A good conscience is a continuall feast Prouerbes 15. 15. For our reioycing is this the testimonie of a good conscience 2. Cor. 1. 12. We trust we haue a good conscience in all things Heb. 13. 18. If our hearts condemne vs not we haue confidence towards God 1. Ioh. 3. 31. Who shall change our vile bodies and make them like vnto his glorious bodie Phil 3. 20. See 1. Cor. 15. Entire If we beleeue that Iesus Christ was dead and is risen euen so them which are asleepe in Iesus God shall bring with him 1. Thess. 4. 14. To the spirits of iust men made perfect Heb. 12. 23. The begger died and was carried into Abrahams bosome Luk. 16. 22. This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Luk. 23. 43. We know that if our earthly tabernacle be dissolued we haue a building not made with hands eternall in the heauens 2. Cor. 5. 1. We would not be vncloathed but cloathed vpon that mortalitie may be swallowed vp of life ver 4. While we are at home in the bodie we are absent from the Lord ver 6. We are confident that when we are absent from the bodie we are present with the Lord ver 8. vid. supra Phil. 1. I desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ. There is laide vp for me a crowne of righteousnesse which the righteous Iudge shall giue me at that day and not to me onely but to all that looke for his comming 2. Tim. 4. 8. Then we which are aliue and remaine shall be caught vp together with them in the cloudes to meete the Lord in the aire so shall we be alwayes with the Lord 1. Thess. 4. 17. Then the righteous shall shine as the Sunne in the Kingdome of my Father Mat. 13. 43. THE PRAYER FOR Saturday Euening composed of Petitions sutable to the rest of Christ in the graue Motiues to perseuerance agreeable to the precedent exhortation in the Morning I Blesse and magnifie thy glorious Maiestie wisdome and omnipotencie ô Lord high possessor of heauen and earth as for all thy wonderfull workes in the sixe dayes so also for thy holy rest on this day whereby thou assurest me of eternall rest in heauen And I beseech thee of thy goodnesse which answereth thy greatnesse to distill the dew of thy blessings as vpon my daily labours so vpon my rest in the night that it may recouer my spirits and refresh my faculties and repaire my strength and put me in minde of that comfortable rest which they enioy who lie in the bosome of Abraham and sleepe in Iesus who this day lay in his sepulchre yet saw there no corruption For thy promise thou madest good not to leaue his soule in hell nor to suffer thine holy one to see corruption O Lord I entirely desire thee to burie all my sins especially those which this day and weeke hath added to the totall summe in his graue and teach me by it to burie in the pit of eternall obliuion not onely my brethrens trespasses against me but also all those sinfull baites which haue heretofore allured me to any kinde of vicious leudnesse Grant that I may more and more feele the power as of Christs death in the mortification of my fleshly members and so of his burial in the coÌ„quering of the horror of the graue For as thou hast threatned death saying O death I will be thy death so thou hast threatned the graue also saying O graue or corruption I will be thy corruption or destruction And what though my flesh be all consumed to bones yet thy spirit blowing vpon dead bones can reuiue them and couple them againe with sinnewes and cloathe them with flesh What though these bones be resolued into dust yet thou which madest it of nothing canst as easily restore it and reare it out of that which is as lirtle or next neighbour to nothing Thou which raisedst thy Sonne from death shaâ—t raise and change my vile bodie and make it like vnto his glorious bodie by that power whereby thou art able to subdue all things vnto thy selfe Make my heart hewen out of a harder rocke them thy Sonnes sepulchre was a fit receptacle not for dead but for liuing Iesus As that sepulchre neuer receiued any but Iesus so let my heart entertaine nothing but thee Make me a pure and chaste soule that as thy Sonne was borne of a Virgins wombe and lay buried in a virgine tombe so he may abide in my virgin and vndefiled soule Remoue the heauie stone from my heart as thou diddest that great stone from his sepulchre As he neuer returned to his sepulchre after he came out of it so grant that when thou hast perfectly raised me out of the graue of sin I may neuer returne to it againe And as he kept Sabbath in his graue and obserued thy statutes in life and in death and fulfilled all righteousnesse so grant I may both in life and death accomplish thy holy will And as hee neuer rested till he had cried out All is finished so grant that I may not be wearie of well-doing nor giue ouer my heauenly race of godlinesse till I may say It is finished Endue me with power from aboue and gird about me thy whole armour that I may fight a good fight against the world the flesh and the diuell and finish my course in the full discharge of my calling and keepe the faith to the end and in the end receiue that incorruptible crowne of glory which thou the righteous Iudge wilt giue to all that loue the second comming of thy Sonne And behold thou commest with the cloudes and all eyes shall see euen they that nailed thee and all kindreds of the earth shall mourne before thâ—e yea and Amen So be it The close out of Scripture Thou art worthy O Lord to receiue glory and honour and power for thou hast created all things and for thy wills sake they are and haue beene created Reu. â— 11. Worthy is the Lambe that was killed to receiue power and riches and wisedome and strength and honour and glory praise Reu. 5. 12 The Childe-bearing Woman's Deuotion In her traueile After her traueile THE ADMONITION THE ANALYSIS Religious women ought patiently and comfortably to endure the paines of childe-birth considering 1. That fruitfulnesse is a speciall blessing and honour to a woman 2. That these paines were the punishments and are the memorials of Eue's transgression 3. That the hope of children who may be members of Christ heires of saluation asswageth the paines for the present and the ioy for them afterwards extinguisheth the memory of them 4. That they haue daily experiments of God's strange deliuerances especially in this kinde 5. That childe-bearing hath a promise annexed vnto it of a blessing Temporal Spiritual if the mothers bee faithfull and so continue THE TEXTS O Lord God of Hoasts if thou wilt indeede looke vpon the affliction of thine Hand-maid and wilt not
and carnall but euen for our holy and spirituall exercises Lord bee mercifull shall I say to our siâ—nes Nay euen to our best works which are not free from imperfections Euen when we pray against sinne wee sinne in Praying both in respect of the forme and manner and end of Prayer Which that we may not doe or not so frequently or not so grieuously let vs prepare our selues before hand with the admonition â—hyme and Prayer ensuing THE TEXTS GOD is in heauen and thou vpon earth therefore let thy words bee few Eccles. 5. 2. When we pray vse not vaine repetitions as the heathen doe for they thinke that they shall be heard for their much speaking Mat 6. 7. After this manner Pray yee Verse 9. He that couereth his sinnes shall not prosper but who so confesseth and forsaketh them shall haue mercy Pro. 28. 13. I said I will confesse my transgressions to the Lord and thou forgauest the iniquity of my sin Psal. 32. 5. Feare this glorious and dreadfull Name The Lord thy God Deut. 28. 58. Let them praise thy great and terrible Name for it is holy Psal. 99. 3. Holy and reuerent is his name Psal. 3. 9. I am a great King saith the Lord of Hoasts and my Name is dreadfull among the heathen Mal. 1. 14. O Lord my God thou art become exceeding glorious thou art clothed with Maiesty and honour Psal. 104. 1. Thou deckest thy selfe with light as with a garment and spreadest the heauens like a curtaine Verse 2. The glorious Maiesty of the Lord shall endure for euer Verse 31. Then a clowde couered the Tent of the Congregation and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle Exod. 40. 34. The Chariots of God are twenty thousand euen thousands of Angels c. Psal. 68. 17. Who is the King of glory Euen the Lord of Hosts hee is the King of glory Psal. 24. 10. The Lord euen the most Mighty God hath spoken and called the world from the rising of the Sunne to the going downe of the same Psal. 50. 1. Blessed be his glorious Name for euer and let all the earth bee filled with his Maiesty Amen Amen Psal. 72. 18. Who onely hath immortality dwelling in the light which no man can approach vnto 1 Tim. 6. 18. And Moses was not able to enter into the Tent of the Congregation because the clowde aboade therein and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle Exo. 40. 35. I will reprooue thee and set thy sinnes in order before thine eyes Psal 50. 21. O Lord thou hast searched me and knowne me Psal 139. 1. Thou knowest my downe-sitting and mine vp-rising thou vnderstandest my thoughts long before v. 2. The wayes of man are before the eyes of the Lord and he pondereth all his doings Pro 5. 21. The eyes of the Lord are in euery place beholding the â—uil and the good Pro. 15. 3. If thou sayest Behold we knew it not doth not hee that pondereth the heart consider it and he that keepeth thy soule doth not he know it Pro. 24. 12. Mine eyes are vpon all their waies they are not hid from my face neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes Ier. 16. 17. If our hearts condemne vs God is greater then our hearts and knoweth all things 1. Ioh. 3. 20. Behold euen to the Moone and it shineth not yea the Stars are not pure in his sight how much lesse man that is a worme Iob. 23. 9. Thou art not a God that hast pleasure in wickednesse neither shall euill dwell with thee Ps. 5. 4. Thou louest righteousnesse and hatest iniquity therefore God euen thy God c. Psal. 45. 7. And one cryed to another and said Holy holy holy is the Lord of Hosts Isa. 6. 3. Then the Moone shall be confounded and the Sunne ashamed when the Lord of Hosts shall reigne in Mount Sion Isa. 24. 23. And they the foure beasts full of eyes rested not day and night saying Holy holy holy Lord God Almighty Reuel 4. 8. Doth not he that pondereth the heart consider and he that keepeth thy soule doth hee not know it and shall not he render to euery man according to his workes Pro. 24. 12. Reioyce ô young man in thy youth and let thy heart cheere thee in the dayes of thy youth c. but know thou that for all these things God will bring thee to iudgement Eccles. 11. 9. Woe vnto the wicked it shall be ill with him for the reward of his hands shall be giuen him Isa. 3. 11. Thine eyes are open vpon all the wayes of the sonnes of men to giue euery one according to his wayes and according to the fruit of his doings Ier. 32. 19. I say vnto you that of euery 〈◊〉 word that men shall speake they shall giue an accompt in the day of Iudgement Mat. 12. 36. Then thinkest thou this ô man that iudgest them which do such things and dost the same that thou shalt escape the Iudgement of God Rom. 2. 3. Thou treasurest vp vnto thy selfe wrath against the day of wrath and reuelation of the righteous iudgemeâ—â— of God Rom. â— 5. Who will render to euery one according to his deedes Verse 6. If yee call on the Father who without respect of persons iudgeth according to euery mans worke passe the time of your soiourning here in feare 1 Peter 1. 17. The time is come that iudgement must beginne at the House of God and if it first beginne at vs what shall be the end of them that obey not the Gospell of God And if the righteous scarcely be saued where shall the vngodly and sinners appeare Verse â—8 God spared not the Angels that sinned but cast them downe into hell and deliuered them to chaines of darknes to be reserued vnto Iudgement c. 2 Pet. 2. 4. Serue the Lord with feare and reioyce with trembling Psal. 2. 11 Kisse the Sonne least he be angry c. Verse 12. Thou euen thou art to be feared and who may stand in thy sight when thou art angrie Psal. 76. 7. Then the earth shooke and trembled the foundations also of the hills moued and were shaken because hee was wrath Psal. 18 7. The Lyon hath roared who will not feare Amos 3. 8. It is a fearefull thing to fall into the hands of the liuing God Hebr. 10. 31. I saw a great white Throne and him that sate on it from whose face the Earth and Heauen fled away and there was found no place for them Reuel 20. 11. And they said to the Mountaines and Rocks fall on vs and hide vs from the face of him that sitteth on the Throne and from the wrath of the Lambe Reuel 6. 16. Dust thou art Gen. 3. 19. Behold I haue taken vpon me to speake vnto the Lord who am but dust and ashes Gen. 18. 27. VVhat is man that thou art mindfull of him and the Sonne of man that thou visitest him Psal. 8. 4.
endure the iust reproofe of them by his Ministry and loue him for it and amend by it Open my heart that I may attend to those things that belong to my peace Endue me with wisdome and spirituall vnderstanding that I may descerne those things that differ and try all things and hold that which is good and apply it to my selfe for the subduing of my fleshly members and affections and building me vp in the most holy faith of thine Elect. Quicken me with thy spirit that I may cheerefully and willingly and constantly listen to the voice of the heauenly charmer that hee may kill the venome of sinne in my soule Let the words of thy Preacher drop as raine and distill as deaw vpon me and into mee to make my barren heart fruitfull in holy affections desires my minde in heauenly thoughts and conceptions my tongue in wholsome words and graceful speeches my hands in all manner of good workes that I proue not an idle hearer but a doer of the Word constant practicer of al holy duties to the honour of thy holy and blessed Name and the saluation of my soule in the day of the Lord Iesus To whom with thee and the holy Ghost c. The Preparation to the receiuing of the holy Sacrament IT being reuealed to aged Simeon that hee should see his Sauiour in the flesh before hee rendered vp his owne Spirit when hee came into the Temple of the Lord and there found the Lord of the Temple hee was so ouer-ioyed there with that hee tooke the babe into his armes embraced it and began his Swan-like song or Nunc dimittis saying Lord now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace for I haue seene the Prince of Peace Mine eyes haue seene thy saluation and I desire to see no more Into thy hands ô sweete babe whom I hold in mine arms I commend my fainting Spirit Embrace my soule with thine armes of mercy as I embrace thy body with these arms of flesh This singular prerogatiue of Simeon or rather a farre greater the Lord vouchsafeth thee ô deuout soule when he biddeth thee to his holy Table euen to take into thy hands thy Sauiour To see with thine eyes handle with thy hands yea and taste with thy mouth the Word of life For by with the sacred elements though not in or vnder them thou partakest of the flesh and bloud of the Son of God spiritually for his words are spirit and life yet truly and in very deede for hee is the liuing bread that came downe from heauen his flesh is meate indeede and his blood is drinke indeede As at sumptuous feasts where curious seruices are thou seest the proportion and shape of the Deere or Fowle set out in gold and colours on the outside or lidde of those baked meates which are truly contained vnder it and to bee eaten So vnder the holy formes of bread and wine thou feedest on thy Sauiour That which is represented in the signe to the eye of the body is presented in the thing signified to the eye of the soule and hand of thy faith what is shadowed in the Sacrament is truly also exhibited by it Qui credit edit If thou belieuest that thou eatest thou eatest that thou belieuest let no hereticall Harpyes pluck from thee thy heauenly dish or meate as Celaeno did Aeneas's Beware of two sorts of Hereticks especially which seeke to beguile thee in the Sacrament or rather of it viz the Sacramentaries Papists the one denyeth the signe the other the thing signified The one offereth thee a shadow without the body the other the body without the shadow and consequently neither of them giueth thee the true Sacrament which in nature and substance cosisteth of both The Sacramentary would robb thee of the Iewell the Papist of the Casket Lay thou thine hands on both hold both fast as thou seest the verity and substance of the one so beleeue that verity and substance of the other As thou takest the one receiue the other As thou handlest the one apprehend the other As thou feedest with thy mouth on the one feede in thy heart on the other And as truly as the one nourisheth thy body to a temporall so the other shall preserue thy soule to eternall life For it is the tree of Life which growes in the middest of the Paradice of God his Church on earth The way to the mysticall tree in Paradice was guarded by an Angel wauing a flaming sword The way to this in like manner is fenced There stands an Angell at the Table Gods Minister brandishing the sword of the Spirit and forbidding vnder paine of death any to eate of this fruit that haue their teeth set on edge with the apples of Sodome and grapes of Gomorrah Other fruits and meate are prepared for vs but we must be prepared for this before we eate it The bread of the earth cannot feed when thou eatest it till it bee changed into thy body because thou art more excellent then it but this bread which came downe from heauen is more excellent then thou art and therefore thou must be changed into it before it nourish thee All other meate is receiued as it is in it selfe and no otherwise but this is diuers as it is receiued Other meate affecteth and altereth the taste but heere the taste altereth the meate For if it be worthily receiued it is the body and blood of Christ if vnworthily it is but bare bread and wine If it meete with a spirituall taste and appetite stomack purged and prepared it proueth the food of life nay of immortality if otherwise it turneth into deadly poyson for hee that eateth and drinketh vnworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himselfe not discerning the Lords body A learned Physitian that tendreth the health and life of thy body will neuer minister strong physick that will amend or end thee before hee prepareth thy body accordingly This Sacrament is not onely foode but also physick to cure thy soule yea such strong physick as will worke effectually one way or other to thy health and saluation or to thy death and damnation Bee carefull therefore before thou takest it to prepare thy selfe for it and for thy helpe peruse the Admonition Hymne and Prayer following The admonition before the Communion THE ANALYSIS The due preparation to the Sacrament is by 1 Examinatiō whether thou hast 1 A feruent desire to partake of this holy table 2 Competent knowledge in this high mysterie 3 Faith in Christs incarnation death and affiance in the merits of both 4 A conscience cleansed by true repentance 5 An heart free from malice and all vncharitablenesse 2 Prayer THE TEXTS Let a man examine himselfe and so let him cate of that bread and drinke of that cup. 1. Cor. 11. 28. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousnesse sake for they shall be satisfied Math. 5 6. Ho euery one that thirsteth come
ye to the waters Isa. 55. 1. Giue vs euermore of this bread Ioh. 6. 34. For he that eateth and drinketh vnworthily eateth and drâ—nketh damnation to himselfe not discerning the Lords bodie 1. Corinth 11. 29. I am the bread of life hee that cometh to me shall not hunger and he that belieueth in me shall neuer thirst Ioh. 6. 35. Christ dwelleth in vs by faith Ephes. 3. 17. I will wash mine hands in innocencie and so will I go to thine altar ô God Psal. 26. 6. To the impure all things are impure Tit. 1. 15. If thou bring thy gift to the Altar and there remembrest that thy brother hath ought against thee Math 5. 23. Leaue thou thy gift before the Altar and go thy way be reconciled to thy brother and then come and offer thy gift ver 24. Wee being many are one bread and one bodie for we are all partakers of this one bread 1. Cor. 10. 17 A preparatory Hymne to bee vsed before or at the receiuing of the blessed Sacrament wherein the deuout soule expresseth her a Desire of the foode of life b Hope that she shall obtaine it c Thankes for it a As the Hart panteth after the water brookes so panteth my soule after thee ô God Psal. 42. 1. My soule thirsteth for God euen for the liuing God ver 2. My soule thirsteth for thee my soule longeth for thee as a drie and thirstie land Psal. 63. 1. I will blesse thee while I liue I will lift vp my hands in thy Name ver 4. b My soule shall be satisfied with marrow and fatnesse and my mouth shall praise thee with ioyfull lips ver 5. Thou preparest a table before me and my cup runneth ouer Ps. 23. 5. The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup. Psal 16. 5. I will take the cup of saluation call vpon the Name of the Lord Psal. 116. 13. c I will pay my vowes vnto the Lord now in the presence of all his people ver 14. I will offer vnto thee the sacrifice of thanksgiuing and will call vpon the name of the Lord ver 17. saying The Prayer before the Communion GRacious Redeemer who out of thy pierced side openedst to all that thirst for thy grace a double fountaine for sinne and vncleannesse the one of water the other of bloud the one to purge the guilt the other the filth of sinne and hast sealed these inestimable benefits of sanctification and redemption vnto all beleeuers by the Sacraments of Baptisme and of thy holy Supper assist me by thy Spirit in the sanctified vse of these holy Mysteries and Symholls of thy most blessed bodie and bloud Most louing bountifull Lord who hast prepared such a table for me giue me a mouth and stomacke according that I may worthily receiue these heauenly dainties to the glorie of thine infinite goodnesse and the euerlasting comfort of my soule Cleare the eyes of mine vnderstanding from all mists of hereticall fancies carnall imaginations that I may rightly distinguish the signes from the things signified by them and also discerne thy bodie from common meate Sharpen my appetite that I may hungrily feede vpon this bread of which whosoeuer eateth shall neuer hunger and stily drinke of this cup of which whosoeuer drinketh shall neuer thirst O thou true foode of my soule receiue me who am now to receiue thee Quicken me with thy Spirit who wilt feede me with thy flesh vouchsafe me thy grace who communicatest to me thy nature that as in and by these holy Mysteries I receiue life from thee so I may also receiue by them grace to liue to thee not seeking mine owne pleasure nor doing mine owne will but deuoting the remainder of my life to thy seruice and yeelding my selfe wholly to the power of thy sanctifying grace to worke in me alwaies that which is pleasing in thy sight So be it Amen Religious duties to be performed at the time of the receiuing the Communion 1. Prepare thy body by a decent gesture 2. Recollect thy mind and fixe thy thoughts wholly vpon this most sacred action stir vp in thee 3. Stirre vp in thee 1 An holy feare out of this consideration that God is there present in a speciall manner and his Angels attending on him and obseruing thee Say to thy selfe in the words of Iacoh O how fearefull is this place it is no other then the house of God and gate of heauen 2 An holy astonishment or admiration out of this consideration that the Lord thy Maker and Redeemer and the high possessour of heauen and earth so farre humbles himselfe as to bee thy guest Say to thy selfe in the words of Salomon Is it true indeed that God will dwell on the earth Behold the heauen and heauen of heauens cannot containe him how much lesse the narrow roome of my soule 1. King 8. 27. 3 An holy abashment or confusion out of this consideration that so vile a worme and sinfull wretch as thou art should haue so infinite a Maiestie and holy God to come and sup with thee Say to thy selfe in the words of the Centurion Lord I am not worthy that thou shouldest come vnder my roofe or with S. Peter Depart from me for I am a sinfull man 4 An holy sorrow out of this consideration yâ— thy sins did put thy Sauiour to these torments which are signified and liuely represented in this Sacrament Say to thy selfe in the words of Ieremiah O that mine eyes were a fountaine of teares to bewaile those sinnes which drew so much bloud from my Sauiour 5 An holy ioy out of this consideration that the infinite debt of thy sins is discharged and the acquittance deliuered into thy hands Say to thy selfe in the words spoken of Zacheus This day saluation is come into mine house 6 An holy desire of expressing some kind of thankfulnesse to God out of this consideration that together with the SacrameÌ„t thou receiuest Christ himselfe and all the benefits of his passion Say to thy selfe in the words of Dauid What shall I render vnto the Lord for all his benefits that he hath done vnto me I will take the cup of saluation and call vpon the name of the Lord. 4 Ioyne the signes with the things signified Take Feede on bodily Bread Wine ghostly Bodie Bloud 5 Obserue meditate vpon the resemblances betweene them 1 Bread and wine true and in substance not in appearance onely Christs bodie a true bodie his bloud true bloud not in shew onely as some Hereticks haue imagined 2 Bread one bodie or lumpe made of many graines wine one liquor or drinke of many grapes Christ his body one of many members vnited together 3 Bread and wine an entire repast Christs body and bloud the perfect refection of the soule 4 Bread and wine strengthen and comfort the heart Christs body and bloud est ablisheth the heart and comforteth the conscience 5 Bread and wine the common foode of men not children
of thy mysticall bodie and when the head reigneth in eternall glorie the members must needs participate of glorious eternitie What shall I offer vnto thee for these so singular benefits which I receiue by the Sacrament My body is vile my soule sinfull and worse then nothing in respect of thy glorious and sacred flesh and bloud One drop of thy bloud is more to be valued then a thousand worlds which yet to testifie the aboundance of thy loue thou pouredst out and offeredst plentifully for me vpon the crosse and now affordest to me in the cup. Shall I not spend my dearest hearts bloud in thy seruice who hast shed thine for me Shall I not willingly seale thy truth if need bee with my bloud who haue now receiued the pardon of all my sinnes signed with it What shall I render to thee for all thy louing mercies contained in this conduit of thy grace I will take this cup of saluation and I will not refuse the cup of trembling for thy sake by the helpe of thy grace I will more strictly keepe my holy vowes which I haue heretofore made and now renew I will seeke to carrie my selfe as a guest of so holy a table Hauing eaten Angels meate I will endeauour my selfe to leade an Angels life Hauing supped with thee I will rest with thee haue my conuersation in heauen and dwell with thee for euer Amen THE PRACTICE OF PRIVATE DEVOtion both ordinarie and extraordinarie in health and sicknesse and at the houre of death The scope of the Author and reason of his method and order CHRISTIAN READER IN these Deuotions which I first offered for the greater part to God for my selfe and now offer to the presse for thy vse all that I intend affect and labour for is to expresâ—e in the matter pious affection in the forme Scripture phrase and elocution For it seemeth to mee most agreeable to speake to God as neare as wee can in the same language he speakes to vs which is the sanctified language of the Bible As for affected humane eloquence consisting instreined conceits of wit and swelling words of vanitie which as it is puffed vp it selfe so it puffeth vp those that vse it I hold it altogether vnfit for a Minister of the Gospell especially in meditations or exercises of this nature For in these we ought most of all to denie our selues and to captiuate not onely our thoughts to the conceptions but our tongs to the words and phrases of the inspired Oracles of God As Menander said of women that they were fairest who were not painted at all and Tullie of Atticus his booke that the grauitie of the stile and neglect of light ornaments was a graâ—e and ornament vnto it So it may be most truly auouched of holy vowes meditations and prayers that sinceritie is best art and simplicitie their garbe modesty their trimming and zeale their glorie when they are so conceiued and vttered that they shew most affection and least affectation of art wit or language Sighs are the figures that moue Almightie God and teares the fluent and most current Rhetoricke before him for he that made the mouth is not taken with words vnlesse they be such as proceed from his owne mouth and are warranted by his word such as carrie in them a manifest print of that patterne of sound or wholesome words set before vs by the Apostles Now a swelling member is not sound neither is blowne meate wholesome The wisest among the heathen could distinguish betweene a Matrons and a Curtizans attire and ornaments a loftie and a turgent stile the Asiaticke Superfluitie and Attick knife and modesty which pruned the luxuriancy of pregnant wits flourishing styles running out into superfluous stemmes that the presses of eloquence might abound not with leaues of words but iuyce sap of Sentences as it were grapes pressed together Thus eloquently Saint Ierom declareth that Athenian eloquence and singularly approued it to whose iudgement I submit onely I would adde this that euen this iuycie kinde of sententious eloquence relisheth not of a deuout soule vnlesse it haue in it the taste and tincture of the vines of Engaddy Draw me saith the Spowse we will runne after thee say her honourable attendants because of the sweete sauour of thy oyntments The spowse of Christ delighteth not in exoticall perfumes though neuer so costly because howsoeuer they please thy smell yet they corrupt the braine and oftentimes poyson the spirits But the smell of Christs oyntments who was annointed with the oyle of gladnesse aboue all his brethren is the sauour of life vnto life Therefore both the Spowse her selfe and all her maides of honour i. e. Virgins and chaste soules runne after it And this my hand-maid also followeth after them yet as Peter followed Christ a farre off The path in which shee treads is this From the generall she passeth to particular from extraordinary to ordinary from the chamber and Closet to the sicke and death-bedds Deuotion Haec erit admissa met a terendarota 1 BEcause the morning and euening were euery day in the weeke I beginne with the dayes Deuotion in generall and for morning and euening I frame such Admonitions Hymnes and Prayers as may serue for any day Sabboth or weeke day festiuall or common 2. Next I furnish the Christian Sabboth because as Ignatius styleth it it is the chiefe and soueraigne day and the Queene of all dayes and may rightly challenge the precedency of all festiualls both in regard of Gods strict command for the religious obseruing it and for that it is the sampler of them they being cut as it were out of the dayes of the weeke otherwise dayes of labour according to the patterne of the Sabboths rest 3. The feasts peculiarly dedicated to our Sauiour and the holy Ghost succeede the Sabboth and precede the weeke dayes For whatsoeuer scruple hath bin made of Saints dayes the whole world as farre as it is or euer was Christian hath obserued religiously these feasts as Monuments and a kinde of Sacraments to refresh the memory of the chiefe workes of our Lord and mysteries of our faith to checke and controle whose vniuersall and vniforme practice especially in a matter of this nature is most insolent madnesse God saith Paulinus hath garnished the Church Calender with festiuall dayes as the heauen with Starres or a garlaÌ„d with roses Is not Christ the rose of Sharon and the bright morning Starre Doubtles then the festiualls in speciall consecrated to him ought to bee as the fairest flowrs in the round garland of the yeere and brightest Starres in the Church firmament Wee neuer reade of any saith Caluin that were blamed for drawing too much water out of the well of life Neither can wee possibly giue too much honour to the King of glory Saint Bernards consequence is as sound as it is pious If we celebrate the Saints solemnities how much more ought wee to keepe
