inflamed by the holy spirit of Christ and powerfully vttered priuatly vnto God in Christ whether in silence in sighes or words cannot be expressed to the capacity of a carnall man and therefore it may seem that priuat praiers in priuat cases somtimes work more effectually to the comfort of the soule then the publik But in cases more generall when the more faithfull soules conioyne in effectuall prayer so much the more auaileable is their prayer with God Fathers of children and Masters of families who content themselues onely with a bare seruâ—ng of God in shew once in the week on the Sabbath day are to bee reproued who seem to hold it a needlesse and superfluous worke to trouble themselues their families morning or euening in prayer and exhortation to the feare of God and dehorting them from sin which times they haue assigned in their opinions to more profitable vses both for themselues their seruants forgetting or not vnderstanding that in euery Christian family eyther God or Sathan is serued Christ or Belial obeyed sanctity or sinne embraced For there is no priuat person but is or holdeth of one of these coÌ„sequently no societie but partaketh of the fruits arising of good or euill If then either priuat man or publike assembly be it prouinciall parochiall or domesticall do forget this most high dutie of seruing the liuing God it followeth of necessitie that a contrary power hath there the command and nothing more discouereth to which any of the former lend their obedience then the fruits that eyther of them produceth if carnall effects as louing the world the pleasures of the flesh and the vanities of this life it argueth that priuat man or that society to be profane If it were sufficient to serue God on the sabbath what needed the Apostle to aduise vs to pray coÌ„tinually and the commandement of Christ Watch and pray that yee enter not into temptation to loue righteousnesse and to slie sinne How doe they awakeâ—or watch that slumber from Saboth to Saboth Are they not all that time in darknesse not vsing the duties of the light Christ is the light in whome whosoeuer liueth not hee is in darknesse And hee that hath but one day of light in seuen How great is his darknesse It is true this day the Saboth was set apart by God that in it men should imploy themselues to serue and to glorifie him And in that day they shuld not only not doe but also not thinke of anie Worldly affaires But are not some so far from celebrating the name and seruice of God that day as they prophane it aboue all other dayes doe they not turne the glorie of God into wantonnes to banquetting dicing dauncing drunkennesse gluttonie and to what sinne not This commonly is the day that many appoint for merrie companie to laugh and to be jouiall as they call it without meane or modestie And yet this day is sufficiently kept holy as they thinke if they spend an houre in the fore part of the day and halfe an houre in the after-noone in the Church though all the rest be consumed in most lasciuious vanities and carnall occasions How can this discharge the duty of a Christian that hath no care to serue God any other day in the weeke Doe we not credit the premonition of the Apostle Saint Peter that the end of all thinges is at hand And how follow wee his counsell namely to bee sober watching in prayer To whom speaketh the Apostle this to his Countrimen the Iewes only no euen to vs that are come as it were to the Worlds period And therefore high time it is for vs to looke vp to watch pray to liue religiously and soberly least that the Master of this great family come suddenly and find vs buffeting one another blaspheming swaggering drunken faithlesse insolent couetous and few or none doing the seruice of our Master It wil bee a dreadfull sight to see him come with his iron rod in his hand to crush his enemies in peeces The salt of the earth hauing lost it saltnesse shall bee cast to the dung-hill The Tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewen downe and cast in the fire The Magistrates saltnesse is profession of the Gospell and the execution of Iustice. The saltnesse of the Minister is the true preaching of the word and example of godly life The saltnesse of Fathers is their sincere conuersation before their children and the educating them in the feare of God and holy life The saltnesse of Masters of Families is to liue honestly religiously aud gouerning their charge in the feare of God And vnder these four estates of men are all conditions comprehended subiects vnder Kings children vnder fathers and young men vnder tutors and gouernours Euery of these in their places of superioritie and inferioritie haue their seuerall duties and all vnder one God whome they ought all to obey Superiours in rightly commanding and inferiors in duly obeying Neyther of these duties can bee rightly performed without knowledg of the wil of God by his word This knowledge is not perfect without practise This practise is imperfect without faith And faith is known by the fruits the chiefe whereof is loue And this loue most shineth and sheweth it selfe in doing good to all but especially to them of the family of faith The greatest good that can bee done to the Church of God is Prayer And therefore Saint Paul willeth to pray continually not for our selues onely but for Kinges al the members of Christs mysticall bodie Kings and