in thy house Ps 84.1 4 10. Then be carefull to discharge those duties which God there requireth of thee and they ordinarily are two 1. Prayer 2. Hearing the Word In prayer first look to the devotion of thy soul It must be the lifting up of the soul Psal 25.1 The powring out of the soul 1 Sam. 1.15 A strong crying Heb. 5.7 A wrastling with God Hos 12.4 Without this thy prayer will be but babbling Mat. 6.7 The howling of a dog or wolf Hos 7.14 A bell without a clapper A pile of wood without fire A bullet without powder A bird without wings A cloud without water A tinkling cymball The Jews writ this sentence also over the doors of their Synagogues and Oratories Prayer without intention is as the body without the soul Then in the next place look to the reverence of thy body God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the Saints and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him Psal 89.7 Uncover thy head The four and twenty Elders fell down before him that sate on the throne casting their crowns from their heads Rev. 4.10 Bend thy knee O come let us worship and bow down let us kneel before the Lord our Maker Psal 95.6 The other duty is the hearing of the word read and preached which requires of us First attention Speak Lord for thy servant heareth 1 Sam. 3.10 Hearken O daughter and consider and incline thine eare Psal 45.10 I will hear what God the Lord will speak unto me Psal 85.8 The Lord opened the heart of Lydia that she attended unto the things that were spoken by Paul Acts 16.14 He that hath an eare let him heare what the Spirit saith unto the Churches Rev. 2.11 My sheep hear my voice John 10.27 And for this end we must consider it is The word of God 1 Thes 2.13 The word of Grace Act. 14.3 The word of truth John 17.17 The word of reconciliation 2 Cor. 5.19 The word of righteousness Heb. 5.13 The word of faih Rom. 10.8 The word of etenal life John 9.68 That it is Good seed Mark 4. Sincere milk 1. Pet. 2.2 Strong meat Heb. 5.14 That it is A wholsom word 2 Tim. 6.3 A lively word Heb. 4.12 A good word Heb. 6.5 That it is Better then thousands of gold and silver Psal 119.72 Sweeter then the hony and the hony comb Psal 19.10 And all this because it is that word which is able to save our souls Jam. 1.21 Secondly the hearing of the Word requires retention as well as attention Therefore ye shall lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul Deut. 11.18 Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee Psal 119.11 Mary kept all these sayings in her heart Luke 2.51 And lastly people must be here admonished not to depart from the Church till the Minister hath pronounced the blessing All the people departed every man to his house 1 Chron. 16.42 But it was after David had made an end of offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings and had blessed the people in the name of the Lord ver 2. Surely there is something in the blessing of the Minister Then the Priests and the Levites arose and blessed the people and their voice was heard and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling place even unto heaven 2 Chron. 30.37 Leave not then thine Angel till he hath given thee a blessing AFTER CHURCH AND now being come home it is thy duty yet further 1. To meditate upon such things as have been taught thee His delight is in the Law of the Lord and in that Law doth he meditate day and night Psal 1.2 O how I love thy Law it is my meditation all the day Psal 119.97 I have more understanding then all my teachers for thy Testimonies are my Meditation vers 99. My meditation of him shal be sweet Ps 104.34 My heart was hot within me while I was musing the fire burned Psal 39.3 The beasts that chewed not the cud were unclean Secondly thou must praise God for so much of the means as he was pleased to afford thee that day Blessed be the God Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly things Ephes 1.3 As the liberty of his house The comfort of his Day The communion of his Saints The instruction of his Word The dispensation of his Sacraments The gifts of his Ministers Thirdly we must pray for a blessing upon the means of our salvation He only it is that can put his Law in our inward parts and write it in our hearts Jer. 31.33 Paul may plant and Apollos water but God gives the increase 1 Cor. 3.6 The excellency of the power is of God not of us 2 Cor. 4.7 Lastly teach it thy family You shall teach them your children talking of them when thou fittest in thine house and when thou walkest by the way when thou liest down and when thou risest up Deut. 11.19 I know him that hee will command his children and his houshold after him to keep the way of the Lord to doe justice and judgment Jer. 18.16 I and my house will serve the Lord Josh 24.15 If thou doest thus sanctifie this Day of rest here thou shalt celebrate an everlasting rest and Sabbath hereafter All manner of persons within the Church of England shall from henceforth celebrate keep the Lords day commonly called Sunday and other holy days according to Gods holy wil and pleasure and the orders of the Church of England prescribed in that behalf that is in hearing the word of God read and taught in private and publick prayers in acknowledging their offences to God and amendment of the same in reconciling themselves charitably to their neighbours where displeasure hath been in oftentimes receiving the communion of the body bloud of Christ in visiting of the poore and sick using all good and sober conversation Canon 13. of those 1603. A short Evening Prayer for the Lords day O Most glorious God and in Jesus Christ my mercifull and loving Father I confesse and acknowledge those many weaknesses imperfections which have passed from me in the performance of the duties of this day I have called upon thee for the pardon and forgivenesse of my sins but so coldly and carelessy that my very prayers are become sins and stand in need of pardon I have heard thy holy Word but with such deadnesse distraction of spirit that I have been a very unprofitable and forgetfull hearer So that O Lord though I have done thy work yet I have done it so negligently that I may rather expect a curse then a blessing from thee But O God who art rich in mercy and plenteous in redemption mark not what amisse hath passed from me remember that I am but dust pardon and passe by all my sins negligences and ignorances look not upon the weaknesse of my