his who made them Saints In the Deuotion fitted to these dayes first I lay the ground out of Scripture and then descant vpon it in the Admonition Hymne and Prayer all which allude to the History of that feast 4. After these feasts the week-dayes come in their order The Saints Martyrs and Arch-angels dayes I haue purposely omitted not that I dislike the keeping of them for I haue euer and will iustify and maintaine the obseruation of them according to that godly institution and practice of our Church But I desired to keepe my book within the compasse of the title which is a Manuell And albeit wee honour Saints and Martyrs yet religious Deuotion which is my Theame is restrained to God by holy Dauid Whom haue I in heauen but thee ô Lord. In the Church of Rome there are many Deuotionâ— to Saints and more to our Lady then to Christ but wee acknowledge no religious Deuotions but to him who charmed the old Serpent with that voice of his Father Him onely shalt thou serue In the weeke daies Deuotion those words of our Sauiour were my loadestarre My father worketh and I worke For all the morning prayers haue relation to some worke of God the Father in the sixe dayes of Creation and all the euening to some worke of God the Sonne in the sixe dayes immediately before his glorious resurrection The admonitions for morning and euening containe 12 beatitudes or blessednes 8 mentioned by our Sauiour Mathew 5. and the rest out of other choice Texts of Scripture All which blessednesses I wish thee from my heart desiring thee to afford me one Prayer who haue stored thee with many Thine in the Lord Iesus D. F. THE MORNINGS DEVOTION An admonition for the Morning VVEE haue a more sure word of Prophecie whereunto ye do well that yee take heede as vnto a light that shineth in a dark place vntill the day dawne and the day starre arise in your hearts 1 Pet. 1. 19. I am the roote and the off-spring of Dauid saith Christ and I am the bright morning Starre Reu. 22. 16. Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall giue thee light Ephes. 5. 14. It is now time to awake out of sleepe for now our saluation is neerer then when wee belieued Rom. 13. 11. The night is past the day is at hand therfore cast off the works of darknesse and put on the armour of light verse 12. See that ye walk circumspectly redeeming the time because the dayes are euill Eph 5. 15. Walke honestly as in the day not in rioting and drunkennesse not in chambering and wantonesse not in strife and enuying but put on the Lord Iesus and make no prouision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof Rom. 13. 13. 14. A Hymne for the Morning O Lord thou art my God earely will I seeke thee my soule thirsteth for thee I will sing alowd of thy power and mercy in the morning Psal. 63. 1. 2. Psal. 59. 10. My tongue shall speake of thy righteousnesse and thy praise all the day long Psal. 35. 28. I layd mee downe and slept for thou Lord sustainedst me Psal. 3. 5. I haue dwelt in the secret place of the most High abode vnder the shadow of the Almighty Psal. 91. 1. 4 He shall couer me with his feathers and vnder his wings will I trust his faithfulnesse and truth shall bee my shield and buckler ver 4. Lord arise and lift vp the light of thy countenance vpon me Ps. 4. 7. Teach me to number my dayes that I may apply my heart vnto wisedome Instruct mee in the way which I shall go and guide me with thine eye Psal. 90. 12. Psal. 32. 9. Teach mee thy way ô Lord and I will walke in thy truth ô knit my heart to thee that I may feare thy Name Psal. 86. 11. Hold vp my goings in thy path that my footsteps slip not Psal. 17 5. O satisfie mee earlie with thy mercy and that soone that I may reioyce and be glad al my dayes Psal. 143. 8. Let the beauty of the Lord my God be vpon mee establish thou the worke of my hands vpon me ô prosper thou my handie worke Psal. 90. 17. A Prayer for the Morning GRacious Father rich in mercy to all thy children that call vpon thee accept I beseech thee this my morning Sacrifice of praise thanks giuing which with a willing heart and deuout affection I offer vnto thee in confidence of thy sonnes infinite merits and acknowledgement of thine euerlasting loue and those inestimable benefits which by him and for him and with him thou conferredst vpon me and all thine Elect in him How deare are the thoughts of thy mercies vnto me how great is the â—umme of them Who can value the precious Pearle of thy Word and treasure of thy grace Who can raise his thoughts and desires to the high price of our â—aling an incorruptâ—ble crowne of glory layd vp for vs in heauen Lord fit me with thy grace that I may abound in thanksgiuing and praises for it Enlarge my heart with thy loue that I may in some sort comprehend with al Saints the measure of thine infinite â—oue mâ—nifested to me in the faith of Iesus Christ and abundantly testified by writing my name in the booke of life before I was and engrauing me as a signet with thine owne image at my creation and when I had defaced and in a manner quite raced it out by renuing it in me againe and redeeming mee that had sold my selfe as a bondslaue vnder sinne and death not with corruptible things as gold siluer or pretious stones but with the inualuable and incorruptible blood of thine onely begotten son who gaue his life for my ransome and by his suffering and death hath purchased for me a crowne of life To whom therefore with thee and thy spirit which sealeth all thy mercies vnto me and me vnto the day of redemption bee ascribed the whole glory of my creation redemption sanctification and saluation For vnto me nothing belongeth but shame and confusion who insteede of embracing any mercy and answering thy loue prouoke thy iustice and incense thy wrath and grieue thy spirit and despight thy grace and as much as in me lyeth crucifie againe to my selfe the Lord of life and trample the blood of the New Testament vnder foot Such is my peruerse nature and vngratious disposition that the better thou art to me the worse I proue to thee What couldest thou haue done vnto mee that thou hast not done Thou hast planted me in a fruitfull country thou hast fenced mee with thy prouidence watered me with the former and latter raine of thy Word pruned me with milde and seasonable afflictions and thou castest continually the hot and bright beames of thy fauour vpon me and thou lookest for grapes but behold nothing but wilde grapes What remaineth therefore but that thou shouldest roote mee out of thy vineard and plant another in my
Lord honourable and shalt honour him not doing thine owne wayes nor finding thine owne pleasure nor speaking thine owne words Isa. 58. 13. Then shalt thou delight thy selfe in the Lord and I will cause thee to ride vpon the high places of the earth and feede thee with the heritage of Iacob thy father for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it ver 14. When the first day of the weeke began Marie Magdalen and the other Marie came to the sepulcher Math. 28. 1. Marke 16. 1. Iohn 20. 1. And behold there was a great earth-quake for the Angell of the Lord descended from heauen and rolled backe the stone from the doore and sate vpon it Math. 28. 2. And the Angell answered and said to the woman Feare yee not for I know that ye seeke Iesus that was crucified Math. 28. 6. He is not here for he is risen ver 7. And when the day of Pentecost was come they were all with one accord in one place Acts 2. 1. And suddenly there came a sound from heauen as of a rushing mightie wind and it filled all the house where they were sitting ver 2. And they were all filled with the holy Ghost and began to speake with other tongues as the Spirit gaue them vtterance ver 4. Euery first day of the weeke let euerie one lay aside as God hath prospered him c. 1. Corinth 16. 2. And the first day of the weeke the disciples being met together to breake bread Paul preached vnto them Acts 20. 7. And I was in the spirit on the Lords day and heard behind me a great voice as it had bene of a trumpet Reu. 1. 10. THE MORNING HYMNE for the Sabbath or the Lords day Wherein the deuout soule expresseth her performance at least in desire of all holy duties requisite on the Sabbath which are 1 Priuate as a 1. Premeditation b 2. Early rising or watchfulnesse c 3. The soules examination of her selfe d 4. Prayer at home consisting of 1. Confession of sinne e Originall f Actuall g 2. Profession of faith 3. Supplication for h 1. The Church i 2. The King k 3. The Minister l 4. Our selues 2 Publike as m 1. Going to the Church n 2. Ioyning in publike prayers and thankesgiuing with the congregation o 3. Hearing the word p 4. Contributing to the poore a I haue thought vpon thy Name in the night season and haue kept thy Law Psal. 119. 55. b Early in the morning do I cry vnto thee for in thy word is my trust ver 147. c I called mine owne wayes to remembrance and turned my foote to thy testimonies ver 59. d I will make my supplication in thy presence with my whole heart be mercifull vnto me according to thy word ver 58. e Behold I was borne in iniquitie and in sin hath my mother conceiued me Psal. 51. 3. f Who can tell how oft hee offendeth O cleanse thou mee from my secret faults Psal. 19. 12. g I said I will confesse my sin and so thou forgauest the wickednesse of my sinne Psal. 32. 6. h O be fauourable and gracious vnto Sion build thou the walls of Ierusalem Psal. 51. 19. Thou shalt arise ô Lord and haue mercie vpon Sion for it is time that thou haue mercie vppon her yea the time is come Psal. 102. 13. For why thy seruants thinke vpon her stones and it grieueth them to see her in the dust ver 14. i Giue the King thy iudgements ô Lord and thy righteousnesse to the Kings sonne Psal. 72. 1. Then shall hee iudge the people according vnto right and defend the poore ver 2. Hee shall keepe the simple by the right and punish the wrong doer ver 4. k Let thy Priests be cloathed with righteousnesse and let thy Saints sing with ioyfulnesse Psal. 132. 9. l O send out thy light and thy truth that they may leade mee and bring mee to thy holy hill and to thy dwelling Psal. 43. 3. m I was glad when they said vnto me Let vs go into the house of the Lord. Open me the gates of righteousnesse that I may go in and giue thanks to the Lord. Psal. 118. 19. n O magnifie the Lord our God and let vs fall downe before his footestoole for he is holy Psal. 99. 5. o The Lord gaue the word great was the companie of the Preachers Psal. 68. 11. I will hearken what the Lord God will say concerning me for hee shall speake peace vnto his people and to his Saints that they turne not againe Psal. 85. 8. For his saluation is nigh them that feare him that glorie may dwell in our land ver 9. p O my soule thou hast said vnto the Lord Thou art my God my goods are nothing vnto thee Psal. 16. 2. All my delight is vpon the Saints and such as excell in vertue ver 3. An offering of a free heart will I giue thee and praise thy name because it is so comfortable Psal. 58. 7. A Prayer for the Sabbath Morning BLessed Creator and Author and finisher of the saluation of man-kind who in memorie of thy glorious rest from both thy noble workes hast blessed and sanctified a day of holy rest vnto thy selfe sanctifie me for it that laying aside my accustomed businesse and sequestring my thoughts from all worldly cares I may keepe it and my selfe holy to thee by dedicating it and deuoting my selfe wholly to thy peculiar worship and immediate seruice And to the end that this my religious seruice may bee more acceptable to thee quicken me with thy Spirit that I may performe it with all alacritie and chearefulnesse and may make thy Sabbath my delight Touch my heart and tongue with a coale from thine Altar that from the sweet incense of my meditations hymnes prayers and thanksgiuing thou mayest smell a sauour of rest O holy Lord God of Sabbath sanctifie thy rest vnto me let thy Spirit rest in me that I may find rest to my soule from all tentations troubles and feares and may rest from my owne workes which are painefull and sinfull trauels and may employ this day all the powers and faculties of my soule and bodie in doing and considering thy workes in adoring thy Maiestie and admiring thy wisdome and acknowledgeing thy power and embracing thy loue and magnifying thy goodnesse and reioycing in thy mercies trembling at thy iudgements In visiting thy holy Temple and praising thee with thy Saints and offering vp the calues of my lips In diligently reading thy Scriptures attentiuely hearing thy word reuerently celebrating thy mysteries charitably relieuing thy members and zealously practising all holy duties both publike and priuate O let me this whole day walke with thee as Enoch did and talke with thee as Moses did and seeke thy face as Dauid did And grant that beholding thine image in thine holy word as in a cleare and cristall mirrour I may bee changed into the same image euen from glorie to glorie Let this Sabbath put
come then that which is in part shall be abolished 1 Cor. 13. 10. Loue doth neuer fall away though that prophecying be abolished or that tongues cease c. ver 8. I pray that they all may be one as thou O Father art in me and I in thee euen that they may be also one in vs c. Ioh. 17. 21. An Hymne for the Sabbath Euening REturne to thy rest O my soule for the Lord hath dealt graciously with thee Psal. 116. 7. In Gods Word will I reioyce in the Lords Word will I comfort me Psal. 56. 10. The words of the Lord are pure words like as siluer which from the earth is tryed and purified seauen times in the fire Blessed are they that dwell in thine house they will bee alway praysing thee They will goe from strength to strength and to the God of Gods appeareth euery one of them in Sion Psal. 84. 47. I will giue thankes to the Lord in the Congregation from the ground of the heart Psal. 68 26. Vnto thee ô God I will pay my vowes vnto thee will I giue thanks Psal. 56. 12. Shew the light of thy countenance vpon thy seruant and teach me thy Statutes Psalme 119. An Euening Prayer for the Sabbath HOly holy holy Lord God Almighty which was which art and which art to come hallow my nature that I may hallow thy Name As thou impartest thy goodnes to me whereby I liue and moue in thee so I beseech thee communicate to mee some measure of thy holinesse that I may liue and moue to thee Let thy Spirit of grace possesse my body and soule that the desires of my minde and thoughts of my heart and words of my lipps may be holinesse vnto thee Sanctifie me that I may glorifie thee And first with ioy and thankfulnesse I acknowledge it a special testimony of thy loue that thou hast giuen me liberty and meanes to keepe a holy Sabbath vnto thee to meete in thy House to offer vp my ioynt-prayers and thanks-giuing with thy holy congregation to confesse my sinnes to professe my faith to lay open my wants to cheere vp my selfe by singing the sweete songs of Sion to heare thy sacred Word read and Preached whereby my faith hath beene strengthened in the misteries of saluation my hope established in the promises of thy Gospell and my life set forward in a setled course of holinesse and righteousnesse whereby the Kingdome of sinne and Satan is beate down and destroyed and the Kingdome of Christ built vp in me By this thy Word the carelesse sinner is admonished the ignorant instructed the presumptuous terrified and the penitent comforted the power of sinne is abated the force of temptations weakned the motions of the spirit quickned grace reuined and my Election assured by these insallible Marks and tokens thereof set before me in holy Scriptures Blessed bee thy Name for it this day thy Word hath dwelt with me richly in all wisedome The dispenser of thy misteries hath scattered many Doctrines like so many pearles among thy people Lord grant that with Mary I keepe these and all thy sayings in my heart and make vse of them in my life and receiue comfort from them at my death And here I would proceed to intreate at thy hands the continuance and increase of thy spiritual and temporall blessings vpon mee but my sinnes lye at the doore of my conscience and affright mee My heart smites mee for my failings in the performance of the duties of thy Sabbath My deuout Meditations haue bin stefled in the wombe that bare them my prayers haue not beene without distractions my hearing without wearisomenesse nor my almes-deeds without grudging Pardon deare Father my want of preparation before I come to thine house of intention and Zeale at thy seruice and want of Meditation and Application of those things which I heard there since I came thence Bury I beseech thee these slips and all other my sins especially of this weeke and day in the night of eternall obliuion Ease me of the burden of them that I may more securely repose my body and soule vpon thy gracious protection to take their naturall refreshing by sleepe whereby I may bee enabled and strengthened to doe thee better seruice the next day in walking carefully diligently conscionably and constantly in the waies of thy commandements and the duties of my calling The close out of Scripture Now the very God of peace sanctify mee throughout and I pray God that my whole spirit and soule and body may bee kept blamelesse vnto the comming of the Lord Iesus Christ Amen THE PRACTICE of Extraordinarie DEVOTION In the Religious obseruation of Christian Feasts as namely our Lords Birth Circumcision Epiphanie Resurrection Ascension Sending downe the Holy Ghost Fasts as namely Ashwednesday Good friday By Daniel Featly Doctor in Diuinity LONDON Printed by G. M. and R. B. for Nicholas Bourne and are to be sold at his shop at the South Entrance of the Royall Exchange 1626. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE and Religious Ladie the Countesse of DENBIGH May it please your Honour YOur conference with me about my conference with the Iesuites and your gracious acceptation of the relation and defence thereof left in me such an impression of the Character of your Noble and Religious disposition that I euer since desired the aduantage of some good opportunitie to testifie my dutifull respect to your Honour The truth of God receiueth not onely support but great honour from the patronage and countenance of great Personages and she much glorieth in finding so strong a Champion euen in the weaker sexe Albeit the Sun-beames are alwayes most bright in themselues yet they neuer appeare so glorious to vs as when they fall vpon crystall glasse or pretious stones In like sort Religion and vertue the raies of diuine light in the soule although they shine alwayes brightly in themselues yet they neuer seeme so conspicuous and resplendent as when they receiue some luster from the subiect when Nobilitie of birth and minde concurre when ornaments of bodie and soule meete when eminencie of grace eminency of conditions toyne in one and reflect mutually each on the other And verily if your more then or dinarie fauour and respect to the Ministers of the Gospell and to my selfe in particular had not made this my voluntarie oblation a necessarie obligation to your Ladiship yet your constancie in the truth and loue to Sion and her solemne and sacred assemblies might iustly challenge to your Honour the Dedication of this part of my HAND-MAIDES Taske which is to furnish Christian fastes and feasts with proper MEDITATIONS HYMNES and PRAYERS As our bodie liues to the soule by which it liueth so our soule should liue to God by whom it liueth And no otherwise is the life of the bodie preserued by heate and moisture then the life of the soule is maintained and kept by the heate of diuine loue and radicall moisture of teares bedewing the heart
truth and redeemed mee from my vaine conuersations neuer returne backe to my worldly courses but take another way to my true home in heauen The wise men when they saw thy starre in the aire were exceeding glad I see thy starre in the Scriptures nay I see the bright morning starre in my heart O let my ioy exceede theirs as my knowledge doth The starre still lighted them till they came to the place where thou layest and entered into thy bed-chamber So ô Lord let the light of faith guide me all the way of this life euen till I come to see thee not in a stable on earth strawed with litter and dung but in a pallace in heauen built with Saphyrs and founded vpon pearles not receiuing a present of gold from men but wearing a crowne of gold put vpon thee by thy Father not hauing a quantity of frankinsence or mirrh in thy hand but a golden censor full of sweete odours which are the prayers of Saints Among which I beseech thee offer vp the prayers of mee a sinner that I may bee a Saint after thou hast purged mee from all my fil thynesse in the royall bath of thy blood Amen THE FEAST OF OVR LORD'S RESVRRECTION OR Easter-dayes Deuotion The ground of this Feast In the old Testamēt Prophecies Types In the new the History of our Lords rising from the dead PARALELL Prophecie Thou shalt not leaue my soule in hell or graue nor suffer thine holy One to see corruption Psal. 16. 11. He spake of the Resurrection of Christ that his soule should not be left in graue neither his flesh see corruption Acts 2. 31. Historie The Angel said to the women Feare yee not for I know that yee seeke Iesus that was crucified Mat. 28. 5. He is not here for he is risen as hee said come see the place where the Lord lay verse 6. Thy dead men shall liue with my body shall they rise Awake sing yee that dwell in dust for thy dew is the dew of herbs and the earth shall cast out her dead Isa. 26. 19. And the graus did open thēselues and many bodies of the Saints which slept arose Mat. 27 52. And came out of their graues after his resurrection went into the holy City and appeared to many v. 53. O death I wil be thy death ô graue I wil bee thy destruction Hos. 13. 14. Christ being raised from the dead dyeth no more death hath no more dominion ouer him Rom. 6. 9. Death is swallowed vp into victorie 1. Cor. 11. 14. O Death where is thy sting O graue where is thy victorie ver 55. Type And the Priest shall shake the sheafe of the first fruites before the Lord that it may be acceptable to you the morrowe after the Sabbath Leu. 23. 11. Accomplishment Now in the end of the Sabboth when the first day of the week began to dawn MARY MAGDALEN came to see the Sepulcher Mat. 28. And behold there was a great Earth-quake for the Angell of the Lord descended from heauen and came and rolled away the stone from the dore and sate vpon it c. ver 2. He is not here for hee is risen c. 6. Christ is risen from the dead the first fruites of them that sleepe 1. Cor. 11. 20. The first fruits is Christ ver 23. And Ionah was in the belly of the Fish three dayes and three nights Ion. 1. 17. The Sonne of man three daies three nights in the heart of the earth Mat. 12. 4. The third day God spake vnto the Fish it cast out Ionah on the drye land Ion 2. 10. Destroy this temple and in three dayes I will reare it vp againe Ioh. 2. 19. Hee spake of the temple of his bodie ver 21. As soone as he was risen from the dead his disciples remembred and belieued the Scriptures and the word which he spake vnto them ver 22. For thine instruction meditate on the Prophecie Types Storie of Christ's resurrection For thy comfort apply to thy selfe the benefit thereof For thy correction examine thy spiritual resurrection from dead workes Quicken Thy faith by the Hymne Thy repentance by the exhortation Thy Zeale and Deuotion by the prayer ensuing An Hymne for Easter day OPen mee the gates of righteousnesse that I may goe into them and giue thankes vnto the Lord. Psal. 119. 19. This is the gate of the Lord the righteous shall enter into it verse 20. I will thanke thee for thou hast heard me and art become my saluation verse 21. Thou wilt shew me the paths of life in thy presence is the fulnesse of ioy and at thy right hand there are pleasures for euermore Psal. 16. 11. The same stone which the builders refused is become the head Stone in the corner v. 22 This is the Lord 's doing and it is maruellous in our eyes v. 23 This is the day which the Lord hath made wee will reioyce and be glad in it ver 24. Why doe the heathen rage continually and the people imagin a vaine thing Psal. 2. 1. Then shall hee speake vnto them in his wrath and vexe them in his sore displeasure saying Euen I haue set my king vpon Zion mine holy Mountaine verse 5. 6. The Lord vpon thy right hand shall wound euen kings in the day of his wrath Ps. 110. 5. Hee shall iudge among the heathen hee shall fill their places with the dead bodies and smite in sunder heads ouer diuers countries verse 6. He shall drinke of the brooke in the way therefore shall hee lift vp his head verse 7 Be wise now therefore ô yee kings bee learned yee that are iudges of the earth Ps. 2. 10. Serue the Lord with feare and reioyce vnto him with reuerence verse 11. Kisse the sonne least hee bee angry and so ye perish from the right way if his wrath bee kindled yea but a little blessed are all they that put their trust in him verse 12. THE ADMONITION for Easter-day THE ANALYSIS Wee must pray and striue for repentāce from dead workes and newnes of life because a 1. It is God's commandement b 2. It is the Saint's practise c 3. It is the euidence of our new-birth d 4. It is the end of our resurrection e 5. It is the end of our redemption f 6. It obtaineth remission of sinnes g 7. It auoideth GOD'S temporall iudgements h 8. It is the onely means to shun eternal death i 9. It maketh vs blessed euen in this life THE TEXTS a CAst off concerning the conuersation in times past that old man which is corrupt through deceaueable lusts Eph. 4. 24. And be renewed in the spirit of your mindes verse 23. And put on the new man which after God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse ver 24. b Yee haue put of the old man with his workes Colos. 3 9. And haue put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the Image of him that created him verse 10. c Being borne
restâ—red me to my former blisse Nay I haue gained by my losses and am raised higher by my fall through thy infinite mercie which hath not onely ransomed me from death but purchased me an eternall inheritance and crowne of life in thiâ—e heauenly kingdome Sith thou hast done so great things for me whereat I reioyce sith thou hast prepared such things for me as neither eye hath seene nor eare hath heard nor euer entred into the heart of man to conceiue what manner of man ought I to be in all holy conuersation How cleare ought those eyes to be which shall see God How cleane those eares which shall heare words that cannot be vttered How pure that heart which shall be filled with those ioyes whiâ—h neuer entred into the heart of man Thou ô Father which hast created me art the holy one of Israel Thou ô Sonne who redeemedst me art the Holy one of God Thou ô Spirit which sanctifiest me art the holy Ghost Thou ô Father hast created me according to thine Image in holinesse and righteousnes thou ô Sonne hast redeemed me to serue thee in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of my life thou ô Spirit hast freed me from sinne and made me seruant to God that I might haue my fruite in holinesse and the end euerlasting life Our vocation is a holy calling our societies a holy communion our stile a holy Priesthood our assemblies holy congregations our CouÌ„trie the holy land of Promise our Citie the holy Ierusalem our Charter the holy Scriptures our immunities holy priuiledges our seales which confirme them holy Sacraments All our happinesse here is holinesse and holinesse hereafter shall bee our happinesse Lord make mee therefore to be so happy heere as to be holy and so holy here that I may be hereafter happy Amen The close out of Scripture The God of Peace that brought againe from the dead our Lord Iesus the great Shepheard of the Sheepe through the blood of the euerlasting Couenant Heb. 2. 20. Make mee perfect in all good workes to doe his will working in mee that which is pleasant in his sight through Iesus Christ. ver 21. The Hymne for Friday Euening Wherein the deuout soule Prayseth God for her Creation Redemption Prayeth for Preseruation Glorification THE TEXTS THy hands haue made me and fashioned me ô giue me vnderstanding that I may learne thy Commandements Psal. 119. Into thy hands I commend my Spirit for thou hast redeemed mee thou God of Truth O let mee heare thy louing kindnesse betimes in the morning for in thee is my trust Shew thou me the way that I should walke in for I lift vp my soule vnto thee Psal. 41. 8. Teach mee to doe the thing that pleaseth thee for thou art my God let thy louing Spirit leade me into the land of righteousnesse verse 10. Set a watch ô Lord before my mouth and keepe the doore of my lipps Psal. 41. O let not mine heart bee inclined to any wicked thing let me not be occupied in vngodly workes with the men that work wickednesse verse 4. O Lord thou hast searched me out and knowne mee thou knowest my downe-sitting and mine vp-rising thou vnderstandest my thoughts long beforâ— Psal. 139. 1 2. For loe there is not a word in my tongue but thou ô Lord knowest it altogether verse 3. Thou hast fashioned mee behinde and before and layed thine hand vpon me verse 4. Such knowledge is too wonderfull and excellent for me I cannot attaine vnto it verse 5. I will giue thanks vnto thee for I am fearefully and wonderfully made meruailous are thy workes and that my soule knoweth right well verse 13. My bones are not hid from thee though I be made secretly and fashioned beneath in the earth verse 14. Thine eyes did see me when I was without forme for in thy booke were all things written which in continuance were fashioned when there was none of them before verse 15. O how deare are thy counsels to me 〈◊〉 God O how great is the summe of them verse 16. If I tell them they are more in number then the sands of the sea when I awake vp I am present with thee verse 17. Lord guide me with thy counsell and after that receiue me with glory Keepe mee as the Apple of thine eye hide mee vnder the shadow of thy wings Psal. 17. 8. I will behold thy presence in righteousnesse and when I awake vp after thy likenesse I shall be satisfied with it ver 16. The Admonition for Friday Euening being an Exhortation to Faith in CHRIST The principall inducements to stirre vs vp to faith in Christ are the 1 Necessity of this vertue in respect of 1 The Commandement of God in generall to which faith is requisite 2 All other duties in Speciall Praying Hearing Communicating 2 The excellencie of it for it is Pretious Holy The faith of the Elect. 3 The certainty of it for it is grounded on God The Father his VVord Oath The Sonne his Promises Prayer The Spirit his Earnest Seale 4 Efficacie 1 Extraordinary as working miracles 2 Ordinary as Victorie ouer the VVorld Diuell Iustification Saluation THE TEXTS YE beleeue in God beleeue also in me Ioh. 14. 1. This is the worke of God that ye beleeue on him whom he hath sent Ioh. 6. 29. Beleeue in the Lord Iesus and thou shalt be saued and all thine house Act. 16. 31. This is his commandement that we should beleeue in the name of his Sonne Iesus Christ 1. Ioh. 3. 23. Earnestly contend for the saith Iud. 13. Repent ye and beleeue the Gospel Mar. 1. 15. Follow righteousnesse faith charitie peace c. 2. Tim. 2. 22. Without faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11. 6. Whatsoeuer is not of faith is sinne Rom. 14. 23. How shall they call vpon him in whom they haue not beleeued Rom. 10. 14. He that prayeth let him pray in faith nothing doubting Iam. 1. 6. All things whatsoeuer ye aske for in prayer beleiuing ye shall receiue Mat. 21. 21. The word preached did not profit them not being mixed with faith in them that heard it Heb. 4. 2. Christ dwelleth in vs by faith Eph. 3. 17. I am the Bread of life whosoeuer beleeueth in me shall neuer thirst Ioh. 6. 35. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud dwelleth in me and I in him ver 56. He that beleeueth in me hath euerlasting life ver 47. I am the Bread of life ver 48. To them that haue receiued like pretious faith with vs grace and peace be multiplied 2. Pet. 1. â— But ye beloued building your selues in your most holy faith pray to the holy Ghost Iud 20. Paul an Apostle of Iesus Christ according to the faith of Gods Elect Tit. 1. As many as were ordained to saluation beleeued Act. 13. 48. This is my welbeloued Sonne heare him Mat. 3. vlt. So God loued the world that he gaue his onely begotten Son that whosoeuer
