better doe your worke If a quarter or halfe an houre in a day be sometimes spent in the practice at the weekes end you will find it no prejudice to your work but an excellent preparation on Gods day to do his worke in who doubtlesse will thereby both blesse and prosper the workes of every your owne dayes But let not the Gate be great where the City is but little or I lavish out time by a long Preface before a little booke which for the good of you all I composed and herein now propose to your both courteous and Christian entertainment and so I rest Yours in the Lord. L. THOMAS MILKE FOR CHILDREN The Great letters of all sorts A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. J. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q. R. S. T. U. W. X. Y. Z. A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q. R. S. T. U. W. X. Y. Z. A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q. R. S. T. V. W. X. Y. Z. The small Letters of all sorts a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. k. l. m. n. o. p. q. r. r. s s. t. v. u. w. x. y. z. c. a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. k. l. m. n. o. p. q. r. s s. t. v. u. w. x. y. z. c. a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. k. l. m. n. o. p. q. r. s s. t. v. u. w. x. y. z. c. The Double letters of all sorts ff ss sh sl fl st ct ff ss sh sl fl st ct ff ss sh sl fl st ll ct The numeral letters I. V. X. L. C. D. M. The Figures 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 0. The points or stops in reading A Comma or short stop A middle distinction A full point A note of Interrogation A noâ—e of Admiration Lines including a Parenthesis The division of the letters Of the letters these six a. e. i. o. u. y. are Vowels all the rest are Consonants And sometimes i. u. y. are Consonants when going before themselves or other Vowels This kind of v. v. v. is used when a Consonant and whether Consonant or Vowell ever in the beginning of a Syllable word or sentence The other u. u. u. is alwayes a Vowell It is called a Consonant because it must alwayes be sounded with a Vowell as ab eb ad ed. ba. be da. de c. where a. and e. are Vowels b. and d. are Consonants In the English letters these two sorts of small ers r. r. are used indifferently but the small esses s s. are thus used this s alwayes in the beginning and middle this s alwayes at the end of words There are Syllables in words every Syllable must have one vowel at the least and every word if it hath more syllables then one must have also more vowels A Syllable is the pronouncing of one letter or more with one breath One Syllable may make one word as of in One word may have many syllables as division PSAL. 34. vers 11. Come ye Children hearken unto mee I will teach you the fear of the Lord. ECCLES 12. verse 13. Let us beare the conclusion of the whole matter Feare God and keep his Commandements for this is the whole duty of man PSAL. 111. vers 10. The feare of the Lord is the beginning of wisedome a good understanding have all they that do thereafter his praise endureth for ever ECCLES 12. vers 1. Remember now thy Creator in the dayes of thy youtb while the evill dayes come not nor the years draw nigb when thou shalt say I have no pleasure in them 1 KINGS Chapt. 18. Vers 25 Therefore now Lord God of Israel keepe with thy servant David my Father that thou promisedst him saying there shall not faile thee a man in my sight to sit on the Throne of Israel so that thy Children take beed to their way that they walke before me as thou hast walked before me Vers 26 And now O God of Israel let thy word I pray thee be verified which thou spakest unto thy servant David my Father Vers 27 But will God indeed dwell on the earth Behold the Heaven and Heaven of Heavens cannot containe thee how much lesse this house that I have builded Vers 28 Yet have thou respect unto the Prayer of thy servant to this supplication O Lord my God to hearken unto my cry and to the prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee this day Vers 29 That thine eyes may be open to this house night and day ever toward the place of which thou hast said my name shall be there that thou maist hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall make toward this place The Creed in twelve Articles 1. I beleeve in God the Father Almighty maker of heaven and Eaâ—th 2. And in Jesus Christ his onely Son our Lord 3. Which was conceived by the holy Ghost borne of the Virgin Mary 4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried he descended into Hell 5. The third day he rose againe from the dead 6. He ascended into Heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty 7. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead 8. I beleeve in the holy Ghost 9. The holy Catholicke Church the Communion of Saints 10. The forgivenesse of sins 11. The resurrection of the Body 12. And the life everlasting Amen The Commandements in a Preface and ten Precepts And God spake all these words saying The Preface I am the Lord thy God which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt out of the house of bondage 1. Thou shalt have no other Gods before The Precepts or Commandements themselvs me II. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven Image or any likenesse of any thing that is in the Heaven above or that is in the Earth beneath or that is in the water under the Earth Thou shalt not bow downe thy selfe to them nor serve them For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the Children unto the third and foâ—rth generation of them that hate me And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my Commandements III. 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 to keepe it holy Six dayes shalt thou labour and doe all thy worke Bâ—t the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt not doe any work thou nor thy Sonne nor thy Daughter thy man-servant nor thy maid-servant nor thy cattell nor thy stranger that is within thy gates For in six dayes the Lord made Heaven and Earth the Sea and all that in them is and rested the seventh day wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed iâ—
