder Ponce Pilate was crucified dead and buried He descended into Hell The third day hée rose againe from the dead He ascended into heauen and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty From thence he shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead I beléeue in the Holy Ghost the holy Catholike Church the Communion of Saints the forgiuenesse of Sinnes the Resurrection of the Bodie and the Life euerlasting Amen Parent I pray you Pastor giue vs a short Explanation of the Creede which we may vse to read deliberately in our house vnto our ignorant people now and than and at the least vpon the Lords day where better means of edification cannot be had before or after we haue beene at the publike Ministerie of the word In which Explanation we would haue you to direct vs how to vnderstand and apply euery seuerall point to ech one of our selues particularly and withall set vs downe in the margent some of the plainest testimonies of holy Scripture to proue that your exposition is grounded thereon Pastor I will so that you will not forget nor neglect to vse it weekely till such time as you and your Families be better instructed and setled in the truth Parent I pray God make me and my companie not only mindfull and diligent to vse it but also giue vs grace to profit by it Pastor Amen Now than a Christian man or woman should vnderstand and apply to his or her selfe the Articles of Faith as if he or she should say a litle more largely thus The Explanation of the Creede The Creed it self being the Summe of the holy Gospell Forasmuch as g g Heb. 11.1 2 3 c. Iam. 1 12 13. 1 Tim. 1.5 2 Pet. 1.5 6 7 8 9. true Faith is the onely Mother and ground-worke of all sauing graces and whereby also they become acceptable to God and that euery person who looketh to bée saued must attaine saluation by his h h Hab. 2.4 Iohn 3.15 16 18. Gal. 3.22 26. Heb. 10.38 11.6 owne faith and not by the faith that is in any others out of himselfe And forasmuch as the same true faith i i Rom. 10.10 2 Cor. 4.13 Matth. 10 32 33. Act. 8.37 will necessarily shew it self by Confession I doe here make confession of it with my mouth as I haue receiued and do stedfastly hold it in my heart not from the traditions or sayings of men but as I sée it warranted in Gods most holy word vnto the praise and glory of God my owne comfort and the good example of others in this forme following to wit I beleeue in God the Father Almighty Maker of heauen earth I doe acknowledge and beléeue k k Deut. 4.39.1 Iohn 5.7 one onely God distinguished into thrée persons l l Math. 28.19 the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost to be m m Iohn 14.1 20.28 my God n n Ephes 1.11 Act. 15.18 27.20 21 22 c. who decréed before all worlds o o Gen. 1. 2. chapters made and fashioned in time p p Act. 4.24 28. Gen. 14.19 Rom. 11.36 disposeth and possesseth all things whatsoeuer with all their seuerall actions circumstances in most holy manner according to his infinite power and wisedome vnto his owne glory and specially Angels in heauen and Men on earth who is both willing able to blesse me q q Rom. 8.28 Psal 115.11 13 15. and who I know maketh all things worke togither for good vnto me whom he hath called to loue feare and obey him maugre all enimies r r Iohn 20.17 because hee is Christs father and my father almighty in strength Which Father ſ ſ Gen. 3.1 7. Iohn 8.44 Rom. 7.12 23. Deut. 27.26 when wée wretches fel shamefully
Cor. 6.11 Iohn 14.26 15.26 acknowledge beléeue the third Person of the Trinitie the Holy Ghost procéeding from the Father and the Sonne to be the Sanctifier and comforter of Gods Elect making effectuall vnto them whatsoeuer Iesus Christ hath wrought suffred who worketh and preuaileth in me which I perceiue not only by the graces of * * Ephes 4.22 23 24. Rom. 7.15 to the end true holinesse and righteousnes begun and increasing in me and by my diligent striuing against the remnants of my corruption and lusts but also x x 2 Cor. 1.22 Rom 8.15 16 23 26. by the earnest of the same Spirit in my heart inabling me to call God my Father and to pray with sighes and grones within any selfe for the perfect adoption The holy Catholike Church And further I do acknowledge a y y Iohn 10.16 Act. 2.42 c. 14.22 1 Cor. 1.26 27. 2 Tim. 3.12 companie of people called by Gods frée grace in Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit few in number in comparison of the rest and ordinarily consisting of the baser sort and the same exercised with many affliction z z Deut. 12.30 31 32. 29.29 Seruing God according to his word a a Gen. 4.26 Rom. 10.13 invocating his name b b Heb. 13.17 submitting themselues vnto the Ministerie of the Gospell and c c Act. 19.5 1 Cor. 11.24 25. professing Iesus Christ in the vse of the Sacraments Baptisme and the Supper of the Lord. d d Ephes 5.26 27. 1 Thes 4.7 Holy because both Christs holines is imputed to them beléeuing in him and also for that there doth procéed from their holy faith a holy life and conuersation And Catholike because this companie of people is e e Ephes 4.12 13 16. Iohn 11.52 Esai 2.2 3. vniuersally scattered ouer all the world of whose number without the which there is no saluation I doe certainly know and professe my selfe to be one f f Iohn 6.27 10.27 Act. 2.47 24.14 because I féele in my selfe an hungring after the Word and Sacraments with all other the Ordinances of the Lord as the meanes of my spirituall nourishment and doe willingly submit my selfe to be guided by the spirit and word of God the Communion of Saints In which Church I acknowledg g g 1 Ioh. 1.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. Psal 16.3 1 Cor. 12.26 that there is a partaking of gifts and graces from Christ to them Esai 11.6 7 8 Phil. 2.1 2 3 c. Col. 3.11.12 13 14. amongst themselues mutually vnto the best good and saluation of euery member which I for my part doe professe and practise both ioyning my selfe vnto them in all godly exercises and labours and féeling my selfe vnfainedly knit vnto them in all holy affections mercifulnesse h h Act. 13.38 39. Psal 103. â— 2 3 4 11 12. Esai 38.17 Mic. 7.19 Zach. 12.10 Rom. 7.19 10. Matth. 5.44 45. 6.14 Ephes 4.32 Lâ—â—â— 23.34 Act. 7.60 the forgiuenesse of sinnes And forasmuch as this onely true Church doth apply Iesus Christs righteousnesse vnto it selfe euery member particularly and for his sake whom they haue pierced by their sinnes do heartily repent I do beléeue that God wil forgiue them their sinnes and do assure my selfe that hée will forgiue me all mine for the which cause I cannot choose but be thankfull to the Lord in waging warre against euery sinne and in forgiuing and praying for all them that haue vniustly and greatly offended thée euen my sorest enimies the resurrection of the body Finally I acknowledge and beléeue that at the last day i i Ioh. 5.28 29. Job 19.25 1 Cor. 15. Eccles 12.14 2 Cor. 5.10 Matth. 25. all the soules of the dead shall returne and be put into the very same bodies wherein they once liued and so be raised vp to liue againe and the quicke changed all in a moment through the vnspeakable power of God to the end they may all come to iudgment wholy both bodies and soules togither and sentence may bée giuen vpon them When k k Phil. 3.21 Revel â—0 6 21.4 Rom. 6.11 13. 1â— 1 2â— for my part I trust to haue a ioyfull and glorious resurrection my selfe as all other the faithfull shall haue whereof we haue a plaine earnest giuen vs already in the Resurrection of Christ our head frée from any more miserie and hauing all teares wiped away from mine eyes because I féele my selfe rising daily vnto newnesse of life and my bodie conformed sitted in all the parts and faculties of it more and more to serue the Lord for I know I shall not be condemned because I verily beléeue l l Rom. 8.1.3 2 Cor. 7.11 Iesus Christ hath béene in a sort condemned for me and hath made mée condemne my selfe in remorce of conscience for my sinnes to such effect that I walke not after the flesh that is in following and satisfying the swindge of my naturall corruption but after the Spirit that is in framing my waies agreable to the gift and state of regeneration wrought in my heart by the Holy Spirit m m 2 Cor. 5.1 2. c. 1 Tim. 4.8 Revel 21.22 22.1 2 3 4 5. and the life euerlasting From that day the Godly shall possesse the kingdome of heauen in the presence of God for euermore Iohn 10.9 10 11 15 17 28. Phil. 3.20 1 Thess 4.17 the most happy and blessed life which God hath prepared for them and whereof I looke to bee partaker forasmuch as Christ hath both merited it for me and wrought so in me that my conuersation is in heauen that is such as tendeth driueth towards the heauenly glory n n Reuel 22.3 with Luk. 2.14 There shall he be praised of me and of all other his elect for euer o o Rom. 10.10 2 Cor. 1.20 Apoc. 22.20 Tit. 3.7 Rom. 8.23 Amen All these things I doe truly beléeue with my heart and confesse with my mouth that they are so indéed and doe desire and waite for the full performance accomplishment of them vnto the praise and glory of God Parent What is Regeneration or Sanctification Child p Iohn 3.3 Luk. 3.3 8. 1 Thess 5.23 A singular grace of God whereby I am truly changed from my sinnes and made the obedient child of God Parent What are the parts of Regeneration Child q Ephes 4.22 23 24. The mortifying of the olde man and the quickning of the new Parent What is the mortifying of the old man Child r Rom. 6.3 6 c. 8.13 Col. 3.5 Gal. 5.24 The abating and crucifying of sinne and of the power thereof through the vertue of Christs death and buriall Seruant How must you vse Christs death that it may slay your sinne Scholler Å¿ Zach. 12.10 Gal. 2.20 Heb. 6.6 1 Cor. 2.8 with 1 Pet. 4.1 2. Bethinking my selfe that my sinnes were the