being led away with the errour of the wicked fall from your owne stedfastnesse 2. Pet. 3. 17. He spake a parable that we ought alwayes to pray and not to faint Luke 18. 1. Shall not God auenge his Elect which crie vnto him day and night though he beare long with them ver 7. He after he had patiently endured obtained the promise Heb. 6. 15. O Lord God of my saluation I haue cried day and night before thee Psal. 88. 1. I haue called daily vpon thee I haue stretched foorth my hands vnto thee ver 9. He kneeled vpon his knees and prayed three times a day Dan. 6. 10. And they which went before rebuked the blind man that he should hold his peace but he cried so much the more Sonne of Dauid haue mercie on me Luk. 18. 39. And behold a woman of Caanan cried vnto him saying Haue mercie on me c. Mat. 15. 22. But he answered her not a word and his disciples besought him saying Send her away for she crieth after vs ver 23. He answered I am not sent c. ver 24. Then came she and worshipped saying Lord helpe me ver 25. But he answered It is not meete c. ver 26. And she said Truth Lord yet the doggs eate the crummes c. ver 27. Then Iesus said Woman be it to thee as thou wilt ver 28. Ye are they which haue continued with me in my tentations Luk. 22. 28. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplications with Marie the Mother of Iesus Act. 1. 14. We will giue our selues continually to prayer c. Act. 6. 4. There were added to them about three thousand soules c. Act. 2 41. And they continued stedfastly in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship and breaking of bread and prayer ver 42. By the space of three yeares I ceased not to warne euerie one night day with tears Act. 20. 31 Since the day we heard we ceased not to pray for you Col. 1. 9. For this cause we thanke God without ceasing 1. Thess. 2. 13. A deuoute man which gaue much almes to the people and prayed to God alwaies Act. 10 2. And the foure beasts had each of them sixe wings vpon them and they were full of eyes within and they ceased not day and night saying Holy holy holy Lord God almightie which was and is and is to come Reu. 4. 8. I declare vnto you the Gospel which ye haue receiued and wherein ye stand or continue 1. Cor. 15. 1. Then said Iesus to those Iewes that beleeued on him If ye continue in my word then are ye indeede my disciples Ioh. 8. 31. Who so looketh into the perfect law of libertie and continueth therein he being not a forgetfull hearer but a doer shall be blessed in his deede Iames 1. 25. They went out from vs but they were not of vs for if they had beene of vs they would no doubt haue continued with vs 1. Ioh. 2. 19. Whosoeuer abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God Ioh. 2. 9. So runne that ye may obtaine 1. Cor. 9. 26. Let vs not be weatie in well doing for in due season we shall reape if we faint not Gal. 6. 9. Hold that thou hast that no man take thy crowne Reu. 3. 11. For we are made partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast to the end Heb. 3. 14. He that endureth to the end shall be saued Mat. 10. 22. Continue therein for in doing this thou shalt saue thy selfe and them that heare thee 1. Tim 3. 8. Worke out your saluation with feare and trembling Phil. 4. 12. Shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope to the end Heb. 6. 11. To him that ouercometh I will giue to eate of the tree of life which is in the middest of the garden of God Reuel 2. 7. Let vs labour therefore to enter into that rest lest any man fall after that same example Heb. 4. 11. Let vs feare lest a promise being left vs of entering into his rest any of you should seeme to come short of it Heb. 4. 1. Ye haue continued with me c. Luk. 22. 28. And I appoint vnto you a Kingdome as my Father hath appointed vnto me ver 29. Be faithfull vnto death and I will giue thee the crowne of life Reuel 2. 10. I haue fought a good fight I haue finished my course c. 1. Tim. 4. 7. Hencefoorth there is laide vp for me a crowne of righteousnesse which the Lord the righteous Iudge shall giue me at that day and not to me onely but to them also that loue his appearing ver 8. Take heede lest there be in any of you an euill heart of vnbeleefe in departing away from the liuing God Heb. 3. 12. If after they haue escaped the pollution of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Sauiouâ— Iesus Christ they are againe intangled therein and ouercome the latter end is worse then the beginning 2 Pet. 2. 20. For it had beene better for them neuer to haue knowne the way of righteousnesse then after they haue knowne it to turne from the holy commandement deliuered vnto them ver 21. But it is happened vnto them according to the true Prouerbe The dogge is turned to his vomit againe and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire ver 22. When the vncleane spirit is gone out of a man c. Mat. 12. 44. He taketh to himselfe seuen other spirits and they dwell there and the last state of that man is worse then the first ver 45. Let him that standeth take heede lest he fall 1. Cor. 10. 12. Are ye so foolish hauing begun in the Spirit are ye now made perfect with the flesh Gal. 3. 3. Haue ye suffered so many things in vaine it it be yet in vaine ver 4. Cast not away therefore your confidence which hath great recompence of reward Heb. 10. 35. If any withdraw himselfe my soule shall haue no pleasure in him ver 38. We are not of them which draw backe vnto perdition ver 38. In the latter dayes some shall depart from the faith 1. Tim. 4. 1. Hauing their conscience seared with a hot iron ver 2. Holding faith and a good conscience which some hauing put away concerning faith haue made shipwrack 1. Tim. 1. 19. Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander whom I haue deliuered to Sathan ver 20. Hauing forsaken the right way they are gone astray following the wayes of Balaam the son of Bozor c. 2. Pet. 2. 15. But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousnes and committeth iniquitie c. All the righteousnesse that he hath done shall not be mentioned in his trespasse that he trespasseth and in his sinne that he hath sinned in them shall he die Eze. 18. 24. It
Ancilla Pietatis OR THE HAND-MAID to Priuate DEVOTION Presenting a Manuell to furnish her with Necessary Principles of Faith Forcible Motiues to a holy life Vsefull Formes of Hymnes and Prayers fitted to The Christian Feasts and Fasts The Weeks of the yeere The daies of the Weeke Christus fide concipitur confessione nascitur deuotione tenetur S. Leo. By Daniel Featly D. Diuinity At London printed for Nicholas Bourne Anno Domini 1626 Then another Angel Re Watch yee in Faith and Hope and A the serpent was lif Io 3.14 Loo y 3 starre Matt 2.9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luk 2.11 There apeared 〈…〉 Why stand ye 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts â—â—â—… 〈…〉 Mat 28. â—… Deuotion Handmaid 〈…〉 in Christo Patris 〈…〉 Coll. Emman Cantab. TO THE RIGHT Noble and Religious Lady the Dutchesse of Buckingam her GRACE May it please your Grace SAint Ierome in a Funerall Oration strewing flowers vppon the hearst of Fabiola said coÌ„cerning her VVee haue lost a most pretious iewell out of the Church But since your happy departure from the Romish Synagogue and repairing to our true reformed Church wee may say on the contrary in regard of you We haue gained a most pretious Iewell to the Church Such lowlinesse of minde in such height of fortunes such Deuotion in such distractions such constancy in such temptations wee blesse God for in you wee pray God for in others of your Sexe and ranke If to touch vpon your modesty were not to wound it and to relate your continuall practise of Deuotion were not to interrupt it I should speake much of it yet no more then they know to bee most true who are neerest to you when you draw neere to your Father in secret But because it is not the least of your praises that you cannot endure praise and there are many in England not onely in Africa who are bewitched by flattery I will drawe a veile before those eminent parts which my pensill cannot expresse And therfore ceasing farther to blazon your vertues I humblie craue leaue of you to preferre vnto you a seruant to attend you in your closet I meane THE HAND-MAID TO PRIVATE DEVOTION who vpon her knee tenders to your Grace some helpes to your Deuotion together with the Deuotion and prayers of the Author to God for you to crowne you with the blessings of this life and the blessednesse of the life to come Your Graces humbly deuoted DANIEL FEATLY THE PREFACE to the Reader CHRISTIAN READER IN the late dreadfull Visitation when the waies of Sion mourned because none passed by them and the gates of the Sanctuary lamented because almost none entred at them Religion her selfe for the most forbearing the Church and keeping her closet and there finding sufficient employment to complaine of bewaile the danger and desolation of her solemnest assemblies I fell into a serious consideration of the vse and most vrgent necessity of PRIVATE DEVOTION And to the end I might accord with my brethren in their groanes and cries being smitten my selfe with a dangerous though not infectious disease I gaue ouer those waters of strife wherein I had met with the Romish Fisher intangled in his owne Net and sought after the waters of Shiloah that runne softly which at that season farre better relished with me then the other Not that I altered my iudgement touching the studie of controuersies which without all controuersie is not onely most needefull but delightfull also to them that are therein exercised It is an easie taske and almost euery ones labour now a dayes to gather flowers of Paradice and make Posies or Garlands of them for Christ's Spouse But it is not for euery hand to meddle with those thornie difficulties which yet must be carefully handled by them who will make a strong hedge or sure fence for the Lord's Vineyard The more perplexed and intricate the difficulty is the greater is the contentment in beating out the truth in points of no lesse consequence then difference Children are not so much delighted with smiting flints one against the other to see the sparcles as meÌ„ of rational vnderstaÌ„ding discourse by collision of contrary arguments to strike out the fire of diuine Truth And this fire as well as that other which the naturall heate of Deuotion kindleth yeeldeth much warmth to the conscience euen of a dying man Witnesse Oecolampadius whose last words were these Now I goe cheerefully to the tribunall of Christ where it shall appeare that I haue not seduced God's people but haue sincerely taught the truth of God I might instance likewise in Doctor Whitaker's Cygnea Cantio his swanlike song before his death wherein hee warbleâ—h sweetely vpon those at this day most Vexed questions of vniuersall grace and freewill And his contemporary the eye of the other Vniuersity Doctor Reynolds when hee lay on his death bed called for Doctor Abbots after the Lord Bishop of Salisbury Reply to W. Bishop then newly come forth and heard much of it read vnto him with great contentment But being as I said euen now out of tune in my body I listed not nor in that shaking weakenes could hold fast the peggs to streine and tune the iarring strings of câ—ntrouersed opinions in point of Religion That which I then most desired was to settle my thoughts and affections and compose my soule to rest by listening to the sweete songs of Sion set to Dauids well-tuned harpe and runs vpon in exquisite diuision by some of our excellent Asaphs in their pious Treatises Soliloquies Prayers Meditations and Contemplations This heauenly musick so ranished my senses that I found by experience in the twylight betwixt the day of life and night of death that inlightened thoughts affoord nothing like comfort to en flamed affections Now the oyle which feedeth this sacred flame next to the inspired holy Scriptures floweth most abundantly in Treatises of Deuotion In which kinde of writings the Romanists for the most part exceede in bulke but our Diuines in weight The Church of Rome like Leah is more fruitfull but her Deuotions like Leah in this also are bleaâ—e-eyed with superstitioÌ„ But the mother of our faith like Rachel is not altogether so fruitful yet she is more comely and beautiful and I hope wil be also here after as fruitful Verily if euer Priuate Deuotions powring theÌ„selus forth in brinish teares were in season now they are Neuer losses so great to be bewailed neuer iudgements so fearefull to bee auerted neuer hearts so hard to be mollified neuer consciences so fowle to be rinsed by teares as now Nature hath prouided a soueraigne remedy against the sting of the Scorpion in the oyle of the Scorpion When thou feelest the sting it is but bruising the Serpent and rubbing it on the place and the moisture presently of the Serpent killed destroyeth the venome of that Serpent I would to God our soules were as deare to vs as our bodies and that we tooke as much care for remedies against sinne as salues
7. Purge me with Hysope and I shall be cleane wash me and I shall be whiter then snow Psal. 51. 7. I will purge away thy drosse and take away all thy Tinnâ— Isa. 1. 25. For their sakes I sanctifie my selfe that they also may be sanctified Iohn 17. 19. Being sanctified by the holy Ghost Rom. 15. 16. Such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified 1. Cor. 6. 11. That he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word Eph. 5. 26. For by one offering he hath perfected them for euer that are sanctified Heb. 10. 14. To them that are sanctified by God the Father c. Iude 1. 1. I know that my redeemer liueth c. Iob 19. 25. Though after my skin wormes destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God ver 26. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsell and afterwards receiue me to glorie Psal. 73. 24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast giuen me bee with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast giuen me Ioh. 17. 24. Come yee blessed of my Father inherit the kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world Math. 25. 34. Feare not little flocke for it is your Fathers pleasure to giue you the kingdome Luke 12. 32. If so be we suffer with him we shall also bee glorified together with him Rom. 8. 17. The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glorie that shall be reuealed in vs ver 18. Whom he iustifieth them also he glorifieth ver 30. Who shall change our vile bodie that it may be fashioned to his glorious body Phil. 3. 21. I haue fought a good fight I haue finished my course I haue kept the faith 2. Tim. 4. 7. Henceforth there is layed vp for me a crowne of righteousnes which the Lord the righteous Iudge shall giue me at that day and not to me onely but vnto them also that loue his appearing ver 8. Blesse the Lord ô my soule and forget not all his benefits Psal. 103. 2. Which forgiueth all thy sinne and healeth all thy diseases ver 3. O Lord thou hast brought vp my soule from the graue thou hast kept me aliue that I should not go downe to the pit Psal. 30. 3. The Lord killeth and maketh aliue c. 1. Sam. 2 6. It is God that girdeth me with strength and maketh my way perfect Psal. 18. 32. He teacheth my hands to warre so that a bow of steele is broken by mine armes ver 34. Which satisfieth thy mouth with good things and maketh thee young and lustie as an Eagle Psal. 103. 5. Come and let vs returne vnto the Lord for he hath torne and he will heale vs he hath smitten and he will bind vs vp Hos. 6. 1. I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which thou hast shewed vnto thy seruant for with my staffe I passed ouer this Iordan and now I am become two bands Genes 32. 10. Also the Lord gaue Iob twise as much as he had before Iob 42. 10. Charge the rich in this world that they bee not high minded nor trust in vncertaine riches but in the liuing God who giueth vs richly all things to enioy 1. Ti. 6. 17. Thou hast set me at libertie when I was in thrall Psal 4. 1. Cornelius a iust man and of good report Acts 10. 22. And these all hauing obtained a good report through faith receiued not the promises Hebrewes 11. 39. Oyntment and perfume reioyce the heart so doth the sweetnes of a mans friend by heartie counsell Prou. 27â—9 Then came to Iob all his brethren and all his sisters and all they that had bene of his acquaintance c. Iob 42. 11. Thou Lord onely makest mee dwell in safetie Psal. 4. 8. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide vnder the shadow of the Almightie Psal. 91. 1. Behold he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleepe Psal. 121. 4. The Lord shall preserue thee from all euill he shall preserue thy soule A preparatorie Hymne collected out of diuerse Psalmes where in the deuout soule desireth Accessea. Audienceb. Assistancec. Acceptanced. a Thou sayest seeke ye my face my heart said vnto thee thy face Lord will I seeke Psal. 27. 8. Hide not thy face farre from mee nor put thy seruant away in anger ver 9. Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy Spirit from me Psal. 51. 11. b Heare ô Lord when I crie vnto thee haue mercy also vpon me and answer me Psal. 27. 7. Ponder my words ô Lord consider my meditation Psal. 5. 1. My heart is enditing a good matter my tongue is the pen of a ready writer Psal. 45. 1. c O Lord open thou my lips and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise Psal. 51. 15. Let my prayer bee set forth before thee as incense and the lifting vp of my hands as an euening sacrifice Psal. 141. 2. Set a watch ô Lord before my mouth and keepe the doore of my lips ver 3. Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart bee acceptable in thy sight ô Lord my strength and my redeemer Psal. 19. 14. A preparatorie Prayer wherein all the conditions requisite in Prayer are expressed and prayed for HEauenly Father whose gift it is that I can aske any good gift at thy hands without whose grace I cannot desire thy healthfull and sauing grace Infuse into my heart the Spirit of supplication that in an awfull reuerence of thy Maiestie out of a true sence and feeling of my wants and infirmities and a liuely faith in thy promises I may with chearefulnesse of mind and feruencie of Deuotion and constant perseuerance lift vp a pure and plaine heart vnto thee at all times humbly intreating thy souereigne bountie for such things onely as thou in thy eternall wisdome hast pre-ordained to giue and calling vpon thee in such order and manner as thou hast prescribed me to aske in that absolute patterne of all prayer set downe in the Gospell by my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ. In whose name mediation and words I crie Abba Our Father which art in heauen hallowed be thy Name c. A preparation to the hearing of the word GOd in his infinite wisedome hath so disposed the meanes of our saluation that the soueraigne Antidote against sinne death is conueyed into the soule through the same passage whereby the deadly poyson first entered Death stole in at the eare by suggestion of the euill spirit and now life in the hearing of the word passeth in at the same gate of the soule by the operation of the holy Spirit Hast thou an eare ô Christian by thy profession for the diuell and none for God An eare to receiue poyson dropped in and not to
place that might bring forth better fruits Yet thou sparest mee and striuest to ouercome my euill nature with thy goodnesse Mine eyes gush out like riuers of waters for my sin and the sinne of this nation Doth not the land euen groane vnder the heauy burden of our transgressions Haue not our infectious sinnes long agoe deserued an infectious disease and our rebellions against thee the sword and our barrennesse in good workes a dearth and our want of penitent and compassionate teares a drouth our ouerflowing luxury a deluge and our burning lusts fier from heauen and our loathing the Manna of our soule a famine of the Word Notwithstanding thy mercie triumpheth ouer iustice and contrary to mine and all our deserts and aboue hope of any of vs thou sendest blessings for curses peace for trouble plenty for want beauty for ashes and the oyle of gladnesse for the spirit of heauinesse Who is a God like vnto thee that pardoneth iniquity and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage who considerest not the euill that we do but the goodnesse which thou art This last night past for the sinnes of the former day thou mightest most iustly haue taken me away in the darke and east mee â—nto vtter darknesse But thou coueredst my sins and hiddest me safe vnder the shadow of thy wings and I haue taken quiet and comfortable rest and with ioy and cheerefulnesse I behold the day spring from on high come to visit me Lord let not these thy mercies because they are ordinary diminish but rather because they are continual increase my thankfull duties and religious obsequies vnto thee As thou heapest blessing vpon blessing so still adde grace to grace that thy goodnesse continued to me may make me continually better And sith now thou hast giuen mee a day more to my life grant that I may giue and consecrate it to thee by spending it wholly in thy seruice and the necessary duties of my calling Which that I may more cheerefully performe open thy hand to fit mee with all those good things I neede and stretch out thine arme to turne from me all the euills I feare Aboue all things keepe mee from the vnprofitable workes of darknesse that my sins turne not day into night sith thy goodnesse hath turned night into day Awake my soule from carnall security as thou hast my body from sleepe that I may stand vp from the dead and Christ may giue me light to walke honestly vprightly and circumspectly as becommeth the childe of the day And that I be not ashamed to walke naked in the light put vpon mee the true wedding garment and couer me with the robes of thy sonnes righteousnesse And as the light of the Sunne shineth before mee so grant that my light may shine before men that they may see my good workes and glorifie thee my heauenly Father And because thou art the light which enlightneth euery man that commeth into the world cast I beseech thee the bright beames of thy fauour vpon thy whole Church Propagate thy Gospell through the whole world and by the preaching of thy Word adde those daily to the Church that shall be saued Say to the North Giue and to the South Restore and speedily accomplish the number of thine Elect and so Come Lord Iesu come quickly More particularly I pray thee for the prosperous and flourishing estate of the Churches of great Britaine and Ireland Crowne the Kings Maiesty with all royall graces befitting his high calling Establish his Throne that hee may aduance thy Kingdome Blesse our Queene that she may bee a nursing Mother to thy Spowse Blesse the Prince and Princesse Palatine and all the royall Issue that in their stocke the roote of Iesse may spring vp and flourish ouer the whole earth Blesse the Nobles and Peeres of this Realme that they may maintaine thine Honour and support thy Gospell Blesse the Bishops and Ministers that they may preserue thy worship and carefully feede thy flocke Blesse the Iudges and Magistrates that they may execute thy iudgements and keepe thy peace Blesse the Captaines and Soldiers that they may fight thy warres and defend thy Church Finally blesse all thy people that they may obey thy Gospell and enlarge thy Kingdome And giue mee grace in this my day to learne and follow the things that belong to my peace to accept the saluation now offered vnto mee and bring forth fruits worthy of amendment of life So be it deare Father for the merits and Passion of thy Sonne by the powerfull operation of the holy Ghost with whose assistance I summe vp all my requests and tender them vnto thee in that forme of Prayer which thy Son hath taught me saying Our Father which art in heauen c. The close out of Scripture THe Lord blesse me and keepe me The Lord make his face shine vpon me and be gratious vnto me The Lord lift vp his countenance vpon me and giue mee peace The Admonition for the Euening IF any man walke in the day hee stumbleth not because hee seeth the light of this world Ioh 11. 9. But if a man walke in the night hee stumbleth because there is no light in him verse 10. Walke while yee haue the light least darknesse come vpon you for hee that walketh in darknesse knoweth not whither he goeth Ioh. 12. 35. While ye haue the light beleeue in the light that yee may be the children of the light verse 36. Worke while it is day the night commeth when no man can worke Ioh. 9. 4. This is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men loued darknesse rather then light because their deeds were euill Ioh. 3. 19. For euery one that doeth euill hateth the light neither commeth to the light least his deedes should be reproued verse 20. He that hateth his brother is in darknesse and walketh in darknesse and knoweth not whither he goeth because darknesse hath blinded his eyes 1 Ioh. 2. 11. Let not the Sunne goe downe vpon your wrath Ephesians 4. 26. And haue no fellowship with the vnfruitfull workes of darknes but reproue them rather Eph. 5. 11. For it is a shame euen to speake of those things which are done of them in secret verse 12. Yee are all the children of light and the children of the day ye are not of the night nor of darknesse 1 Thes. 5. 5. Therefore sleepe not in sinne and carnall security as doe others but watch verse 6. Watch yee for yee know not when the Master of the house commeth at euen or at midnight or at the Cock-crowing or in the morning least comming suddenly he finde you sleeping Mar. 13. 35. A Hymne for the Euening IT is a good thing to giue thankes vnto the Lord and to sing praises vnto thy Name O thou most high Psal. 92. 1. To shew forth thy louing kindnesse in the morning and thy faithfulnes euery night ver 2. For day vnto day vttereth speech and night vnto night
sheweth knowledge Psal. 19. 2. Let the Saints bee ioyfull in glory let them sing alowd vpon their beds Psal. 149. 5. Behold he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleepe Psal. 121. 4. The Lord is my keeper the Lord is my shade on my right hand verse 5. The Sunne shall not smite me by day nor the Moone by night verse 6. The Lord shall preserue mee from all euill he shall preserue my soule verse 7. I will lay me downe in peace and take my rest for thou Lord makest mee dwell in safety Psal. 4. 9. Lighten mine eyes that I sleepe not the sleepe of Death Psal. 13. 3. With thee is the fountaine of life In thy light shall I see light Psal. 36. 9. Thou wilt light my candle and wilt make my darknesse to be light Psal. 18. 28. A Prayer for the Euening GLorious Creator eternall infinite and incomprehensible God whose face obscureth the Sunne and darkeneth the Moone and shadoweth the Starres and dazeleth the eyes of the Cherubims to whom the light it selfe if it be compared is but a darke shadow and the darkenesse is no darkenesse but the darkenesse and light to thee are both alike Enlighten the darkenesse of mine vnderstanding that I wander not in the night of errour and ignorance but continually walke as becommeth the childe of the day in the light of thy truth and the wayes of thy Commandements And though the Sunne hath withdrawne his comfortable light from my bodily eyes yet let the light of thy countenance and the bright beames of thy fauour still shine vpon my soule in the middest of thickest darkenesse and the shadow of death Saue me ô Father of lights from the powers of darkenesse Receiue me into thy gracious tuition and giue thine holy Angels charge to pitch their tents about me that being secured on euery side from all dangers and feare I may quietly rest in thee in whom I liue and moue And whilest my bodily sences are surprized with sleepe keepe my soule still awake that I may be alwayes readie to meete the Bridegroome with my lampe in my hand Let the last trump sound shrill in mine eares to driue away from me the spirit of slumber and carnall securitie O thou the keeper of thine Israel who doest neuer slumber nor sleepe watch ouer me this night Behold into thy hands I commend my soule and bodie and all things else wherewith thou hast blessed me being assured that the thing cannot perish thou vouchsafest to take into thy custodie Grant me I beseech thee safe quiet and comfortable rest voyde of cares feares free from distempers and diseases as also all dangers dreames fancies pollutions and temptations And make it I pray thee as profitable to my soule as it is necessarie to my bodie that it may not onely refresh strengthen my bodie to the better performance of my daily labours and trauels in my calling but also settle and quiet my soule in the remembrance and continuall expectation of that sweete repose and blessed rest which they enioy that die in thee Let my sleepe put mee in minde of my death my bed of my graue my lying downe of my buriall my vncloathing of putting off this tabernacle of flesh my rising againe of my resurrection my apparelling of putting on the Lord Iesu. Like as the night couereth and hideth all things from the eyes of men so let thy mercy couer and hide my sinnes that they neuer come to light either to confound mee in this life or condemne me in the life to come Finally as it is the nature of sleepe to tye the outward senses and make fast and shut vp the organs of my body so let thy grace restraine my inward senses and barre vp all the passages of my soule that the diuell may finde no place to enter into me Close vp the eyes of my minde that they behold not vanitie stop my eares that they heare not follie and my spirituall smell that it let not in the sauour of death Set a watch before my mouth and seale vp the closet of my heart that nothing enter into the one or go out at the other that may defile me Thus keepe me and guard me from my bodily and ghostly enemies this night and as long as I abide in the darke prison of my bodie and when thou deliuerest me out of it by death make me partaker of the glorious inheritance of thy Saints in light in the heauenly Ierusalem which needeth neither Sunne nor Moone nor Starres to shine in it for the glorie of God enlighteneth it and the Lambe is the light thereof To whom with the euerlasting Father and most sacred blessed Spirit be rendred thankes and praise now and for euer Amen The close out of Scripture Remember me ô Lord with the fauour thou bearest thy people ô visite me with thy saluation that I may see the felicitie of thy chosen and reioyce in the gladnesse of thy people and glorie with thine inheritance THE CHRISTIAN Sabbaths or Lords dayes Deuotion Thou who intendest to sanctifie the Christian Sabbath to thy Creator and Redeemer must aduisedly consider that the fourth Commandement which enioyneth this dutie with a speciall Memento hath in it somewhat 1 Ceremoniall not now in force as 1 Keeping the precise seauenth day on which God rested 2 The strict rest according to the rigour of the letter 3 The legall manner of hallowing it by sacrifices and ceremoniall rites 2 Morall now and for euer in force as 1 The dedicating of a certaine day to the true and essentiall worship of God 2 The keeping holy of a seauenth day i.e. one at the least in seauen 3 The hallowing that day of the seauen which God appointeth that was Vnder the Law the seauenth from the Creation Vnder grace now the first day of the weeke See the ensuing Admonition THE ADMONITION for the Sabbath THE ANALYSIS To stirre vp thy selfe to sanctifie the Christian Sabbath meditate vpon 1 GOD 1 The Father his Precepts for it Promises to it 2 The Sonne his resurrection on this day 3 The holy Ghost his comming downe on this day 2 The Apostle's guided by the Spirit Iniunction Practise For the hallowing the Christian Sabbath REmember the Sabbath day to keepe it holy sixe dayes shalt thou labour c. Exodus 2◠8. Yee shall keepe the Sabbath therefore for it is holy vnto you Euery one that despiseth it shall be surely put to death Exodus 31. 14. Ye shall keepe my Sabbath and reuerence my Sanctuarie I am the Lord. Leuit. 26. 2. Hallow my Sabbaths and they shall bee as signes betweene me and you that ye may know that I am the Lord your God Eze. 20. 20. Blessed is the man that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting and keepeth his hands from doing any euill Isaiah 56. 2. If thou turne away thy soote from the Sabbath from doing thy pleasure on the Holy-day and call the Sabbath a delight the holy of the