ought you to vindicate your miskeeping A By Repentance XLVII Q What is Repentance A Hearty sorrow for sins past and purpose of amendement of life for time to come z Act. 26. 20. XLVIII Q But can you thus repent of your selfe A No but that also is the gift and goodnesse of God a Ro. 2. 4. and we must pray for it b Act. 8. 22. XLIX Q What is Prayer A A calling upon God through Jesus Christ L. Q Have you any rule for Prayer A Yes the best and most perfect patterne of Prayer the Lords Prayer LI. Q What be the words of the Lords Prayer A Oâ—r Father which art c. LII Q How many parts hath this Prayer A Foure LIII Q VVhich or what be they A First a Preface secondly the Prayer it selfe thirdly a Confirmation and fourthly a Conclusion LIV. Q VVhich iâ— the Preface A Our Father which art in Heaven LV. Q VVhich is the Prayer it selfe A The six Petitions As hallowed c. LVI Q VVhat is the Confirmation A For thine is the Kingdome c. LVII Q VVhich is the Conclusion A Amen LVIII VVhy must we pray A Because a good meane t is to increase faith c Luk 17. 5. LIX Q Are there no other means to increase it A Yes LX. Q VVhat be they A The Sacraments d Rom. 4. 11. LXI Q How many Sacramentâ— be there A Two LXII Q VVhich be they A The first Baptisme e Jo. 1. 26. the second the Supper of our Lord. f Luke 22. 19 20. LXIII Q What is a Sacrament A An outward and visible signe or seale of an inward and spirituall grace g Rom. 4. 11. LXIV Q VVhat is the outward signe or seale in Baptisme A Water h Act. 10. 47. LXV Q VVhat is the inward and spirituall Grace A Remission of sin i Mar. 1. 4. LXVI Q VVho are to be baptized A Beleevers k Act. 8. 37 38. LXVII Q VVhat is the outward signe or seale in the Lords Supper A Bread and Wine l Luke 22. 19 20. LXVIII Q VVhat is the inward and spirituall grace A The benefits and deserts of Christs death and passion m â— Cor. 11. 24. c. LXIX Q VVho are to receive this Sacrament A Beleevers baptized LXX Q VVho instituted these Sacraments A Christ himselfe n Mat. 28. 19. Luke 22. 19. 20. LXXI Q VVho are to administer them A Ministers lawfully thereunto called o Heb. 5. 4 LXXII Q VVhy ought we thus to have faith and to shew forth works of faith to pray and to receive the Sacraments c. A That we may obtaine Salvation p Act. 16. 30. LXXIII Q VVhat is Salvation A It is next to Gods glory the chiefe end of mans endeavours q Psa 73. 24 25l LXXIV Q And what is that end A Eternall life r Jo. 5. 39. LXXV Q. VVhat is eternall life A An everlasting living with God in glory s Psal 73. 24. A plaine and easie Method teaching to read and write The Great Letters Engl ABCDEFGHIKLMNOPQRSTVWXY Ro ABCDEFGHIJKLLMNOPQRSTVWXYZ Ita ABCDEFGGHIKLMMNOPQRSTVWXY The smale Letters of all Sortes Eng abcddeeefgghiikkl ll mnoppqrrsstvuwxxyzz Rom Aabcdefghikl ll mnoppq qu rr stvwxys ss â— coÌ„ mÌ„ m o Ita Aabcdefgghiikl ll mno oo ppppq rrsst tt v tt w x x yyzz Secretary hand Come yee children hearken vnto me I will teach you the feare of the Lord Romane Hand Let vs heare the conclusion of the whole matter Feare God keepe his commaundements for this is the Italian hand The feare of the Lord is the begining of wisdome a good vnderstanding â—aue all they that oor â— his commandemen ts his prayse endureth for ever â— B. Mixt hand or bastard Secretary Remember now thy creator in the dayes of thy youth while the euell dayes com not now the yeares 〈◊〉 nigh when thou shalt say I haue noe pleasure in the For children when once they begin to speak to begin then presently to instill into them these grounds and principles And whereas too too many make ill and idle words their first and familiar instructions let the more godly informe them in them good and profitable and make those weaklings that begin to speak and those others whoever more rude and ignorant that can speak but cannot yet read familiar with better words as the name of God and of Christ and of the holy Ghost and of Sin and of Death and Hell of the Resurrection and Heaven and Glory and the like Of God how he made us all the World of Christ how he redeemed us when by sin made bond-slaves to death and hell who by his glorious resurrection shall raise up the godly to inherit with him Heaven and Glory And then of the holy Ghost who sanctifieth us and endues us with graces competent in the merits of Christ to attaine that glory Which like familiar and timely instructions will kindle in them a love of God and of Christ and a study of doing that which is good and also an hatred against sin and evill And to that end let them by little and little teach them even without book to pronounce the Creed the Commandements and the Lords Prayer And then after they can say them by heart and without booke to tell them how many Articles are in the Creed how many Commandements there are how many Petitions in the Lords Prayer and to pronounce them distinctly one from another both in their order and out of order so as they may not only be able to say this Article or this Commandemâ—nâ— or this Petition is the first and this the second and this the third and so forth but this is the sixt or this the third or this the first and so forth When it may not be amisse even without book to teach them the names of the letters in the Alphabet as a bee cee dee c. and how to number as one two three four c. When while you are thus teaching them this by this or the like Alphabet here before set downe may you bring them to read which even naturally is the desire of most and that which when men come to the knowledge of themselves and cannot read wish even too late that they had bestowed even a great deale more paines and cost to attaine it then this timely endeavour may doe Which at first by a provident foresight and diligence is attained even with pleasure and little paines and lesse expence the expence but the buying this or the like little book which Masters and they more rich may out of charity buy and give unto poor children and Servants When next themselves or if they cannot some other of their children and servants or some godly Neighbour neer by that can read though but a little may by little and little teach the rest yea even their own Parents or Masters that having so much neglected this great good may not be
V. Honour thy Father and thy Mother that thy dayes may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee VI. Thou shalt not kill VII Thou shalt not commit adultery VIII Thou shalt not steale IX Thou shalt not bear false witnesse against thy Neighbour X. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours house thou shalt not covet thy Neighbours wife nor his man-servant nor his maid-servant nor his Oxe nor his Asse nor any thing that is thy Neighbours The Lords Prayer in a Preface six Petitions a Confirmation and a Conclusion The Preface The Petitions OVr Father which art in Heaven 1. Hal lowed be thy Name 2. Thy Kingdome come 3. Thy will be done in Earth as it is in heaven 4. Give us this day our dayly Bread 5. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our Debtors 6. And lead us noâ— into Temptation but deliver us from evill For thine is the Kingdome and the Power The Confirmation and the glory for ever The Conclusion Amen â—race before meat BLessed God the Father of all blessings and God of all comfort and consolation blesse us and the Creaturs whatever now provided for us so fill both our bodies and soules with good that both may abound in all goodnesse to thy only glory and both their good through Jesus Christ our Lord to whom with thee and the holy Spirit be all honour and glory for ever Amen Grace after meat Give us O Lord we beseech thee all thankfull hearts for all thy good graces and benefits what ever now and at all times bestowed on us that by us and all the faithful for that all thy good thou maist receive all praise and glory now and for ever Amen A short Catechisme 1. Question WHat ought to be our chiefest care Answer To glorifie God a 1 Cor. 10. 