Magistrates ought to imitate Dauid to accompanie the people to the house of the Lord Fathers and Masters ought to pray with and for their Children and Families not on the Saboth day only but with all perseuerance Some refer the duty of praier only to the Minister and thinke it a kinde of vsurpation of the Ministers office to pray for or with any but for himselfe contrarie to the precept of Saint Paul Who willeth that all men make prayers in all places heauing vp pure handes without strife or enuying vnto the Liuing God Where it appeares that vnder the word all Men Kings Princes Nobles and men of all degrees faculties and functions are comprehended and because they shall not thinke there is no place but the materiall temple he commands that dutie to bee performed in all places euen in euery particular house with caution that it bee done without strife and enuying free from vaine ostentation and desire of popular glorie CHAP. XXXIIII The true vse of the Lords Prayer about which friuolous questions haue risen It is the rule of all other prayers and euery petition ful of high matter of instruction THE most absolute praier and the most ordinarie which not only the Primitiue but the Moderne Christian Churches their members haue in vse is the Prayer that Christ taught his Disciples But wee must take heed wee doe not take this
any danger by his owne power hee entangleth himselfe so much the more as the Flie in the Spiders web and the Bird in the net for of his owne naturall inclination he hath no more means to free himself be hee rich befriended or strong then hath the beast that perisheth And therefore God to helpe his infirmitie hath louingly willed him to come vnto him with a promise to helpe him which if God had not promised man could neuer haue conceiued by his carnall vnderstanding that there had beene any helpe in any inuisible power If God with the precept of praying continually had not made a couenant to heare and graunt our requests wee should haue held it a needlesse and an vnprofitable worke to pray And did wee not beleeue Gods promises to be Yea Amen what necessitie could moue vs to repair vnto him for without beleeuing the promises we could haue no hope to obtaine and consequently no desire to pray He then that obeyes not the precept to pray breakes the law of obedience hee that belieues not the promise can not aske in faith and consequently the vnbeleeuer obtains not because he asketh amisse CHAP. XVIII The force of faith what it is and the effects of it and how dangerous a thing it is to faint SVch is the force and effect of faith as without it nothing can be obtained at the handes of God by prayer It is therefore necessary for men to know what faith is which they may learn by S. Pauls exhortation to the Hebrewes who declareth that Faith is the ground of things which are hoped for and the euidence of things which are not seen By which definition it appeareth that the office of faith if I may so say is to represent things vnto our apprehensioÌ„ which are not seene yet in confidence to appeare as if they alreadie were for such and so piercing are the beleeuers eyes as they behold the things which they hope for through the clouds mists of all difficulties This did most liuely appeare in the faith of the Centurion who desired Christ to heale his seruant requiring nothing of Christ towards the cure but to speake the word only and his seruant should bee whole and it came instantly to passe as hee beleeued Such and greater was the faith of Abraham in leauing his Countrey of Chaldae to come to Canaan at the coÌ„mandement of God as also in offering his sonne in whoÌ„ the promise was made Many examples are in holy Scriptures writteÌ„ by the holy Ghost and left vnto posterities to encourage Christians so to depend on Gods promises as not to doubt of good successe in most desperat cases but to rest so fully assured that the euent shall fall out to the best as if hee alreadie felt and enioyed the same Wonderfull things haue beene done by the hands of God through the firm faith and faithfull prayer of his children As long as Moses held vp his hands prayed the Israelites for whom hee prayed preuailed but when he fainted the Philistims against whom he prayed had the better As long as Peter beleeued stedfastly he walked steadily vpon the waters but when through a small gale of winde he beganne to wauer in his faith to stagger betweene confidence and feare he sunke Wherein we may note the force and frailtie of the faith of the dearest children of God who beleue constantly as long as all things goe well with them but when a little tempest of crosses and afflictions arise they beginne to faint Iacob although he had the immediat promise as at the mouth of God himselfe after his wrestling that he shold preuaile with men when hee heard that Esau was comming to meete him with a band of men he was striken with an extraordinary feare lest he should haue been vtterly ouerthrown his wiues and children They therfore that stand be they neuer so confident in prosperitie ought to take heed they bee not foiled in the time of aduersitie through feare for the best are subiect to distrust God when a little trouble assaileth them And yet wee find by many examples of godly men that vpon deliberat meditatioÌ„ they wade through the most hard assaults of whatsoeuer kinde for contrarie to their naturall opinions