Giue vs this day our daily bread And forgiue vs our trespasses as wee forgiue them that trespasse against vs. And lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory for euer Amen Parent Are you bound to pray in the onely words of this forme alwaies Childe * See the examples of the Saints prayers in the holie Scriptures Not alwaies for Christ hath left it to our liberty for the words so that we doe imitate the matter and vse the like affections b Exod. 14.15 1 Sam. 1.15 16 Psal 119.145 Esai 37 14 15 c. Rom. 8.26 Phil. 4.6 Iam. 5.16 So whether I vse this forme or not I must pray cheefly with my heart being touched with the féeling of my wants and powring forth my soule before the Lord in euery request Seruant God knoweth before wee aske what wee need yea and hath appointed in his prouidence what he will bestow how and when therefore why should wee pray at all at least wise so earnestly Scholler c Psal 14.4 50.15 145.18 Iob. 21.15 Ierem. 10.25 Ioel. 2.32 Acts 10.4 1. Tim. 4.5 Luke 23.42 43. Because he hath sanctified it to be his Ordinance thereby to blesse and prosper whom and what he will for hee will saue them that call vpon him in truth and none other Parent VVhat doe you learne out of this that the Lord Iesus hath set vs downe what we should pray for Childe d Math. 6.9 Psal 119.41 Exo. 32.11.13 1 Iohn 5.14 I learne that I must ground and frame all my desires vpon the promises which God hath made in his Word Parent How many principall parts be there of the Lords prayer Childe Foure First the Preface Secondly the Petitions Thirdly the Thanksgiuing Fourthly the Conclusion Parent Which is the Preface Childe Our Father which art in Heauen Parent Who is that whom you call Father Childe c Mat. 3.17 23.9 Iohn 20.17 God who is become my mercifull Father in Iesus Christ Parent What do you learne out of that Childe f Joh. 16.23 Math. 17.5 Rom. 8.15 16. Heb. 4.16 I learne to call vppon God onely in the onely name and mediation of Iesus Christ in whom he is well pleased Seruant What doe you learne out of that that you call God Our Father Scholler g Math. 5.23 43 44. Mar. 11.25.26 Luke 23.34 1 Tim. 2 8. 1 Ioh. 3.18 22. Esai 1.15 58.4 6 7. I learne that all true Christians especially are my brethren and therefore that I must loue them heartily and pray for them as for my selfe yea also for my enemies Parent What doe you learne out of that which is added which art in Heauen Childe First h Exod. 3.5 Eccles 5.1 2. 1 Tim. 2 8. Psal 20.6 I learne when I pray to approach vnto God with holie preparation singular feare and humble reuerence Secondly i Ephes 3.20 I learne that he is not onely willing but also able to helpe Parent How many Petitions bee therein the Lords prayer Child Sixe whereof the first three doe principally concerne Gods glorie the last thrée our owne necessities Parent What doe you learne out of that order Child k Prou. 16.4 Exod. 32 3◠I learne that I must zealously desire the glorifying of Gods most holy name before I séeke reliefe for any of my owne necessities Parent Which is the first Petition Child Hallowed be thy name Parent What doe you pray for in the first Petition Child l 1 Cor. 10.31 Rom. 11.36 That God may be glorified in all things Parent Which is the second Petition Child Thy kingdome come Parent What doe you pray for in the second Petition Child First m Mark 1.13 15.43 Math. 28 18. Psal 51.10 122.6 2 Thes 3 1. that the kingdome of Grace may be daily inlarged both by the inward working of the holy spirit and also by the outward meanes vntill it be perfected at the comming of Christ to iudgement Secondly n Reuel 22 20 2 Tim. 4 8. that God would finish these sinfull daies and take vs to his kingdome of glory Parent Which is the third Petition Child Thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen Parent What doe you pray for in the third Petition Child First o Deut. 29.29 Psal 86.11 103.20 Acts 24.16 that wee may render dutifull obedience vnto Gods reuealed will vntill wée be as the holie Angels Secondly p Mark 8.34 Phil. 1.29 Iam. 5.7 8 c. that wée may submit our selues to suffer his will with patience in time of afflictions Parent Which is the fourth Petition Childe Giue vs this day our dailie bread Parent What doe you pray for in the fourth Petition Childe q Pro. 30.8 Psal 104.15 1 Tim. 4.4 6.8 Gen. 28.20 Pro. 10 22. Math. 8.2 Rom. 1.10 Luk. 12.16.17 18 19 20 21. That God would giue vs all things necessary and conuenient for this present life with this exception If it be his good pleasure Parent Which is the fifth Petition Childe And forgiue vs our trespasses as wee forgiue them that trespasie against vs. Parent What doe you pray for in the fifth Petition Child r Mat. 11.28 Esai 55.1 c. Psal 19.12 32.1 Dan. 9.24 Zach. 12.10 That God would iustifie vs by the forgiuenesse of our sinnes and the imputation of Christs righteousnesse Seruant Doe we deserue forgiuenesse for our sinnes at Gods hands because we forgiue them that trespasse against vs Scholler No ſ Math 5.7 Luke 7.47 Mat. 18.22 32 for first God forgiueth vs fréely and then that being felt by faith in our hearts causeth vs to forgiue them that haue offended vs. Seruant Wherefore then is that Reason added Scholler t Mark 11.24 25.26 Both to teach vs that we ought to forgiue others when we pray and also that by the same grace we may get assurance that God will forgiue vs. Parent Which is the sixth Petition Child And lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill Parent What do you pray for in the sixth Petition Child u Psal 51.12 Iob 36.21 Genes 39.12 1 Sam. 25.13 22. Math. 8.28 c. Ioh. 14.30 1 Cor. 10 13. Iam. 1.13 14. That God would sanctifie vs by mortifying our corrupt nature and quickning vs in newnesse of life Seruant Why doth Christ teach vs to pray for Sanctification in so many words Scholler To assure vs First * Psal 66.18 145.19 Prov. 28.13 Iohn 9.31 Iam 5.16 1 Tim. 2.8 that vnlesse we truly forsake all our sinnes and hartily embrace a godly life vnto the vttermost of our power God will not heare vs when we call vpon him Secondly x 2 Pet. 1.5 6 8 9 10. Phil. 2.12 that we cannot obtaine Sanctification without great diligence Seruant What do you learne out of this that Christ hath taught vs two petitions for spirituall things and but one for temporall Scholler y
Esai 66.2 1 King 8.37 38 39. Luk 8 13 14. Matth. 6.33 That being vnfainedly cast downe in the sense of our spirituall miserie and vilenesse we doe desire spirituall graces aboue all worldly benefits Parent Which is the Thanksgiuing of the Lords Prayer Child For thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory for euer Parent What do you learne out of the Thanksgiuing Child z 1 Chron. 29.10 11 12 13. 2 Cor. 1.20 Phil. 4.6 1 Tim. 2.1 1 Pet. 4.14 Because God hath full right and power ouer all and doth all things to his owne glory and that for euer I learne First to ground my assurance of obtayning my prayers onely on God And afterwards to render him therefore all praise and glory backe againe at all times Parent Which is the Conclusion of the Lords Prayer Child Amen Parent What is the meaning of Amen Child a 1 Cor. 14.16 2 Cor. 1.20 Reuel 22.20 So be it So it is and So it shall be Parent What do you learne out of Amen Child b Iam. 1.6 7. 5.16 Mark 11.24 I learne thereby that I must pray not onely with seruent desire to obtaine the thing that I aske but also with Faith and Assurance that I shall haue my desire accomplished Parent But what if God heare not our prayers at the first Child c Mark 9.24 Luk. 18.1 c. 21.36 Psal 42.11 1 Thess 5.17 Esai 62.7 Yet we must striue against doubting and vnbeléefe and continue in prayer neuer waxing faint nor for any cause ceasing to importune the Lord till hée hath granted our requests Seruant How is Prayer diuided Scholler Into Publike Priuate and either of the same into Ordinarie and Extraordinarie Seruant What do you call Publike Prayer Scholler d Act 6.4 c Psal 84.1 c. 1. Cor. 14.40 That which is made by the Church assembled for Gods worship and seruice sake Seruant What is priuate Prayer Scholler e 2 Sam. 6.20 Ester 4.15 Math. 6.6 That which is made in priuate either with others as in the Familie or solitarily and secretly by ones selfe alone Seruant Which are the fittest times for Prayer and Thanksgiuing to God to be performed in and with the whole Familie ordinarily Scholler f Psal 55.17 Dan. 6.10 The Morning and Euening g 1 Tim. 4.3.4.5 Mat. 14.19 Luke 24.30 And before and after Meales Parent I pray you Pastor giue vs some conuenient formes of Prayer which during our infirmitie we will vse till God inable vs to conceiue prayer of our selues And first let vs haue a forme of Prayer composed according to the principall matter and forme of the