roote of a true penitent To kindle the one and feede the other I Dedicate and deuote the DEVOTION of this part of my HAND-MAIDE to your Honour For the feasts representing to your Religious thoughts what Christ hath done for you will through the blasts of Gods Spirit inflame the heate of heauenly loue in you and the fasts admonishing you what Christ hath suffered for you must needs yeeld aboundant matter to supply the springs of godly sorrow In heauen ioy taketh vp all times and parts in hell sorrow on earth they diuide In heauen there is ioy without sorrow in hell sorrow without ioy on earth sorrow and ioy act their parts fasts and feasts haue their courses mirth and mourning their turnes and at euerie turne my HAND-MAIDE is readie to attend you either with sackcloth for the one or the wedding garment for the other S. Bernard taking his ground from those words of the Prophet Ioel Rent your hearts c. and returne to the Lord with your whole heart thus pleasantly descanteth therupon We cannot returne vnto the Lord with our whole heart vnlesse it be broken first with true contrition There is no whole heart but a rent heart no sound heart but a broken S. Ierome according in the same note summeth vp the whole practice of a deuoute soule in her priuate carriage with God in these words She sorroweth after a godly manner and reioyceth for that sorrow Godly sorrow for sinne and holy ioy for that sorrow is the whole Deuoute man Madame if my Meditations vpon the fasting suffering and death of our Sauiour make you sad and sorrowfull remember out of S. Ierome that you ought to be ioyfull for such sorrow If the piercing Texts of holy Seripture in the ADMONITIONS and HYMNES appointed for the Christian fasts diuide betweene your soule and spirit and bruse if not breake your heart with an holy sympathy remember out of S. Bernard that There is no returning to God with a whole heart but by breaking it And if you find in the whole Deuotion of Fasts matter of pensiuenesse and griefe in the Christian feasts you shall haue store of oyle to make you a cheerfull countenance and reuiue your deaded thoughts The heart of a man is in continuall motion it alwayes either dilateth it selfe or contracteth and the hidden man of the heart in like manner hath his Systole and Diastole as the Anatomists speake his heart continually either enlargeth it selfe by ioy or contracteth it selfe by sorrow And no doubt when God bespeakes our hearts for himselfe he especially expects and respects these motions thereof and affections producing them He will haue vs ioy in him and sorrow and long after him Ioy in his fauour and sorrow in his displeasure Ioy in his promise and sorrow at his threates Ioy in the holy Ghost and sorrow in our owne spirits Feast to him in a thankefull profession of his gracious goodnesse and fast to him in an humble confession of sinfull wickednesse Like the Heliotropium turne alwayes to the Sunne open when he sheddeth abroade his beames and shut when he draweth them in Inlarge our hearts with ioy at his gracious presence and sorrowfully shut and contract them when he is or seemeth to be absent from vs. Thus if our ioy be the interpreter of our loue to him and our sorrow of our desire of him if our ioy be holy and our sorrow holy if our feasts be feasts of Deuotion and our fasts be fasts of contrition our gracious Redeemer will vouchsafe to be present at both he will feast and fast with vs. At our fasts he will weepe for our spirituall as he did for Lazarus his corporall death At our feasts he will turne our water into wine and rauish our soules with heauenly melodie Our feasts shall be as temperate and holy as fasts and our fasts as comfortable as feasts A good conscience shall be vnto vs a continuall feast here and the Marriage supper of the Lamb an euerlasting feast hereafter To both which feasts God by his Spirit which biddeth you bring you for his sake who by his fasts and sorrowes on earth hath purchased for vs euerlasting feasts and ioyes in heauen In whom I rest Your Honour 's to dispose of DANIEL FEATLY PART 1. SVPPART 3. The Festiuall's Deuotion The Feast of the Birth of our Lord IESVS CHRIST The ground of this feast Prophecies in the old Testament Histories in the New of the Incarnation of the Sonne of God PARALELL Prophecie The Seede of the woman shall break the Serpents head Historie He took not on him the nature of Angels but he tooke the seed of Abraham Heb. 2. 16. In the fulnes of time God sent his Sonne made of a woman Gal. 4. 4. The Scepter shall not depart from Iudah nor a lawgiuer from betweene his feete vntill SHILOH come Gen. 49. 10. Christ is called Shiloh from an Hebrew word signifying to send or to saue or secundinam to intimate Christs virgin birth quasifilium secundinoe When IESVS was borne in Bethlem of Iudea in the daies of Herod the king who raigned when Christ was born was a stranger and so the Scepter was then departed from Iuda Mat. 2. 1. The Lord himselfe shall giue you a signe Be hold a Virgin shal conceiue beare a sonne and shall call his name Immanuel Isa. 7. 14. Ioseph being raised from sleepe did as the Angell of the LORD had bidden him and tooke vnto him his wife Mat. 1. 24. But knew her not till she had brought forth her first begotten Sonne and hee called his name IESVS ver 25. For vnto vs a child is borne vnto vs a sonne is giuen Isa. 9. 6. The Angel said Vnto you is borne this day in the City of Dauid a Sauiour which is CHRIST the Lord. Luk. 2. 11. But thou Bethlem EPHRATA though thou bee little among the thousands of Iuda yet out of thee shall hee come forth to me that is to be Ruler in Israel whose goings forth haue bin from old and from euerlasting Mich. 5. 2. When Iesus was borne in Bethlem c. Mat. 2. 1. Ioseph went to the City of Dauid called Bethlem Luk. 2. 4. And the dayes were accomplished that she should bee deliuered verse 6. And shee brought forth her first borne sonne verse 7. For thine instruction meditate on Christs birth For thy comfort apply the benefits to thy selfe For thy correction examine thy new birth and life and quicken Thine obedience by the exhortation Thy thankfulnesse by the Hymne Thy Zeale and Deuotion by the prayer AN EXHORTATION TO STRIVE AND PRAY for the state of grace and regeneration THE ANALISIS Wee must defire and pray that we may bee regenerated and borne anew because by it we obtaine 1 Entrance into the Kingdome of Grace Glory 2 Knowledge 3 Liberty from Corruption Raigning sin 4 Adoption and the title of the Sonnes of God 5 The preheminency of the first borne 6 The spirit of supplication and accesse
to God with confidence 7 The guidance of the spirit 8 An incorruptible inheritance THE TEXTS EXcept a man bee borne againe hee cannot enter into the Kingdome of God Ioh. 3. 3. Except a man be borne of water and the spirit c. verse 5. Ye were darknesse but now yee are light in the Lord. Ephes. 5. 9. The creature shall bee deliuered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the Sonnes of God Rom. 5. 21. Whosoeuer is borne of God sinneth not for his seede remaineth in him neither can hee sinne because he is borne of God 1 Ioh. 3. 9. Sinne shall not haue dominion ouer you for yee are not vndâ—â— the Law but vnder grace 〈…〉 6. 14. As many as receiued 〈…〉 them he gaue power to 〈…〉 Sonnes of God euen to them that belieue on his name Ioh. 1. 12. Which are borne not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God verse 13. That he might redeeme them that are vnder the Law and that we might receiue the adoption of sonnes Gal. 4. 5. And to the congregation of the first-borne Heb. 12. 23. Of his owne will begat hee vs with the Word of truth that we should bee the first fruits of his creatures Iam. 1. 18. Wee haue receiued the spirit of Adoption whereby wee cry Abba Father Rom 8. 11. As many as are led by the spirit of God they are the sonnes of God Rom. 8. 14. Blessed bee God the Father of 〈◊〉 Lord Iesus Christ which 〈◊〉 to his abundant mercy 〈◊〉 vs againe vnto a 〈◊〉 â—pe 1 Pet. 1. 3. To an inheritance incorruptible and vndefiled and that fadeth not away reserued in heauen for you verse 4. The same spirit testifieth to our spirits that we are the children of God Rom 8. 6. If we be children then heires euen the heires of God and coheirs annexed with Christs verse 17. A Hymne for the Natiuity of our Lord consisting of fowre parts 1. God the Fathers 2. Christs 3. The Prophets 4. The Churches Glory be to God on High in earth peace good will to men THe Lord euen the most mighty God hath spoken and called the world from the rising vp of the Sunne to the going downe thereof Ps. 50. 1. Out of Sion hath God appeared in perfect beauty verse 2. Saluation is nigh them that feare him that glory may dwell on the earth Psal. 85. 9. Mercy and truth are met together righteousnesse and peace haue kissed each other verse 10. Truth shall flourish on the earth and righteousnesse hath looked downe from heauen ver 11. Thou art fairer then the children of men full of grace are thy lipps because God hath blessed thee for euer Psal. 45. 3. Thou hast loued righteousnesse and hated iniquity wherfore God euen thy God hath annointed thee with the oyle of gladnesse aboue thy fellowes verse 8. O Lord my God great are thy wonderous workes which thou hast done like as be also thy thoughts which are to vs ward yet there is no man that ordereth them vnto thee Psal. 40. 6. If I would declare or speake of them they should be more in number then I am able to expresse verse 7. Sacrifice and meate offerings thou wouldest not haue but mine eares hast thou opened verse 8. Burnt offerings and sacrifice for sin hast thou not required then said I Loe I come verse 9. In the volume of thy booke it is written of me that I should fulfill thy will O my God I am content to doe it yea thy law is in my heart verse 10. I haue declared thy righteousnesse in the great congregation Loe I will not refraine my lipps ô Lord and that thou knowest verse 11. I haue not hid thy righteousnesse within my heart my talking hath beene of thy truth and of thy saluation verse 12. I wil preach the lawe whereof the Lord hath said vnto me Thou art my Sonne this day haue I bogotten thee Psal. 2. 7. He shall call me Thou art my Father my God and my strong saluation Psal. 89. 27. And I will make him my first borne higher then the Kings of the earth verse 28. Shew vs thy mercy ô Lord and grant vs thy saluation Psal. 85. 7. Lord saue vs now Lord sende vs now prosperity Through thy tender mercy whereby this day spring from on high hath visited vs. To giue light to them that sit in darknesse and in the shadow of death and to guide our feete into the way of peace Cant. Zach. The Prayer GRatious Lord Iesus Christ the Sonne of God and Sauiour of man the ioy of Angels and dread of diuels the Iewes Messiah the Gentiles starre the hope of the liuing and resurrection of the dead the way to all that come vnto thee the truth to all them that know thee and the life to all them that belieue in thee Make good all thy glorious gratious titles to me Lord protect me Iesu saue me Christ my anointed King rule me my anointed Priest sanctifie me my anointed Prophet reueale vnto mee the secrets of thy Kingdome O Christ whose name is an oyntment powred out annoint me with the oyle of gladnesse this day aboue others This is the day which the Lord hath made I wil reioyce and be glad in it nay I dare take the note higher This is the day in which the Lord was made I will exult and triumph in it Thou which madest all dayes wert this day made of a woman and made vnder the Law From all eternity it was neuer heard that eternity entred into the Kalender of time supreame Maiesty descended into the wombe immensity was comprehended infinity bounded vbiquity inclosed and the Deity incarnated Yet this day it was seene for this day the Word became flesh God became man and to effect this wonderfull mystery a Virgin became a Mother One deepe calleth vpon another one miracle begetteth another The Sunne bringeth forth all other dayes but this day brought thee forth the Sonne of righteousnesse If wee set our voices and instruments and heart-strings to the highest straine of ioy at the birth of great Kings and Princes What ought I to doe this day on which thou the king of heauen wast born vpon the earth At the mariage of great Personages men giue full scope to all manner of expressions of carnall ioy euen oftentimes to the very surfeit of the senses with pleasure How then should I bee rauished with spirituall ioy at this time when heauen and earth the diuine nature and humane were married The contract was in heauen before all times but the marriage was this day consummated in the vndefiled bedde of the Virgin Lord who this day cammest downe to me draw me vp to thee and giue me accesse with more confidence and bouldnesse for now thou art become my brother and ally by bloud The rayes of thy diuine Maiesty will not dazle the eyes of
my soule they being now vailed with thy flesh This day thou diddest vnite thy selfe to me naturally and substantially and becamest truly flesh of my flesh and bone of my bone Vnite me to thee this day spiritually and make me a true member of thy mysticall body that I may bee flesh of thy flesh and bone of thy bone Lord thou diddest this day participate of my humane nature make me this day participate by grace of thy diuine as farre as I am capable thereof and impart and communicate vnto mee the merrit of all thy actions and benefit of all thy sufferings in this thy nature O my Lord my God who by assuming flesh vnto thy diuine person hast sanctified it and highly aduanced it farre aboue all creatures keepe me from defiling my flesh with sinfull pollutions or abasing and inthralling it to Satan O Sonne of God who by thy incarnate nature becamest the Sonne of Man make me the sinfull sonne of man by grace and adoption to become the Sonne of God And as thou this day according to the words of thine Angel wert borne to me bee borne also in mee that from hence forth I liue not but thou in me Let thy spirit quicken me thy flesh nourish me thy wisdome guide me thy grace sanctifie me and thy Word instruct me Let the holy Ghost of whom thou wast conceiued beget thee in mee by the immortall seede of thy Word Let my faith conceiue thee my profession bring thee forth my loue embrace thee and Deuotion entertaine and continually keepe thee with mee till thy second comming So come vnto me Lord Iesus come quickly THE Feast of our Lord's Circumcision OR New-yeares dayes Deuotion The ground of this Feast are The type thereof in the old The accōplishmēt in the new Testament PARALELL The Type And Abraham circumcised Isaak when he was eight daies old as God commanded him Gen. 21. 4. The accomplishment And when the eight dayes were accomplished that they shuld circumcise the child his name was then called IESVS Luk. 2. 21. Meditate ô deuout Christian 1 For thine instruction vpon the circumcision of thy Sauiour 2 For thy comfort applie to thy selfe the 3 For thy correctiō examine the circumcision of thy heart and quicken thine 1 Obedience by the exhortation 2 Thankfulnes by the hymne 3 Zeale deuotiō by the praier THE ADMONITION for New-yeeres day THE ANALYSIS wee ought to desire striue and pray for the circumcision of the heart 1 In respect of GOD who Desireth it a Commandeth it b Loueth it c Obserueth it d Praiseth it e Rewardeth it f Brandeth the contrarie g 2 In respect of man's heart which needeth it 1 Because it is most corrupt and impure 2 Because it is most deceitfull THE TEXTS a MY son giue me thy heart Prou. 23. 16. vid. Ier. 4. 4. b Circumcise the fore-skinne of your hearts Deut. 10. 16. O Ierusalem clense thy heart Ier. 4. 4. c Clense your hearts yee sinners Iames 4. 8. Behold thou louest truth in the inward parts Psal. 51. 6. d God seeth not as man seeth for man looketh vpon the outward appearance but God seeth the heart 1 Sam. 16. 7. e The circumcision is of the heart in the spirit not in the letter whose praise is not of man but of God Rom. 2. 29. In whom yee are circumcised with circumcision made without hands by putting off the sinfull body of the flesh through the circumcision of the flesh Col. 2. 11. Beware of the concision For wee are the circumcision which worship God in the spirit and reioyce in Christ Iesus and haue no confidence in the flesh Philippians 3. 3. f The good Lord be mercifull to him that prepareth his whole heart to seeke the Lord his God 1 Chron. 30. 19. He will doe good to such as be good and true of heart Psal. 125. 4. There is sprung vp a light for the righteous and ioyfull gladnesse to such as bee true hearted Psal. 99. 12. g The eyes of the Lord behold the earth to shew himselfe strong with them that are of perfect heart towards him 1 Chron. 16. 9. Yee of vncircumcised eares and hearts haue alwaies resisted c. Acts. 7. The peruerse in heart are an abomination to the Lord. Pro. 11. 20. All the imaginations of mans heart are onely euill continually Gen. 6. The heart of man is deceitfull aboue all things Ier. 17. 9. The Psalme for New-yeeres day OSing vnto the Lord a new song sing vnto the Lord all the whole earth Psal. 96. 1. Sing vnto the Lord and praise his name be telling of his saluation from day to day verse 2. The heauent declare the glory of God and the firmament sheweth his handy worke Psal. 19. 1. One day telleth another and one night certifieth another v. 2. There is neither speech nor language but their voice is heard among them verse 3. Their sound is gone out into all lands and their words vnto the end of the world verse 4. In them hath he set a Tabernacle for the sunne which commeth forth as a bridegroome out of his chamber and reioyceth as a gyant to runne his course verse 5. He appointeth the Moone for certaine seasons and the Sunne knoweth his going downe Psal. 104. 19. O Lord how manifold are thy workes In wisedome hast thou made them all the earth is full of thy riches verse 24. So is the great and wide c. verse 25. vsque ad 〈◊〉 When thou lettest thy breath goe forth they are made and thou shalt renew the face of the earth verse 30. The glorious Maiesty of the Lord shall endure for euer the Lord shall reioyce in his workes verse 31. Thou crownest the earth with thy goodnesse and thy cloudes drop fatnesse Psal. 65. 12. They shall drop vpon the dwellings of the wildernesse and the little hills shall reioyce of euery side verse 13. The flocks also shall bee full of sheepe the valleys also shall stand so thick with corne that they shall laugh and sing verse 14. The day is thine and the night is thine thou hast prepared the light of the sunne Psal. 74. 17. Thou hast set all the borders of the earth thou hast made summer and winter verse 18. The Prayer for New-yeeres day MOst tender and compassionate Lord now first knowne by thy name Iesu who being the true vine which yeeldest the wine that gladdeth the heart wast pruned this day with the sharpe knife of circumcision and bleddest for me haue pitty and compassion on mee who with weeping eyes and a bleeding heart come vnto thee beseeching thee that those drops of blood which fell from thee this day may satisfie for the sinne of my birth and the whole streame that ranne from all the parts of thy body in the Garden and on the Crosse may expiate all my numberlesse actuall sinnes whether they be sinnes of lighter tincture or of a Scarlet dye Sinnes like beames or sinnes like moates Sinnes conceiued
in the heart onely or sinnes brought forth into act Sinnes in my beliefe or sinnes in my life Sinnes once committed or often repeated Sinnes before or after my calling Sinnes of impiety against thee or sinnes of iniquity against my neighbour or sins of impurity against mine owne flesh for of all these I haue a great loade They are more in number then the haires of my head they are a burden too heauy for me to beare They lie vpon my conscience like so many Talents of lead and would presse mee downe to hell did not thy mercy take hold of the hand of my faith to support me in hope euen aboue hope How should I hope if I thinke vpon thy greatnesse How should I not hope if I think vpon thy goodnesse How should I hope if I weigh my sinnes How should I not hope if I weigh thy merits How should I hope if I consider my actions How should I not hope if I consider thy passions How should I hope if I number my transgressions How should I not hope if I number thy blessings and fauours towards mee How should I hope if I remember how oft I haue refused grace after it hath bin offered to mee How can I but hope if I remember how oft grace hath bin offered mee after I refused it And still hope I wil as long as thou reteinest thy name Iesu which this day thou receiuedst when thou offeredst the first fruits of thy blood for my sin without which thou couldest not haue bin my Iesus For so fowle and festered were my soares that nothing could heale them but a bloody knife But why should this bloody instrument be applyed to thy purest tenderest immaculate flesh made all of Virgins blood There was no superfluity to be pared off in thee no ranke blood to bee let out The superfluous skinne was on me yet the knife is on thee The festered sores were in my body yet the Launce is in thy flesh Thou hast the paine I the ease thou the smart I the cure O wonderfull cure O more wonderfull loue Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings as thou hast ordained so maist thou iustly chalenge praise who in thy infancy madest such an assay of my redemption and tendered the earnest of thy blood for me Not nine dayes old thou sheddest dropps of blood for me farre more precious then so many drops of the richest balsamom to cure my wounds Let all flesh praise thee who healedst it by thy wounds Eternall thankes be giuen to thee for thy circumcision whereby thou hast abolished circumcision it selfe and prouided mee an easier remedy of originall sinne the sacred lauer of regeneration Water now serueth insteede of blood and a gentle rubbing of the flesh for cutting and wounding it By the circumcision of thy flesh thou hast also merited for me the fulfilling of thy fathers promise and condition of his couenant to circumcise the foreskinne of our hearts By this thy razor thou hast fitted the tables of my heart now write thy lawes loue in them By receiuing this seale of the couenant in thy flesh thou hast sealed to me thy care of mee in thy nonage First ô Lord I am euerlastingly to praise thee for taking my flesh vp on thee and next for leauing part of it with mee as a pledg of thy loue thou bearedst for me from thy mothers wombe In thy infancy thou bleddest for me in thy twelfth yere thou arguedst for me in thy youth thou obeyedst for me and in thy ripe perfect age thou sufferedst and dyedst for me To thee therefore as it is my bounden duty I offer the budds of my childe-hood the blossoms of my youth and the fruits of my age As thou betimes didst set to the worke of my redemption and and on those termes acceptedst the name Iesus so let me betimes giue my name to thee and enter into thy seruice Let mee beare thy yoke euen from my youth Lord who this day wert circumcised in the flesh circumcise me in the heart that I may in purity sincerity and vprightnesse of heart walke before thee all the dayes of my life Neither circumcise my heart onely but my eares eyes hands heart and feete that no superfluity of maliciousnesse nor impurity remaine in me Now thou hast renewed the face of the earth renew this day and repaire thy decaied Image in me Thou hast begunne a new yeere beginne in me a new reformation Make me I beseech thee a cleane heart and renew a right spirit within me The yeere like the serpent hath cast off his old skinne and put on a new let mee also cast off my old man and put on the new man and from this day to my old age and death walke in newnesse of life that I may be a fit guest to be admitted into the new heauen where dwelleth righteousnesse and to be entertained at thy table and drinke new wine with thee in thy heauenly Kingdome for euermore Amen THE FEAST OF EPIPHANY OR TWELFE-DAYE'S DEVOTION The ground of this feast Prophecie in the old History in the new Testament of our Lords manifestation to the gentiles PARALELL Prophecie There shall come a starre out of Iacob and a scepter shall rise out of Israel Num. 24. 17. History Lo the starre which they saw in the east went before them till it came to the place where the childe was Mat. 2. 9. When they saw the starre they were exceeding glad and went into the house and found the childe with Mary his mother verse 10. The daughter of Tyre shall bee there with a gift like as the rich also among the people shall doe homage before thy face with presents Psal. 45. 12. They fel down and worshipped him Mat. 2. 11. Kings shall bring presents vnto thee Psal. 68 29. The kings of Arabia and Saba shall bring gifts Psal. 72. 10. And opened their treasures and presented to him c. Mat. 2. 11. All thy garments smel of Mirrh Aloes and Cassia Psal. 45. 9. To him shall be giuen of the gould of Arabia c. Psal. 72. 15. Gold and incense Mirrh Mat. 2. 11. For thy instruction meditate on the Prophecy Historie of Christ's manifestatiō For thy comfort apply to thy selfe the benefits thereof For thy correction reprooue thy backwardnesse in comming to Christ and honouring him with thy substance Quicken Thy Charitie by the admonition Thy FAITH by the Psalme Thy Zeale and deuotion by the prayer THE ADMONITION for twelve-Twelfe-day THE ANALYSIS We ought freely and liberally to offer to God and his Church because we haue in Scriptures Commandements for it Examples of it Promises vnto it Threats to the cōtrary THE TEXTS TAke from among you an offering to the Lord Whosoeuer is of a willing heart let him bring it an offering of the Lord c. Exod. 35. 5. Honour the Lord with thy substance and with the first fruits of all thine increase Prou. 3. 9. Be reconciled to thy brother and then
come and offer thy gift Mat. 5. 24. Yea tithe Mint and Rue c. These things yee ought to haue done and not left the other vndone Luke 11. 42. Let him that is taught in the word make him that taught him partaker of all his goods Gal. 6. 6. If we haue sowed to you spirituall things is it much if wee reape of you carnal things 2 Cor. 9. 11. Abraham gaue him Tithe of all that he had Gen. 14. 10. Of all that thou shalt giue me will I giue the tenth vnto thee Gen 28. 2. Then Dauid said behold I dwell in Cedar trees but the Arke of the Lord remaineth vnder the curtaines 2 Sam. 7. 2. Then euery one whose spirit made him willing came and brought an offering to the Lord for the worke of the Tabernacle Exod. 35. 21. I will not come within the Tabernacle of mine house nor climbe vp into my bed Psal. 132 3. I will not suffer mine eyes to sleepe nor mine eye lidds to slumber nor the Temples of my head to take any rest verse 4. Till I haue found out a place for the Temple of the Lord an habitation for the mighty God of Iacob verse 5. I giue Tithe of all that I possesse Luke 18. 12. So should thy barnes bee filled with abundance and thy presses shall burst with new wine Prou. 3. 10. Bring all the tithes into the store-house that there may bee meate in mine house and proue me heerewith sayeth the Lord. Mal. 3. 10. He will multiply your seede and increase the fruits of your beneuolence 2 Cor. 9. 10. You looked for much and loe it came to little and when yee brought it home I did blow vpon it Why saith the Lord of Hosts Because of mine house that is waste and yee runne euery man to his owne house Hag. 1. 9. Therefore the heauen ouer you is staied from dew and the earth is stayed from her fruit verse 10. Yee say wherein haue wee robbed thee In tithes and offerings Mal. 3. 8. Ye are cursed with a curse for yee haue robbed mee euen this whole nation verse 9. He that soweth sparingly shall reape sparingly 2 Cor. 9. 6. Be not deceiued God is not mocked Whatsoeuer a man soweth that shall he reape Gal. 6. 7. A Psalme for twelve-Twelfe-day O Praise the Lord of heauen praise him in the height Psal. 148 1. Praise him all yee his Angels praise him all his host verse 2. Praise him Sunne and Moone praise him all yee starres and light verse 3. Thy seate ô God endureth for euer the scepter of thy kingdom is a right scepter Psal 45. 7. The Lord shall send the rod of thy power out of Sion bee thou ruler euen in the middest among thine enemies Psal. 110. 2. In the day of thy power shall the people offer thee free will offerings with an holy worship the dew of thy birth is of the wombe of the morning verse 3. Thy dominion shall bee from one sea to the other and from the floods vnto the worlds end Psal. 72. 8. They that dwell in the wildernesse shall kneele before thee thine enemies shall lick the dust verse 9. All Kings shall fall downe before thee all nations shall doe thee seruice verse 11. Thy name shall endure for euer thy name shall remaine vnder the sun among all posterities which shall bee blessed through thee and all the heathen shall praise thee verse 17. Blessed bee the name of thy Maiesty for euer and all the earth shall bee filled with his Maiesty Amen Amen A Prayer for Twelfe-day FAther of lights who didst guide the heathen Sages by a starre to seeke after and find thy sonne the true light which enlighteneth euery man that commeth into the world giue mee grace to giue eare to the more sure Word of Prophecie in the Scriptures til the day dawne and the day starre arise in my heart As thou calledst the wise men obseruers of the starres by a star the sheepheards lying abroad by an apparition in the fields Zachary the Priest by a Vision in the Temple Peter the fisher by a draught of fishes Mathew the Publican at the receipt of custome and Saint Austin enamourd with eloquence by the lustre of Saint Ambroses stile and enticing eloquence I beseech thee take the aduantage of such seasons and apply such meanes for my vnfeigned conuersion vnto thee as are most agreeable to my inclination disposition and condition So will I come vnto thee and fall downe before thee and present vnto thee gold frankinsence and mirrh gold in acknowledgement of thy kingdome frankinsence of thy Priesthood and mirrh of thy death I will offer willingly freely vnto thee incense of praise thanksgiuing for thy benefits the mirrh of bitter teares for my sinnes and gold according to my ability for the maintenance of thy seruice and adorning thy Temple Lord who by this rich present prouidedst for the virgins wants to supply them in her iourney to Aegypt extend thy goodnesse to mee in al necessities and establish my faith and confidence in thee in al dangers and difficulties whatsoeuer For thou hast promised neuer to leaue nor forsake them that trust in thee The stony rocke shall yeeld a fountaine of water and a dry crâ—re a spring of oyle the loaues shall multiply by spending nay the Clouds shall be Store-houses of Bread and the winde serue in Fowle and the Rauens bring in prouision the Fishes pay tribute of money and Heathen Sages from the East by the conduct of a Starre bring in costly presents and New yeeres-gifts before thy children shall want their necessary maintenance or sustenance Blessed Babe who at thy birth didst presage thy death and assayedst the Crosse in thy Cratch and being excluded as it were from all men wast constrained to take vp thy lodging with beasts in a Stable teach me what I am to looke for in this world If it giue me course and base and beastly entertainment it gaue thee worse and the seruant is not to expect better respect then the Master O King of glory who hadst no Palace in this world but an Inne no Chamber of Presence but a Stable no Tapestry but Straw no Chaire of estate but a Cratch no Scepter but a Reede and no Crowne but a wreath of thornes worke in me an holy high-mindednesse to despise this world which so despised thee Make the worldly greatnesse seeme small honour base estimation vile and pompe vaine vnto me Let not the glittering shew of gold siluer or precious stones or the luster of eminent conditions dazell the eyes of my minde but let the beames of this starre light and guide me rather to honour thee in a Stable then leaue thee to follow Herod in his Palace vpon any hopes whatsoeuer The wise men after they had seene thee neuer returned backe to Herod but went another way to their owne home so let me after thou hast called me to the knowledge of the