31. II. Q That we may have that Care and shew forth that glory what ought we especially to have A Zeale b Numb 25. 11. III. Q Is Zeale enough to shew it A No we must have also knowledge c Rom. 10. 2. IV. Q That we may have both that zeal and knowledge what ought we especially to understand and consider A The works of God and the Word of God V. Q What are the works of God A The world and all things therein contained VI. Q Dothâ—bat glorifie God A Yes d Psal 19. 1 2. VII Q Why would he have his works to glorifie him A That we might be without ex cuse e Rom. 1. 19 20. VIII Q What is the Word of God A The holy Scriptures of the old and new Testament commonly called the Bible IX Q Why ought we to understand and consider that Word A That we might have a certaine rule to go by X. Q Have we a certaine rule in that Word A Yes f Is 8. 20. XI Q What especially teacheth that Word A The Knowledge of God and our selves g 2 Tim. 3. 16 17. XII Q What ought we to know of God A Two things especially XIII Q What be they A First what he is secondly what he hath done XIV Q First what is God A He is a Spirit h Jo. 4. 24. XV. Q Secondly what hath God done A He hath made all things i Gen. 1. â— XVI Q What ought we to know of our selves A Three things especially XVII Q What be they A First â—â— what we were Secondly what we are Thirdly what we shall be XVIII Q First then what weâ—e we A At our first Creation when God made man and all things he and they all Gen. 1. 31 were good k XIX Q Secondly what are we A Since that our first Parent Adams Gen. 6. 5. Ro. 6. 23. fall evill 1 And unlesse by Grace renewed subject to death m XX. Q Thirdly what shall we be A At the last day the generall Resurrection of all Mankind they by grace Mat. 25. 34. renewed shall be blessed in Heaven'n they that continue in sin shall be accursed in Mat. 25. 41. Hell o XXI Q Well but what was Adams sin to us Rom. 5. 18. 1 Cor. 15. 22. A We sinned in him p XXII Q How then can we be redeemed from that his guilt A By Jesus Christ XXIII What or who is Jesus Christ A The Sonne of God and Saviour of man XXIV Q Why must we be redeemed by Jesus Christ A Because the sin of man was against God God that is also man as Jesus Christ was and is must make the satisfaction XXV Q Are there more Gods then one A No there is but one God but there are three Persons in the Godhead XXVI Q What are those three Persons A The first the Father the second the Son and the third the holy Ghost XXVII Q How doe you know this A My Creed tels me so XXVIII Q What is the Creed A The Articles of our Faith XXIX Q Why doe some call it the Apostles Creed A Because some say the Apostles composâ—d it XXX Q What doe you think who composed it A It is uncertaine XXXI Q Why then is it râ—ceived A Because whoever composed it makes no great matter but being of old received and certainely containing the sum or grounds of Christian Religion comprised in the Gospell of Christ it is therefore received XXXII Q How many be those Articles of it A According to the number of the twelve Apostles twelve XXXIII Q What be those Articles A I beleeve in God c. XXXIV Q What is Faith A A certaine confidence in and dependance on Jesus Christ q Eph 3. 12. XXXV Q Why need we that confidence and dependance on Jesus Christ A Because we are sinners and none but he bare those sins i Heb. 9. 28. XXXVI Q What is sin A A transgression of the Law s 1 Jo. 3. 4. XXXVII Q What is that Law A The Commandements of God XXXVIII Q How many Commandments are there A Ten in two Tables t Deut. 4. 13. XXXIX Q Which be the Commandments A I am the Lord thy God c. XL. Q What learne you by these Commanmandements A My duty towards God and my duty towards my Neighbour XLI Q What is your duty towards God A To love him above all things u Mat. 22. 37. XLII Q What is your duty towards your Neighbour A To love him as my selfe w Mat. 22. 39. XLII Q Well but can you exactly keepe them in every point A No but I dayly breake some one or other of them in thought word and deed x Psal 14. 1. 3. And breaking but one I am guilty of all y Ja. 2. 10. XLIV Q How then to any purpose can you keepe any of them A I must labour what I may to keepe them XLV Q Why must you labour to keepe them A Because they are the rule prescribed of God XLVI Q Well but being as you say not able to keepe them as you ought how
ashamed yet to learne And that by bestowing were it but even a quarter of an hour in a day for two or three months in which time a but indifferent capacity come to some discretion may perfectly read Which they may the better doe by observing this Method First to learn to know the letters within booke as they had been taught before without booke to name them And also the Figures and the Numerall Letters to be able to say both of the great and small Letters wherever they see them that this is a or this is el or this is pee c. And then of the Numerall letters that this stands for one this for five this for ten c. of the Figures that is two this four this six c. Secondly to know and shew which are Vowels which Consonants so as when ever they see a Word they may be able to say there be so many Vowels in it and so many Consonants Thirdly to learne to spell first a Syllable which may perhaps be or make a word and then after a word which may perhaps have many Syllables When they have learnt all this you may doe well to acquaint them with the points or marks or stops in reading which are these fix before set downe in the Alphabet Where you must first give them their names as before annexed to their markes so as when seeing any of them the Learner may say that this Crooke is a Comma or little or short point where is to be made a short stop in reading These two pricks a middle distinction where to stay a little longer This one Pricke a full point where one may take breath or end a period This point with a crooke over it a note of Interrogation where a question is asked This point with a downe-right line over it thus a note of admiration which is but as a short stop and at which the pronunciation must be of the words next going before it as with wonder And those two crooked lines a note including a Parenthesis or inclosing a sentence between them which sentence taken away or left out the sense yet would remaine intire When also you may tell them the meaning of those markes at the end of the small letters as how are all but one and the same each answering to each sort of letters and stand for And and is called and by it selfe and that set with a cafter it as c. c. c. is then used when any thing remains unset downe or is understood to follow though not set downe and is called and the rest or and so forth As also of the