Lords Prayer as you haue already explaned it and let it be fitted for the worke-day morning in the Houshold Pastor You may vse this plaine and easie one or some other that you thinke fitter for your estate A Forme of Morning Prayer on the worke-day for the whole Familie * * Luke 11.1 Lord teach vs to pray A prayer for the familie on work-day mornings O Gratious Lord who hast not onely commanded vs to make knowne our requests vnto thée only See the proofes in the Conference concerning Prayer supra in euery thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiuing but also hast sanctified it to be thine ordinance thereby to blesse them whom thou wilt blesse assuring vs that thou wilt accept the prayers of all them that do ground the same aright vpon thy word and promise we humbly beséech thée prepare our hearts by thine owne Spirit that we may now approch vnto thy most sourraigne Maiestie with holy feare and reuerence and in the féeling of our wants may powre forth our soules before thée who wilt fulfill the desires of all them that call vpon thée zealously The Lords Prayer Our Father And herein chiefly we intreat thée to giue vs a true and comfortable féeling that thou art become our most mercifull Father in Iesus Christ thy deare Sonne in whom thou art well pleased that calling vpon thy most holy name with Faith and child-like boldnesse through him we may verily beléeue that we shall haue the petitions which we desire of Thée and thereupon expect thy blessing with comfort for all our necessities And forasmuch as thou hast commanded vs to pray one for another we pray thée to accept our cry also in the name of thy holy Sonne Iesus for the behoofe of all other thy children wheresoeuer liuing throughout the whole world yea euen also of their and our enimies that belong vnto thée according to the election of grace though they be not yet called which art in Heauen And because thou art in heauen being as able to helpe as thou art willing we pray thee giue vs an assured trust in thy All sufficient power as well as in thy tender and frée mercie without the which grace we cannot looke to be heard of thée in any of our praiers whatsoeuer Hallowed be thy name O God and Lord of all glory we first and cheifly desire thée to vouchsafe vnto vs the true zeale of thy glory that we may be willing and ready instruments truely to set forth thy name in our thoughts words and all our cariage according to thy holy will reuealed in thy word and that before we séeke reléefe for our selues in any of our owne necessities and be thou pleased to be glorified of vs yea and let thy name be magnified ouer all for of thée through thée and to thée are all things to thée be glory for euer Amen Thy kingdome come Next we intreat thée to inlarge the kingdome of thy grace in Iesus Christ by the inward working of thy Spirit in our hearts and in all other thine elect And to that end let thy Word thy Sacraments and all other thy holy Ordinances haue free passage and libertie in the world and become effectuall vntill all thine elect shall be gathered and fitted for thy comming to iudgement which we pray thée hasten that these sinfull daies may be finished and then take vs to thy kingdome of glory Thy will bee done in earth as it is in heauen And therefore also we beséech thée to make vs more and more thine obedient seruants striuing to keepe thy commandements till we come to perfection and to be like thy holy Angels who hearken vnto the voice of thy word and do thy pleasure And withall grant vnto vs that we may neither despise thy chastenings nor faint when we are rebuked of thée but may giue thée reuerence in our sufferings with dutifull submission ioyfull patience and let thy chastenings yéeld vs the peaceable fruit of righteousnesse when we are exercised thereby Giue vs this day our daily bread And séeing thou Lord art the Author and Giuer of all temporall blessings as well as spirituall we pray thee according to thy heauenly will and diuine wisedome for thou onely knowest our necessities and what is good for vs yea and hast made vs
to know that all things worke togither for good to them that loue thee to bestow vpon vs all things needfull and conuenient for this present life so as we may be best fitted to liue to thy praise our owne soules eternall comfort and to the spirituall profit and aduantage of others in thy Church and especially to the better releefe and refreshing of thy poore afflicted seruants vnto the which ends also we pray thee blesse and prosper vs in the right vse of those thy good gifts which we presently enioy And forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. But mercifull Father howsoeuer thou deale with vs for worldly benefits we most hartily desire thée to forgiue vs all our sinnes that are passed iustifying vs in the righteousnes of thy Sonne Iesus Christ And that we féeling the comfort of thy loue in our hearts by faith may for thy sake vnfainedly forgiue them that haue offended vs and by the same grace get stronger assurance to our owne soules that thou Lord wilt in thine infinite mercies forgiue vs all that great and manifold debt of ours And lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill And for the time to come we entirely beséech thée to let vs sée the deepe deceitfulnes of our owne fleshly hearts and our corrupt inclination whereupon the Deuill for the most part worketh and withall doe thou stir vs vp to fight continually against the same euen against our euill and wretched lusts the vile fruits of our vnbeléefe and to watch against the Deuill who walketh about as a roaring Lyon séeking whom he may deuoure and like a subtile Serpent studying to deceiue O Lord grant he may neither bewitch vs in prosperitie as that we should denie or forget thée nor make vs froward in aduersitie Mortifie our corrupt nature the rotten and lothsome fountaine of our manifold sins and quicken vs in newnesse of life and in the studie of true godlinesse Which grace of Sanctification and a godly life we do the more earnestly beg at thy mercifull hands because thou hast taught vs plainly that without the same thou wilt not heare vs when we call vpon thée as also for that thou wilt not vouchsafe thine effectuall grace vnto any but vpon their strongest endeuours And so O gratious Lord we do most instantly beséech thée to saue vs from our sinnes to cast vs downe vnfainedly in the féeling of our spirituall miserie and vilenes to lift vs vp in the assurance of thy Sonne Christs merits and to make vs far more laborious for grace for our soules then for earthly fauour for our bodies For thine is the kingdom the power and the glory for euer Touching all which our requests we doe ground our Faith for obtaining them only vpon thée who hast sole right authoritie and power ouer all and who wilt do all things vndoubtedly vnto they owne glory euermore and wilt cause the spirit of glory to rest vpon vs that on our part do glorifie thée And therefore we doe promise to render vnto thée most harty thanks at all times for all thy mercies and fauours plentifully bestowed vpon vs in Iesus Christ and most of all for our Redemption in him beséeching thée to inable vs to praise thée the King of Kings and Lord of Lords in doing those good works which thou hast ordained that we should walke in them and specially the duties of our callings and degrées wherein thou hast set vs. Amen For these and all other necessarie graces and blessings we doe not onely most feruently desire them but also do verily beleeue and desire to beleeue that thou hearest vs alwaies Beseeching thee to giue vs grace to striue against doubting and vnbeleefe and confirme our faith that we may come often vnto thee with all cheerefull willingnes and sound delight and may continue knocking for thy mercy without wearinesse vntill thy Sonne Iesus Christ shall come to dissolue vs and to crowne his owne grace in vs with eternall glory And here confessing thy free and gratious goodnesse in preseruing protecting vs this night past we pray thee teach vs to vse well thy mercy all this day to loue vs still to direct and blesse vs in our honest labours and businesses and so giue vs more and more cause to sing praise and giue thanks vnto thee and to liue and die to thy glory And make vs alwaies mindfull of that great gift of thine Christ and his Gospell to the end we may giue vp our selues to walke with him in deeds and sufferings and séeke our owne and others saluation with holy feare and trembling Finally let not thy word depart out of our mindes neither let vs goe astray from thy commandements And though we be thy most vnworthy and vnprofitable seruants yet be pleased to grant our suite and accept our sacrifice sith we come vnto thée in the onely mediation and intercession of thy blessed Sonne and our Sauiour Iesus Christ And therefore * * 2 Cor. 13.14 the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ and the loue of God and the Communion of the Holy Ghost be with vs all Amen Parent Secondly I pray you giue vs a forme of Prayer for the worke-day euening and let it be such as consisteth altogether of the phrases and sentences of holy Scripture to the end we may take the better delight in calling vpon God for we finde our hearts dull and our flesh vnwilling oftentimes for this high seruice but we haue had experience by our vsing those very words which the Holy Ghost hath indited in the Bible that we haue beene quickned and made willing cheerefull and reuerent in our supplications thanks-giuings vnto the Lord. Pastor You may vse this following if you please A Forme of Euening Prayer on the worke-day for the whole Familie A prayer for the Familie on worke-day euening a a Esai 6.3 HOly holy holy b b Revel 4.8 Lord God Almightie which was and is In this forme I haue strictly followed the last translation of the Bible done by his Maiesties speciall commandement appointed to be read in Churches and is to come the whole earth is full of thy glory c c Psal 19.14 Let the words of our mouth and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in thy sight O Lord our strength and our Redeemer d d Psal 32.5 51.3 Wee acknowledge our sinnes vnto thee and our iniquities wee will not hide for they are euer before vs. e e Rō 5.12 19. For by one man sinne entred into the world and death by sinne and by his disobedience wee are made sinners f f Psal 51.5 Thereupon wee were shapen in iniquitie and in sinne did our mothers conceiue vs. g g Esai 64.6 So wee bee all of vs as an vncleane thing and all our righteousnesses as filthy rags Thence it is that wee haue actually h h Dan. 9.5 9. sinned against thee