anew not of mortall seede but of immortall 1 Pet. 12. 2. As new borne babes desire the sincere milke of the Word that ye may grow thereby 1 Pet. 2. 2. New wine must bee put into new bottells Mat. 9. 17. d As Christ was raised from the dead to the glory of the father So also wee should walke in newnesse of life Rom. 6. 4. e We are deliuered from the Law being dead to it wherewith we were holden that wee should serue in newnesse of spirit Rom. 7. 6. Purge out the old leuen that ye may be a new lumpe 1 Cor. 5. 7 If any man be in Christ let him bee a new creature Old things are passed away behold all things are become new 1 Cor. 5. 17. In Christ neither circumcision auaileth any thing nor vncircumcision but a new creature Gal. 6. 15. According to his mercy hee hath saued vs by the washing of the new birth and renewing of the holy Ghost Tit. 3. 5. f Returne and liue Eze. 19. Cease to doe euill learne to do well c. Isa. 1. 16. Though your sinnes were as crimson they shall bee made white as snow verse 18. g Vnlesse yee repent yee shall all likewise perish Luke 12. 3. h Repent and doe the first workes Reu. 2. 5. Repentance vnto life Acts 11. 18. i Blessed is he that hath part in the first resurrection for the second death shall haue no power ouer him Reu. 10. 5. A Prayer for Easter-day GLorious Sonne of righteousnesse who this morning didst preuent the dawning of the day by sending forth the beames of thy glorified body out of the pitâ— of darknesse and A shadow of death shine vpon my soule by the light of thy grace Inlighten my darke apprehension of the misteries of thy resurrection Inflame my cold affections and reuiue my heart euen deaded with pensiue thoughts vpon thy bitter passion O how did the surest ground of faith shake the fastest Anker of hope loosen ' at the earthquake at thy death what smiting together of knees what wringing of hands what knocking of brests what fainting of hearts what hanging downe of heads were there at giuing vp of the Ghost when thy head hung downe on the Crosse with thee the faith with thee the hope with thee the ioy with thee the life of thy dearest Disciples expired What should or could the prisoners of death euer expect when they saw him whom they thought to haue bin their redeemer the Lord of life arrested by death and kept close prisoner in the graue so long O death how sharpe was then thy sting O graue how fearefull was thy seeming victory But blessed bee the angell which remoued the stone and thereby made way that the stone which the builders refused might be preferred to bee the head stone in the corner Blessed be the right hand of thy Father who in raising thee out of the graue raised our hope out of the dust For where is our hope Our hope is euen in thee ô Christ and thy resurrection Thou art the life and the resurrection of all that belieue in thee Death like a Hornet by stinging thee hath lost his sting and now may make a buzzing noise to affright me but can thrust out no sting to hurt mee The graue by thy lying in it is turned to a bedde and a withdrawing roome to retire my selfe a while to put off this ragged flesh and attire my selfe with robes of glory Now I dare insult ouer death and hell since thy triumph ouer them O death where is thy sting O graue where is thy victory O my soule where is all thy comfort If in this life thou art most miserable if thy life bee hid with Christ in God then when Christ which is thy life shall appeare thou shalt also appeare in glory What though I mourne here I shall be comforted What though I fast here I shall bee satisfied What though I am disgraced here I shall bee glorified What though I am here trampled vnder feete I shall there be crowned What though my flesh be eaten with wormes and these wormes turned into dust and that dust blowed by the winde ouer the face of the earth Yet after thou turnedst man to destruction againe thou sayest Come againe yee children of men I know thou my Redeemer liuest and shall stand vp at the last day and I shall see them in my flesh with these eyes and no other Lord establish this beliefe in me beate downe all the forts that naturall reason reareth against it Grant that I may euery day more and more feele as the power of thy birth in my regeneration and of thy death in my mortification so also of thy resurrection in my rising from the death of sinne to the life of Grace Lord thou restoredst life to three men to one in his bed to another on the beare to the third in the graue They who conceiue sinne in their hearts are like him that was dead in his bed they who bring it forth into action are like him that was brought forth dead on his beare but they that continue in sinne and all impurity and putrifie in the custome thereof are like him that was foure dayes dead and stanke in the graue Such a one or worse am I for I haue layen not foure dayes but scores of yeeres in this loathsome graue and am euen deuoured of the worme of conscience Yet Lord this day of thy glorious resurrection say vnto mee as thou didst to him Come forth awake thou that sleepest and stand vp from the dead and I will giue thee light Make this day of thy resurrection from the death of nature the day of my rising from the death of sinne and corruption first to the life of grace and after to the life of glory Amen THE FEAST OF OVR LORD'S ASCENSION OR Holy-Thurs-dayes Deuotion The ground of this Feast In the old TestameÌ„t Prophecies Types In the new the History of our Sauiours going in triumph into Heauen PARALELL Prophecie Thou hast ascended vp on high thou hast ledde captiuity captiue Psalm 68. 18. Historie And when he had spokeÌ„ these things while they beheld him hee was taken vp Act. 1. 9. Hee rodde vpon the Cheâ—ubims did flye yea he did flye vpon the wings of the wind Psa. 18. 10. For a Clowd tooke him out of their sight Act. 1. 9. Sit thou on my right hand Psalm 110. 1. Hee was caried vp into heauen and he sate on the right hand of God Mar. 16. 19. Type Eliah was taken vp with a fierie Charet 2. King 2. 11. Accomplishment While hee blessed them he was parted from them and caried vp into heauen Luke 24. 51. For thine instruction meditate vpon Prophecie Types Storie of Christ's Ascension For thy comfort apply the benefit thereof to thy selfe For thy correction examine thy desires and affections check thy earthlinesse and worldlinesse Thy faith and ioy by the Psalme Thy loue and hope by the exhortation Thy Zeale and Deuotion
by the prayer ensuing The Hymne for Ascension-day Wherein all parts of Christ his glorious returne in tryumph into heauen are prophetically expressed as 1 His lifting a vp himself from the earth 2 The cloudes receiuing b and carrying him 3 The Angels c meeting him 4 The heauens d opening to him 5 God the Father's enthronizing him into his euerlasting kingdome GOD is gone vp with a merrie noyse and the Lord in the sound of the Trumpe Psal. 47. 5. Be thou exalted Lord in thine own strength So will we sing prayse thy power Psal 21. 13. Set vp thy selfe ô God aboue the heauens and thy glory aboue al the earth Ps. 108. 5 b O sing vnto God sing praises vnto his Name magnifie him that rideth vpon the heauens or cloudes by his name IAH and reioice before him Psal. 68. 4. In thy Majestie ride prosperously because of truth meeknes and righteousnes and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things Psal. 45. 4. The Chariots of God are twentie thousand euen thousands of Angells the Lord is among them as in Sinai in the holy place Psal. 68. 17. d Lift vp your heads ô yee gates and be yee lift vp yee euerlasting dores and the King of glorie shall come in Psalm 24. 7. Who is the King of glory It is the Lord strong and mightie euen the Lord mighty in battel ver 8. Lift vp your heads ô yee gates and be ye lift vp ye euerlasting dores and the King of glorie shall come in ver 9. Who is the King of glorie Euen the Lord of Hosts he is the King of glorie ver 10. e I haue set my King vpon my holy hill of Sion Psal. 2. 6. Aske of mee and I will giue thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the vttermost parts of the earth for thy possession ver 8. The Lord shall send the rod of thy power out of Sion bee thou Ruler in the middest among thine enemies Thou shalt bruise them with a rodde of Iron and dash them in pieces like a Potters vessell The exhortation for Ascension DAIE Wee ought to set our affections on things aboue 1 Because there is the source of our Soule which is of a heauenly and diuine nature 2 Because there is our Head 3 Because there is the nobler better part of our bodie 4 Because there is our abiding Citie 5 Because there is our mansion house 6 Because there is our hope inheritance 7 Because there are no true ioyes nor durable riches but there GOD created man in his own Image Gen. 1. 27. God formed him of the dust of the earth and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life Gen. Then shall the dust returne to the earth as it was Eccles. 12. 7. The spirit-returneth to God that gaue it Ibid. We had fathers of our flesh which corrected vs shall we not be much more in subiection to the Father of spirits and liue Heb. 12. 9. Exceeding great and precious promises are giuen to vs that by these wee might bee partakers of the diuine nature hauing escaped the corruption that is in the world 2 Pet. 1. 4. He was caried vp into heauen and sate at the right hand of God Mat. 16. 19. Whom the heauens must containe Acts 3. 21. I saw the â—eauen opened and the Sonne of man standing at the right hand of the Father Acts 7. 56. I goe out of the world to the Father Ioh. 13. 1. Go to my Father Ioh. 15. 10. Our conuersation is in heauen from whence also we look for the Sauiour the Lord Iesus Phil. 3. 20. If ye be risen with Christ seek the things that are aboue where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God Col. 3. 1. Set your affections on things that are aboue and not on things on the earth ver 3. Yee are come to the generall assembly and Church of the first-borne which are written in heauen and to the spirits of iust men-made perfect Hebrewes 12. 23. Now yee are no more strangers and forreiners but fellow Citizens with the Saints and of the houshould of God Ephesians 2. 19. For here we haue no continuing Citie but wee seeke one to come Heb. 13. 23. For this we groane earnestly desiring to bee clothed with our house 1. Cor. 5. 2. Arise and depart for this is no rest for you Mic. 2. 10. They confessed that they were strangers and sought a Citie whose builder and maker is God Heb. 11. 13. I beseech you as strangers and pilgrimes abstaine from fleshly lusts 1. Pet. 2. 11. I am a stranger and soiournet as all my fathers were Ps. 39. 14. In my Fathers house there are many mansions I goe to prepare a place for you Io. 14. 2. If our hope were in this life onely we were of all men most miserable 1. Cor. To an inheritance incorruptible and vndefiled and that sadeth not away reserued in heauen for you 1. Pet. 1. 4. Lay vp your treasure in heauen c. Mat. 6. 19. Look not on things which are seene but on things which are not seene for the things c. 2. Cor. 4. 18. Vanitie of vanities c Eccles. 1. 2. Whom haue I in heauen but thee c. Psal. 73. 24. The Prayer for Ascension Day GLorious and gratious Redeemer Lord Iesus Christ who humbledst thy selfe didst become obedient to death euen the death of the Crosse and therefore thy Father highly exalted thee aboue the graue in the resurrection aboue the earth in thy Ascention aboue the heauens in thy session at his right hand and then he gaue thee a name aboue al names that at the name of Iaesus euery knee shall bow both of things in heauen and in earth and of things vnder the earth I humbly bow the knees not onely of my body but of my heart and soule vnto thee I neuer heare of thee or remember neuer thinke or speake of thee but with greatest reuerence and loue that heart can conceiue or tongue expresse I admire the mystery of thine incarnation I tremble at the horror of thy passion I adore the power of thy resurrection and I triumph in the glory of thine Ascension My God and my Lord make me wholly thine as thou art mine Thy birth was my life thy life my merit thy death my ransome thy resurrection my deliuery out of the prison of death when thy father layed thee vp for my debt thy Ascension my assurance and takingp ossessioÌ„ of an incorruptible and vndefiled inheritance reserued in the heauens O Sauiour if thou haddest not been born I had neuer been borne anew if thou hadst not dyed for my sins I had dyed in my sins If thou hadst not risen from the dead my soule might haue bin with thee in Paradice but my body should not haue rested in hope neither should I haue euer seene God in my flesh if thou hadst not ascended I might haue bin freed from hell but I should neuer haue
conscience and the cleare light of the Gospel to guide my feete into the way of peace This light conuinceth the errours of my vnderstanding the deprauation of my will the disorder of my affections the impurity of my thoghts the vanity of my desires the deceitfulnesse of my heart the wickednes of all my wayes This light sheweth mee what I was in my birth slime and filthinesse what in my life vanity and folly and what in my death stench rottennesse This light discouereth vnto me that I haue nothing which I haue not receiued that without Christ I can doe nothing that in me that is in my body dwelleth no good that I am not able of my selfe as of my self think a good thought that I cannot desire to thinke nor haue wil to desire nor grace to will any good My comforts are rare my crosses frequent my pleasures momentary my paines permanent my gifts small my wants and infirmities great my helpes weake my assaults strong my good deeds few and they tainted with imperfections my sinnes infinite Let these considerations O Lord humble me in my selfe that Christ may raise me wound mee in my selfe that Christ may heale me burden mee in my selfe that Christ may ease me kill mee in my owne conceits that Christ may quicken me make mee most vile in mine own eyes that I may bee most deare and precious in his O Lord which as vpon this day createdst the clouds to raine vpon the earth showre downe thy graces abundantly into my heart to mollifie it that the seede of the Word may take deepe root downeward in humility and spring vpward in hope and spread abroad by charity and fructifie in all kindes of good workes Lord who this day separatedst the waters from the waters separate I beseech thee and distinguish betweene the waters of teares which I shed for my sinnes and those others which I shed for worldly crosses and calamities Cast away the one and put the the other into thy bottle Lord who this day madest the heauens or ayre without which I cannot liue naturally no not for a moment infuse into my heart the Spirit of grace without which spiritually I cannot breathe in my prayers nor sigh nor so much as moue any facultie or part of soule or body vnto thee As oft as I take in or let out the aire which I breathe let mee receiue in grace from thee and breathe out praise vnto thee Amen The close out of Scripture The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ and the loue of God and the fellowship of the holy Ghost be with me 2. Cor. 13. vlt. The Euening's Deuotion for Munday THE HYMNE Heare me O Lord in the multitude of thy mercies euen in the truth of thy saluation Psal. 69. 14. Let not the water floods drowne mee nor the deepe swallow me vp and let not the pit shut her mouth vpon mee verse 16. Thou diddest diuide the sea through thy power and brakest the heads of the Dragons in the waters Psal. 74. 14. Thou smoest the heads of Leuiathan in pieces and gauest him to be meate for the people in the wildernesse verse 15. Thou broughtest out fountaines and waters out of the hard Rocks thou driedst vp mighty waters verse 16. Thou art the God that doth wonders and hast declared thy power among the people Psal. 77. 14. The waters saw thee O God the waters saw thee and were afraid the depths also were troubled verse 16. The clouds powred out water the aire thundered and thine arrowes went abroad verse 17. The voice of thy thunder was heard round about the lightnings shone vpon the ground the earth was moued verse 18. Thou bringest forth clouds from the ends of the world and sendest forth Lightnings with the raine bringing the windes out of his treasures Psal. 135. The springs of water were seene and the foundations of the round world were discouered at thy chiding O Lord at the blasting of the breath of thy displeasure Psal. 18. 15. Thy way is in the Sea and thy pathes in the great waters and thy footsteps are not knowne Psal. 77. 19. THE ADMONITION for Munday's Euening being an exhortation to meeknes THE ANALYSIS The speciall Arguments to perswade meeknes set downe in Scripture are drawne from 1. The causes Impulsiue 1 Diuine precepts 2 humane frailty Exemplary God the Father Sonne H. Ghost The Saints The creatures in which nature hath patern'd this vertue 2 The effects 1 Peace With God With men 2 Wealth 3 Wisedome and spiritual vnderstanding 4 Sanctifying graces the fruits of the Spirit 5 Blessednesse THE TEXTS PVt them in minde c. Tit. 3. 1. That they be no brawlers but gentle shewing all meekenesse to all men verse 2. If any man bee ouertaken in a fault ye which are spirituall restore such a one in the spirit of meeknesse Gal. 6. 1. I beseech you that yee walke worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called with lowlinesse and meeknesse with long suffering forbearing one another in loue Ephes. 4. 2. Put on therefore as the Elect of God holy and beloued the bowels of mercy kindnesse humblenesse of minde meeknesse long-suffering Col. 3. 12. Forbearing one another forgiuing one another if any man haue a quarrell against any euen as Christ forgaue you so also doe ye verse 13. But thou O man of God flye these things and follow after righteousnesse godlinesse faith patience meekenesse 1. Tim. 6. 11. Dearely beloued auenge not your selues but rather giue place vnto wrath For it is written Vengeance is mine I will repay saith the Lord Rom. 12. 19. Wherefore my beloued Brethren let euery man bee swift to heare slow to speake and slow to wrath Iam. 1. 19. For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousnesse of God verse 20. Look diligently least any man faile of the grace of God least any root of bitternesse spring vp and trouble you and thereby many be defiled Heb 12. 15. Consider thy selfe least thou also be tempted Gal. 6. 1. Let him among you that is without sinne cast the first stone Ioh. 8. 7. Hee shall haue iudgement without mercy that hath shewed no mercy and mercy reioyceth against iudgement Iam. 3. 13. And they heard the voice of the Lord in the coole of the day walking in the garden c. Gen. 3. 8. And after the earthquake there was a fire but God was not in the fire and after the fire a still small voice verse 12. in which voice God was And it was so when Eliah heard it c. verse 13. Neuerthelesse for thy great mercies sake thou diddest not vtterly consume them nor forsake them for thou art a gracious and mercifull God Nehem. 9. 31. God said to Ionah Doest thou well to be angry for thy Gourd Ion. 4. 9. Thou hast pitie on the Gourd for which thou hast not laboured which came in a night and perished in a night verse 10. And should not I spare Nineueh that great
dry land earth and he called the gathering together of the waters Seas and God saw that it was good v. 10. Then God said Let the earth bud forth the bud of the herbe that seedeth seede the fruitfull tree which beareth fruit according to his kinde which hath his seede in it selfe vpon the earth and it was so ver 11. And the earth brought forth the bud of the herbe that seedeth seede according to his kind also the tree that beareth fruit which hath his seede in it selfe according to his kinde and God saw that it was good ver 12. So the Euening and the Morning were the third day ver 13. And I worke Ioh. 5. 17. The worke of Redemption WHo is this that commeth from Edom with red garments from Bozrah He is glorious in his apparell and walketh in his great strength I speake in righteousnesse and am mighty to saue Isa. 63. 1. I haue troden the Wine-presse alone of all people there was none with me for I will tread them in mine anger and tread them vnder foot in my wrath and their bloud shall bee sprinkled vpon my garments and I will staine all my rayment ver 3. And two dayes after followed the Feast of the Passeouer and of vnleauened bread and the high Priests and Scribes sought how they might take him by craft and put him to death Mar. 14. 1. But they said Not on the feast day least there bee a tumult among the people ver 2. And when he was in Bethania in the house of Simon the Leper as he sate at Table there came a woman hauing a box of Ointment of Spikenard very costly and shee brake the Box and powred it on his head ver 3. For thine instruction meditate In the Morning vpon the worke of Creation In the Euening vpon the worke of Redemption For thy comfort apply the Vse of the one Benefit of the other For thy correction reproue thy Abuse of the one Vnthankfulnesse for the other Quicken Thy thankesgiuing by the Hymne Thine obedience by the admonition Thy zeale and deuotion by the prayer ensuing The Hymne for Tuesday-morning SIng vnto the Lord a new song sing cheerefully with a loud voice Psal. 33. 3. For the Word of the Lord is true and all his workes are faithfull ver 4. He loueth righteousnesse and iudgement all the earth is full of the goodnesse of the Lord ver 5. Hee gathereth the waters of the Sea together as it were vpon an heape and layeth vp the deepe as in a Treasure-house ver 7. Let the Earth feare the Lord stand in awe of him all yee that dwell in the world ver 8. For hee spake and it was done hee commanded and it stood fast ver 9. He so layed the Foundations that it should not moue at any time Psal. 104. 5. He watereth the hills from aboue the earth is filled with the fruits of his workes ver 3. Hee bringeth forth grasse for the Cattle and greene herbes for the vse of men ver 14. That he may bring food out of the Earth and Wine that maketh glad the heart of man and Oyle to make him a cheerfull countenance and Bread to strengthen mans heart ver 15. The Trees of the Lord also are full of sap euen as the Cedars of Lebanon which hee hath planted ver 16. Hee couereth the Heauens with Clouds and prepareth raine for the earth and maketh the grasse to grow vpon the mountaines Psal. 147. 8. Which giueth to the beasts their foode and to the young Rauens that cry ver 9. Praise the Lord vpon earth yee Dragons and all deepes Psal. 148. 7. Mountaines and all Hills fruitfull Trees and all Cedars ver 9. Euery day will I giue thanks vnto the Lord and praise his Name for euer Psal. 145. 2. Thou hast giuen me more ioy of heart then they whose Corn and Wine and Oyle increased Psal. 4. 8. The Admonition for Tuesday morning being an exhortation to godly sorrow THE ANALYSIS We must desire pray for godly sorrow because it is 1 A speciall duty required in the Law Gospel 2 The Saints continuall practise 3 A necessary disposition to make vs capable of the Gospel 4 A Sacrifice well pleasing to God 5 An effect of true conuersion 6 An efficient cause of many diuine vertues 7 An assurance of eternall ioy and comfort 8 The want of it a fearefull signe of a reprobate sense THE TEXTS TVrne ye vnto me with all your heart with fasting weeping and mourning Ioel 2. 12. And rent your hearts and not your garments c. ver 13. And in that day did the Lord God of hosts call to weeping and mourning and to baldnesse and girding with Sackcloth Isa. 22. 12. Now I reioyce not that yee were made sorry but that yee sorrowed to repentance 2 Cor. 7. 9. For ye were made sorry after a godly manner that ye might receiue damage in nothing Weepe not for me but weepe for your selues Luk. 23. 28. Ye shall weepe and lament c. Io. 16. 20. Howle and lament c. Iames 5. 1. I abhorre my selfe and repent in dust and ashes Iob. 42. 6. I fainted in my mourning I cause my bed euery night to swimme and water my couch with my teares Psal. 6. 6. I will confesse my wickednesse and be sorry for my sin Ps. 38. 18. Hezekiah humbled himselfe for the pride of his heart he and the inhabitants of Ierusalem and therefore the wrath of the Lord came not in the dayes of Hezekiah 2 Cro. 33. 12. And when he was in affliction he besought the Lord his God humbled himselfe greatly before the God of his fathers 2 Cr. 33. 12 And prayed vnto him and was intreated of him ver 13. Now when Ezra had prayed and had confessed weeping and casting himselfe downe before the house of God there assembled vnto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children for the people wept very sore Ezr. 10. 1. And Peter remembred the words which Iesus said vnto him Before the Cocke crow twice thou shalt deny me thrice and he went out and wept bitterly Mat. 26. 75. Come vnto me all ye that are heauy laden and I will ease you Mat. 11. 28. He hath anointed me to preach the Gospell to the poore hee hath sent me to heale the broken hearted Luke 4. 18. The Sacrifice of God is a contrite spirit a broken and a contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise Psal. 51. 17. Put my teares in thy bottle are not these things noted in thy booke Psal. 56. 8. The Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping Psal. 6. 8. Tell Hezekiah the Captaine of my people saying I haue heard thy prayer I haue seene thy teares I will heale thee 2 Kings 30. 5. And when they heard these things they were pricked in their hearts and said vnto Peter Men and Brethren what shall we doe Act. 2. 37. Godly sorrow
causeth repentance not to be repented of but worldly sorrow causeth death 2. Cor. 7. 10. For behold this selfe same thing that yee sorrowed after a godly sort what carefulnesse it wrought in you yea what cleering of your selues yea what indignation yea what feare yea what vehement desire yea what zeale yea what reuenge ver 11. They that sow in teares shall reape in ioy Psal. 126. 7. I dwell with him that is of a contrite and humble spirit to reuiue the spirit of the humble and to reuiue the heart of the contrite Isa. 57. 15. Ye shall be sorrowfull but your sorrow shall bee turned into ioy Ioh. 16. 20. Blessed are they that mourne for they shall bee comforted Mat. 5. 4. Wee haue mourned vnto you and yee haue not wept Luke 7. 32. And yee are puffed vp and haue not sorrowed 1 Cor. 5. 2. Woe bee vnto thee Corazin woe vnto thee Rethsaida c. for they c. in sack cloth Mat. 11. 21. And I gaue her time to repent and shee would not repent Reuel 2. 21. After thy hard and impenitent heart treasurest vp to thy selfe wrath in the day of wrath Rom. 2. 3. THE PRAYER FOR Tuesday morning composed of 1. Petitions sutable to the worke of the day 2. Motiues to godly sorrow agreeable to the precedent exhortation O That my head were water and mine eyes were a spring of teares that I might weepe day and night for the deluge of sinne ouerflowing the whole world but especially for the inundation therof in this our Iâ—â—nd We are ouerwhelmed in this Torrent and should be drowned but that the gales of thy Spirit driue it somewhat backe and thy restraining Grace with the publike discipline of our Lawes and Canons set some bounds to it What hearts can vent sight enough what eyes yeeld sufficient teares to bewaile those publike sinnes vnder the burthen whereof the Land sinketh besides those priuate which lye as heauy on each of vs in particular Sinnes of omission sinnes of commission sinnes of birth sinnes of life sinnes of youth sinnes of age sinnes of frailty sinnes of â—ilfulnesse sinnes of act sinnes of habit and custome sinnes of secret taint sinnes of open stâ—inâ— Sinnes of infirmity committed against the power of the Father sinnes of ignorancâ— against the wisdome of the Sonne and sinnes of malice against the grace of thy holy Spirit If I should goe about to extenuate my sinneâ— euen that would aggrauate them if to excuse them my conscience would condemne me For I must confesse to thy glory and my owne shame that by my Originall and Actuall secret and open sudden and aduised ignorant anâ—â—â—â—icious sinnes I haue dishonoured thy Name prophaned thy Word defaced thine Image grieued thy Spirit despighted thy Grace wounded my owne conscience stained my good name scandalized my profession depriued my selfe of the comforts of the Gospell of the protection of Angells of the sweet fellowship of thy Spirit and drawne vpon mâ—e many heauy iudgements and treasured vp wrath against the day of wrath Yet because I mourne with Dauid in my prayers I weepe bitterly with Peter I abhorre my selfe in dust and ashes with Iob I am ashamed and confounded with Ezra Lord let thy mercy preuaile against thy iustice my sighs and teares against my sinfull ioyes and thy Sonnes bloud euen against my crimson sinnes Lord who on this day madest dry Land and firme ground to appeare dry vp my â—â—â—res with the beames of thy mercy and giue me firme ground of comfort in thy Word Lord who on this day createdst all kinde of seedes sow in my heart the incorruptible seede of thy Word that I may thereby be regenerated to a liuely hope Lord who on this day createdst all kindes of fruitfull Trees make mee like a good Tree to bring forth good fruit here that I may hereafter eate of the Tree of Life which is in the middest of the Paradise of God So be it Amen The close out of Scripture GOd the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ grant mee according to the riches of his glory that I may be strengthened by his spirit in the inner man Ephes. 3. 16. That Christ may dwell in my heart by faith that I being rooted and grounded in loue ver 17. May be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the bredth and length and depth and height v. 8. And to know the loue of Christ which passeth knowledge that I may bee filled with the fulnesse of God verse 19. The Deuotions for Tuesdayes Euening THE HYMNE alluding to the worke of God on this day in the Allegory OVT of the deepe haue I called vnto thee O Lord Lord heare my voice Psal. 130. 1. O let thine eares consider wel the voice of my complaint verse 2. If thou Lord wilt be extreme to marke what is done amisse O Lord who can abide it ver 3. But there is mercy with thee therefore thou shalt bee feared verse 4. I looke for the Lord my soule doth waite for him in his word is my trust verse 5. My soule flyeth to the Lord before the Morning watch I say before the Morning watch verse 6. I haue watched and am euen as a Sparrow that sitteth alone on the house top Psal. 102. 7. My heart is smitten down and withered like grasse so that I forget to eate my bread verse 4. Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest O Lord and instructest him in thy Law They that sowe in teares shal reape in ioy Psal. 126. 7. Hee that now goeth on his way weeping and beareth forth good seede shal doubtlesse come againe with ioy and bring his sheaues with him verse 8. The righteous shall flourish like a Palme-tree and shall spread abroad like a Cedar in Lebanon Psal. 92. 11. Hee shall be like a tree planted by the Riuer's side which bringeth forth her fruit in due season Psal. 1. 3. Whose leafe shall not fall and what soeuer hee doth it shall prosper verse 4. Such as bee planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of the house of our God Psal. 92. 12. They also shall bring forth more fruit in their age and shal befat and well liking ver 13. THE ADMONITION for Tuesday Euening being an exhortation to hunger and thirst for righteousnesse whereunto our Sauiour ascribeth the fourth Beatitude THE ANALYSIS We must diligently and earnestly seek after the meanes of our saluation because therby 1 Wee obey God 2 Wee imitate his Saints 3 Wee obtain blessings Temporall Spirituall 1 Fauour 2 Delight 3 Peace 4 Life 5 CoÌ„tentment 6 The Kingdom of heauen THE TEXTS SEek the Lord and his strength seeke his face euermore Psal. 105. 4. Labour not for the meat that perisheth but for that meat which endureth to euerlasting life Ioh. 6. 27. Receiue mine instruction not siluer and knowledge rather then fine gold Prou. 5. 10. For wisedome is better then precious stones and all pleasures are not to bee