double letters teaching them to know and read them being that to be thus joyned together they doe somewhat differ from the rest As also in the written Copy to tell them the differences betweene the letters two of a sort in the Alphabet of small letters that excepting the two errs r r both in print and writing used promiscuously as also the esses in both the Roman and Italian this s is used in the beginning or middle never at the end of a word and this s is promiscuously used in all places beginning middle end as you see good the first is ordinarily to be written at the beginning and in the middle of a word the latter only still at the end of a word Let them keepe to these set formes of letters till they can perfectly write according to these Coppies in either hands and then they may easily vary and write mixt hand in such other letters as are used in writing if though this be enough they would be further masters of the Pen. This learnt you may proceed and shew them some sentence or other or some two three or more sentences together that have in them all these as that of 1 Kings Chapt. VIII in the fourth page before where you may shew and pose them in most of all these perticâ—lars Where you have most of all the letters of the Alphabet some of the Figures at the beginning of each verse some of the Numerall letters in the number of the booke and Chapter and all the before mentioned Points and marks This let be your practice a while till they can exactly know and understand thus much Then for their first exercise to read you may make use of that peece of Scripture you thus posed them in or choose some other easie and short sentence as some one or other of them set downe in the third page before that Scripture as Come ye children c. or Let us heare the conclusion c. or The feare of the Lord is the beginning of wisedome c. When and wherein be not too pressing to teach them too much at once nor let them shufflle it over by halves But go on by leisure three or foure words at most at a time and them well learnt and understood before you go any further Then when those three or foure words are so well learnt go on to three or four more till in that manner you have gone through the whole sentence These with one two or three sentences thus well learnt may you proceed with them to that Scripture or rather if you will to the Creed or Commandements or Lords prayer and then after to some Psalme or what other Chapter or peece of the Bible or what other English booke you will And observing this Method first taking three or foure words then a line or a verse then a page then a leafe as their capacities and delight will follow it they will in a short time become perfect Readers And so even while Children have obtained that precious Jewel that many old folkes that want it would in their mindes give all they are worth for Now all this in some measure well performed may you goe on to propose unto them the learning of some plaine and easie Catechisme or rather indeed between whiles in the learning to read let Children and Servants though as yet they cannot read being come to some knowledge be taught to answer without book to the questions in this before or the like short Catechisme and so without booke learne it as they may instruct one another one by questioning and another by answering Instrustions for the Teacher Which short Catechisme being thus learnt may you doe well next to proceed to this or the like exposition of it That so you may not onely have the direct Questions and Answers as before in that Short Catechisme but to the better opening to the understanding thereof by further Explications teaching the meaning of them And that too by way of Question and Answer here and there inserting some other both Questions and Answers that may make to the better explaining the former When now in this Exposition where need is you may enlarge your selfe as occasion serves upon the Question or Answer producing proofes of Scripture for your Expositions and causing still the Learner where need is to
goodnesse As out of the Old Testament g Gen. 18. 18 19. where greatnes seems to be consequent of goodnesse and godlinesse and that God will blesse them whose children and houshold by living uprightly blesse God Also h Pr. 22. 6. where that men in their old age depart not from godlinesse and goodnesse is that in their youth they were trained up in it Againe i Ecc. 12. 1 where the wise Preacher wishes as we say to take time by the fore-lock and betimes to informe in golinesse And then that k V. 13. 14 to be godly and goe by the rule of Gods Commandments is mans whole endeavours Then out of the New Testament l Mat. 6. 33. that our first care Christ would have to be to be godly and no doubt the endeavours of our first yeares as who secking first to be godly should not misse any good according to that of David m Psa 8 4. 11. who assures all good to the godly as Christ makes goods the additions to godlinesse Also n Jo. 14. 15 Christ would have us to testifie our love of him and to shew it by keeping his Commandements which is by having faith and workes of faith hope charity and what other Christian vertues commanded by him Againe o 1 Jo. 2. 1. as if to prepare us for all these vertues the Apostle warnes against all vice and under the salute or title or appellation of Children as if to shew we could not be too timely in a contest with them the spirit of God p Rev. 22. 14. assuring heaven to the godly blessednesse as the right of their inheritance These and the like Expositions over and these like more plaine instructions instilled into youth for their further growth in godlinesse may you next doe well by yet larger expositions to explain unto them the meaning of the Creed the ten Commandements and the Lords Prayer with here and there some hints to some usefull Applications And first of the Creed A breif Exposition of the Creed THe Creed though as some will have it the immediate dictates of the twelve Apostles however it be uncertain who were the first compilers of it is the most ancient summe of Christian faith received by the Primitive Church and fathers and though containing in it the pith and marrow of Gods promises in in the Gospell yet because no Canonical Scripture in the exposition thereof it behoves us out of the Scriptures to prove every article thereof and to produce still such places of Canonical writ as shall infallably set forth the substance and sum of it And first for the Creed in generall thus the sum of our faith it behoves first to prove the necessity of faith And that doe these Scriptures as Habac. 2. 4. the last clause of the verse recited Rom. 1. 17. and Gal. 3. 11. and further explained or exemplified Jo. 3. 36. and 1 Jo. 5. 10. By collation of all which places there 's no living without it no living as to please God a Heb. 11. 