flesh but upon the willingness of my spirit and so cover all my imperfections with the perfect and absolute obedience of thy dear Son that those Sacrifices which I have offered up unto thee this day may be accepted in and for that sacrifice which Christ Jesus offered up upon the cross for me And as I desire that my sacrifices may be pleasing to thee so let thine ordinances be profitable to me And as thou hast this day sown my heart with the precious seed of thy Word so let neither the fowls of the air devour it nor the cares of the world choak it but let the gracious rain of thy blessing come often upon it that it may bring forth in mee the fruits of repentance and amendment of life And forasmuch as thy Word is an unvaluable inestimable treasure better then thousands of gold and silver sweeter also then the hony the hony comb blessed Lord God be pleased still to continue it to our Land and Nation let not our crying sins of unthankfulnesse impenitency hardness of heart unfruitfulnesse under so great means of grace cause thee to remove thy candlestick or to quench the light of our Israel Inlighten also with the beams of thy Gospel those nations which yet sit in darkness and in the shadow of death adde unto thy Church daily such as shal be saved that so these sinful days being shortned the number of thine elect accomplished we may celebrate that eternal rest and Sabbath of our souls with thee in thy Kingdome Blesse O Lord all the people of this land from the highest to the lowest our King Queen our Prince the rest of the roiall stock our Ministers and Magistrates thy whole Church and every member of it in what place or case soever and prosper all designs and enterprises that are undertaken for the advancement of the Gospel and the inlargement of thy Kingdome Finally O Lord as thou hast been good to me in the passages of this day refreshing my body with thy good creatures and my soul with the spirituall rest of this holy Day so continue thy goodness to mee this night receive me into the arms of thy providence cover me with the feathers of thy wings that I may lay me down in peace and take my rest that being awakened to the comforts of the next day my mouth may be filled with thy praises and I may doe thee service in the duties of that calling wherein thou hast placed disposed of me that so thy good blessing may be still upon me and thou maist never be weary to doe me good all this and what else thou knowest needfull and expedient for me I beg in the name merits mediation and words of thy Sonne Christ Jesus saying as he himself hath taught me Our Father which art in heaven c. Directions for the due receiving of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper WEE may not presume to come to the Lords Table without a due serious preparation That which is holy must not bee given to Dogges neither must pearls bee cast before swine Mat. 7.6 Josiah charged the Levites to prepare themselves and to pray for their brethren and so to kill the passeover 2 Chr. 35.4 6. The neglect of preparation is very dangerous After the sop Satan enters into Judas John 13.27 Whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily shal be guilty of the body and bloud of the Lord 1 Cor. 11.27 Hee that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation unto himself 1 Cor. 11.29 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you and many sleep 1 Cor. 11.30 Now this preparation consists principally in five things The first is a self-examination Let a man examine himself and so let him eate of that bread and drink of that cup. 1 Cor. 11.28 The thing chiefly to be examined is sin 1. In thought The thoughts of our hearts are only evil and that continually Gen 6.5 Out of the heart proceed evill thoughts Mat. 15.19 2. In word Idle words I say unto you that of every idle word that men shall speak they shall give account thereof at the day of judgement Mat. 12.36 Filthy and immodest words Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth Eph. 4.22 Angry and rash words As calling our borther Raca or Thou fool Mat. 5.29 False and untrue words as lies slanders defamations c. Whosoever loveth or maketh a lie is shut out of the new Jerusalem Rev. 22.15 Profane and impious words Against GOD oathes and blasphemies Let your communication be yea yea nay nay for whatsoever is more then these commeth of evil Mat. 5.37 Against our selves or others as curses imprecations c. As he loved cursing so let it come unto him As he clothed himself with cursing like as with a garment so let it come into his bowels like water and like oyle into his bones Psal 109.18.19 3. In deed This is either of Omission or Commission Both are pointed at in that sentence of the Apostle The good which I would do I doe not But the evill which I would not do that I do Rom. 7.19 Thus you have the thing to be examined Now the rule of this examination must be the Law of God For by the Law is the knowledg of sin Rom. 3.20 I had not known sin but by the Law Rom. 7.7 Hence it is that our Church which hath disposed all things wisely and sweetly in the Liturgy hath appointed the commandments to be read before the admimstration of this Sacrament that men might see their sins in the glasse of Gods Law The second thing required of a worthy receiver is Repentance and Contrition The Paschall Lambe was to be eaten with sowr herbs And Christ our Passeover must be received with a broken and a contrite spirit With a bitter soul With a weeping eye This bread must be eaten with the sweat of our brows i.e. our tears And I may say of the wine in this Sacrament as the Mother of Solomon said unto him Prov. 31.6 Give this wine unto such as bee of heavy hearts And though in the sense of our own unworthinesse we may cry out with Paul Who is fit for these things Yet we may comfort our selves with that of the Psalmist A broken and a contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise Ps 51. The third thing required of a Comunicant is Faith He must beleeve that Jesus Christ is the Messias and Saviour of the world He must beleeve that he was crucified shed his bloud He must beleeve that the merits of his crosse and passion are able to save sinners He must beleeve that these merits are conveyed to him in this Sacrament being rightly administred and duly received For what was bequeathed in the Testament is dispensed in the Sacraments This faith is the wedding garment he that intruded to the feast without it was bound hand foot and cast into utter darkness Mat.