compared vnto her verse 11. Follow after loue and couet spirituall things 1. Cor. 14. 1. Follow peace with all men and holinesse without which no man shall see the Lord Heb. 12. 14. Set your affections on things which are aboue and not on things which are in the earth Col. 3. 2. My soule breaketh out for the very feruent desire that it hath alway to thy iudgements Psal. 119. 26. My soule is a thirst for God euen for the liuing God Psal. 42. 1 2. One thing is needfull Mary hath chosen that good part which shal not be taken away from her Luke 10. 41. From the time of Iohn Baptist hitherto the Kingdome of heauen hath suffered viclence and the violent take it by force Math. 1. 12. Length of dayes is in her right hand and in her left hand riches and glory Prou. 3. 16. Seeke yee first the Kingdome of God and his righteousnesse and all other things shall be added vnto you Mat. 6. 33. Godlinesse is profitable vnto all things hauing promise of the life that now is and that which is to come 1. Tim. 4. 8. If from thence thou seeke the Lord thou shalt finde him Deut. 4. 29. Her wayes are the wayes as pleasure and all her paths are peace Pro. 3. 17. She is a Tree of life to them that lay hold vpon her and happy is euery one that reteineth her verse 18. Your heart shall liue that seeke good Psal. 69. 33. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousnesse for they shall be satisfied Mat. 5. 6. The Kingdome of Heauen is like to a Merchant man that seeketh good pearles Mat. 3. 45. Who hauing found a Pearle of great price went and fold all that he had and bought it verse 46. The Prayer for Tuesday Euening composed of Petitions sutable to the the sufferings of Christ on this day Motiues to seeke after the meanes of our saluation agreeable to the precedent exhortation BLessed Redeemer who trodest the wine-presse of thy father's wrath alone reconcile mee to thy Father and of a child of wrath make mee a child of grace and sonne of desires Thou who trodest the wine-presse alone no Arch-angell or Angel or any creature in heauen or in earth being ioyned with thee in that worke Giue mee a taste of the new wine of thy Gospel to cheere vp and reuiue my drooping spirits and comfort my heauy and sorrowfull heart Thou which camest with thy garments red from Bozra yea as red as bloud Cloath mee with thy red garment died in thine owne bloud Couer my nakednesse deformities wounds and sores from the sight of thy Father Thy garment is no narrow nor scanty garment it is large enough to couer thee and all thine Elect. It is the wedding garment without which none shall euer be admitted into the Kings Supper but bee bound hand and foot and cast into outward darknesse where shall bee weeping and gnashing of teeth And this doome we all deserued for wee were borne naked and voide of all good and we lay a long time wallowing in our owne bloud and filth and no eye pittied vs till it pleased thee of meere loue and compassion to take vpon thee a nature of infirmities to cure all the infirmities of our nature and to cloath thy selfe with flesh that thou mightest beare off our blowes and receiue the stroakes of diuine iustice that wee should haue endured and deadded them in thine owne body O what shall I returne vnto thee by way of thankefull acknowledgement of such thy loue I can render thee nothing but that which thou hast giuen me I can render thee nothing that is not thy due before I can render thee nothing but that which thou puttest into my heart to render it to thee Wherefore I huÌ„bly beseech thee by thy grace to enflame my heart with thy loue to incite mee to perpetuall praise thanksgiuing to kindle in me an euerlasting desire to approue my self vnto thee more and more tie thy loue vnto me O let nothing be so precious to me as thy fauour nothing so fearfull as thy displeasure nothing so hatefull as sin nothing so desirable as thy grace Let me not now like a little child run in the dirt soile my cloathes and take many a fal in pursuite of a Butter-fly or a bubble of Sope appearing glorious in the aire but suddenly vanishing to nothing Let mee not be so foolish as to lay the foundation of my happinesse in sinking sands or goe about to chase a vanishing shadow Let me enter into a serious consideration of the vanitie of the world and the deceitfulnesse of riches and shame of pleasures and folly of sports and leuity of honours and danger of greatnesse and account of all Perswade mee by thy Spirit out of thy Word that I haue heere no abiding Citie but seeke for one hereafter That I am a stranger and pilgrim here vpon earth and therefore howsoeuer I haue heretofore mis-spent my time and mis-placed my affections and spilt my labours and lost my selfe in following earthly vanities yet let me now take the right way to true contentment Let all my trauailes be towards heauen all my trade for spiritual merchandise all my labour for the meate that perisheth not all my searching for the pearle of the Gospell all my seeking for the Kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof Let mee desire temporall blessings onely for spirituall ends wealth that I may he rich in good workes preferment to aduance the honour of the Gospell health strength the better to enable mee to doe thee seruice length of dayes that I may praise thee in the Land of the liuing Lord whose life was sought this day to destroy it seeke thou mine to saue it Lord who this day wâ—rt anointed to thy death and buriall anoint me with thy Spirit to eternall life Saue mee from the hands of all mine enemies that I may serue thee without feare in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of my life Guard mee by thy prouidence that securely reposing my soule on thy mercy for my absolution from sinne and my bodie on thy power for deliuerance from all dangers I may so by rest and sleepe refresh and strengthen both that I may rise the next morning more cheerefully to trauaile in the wayes of thy lawes and workes of thy commandements So be it Amen The close out of Scripture Vnto him that is able to doe exceeding aboundantly aboue all that I aske or thinke according to the power that worketh in me be glory in the Church by Christ Iesus throughout all ages world without end Ephes. 3. 20 21. enemies for I fly to thee to helpe me verse 9. Be mercifull vnto mee and blesse mee and shew the light of thy countenance vpon mee and be mercifull vnto me Psal. 67. 1. God is the Lord who hath shewed vs light binde the sacrifice with cords to the hornes
of the Altar Psal. 118. 27. There is sprung vp a light for the righteous and ioyfull gladnesse for such as be true of heart Psal. 97. 11. Reioyce in the Lord O yee Righteous and giue thankes for a remembrance of his holinesse verse 12. I will consider the heauens euen the worke of thy fingers the Moone the Starres which thou hast ordained Psal. 8. 3. The Heauens declare the glory of God and the Firmament sheweth his handy work Psal. 19. 1. In them hath hee set a Tabernacle for the Sunne which commeth forth as a Bridegroome out of his chamber and reioyceth as a Gyant to runne his course verse 5. It goeth forth from the vttermost part of heauen and runneth about to the end of it againe and nothing is hid from the heate thereof verse 6. The Lord is my light and my saluation whom then shall I feare The Lord is the strength of my life of whom then shall I be afraid Psal. 27. 1. Though I should walke through the valley of the shadow of death I will feare no euill for thou art with me thy Rod and thy Staffe they comfort me Psal. 23. 4. Surely kindnesse and mercy shall follow mee all the dayes of my life and I shall remaine a long season in the house of the Lord verse 6. The admonition for Wednesday morning being an exhortation to mercy wherevnto our Sauiour ascribeth the fifth Beatitude THE ANALYSIS Mercy is a vertue highly to be esteemed and carefully to be practised because it is 1 Our onley plea and hope 2 The soueraigne attribute of God 3 His strickt charge to vs. 4 That vpon which hee proceedeth in the last Iudgement 5 A choice fruit of the Spirit 6 The Saints constant practise 7 The Touch-stone of true Religion 8 The assurance of our saluation 9 The meanes to obtaine manifold blessings in this life and in the life to come THE TEXTS ENter not into iudgement with thy seruants O Lord for in thy sight shall no man liuing be iustified Psal. 143. 2. The Lord grant vnto him that he may finde mercy of the Lord in that day 2 Tim. 1. 18. That he might make knowne the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy Rom. 9. 23. For God hath concluded all vnder vnbeliefe that hee might haue mercy vpon all Rom. 10. 31. And the Lord passed by before him and proclaimed The Lord the Lord God mercifull and gracious long suffering and abundant in goodnesse and in truth Exod. 34. 6. Keeping mercy for thousands forgiuing iniquity transgression and sinne ver 7. God is rich in mercy Ephesians 2. 4. Thy mercy O Lord is in the Heauens and thy faithfulnesse reacheth to the Clouds Psalme 36. 5. For thou Lord art good and ready to forgiue and plenteous in mercy to all them that call vpon thee Psal. 86. 5. The Lord is gracious and full of compassion slow to anger and of great mercy Psal. 145. 8. The Lord is good vnto all and his tender mercies are ouer all his workes ver 9. Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ the Father of mercy and God of all comfort 2 Cor. 1. 3. He hath shewed thee O man what is good and what doth the Lord require of thee but to doe iustly and loue mercy c. Micah 6. 8. Thus speaketh the Lord Execute true iudgement and shew mercy and compassion euery man to his brother Zach. 7 9. Be ye mercifull as your father also is mercifull Luke 6. 36. Giue Almes of those things which are within and behold all things shall bee cleane to you Luke 11. 41. Sell that yee haue and giue Almes Luk. 12. 13. Be yee kinde one to another tender-hearted forgiuing one another euen as God for Christs sake hath forgiuen you Ephes. 4. 32. I will haue mercy and not sacrifice Hos. 6. 6 Mat. 9. 13. Put on therefore as the Elect of God bowels of mercy c. Col. 3. 12. To doe good and communicate forget not for with such sacrifices God is well pleased Hebr. 3. 16. Finally be ye all of one minde hauing compassion one of another loue as brethren be pittifull be courteous 1 Pet. 3. 8. Remember those that are in bonds as though yee were bound with them Heb. 13. 3. Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdome prepared for you from the foundations of the world Mat. 25. 34. For I was hungry and ye gaue me meat ver 35. I was thirsty and ye gaue mee drinke c. In that ye did it to the least of my brethren ye did it vnto me ver 40. But the fruits of the Spirit are ioy peace long-suffering gentlenesse goodnesse c. Gal. 5. 22. The fruit of the Spirit is in all goodnesse and righteousnesse and truth Eph. 5. 9. If I haue with-held the poore from their desire if I haue caused the eye of the widdow to faile if I haue eaten my morsell alone and the fatherlesse hath not eaten thereof Iob. 31. 17. If I haue seene any perish for want of cloathing or any poore without couering ver 19. If his bones haue not blessed me and if hee were not warmed with the fleece of my sheepe ver 20. Now there was in Ioppa a certaine woman a Disciple called Tabitha which by interpretation is called Dorcas this woman was full of good workes and almes-deeds which she did Act 9. 36. There was a certaine man in Cesaria called Cornelius of the band called the Italian band Act. 10. 1. A deuout man and one that feared God with all his house which gaue much almes to the people ver 2. There came a certaine Samaritane also that way and when he saw him hee had compassion on him Luke 10. 33. And went to him and bound vp his wounds powring in Oyle and Wine c. ver 34. He said Hee was his Neighbour that shewed mercy on him then said Iesus to him Goe thou and doe likewise ver 37. Now I haue all I abound I am full hauing receiued from Epaphroditus the things that were sent from you an ointment of a sweet smelling sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God Phil. 4. 18. The Lord giue mercy to Onesiphorus his house for hee oft refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chaines 2 Tim. 1. 16. We haue great ioy and consolation in thy loue because the bowels of the Saints are refreshed by thee brother Phil. 7. Pure Religion and vndefiled before God euen the Father is this to to visit the fatherlesse and widdowes in their aduersities and to keepe himselfe vnspotted of the world Iam. 1. 27. There shall be iudgement mercilesse to him that sheweth no mercy and mercy reioyceth against iustice Iam. 2. 13. Blessed are the mercifull for they shall obtaine mercy Mat 5. 7. The liberall soule shall be made fat and hee that watereth shall bee watred also himselfe Prou. 11. 25. Giue and it shall be giuen
vnto you good measure pressed downe and running ouer Luke 6. 38. Whosoeuer shall giue to drink vnto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a Disciple verily he shall not lose his reward THE PRAYER FOR Wednesday morning composed of 1. Petitions sutable to the worke of the day 2. Motiues to workes of mercy agreeable to the precedent exhortation O Lord what is man that thou art so mindfull of him or the sonne of man that thou so regardest him Thou madest so much of him that thou madest all creatures for him the Fowles of the Aire Fish in the Sea and Beasts of the Field to furnish his Table and clothe his nakednesse and serue his vse The earth thou createdst to sustaine him the water to wash and coole him the aire to breath him the fire to warme him the Flowers to refresh him the Herbes to cure him the Fruits and Graines to nourish him the Mines to inrich him the precious Stones to adorne him yea the glorious Lamps of Heauen The Sunne and Moone to light him the one in the Day the other in the Night and both to measure his time to direct his husbandry to recreate him in his trauells to ripen his fruits and increase his store Nay which farre surpasseth the glorious beames of the Sunne and his comfortable light thou gauest him a sure light of prophecy before the day dawne and the day-starre arose in the Firmament of the Church and afterwards causedst the Sunne of righteousnesse to arise vpon him to shine in his heart in this life by grace and in Heauen by glory for euermore Shall I not reioyce in this light Shall I not open all the Casements of my soule to let it in Shall I not account their feet beautifull and the ground happy on which they tread who bring me tidings of this wonderfull Light Shall I not loue thee aboue all things who hast preferred mee aboue all things Shall I not serue thee with all the faculties of my body and soule who makest all thy Creatures serue me What pretext can I haue for my ingratitude and disobedience to thee so gracious a Lord and Master I cannot pleade ignorance of thy Deity for the Heauens declare thy glory and the Firmament sheweth thy handy-worke I cannot pretend ignorance of thy Law for thou hast put thy Word into my mouth and written thy Law in my heart I cannot alledge that I neuer heard of or saw the Light of thy Gospell for the light came into the world and shined in the darkenesse and the darkenesse comprehended it not Neuer had any Nation a more bright Sun-shine of the Gospell then ours But we loue darkenesse more then light because our deeds are euill And because we loue darkenesse more then light thou mightest most iustly haue already cast vs into outward darkenesse But there is mercy with thee that thou mayest be feared there is Balme in Gilead to cure cur deadly wounds there is Vnctim in Christ there is saluation in Iesus there is redemption in his bloud there is satisfaction in his death there is merit in his perfect obedience there is hope in his resurrection and ascension and euerlasting comfort in his sitting at the right hand of his Father to make intercession for vs. O Eternall Aduocate pleade my muse Thou who out of thy pierced side openedst to all the inhabitants of the earth a Fountaine for sinne and vncleannesse wash mee from my wickednesse and clense me from my sinne grant me thy peace which thou promisest thy chosen that my heart bee not troubled Make an atonement for mee and bring me into fauour with thy Father and my Father thy God and my God And because all my hope is in thy mercy Lord let me imitate that vertue in thee which I implore Let mee patterne that grace in my life which saueth my life Let mee from my heart forgiue my brethren their trespasses compassionate their infirmities relieue their necessities ease their crosses and beare their burthens Let the hungry haue neuer a iust action against me at thy Barre for not giuing them meate nor the thirsty for not giuing them drinke nor the naked for not clothing them nor the sicke and imprisoned for not visiting them nor the fatherlesse and widowes for not protecting defending them Let me who need abundant mercy shew abundant mercy Let me mete such measure to my brethren as I expect from thee As a good childe let mee follow the example of my heauenly Father who as on this day caused the Sunne to rise vpon the Iust and the vniust So let the light of my knowledge and heat of my loue be extended to all but especially to those of the houshold of faith And as the Sun shineth vpon my body so make thy countenance shine vpon my soule As the Sunne draweth vp exhalations from the earth so raise thou my thoughts and desires from earthy comforts to heauenly obiects As the Sunne melteth Snow and Ice so melt thou my heart frozen in the dregs of sinne As the Snnne dispelleth all mists of darkenesse and cleereth the Aire from all Fogs and noysome Vapours so let thy Spirit disped all errors of my vnderstanding and cleere my will from all fogs and fumes of noysome lusts Giue mee grace to keepe a regular constant and vnwearied course vpon earth as the Sunne doth in Heauen and to grow in grace and increase in heauenly wisdome as the Sunne ascendeth higher and shineth still brighter till it bee high Noone Lastly the Sunne reioyceth as a Gyant to runne his course So grant that I may cheerefully runne and finish my race and after I haue finished it receiue the reward of the Righteous who shall shine as the Sun in the Kingdome of the Father for euermore Amen The close out of Scripture Grant Lord that I may bee filled with the knowledge of thy Will in all wisdome and spirituall vnderstanding Col. 1. 9. That I may walke worthy of thee please thee in all things being fruitfull in all good workes and increasing in the knowledge of thee ver 10. Strengthened with all might through thy glorious power vnto all patience and long suffering with ioyfulnesse ver 11. The Deuotion for Wednesdayes Euening THE HYMNE O Giue thankes vnto the Lord for he is gracious and his mercy endureth for euer Psal. 136. 1. Which onely doth wonders for his mercy indureth for euer ver 4. Which by his excellent wisedome made the Heauens for his mercy endureth for euer ver 5. Which made great lights for his mercy endureth for euer ver 7. The Sunne to rule the day for his mercy endureth for euer ver 8. The Moone and the Stars to gouerne the night for his mercy endureth for euer ver 9. He telleth the number of the Starres and calleth them by their names Psal. 147. 4. He appointed the Moone for certaine seasons and the Sun knoweth his going downe Psal. 104. 19. Thou makest darknesse that
correcting and liberally prouiding for me euer since the day thou breathedst into me the breath of life Giue me yet more O Lord. What wilt thou giue me Giue mee a thankefull heart for all these inestimable fauours of thine infinite loue that I may continually blesse thee for thy continuall blessings with the dew of thy grace descending vpon me alwaies beginning the day with thy mercy and ending it with thy praise Blessed Redeemer who wert this day sold for thirty pieces of Siluer redeeme me from the thraldome of sinne and neuer suffer mee with Ahab to sell my selfe to worke wickednesse against thee Let the heinousnesse of Iudas his sinne and the horrour of his punishment deterre me from betraying thy truth for any worldly aduantage whatsoeuer O Bread of Life which hungredst for my sake O Source of the Springs of Libanon who thirstedst for my sake O Ioy of all mankinde which sorrowedst for me O Truth it selfe and fidelity which wast by false trechery betrayed for my sake O the true Wedding garment which wast stript for mee O the Redemption and ransome of the world who wert sold for my sake O the Life and Resurrection of all that hope in thee who dyedst for me imprint thy loue so deepe into my heart that neither hunger nor thirst nor sorrow nor nakednesse nor trechery nor thraldome nor hope of reward nor feare of persecution nor life nor death may race it out Was it not enough O Lord to become man for mee but thou must become a seruant Was it not enough as a seruant to bee scourged for me but must thou also like a bondslaue bee sold for me that am a bond-slaue of Satan sold vnder sinne Was it not too much to be sold but must thou bee sold at so vile a price as thirty pieces of siluer Was no means thought meane enough to abase thee The cheaper thou wert sold the dearer I cost thee for thou gauest not onely thy liberty and life but thy estimation also for mee The lower thou wert abased the higher thou hast exalted mee The lesse was giuen for thee the more I owe thee who wert content to bee prized solow and made of no reputation for me O strange ransome The Redeemer is sold that the sold bond-slaue may be redeemed O admirable iudgement The righteous is condemned that the vnrighteous may righteously bee acquitted O wonderfull cure The Physician is sicke and dyeth that the Patient may liue Meâ—ke Sauiour thou foresawest that the Diuell would enter into Iudas before hee entered Thou knewest that hee would betray thee yet thou chosest him that hee would lift vp his foot against thee yet thou shoddest him with the preparation of the Gospell of peace that hee would sell thee yet thou trustedst him with thy Purse that the poyson of Aspes was vnder his lip yet thou sufferedst him to touch thy Lips in which there was no guile and seale them with a kisse and gently vnsealing them thou saidst no more to him but Friend how camest thou hither Doest thou betray the Sonne of man with a kisse Sweet Sauiour how wilt thou entertaine thy friends when thou thus intreatedst thy trecherous seruant Thou who wert so good to him that was so bad as worse neuer was how will thy grace and goodnesse abound to them that excell in vertue If thou sufferedst a Traitor to kisse thee thou wilt neuer resuse to cheere vp the drooping countenance of a penitent sinner with a kisse Thy Espouse emboldneth me to beg that kindnesse of thee which she did Let him kisse me with the kisses of his lips Kisse thou me with a kisse of loue but let me neuer kisse thee with the kisse of Iudas Let mee neuer draw neere to thee with my lips and be farre from thee in my heart but first draw â—y heart then my body soule vnto thee Thou requirest the heart and searchest the heart and 〈◊〉 the heart and acceptest of no seruice or sacrifice without it Lord giue me a cleane heart and 〈◊〉 a right Spirit within me that I may giue thee such a heart as thou requirest Clense the thoughts and affections and intentions of my heart from all impurity impiety iniquity in-sincerity fraud and hypocrisie Let all the thoughts of my heart bee pure the desires holy the intentions sincere the affections vnfained and let all my words and works be hearty O let my heart be alwaies fixed vpon thee possessed with thee established in thee true vnto thee vpright towards thee and sincere for thee that in the great Day when the secrets of all hearts shall bee manifested my heart may not condemne mee but thou approue it and accept it and fill it with such ioyes as neuer entred into the heart of man So be it Amen The close out of Scripture Thanks bee giuen to the Father which hath made me meet to be partaker of the inheritance of the Saints in light Col. 1. 12. Who hath deliuered me from the power of darknesse and hath translated mee into the Kingdome of his deare Sonne ver 13. In whom I haue redemption through his bloud euen the forgiuenesse of sinnes ver 14. Thursday's Deuotion being the fifth day from the Creation The Father worketh Ioh. 5. 17. The worke of Creation on this day SO afterward God said Let the waters bring forth in abundance euery creeping thing that hath life and let the Fowle flye vpon the earth in the open Firmament of the Heauen Gen. 1. â—0 Then God created the great Whales and euery thing liuing and mouing which the waters brought forth in abundance according to their kinde and euery feathered Fowle according to his kinde and God saw that it was good ver 21. Then God blessed them saying Bring forth fruit multiply fill the waters in the Seas and let the Fowles multiply in the earth v. 2â— So the Euening and the Morning were the fifth day And I worke Ioh. 5. 17. The worke of Redemption on this day THen came the Day of vnleuened bread when the Passouer must be sacrificed Luke 22. 7. And be sent Peter and Iohn saying Goe and prepare vs the Passouer that we may eat it ver 8. And they said c. v. 9. Then he said vnto them Behold c. v. 10. And say to the goood man of the house The Master saith vnto thee Where is the lodging where I shall eat my Passouer with my Disciples ver 11. Then he shall shew you a great high Chamber c. ver 12. So they went and found as hee had said vnto them and neade ready the Passouer ver 13. And he tooke Bread and when he had giuen thankes hee brake it and gaue to them saying This is my Body which is giuen for you doe this in remembrance of me ver 19. Likewise also after Supper hee tooke the Cup saying This Cup is the new Testament in my bloud which is shed for you ver 20. And he came out and went as he was wont to
Lord in the depth of thy Wisdome finde meanes to helpe my ignorance in the depth of thy goodnesse to ouercome my wickednesse in the depth of thy mercy to relieue my misery Inlighten mine vnderstanding that I may know mine ignorance rectifie my will that I may detest my wickednesse and mollifie my heart that I may bewaile my misery and by faith incorporate me into thy Sonne Iesus Christ that I may be partaker of his knowledge righteousnesse and happinesse As he made my ignorance his ignorance and my sinne his sinne and my misery his misery by taking vpon him my guilt and satisfying for my punishment so make thou I beseech thee his Wisdome my instruction his Righteousnes my sanctification and his Glory my happinesse Consider mee I beseech thee not as I am in my selfe defiled but as I am in him washed not as I am in my selfe naked but as I am in him clothed not as I am in my selfe wounded but as I am in him healed not as in my selfe a childe of wrath but as in him reconciled and at peace with thee And hauing my peace made with thee by his chastisement grant that I may haue peace as farre as it is possible with all men especially with all the children of peace Let mee euer remember and consider that thou my Father art the God of peace and thy Sonne my Sauiour the Prince of peace and his Law the Gospell of peace and his Seruants the Children of peace whose duty is the study of peace and the marke they principally aime at as the end of their faith the peace of God which passeth all vnderstanding O let mee striue and contend against strife and contention as a thing most hatefull to thee hurtfull to my neighbour and most of all preiudiciall to my selfe by endangering my person and state disturbing the quietnesse of my minde hindring me in the prosecution of my businesse and which is worst of all making me indisposed and altogether vnfit for the performance of diuine duties Teach me of what spirit I am or should be euen of that which descended vpon thy Sonne in the likenesse of a Doue without Gall By this spirit mortifie in me the lusts and affections of the flesh as enuy wrath reuenge and the like By the still voice in which thou spakest to Elias let mee learne that thou art not in the fire of my rage nor in the storme of my passion but in the saft gale of grace Lord who on this day replenishedst the Sea and Riuers with fish and Aire with Fowles in shapes admirably various and in number almost infinite stir me vp by the consideration thereof to admire thy power wisdome in thus storing and as it were peopling this vaste and fearefull seeming solitude and much more to magnifie thy goodnesse in thus richly and daintily furnishing the tables of men Blessed Lord who this day madest the waters fruitfull let thy Spirit moue vpon the waters of my teares that they may abound in the fruits of repentance and bee blessed in the encrease of spirituall consolatious Lord who this day commandest the Fowles to flye through the aire lift vp my soule from the earth with the wings of faith and hope that she may flye vp towards Heauen Make mee light and cheerefull after my heauy sorrowes and grieuous afflictions that though I haue beene as blacke and sad in my heart and countenance as if I had layen among the pots yet I may be by the grace of thy Spirit which descended in the likenesse of a Doue like that Doue whose wings are siluer and her feathers like gold So be it Amen The close out of Scripture God grant that my loue may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all iudgement Phil. 1 9. That I may discerne things that differ one from another that I may be pure and without offence vntill the day of Christ ver 10. Filled with the fruits of righteousnesse which are by Iesus Chirst vnto the glory and praise of God ver 11. The Deuotion for Thursday Euening THE HYMNE Wherein the deuout soule expresseth her desire of prayer for peace Publike Priuate THE TEXTS BEhold how good and pleasant a thing it is brethren to dwel together in vnity Ps. 133. 1. It is like the precious Ointment vpon the head that ranne downe vpon the Beard euen Aarons Beard and went downe to the skirts of his clothing v. 2. As the dew of Hermon and as the dew that descended vpon the Mountaine of Sion for there the Lord promiseth his blessings and life for euermore ver 3. Woe is me that I am constrained to dwell with Meseck and to haue my habitation in the tents of Kedar Psal. 120. 4. My soule hath long dwelt among them that be enemies vnto peace ver 5. I labour for peace but when I speake to them therof they make themselues ready to battaile v. 6. Pray for the peace of Ierusalem they shall prosper that loue thee Psal. 122 6. Peace be within thy walls and prosperity within thy Palaces ver 7. For my brethren and companions sake I will now say Peace be within thee ver 8. Because of the house of the Lord my God I will seeke thy good ver 9. The Admonition for Thursday Euening being an Exhortation to Patience the eightth BEATITVDE THE ANALYSIS All true Christians must valiantly and cheerfully endure troubles for the Gospell in respect of 1 God his Will. Power Ordinance 2 Christ his Loue. Example Sympathy with vs. 3 The Saints Practice Encouragement 4 The enemies Conuersion or Conuiction 5 Our selues who therby receiue 1 Tryall 2 Ioy. 3 Assurance of God's loue 4 Quiet fruit of Righteousnes 5 Holinesse and perfection 6 Life 7 Protection 8 Honor before God 9 Inestimable rewards 1 In this life 2 In the life to come THE TEXTS IN the world ye shall haue afflictions Iob 6. 33. I was dumbe and opened not my mouth because thou Lord hadst done it Psal. 39. 9. Let them that suffer according to the Will of God commit their soules to him in well doing as their faithfull Creator 1 Pet. 4. vlt. Who hath euer resisted his Will Rom. 9. 19. He is able to subdue all things to himselfe Phil. 3. 21. We must through many afflictions enter into the Kingdome of God Act. 14. 22. All that liue godly in Christ Iesus shall suffer persecutions 2 Tim. 3. 12. Thou therefore endure hardnesse as a good Souldier of Iesus Christ 1 Tim. 2. 3. You shal be hated of all men for my Names sake Luke 21. 17. The loue of Christ constraineth vs because wee thus iudge that if One dyed for all then all were dead 2 Cor. 5. 14. Who shall separate vs from the loue of Christ Shall tribulation or anguish or distresse or persecution or famine or sword Rom. 8. 35. Nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus
our Lord Rom. 8. 39. Be not therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord Iesus nor of mee his prisoner but bee partakers of the afflictions of the Gospell 2 Tim. 1. 8. As the sufferings of Christ abound in vs so our consolation abounds through Christ 1 Cor. 1. 5. Christ also suffered for vs leauing vs an example that wee should follow his steps 1 Pet. 2. 21. Whom he fore-knew he predestinated to be conformed to the Image of his Sonne Rom. 8. 29. I was hungry and ye gaue me no meate I was thirsty and yee gaue me no drinke c. Mat. 25. 43. In as much as ye did it not to one of the least of these ye did it not vnto me ver 45. He that despiseth you despiseth me Luke 10. 16. Saul Saul Why persecutest thou me Act. 9. 4. Ioseph said Feare not for am not I vnder God Gen. 50. 19. Naked came I out of my Mothers wombe and naked shall I returne thither againe the Lord gaue and the Lord hath taken away and blessed be the Name of the Lord Iob. 1. 21. Shall wee receiue good at the hands of the Lord and shall wee not receiue euill In all this did not Iob sinne with his lips Iob 2. 10. But I was a man that heareth not and in whose mouth are no reproofes Psal. 38. 14. For thy sake are we killed all the day long c. Psal. 44. 22. It is good for a man that hee beare the yoke in his youth Ier. 3. 27. He sitteth alone and keepeth silence because hee hath borne it vpon him ver 28. He putteth his mouth to the dust if so bee there may be hope ver 29. Hee giueth his cheeke to him that smiteth him he is filled full with reproach Others were tortured and would not bee deliuered that they might receiue a better resurrection Heb. 11. 35. And others haue beene tryed by mockings and scourgings yea moreouer by bands and imprisonment ver 36. They were stoned they were hewen in sunder they were tempted c. verse 37 38. And they departed from the presence of the Councell reioycing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his Name Act. 5. 41. Then Paul answered What meane you to weepe and to breake mine heart for I am ready not onely to be bound but to dye also at Ierusalem for the Name of the Lord Iesus Acts 21. 13. In labours more abundant in stripes aboue measure in prison more frequent in death often 2. Cor. 11 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 verses Remembring without ceasing your worke of faith and labour of loue and patience of hope in our Lord Iesus Christ 1. Thes. 13. God hath set forth vs the last Apostles as it were approued to death for wee are made a spectacle to the world and to Angels and to men 1. Cor. 4. 9. Ye endured a great fight of afflictions Heb. 10. 32. Partly while ye were made a gazing stocke both by reproches and afflictions and partly while ye became companions of them that were so vsed ver 33. I know thy workes and thy labour and thy patience Reue. 2. 2. I know thy faith and thy patience and thy workes ver 19. My bonds in Christ are manifest in that place and all other places Phil. 1. 13. And many of the brethren in the Lord waxing confident by my bonds are made more bold to speake the Word without feare Phil. 1. 14. And they cast Stephen out of the City and stoned him and the Witnesses laid downe their clothes at the young mans feet whose name was Saul Act. 1. 58. And they stoned Stephen calling vpon God and saying Lord Iesus receiue my Spirit ver 59. And he kneeled downe and cryed with a loud voice Lord lay not this sinne to their charge and when hee had said this hee fell asleepe ver 60. Sauls conuersion Act. 9. They shall lay their hands on you and persecute you deliuering you vp to their Synagogues and into prison being brought before Kings and Rulers for my Names sake Luk. 21. 12. And this shall turn to you for a testimony against them ver 13. And you shall be brought before Gouernors and Kings for my Names sake for a testimony against them and against the Gentiles Mat. 10. 18. Others had tryalls of cruell mockings and scourges yea moreouer of bonds and imprisonment Heb. 11. 36. The trying of your faith worketh patience Iam. 1. 3. Ye are in heauinesse through manifold tentations 1 Pet. 1. 6. That the triall of your faith being much more precious then Gold though it bee tryed with fire might be found vnto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Iesus Christ ver 7. Brethren account it exceeding great ioy when ye fall into diuers tentations Iam. 1. 2. I reioyce in my sufferings Col. 1. 24. Your sorrow shall bee turned into ioy 10. 16. 20. As many as I loue I rebuke and châ—sten Reu. 3. 19. Whom the Lord loueth he chasteueth and hee scourgeth euery son that he receiueth Heb. 12. 6. No chastening for the time seemeth to bee ioyous but grieuous Neuerthelesse afterwards it yeeldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousnesse to them that are exercised thereby ver 11. He chasteneth vs for our profit that we might be partakers of his holinesse ver 10. Let patience haue her perfect worke that ye may be perfect and entire lacking nothing Iames. 1. 4. By patience ye shall inherite the promises Heb. 6. 12. By your patience possesse your soules Luke 21. 19. Because thou hast kept the world of my patience I will keepe thee from the houre of tentation Reu. 3. 10. Whosoeuer confesseth me before men I will confesse him before my Father which is in heâ—uen Luke 12. 8. Verily I say vnto you that no man that hath forsaken house or lands for my sake but he shall receiue an hundred fold and in the world to come life euerlasting Mark 10. 29. If ye suffer for righteousnesse sake blessed are ye yea feare not their feare neither be troubled 1. Pet. 3. 14. But sanctifie the Lord in your hearts ver 5. If we suffer with him wee shall also raigne with him Rom. 8. 17. The afflictions of this present life are not worthy the glory that shall be reuealed ver 18. Blessed are they that suffer for righteousnesse sake for their is the Kingdome of heauen Mat. 5. 10. THE PRAYER FOR Thursday euening consisting of Petitions sutable to the workes of redemption on this day Motiues to patience agreeable to the precedent exhortation GRacious Lord and Sauiour who this day didst eate the Passeouer and went eating in thy Supper Suppe with me in the Euening of this life and grant that I may Dine with thee in thy day of eternitie Gracious Redeemer who this day gauest thy selfe to me in the Sacrament first instituted by thee and
thy Redemption Quicken Thy thankesgiuing by the Hymne Thy sanctity and faith by the exhortation Thy zeale and deuotion by the prayer ensuing The Hymne for Friday Morning being the sixt day from the CREATION O Come let vs worship and fall downe and kneele before the Lord our Maker Psal. 95. 6. For he is the Lord our God and wee are the people of his pasture and the sheepe of his hands v. 7. What is man Lord that thou art so mindfull of him or the sonne of man that thou visitest him Psal. 8. 4. Thou madest him little lower then the angels to crown him with glory and worship v. 5. Thou madest him to haue dominion ouer thy workes and thou hast put all things in subiection vnder his feet v. 6. All Sheep and Oxen yea and the beasts of the field v. 7. The Fowles of the aire and the Fishes of the Sea and whatsoeuer walketh through the paths of the seas ver 8. O Lord our gouernor how excellent c. v. 9. The Admonition for Friday Morning being an Exhortation to Holinesse of life and conuersation the ninth BEATITVDE THE ANALYSIS We are in holy Scriptures inuited perswaded to Holinesse by 1 Precepts in the Lawe Gospell 2 The patterne of sanctitie in God the Father Sonne Spirit 3 The Tiâ—les and Attributes of the Church 4 The state of Creation at the fiâ—st 5 The nature of our Vocation 6 The end of our Redemption 7 The effect of Sanctification 8 The condition of Glorification 9 The fruites of holinesse which are 1 Ioy. 2 Peace 3 Prosperitie 4 Dignitie 5 Euerlasting happinesse THE TEXTS BE ye holy for I the Lord your God am holy Reuel 11. 44. Giue your members seruants vnto righteousnesse in holinesse Rom. 6. 19. Follow peace with all men and holinesse Heb. 12. 14. Put on the new man which after God is created in true holinesse Eph. 4. 24. Be in behauiour as becometh holinesse Tit. 2. 3. As he that called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of conuersation 1. Pet. 1. 15. Thou wilt not suffer thy holy one to see corruption Act. 2. 27. But ye denied the holy one and the iust Acts 3. 14. Holy men spake as they were moued by the holy Ghost 2. Pet. 1. 21. Shee was found with child of the holy Ghost Mat. 1. 18. He will baptise you with the holy Ghost and with fire Mat. 3. 11. The Spirit of sanctification Rom. 1. 4. The Temple of God is holy which Temple ye are 1. Cor. 3. 17. That he might present to himselfe a glorious Church not hauing spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish Eph. 5. 27. Created after the Image of God in righteousnesse and true holinesse Eph. 4. 24. God hath not called vs to vncleanenesse but to holinesse 1. Thess. 4. 7. Let your conuersation be such as becometh the Gospel Phil. 1. 21. Walke worthy of the Lord Col. 1. 10. I beseech you that ye walke worthy the calling whereunto ye are called He hath visited and redeemed his people c. That we might serue him without feare in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of our life Luke 1. 71. Being freed from sinne and made seruants to God ye haue your fruite in holinesse and the end euerlasting life Rom. 6. 21. Holinesse without which no man shall see the Lord Heb. 12. 4. Reioyce in the Lord alwayes and againe I say reioyce Phil. 34. Reioyce in the Lord ô ye righteous and be glad all ye that are true of heart Psal. 31. 12. Psal. 32. 1. Ye reioyce with ioy vnspeakeable and full of glorie 1. Pet. 1. 8. The Kingdome of God is righteousnesse and peace and ioy in the holy Ghost Rom. 14. 17. Blessed is he that hath not walked in the wayes c. Psal. 1. 2. But his delight is in the law of God c. Psal. 1. 3. His leafe shall not wither and whatsoeuer he doth it shall prosper Psal. 1. 4. Those that honor me I wil honor If thou call the Sabbath thy delight the holy of tho Lord and shalt honour him I will cause thee to possesse the high places of the earth Isa. 56. 23. 24. Blessed are all those that are vndefiled in the way walk in the Law of the Lord Psal. 119. 1. We looke for a new heauen a new earth in which dwelleth righteousnesse 2 Pet. 3. 13. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection on such the second death hath no power but they shall be Priests of God and of Christ and shall raigne with him Reu. 20 6. And I Iohn saw the holy Citie new Ierusalem comming downe from God out of heauen prepared as a Bride adorned for her husband Reu. 21. 2. Hee shewed mee that great Citie new Ierusalem Verse 10. The way to the 〈…〉 all was not yet made manifest Heb. 9. 8. By his owne bloud he entred in once to the holy place hauing obtained eternall Redemption for vs verse 12. The Prayer for Friday Morning being the sixt day from the Creation Composed of Petitions sutable to the worke of the day Motiues to 〈…〉 agreeable to the precedent exhortation GLOrious Creator and gratious Sauiour of mankind I lift vp mine eyes hands to thee whose hands this day made and fashioned me I lift vp my heart vnto thee whoâ—e heart was this day pierced for my transgressions I lift vp my bodie and soule to thee who this day wast lifted vpon the Crosse to offer an infinite sacrifice for the expiation of the sinnes of the whole world Let thy hands which fashioned and formed me sustaine and support me let thine armes which thou stretchedst on the Crosse embrace me and hold me fast to thee that nothing may seuer me froÌ„ thee Almightie and most wise Creator who hast made me of nothing suffer me not to make my selfe worse then nothing Gracious Redeemer who hast saued that which was lost loose not that which thou hast saued Though the malice of Sathan be great yet thy goodnesse is greater Though my sinnes be exceeding many yet thy mercies exceede them though my corruptions be strong yet thy grace is stronger Let it not be in my power or the power of any creature either in heauen or in earth to marre thy best worke to deface thine Image which first thou stampedst in me and after I had slurried and almost raced it out thou hast by grace renewed it according to the first patterne in holinesse and righteousnesse When thou madest me light I made my selfe darkenesse but thou hast turned my darkenesse into light When I was freed I enthralled my selfe but thou hast freed me when I was straight I crooked my will but thou hast rectified it when I was whole I maimed my selfe but thou hast healed me when I was happie I made my selfe miserable but thou hast
beleeueth in him should not perish Ioh. 3. 15. The Father hath committed all iudgement to the Sonne that all men should honour the Sonne as the Father Ioh. 5. 23. There is another that beareth witnesse of me and I know that the witnesse he witnesseth of me is true Ioh. 5. 32. The Father who hath sent me himselfe beareth witnesse of me Ioh. 5. 37. The Lord sware and will not repent thou art a Priest for euer after the order of Melchizedeck Psal. 110. 4. God willing more aboundantly to shew to the heires of promise the immutabilitie of his counsell confirmed it with an oath Heb. 6. 17. That by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lye we might haue a strong consolation who haue flied for refuge to lay hold vpon the hope set before vs ver 18. Go into all the world he that beleeueth and is baptized shall be saued he that beleeueth not shall be damned Mar. 16. 16. Verily I say vnto you if any man keepe my sayings he shall neuer see death Ioh 8. 51. I am the resurrection and the life he that beleeueth in me though he were dead yet shall he liue Ioh. 11. 25. And whosoeuer liueth and beleeueth in me shall neuer die v. 26. For their sakes I sanctifie my selfe that they also might be sanctified through the truth Ioh. 17. 19. Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall beleeue in me through their word ver 20. The Spirit it selfe beareth witnesse to our spirits that we are the children of God Rom. 8. 16. He which stablisheth vs with Christ and hath annointed vs 2. Cor. 1. 21. Who hath also sealed vs and giuen the earnest of his Spirit in our hearts ver 22. He that wrought vs for the selfe same thing is God who also hath giuen vnto vs the earnest of the Spirit After that ye beleeued ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise Eph. 1. 13. Which is the earnest of our inheritance vntill the redemption of the purchased possession vnto the praise of his glorie ver 14. He that receiued his testimonie hath set to his seale that God is true Ioh. 3. 33. He receiued the seale of righteousnesse Rom. 4. 11. Grieue not the holy Spirit of God whereby ye are sealed to the day of redemption Eph. 4. â—0 If ye haue faith and doubt not ye shall not onely do this which is done to the figge-tree but also if ye say to this mountaine Be thou remoued and be thou cast into the sea it shall be done Mat. 21. 21. If I had all faith so that I could remoue mountaines c. 1. Cor. 1â— 2. Thesâ— signes shall follow them that beleeue in my Name they shall cast out diuels they shall speake with new tongues Mar. 16 17. They shall take vp serpents and if they drinke any deadly thing it shall not hurt them they shall lay hands on the sicke and they shall recouer ver 18. Verily verily I say vnto you he that beleeueth on me the workes which I do shall he do also and greater workes then these shall he do Ioh. 14. 12. See Heb. 11 from the 14. verse to the 35. Aboue all take the shield of faith whereby ye shall be able to quench all the fierie darts of the wicked Eph. 6. 16. Your aduersarie the diuell as a roaring Lyon walketh about seeking whom he may deuour 1. Pet. 5. 8. Whom resist stedfast in the faith ver 9. This is the victorie that ouer-commeth the world euen our faith 1. Ioh. 5. 4. Who is he that ouercometh the world He that beleeueth c. ver 5. For ye are the children of God by faith in Iesus Christ Gal. 3. 26. God who knoweth the heart bore them witnesse giuing them the holy Ghost as he did vnto vs Acts 15. 8. And put no difference betweene vs and them purifying their hearts by faith Acts 15. 9. Whosoeuer beleeueth in me shall not be ashamed Rom. 9. 33. Behold I lay in Sion a chiefe corner stone elect and pretious and he that beleeueth on him shall not be confounded 1. Pet. 2. 6. See Isa. 28. 16. Psal. 118. 22. Mat. 21. 42. Acts 4. 12. Iesus seeing his faith said Son be of good cheere thy sinnes be forgiuen thee Mat. 9. 2. Daughter be of good comfort thy faith hath made thee whole ver 21. Behold his soule which is lifted vp in him is not vpright but the Iust shall liue by his faith Heb. 2. 4. And Abraham beleeued in the Lord and it was counted to him for righteousnesse Gen. 15. 6. And by him all that beleeue are iustified from all things from which ye could not be iustified by the Law of Moses Acts 13. 39. The righteousnesse of God without the Law is manifested being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets Rom. 3. 21. Euen the righteousnesse of God by the faith of Iesus Christ to all that beleeue ver 22. Whom God hath set foorth to be a propitiation through faith in his bloud ver 25. It is one God which iustifieth circumcision by faith and vncircumcision through faith ver 30. To him that worketh not but beleeueth on him that iustifieth the vngodly his faith is counted for righteousnesse Rom. 4. 5. 6 7. 8. verses Being iustified by faith we haue peace with God Rom. 5. 1. With the heart man beleeueth to righteousnesse Rom 10. 10. Knowing that a man is not iustified by the workes of the law but by the faith of Iesus Christ that 〈…〉 iustified by the faith of Christ and not by the workes of the law Gal. 2. 16. Who are kept by the power of God through faith vnto saluation 1. Pet. 1. 5. For by grace ye are saued through faith Eph 2. 8. Receiuing the end of our faith the saluation of our soules 1. Pet. 1. 9. I haue finished my course I haue kept the faith 2. Tim. 4. 7. From hence foorth is laide vp for me a crowne of righteousnesse which the Lord the righteous Iudge shall giue me at that day and not to me onely but to all them that loue his comming ver 8. Be faithfull vnto the death and I will giue thee a crowne of life Reuel 2. 10. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him Psal. 2. vlt. Verily I say vnto you whosoeuer heareth my word and beleeueth him that sent me hath euerlasting life shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death to life Ioh. 5. 24. THE PRAYER FOR Friday Euening composed of Petitions sutable to the worke of the day Motiues to faith in Christ agreeable to the precedent exhortation MOst bountifull and mercifull Lord God who this day createdst man and redeemedst him formedst and reformedst him inspiredst him with the breath of life and expiredst and diedst for him vpon the Crosse shew thy selfe a faithfull Creator in preseruing thine owne workes and a faithfull Redeemer in
I belieue Lord helpe my vnbeliefe Is it not as easy for thee to raise mee out of ashes as at the first to reare me out of the dust to send backe my Spirit into my body as at the first to breathe it in I see the seede in the ground the plants in the garden dye before they rise and spring vp I see wormes and flies and diuerse other creatures that spend the winter season in a kinde of death reuiue in the Spring I see my selfe dead euery night and aliue in the morning Why then should I call in question this Article of my beliefe of all most comfortable Lord who this euening dist cast Adam into a dead sleepe and thy selfe fellest asleepe on the bedde of thy Crosse and awakedst him againe and raisedst thy selfe out of thy sleepe of death sanctifie my rest and sleepe this night vnto me that I may by it not only be strengthened in my body and reuiued from my bed of slumber to rise to my labour and trauell the next morning but also more confirmed in my faith touching the resurrection of this my body out of the bedde of the graue at the last day So bee it Amen The close out of Scripture To him that loued vs and washed our sinnes in his blood and made vs Kings and Priests to God euen his Father bee glory and dominion for euermore Amen Reu. 1. 5 6. Saturdayes Deuotion The Father resteth from the workes of Creation IN the seauenth day God ended his worke which he had made and the seauenth day he rested from all his worke which he had made Gen. 2. 2. So God blessed the seauenth day and sanctified it because that in it hee had rested from all his worke which God had created and made verse 3. The Sonne resteth in the Sepulcher ANd when the euen was come there came a rich man of Arimathea named Ioseph who had also himselfe bin Iesus's Disciple Mat. 27. 57. He went to Pilate and asked the body of Iesus And Pilate commanded the body to bee deliuered verse 58. So Ioseph tooke the body and wrapped it in a cleane linnen cloth verse 59. And put it in his new Tombe which he had hewen out in a Rocke and rolled a great stone to the doore of the Sepulcher and departed verse 60. And there was Mary Magdalene and the other Mary sitting ouer against the Sepulcher verse 61. Now the next day that followed the day of the preparation the chiefe Priests and Pharisees came together to Pilate verse 62. Saying Sir we remember that that deceiuer sayed while hee was yet aliue After three dayes I will rise againe verse 63. Command therefore that the Sepulcher be made sure vntill the third day left his Disciples come by night and steale him away and say vnto the people He is risen from the dead so the last error will bee worse then the first verse 64. Pilate saide vnto them Yee haue a watch goe your way make it as sure as you can verse 65. So they went and made the Sepulcher sure sealing the stone and setting a watch verse 66. For thine instruction meditate In the morning on the Father's rest from works of Creation In the euening on the Sonn's works of Redemption For thy comfort apply the benefits of both to thy selfe which are A holy rest here and happy rest hereafter Euerlasting For thy correction reprooue thy prophaning God's holy Sabbath by First Worldly businesse Secondly Carnal pleasures Thirdly Omitting holy duties Fourthly Performing them Negligently Vnwillingly Quicken thy Preparation to holy duties by the Psalme Constancy in life and death by the Admonition Zeale Deuotion and resolution by the Prayer ensuing The Hymne for Saturday Morning I Haue remembred thy Name ô Lord in the night season and haue kept thy Law Psal. 119. 57. I thought on my waies and turned my feete to thy testimonies verse 59. I preuented the dawning of the morning and cryed I hoped in thy Word v. 147. Heare my voice according to thy louing kindnesse ô Lord quicken mee according to thy iudgements verse 149. Seauen times a day doe I praise thee according to thy righteous iudgement v. 164. Great peace haue they that loue thy Law and nothing shall offend them verse 165. I haue longed for thy saluation ô Lord thy Law is my delight verse 174. Deliuer me ô Lord from the wicked which is a sword of thine Psal. 17. 13. From men which are thy hand ô Lord from men of the world which haue their portion in this life and whose bellies thou fillest with thy hid treasures verse 14. My heart is pained within me and the terrors of death are fallen vpon me Psal. 55. 4. Fearefulnesse and trembling are come vpon me and horror hath ouerwhelmed me v. 5. O that I had wings like a Doue for then would I fly away and be at rest v. 6. I would hasten my escape from the windy storme and tempest v. 8. An Admonition for Saturday Morning being an exhortation to perseuerance the twelfth BEATITVDE All that expect the reward of Pietie must striue and pray for perseuerance and abhorre and shunne falling away from grace because in Scripture The one is Commanded by God Commended in his Saints Encouraged vnto by promises of Certaine reward Saluation Assured cōfort An incorruptible Crowne of glorie The other is Vehemently disswaded Seuerely censured Dreadfully threatned Eternally punished THE TEXTS VVAtch yee therefore and pray continually Luk. 21. 36. Continue yee in loue Ioh 15. 9. Take heede to thy selfe and to thy Doctrine continue in them 1 Tim 4. 16. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast bin assured of 2 Tim 3. 14. Let vs hold fast our profession Heb. 4. 14. Hold fast till I come Reu. 2. 25. Reioycing in hope patient in tribulation continuing instant in prayer Rom. 12. 12. Dearely beloued and longed for my ioy and crowne stand fast in the Lord Phil. 4. 1. Paul and Barnabas perswaded them to continue in the grace of God Acts 13. 43. Confirming the soules of the disciple◠and exhorting them to continue in aith Act. 14. 22. But ye brethren be not wearie in well doing 2. Thess. 3. 13. Let brotherly loue continue Heb. 13. 1. Stand fast in one spirit with one minde striuing together for the faith of the Gospel Phil. 1. 17. Therefore my brethren be ye stedfast vnmoueable alwayes aboūding in the worke of the Lord 1. Cor. 15. 28. Watch ye stand fast in the faith acquit you like men 1. Cor. 16. 13. Stand fast therefore in the libertie wherewith Christ hath made vs free Gal. 5. 1. Wherefore take vnto you the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand in the euill day and hauing done all stand fast Eph. 6. 13. Brethren stand fast hold the traditions which ye haue beene taught 2. Thess. 2. 13. Whom resist steadfast in the faith 1. Pet. 5. 9. Ye therefore seeing ye know these things beware lest yee also
dayes as it were a span long Psal. 39. 6. Wee are but as yesterday our dayes on earth are a shadow Iob 8. 9. What man is hee that liueth and shall not see death Psal 89. 47. All flesh is grasse and the glory of it as the flower 1 Pet 1. 24. As the flower of grasse hee shall passe away Iam. 1. 10. What is our life It is a Vapour that appeareth for a little time and vanisheth away Iam. 4. 14. Man his dayes are determined the number of his months are with thee thou hast appointed him his bounds that hee cannot passe Iob. 14. 5. Lord let me know mine end and the number of my dayes Psal. 39. 5. I will adde vnto thy dayes fifteene yeeres Isa 38. 5. O teach vs to number our dayes c. Psal. 90. 12. Whether we dye or liue wee are the Lords Rom. 14. 8. The right vse of Fasting consisteth in the 1 Manner that it be sincere not hypocriticall 2 Measure that it be not immoderate 3 Cause or end which must bee either 1 To tame and subdue the flesh such was Paul's fast I beate downe my bodie 2 To testifie our humiliation and sorrow for our sinnes such was Ezra's and the Nineuites fast 3 To quicken zeale and deuotion such was Hanna's fast Luke 2. The abuse of Fast likewise is seene in the 1 Manner if wee abstaine from one kinde of meate and feede daintily on another forbeare one meale and glut our selues another 2 Measure if we continue or fast so long that we much impaire our strength or endanger our health 3 Cause or end 1 If we abstaine from any kind of meat out of an opinion and erroneous scruple of conscience that it is of it selfe vncleane as the Tatians and Encratites did or as being now forbidden vs vnder the Gospell as some Iudaising Christians at this day 2 If we abstaine from all or any kind of meate to merit or satisfie thereby as Papists doe 3 If wee keepe a Fast to colour any vngodly or malicious purpose as Iezebel did The second Table of Fasting The Lord is faithfull who shall keepe you from euill 2 Thes. 3. 3. Commit the keeping of their soules to him who is a faithfull Creator 1 Pet. 4. 19. I know whom I haue trusted and I am perswaded that he is able to keepe that which I haue committed vnto him against that day 2 Tim. 1. 12. For this end Christ dyed and rose and reuiued that he might be Lord both of the liuing and the dead Rom. 14. 9. In that hee dyed hee dyed to sinne once but in that hee liueth hee liueth to God Rom. 6. 10. If we be dead with Christ wee belieue that wee shall also liue with him verse 8. I was dead I am aliue and I liue for euer and I haue the keys of death and of hell Reu. 1. 18. I am the resurrection and the life Hee that beleeueth in mee though he were dead yet shall he liue Ioh. 11. 25. Christ hath abolished death and brought life and immortality to light by the Gospell 2 Tim. 1. 10. Death is swallowed vp into victory 1 Cor. 15. 54. O death where is thy sting O graue where is thy victory v. 55. The sting of death is sinne and the strength of sinne is the Law verse 56. But thankes bee to God who hath giuen vs victory through our Lord Iesus Christ verse 57. Hee also tooke part of the same that through death hee might destroy him that had the power of death euen the diuell Heb. â— 14. Our friend Lazarus sleepeth Ioh 11. 11. And when hee had thus spoken he fell asleepe Acts 7. 60. And many are fallen asleepe 1 Cor. 11. 10. Which are asleepe in Christ 1 Cor. 15. 18. Christ is risen from the dead the first fruits of them that sleepe verse 20. Christ to me is life and to die is gaine Phil. 1. 21. Whosoeuer loseth his life for my sake shall saue it Mar. 8. 35. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord Reu. 14. 13. For they rest from their labours verse 16. There remaineth a rest for the people of God Heb. 4. 9. God shall wipe away all teares from their eyes Reu. 1. 17. They shall hunger no more nor thirst no more neither shall the Sun light on them nor any heate Reu. 7. 16. Hee that is dead is free from sinne Rom. 6. 7. We looke for a new heauen in which dwelleth righteousnesse 2 Pet. 3. 13. And there shall in no wise enter any thing that defileth neither whatsoeuer worketh abomination or maketh a lye Reu. 21. 27. For without shall bee doggs and sorcerers and whoremongers and murderers and idolaters and whosoeuer loueth or maketh a lie Reu. 22. 15. The creature shall be deliuered from bondage Rom. 8. 21. His the tempters place was no more found Reu. 12. 8. Your ioy shall no man take away from you Ioh. 16. 22. Lord now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace according to thy word Luke 2. â—9 I desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ for that is best of all Phil. 1. 23. For we know that if the house of this earthly Tabernacle were dissolued we should haue a building of God an house not made with hands eternall in the heauens 2 Cor. 5. 1. For in this we groane earnestly desiring to be clothed vpon with our house which is from heauen verse 2. We are willing rather to bee absent from the body and present with the Lord v. 7. So God loued the world that he gaue his onely begotten Son that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life Ioh. 3. 16. He that beleeueth on him is not condemned v. 18. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the euidence of things not seene Heb. 11. 1. There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus Ro. 8. 1. I am perswaded that neither life nor death c. shall be able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord v. vlt. We know that wee are passed from death to life because wee oue the brethren 1 Iohn 3. 14. Our conuersation is in heauen from whence we looke for the Sauiour the Lord Iesus Christ Phil. 3. 20. Hope maketh not ashamed Rom. 5. 5. If we hope for that we see not then doe we with patience waite for it Rom. 8. 25. Reioycing in hope Rom. 12. 22 I would not haue you ignorant concerning them which are fallen asleepe that ye sorrow not as they which haue no hope 1 Thes. 4. 13. The full assurance of hope vnto the end Heb. 6. 11. Let vs hold fast the profession of our hope vnto the end for he is faithfull that promiseth Heb. 10 23. Which hope we haue as an anchor of the soule both sure and stedfast and which entereth to that within the veile Heb. 6. 19.