wée may be able to bear it u u Mark 9.24 We belieue Lord help our vnbeliefe * * Esai 26.8 The desire of our soule is thy name and to the remembrance of thee x x Dan. 9.18.19 O our God encline thine eare and heare open thine eyes and behold our desolations and the City which is called by thy name for we doe not present our supplications before thée for our righteousnesses but for thy great mercies y y Eph. 3.20 Now vnto thée that art able to doe excéeding abundantly aboue all that we aske or thinke according to the power that worketh in vs z z Vers 21. vnto thée be glory in the Church by Christ Iesus throughout al ages world without end Amen Parent Thirdly I pray you giue vs two easie and plaine formes of thanksgiuing for our daily vse at euery meale the one before the receiuing of our food and the other after to be vttered by my selfe if I be present or by some other of my house in the name of all that partake of the same meale Pastor I will A forme of Thankesgiuing to be vsed of an ignorant familie before meales MOst gratious God we acknowledge thée to be the author of all good gifts and blessings wée humbly pray thée to forgiue vs all our sinnes Grant vs faith and sobernesse in receiuing these thy good creatures blesse them to our nourishment and stirre vs vp thereupon to serue thy holy maiesty with true thanksgiuing through Iesus Christ thy Sonne and our Sauiour by thy holy spirit Amen After Meales TO thee our most bountifull Father and gracious Lord who hast made redeemed and euer hitherto preserued vs and at this time fedde and refreshed vs with thy good gifts and creatures be all glory and obedience rendred of vs and of all other thy people both now and euermore God saue the Church vniuersall blesse the kings Maiesty continue thy Gospell make thy holy word effectuall in our hearts comfort all thy poore and afflicted seruants and giue vs thy peace and whole truth in Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Parent Fourthly I pray you giue vs some formes of prayer for morning and euening on the Lords day for the whole houshold as you haue done for the worke-dayes Pastor Nay I would rather exhort you to vse your best indeuours to conceiue prayers of your selues according as the spirit of God shall inable you and your estate shall require for on the Sabbath day you haue most time to labour in prayer if you will make conscience to redeeme your time and verily if you would set your selues vnfainedly to the studie heereof by your humble and constant crauing * Zach. 12.10 of the Spirit of Prayer at the Lords hands by a conscionable exercising of your selues in the holy Scriptures of a true purpose and holy desire to wrestle with God * Gen. 32.24 25 c. with Hos 12.3 4. as Iacob did in supplication to his glory the Lord will bestow this ability vpon you Howbeit if you desire any further direction to traine you vp in this duty of prayer you may profitably imploy your selues for some conuenient space on the Lords days in that singular help which the Lord hath prouided for you by the paines of Master Iohn Brinsley in his second part of the True Watch containing The perfect Rule and Summe of Prayer whereunto I referre you for this your fourth request Yet I will giue you a forme of prayer for solitarie vse vpon the Lords day morning I meane for each one by himselfe apart For although it bee a Christians part both to pray solitarilie euery worke day and also to ioyn with the whole familie in priuate prayer on the Lords day and the same more largely and oftner then on other daies yet there seemeth to bee speciall reason and need for euery particular person to call vpon God by himselfe alone for preparation towards the beginning of the Lords day Because I. God must be intreated by al manner praier and means possible to inable vs vnto the duties of this day Reasons for solitary or secret prayer in the entrance of the Lords day II. This solitary praying will occasion and further vs to seeke our neerer reconciliation with God which as at al other times so cheefly on that day we must giue greatest diligence to be sure of III. It is a speciall meane to make vs the more carefull both to bestow the more time and labour vpon Gods seruice and to profit the better thereby on that day IV. Euery one knoweth best his owne particular corruptions and wants in former abuse of the Sabbath whereof hee ought to begge forgiuenesse at Gods hands in secret and to seeke his owne particular healing and comfort V. Lastly consider I pray you how you know that your heart is sincere and earnest in seeking the Lord on his day and what sound comfort you can haue in your selfe against the accusation of hypocrisie or of vaine glory when Satan shall by anie meanes charge you therewith if you be cold in your secret and solitarie prayers on that day and specially if you neglect them thereon altogether Furthermore remember that the Sabbath is the Bond of all Religion for which cause the Lord doth often stile * Esai 56.2 Lam. 1.7 Ezek. 20.11 c. his whole Religion by the name of the Sabbath and that therefore it is your part being a Christian Housholder as to haue a care of your selfe and of all your people for resorting vnto the publike worship of God with firme constancie and there to continue with reuerence from the beginning to the end of the whole so to call your selfe to a secret reckoning with God for your profiting that day and your people all togither before you inquiring of them one by one what they haue gained by ech Sermon and to teach them diligently labouring to haue conscience put vpon them by the Lord and to the same ends imploying your selfe and them more that day than any other in praiers and thanksgiuings singing of Psalmes and vse of the word in publike and priuate and * Psal 93. 107. throughout but specially v. 42 43. in a wise and holy obseruation and application of the workes of God For whosoeuer you be vnlesse you make conscience of all these things how can you expect Gods blessing vpon any publike exercise though neuer so holy in it selfe which you shall haue to doe withall on that day Therefore if you iudge this forme following fit for your estate vse it ech one seuerally by himselfe during your present ignorance and weaknesse A Forme of Prayer for the Sabbath day morning or the euening before to be vsed of a weake Christian by himselfe alone tending to his better preparation for the duties of the Sabbath A forme of solitarie prayer for the beginning of the Lords day a a Psal 21.1 VNto thée O Lord doe I lift vp my soule and