Behold this Publican i' th Temple praying Plac'd in the front as of our book beginner The form of whose devotiō was this saying O Lord be mercifull to me a sinner God heard his suit though short 't is not deni'd He came a sinner but went justify'd Priuate DEVOTIONS Lord 〈◊〉 mercifull to me a 〈◊〉 London Printed for Geo Badger and are to bee sould at his shopp at St Dunstons-Churchyard in fleetstreet 〈…〉 PRIVATE DEVOTIONS Digested into SIX LETANIES I. Of Confession II. Of Deprecation III. Of Supplication IV. Of Thanksgiving V. Of Intercession VI. For the Sick VVith Directions and Prayers For the Lords Day Sacrament day of Death Judgment And two daily Prayers One for the Morning Another for the Evening The thirteenth Edition London Printed for H. Moseley at the Princes Arms in S. Pauls Church yard 1654. To the right Honorable THOMAS Lo COVENTRY Baron of Ailesborough and Lord Keeper of the great Seale of England c. My good Lord THe Law permitted a man that was not able to bring a lamb to the Altar to offer a pair of Turtle Doves or two young Pigeons The Gospel commends Charity in a cup of cold water magnifies the devotion affection of the widow that cast in 2 mites into the Treasury I must ever acknowledge that mine obligation to your Lordship might challenge a volume but wanting that I have presumed to present you with this Manuall and Enchiridion of private Devotions the love and exercise whereof hath advanced your Lordship to publike honour It is but a little one yet since it was first presented to your hands it hath so thriven by your Lordships patronage that it hath had many Editions Additions And I am glad of it for the bigger it grows the better proportion it will carry with his service that is ever devoted to Your Lop. in all Duty Henry Valentine ORATIO Deo Sacrificium Oranti subsidium Daemonibus flagellum That is PRAYER IS a Sacrifice to God Succour to the soule Scourge to the divel Praier is Clavis Diei Sera Noctis 1 A Key to open the Morning My voice shalt thou heare in the morning O Lord in the Morning will I direct my prayer unto thee and will look up Psal 5.3 Unto thee have I cryed ô Lord and in the Morning shall my prayer prevent thee Psal 81.13 2 A lock to shut up the Evening At Evening will I pray and cry aloud and he shall hear my voice Psa 55.17 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as Incense and the lifting up of mine hands as the evening sacrifice Ps 141.2 Morning and Evening Aaron shall burn sweet incense every morning And when he lighteth the Lamps at Even he shall burn sweet incense Exod. 30.7 8. In the Morning sow thy seed and in the Evening with-hold not thine hand for thou knowest not whether shall prosper either this or that or whether they both shall be alike good Ecc. 11.6 I. CONFESSION OF SINNES COnfession is a branch of praier which searches out our sins and discloses and spreads them open before the Lord as Hezekiah did those letters which he received from the King of Assyria or as Josuah opened the cave of Makkedah and brought out the five Kings that were there hidden so this opens the heart and brings out our hidden and bosome sins to light and execution And as the opening of a vein rectifies the distempers of the body so this cures the maladies of the soul for if we confesse our sinnes God is faithfull and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness In a word it is commanded by God and practised by the Saints and Solomon makes it the character of a righteous man to accuse himself in the beginning of his praier A man dreames when he is asleep but cannot declare his dream till he awake Confession is a sign that we are awakned from the sleep of sin by the grace of God I said I will confesse my transgressions to the Lord and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin Psal 32.5 I have not covered my transgressions as Adam by hiding mine iniquity in my bosome Job 31.33 But I acknowledge my transgressions and my sin is ever before me Psal 51.3 THE LETANY of Confession BEhold I was shapen in wickedness and in sin hath my mother conceived me Lord be merciful to me a sinner When I was a childe I spake as a childe I understood as a childe I thought as a child and as yet have not put away childish things from me Lord be mercifull to me a sinner When I grew up the lusts of the flesh grew too strong for me they fought against me and prevailed the cares of the world distracted me the pleasures of the world deceived me the pride of life swelled me desire of revenge inflamed me and sin reigned in my mortal body Lord be merciful to me a sinner I have given up the members of my body as weapons of sin and instruments of unrighteousness my head to imagine mischief my hands to work wickedness my tongue to swearing and blasphemy my eares to filthy and corrupt communication my eyes to behold vanity my feet to stand in the way of sinners and to walk in the counsell of the ungodly so that from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot there is no sound part in me Lord be merciful to me a sinner I have either omitted good duties or done them slightly and wearily I have neglected the time of my visitation I have not known in my day the things that belong to my peace Lord be merciful to me a sinner I have offended thee and trespassed my neighbour by my improvidence and rashnesse by my anger and intemperate speech by my wilfulness envy malice and uncharitableness Lord be merciful to me a sinner I have sinned in all them whom I have corrupted by my words counsel or example in all them whom I should have reproved whom I might have reformed and did not Lord be merciful to me a sinner I have sinned in neglecting opportunities to visit the house and table of the Lord in unworthy and unprepared resort thither in wandring and idle thoughts there either diverting me from the work of thy holy worship or distracting me in it Lord be merciful to me a sinner I have sinned in unreverent and unprofitable hearing thy Word in cold and careless invocation of thy Name without zeale and holy affection which turned my prayers into sin Lord be merciful to me a sinner I have sinned by unthankfull passing over thy many good favours by slighting them with an unhearty commemoration so that my sacrifice of praise became the sacrifice of fools Lord be merciful to me a sinner I have broken all my vows and purposes I have not kept my solemn promises of forsaking my sin amending my life Lord be merciful to me a sinner I have delaied my repentance I have resisted the checks of mine