of doubtfull successe faith workes a most wished issue The children of Israel were in a most desperat case flying before furious Pharoh and his vnresistable Host hauing on eyther hand vnaccessible hills and before the man impâ—ssable Sea so as if they looked before them there was no hope in carnall reason to escape if behinde them the sword was at their backes if on either hand they saw no euasion Yet beholde the force and effect of faith wherein Moses the seruant of the Lord encouraged them saying Stand still feare not but behold the saluation of the Lord this day And so farre preuailed hee with GOD through faith and prayer as hee foresaw the destruction of Pharoh and all his Host insomuch as he was bold to affirme before it came to passe that this mighty Monarch and the multitude of his armed men his hoâ—ses chariots that they then law and feared they should see all confounded before their eyes which came to passe The Lord saith he shall fight for you therefore holde ye your peace Exod. 14. Faithfull prayer is the strongest meane by weakest instruments to performe things of greatest difficulty The wals of Iherico a strong Citie were throwne downe by no other sensible instruments then the sound of Trumpets made of Rammes hornes and the Citie and people surprised with a smal number of men And there is nothing more opposit to the bringing of the greatest and weightiest things to passe then incredulity which commonly proceedeth from natural reason which many times argueth impossibility in possible and possibility in impossible things As that incredulous Samaritan gouernor who did so little beleeue the Lords Prophet foretelling plentie vnto distressed Samaria saw with his eyes the same thing com to passe which hee thought impossible and for his vnbeleefes sake was not onely preuented of tasting of the blessing but was troden to death by the presse of the people CHAP. XIX Some among many preuaile by their faithfull prayers for the rest and how God turneth the prayers of his to the best though he grant not what they desire and how foolishly carnall men reason against Gods prouidence IN causes publique as in the time of Warres of Famine of Plague or other common calamitie shal we thinke that among a multitude there are not some yea many that are faithful howsoeuer many also bee eyther key-cold or luke-warme whoÌ„ God respecteth not yet the faith obedience of the lesser number by their prayers often appease God and if I may so say constraine him to hold his handes from punishing and euen enforce him to extend his hand to relieue the whole for a part which we may obserue if we consideâ— the conference betweene God and Abraham touching
not all the Kingdomes of Europe admire stand amased at our happinesse in our blessed Soueraigne And can his Maiesties deliuerie from Gowries conspiracie in Scotland be thought ordinarie circumstances cōsidered How much lesse the powder Treason that so long lay couerd with so many difficulties the arrow being drawn as it were to the head before the string was broken ayming not only to hit the Lords anointed and royall family the Nobles Counsellors of state the Bishops and worthiest of all parts of the land but at an instant in a moment the vtter ruine subuersion and confusion of all estates degrees qualities and people of all conditions howsoeuer suggested an infranchisement to pretended Catholikes euen many of them also had tasted the same cup of extirpatiō with the more loyally affected and more religiously disposed The plot was laide by the policie of Sathan practised by his members discouered by God himselfe who reueiled the same vnto his annointed without humane intimation of the thing what the place where the persons by whom it was to be performed This for the present was wonderful in euery mans eyes men for a time lifted vp their hands as it were to God tokening thankefulnesse but it seemed to bee but like a splending sunne that shined for a while with glorious acknowledgeing that it was the very hand of God but now eclipsed with the cloud of forgetfulnesse somtimes it falls ouer the Pulpit into the eares but seldome into the hearts nor considered according to the worth of so worthy a deliuerance Moses erected stones in memoriall of the Israelites deliuerie from Pharoh to shew to posterities what God had done for them and to testifie their thankfulnesse to God but it seemeth that we haue turned our fleshly hearts into stones to testifie our ingratitude and to witnesse against vs how little we feare future dangers For were these former fauours of God written in our hearts could our tongues cease so long from praising God should we not be still mindfull of it be stirred vp to mixe with our thankefulnesse prayer that as hee hath vouchsafed to discouer and preuent so horrible treasons so it might please him to worke for vs against all Antichristian future complotments Sathanicall stratagems CHAP. XXII The Church of Christ militāt and Sathans Church malignant seek the ouerthrow one of the other but by contrary meanes and that all Christians are to pray for the defence of the first without which it is to bee feared it may suffer violence AS long as God hath in this kingdom a church militant it will not be auoyded but here will Satan haue his Church malignant and these cannot but be so opposite the one to the other as the one wisheth not the other to