b b Psal 5.3 my voice shalt thou heare in the morning O Lord. c c Psal 43.3 Oh send out thy light and thy truth let them lead me let them bring me vnto thy holy hill and to thy tabernacles d d Psal 85.7 Shew me thy mercy O Lord and grant me thy saluation And howsoeuer e e Heb. 4.2 Ierem. 7.8 9 10 11. 1 Cor. 11.17 I haue often heard thy holy word called vpon thy great name and had to do with the seales of the righteousnes of Faith not for the better but for the worst at least wise with small or no fruit yet now I humbly pray thée make me like f f Luk 8.15 good ground that I may with an honest and good heart heare thy word kéepe it and bring forth fruit with patience And although g g Psal 8.1 3 6 9. thy name being excellent in all the earth by reason of the works of thy fingers h h Psal 111.2 3 4 5 7. which are great and wonderfull honorable and glorious veritie and iudgment I haue not sought out thy workes nor i i Esai 5.12 considered the operation of thy hands because I haue not had pleasure therein yea and though k k Psal 40 5. many are thy wonderfull workes which thou hast done and thy thoughts which are to me ward they cannot be reckoned in order vnto thée l l Esai 64.7 and I haue not stirred vp my selfe to take hold of thée m m Rom. 1.21 neither haue bin thankfull n n Ps 119.76 nor praised thée for thy mercifull kindnesse o o 2 Chron. 32.35 at least wise I haue not rendred againe according to the benefit done vnto me p p Rom. 2.4 neither haue I knowne that the goodnes of God hath led me to repentance Yet now Lord q q Esai 26.10 by the fauour thou shewest vnto me let me learne righteousnes and r r 2 Chron. 32.26 humble my selfe for my hardnes of heart that thy wrath come not vpon me And ſ ſ Ierem. 31.18 whereas thou hast chastised me and I was chastised as a bullocke vnaccustomed to the yoke not t t Mica 6.9 hearing the rod and who hath appointed it yet most gratious God grant that now at the last u u Esai 9.13 I may turne vnto thée that smitest me and seeke thée the Lord of Hostes * * Heb. 3.7 13 15. To day giue me grace to heare thy voice not hardened in my heart through the deceitfulnesse of sinne Make me x x 1 Pet. 2.17 to loue brotherly fellowship y y 1 Pet. 4.4 not running with the prophane to the excesse of ryot but z z Coloss 3.16 teaching and admonishing my selfe and others in Psalmes and Hymnes and spirituall songs singing and making melodie with grace in my heart vnto thée a a Act. 12.5 praying earnestly and giuing thanks alwaies for all things vnto thée in the name of the Lord Iesus Christ b b Heb. 3.13 exhorting and comforting my selfe and others with thy words c c 1 Thess 4.18 and humbling my selfe vnto them in thy feare O God d d Iam. 4.10 Let thy word dwell richly in me in all wisedome which grant I may e e Prov. 4.21 kéepe in the midst of my heart that I may not sinne against thée but obserue to do as thou hast commanded me f f Deut. 4.32 neither turning aside to the right hand nor to the left Euermore grant g g Iam. 4.8 Heb. 10.22 1 King 8.61 1 Sam. 16.7 that I may draw néere vnto thée with a true vpright and plaine heart h h Phil 3.9 and studying to be found in Christ i i 2 Tim. 3.5 and to haue the power of godlinesse in me I may k k Phil. 3.14 presse toward the marke for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Iesus that at the last l l Rom. 9.23 thou maist make knowne the riches of thy glory vpon me a vessell of thy mercie and m m 1 Pet. 1.9 I may receiue the end of my faith which is the saluation of my soule n n Heb. 13.7 Make thy seruant the Minister of thy Gospell which shall speake vnto me and others this day the word of God o o Ezra 7.6 a ready Scribe p p Mat. 13.52 instructed vnto the kingdome of heauen like vnto a man that is an Housholder which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old Stirre him vp q q 2 Tim. 2.15 to studie to shew himselfe approued vnto God a workeman that néedeth not to be ashamed rightly diuiding the word of truth r r 2 Thess 3 2. Deliuer him from vnreasonable and wicked men Strengthen him that he may ſ ſ 2 Tim. 4 7 8. fight a good fight finish his course and kéepe the faith and so giue him the crowne of righteousnesse t t Act. 16.14 And open my heart O Lord that I may attend vnto the things of thy word u u Act. 17.11 and receiue the same with all readinesse of minde searching the Scriptures daily whether those things be so And good Lord * * 2 Tim. 2.7 giue me vnderstanding in all things not onely for to try the spirits whether they are of God but also that I may x x Deut. 33.3 receiue of thy words euen y y Luk. 12.42 my portion of meat in due season z z Psal 141.5 yea when I am reproued let me take it as an excellent oyle which shall not breake my head Far be it from me that I should be a a Act. 7.54 cut to the heart and gnash at the Minister with my téeth but let me be pricked b b Act. 2.37 38. in my heart vnto repentance and receiue of the Ministerie how I ought to walke and to please God c c 1 Thess 4.1 and therein to abound more and more Prepare me O Lord d d Iam. 1.21 to lay apart all filthinesse and superfluitie of maliciousnesse that I may receiue with méeknesse the ingrafted word which is able to saue my soule e e Psal 119.39 Incline my heart vnto thy testimonies and not to couetousnes f f 1 Tim. 6.9 lest falling into temptation and a snare and into many foolish hurtfull lusts they drowne me in destruction and perdition Alwaies make me carefull to g g Ephes 4.15 1 Tim. 1.5 grow in faith and a good conscience And let me neuer h h Iam. 1.22 deceiue my selfe in being a hearer onely and not a doer of the word And because oftentimes i i Math. 13.21 tribulation and persecution ariseth because of the word whereat I sée many are by and by offended I pray thée teach me k k Math. 7.24 to build my house vpon a rocke like a wise man l
l 2 Tim. 2.12 and to suffer with Christ that I may also reigne with him Finally I humbly pray thée to sanctifie my heart that I may m m Esai 58 13. turne away my foote from doing my pleasure on this thy holy-day and that I may call the Sabbath a delight the holy of the Lord honourable and may honour thée not doing mine own waies nor finding mine owne pleasure nor speaking mine own words but n n 2 Pet. 1.5 giuing all diligence o o Phil. 2.12 to worke out my owne saluation with feare and trembling specially in p p Lam. 3.40 searching and trying my waies and turning againe vnto thée Lord according to thy blessed Gospell through thine onely Sonne Christ Iesus my Sauiour and Redéemer vnto whom with thy holy Maiestie and thy sanctifying and comforting Spirit be of me in my most willing and constant endeuours and of all other thy seruants in thy Church likewise ascribed and giuen all honour glory praise might maiestie and dominion both on this thine owne holiday and for euer world without end Amen Parent But what if any of vs seuerally and alone hauing no other to ioyne with vs but must pray solitarily vnlesse we altogither omit the dutie after the manner of our prophane and irreligious neighbours would vse those two formes of prayer which you haue composed for the whole Familie on the worke-daies Or what if my whole Familie or any two or more of them would in their priuate fellowship vse that forme of prayer which you haue drawne for a Christian in solitary towards the beginning of the Lords day May we not so vse either the one or the other as may be most for our comfort and edification Pastor Yea you may easily doe so if you will And you are bound to doe so rather then omit the dutie altogither Prouided that in such a case when you doe vse the two formes which are for the worke-daies as also for the formes of thanks-giuing before and after Meales you do heedfully put the singular number for the plurall as I for We Me for Vs My or Mine for Our c. And that when mo than one of you shall joyne togither in the forme which is for the Lords day you doe vse the plurall number for the singular as We for I Vs for Me Our for My or Mine c. The which course if you be driuen of necessitie to take or do sometimes voluntarily performe it will also proue one helpe to inable you to conceiue prayers of your selues without the helpe of these or any other formes to be read vpon a Booke much sooner For as I told you at the first that is the end I shoote at in setting you downe these formes and which you ought to labour for in vsing these or any other godly formes vnto the vttermost of of your power And assure your selues that though you be very ignorant and weake at this present yea and seeme to your selues that you can do litle or nothing this way I meane to conceiue prayer of your selues * Note these directiōs you ignorant persons and remember to follow them in the feare of God haue a speciall care to examine your selues on the Lords day in secret and to renew your peace with God in a more setled and comfortable turning of your feete vnto his testimonies Psal 119.19 with 92.11 12 13. yet if you will conscionably seeke the Lord your owne saluation diligently frequent the Ministerie that God hath sanctified vnto you delight in the often fellowship of the Godly whom the Lord hath indued with sauing knowledge already desire their helpe in prayer and therein ioyne with them and in their absence which to the greatest number of you must needs fall out very often attentiuely constantly and carefully vse these or any other godly formes of prayer and thanksgiuing God will blesse you with such vnderstanding of your spirituall estate that you shall in far shorter time then you thinke attaine to the end of your godly desires which is to lay away your Bookes and out of your owne feelings to make your petitions and thanksgiuings vnto the Lord vpon any occasion either ordinarie or more speciall and rare But if you shall neglect this counsell of God and profanely put off the holy duties of praier and thanksgiuing from time to time or performe them but coldly carelesly vnreuerently or vaine-gloriously as the hypocrites doe then verily be you afraid lest the Lord should in his wrath iudge you spiritually and so you continue blind and ignorant or after a sort superstitious in vsing a set forme now than and lest you haue alwaies such neede of a Booke to pray vpon that without it you shall be able to say litle more then * Behold a peece of the old wiues their very best prayers Lord haue mercy vpon vs forgiue vs our sinnes blesse our house and our harbour and all that euer we would haue good of and send vs heauen at our last end yea and lest you fall from praying vpon a Booke as I haue