long ver 6. My loins are filled with a loathsome disease and there is no soundness in my flesh ver 7. I am feeble and sore broken I have rored by reason of the disquietness of my heart ver 8. Lord all my desire is before thee my groaning is not hid from thee ver 9. Forsake me not O Lord O my God be not far from me ver 21. Make haste to help me O Lord my salvation ver 22. DIRECTIONS for the Lords Day HEE that would spend a Sunday well living where he hath the liberty of Gods house and Ordinances must do something before Church something at Church something after Church Before Church 1. So soone as we awake we should have our hearts affected with the majesty and solemnity of the day putting a difference betwixt it and others considering that it is The Lords day An holy day An honourable day Great is the honour of this day above others God the Father honoured it On this day he formed the elements of the world On this day he created the Angels On this day he first rained Manna upon the Israelites God the Son honoured it with his glorious resurrection with his gracious apparitions after he was risen For On this day he appeared to the two Maries that came to the Sepulchre Matth. 28.1 9. On this day he appeared to his Disciples assembled together Thomas then not being present John 20.19 On this day he appeared again to his Disciples Thomas being with them Joh. 20.26 On this day S. John saw him walking in the midst of the seven golden Candlesticks Rev. 1.10 13. God the holy Ghost honoured it On this day he descended upon the Apostles in a golden showr of all spirituall gifts and graces Since which time The Church hath honoured it and made it the day of their solemn Assemblies Acts 20.7 What God and his Church hath thus honoured that do not thou profane Secondly we must lay aside the cares of the world and the works of our ordinary callings leaving them behind us as Abraham did his servants when he went to offer his sacrifice upon Mount Moriah Thirdly we must cleanse our selves by confession repentance for otherwise our prayers in the Church will not be acceptable to God nor his ordinances profitable to us Will ye steal murder commit adultery and swear falsly and burn incense unto Baal and walk after other gods whom ye know not and come and stand before me in this house Jer. 7.9 10. Shall I be enquired of by you ô house of Israel As I live saith the Lord I will not be enquired of by you Ezek. 20.31 God heareth not sinners but if any man be a worshipper of him and doth his will him he heareth John 9.31 The Lord had respect unto Abel and his offering But unto Cain and his offering he had not respect Gen. 4.4 5. I will wash my hands in innocency and so will I compasse thine Altar Psal 26.6 Hence was it that the Jews writ over the doors of their Synagogues this saying of David This is the gate of the Lord the righteous shall enter into it Psal 118.20 And now being thus qualified prepared go unto the house of God and in the way meditate of some of these sentences One thing I have desired of the Lord that I will seek after that I may dwel in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord and to enquire in his Temple Psal 27.4 I was glad when they said unto me Let us go up unto the house of the Lord Psal 122.1 We will go unto his Tabernacles we wil worship at his footstoole Psal 132.7 My soul longeth yea even fainteth for the courts of the Lord Psal 84.2 A short morning Prayer for the Sunday O Most glorious and immortall God the eye of whose providence doth never slumber I yeeld thee humble and hearty thanks that thou hast preserved me from the perils of the night past brought me safe to the light of this day and the comforts thereof It is a day holy and honourable a day which is consecrated to thine own service and set apart for thine own honour Let my heart therefore gracious God be so affected with the glory and majesty of it that I may not doe mine own works nor seek mine own pleasure nor speak mine own words but may wait upon thee in the use of thine ordinances discharge those weighty duties which thou requirest of me Now forasmuch as thou art a God of pure eyes and wilt be sanctified in all those that draw near unto thee a God who regardest not the sacrifice of fools nor hearest sinners though they tread in thy courts and call upon thee in the House of praier I beseech thee to pard on and forgive me all my sins remove them out of thy presence as far as the East is from the West accept of me in the death and passion of thy Son Jesus Christ that when I shall come into thy Temple to compasse thine Altar my prayer may come up before thee as incense and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice And as I desire that thou wouldest hear me calling upon thee in my prayers so give me grace to hear thee calling upon me in thy word It is the word of truth of wisdome of righteousnesse of reconciliation that Word which is able to save my soul in the day of the Lord Jesus grant therefore that I may hear it with reverence receive it with meeknesse and mingle it with faith that it may accomplish in me that good work for which thou hast sent it And that this day may be every where a day of holinesse unto thee sanctifie and prepare the hearts of all thy people for thy service fill the places of thy worship with thy glory be present with the assemblies of thy Saints open the mouths of thy Ministers second the ministry of thy word by the efficacy of thy Spirit that it may be powerfull to the casting down of the strong holds of sin and Satan to the advancing inlarging of thy Kingdome to the edifying building up of thy body the Church and to the perfecting of thy Saints till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God to a perfect man Thou ô God who art able to do exceeding abundantly for us above all that we can ask or think hear me and answer me even for the sake of thy dear Sonne Jesus Christ to whom with the Father and the blessed Spirit be ascribed given all power praise might majesty and dominion now and evermore Amen At Church COnsider first the place where thou art it is The gate of heaven Holy ground The house of God Josh 5.15 Gen. 28.17 O how amiable are thy tabernacles ô Lord of Hosts A day in thy Courts is better then a thousand Blessed are they that may dwell
from heaven with a shout with the voice of the Archangel 1 Thes 4.16 And he shall send his Angels with a great sound of a trumpet and they shall gather together the Elect from the four winds from one end of heaven unto the other Mat. 24.31 And then the heavens shall passe away with a great noise and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up 2 Pet. 3.10 How great a day must that needs be wherein the accompts and reckonings of all Days must be audited and cast up Lastly it is commonly and usually called the Day of Judgment for it is the generall Assise wherein every man must be arraigned and hold up his hand at the barre Both old men and maidens young men and children Kings of the earth and all people Princes and all Judges of the earth SECTION II. THus having seen that there shall be not only a particular but a generall judgement also let us in the next place inquire who what manner of Judg he is who shall pronounce the sentence of life or death upon us CAP. I. Christ is the Judge IT is true that the whole Trinity shall judge us for so great an action cannot passe without the consent and authority of the three Persons Yet it is ascribed to Christ in respect of immediate execution He shall appear visibly in his humane nature give the sentence The Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgment to the Son John 5.22 He hath appointed a day wherein he will judg the world in righteousnesse by that man whom he hath ordained Acts 7.31 We shall all stand before the Judgment seat of Christ Rom. 14.10 So that where Christ sayes he came not to judg the world Joh. 12.47 understand it of his first not of his second coming Fit it is that Christ should judg the world who was judged by it that so once in this world he may shew his power and Majesty in the sight of all his creatures especially of Pontius Pilate Annas Caiaphas and the Jews who condemned and crucified him They shall look upon me whom they have pierced Zach. 12.10 Fit it is that Men should be judged by one that is a Man The comfort that we have against the terrors of this day is that we shall be judged by the Man Christ Jesus One man is a God unto another Fear not I am your brother Ioseph