6. without pleasing whom even better were it not to be b Mat. 18 6. No but this faith is it that justifies uâ— before God c Rom 5 1 Gal 1 15 sanctifies us before men d Act 15 9 Gal 5 6 is that by which we must live in which we must dye live we must by faith and that is when all we doe we doe in faith and when all we suffer we suffer in faith And then dye we must in faith and that first by weaning our selves from an immoderate love of this world secondly by depending on the promises of God thirdly by adhering to all helpes may bring us to heaven and fourthly in the pursuit of this adherence by no means to fall backe or faulter but though perhaps at present seeing little or no good come to hope and goe on still as faithfully assured of its coming e Job 13 15 Ps 30 5 These and the like places prove the necessity of faith And being that faith comes by hearing of the word f Ro 10 17 of God see we now next the symboll of faith it selfe the Creed and come we by the test of that word to prove every the Articles thereof and first of the First Article I beleeve in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth which is also the first Part of it wherein is to be proved 1. That there is a God 2. that he is a Father 3. that he is Almighty 4. that he is Maker of Heaven and Earth 5. that this must be our faith and 6. that this must be every particular mans faith 1. For the first that there is a God though none but fooles a Ps 14 1 will deny his being these like Scriptures prove and as if the better to worke upon our capacities prove it by evident reasons As by his works of Creation b Ro 1 20 and Providence c Heb 1 3 where by the one we are to told he made e all things by the other that he preserves all things which none bâ—t God can doe Where might be added the Nature of the Creatures Whose motion points at some still first mover their multitudes at some Vnite which againe must needs be God yea our owne dayly experience that see his wrath emergent against the wicked and goodnesse and mercy eminent to the good and the godly Vse Which may teach the foolish and dull Atheist to lay by his stupid infidelity and confesse with his mouth what he durst but deny in his heart that there is a God may teach men to live so as if there were a God godly and serve him as they ought both dutifully and duly Besides that these like Scriptures and Reasons may prove not onely that there is a God but also that there is out one God However to backe this assertion have we also Gods owne Testimony in these other like Scriptures as Deut. 4. 39. Isa 45. 5. 1 Cor. 8. 4. and the like Vse Which again may instruct us against all filthy Idolatry and them that count ought else a. God beside him may teach unity among our selves d Act 4 32 and our onely sole salvation by him e Is 43 11 Ro 3 30 When proving him thus to be but one we need not presse further or be driven to prove that he is true or good all these like terms being convertible this one being every of those two and they all three but as all one 2 That he is a Father con we that Scripture f Isa 9. 6. where though speaking of Christ the Son of God the Prophet cals him Son as the second person in the Trinity Father as the first person both Father and son together with the holy Ghost though being but one entire substance God yet thus are three distinct subsistences one God three Persons g Mat. 28. 19. 1 Joh. 5. 7. That he is called Father shewes
11 And X. In the Tenth respecting the inward actions of one man towards another and as â—eflecting upon all the former both speciall and generall duties even in our very thoughts and desires which unlesse well rectified are the very fo intaines oâ— evil o Jam. 4. 1 is commanded in all our parts body and soule through sanâ—tification and to our owne estate to be content with it p Heb. 13 5. to bemoan the ill condition of it q Job 42. 11. and to rejoyce in the good r Ex. 18 9 And forbidden in all our parts all unholinesse or unrighteousnesse s Ro. 6 13 all or any discontent with our own estate t Est 5. 13 and to that of our Neighbours by envy u Gal. 5 26. or repining w Ja. 5 9. any whatever inordinate x Col. 3. 5 or lustfull y 1 Cor. 10. 6. desire to him z Gen. 39 12 or his * 1 Ki 21 2 4 12. Zâ—c 7 10 In every of which these Commandements both of the things commanded and forbidden we have instanced in them we could remember most obvious in the large extent of which we writing but a short Commentary some thingâ— in both may perhaps be omitted and thus in briefe supplyed What as to the things commanded let be referred to this Finally my Brethrâ—n c. Phil. 4. 8. And as to the things forbidden to this Abstaine c. 1 Thes 5. 2 And thus have we done with this before Exposition of the Commandements come we next to that of the Lords Prayer A briefe Exposition of the Lords Prayers THis Prayer as the Commandements are is also a part of the Canonicall Scriptures and at two severall times produced by our Saviour himselfe as recorded by two severall Evangelists a Mat. 6 9 c Luke 11 2 who both have upon the matter the same like Copy in almost the very same words That we have this Prayer thus twice repeated warrants a set â—orme of prayer and confirmes the practice usuall under both the Law and the Gospell As under the Law in a set forme was Aaron and his sons enjoyned to blesse the Children of Israel as you may see both the Injunction b Numb 6. 22 23 and the forme c 24 25 26. See another set forme of Prayer of him that was to present his third yeares Tith d Deut. 26. 15. A set forme of Thanksgiving e Is 12. ch See also a set forme on the peoples conversion f Joel 2. 17 1 Ki. 8. 47. repeated even word for word g Dan. 9 5 as a set forme in the time of Captivity Then compare Ezra 3. 11. Psal 136. Jer. 33. 11. together and see how as may be well gathered by the burden of the song that Psalme is recorded by those other two places and made as a set forme of thanksgiving See also other Injunctions and examples of set formes h 2 Chro. 29. 30. Ezr. 3. 10. The Titles of many Psalmes shew them set formes as that for the Morning i Psal 22. for the Sabbath k Psal 92. and the like And under the Gospell Our Saviour himselfe not onely twice prescribeth this forme as for others but himselfe also useth a set forme l Mat. 27. 46. in the very same words of David m Psa 22. 1. yea another also of his owne words three severall times in the same words n Mat. 26. 44. Enough to warrant set fâ—rmes But to goe on with this Prayer that there is some variety in the words though to one and the same purpose as where Matthew hath debts and debtors Luke hath sins or trespasses and indebted as if both compared to shew that sins or trespasses are debts and an omission of some part of the one that is in the other Copy warrants also somewhat varied formes according to this and that something now may be omitted that at another time is or may be said That in one place it is said o Mat. 6. 