knowne some to meere nothing or worse than nothing Note Beware then of an idle forme and bare externall deuotion or ceremonie of Godlinesse without seeking the power thereof As also of such a manner of learning as neuer to be able to come to the knowledge of the truth Which fearefull iudgement God doth therefore commonly inflict because the heart is not zealous sincere nor godly disposed to see obey and continue in the whole sauing truth of God but resolueth to stand out against some part of it or to follow some sinfull lusts still 2 Tim. 3.5 6 7 8. Parent Lastly I pray you collect vs such a Hymne or Psalme out of Dauids Psalmes as breifely toucheth the most necessarie graces and which we may sing to Gods glorie and our owne edification and comfort in following the labours of our vocations and callings and at other times when we thinke good Pastor But you must consider Gods proceeding with you in all things your owne necessities and estate and accordingly seeke out and sing such Psalmes as God hath fitted for you in his Booke to vse vnto your better mouing and stirring vp to liue vnto his glorie and your owne spirituall growth in faith and a good conscience Parent We will not forget to bestow our labour that way euerie day once at the least in the choise of some Psalme or parcell of a Psalme according to our weake iudgement if God permit Howbeit because we haue not any one Psalme of conuenient shortnesse that setteth forth the cheifest points and most necessarie graces of Christianitie fitted for our capacitie and because many of my people are dull to learne manie Psalmes prescribe vs one which my ignorant ones may learne by heart and whereby we may haue a taste of the heauenly sweetnesse which the Godlie doe gather in their religious vse of diuine and spirituall songs Pastor Then
26. Mat. 28.19 As the very pledges of his loue the assurances and instruments of his grace and honourable badges to professe his name by Seruant And how doe you esteeme them in respect of your mind towards Christ Scholler d Acts 8 36 37 39. 1 Cor. 10.16 17 As the testimonies of my Faith receiuing his grace the tokens of my thankefulnes and the very bands of my duety both to him and his Church Parent Who hath authoritie from the Lord to administer the Sacraments Child e 1 Chron. 13.10 11. 15.12 13. 2 ChroÌ„ 30.3 35.3 6. Iohn 4.1 2. Exod. 4.16 Mat. 28 18 19 They only who are sent to preach the Word Parent To whom do they of right belong to be receiued Childe f Act. 2 38 8.37 1. Cor. 12 13. To sound hearted Christians Parent What then haue the wicked to doe with them Child g Act. 2.38 1 Cor. 11.28 Nothing at all till they be purged from their sinnes by Faith and Repentance Seruant But what if they presume to receiue them without faith and repentance Scholler h Deut. 23 21 22. 1 Cor. 10.1 2 3 c. with Exo. 14.27 28 29. Eccl. 3.4 Mat. 7.7 to 13 Yet they shall reape no benefit by them but rather increase their sinne and condemnation Seruant And what if they shall neglect or contemne them Scholler i Gen. 17.14 Num. 9.13 Luk. 7.30 They are then speciall enemies of Gods glory and of their owne saluation cutting themselues off from Gods couenant and Church and so they incur Gods heauy wrath vnlesse they repent * Oh coÌ„sider that the Lord Iesus himselfe was baptized ate the Lords supper and commanded both Seruant How is that proued Scholler k Exod. 4.24 25 c. 1 Cor. 11.25 26 c. Séeing God hath sharply corrected his owne children sound hearted and otherwise godly with sickenesse and weakenesse yea euen with death for some negligence or irreuerence about the Sacraments much more fearefullie will he punish the wicked and vngodly for their grosse abusing or refusing of them Parent After what manner are the Sacraments to be celebrated Childe l Num. 9.3 4 5 12. 1 Cor. 11.23 As is prescribed in the word of God Parent How many Sacraments be there Child Two m 1 Cor. 12.13 Baptisme and the Supper of the Lord. Parent Of what parts do they consist Child n Heb. 6.2 1 Cor. 10.16.17 Both of outward and inward things Parent What are the outward things Child The earthly creatures and certaine actions of Minister the and Receiuers about the same Parent What are the inward things Childe Christ himselfe his spirituall graces and workes and certaine spirituall actions of the Receiuers Parent What then is the benefite which the Faithfull receiue by the Sacraments Child o Mat. 28.19 1 Corin. 1â— 20 c. 12.13 Gen. 17.7 8. Ephes 5.26 They are confirmed in the vnion that they haue with Christ yea and with God the Father and with with God the holy Ghost through Christ Of Baptisme in particular Parent What is Baptisme Child p Mat. 28.19 The Seale of our Entrance and first admission into the profession of Christianity Parent What is the outward thing in baptisme Childe q Math. 3.16 28.19 Washing or sprinkling with water Parent What spirituall thing is meant thereby Child r Eph. 5.25.26 1 Iohn 1.7 Apoc. 1.5 Heb. 9.14 Math. 3.11 The bloud of Iesus Christ our Sauiour shed for vs yea whole Christ himselfe purging our sinnes Parent What is the worke of the Minister and the right forme of Baptizing Childe First Å¿ Math. 28.19 1 Tim. 4.5 to open the couenant of grace Secondly t 1 Tim. 4.4 5. Acts 22.16 Luke 1.59 to sanctifie the water to this holy vse by praier and thankesgiuing Thirdly u Mat. 28.19 with the water to baptize * That is into the Communion into the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost Parent What is the inward worke performed by Christ Child * 1 Cor. 1.13 14 15 16. 6.11 12.13 Mat. 3.11.12 Iohn 17.21 22 23 24 26. He putteth away my sins and giueth me a new life thereby making mee one with himselfe and with his Church vnto my certaine assurance of eternall life Parent How doth Baptisme represent the putting away of your sinnes by Christ Child x Act. 2.38 22.16 1 Ioh. 1 7. Rom. 6.6 Col. 2.11 12. Psal 32.5 Euen as the water sprinkled by the hand of the Minister washeth away the filth of my bodie so the bloud shedding of Iesus Christ layed hold vpon by the hand of faith cleanseth me from all my sinnes and that not onely by forgiuing mee both the guilt and punishment but also by mortifying sinne in me Parent How doth Baptisme represent the giuing of a new life vnto you by Christ Childe y Mat. 3.11 Mark 1.4 Acts 15.9 1 Pet. 3.21 22. Tit. 3.5 6. Euen as water maketh that faire which before was foule so the holy Ghost purifying my heart by Faith both iustifieth me before God in the imputation of Christs righteousnesse and sanctifieth me to lead a holy life who before was vnholy and vncleane Parent What is the outward worke of those that are to be baptized Childe z Math. 3.6 Act. 8 36 37 38. Confession of their sins of their faith and of their repentance and readily to receiue baptisme in forme aforesaid Parent And what is their inward action Child a Gal. 3.27 5.3 1 Pet. 3.21 22. To put on Christ by faith vnto newnesse of life Parent Why then should infants bee baptized which can doe none of these things Childe First b Gen. 17.7 Mark 10.14 Act 16.15 23 1 Cor. 7.14 because they belong to the Couenant of Gods grace and vnto his kingdome God himselfe saying I am God vnto thée and to thy séed after thee Secondly c Gen. 17.11.12 13 14. Exo. 12.48 Col 2.11 12.13 compared they haue as good right to Baptisme as the infants of the Iewes had to circumcision Parent What is the duety of children after baptisme Childe First d Heb. 8.11 Psal 110 27 33 to learn the waies of the Lord and to kéepe his statutes Secondly e Ephes 4.1 2 â— 4 5 6 Acts. 2.41 c. to kéepe a holy fellowship with Christ and his Church Parent When may you haue true comfort by your Baptisme Childe f Câ—â— 2.12 13. Tu. 3.5 2 Cor. 5.17 When I feele my selfe to be regenerate or sanctified Parent What May you feele your selfe to be regenerate Childe g Rom. 7.14.15 c. Ps 119.93 94. Yes verily if I be regenerate indeed Parent How may you know that you are regenerate indeed Child h Ephes 5.26 1 Pet 1.23 2.1 2. 2 Tim. 3.5 Psal 119.40 If I can find that the light and efficacie of Gods Word shining and burning in my hearts hath truely killed