CAP. II. Christ a severe Judge CHrist in his first coming was a Lambe but in his second he shall be a Lion His fan is in his hand and he will throng hly purge his floor and gather his wheat into his garner but will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire Mat. 3.12 Hence it is that the very best of the Saints tremble at the apprehension of this day David was a man after Gods own heart yet My flesh trembleth for fear of thee I am afraid of thy judgments Psal 119.120 Enter not into judgment with thy servant ô Lord for in thy sight shall no man living be justified Psal 143.2 Job was a man eminent for all graces yet he stood amazed at the consideration of this Iudge Whom though I were righteous I would not answer but I would make supplication to my Iudg Iob 9.15 What shall I do when God riseth up when he visiteth what shall I answer him Iob 31.14 Paul was a chosen vessell one that knew nothing by himself yet says he I am not thereby justified for it is the Lord that judges me And the Lord judges not as a man judges 1 Cor. 4.4 S. Ierome confesseth that his whole body trembled so oft as hee thought upon this day The righteous shall scarcely be saved 1 Pet. 4.18 Many there are who passe currant in the judgment of the world who when they shal be weighed in Christs ballances will be found too light Good reason then hath every man to pray as the Church teaches him In the day of Judgement good Lord deliver me CAP. III. Christ an upright Judge HEE shall judge the world in righteousnesse he shall minister judgment to the people in uprighteness Psal 9.8 The Lord cometh to judge the earth with righteousnesse shall he judg the world and the people with equity Psal 98.9 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousnesse which the Lord the righteous Iudge shall give me at that day 2 Tim. 4.8 The Iudges of the earth may absolve the guilty and condemn the innocent being corrupted By fear Pilate for the fear of Caesar condemned Christ whom the testimony of his own conscience pronounced innocent But this judge cannot be thus corrupted for Whom shall he fear that is omnipotent or of whom shall he be afraid that shal come with great power and glory Mar. 14.26 Or they may be corrupted with their own affection of love or hatred Herod adjudges John Baptist to death for the love of Herodias daughter Josephs brethren cast him into the pit because they hated him Ge. 37.4 But this Judg cannot be thus corrupted for He is no accepter of persons Acts 10.34 He shall not judg after the sight of his eyes but with righteousnesse shall he judge his people Isa 11.3 4. He will render to every man according to his deeds whether Iew or Gentile Rom. 2.6.9 Or they may be corrupted with bribes Jethro well advised Moses to chuse such men for Judges as hated covetousnesse Exod. 18.21 Thou shalt not wrest judgment thou shalt not respect persons neither take a gift for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise and pervert the words of the righteous Deut. 16.19 Christ our Iudge cannot be so corrupted If he would take a bribe thou shalt have none to give him at that day But if thou couldest give him the Kingdoms of the world the glory of them he would refuse for he is the Lord of lords a great God a mighty and a terrible which regardeth not persons nor taketh reward Deut. 10.17 A good conscience wil doe us more good then then a full purse Riches profit not in the day of wrath but righteousnesse delivereth from death Prov. 11.4 CAP. IV. Christ an All knowing Judge AS his uprightnesse is such that he cannot be corrupted so his knowledge is such that he cannot be deceived He shall not reprove after the hearing of his ears Isa 11.3 He shall not judge us according to the report and testimony of others which is uncertain but according to his own intuitive knowledg which is infallible Come and see a man which told me all the things that ever I did Is not this the Christ John 4.29 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight but all things are naked opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do Heb 4.13 The word in the Originall imports such an openness as when the skin is pulled off the back chined down so that the very entrails
and most secret passages of nature may be discerned These things hast thou done and I kept silence thou thoughtest I was altogether such a one as thy self but I will reprove thee and set them in order before thine eys Psal 50.21 Hence it is that he is said to keep a book of remembrance by him Mal. 3.16 Some sins are said to be secret in respect of him that commits them Who can understand his errours Cleanse thou me from my secret faults Ps 19.12 Or in respect of the world The Adulterer eats his pleasant bread in secret Prov. 9.17 But no sins are secret in respect of God for He sets our iniquities before him even our secret sins in the sight of his countenance Psal 90.8 At that day then in vain will it be for us to deny the fact or to excuse it or to shift and transferre it from one to another for The Lord seeth not as man seeth 1 Sam. 16.7 CAP. V. Christ is an inexorable Judg. AS this Iudge cannot be corrupted nor deceived so neither can he be intreated Now is the accepted time now is the day of salvation 2 Cor. 6.2 Seek the Lord whilst he may be found call upon him whilst he is near Isa 55.6 That is a time of judgment and though we cry as loud as thunder he will not hear us though we cut our selves with lancers as Baals Priests till the blood gush out he will not regard us Wil God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him Job 27.9 Because I have called and ye refused I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded I also will laugh at your calamity and mock when your fear cometh Then shall they call upon me but I will not answer they shall seek me early but they shall not find me Prov. 1.24 26 28. The foolish Virgins knock at the door of mercy but it is shut against them Mat. 25.11 Then will I professe unto them I never knew you depart from me ye that work iniquity Mat. 7.23 SECTION III. HAving now seen who and what manner of Judge thou shalt have suppose him now set upon the judgment seat attended with his glorious Angels and calling thee up to answer these Interrogatories CAP. I. Who art thou TO this thy answer wil be that thou art a Man Christ wilâ— reply unto thee If a man shew me my Image wherein I created thee Caesars peny was known by Caesars Image and superscription When Jacob saw the coat of his son Joseph It is my sons coat says he but an evil beast hath devoured him Gen. 37.33 So Christ will say to us at the day of judgement This is the face and figure of a man but an evil beast hath devoured my Image The Drunkard hath lost the Image of God and laid a swine in the room of it The Covetous hath lost the Image of God and laid a ravenous wolf in the room of it The Adulterer hath lost the Image of God and laid a goat or an horse in the room of it The crafty and contentious person hath lost the Image of God and laid a fox and a dog in the room of it They have corrupted themselves and their spot is not the spot of his children Deut. 32.5 Man that is in honour and understandeth not may be compared to the beasts that perish Psal 49.20 And no beast shall enter into the new Jerusalem for Without are dogs Rev. 22.15 CAP. II. Of what Religion The next Interrogatory will be Of what Religion art thou TO passe by Turks Iewes Infidels thy answer will be I am a Christian. Jacob professes to his Father that he was his