9 After this manner pray yee hints that all our Prayers be by this patterne the most exact forme and comprising in briefe what ever more at large may be delivered in Prayer And then that in the other place it is said p Ln. 11. 2 When ye pray say Our Father c. hints not onely this a set forme of Prayer but that also even with this most exact and perfect forme we or begin or end ours more imperfect When as recorded by St Matthew q Mat. 6. 9 10 11 12 13 Presace to goe on with the Exposition of that most perfect forme the Lords Prayer From the Preface consider we first the object of all prayer God r Ps 62. 2. Then secondly under what Appellation Father And thirdly in what place heaven and then fourthly as to uswards most propitious under this notion of Our For to come to God were it without this or under any other Title of Majesty might make us affraid to come unto him that inglorious s Gen. 18 27 dust and ashes should dare to approach so incomprehensible t 1 Kin. 8 27 glory u Ps 24 7 But Father may give us confidence of love that though in heaven he beholdeth us also in earth w Ps 11. 4 and when the Father of lights x Jam. 1 17 is the giver of all good and in heaven the Lord of both it and earth and as who hath all power in both y Ps 135 6 and can give it to z 1 Kin. 8 30 and to whom he plâ—aseth a Dan. 4 27 Bâ—t yet what may all this be to us unlesse to us he will please to give that goodnesse what that he is that Father unlesse also Oâ—rs Our there is it confirmes our happinesse that we though on Earth and he in Heaven thus a Father can thus in prayer come unto him under the Notion of our Father Which Our cacheth us how 't is we come to God to the Father by the Son through the holy Ghost When then thus praying Our Father we pray not to any one alone Father Son or holy Ghost but thus to the whole Trinity Father teacheth God not only d Jo 5 22 a Judge b Gen. 15 25. but also a Saviour c Hos 13 4 Our that we come to him by Christ who is both that Judge and Saviour e Mat 1 21 Our Father as he is God f Isa 9 6 our Brother as Man g Heb 2 11 Our teaches that by him we come to that his and our Father h Jo 20 17. he the Naturall Son of God i Jo 1 14 we but in him the adopted k Gal 4 4 5 So as but by him no comfortable l Jo 14 16 26 no effectual m vers 6 coming though in and by him we are made all able n Ph 4 13 in thus coming Nor
some make two may to me seeming seeme to make it but as it were a double shaft or as two darts which were they three all were little enough to thrust through the heart of this rebellious Absolom sin d 2 Sam. 18 14 And both are to this end delivered and prescribed by Christ though one be but as 't were the Exposition of the other To explaine yet further which By Temptation meaning all occasions of sinning especially here having reference to sin still to come and by Evil meaning the whatever still present occasion of it the whatever present sin and so consequently the whatever issues of sinning the whatever evils come by sin as Death Pestilence War Sicknesses Seditions strifes troubles persecutions Death Hell and the like Which sin being an enemy so importunate as at every moment to assault us needs still to oppose it this frequent prayer and that armed with the whole armour of God e Ep. 6 13. against those both damnable batteries Well and how may we have on that armour of God better then by this our prayer that God will not lead us into the one but deliver us from the other that is that God will not by withdrawing his grace f Ps 51 11 his grace that should curbe and prevent our sin leave us to the swing of our owne lusts which hurried on by Satan and the world drives us headlong to damnation g Jam. 1 15 but by his grace h 2 Cor. 12. 9. deliver us from the whatever assaults of it And as argument of the presence of that his grace that we may hate and avoid evill love and cleave to that still which is good i Isa 1 16 17. 1 Pet. 3 11 And both these that God still doe for us not lead us into temptation but deliver us from evill that sin Satan or the World hurt not us nor others This God of mercy will not have us forget our Charity but this the Saints of old did as Daniel k Dan. 19 20 Stephen l Act 70. 60. yea Christ himselfe m Luk. 23 34. pray not only for themselves but also for others Vse When though temptations of all sorts of all these enemies may assault us and that though afflictions come by them and perhaps many undeserved persecutions may infest us which when happily opposing and labouring all we may piously either to bear or prevent we are not to repine at but rather to reâ—oyce in n Mat. 5 10 11 12 yet are we thus to pray against evâ—n them that though they tempt us that is strive to undoe us that God will not tempt us to and that is not leave us to their undoing but whither to try oâ—r faith as he did Abrahams o Gen. 22 c or to prove our patience as he did Jobs p Job 23 10 he will not suffer â—s to be tempted above our ability q 1 Cor. 10 13 to bear it Whose grace we must implore in our temptations r Ps 1 27 1 2 Cor. 2. 5 or otherwise we are strong bâ—t to our destruction s Rom. 7 18 19 23 And therefore whatever the temptation or evill be let not only the armour of God as said before be our harnessing against it but God also the Putter on of that armour t 2 Cor. 10 3 4 12 8 9 Confirmation And thus much of the Petitions Come we next to the Confirmation which is as our thanksgiving to shut up these Petitions the Preface the doore as 't were that opens to them Thaâ— Preface incouraging us to pray as to a father willing to heare us this clâ—uâ—e as to him able to grant what we pray for As who is not onely a King before and above all u Ps 59 3. hinted here by Kingdome and that The Kingdome as by way of excellency here thus set to shew that both priority w Ps 47. 2 and superiority x Ps 72 11. but his whose Kingdome is also above all both a King and Kingdome y Ps 103. 19. powerfull z Ps 29. 4 147. 5. glorious a Ps 145. 11 12. eternall b vers 13. Ps 10. 16. Vse Which power may teach us all and in all to subscribe c Ps 29. 1. to submit d 1 Pet. 5. 6. to his which glory not to pride or exalt our any pretended worth or glory e Jer. 9. 23 but ascribe all to his glory f 2 Cor. 10. 17. and which eternity to remember alwayes g Ps 145. 1 2. Dan. 4. 3. and never to forget or him or it h Deut. 8. 11. 9. 