stand The first seeketh the conuersion of the second by gentle and Christian endeuours by perswading according to the rule of Christ praying for them in loue lifting vp no hand no sword no weapon of offence onely the sword of iustice for Treasons Treacheries and Conspiracies against the King and Kingdom wherin if there should bee no iustice inflicted it could not but embolden propagate more and more insolencie and boldnesse to execrable attempts so should the sword of the Magistrate be censured a partie of selfe-danger and confusion But the last seeketh the confusion of the first by treasons treacheries conspiracies massacres bloud nay by killing of Kings and by whatsoeuer inhumane vnnaturall and hellish attempt Iudge ye therefore iudge ye that giue aime to either yee that gaze vpon the controuersie and are indifferent whether of these is likest Christ and his Church the first that neuer foiled hand in bloud vnder the pretence of Religion or that which hath no other meanes to support it but the bloud of Princes and confusion of people Is there any so blear eyed that distinguisheth not the difference let him pray that God will open his eyes for flesh and bloud teacheth it not Now therfore as the cause of the Church militant is generall and her danger vniuersall so are or ought to be the prayers of euery mēber both in publique and priuate generall as well for the whole as for part these prayers haue the promise of defence of protection and freedome that whatsoeuer succeedeth shall bee for the best By meanes of which prayers though the successe suddenly at all times appeareth not God is moued to haue a watchfull eye and to extend a protecting hand ouer his people and that was it that defended Queene Elizabeth and that suffered not King Iames to be surprised by the conspiracie of Gowrie nor the treasonable plot of powder to take effect for many saithfull harts among infinite are doubtlesse daily lifted vp to God for his protection And although they foresee not the dangers God preuenteth them through the prayers of his little flocke made vnto him in generall in the name of his Christ. And impious it were to affirme that these dangers haue beene preuented and our deliueries wrought by chaunce without Gods prouidence and working Where God then is not continually solicited as well in priuate by his Saints as in publique by visible assemblies there cannot but follow some correction and that vpon Gods owne peculiar people for the neglect of calling vpon God his iudgements vpon the contemners of this holy duetie Prayer and it is to be feared that GOD hath beene enforced to come down to see whether the coldenesse of prayer and the crie of our sinnes bee according to the vnpleasing sauour which is ascended from vs into his presence be so or not Let vs repent let vs turn vnto God and humble our selues in sack cloth and ashes in a true and religious conuersion in faith prayer vnfained CHAP. XXIII The death of the late Prince is not lightly to bee forgotten nor our general praiers for his Maiestie and royall issue to bee neglected publiquely and in priuate for prayer auaileth much being feruent DOe wee lightly passe ouer or little consider that God hath depriued vs of the Anchor of our hope a corner stone of his spirituall building in earth the second piller of his Church May we not think that God foresaw him likely to proue too good to goe in and out before so vnthankfull a people Although hee preserue vnto vs and for vs our most worthy of Kings Let vs not thinke it is for our deserts but for his loues sake to his Annointed and our Soueraigne for his mercies sake vnto his Church Therefore let vs abandon sinne let vs retire our selues to him that calleth vs let vs lift vp our voyces in praises and praier that The holy one of Israel wil be pleased to blesse the K. the Kings son of his English Israel in whose prosperitie he hath as it were included our safetie There are a multitude of Sinners let a multitude of sighes bee speedily sent forth before the decree of his iudgements be sealed against vs let vs send
holy and diuine sparke and if a man wilfully quench it not this seed being watered by hearing and reading of the word by faith and prayer may take roote bud and bear fruit howsoeuer weakly in the beginning As an infant at the first quickening in the womb of the mother which time brings to more maturity and perfection and commeth into the world felt and sâ—en so this diuine seed by degrees commeth to be liuely in operation and the small sparke becommeth a flame and in fine enkindleth an admirable weight of zeal For to him that hath to him shall be more giuen and by continuance and practise he shall finde himselfe a new man more and more euerie day furnished with diuine gifts Nothing is perfected the first day that hath growing and increase All spirituall graces haue their beginnings weake and among al the other fruits of the spirit of God none is more excellent more sweet more auailable to saluation then is continuall faithfull prayer which is not the first day in perfection but by little and little it becomes more and more feruent and as it increaseth so draweth it with it a wonderful increase of the knowledge of all things necessarie to saluation So that I may conclude to the comfort of all true Christiansâ— That he that can pray faithfully hath all things both in heauen and earth lacking nothing necessarie for hee hath God and he that cannot nor will endeauour to learne how to pray hath nothing yet that he ought to haue 1. CHRON. 