very son Esau and yet was not The Church of Sardis had a name to be alive yet was dead Rev. 3.1 Many shall say at that day Lord Lord we have been baptized in thy Name we have called upon thy Name we have prophesied in thy Name who notwithstanding are workers of iniquity A Christian is a name of Duty as well as of Dignity You are my Friends if you doe whatsoever I command you Ioh. 15.14 By this shall all men know that you are my Disciples if ye love one another Iohn 13.35 As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ Gal. 3.27 They that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts Gal. 5.24 Art thou a Christian who hast taken the members of Christ and made them the members of an harlot 1 Cor. 6.15 Art thou a Christian who hast seen Christ naked hast not clothed him hungry and hast not fed him thirsty and hast given him no drink sick and in prison and hast not visited him In a word art thou a Christian that hast lived in the practice of grosse and known sins What Communion is there betwixt Christ and Belial betwixt light and darknesse betwixt righteousnesse unrighteousness 2 Cor. 6.15 The Jews boasted they were the children of Abraham but Christ tels them they were the children of the Divell because they did his works John 8.44 If thou beest not a true but a titular Christian having a form of godlinesse but not the power of it thy judgment wil be more heavy and intolerable then that of Turks and Infidels The Servant that knows his Masters will and does it not shall be beaten with many stripes Unto whomsoever much is given of him shall much be required Luke 12.47 48. Verily I say unto you it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah at the day of judgement then for you Mat. 10.15 It had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness then after they have known it to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them 2 Pet. 2.21 I therefore beseech you to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called Ephes 4.1 And let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity 2 Tim. 2.19 And let us pray as our Church teaches us in the Collect for the third Sunday after Easter ALmighty God c. Grant unto all them that be admitted into the fellowship of Christs Religion that they may eschew those things that be contrary to their profession and follow all such things as be agreeable to the same through our Lord Iesus Christ Amen CAP. III. Of what Profession THe next Interrogatory will be the same that the Marriners put to Jonas What is thine occupation Jonah 1.8 Art thou a Magistrate Supreme an Emperour King c. or subordinate an inferiour officer Governor 1 Pet. 2.13 14. Thou shalt be examined First if thou hast maintained Gods true Religion and beene a nursing Father to the Church Isa 49.23 If thou hast rooted out Heresie Idolatry superstition 1 King 15.12 If thou hast provided Ministers to instruct the people and maintenance for those Ministers Jehoshaphat sent the Priests and Levites and the Book of the Law of the Lord with them and they went about throughout all the Cities of Iudah and taught the
good Lord. O Lord hear my praier and let my cry come unto thee Amen Amen And that for Jesus Christ his sake in whose most blessed name and words we conclude these our imperfect prayers saying as he himself hath taught us Our Father which art art in heaven c. Morning Prayer O Lord our heavenly Father almighty everlasting God which hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day defend us in the same with thy mighty power grant that this day we fall into no sin neither run into any kind of danger but that all our doings may be ordered by thy governance to doe alwayes that is righteous in thy sight through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Evening Prayer LIghten our darkness we beseech thee O Lord and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night for the love of thy only Son our Saviour Jesus Christ Amen THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the holy Ghost be with us all evermore Amen IV. THANKSGIVING Thanksgiving is a branch of praier which like the Leper in the Gospell turns back to God with a confession and â—â—â—â—â—tiation of what 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath done for 〈◊〉 And it is so necessary and essâ—â—tiall a part of Gods woâ—ship that it is the very condition of the obligation wherein God hath bound himself by his promise to hear us Call upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver thee and thou shalt praise me Psal 50.15 so that if we praise him not we break the Covenant and are usurpers upon all his blessings and deliverances Thy loving kindness is better then life therefore my lips shall praise thee Psal 63.3 4. Thus will I magnifie thee al my life and lift up my hands in thy Name Seven times a day do I praise thee Ps 119.164 My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousnesse and thy salvation all the day long for I know no end thereof Ps 71.15 While I live I will praise the Lord I will sing praises to my God while I have any being Psal 146.2 Blesse the Lord O my soul and forget not all his benefits Psal 103.2 O Lord open thou my lips and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise Psal 51.15 THE LETANY of Thanksgiving FOR the grace of Election by which I was chosen according to the good pleasure of thy will My soule doth magnifie thee O Lord. For the grace of Creation by which I was made after thine image in righteousnesse and holiness My soule doth magnifie thee O Lord. For the grace of Redemption by which I was recovered from the guilt dominion of sin from the power of Satan and the second death My soul doth magnifie thee O Lord. For the grace of Vocation wrought in me by the inward working of thy Spirit the outward ministry of thy holy Word and Sacraments My soul doth magnifie thee O Lord. For the grace of Justification whereby I am clothed with the righteousness of Christ Jesus My soul doth magnifie thee O Lord. For my measure of Sanctification by which I am made a new Creature My soul doth magnifie thee O Lord. For my formation in the womb my birth my baptisme the illumination of my understanding the correction of my will and all the spiritual graces received froÌ„ thee My soul doth magnifie thee O Lord. For the liberty of thy Word and Sacraments for thy sanctuary and solemne assemblies and for thy gracious presence with us in them My soul doth magnifie thee O Lord. For thy constant providence in supplying my necessities and defending me from dangers My soul doth magnifie thee O Lord. For my good parents my education my health liberty and peace for the comfort of my friends for my daily bread and for all thy temporall blessings My soul doth magnifie thee O Lord. For thy prevention of evils subvention in evils deliverance from evil My soul doth magnifie thee O Lord. For thy patience in forbearing for thy mercy in forgiving for thy bounty in giving even when I sinned against thee with a high hand My soul doth magnifie thee O Lord. For my life and the season given me for repentance good works and for thy holy means of grace and salvation My soul doth magnifie thee O Lord. For the checks of mine own conscience for the instruction of thy word for the motions of thy good Spirit which have either restrained me from sin or caused me to repent of it My soul doth magnifie thee O Lord. For thy fatherly corrections by some spirituall conflicts with Satan by diseases or hurts in my body by griefs of