not any one of them worketh altogither after the same manner as another doth but ech one of them according to the distinct proprietie of his Person in speciall Parent How are the three Persons distinguished in their speciall Proprieties Pastor p Prov. 8.22 23 24 c. Psal 2.7 Iohn 15.26 The Father is of himselfe the Sonne is begotten of the Father from all eternitie and the Holy Ghost proceedeth from the Father and the Sonne Parent How in their working togither Pastor q Heb. 1.1 2. Iohn 5.17 19. The Father worketh of himselfe by the Sonne and the Holy Ghost and therefore the originall beginning of the action is ascribed to him r Rom. 8.11 Heb. 1.2 The Sonne worketh from the Father by the Holy Ghost and so the disposing of the action as it were by a Steward is attributed to him ſ Gen. 1.2 1 Cor. 12.11 The Holy Ghost worketh from the Father and the Sonne and therefore the efficacie and finishing of the action is in a speciall sort allotted vnto him Parent What knowledge of the Law is required for worthy Receiuing Child t Deut. 6.25 Rom. 7.7 8 9 10 11 13. That it requireth true righteousnesse and discouereth our corrupt nature sinne and condemnation Parent What of the Gospell Child u Act. 4.12 Gal. 3.13 That Christ is our sufficient Redéemer and onely remedie against Gods curse Parent What of our selues or of our owne estate Child * Ephes 2.3 4 5 6 7 8 c. That we do surely stand in grace though borne in sinne and wrath Parent What of the Sacraments Child x Esai 7.11 Rom. 4.11 Luk. 22.19 20. That they are fit worthie helps to strengthen our weake faith Seruant How are they so Scholler y Iere. 19.10 11. Act. 21.11 Iohn 3.12 Galat. 3.1 1 Ioh. 1.1 3. Because the Lord doth worke vpon other our senses and faculties as our séeing féeling being admitted and clensed receiuing eating and drinking tasting digesting being nourished refreshed chéered and strengthned thereby to confirme vnto our hearts his sauing grace which first by hearing the word we haue beléeued Parent II. Of Faith What Faith is required for the worthy receiuing of the Lords Supper Child Faith which taketh hold of Christ and his benefits and leadeth vs to true thankfulnesse * Of this grace we haue conferred already in the second part and also more in Part. 5. Parent What Repentance and Newnesse of Life is required III. Of Repentance and Newnesse of life Child * See more of this grace in Part. 2. and in Part. 5. That godly sorrow with causeth to forsake sinne togither with that effectuall grace which inableth to kéepe Gods Commandements increasing with the increase of God Parent What Charitie towards Men is required IV. Of Charitie towards men before you receiue the Lords Supper Child z 1 Iohn 5.1 Ioh. 13.34 35. 15.12 13. 2 Cor. 8.8 9. compared That which is wrought and groweth in my heart towards them for Iesus Christs sake who loued both them and me vnto the death Seruant How do you further know that you haue loue or charitie towards men Scholler First a Psal 16.3 1 Iohn 3 1◠4.1 1 P◠1.22 3.8 4.8 9. c. because I doe specially loue and reuerence godly persons Secondly b Math. 5.23.24 I séeke for conscience sake to be reconciled after offences committed Thirdly c Math. 5.44 Mark 11.25 26. I wish well euen in my heart vnto my very enimies being ready to pardon all their wrongs and praying for them Fourthly d 1 Cor. 14.1 16.14 Galat. 6.10 Hebr. 12.14 1 Pet. 3.11 2 Tim. 3.3 Mal. 2.10 14. I beare a louing affection towards all men following peace with them and endeuouring to doe them good but particularly those vnto whom I am bound in nature or by any other couenant of God * See more of this grace in part supra and in part 5. infra Parent V. Of earnest desire to receiue the Lords Supper Why must you earnestly desire to receiue the Lords Supper Child For two causes First e 1 Cor. 11 20 22 23 24 25. because the Lord hath both ordained and commanded it for his owne glory Secondly f 1 Cor. 11.17 Ephes 5.26 Act. 2.42 20.7.11 God giueth more grace by it than by the word preached alone Parent What more grace haue you by it than by the word preached alone Childe First g 1 Cor. 10.16 Christs death and merits are more particularly applied to me and so I am more fully assured to be kept still in grace yea and sealed vp vnto euerlasting saluation Secondly g 12.13 I am more stronglie bound as by a solemne renewing of an oath to continue in Grace Thirdly g Act. 2.42 c. I am more effectually stirred vp to make profession of Faith and obedience as often as I am called thereunto Seruant How often is euery Christian bound to receiue the Lords Supper Scholler h 1 Cor. 11.25 26. Act. 2.42 Of receiuing worthily As often as he may so that he be a worthy receiuer Parent But what is required of vs about the time of celebrating the Lords Supper that wee may vse it as Christ hath appointed and as becommeth so heauenly mysteries Childe There are required these three things First a due and holie preparation before Secondly a fit disposition in the action Thirdly other duties afterward I. Of preparation before Parent What preparation is required before Childe Wée must set our selues apart from all other businesse that we may First i 1 Cor. 11.28.31 search our selues throughly for the sanctified graces of Knowledge Faith Repentance Charitie and desire to the Lords Supper aforesaid Secondly k Psal 26.6 Num. 9.6 stirre them vp and renew them vnto better growth and practise Thirdly l 2 Chron. 30.18 19 20. Mat. 5.23 24. 1 Tim. 4.4 5. humblie craue the assistance of Gods spirit and reconciliation with God yea and with men also where néed is Seruant But what if you finde the sanctified graces of Gods spirit to be weake in your heart must you not then abstaine Scholler No m 2 Chr. 30.18 19.20 I must come and that with hope and chéerefulnesse vpon some conditions Seruant Why with hope and cheerfulnesse Scholler n Esai 7.11 Luk. 4.18 Mat. 15.24 with Luk. 22.19 20. Because the Lords Supper was ordained of purpose for the confirmation of the weake Seruant Vpon what conditions must you come Scholler First o Acts 8.37 if the graces aforesaid be sound in me though verie weake Secondly p John 4.10 if I féele my wants with gréefe Thirdly q Mark 9.24 if I labour against my weakenesse hungring and thirsting after Gods grace in Christ Seruant What speciall means hath the Lord appointed for our better direction to try and examine our selues Scholler r Math. 3.6 Acts 8.37 Iam. 5.16
c. Act. 9 4. Esai 63.9 2 Cor. 8.2 3. 9.7 When wee féele our hearts continuallie moued with compassion towards all for their miseries both spirituall and corporal striuing to do them good yea though they be very wicked and our vntractable enemies and specially when wee haue a quicke sense of the gréeuances of the poore members of Iesus Christ his mysticall bodie tendring them as if our selues yea Christ himselfe in a sort were afflicted with them stirring vp our selues willingly and chéerfully though in deepe pouertie to our power See more of Repentance in Part 2. and sometimes beyond our power to comfort and help them and that the rather because wee sée this grace so generally neglected amongst men yea of those that professe godlinesse Seruant How may wee know that we doe vse our talents to Gods glory and the good of his Church Scholler g Luke 17.10 Eccles 1.1 2 c the whole booke Reuel 3.19 Gen. 22.1 2 3 4 5 6 c. Act. 21.13 Rom. 9.3 2 Tim. 2 9 10. Ephes 1.12 1 Pet 4.1 2 3 10 11. When being inwardly ashamed and displeased at our selues for our former follies and vanities in the abuse of our gifts our vnprofitablenesse coldnesse and sloth we learn to be more affected with Gods cause than our owne and with the saluation of mens soules than the safeguard of our owne bodies and thereupon doe from time to time studiously imploy our gifts whether great or small vnto the same ends in taking all the most likely occasions and vsing them in the wisest and most gracious manner we possibly can that they may become effectuall Seruant And how shall wee know that our prayers which we make in respect of the last iudgement are right before God Scholler h Rom. 7.24 Philip. 1.21 2 Cor. 5.2 2 Pet. 3.12 13. If they procéed from an earnest desire and longing of the hart for the comming of the Lord not so much to be fréed from worldly miseries as of a holy loue to be discharged of sinne and to be clothed with righteousnesse Seruant Shall all they that are thus watchfull finde their death and the last iudgement truly comfortable to themselues Scholler i 2 Tim. 4.6 7 8. Luke 21.28 1 Thes 5.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11. Heb. 9.28 Reu. 21.2 3 c. and 22.20 Yes vndoubtedly and therefore their consciences may and shal gather many comfortable tokens and pledges of Gods loue towards them for their eternall saluation Of Christs most full and absolute glorifying of his Church in heauen the place of the blessed Parent HOw will Christ most fully and absolutely glorifie his Church in heauen the place of the blessed Child k Psal 16.11 1 Thes 4 17. Luk. 20.36 He will make them dwell euermore in his own most happy presence sight and fellowship together with all his blessed Angells l Esai 64.4 Reuel 2.17 Dan. 12.3 Luk. 17.12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 and there he wil fill euery vessell of mercy with honour and ioy vnspeakeable according to the measure of his grace seuerally bestowed on them in this present life and as they haue put the same to good vse in séeking of his glory while they liued here Parent Finally I would entreat you louing Pastor to collect the sum of our whole Conference cheefely for the most necessary matter and points and to compose it in easie and ordinarie meeter which we will often read ouer or sing as we follow our earthly labours or at our leasure sometimes one part and sometimes another as wee shall thinke needfull and fit for our edification For wee assure our selues that you are studious to dresse and order this food of our soules after sundry sorts as good Cookes doe their meats that so our taste may be pleased our appetite stirred vp m Iob 23.12 and wee may receiue it rather then our necessary food fitted for vs if not in one manner yet in another Pastor Lo then your desire is satisfied and that in as plaine a manner as I was able to attaine vnto without affecting a lofty stile or vsing hard words because I would benefit you poor simple countrie-people by speaking