28. 9. The Lord searcheth all harts and vnderstandeth al the imaginations of thoughts If thou seeke him hee will be found of thee but if thou forsake him he will cast thee off for euer FINIS A MORNING PRAIER TO BEE VSED IN PRIVATE FAMILIES O Lord who takest euermore charge of thy people giuing them euer in due time what in thy wisedome thou knowest necessary for them we acknowledg thy great goodnesse toward vs O Lord in deliuering vs this night from dangers and in giuing vs competent reâ—â— Thou hast of thine aboundant mercie raised vs this morning in safetie Looke not wee beseech thee vpon our pollutions the printes whereof through our corruptions we haue left behind vs in our beds Take from vs and from euery one of vs we beseech thee the filthie garmens of sinâ—e shame and confusion wherewith wee were conceiued and borne and cloth vs with thy rightteousnesse and saluation in Iesus Christ. Blesse vs and we shall be blessed teach vs wisedome to choose what is good and to auoid euil and all the occasions of sinning this day Thou Lord hast pleasure in righteousnesse And they are only blessâ—d in whose hearts are thy wayes take away from vs stonie hearts and giue vs heartes of flesh Let our heartes cleaue vnto thee and neuer be estranged from thee for Sathan malitiously goeth about to draw vs from thee by his continuall practises suggestions temptations and raiseth his instruments to intrap vs and snare vs. But bee vnto vs O Lord a strong defence And howsoeuer our Aduersarie indeuoureth to blemish vs and to pollute vs with his inchantments transforme vs wee beseech thee into thy owne Image from glorie to glorie by thy spirit And as thou hast banished the night and darkenesse and giuen vs corporall light So Lord giue vs the light of truth Thou giuest sight to the blind banish our spirituall darknes Thou makest the Lame to goe take from vs all impediments which this day may offer themselues to hinder our found and holy walking before thee in sincere conuersations Thou turnest a barraine wildernes into a fruitfull Land and againe thou makest a fruitful LaÌ„d barrain for the wickednesse of them that dwell therein Make fruitful our barraine heartes in al goodnesse and spiritual graces sow the good seed of liuely faith aud true obedience in vs and water it by thy holy Spirit that wee may bring forth the fruites of a holy and sanctâ—fied life Turne the Wildernes of our profane conueâ—sations into a Garden of godly vertues Thou hast raised vs from the deadnesse of our corporall sleepe this morning breath now into our dull drowsie soules thy sacred spirit that we may be so reuiued and spiritually cheered that wee may with holy and heauenly ioy and comfort betake vs to our corporall businesses giue vs strength of bodie the vse of our limbes senses giue vs vnderstanding hearts to performe our duties diligently faithfully and truly in our callings And let all thinges prosper vnto vs this day that wee shall take in hand for we acknowledg that it is thy goodnesse that hath kept vs this night past for which wee yeeld thee all humble thankes beseeching thee to bee with vs this day guard keep vs whatsoeuer thou hast giuen vs for wee recommend our selues our souâ—es our bodies and goods into thy holy protection keeping this day And remooue from vs Lord that curse that in seeing we shuld not see and in hearing wee should not vnderstand but quicken vs according to thy louing kindnesse that wee may loÌ„g for thy word make it sweet vnto vs by a sanctified desire to heare and a holy zeale to practise this day and euer the testimonies of thy mouth AMEN Our Father c. Lord increase our faith An Euening Prayer for priuat Families MOst gracious merciful euerliuing most louing Lord God wee are heere gathered together before thee to yeeld thee thaÌ„ks for thy goodnesse mercies this day past vouchsafed vnto vs weake and vnworthy of so great a fauour at thy hands by reason of our manifold sins offences committed against thee For by nature Lord we can doe nothing but displease thee By the transgression of the first man Adam wee haue all sinned now by the merits of the second man Christ let vs be made righteous let the perfection of his obedience satisfie for the imperfection of ours Our disobedience hath beene intollerable our rebellions horrible and our seruing of thee this day past punishable The thoughts of our hearts haue been sinfull the wordes of our mouthes deceitfull the workes of our hands hatefull Such and so euill haue we euer been that what we should haue done we haue left vndon what we shold not haue don we haue don it with eagernes greedines and thus profanely haue we passed this day now come to an end O remeÌ„ber not Lord our offences reward vs not according to our euil imaginations mark not what we haue spoken amisse nor punish vs according to our workes this day Create in vs wee beseech thee cleane hearts renew right spirits within vs fill our heads with fountains of teares that we may night day recount bewaile our sinnes in the bitternes of our harts Let this be the last day the last houre the last momeÌ„t of our wilfull offending thy Maiestie and let vs not carrie thine indignation for our sinnes to our beddesâ— but let vs instantly cast off our