17. And thus againe of the Confirmation The Conclusion is in the word Amen and signifies true or truth or so be it and therefore as the truth is should not be manifold but One. As it is the one word used in all languages to signifie our assent to whatever we assert to signifie the truth of the assertions as we say is true what we pray for is in truth and sincerity Some make it as a seale and well as if to signe to all our sayings and to signifie as the truth of them so our true prolation of them and may be as to our assent to every Petition in this Prayer so to seale our beliefe to every Article in the Creed and our obedience to every Commandement That we truly do beleeve every Article truly will doe every Commandement truly aske every Petition that an hearty real and sincere truth be in all Amen thus used also in all languages and Nations as if to signifie the unity of all the faithfull of all Nations and Languages Vse Which should teach us truth in all our undertakings of godlinesse and goodnesse that a thing otherwise in it selfe good to us becomes not so unlesse by us subscribed by this seale unlesse coming within the compasse of this conclusion Though seene to beleeve we may any good do any good pray for any good t is all but in hypocrisie unlesse this Amen be to it unlesse it be truly and really so and so assented to by us Christ who is the truth is called or said to be Amen i Rev. 3. 14. Amen is his asseveration k Jo. 3. 5. 3. 3. so as what he saith to us is truth truth must be also our sayings to him our Amen to depend on his as our happinesse on him l Jo. 16. 23 And thus have we done with this brief Exposition of the Lords Prayer Beleeve we then faithfully these Articles of the Creed live we according to these Commandements when then with comfort may we aske every petition in the Lords prayer Thus beleeve live and pray we the Lord m 2 Tim. 2. 7. give us understanding in all things Amen An Appendix to the former peece in A Short Discourse of Prayer With three set Formes One in general at all times the other two more speciall
any the over-sollicitous cares of earth or earthly things put over any our care of heaven or the things of heaven but with our owne estate what ere it be let 's learne therewith to be content if prosperous to praise thee our God for that prosperity if in adversity or under the Crosse that patiently we may beare it Turne O turn away those whatever wofull punishments our sins have justly deserved and the better to turne away those punishments for sin turn us away from those our sins that so from both them we turne unto thee our God And that thou wilt be thus propitious we beg not only for our selves here assembled but became also Petitioners both in our Prayers and Praises for In our Prayers that thou wilt blesse and be favourable to thy holy Catholike Church wheresoever dispersed or howsoever distressed defend all and every the members of it let not any the little Lambs there of be by Sin Satan or the World made to stray from out of that little flock thou hast reserved the Kingdome for But them already called to thy fold keep Lord and blesse them in it and them as yet without the Pale thereof bring in in thy good time that at last we may become one fold under one Shepherd And to the furthering thereof as thy Sons Coat was without seame so make and keepe the garment of that thy spouse the Church to be without schism that by any our divided opinions the Enemy what ever that is vigilant to sow sedition among us may not at any time so get the advantage over us as to breake our unity from thee our God or our amity unto goodnesse and so instead of being knit unto thee by it we be severed by the Babel of his lewd confusion Here now next as occasion serves are we to pray for the Common-wealth in generall wherever we live in that God will blesse it with peace and plenty and for the happy support thereof for the supreme Magistrates of State whatever for the Ministry Soldiery and whole People of God in generall that they all in their severall places and callings may make God and godlinesse their aime Then as need shall require for any one in speciall for the obtaining any blessing wanting for the turning away any emergent evill â—present or to come As for a sick person sick whither in body or mind or boâ—h or under whatever crosse or calamity that God will gratiously looke down upon him visite him with his mercy and relieve him in that what ever his exigencie That if so be it may stand with his good pleasure he may againe recover the strength of both mind and body be freed and exempted from any whatever crosses or afflictions he may so groan under comfortably to walk in his holy and Christian vocation Or if by it he be to be brought to his grave that while waiting for that he may have in that Gods mercy favour grace and comfort to that with patience he may attend till his change come whatever Gods good will and pleasure whither living or dying be so united unto God that in the end he may obtaine Salvation For a woman intravell of Child-birth that God will be gracious to her though by the fate of sin at that present destinated to great pain that he will yet favourably deliver her out of it and by a blessed issue mitigate the sorrow of hers it must be born with that both in God and it she may have after much joy and comfort that she as a faithfull Hannah may with her young Samuel intend most and eâ—er Gods service Thus and the like may be the Prayers The Prayes thus as For one delivered from any such like sickness crosse or calamity either the party himselfe by himselfe to pray or others for and with him that God will accept the Generall acknowledgment of his Grace and favour to the whatever person so delivered As For one recovered from sicknes of body or minde that after in the strength of both he may grow in strength of grace and goodnesse or freed from other crosses or calamities in that freedome then and ever by his thankfullnesse that he acknowledg that Gods especial favour to him that more then the skil of Chyrâ—rgians or Phyâ—itians means ordained of God for the ease and reliefe of sick people more then of friends favours to expedit also out of miseries that yet Gods grace and mercy is the supreame meane of health and happinesse that though by them brought onwards sometimes unto it yet that that must be it must Crowne the happinesse For a woman delivered that God be acknowledged as in travel her only support so after her chiefe comfort that for therein his especiall favour he have therefore an especiall gratitude praise for that whatever his goodnes And that as he was thus propitious to her that she may be sedulous to magnifie and ever to praise him for it that by a safe deliverance granting her desire her still after-desires may be to maintaine his glory That by his blessing on the fruite of her wombe there may stil be an increase of blessings to the setting forth of that his glory an addition still to the number of Christs faithfull ones For any whoever departed in the faith and feare of God If notwithstanding any the former prayers God saw it best and had decreed it otherwise to take him to himselfe that he have our praise also for that goodnesse that hath not onely by life and health and peace prosperity here a comfortable assistance for his people but even in and after death a more glorious life an health without any danger of impaire peace without perturbation prosperity without end or diminution So as not only comfortable is the life of the godly but pretious in Gods sight their death also So as even for Gods favours to the thus departed our praise is also due unto him And then aefter thus to proceed to a Conclusion with thankes for whatever blessing Let O Lord these our both prayers and Prayses as allwayes acceptable so alwayes be seasonable in thy sight And for that our allways both acceptable and seasonable offerture of them keep in us humble and prepared hearts that in nothing we be wanting for the whatever and whenever due accomplishment of them And then O Lord when ever and whatever this according to thy Will we pray for or praise thee for be with us still auspitious to both And in both and for both and whatever else requisite for us grant us Lord we beseech thâ—e for thine owne sake and for the sake of thy Son Christ our Saviour In whose name and words the name onely by which we are saved and the Words the most exact and perfect patterne of prayer we conclude these our imperfect Prayers saying as he hath taught us to pray unto thee saying Our Father which art c. Blessing and glory honour and might and majesty be