to your vnderstanding * O you ignorant souls will you still loath the heauenlie Manna thogh the Lord hath tempered it for you after so many fashions Consider at length if nothing else wil moue you with what face you shall behold the Lord at that day if you cōtinue carelesse Prou. 1.29.30 c. with 2 Thes 1.7 8 9. And if you will bestow some time in singing it or some part of it daily you shall find by Gods grace it will prooue a good Meane especially with some wits and dispositions both to informe and to delight in the waies of Godlinesse * See my warrant in Ephes 5 19. and Col. 3.16 The Peroration or summe of the whole in Meeter The Peroration or Sum of the whole in fiue parts First of God and his Law ONe onely God yet persons three I euermore confesse The Father Sonne and holy Ghost of like Almightinesse Without beginning or any end this liuing God I praise Most wise most iust and mercifull and infinite alwaies God maker is and gouernour of Heauen Earth Seas and all Of Angells Men all Creatures all matters great and small God worketh all vnto the best his owne elect to saue And will condemne the Reprobate themselues that mis behaue God made man good iust right and pure and neuer to haue died But shamelesly and wilfully forbidden fruit man tried Through Satans slight so him and his corrupt and bad he made In soule to hatch his secret sinne and body it to trade Then God gaue man his holy Law the tenne Commandements And charged him to keepe them all and thus with him indents If perfectly thou doe these things without all sinfull staine Thou shalt my blessing plentifull and heauens ioyes attaine But if in any thing at all thou faile or breake my lore Then surely thou my curse shalt feele in hell for euermore Lo heere the substance and the sum of these ten Lawes of his Which in most dreadfull sort hee gaue vs to all his folkeywis The tenne Commandements commandment 1 The first Commandement teacheth Gods inward worshid hye As him to know to feare and loue and trust in him onely commandment 2 The second precept doth injoyne the ontward worship pure Of God onely as he appoints in Canon of Scripture commandment 3 The third forbiddeth all abuse of Gods most sacred name His titles words and workes that I dishonour not the same commandment 4 4. The fourth injoyneth me mine the Sabbath day to keepe And set my heart and bodie both the Lord onely to seeke commandment 5 5. The fifth Commandement biddeth me that speciall duties all I rightly yeeld to euery one to high low and equall Respecting speciall calling theirs and mine So happinesse I shall enioy whether I liue
a longer space or lesse commandment 6 6. The sixth all duties teacheth me to others and my selfe Mans person eke with due regard of soules and bodies health commandment 7 7. The seuenth Precept doth injoyne the rule of Chastity In heart and tongue and euery part to leade my life thereby commandment 8 8. The eight Cōmandement biddeth me for goods and maintenance To yeeld the right to euery one to pore his sustenance commandment 9 9. The ninth concerning mans good name all duties doth command In publike and in private both God lookes for at my hand commandment 10 10. The last of all bids keepe my heart from ill concupiscence And pleasing-sinfull thoughts before consent to such offence * Then out alas and welladay what shall of me become That euery day doe breake Gods law euen from my mothers wombe I wretched soule haue spent my time each day and night in sinne By thought by word and deed yet I haue seldome knowne wherein From sinne therfore which I not feele I little care to flee Nor if I did could I escape by any meanes in mee Against Gods Law a Rebell I to God and selfe a foe And in that state fast held I am by Satans snares also Gods curse is mine by due desert euen hellish condemnation Who then can worke my liberty my peace and my saluation Secondly Of Christ and his Gospell O Heauēly father thou sent'st forth the second person hye Thine onely Son who was conceiu'd in wombe of maid Marie By holy ghost and in due time was borne our nature in In all respects a very Man excepting onely sinne Christ Iesus hee both God and man Gods holy Law obai'd And yet the endlesse curse thereof for vs on him was laid His soule was heauy to the death his bodie hang'd on tree Till wrath of God was satisfy'd It 's finisht then said he His bloud he shed to saue our soules he put to shamefull death For to preuent our hellish paine our sinnes did stop his breath So in our stead himselfe he gaue an holy sacrifice Imputed to the faithfull flocke that serue him in right wise For Faith beleeues Christ loued mee himselfe for me he gaue Embracing firm Christs righteousnes which Gods Elect doth saue This Faith if true will comfort yeeld to each repentant heart And certainly repentance shall performe a happy part Thy minde full sore shall grieued be for all offences past Because therby thou piercedst Christ full bitter shall they taste And them to leaue Repentance will thee teach and sanctifie In holinesse and righteousnesse to lead thy selfe godly Such thankefulnesse will faith bring forth from secret heart within That Christ his will to know and doe forthwith thou shalt begin And then thy conscience shall be built vpon his holy Word To serue him so and for to wait onely vpon the Lord. Ye further eke his crossing crosse thy minde shall not abhorre To take it vp with Patience and beare it lesse or more And finally to giue thy selfe entirely vnto him Thy heart will melt for his great loue and pardoning thy sinne But as for vnbeleeuing soules conuerting not to God Vnthankfull and impatient they to kisse his blessed Rod. They worke their owne inuentions Christs word they doe neglect They doe but prate and make a shew sure Christ will them reiect Therefore deare Christian take good heed and follow not their guise Their course is nought their hope also is vanitie and lies And for to traine thy silly soule to walke the way aright Behold Gods rich prouision to giue thee true insight His Law doth shew thy foule great sin thy misery and curse And terrifie thy heart that is conuict but yet the worse But Christs Gospell doth shew thee grace speakes peace and giues thee Faith And leads thee straight to obey the law as holy Scripture saith Thirdly of the Word of God and of Prayer FIue Exercises Christ hath fram'd for thee to labour in To purge thy heart from vnbeleefe corruption and sinne * The first and chiefest is his Word both truly preach'd and heard Next often read and thought vpon and soberly conferd * And Prayer is the second thing in Christ his name with Faith With puritie and feruencie such shall be safe he saith For God hath sanctified this course to be his Ordinance Thereby to blesse whom euer hee will with louing countenance The Lords Prayer To God therfore the gracious Lord to call be not thou dull He is become through Iesus Christ Our Father mercifull And pray with reuerence and withall belieue that helpe he giues And say which art in Heauen still thy power and mercy liues petition 1 1. And looke that thou doe zealously desire to glorifie Gods holy name before all things and each necessitie For Hallowed be thy name Christ made the first Petition Now Hallowed meaneth magnified Gods name himselfe alone petition 2 2. And secondly Christ bid vs pray Thy kingdome come apace Enlarge thy Kingdome here O Lord by thy good meanes of grace Thy spirit let worke effectually and holy word let runne And quickly end these sinfull daies euen so Lord Iesus come petition 3 3. The third Request thy will be done in earth to wit that we May doe his will as 't is in heauen where Angells perfect be And that withall we may submit our selues his will to bide In time of our aduersitie when crost on euery side petition 4 4. The fourth Petition Christ taught vs Giue vs this day O Lord Our daily bread each needfull thing conuenient for this world Yet so in case it be thy will none otherwise we pray These earthly things doe sometimes helpe and sometimes turne away But sauing grace most absolute without an If or And We aske and seeke without a Nay at thine Almighty hand petition 5 5. The fifth is And forgiue vs Lord our debts and trespasses Remit our sinnes vs iustifie and giue Christs righteousnesse As we forgiue them that trespasse against vs great and small For thy free grace doth mollifie our hearts to debters all For why our brothers dreatest debt is but an hundreth pence But ours to God who knowes how much ten thousand great talents petition 6 6. Our last suit is And lead vs not into temptation But Lord deliver vs from ill Satans suggestion Oh mortifie our nature vile and quicken vs afresh Thy speciall ayd wee need each day for weakenesse of our flesh And Lord I ground my heart onely to haue these things from thee For thine is eke the kingdome and the powre and the Glory For euer So full right and power sure thou hast ouer all And al things dost to thine own praise all times perpetuall Amen so be it and so it is and so shall be for aye Therfore till God shall grant my suite I will not cease to pray Fourthly Of the Sacraments the Communion of Saints and the consideration of Gods workes THe third Meane is Christs Sacraments Baptisme and Supper his The seales of