mind losse of goods molestation of injuries discomforts for or from those to whom naturall civil or Christian acquaintance had indeared me My soul doth magnifie thee O Lord. For all the holy Patriarchs and Prophets for the ever blessed Mother of our Lord for all the holy Apostles and Evangelists for all the godly Bishops and Pastors of the Church for all the noble Army of Martyrs and Confessors and for all the faithfull that have lived and died in the Lord My soul doth magnifie thee O Lord. For the happy translation of all Saints departed in peace from this vale of tears to the inheritance of the just My soul doth magnifie thee O Lord. For thine holy Angels and the charge which thou hast given them to minister unto us to pitch their tents about us to keep us in all our ways and to convey our souls into Abrahams bosome My soul doth magnifie thee O Lord. For Jesus Christ the author and finisher of our faith and the fountain and foundation of all these favours For his conception birth For his circumcision and baptism For his fasting and temptation For his doctrine and miracles For his agony and bloody sweat For his cross passion For his death burial For his victorious descension into hell For his glorious resurrection and ascension into heaven For his sitting at the right hand of God to make intercession always for us For his sending the holy Ghost to a bide with his Church for ever and for his being with us to the end of the world My soul doth magnifie thee O Lord. For thy blessed Spirit the enlightner of my understanding the sanctifier of my will the helper of my infirmities the comforter of my conscience the pledge and witness of my adoption and the seal of my salvation My soul doth magnifie thee O Lord. For all my personall particular deliverances for the religion peace plenty strength and honour of the State wherein I live for saving it all times especially from the Spanish invasion and the Popish powder treason My soul doth magnifie thee O Lord. For all the secret favours which thou hast done for us for all the mercies which we have received from thee and are slipt out of our remembrance and for all the goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee and
love thy coming My soul doth magnifie thee O Lord. What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits towards me I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the Name of the Lord Psal 116.12 I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever with my mouth wil I make known thy faithfulnesse to all generations Ps 89.1 Let them that fear the Lord say alwayes The Lord be praised Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the holy Ghost As it was in the beginning is now and ever shal be world without end Amen Amen And that for Jesus Christ his sake in whose most blessed name and words we conclude these our imperfect prayers saying as he himself hath taught us OUR Father which art in heaven c. Morning Prayer OLord our heavenly Father almighty everlasting God which hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day defend us in the same with thy mighty power grant that this day we fall into no sin neither run into any kind of danger but that all our doings may be ordered by thy governance to doe alwayes that is righteous in thy sight through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Evening Prayer LIghten our darkness we beseech thee O Lord and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night for the love of thy onely Son our Saviour Jesus Christ Amen THe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the holy Ghost be with us all evermore Amen V. INTERCESSION INtercessiō is abranch of prayer extending and inlarging our desires for others as we see in Abraham who interceded for Sodom and Mases for Israel and Samuel for Saul And this duty is very acceptable to God for necessity constrains us to pray for our selves but charity moves us to become petitioners for others And the prayer of charity is more acceptable to God then the prayer of necessity Again it is very profitable for us for though our prayers should not profit them yet they will profit us for they shall be turned into our own bosomes Psal 35.13 Si pro te tantum roges pro te tantum rogabis Si autem pro omnibus roges pro te omnes rog abunt Amb. l. 1. de Cain c. cap. 1. I exhort therefore that first of all supplication prayers intercessions giving of thanks bee made for all men for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour 1 Tim. 2.1 3. And pray always with all manner of prayer and supplication in the spirit and watch thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all Saints And for me that utterance may be given unto me that I may open my mouth boldly to publish the secret of the Gospel Eph. 6.18 19. Is any sick among you let him call for the Elders of the Church and let them pray over him And the prayer of faith shall save the sick and the Lord shall raise him up and if he have committed sinnes they shall be forgiven him James 5.14 15. But as for me when they were sick my clothing was sackcloth I humbled my soul with fasting and my prayer returned into mine own bosome Psal 35.13 Peter was kept in prison but earnest prayer was made of the Church for him Acts 12.5 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem they shall prosper that love thee Psal 122.6 THE LETANY of Intercession THat it may please thee to bless thy Church militant here on earth to preserve the purity of doctrine the due administration of the Sacraments and the preaching of thy Word that the gates of hell may not prevaile against it I beseech thee to heare me good Lord. That it may please thee to purge it from schism and heresie and to reconcile all unhappy differences that we may keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace I beseech thee to heare me good Lord. That it may please thee to fence it about with the wall of thy providence to infatuate the counsel to disperse the powers and projects of all those that wish evill unto Sion I beseech thee to hear me good Lord. That it may please thee to blesse that part of thy Church wherein thou hast planted me and to whose brests thou hast applied me with peace and plenty with a free exercise and reverent esteem of all thine ordinances I beseech thee to hear me good Lord. That it may please thee to bless our gracious King Charls our royall Queen Mary our hopefull Prince Charls and all others that are derived from that same sacred stock or ingraffed into it I beseech thee to hear me good Lord. That it may please thee to bless the government preaching of the Clergy make them painful in their Ministry and exemplary in their lives that they may save themselves and those that hear them I beseech thee to heare me good Lord. That it may please thee to blesse the Councell with wisedome the Judges with integrity the Magistrates with courage the people with obedience our Armies with strength victory I beseech thee to heare me good Lord. That it may please thee to blesse all schools and seminaries of learning religion especially the two Universities of this Land I beseech thee to he are me good Lord. That it may please thee to blesse all those that are near and dear unto me by the bond of nature or Christian acquaintance I beseech thee to heare me good Lord. That it may please thee to blesse all those that have been instruments of my good and are yet living Such as have educated and instructed me Such as have counselled and advised me Such as