now and for ever Amen An Evening Prayer for a Family Let our Prayer be set before God as Incense and the lifting up of our hands as the Evening sacrifice O Eternall most glorious and most gracious Lord God thou who art rich in mercy and abundant in goodnesse and truth We thine unworthy Servants here prostrate before the footstool of thy sacred Majesty doe humbly confesse and acknowledge our many and manifold sinnes and transgressions As how shapen in wickednesse and conceived in sin when Children bred up altogether in childishnesse when growing strong strengthning our selves in wickednesse giving up our whole selves as instruments of unrighteousnesse unto sin our hearts hardned to ill workes our understandings dulled our wils refractory and our whole affections crooked and perverse our heads set to plotand contrive mischiefe our hands to handle iniquity our tongues to cursing swearing lying filthy and corrupt communication our eyes to looke upon and behold vanity our feet ready and swift to stand in the way of sinners and to walke in the counsell of the ungodly So as both within and without from the crowne of the head to the sole of the foot there is no whole part in us but we are altogether full of putrified sores sores of abominable sin and wickednesse As to the things of thy service and the advancement of thy glory how have we neglected and omitted our almost every pious duty As to our Neighbours good how intemperate have we beene in pride and envy in willfullnesse and uncharitablenesse to break all the Christian and godly bands of unity How have our words actions and intentions perverted the better practices both of our selves and others O Lord I what have we not done but might justly draw downe thy vengeance on us Yet O Lord there is mercy with thee As consequent to this our humble confession let us implore that mercy and desire thine all fatherly goodnesse to remove from us thy judgements and to prevent all further evils that might justly come on us for our sins Yea and the better to prevent those evils prevent our sins and let us cast away from us those our beloved those our darling sins to which our perverse nature is too much prone and inclined Let no temptation of Satan deceive us let no allurements of the world or flesh pervert us Soften our hearts enlighten our understandings rectifie our wils strenthen our affections reise up and revive our dead and benumned Consciences Let no wandring imaginations seduce us and in thy mercies washed let us not relapse into our old mire of sin Let not heresie schisme infidelity or Apostacy blemish the truth of our Religion Let not Wars Famine Plague or scarsity blain the happinesse of our healthfull prosperity No O Lord let not any evill whither of sin or punishment impaire or thy glory or our good Nor is it onely sin that thus brings us on our knees or the evill of sin that requires from us deprecations of evils but our parts also it is to supplicate thy farther mercies that thoâ— wouldst be pleased to grant a continuance of the happinesse we have and to supply us with the good blessings we want and have not Give us O Lord understanding hearts and cleer judgements to see our sins Give us O Lord humble wils and holy affections to hate and abandon those our sins And Lord give us true repentance to bewaile those our sins And for the furthering of all those graces further us and furnish us with the assistance of thy good spirit of grace supply that we want strengthen increase the grace we have O Lord so blesse every one of us in our severall places and callings as that we may truly become Instruments of thy glory to doe the will of thee our loving Lord and Master here that hereafter we may receive the Crowne of righteousnesse which thou haste prepared for all those that doe it When to conclude our Prayers give us leave to praise thee and give thee humble thankes for all thy mercies that for our sins thou hast not totally consumed us But to further thy glory and our good hast elected us before the foundation of the World created us in time after thine own Image redeemed us from the power of Satan by the more powerfull passion of thy Christ and our Jesus We thanke thee our Lord for our Christian calling and vocation wrought in us by the inward operation of thy spirit and the outward preaching and ministery of thy Word for our justification in Christ our measure of sanctification here and our hopefull â—ssurance of glorification hereafter yea for all thy blessings and benefits we now and ever yeeld thee a thankefull acknowledgement Nor for our selves are we onely thus suppliant but O Lord let our prayers extend also to the good both of our selves and others Be ever therefore gracious to thy Spouse the Church c. Here againe goe on as occasion seemes as in the generall Prayer When as reflecting upon the Church pray that God would purge her from Schisine and Heresie and as to all the Members of both Church and Common-wealth that he would reconcile all the differences of Opinions among us that in his good time we may not onely obtaine but keepe the unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace When you may conclude thus BLesse us all O Lord pardon our sinnes this day passed and let us have quiet rest this Night to come that the day following and so all the dayes of our lives we may still study and strive the advancement of thy glory our own and our Neighbours good And this and whatever else necessary for us grant us O Lord even for thy Sons sake Christ Jesus In whose Name and Words concluding these our imperfect Prayers come we unto thee in that his most perfect saying as he hath taught us Our Father which art in Heaven c. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God the Father and the sweet and comfortable fellowship of God the Holy Ghost be with us blesse preserve and keepe us this Night following and for ever Amen The End