have clothed and fed me such as have reproved and corrected me when I sinned I beseech thee to hear me good Lord. That it may please thee to remember the reformed Churches beyond the seas to repair the ruines desolations which her enemies have made in her to reduce such as are banished to inlarge such as are imprisoned to relieve such as are impoverished and to comfort such as are persecuted for the testimony of a good conscience and the truth of thy Gospel I beseech thee to hear me good Lord. That it may please thee to raise up such as are dejected with the guilt of their own consciences with the horror of their fins with the apprehension of thy wrath with the weaknesse of their graces or jealousies of thy mercy and to say to their souls that thou art their salvation I beseech thee to heare me good Lord. That it may please thee to prosper and assist all those that jeopard their lives for the maintenance of the Gospel go forth with their Armies cover their heads in the day of battel and bring them home with honour and victory I beseech thee to hear me good Lord. That it may please thee to bless all women with child with safe deliverance all young children with a godly and
Ezekiah call thy self to an account for all thy sins mourn for them in the bitternesse of thy soul confesse them to God and ask forgivenesse 2. Send for thy Minister To whom if need be make a speciall confession and take along with thee the benefit of his absolution Whos 's soever sins ye remit they are remitted unto them and whose soever sins ye retain they are retained John 20.23 If I forgave any thing to whom I forgave it I forgave it in the person of Christ 2 Cor. 2.10 Secondly let thy Minister pray over thee Is any sick among you let him call for the Elders of the Church and let them pray over him If he hath commited sins they shall be forgiven him Jam. 5.14 15. Thirdly let him give thee the Sacrament of the Lords Supper This is the best viaticum and provision for so long a journey I may say to thee as the Angel to Eliah Arise and eat for the journey is too great for thee And if with Eliah thou dost eat and drink thou maist travell in the strength of this meat to Horeb the mount of God 1 Kings 19.7 8. This is the bread that came down from Heaven that a man may eat thereof and not die Who so eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud hath eternall life and I will raise him up at the last day Joh. 6.51 54. V. Euseb hist l. 5. c. 45.3 Set thine house in order 2 Kings 20.1 This will not make thee die more quickly but more quietly 4. Remember the poor When we have beene kindly entertained at a friends house it is good manners to give the servants something when we goe away Blessed is he that considereth the poore the Lord will deliver him in the time of trouble The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing and will make all his bed in his sicknesse Psal 41.1 3. 5. If thou beest a father or mother of children call them before thee and blesse them So did Jacob when he departed Gen. 49.1 6. Make restitution if thou beest able to such as thou hast wronged and defrauded Without restitution there is no remission Enquire with Samuel whose oxe thou hast taken or whose asse thou hast taken whom thou hast defrauded whom thou hast oppressed or of whose hand thou hast received a bribe and restore it Send for them who have offended thee and forgive them and for those whom thou hast offended and ask forgivenesse Lastly resign and give over thy self to God Behold here I am let the Lord do to me as seemeth good to him 1 Sam. 15.26 Not my wil but thine be done And if thus thou beest prepared at the day of death oh well is thee and happy shalt thou be Psal 128.2 Blessed is that servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall finde thus doing thus dying Mat. 24.46 A short prayer for a happy departure O Most glorious Lord the GOD of the spirits of all flesh in whose hands are the times of all men and the keys of the Grave I most meekly beseech thee of thy goodnesse to pardon and forgive me all my sins and to make me ever mindfull of my mortality Lay often before mine eyes by thy remembring spirit that the days of my pilgrimage are but few and evil that I have here no abiding and continuing City that all flesh and the goodlinesse thereof is but a flower that fadeth a shadow that vanisheth away that so numbring my days I may apply my heart to wisedome and with the wise Virgins provide Oil in my Lamp and make my calling and election sure before I go hence be no more seen And when it shall please thee to cast me upon the bed of sickness and to compasse me about with the sorrows of the grave I beseech thee for thy names sake for thy mercies sake for thy Son Jesus Christ his sake not to be far from me in that needfull time of trouble when I shall finde heavinesse in my flesh and there be none to deliver me But draw near unto my soul and be about my bed to pardon my sins to pacifie my conscience to strengthen my faith to mitigate my pains to receive my soul when it shall be commended unto thee Receive it O God the Father for thou hast created it Receive it O God the Son for thou hast redeemed it Receive it O God the Holy Ghost for thou hast sanctified it Receive it ô holy blessed and glorious Trinity that being translated out of this vale of misery it may raign with thee one everliving and immortall God in the Kingdome of Glory world without end Amen SECTION I. Of the day of Judgement CHristian Reader let my Meditations now passe as thou thy self must from the day of death to the day of Judgment For it is appointed for all men once to die and after that to come to judgment Heb. 9.27 CAP. I. There shall bee a day of Judgment IT is an Article of our faith that CHRIST who nâ—w sits at the right hand of his Father shall come from thence to judg the quick and the dead Enoch the seventh from Adam prophesied of it saying Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his Saints To execute Judgment upon all and to convince all that are ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against hâ—m Iude 14 15. God shall bring every work into judgement with every secret thing whether it be good or whether it be evill Eccles 12.14 I saw the dead small and great stand before God The Sea gave up the dead which were in it and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them and they were judged every man according to his works Rev. 20.13 It is very observable that all other Articles of the Creed have been opposed by Heretiques either in whole or in part but no Heretique denied a day of judgment Vide Danaeum in his Cat. of heresies against the Creed In this world Solomon says no man can know love or hatred by all that is before them For all things come alike to all there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked to the good and to the clean and to the unclean to him that sacrificeth to him that sacrificeth not as is the good so is the sinner he that sweareth as he that feareth an oath Eccles 9.1 2. Now shall not the Judge of all the world do right Gen. 18.25 There must be a day wherein the wicked shall be punished and the vertuous rewarded A day wherein God will put a difference betwixt an Israelite and an Aegyptian betwixt a Sheep and a Goat betwixt wheat and tares There shall be a day when I will make up my Jewels and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him Then shall ye return and discern between the righteous and the wicked between him that serveth God