forget her but wilt giue her a man-childe I will giue him to the Lord all the dayes of his life 1 Sam. ◠11. Loe children and the fruit of the wombe are an heritage and gift that commeth of the Lord Psal. 127. 4. Like as arrowes in the hand of a gyant euen so are young children v. 5. Happie is the man that hath his quiuer full of them they shall not be ashamed when they speake with their enemies in the gate v. 6. Thou fillest their belly with thy hid treasure Psal. 17. 14. Elizabeth said Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the daies wherein he looked on me to take away my reproach among men Luke 1. 25. Vnto the woman he said I will greatly multiply thy sorrowe and thy conception In sorrow shalt thou bring forth children Gen. 3. 16. Adam was not deceiued but the woman being deceiued was in the transgression 1 Tim. 2. 14. A woman when she is in traueile hath sorrow because her howre is come but as soone as shee is deliuered of a childe shee remembreth no more her anguish for ioy that a man is borne into the world Ioh. 16. 21. Be fruitfull and multiply and replenish the earth Gen. 1. 28. Be ye fruitfull and multiply and bring forth abundantly on the earth Gen. 9. 7. Notwithstanding she shall be saued in childe bearing if they continue in faith and charity holines sobriety 1 Tim ◠15. A Psalme for women in their trauaile IN thee ô Lord doe I put my trust let me neuer be put to confusion Psal. 71. 1. Deliuer mee in thy righteousnes and cause me to escape incline thine eare vnto me and saue me v. 2. Lord strengthen mee vpon the bed of languishing make all my bed in my sicknesse Psal. 41. 3. Lord be mercifull vnto me heale my soule for I haue sinned against thee v. 4. Make haste ô God to deliuer me make haste ô Lord to helpe me Psal. 70. 1. For thou art my hope ô Lord God thou art my trust from my youth Psal. 71. 5. By thee haue I bin holden vp euer since I was borne thou art hee that tooke mee out of my mothers wombe my praise shall be continually of thee v. 6. I am feeble and sore broken I haue roared by reason of the disquietnesse of my heart Psal. 38. 8. Lord all my desire is before thee and my groaning is not hid from thee v. 9. My soule is bowed downe to the dust my belly cleaueth to the earth Psal. 44. 21. Make haste to helpe mee ô Lord my saluation Psal. 38. 22. Lord heare me in this day of my trouble thy name ô God of Iacob defend me Psal. 20. 1. Send mee helpe from the Sanctuary and strengthen me out of Sion v. 2. Blesse me Lord and blesse the fruit of my wombe A Prayer for a woman in time of her trauaile O Most righteous and mercifull God who hast iustly inflicted the sorrowes vpon me which I now endure for the transgressions of Eue the Mother of the liuing and yet in iudgement remembring mercie hast sanctified them to the propagation of thy Church and doest graciously and wonderfully strengthen and help thy seruants in them both to ouercome the paines and escape the danger Haue pitty vpon the feeble estate of thy poore Hand maid vnable without thy speciall assistance to goe through this great worke of patience and labour My first parent did eate the sowre grapes and my teeth are set on edge and I now taste the bitternesse of that forbidden fruit and from my heart loathe and detest it I confesse gracious Lord that both my selfe my childe yet vnborne haue deserued to perish in our sin originall or actuall and I humbly submit it and my selfe to thy gracious will and pleasure yet my hope is in that blessed seede of the woman that brake the Serpent's head that thou hast a blessing in store for me and that I beare in my wombe of which I am as much in trauaile in my soule to bring it forth to thee and make it thine as I am in labour in my body to bring it forth to me and make it mine Blesse me deare Father in both workes that of nature and this of grace Lord punish not the childe for the parents sake but preserue the parent for the child's sake that both may liue and praise thy Name Sanctifie vnto mee these paines and throwes that they may serue not onely as a corasiue for sinnes past but also as a preseruatiue against sinne to come Blesse me in the vse of all ordinarie meanes for my sake bearing and bringing forth my childe Comfort my fainting heart and strengthen my weake body and asswage my bitter pangs and sorrowes and sweeten them with an assured hope of a happie and speedy exchange of them into comfort and ioy that a childe is borne into the world Lord who wert present with me at my conception be present with me in the safe deliuery of that I haue conceiued Let thy hand which formed and fashioned my babe in my wombe keepe all the parts and members of it in due shape substance proportion that the notes of the parent's sin bee not seene in the markes maimes and defects of the childe It is my labour but it is thy work ô Lord to make it a liuing instrument of thy glory Perfect I beseech thee the worke thou hast begunne and wrought in mee thine vnworthy worke-house Make it like all the works of the creation to which thine own mouth gaue testimony that they were perfect good Deale not with me according to my wickednes but according to thy gracious goodnesse Carrie such a hand ouer me in al time of my labour grieuous paines and after my deliuery also that I may euer praise and magnifie thee for the effects of thy grace in my patience of thy power in my strength of thy prouidence in my timely deliuery and thy great mercy in my safety and the preseruation of my fruit for which I humbly beg a blessing from thee and both dedicate it and my selfe to thee Receiue both in and for thy holy childe Iesus's sake to whom with thee and the blessed Spirit be all honour praise and thanksgiuing now and for euer Amen The Child-bearing womans Deuotion after her Deliuerie The Admonition to confidence in God THE ANALYSIS For confidence in God in greatest and imminent dangers we haue in Scripture 1 Precepts 2 Presidents in ABRAHAM SARAH DAVID MOSES ELIAH HESTER IOB SHADRACH MESECH and ABEDNEGO IONAH PETER 3 Reasons drawn frō God his Names of Faithfull Creatour Preseruer of men Mighty deliuerer Sauiour Attributes Omnipotencie Goodnesse Promises Works or performances THE TEXTS OFFER the Sacrifice of righteousnesse and put your trust in the Lord Psal. 4. 5. Put thou thy trust in the Lord and be doing good Psal. 37. 3. Commit thy way vnto the Lord and put thy trust in him v. 5. Charge the rich that they
trust not in vncertaine riches but in the liuing God c. 1 Tim. 6. 17. In him shall the Gentiles trust Rom. 15. 12. God will prouide a Lambe for a burnt offering Gen. 22. 8. Abraham aboue hope belieued vnder hope that he should bee the Father of many Nations Rom. 4. 15. Through faith Sarah receiued strength to conceiue Seede and was deliuered when she was past age because shee iudged him faithfull which had promised Heb. 11. 11. Moses said Feare not stand stil and behold the saluation of the Lord which hee will shew you this day Exod. 14. 13. Dauid said the Lord that deliuered me out of the pawe of the Lyon and out of rhe pawe of the Beare he will deliuer mee out of the hand of this Philistine 1 Sam. 17. 37. Eliah said As the Lord liueth before whom I stand I will surely shew my selfe vnto Ahab this day 1 Kings 18. 15. I also and my Maides wil fast and so I will goe to the King which is not according to the Law and if I perish I perish Hester 4. 16. I am sure that my Reedemer liueth c. Mine eyes shall behold him though my reines bee consumed within me Iob 19. 25. see Iob. 13. 15. Shadrach Meshach Abednego answered We are not carefull to answer thee in this matter Daniel 3. 16. Behold our God whom wee serue is able to deliuer vs from the hot fiery Furnace and he will deliuer vs out of thy hands ô King v. 17. Ionah prayed to the Lord out of the fishes belly Ionah 2. 1. I said I am cast away out of thy sight yet will I looke againe toward thine holy Temple v. 4. Commit their soules to him in well doing as a faithfull Creator 1 Pet. 4. 19. God is faithfull which will not suffer you to bee tempted aboue that you are able but will euen giue the issue with the tentation 1 Cor. 10. 13. God is faithfull that our words to you were Yea and Amen 2 Cor. 1. 18. All the promises of God in him are Yea and Amen v. 20. God is the Sauiour of all men especially of them that beleeue 1 Tim. 4. 10. The Lord is my strength my stonie rocke my Sauiour my might my buckler c. Psal. 18. 1. Casting all your care vpon God for he careth for you 1 Pet. 5. 7. To him that is able to doe exceeding abundantly aboue all that we aske or thinke Eph. 3. 20. He is able to subdue all things vnto himselfe Phil. 3. 21. We receiued the Sentence of death in our selues that wee should not trust in our selues but in God which raiseth the dead 2 Cor. 1. 9. Who deliuered vs from so great a death and doth deliuer vs in whom we trust that hee also will deliuer vs v. 10. God is able to make all grace to abound towards you that ye alwaies hauing all sufficiency in all things may abound in euery good worke 2 Corinthians 9. 8. With God all things are possible Mat. 19. 16. Who is able to keepe that which is committed to him till that day 2 Tim. 1. 12. God is good vnto all men and his mercy is ouer all his workes Psal. 145. 9. Who so dwelleth vnder the defence of the most High shall abide vnder the shadow of the Almighty Psal. 91. 1. A thousand shall fall beside thee and ten thousand at thy right hand but it shall not come nigh thee v. 7. God is faithfull and will establish vs and keepe vs from euill 2. Thes. 3. 3. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him Psal. 2. vlt. Trust thou in the Lord and verily thou shalt be fedde Psal. 37. 3. Put thy trust in him and hee shall bring it to passe ver 5. Hungry thirsty their soule fainted in them Psal. 107. 5. So they cried vnto the Lord in their trouble and hee deliuered them out of their distresse ver 6. vide 13. 19. 28. The men put forth their hands and they pulled Lot into the house Gen. 19. 20. And smote the men that were at the dore with blindnesse v. 21. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the Sea as on the ground ver 23. And the Rauens brought him bread and flesh in the morning and bread and flesh in the euening c. 1. King 17. 6. The Captaine of fifty sayd Thus sayth the man of GOD Come downe 2. King 1. 9. And there came downe fire from Heauen and consumed him and his fiftie ver 10. There was a great famine in Samaria and they besieged it till an Asses head was sold for eight pieces of siluer and the fourth part of a kab of doues dung for fiue pieces of siluer 2. King 6. 25. Elisha sayd To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flowre be sold for a shekell and two measures of barlie for a shekell and it came to passe chap. 7. ver 16. So Shadrach Meshech and Abednego came forth of the fierie furnace Dan. 3. 26. There was not a haire of their heads singed neither were their coates changed neither had the smell of fire passed on them verse 27. Daniel sayd My God hath sent his angel shut the Lyons mouth that they haue not hurt mee c. Dan. 6. 22. And the Lord spake to the fish and the fish vomited out Ionah on the drie land Ionah 2. 10. And behold the Angel of the Lord came to Peter and a light shined in the prison and hee smote Peter on the side and raised him saying Arise vp quickly And his chaines fell from his hands Acts 12. 20. When they passed the first and second watch they came to the yron gate which opened to them of its owne accord c. A THANKSGIVING for safe Deliuery AETernall praises thanks bee rendered to thee ó Lord of my health and strength in whose hands are the waies of life and issues of death I looked for extreme danger and behold safetie I looked for out-cries of sorrow but behold shoutes of ioy I looked for sudden death and behold present life to me and my sweete babe O that my heart were a skilfull inditer and my tongue as the pen of a ready scribe to write downe thy praises and record the wonderous things thou hast done for my soule Thou hast deliuered my life from death mine eyes from teares and my feete from falling Thou hast dealt graciously with mee aboue my desert enabled me aboue my strength deliuered me aboue my hope and therefore I will reioyce in thee aboue measure magnifie thee without end Thou hast shut the mouth of the pit which would haue swallowed mee â—herefore will I open my mouth in thy praises Thou hast made good thy promises vnto mee therefore I will make good my vowes vnto thee Thou hast giuen mee the fruite of my wombe therefore will I returne vnto
of my paine and much more troubled and terrified in minde with the sence of my sinne and feare of thy heauie displeasure My paines and pangs of my sicknes O Lord are bitter yet the remembrance of my sin is more bitter vnto mee and the apprehension of thy wrath far exceedeth both Whilest I enioyed health and prosperitie the ioy of all my ioyes was in thy loue and so now in my misery sicknes the sorrow of all my sorrowes and anguish of all my paines is in the feeling of thy wrath This is the very venome of the arrow that sticketh in me It is gall to my taste and wormwood to my mouth and the sharpest vineger in my festered sores and a burning fire in my bones I confesse to thy glory and my shame that of very faithfulnesse and goodnesse to mee thou hast layd this scourge vpon me to the end that by the stripes of my flesh my spirit might be healed and saued in the day of my Lord IESV I fostered snakes secretly in my bosome I cherished priuate sin in my conscience now they haue stung me I tooke too much delight in worldly comforts and therefore thou hast sawced them with sorrowes My wanton flesh pampered vp with ease and daintie fare spurned at thy word and grew head-strong against thy Spirit and therefore thou hast tamed it with the sharpe whip I was in a kind of a spirituall Lethargie till thou didst awake me with the stroke of thy hand There grew a Call ouer my conscience which this thy chastisement hath plucked away I felt an Itch of impure lusts desires in all parts of my soule but thy Rod hath killed it I valued not the benefit of health as I should haue done and therefore thou hast taught me it by my paine In my prosperity I remembred not the afflictions of my brethren and therefore thou hast afflicted mee like vnto them I wept not for the calamities of thy people I shed no teares for the publike ruines of the Church and therefore thou hast drawne from mee abundance of them for my priuate griefes I put from mee still the euill day and therefore thou hast brought it neere vnto mee All this haue I done and therefore most iustly all this do I suffer And because I know that it is good for mee thus to be disciplined by thee I humble my selfe vnder thy mighty hand and kisse this thy Rod which imprints in my flesh a sence of my sinne and a marke of thy loue and maketh my body black and blew but I trust through thy grace shall make my soule appeare faire and beautifull in thine eyes Oh that I could frame my selfe to perfect patience that my abiding thy will might as wel please thee as my disobeying thy will hath displeased thee My spirit is willing but my flesh is weake I striue with the rebellions of my heart and corruptions but they are too strong for mee Faine would I silence all clamorous passions and let patience haue her full worke vpon me but the loathsomenesse and painfulnesse and tediousnesse of my disease drowne all my ghostly comforts and make me euen rore for the disquietnes of my heart O Lord thou knowest all my desires and my groanes are not hid from thee Thou knowest whereof I am made thou vnderstandest that I am but dust wilt thou contend with dust ashes O Father of mercy and God of all consolation lay no more vpon me then thou wilt giue me ability to beare Either asswage and diminish my paine or increase my strength either shorten my sicknesse or lengthen I beseech thee my patience I acknowledge my many sins deserue many strokes grieuous sins smart strokes but my flesh is not of yron nor my sinews of brasse nor my heart of Oke to endure so many blowes and re-iterated cuts of thy axe Neither could my sufferings if I could endure as much for sin as any of thy blessed Saints and Martyrs haue suffered for righteousnesse thereby satisfie for the least of my sins For thy Maiesty is infinite and my offences therefore infinite thy mercy toward me is infinite and my ingratitude towards thee thereby made infinite Thy law eternall and my gilt consequently for the breach thereof eternall But thy Son a person of infinite dignity out of his infinite loue to mankinde hath layed downe his life a price of infinite value to discharge the infinite debt of my sins Wherefore I beseech thee looke not vpon my sin but vpon thy Son weigh not my transgressions but his merits Thy iustice is fully satisfied by him O confirme thy mercies vnto me As I haue in the cup of trembling tasted thy iustice my sins so grant that in the cup of saluation I may taste thy mercie and my Sauiour's merits Blesse all the meates and drinks and medicines which I shall receiue from the hand of the Physitian to the repaire and recouery of my bodily health and sanctifie all the bitter potions which thou hast and shalt minister vnto mee to the restoring of my soule 's health Comfort my fainting Spirit and strengthen my feeble knees and support my weake hands and reuiue my deaded heart and so powerfully assist me with thy Spirit of strength that I may with confidence call vpon thee with patience endure this tryal with hope expect thy good pleasure with wisedome make vse of this thy visitation and with thankfulnesse euer praise thy goodnesse and mercy for my safe recouery if it may stand with thy blessed will whereunto I fully submit and wholy resigne my selfe now and for euer Amen The Sicke-mans Deuotion after his Recouerie The Admonition or Exhortation to Thanksgiuing THE ANALYSIS For perpetuall Thanksgiuing a gratefull acknowledgement of God's blessing we haue in Scripture 1 Examples of CHRIST The Angels The Saints In heauen On earth 2 Reasons drawn from the consideration of God his Precepts Promises Benefits Past. Present To come THE TEXTS I Thanke thee ô Father Lord of heauen and earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast reuealed them vnto babes Mat. 11. 25. And he tooke the seuen loaues and the fishes and gaue thankes and brake them Mar. 5. 36. And he tooke the cup and when he had giuen thankes he gaue it to them Mat. 26. 27. And when he had giuen thanks he tooke bread and brake it Luk. 22. 19. And all the Angels that stood round about the Throne and about the Elders and the foure beasts fell downe on their faces before the Throne and worshipped God saying Reuel 7. 11. Amen Blessing and glorie and wisedome and thanksgiuing and honour and power and might be vnto God for euer v. â—2 Glorie be to God on high on earth peace and good will towards men Those beasts gaue glorie and honour and thanks to him that sate on the Throne who liueth for euer Reuel 4. 9. And he blessed him and said Blessed be
Abraham of the most high God possessor of heauen and earth Gen. 14. 19 And blessed be the most high God who hath deliuered thine enemies into thy hand ver 20. I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies and of all the truth which thou hast shewed to thy seruant For with my staffe I passed ouer this Iordan and now I am become two bands Gen. 32. 10. And when they heard that the Lord had visited the children of Israel and that he looked vpon their afflictions they bowed their heads and worshipped Exod. 4. 31. Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song vnto the Lord saying I will sing vnto the Lord for he hath triumphed gloriously the horse the rider hath he throwne in the Sea Exo. 15. 1. Then sang Debora and Barak c. Iud 5. 12. sequ And Anna prayed vnto the Lord and said My heart reioyceth in the Lord my horne is exalted in the Lord 1. Sam. 21. sequ vsq â—d 11. And Dauid spake vnto the Lord the words of this Song in the dayes that the Lord had deliuered him out of the hand of all his enimies c. 2. Sam. 22. 1. sequ See Psal. 8. 9. 18. 21. 27. 30. 34. 45. 46. 47. 48. 65. 66. 68. 75. 77. 81. 85. 89. 92. 95. 96. 98. 99. 100. 103. 104. 105. 107. 108. 111. 113. 115. 117. 118. 124. 134. 135. 136. 138. 144. 145. 146. 147. 148. 149. 150. Blessed be the Lord God that hath giuen rest vnto his people Israel according to all that he had promised and hath not failed one word of all his good promises which he promised by the hand of Moses his seruant 1. Kin 8. 5. Blessed be the Lord God of our Fathers who hath put such a thing as this in the Kings heart Ezr. 7. 27. O Lord thou art my God I will exalt thee I will praise thy Name for thou hast done wonderfull things thy counsels of old are faithfulnesse and truth Isay 25. 5. The writing of Ezekiah king of Iuda when he had beene sick and was recouered of his sickenesse I said c. Isa. 38. 9. 10. vsq ad 21. Then was the secret reuealed vnto Daniel in a night vision then Daniel blessed the God of heauen Dan. 2. 19. Blessed be the Name of God for euer and euer for wisedome and might are his verse 20. I thanke thee and praise thee ô thou God of my fathers who hast giuen me wisedome and might and hast made knowne vnto me what we haue desired of thee v. 23. I will sacrifice vnto thee with the voice of thanksgiuing I will pay that I haue vowed Saluation is of the Lord Ionah 2. 9. MARIE said My soule doth magnifie the Lord c. Luke 1. 46. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel c. v. 68. And the shepheards returned glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seene Luke 2. 20. And immediately he rose vp and departed to his owne house glorifying God Luke 5. 25. And there came feare on all and they glorified God saying A great Prophet is risen among vs and God hath visited his people Luke 7 16. When he had laid hands on her immediatly she was made straight and glorified God Luke 13. 13. And one of them when he saw that he was â—ealed turned backe and with a loude voyce glorified God Luke 17. 15. And immediatly hee receiued his sight and followed him glorifying God and all the people when they saw it gaue praise vnto God Luke 18 45. And he leaping vp stood and walked and entred with them into the Temple walking and leaping and praising God Acts 3. 8. Paul when he saw the brethren thanked God and tooke courage Act. 18. 15. I thanke God alwayes c. Rom. 7. 21. See 1. Cor. 14. 14. 10. 30. 14. 18. 15. 57. 2. Cor. 9. 15. Eph. 1. 16. Phil 1. 3. Col. 1. 12. 1. Thess. 1. 2. 2. 13. 2. Tim. 1. 3. Phil. 4. To him be glorie and dominion for euer 1. Peter 5. 11. To the onely wise God our Sauiour be glorie and maiesty dominion and power now and for euer Iud 25. To him that hath loued vs c. be glorie and dominion for euer and euer Reuel 1. 5. 6. Offer vnto God thanksgiuing and pay thy vowes to the most High Psal. 50. 14. Turne to the Lord say vnto him Take away all iniquity and receiue vs graciously so we will render the calues of our lips Hos. 14. 2. Let no vncleanenesse c. be once named amongst you neither iesting which is not conuenient but rather giuing of thanks Eph. 5. 3 4. In euery thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiuing let your requests be made knowne vnto God Phil. 4. 6. Giuing thanks to the Father which hath made vs meete to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light Col. 1. 12. Being rooted and built vp in him and established in the faith as ye haue bin taught abounding therein with thanksgiuing Col. 2. 7. Whatsoeuer ye do in word or deede doe all in the name of the Lord Iesus giuing thankes to God and the Father by him Col. 3. 17. Continue in prayer and watch in the same with thankesgiuing Col. 4. 2. In euery thing giue thankes for this is the wil of God in Christ Iesus concerning you 1 Thes. 5. 18. Wee are bound to thanke God for you alwaies brethren 2 Thes. 1. 3. 2. 13. I exhort therefore that first of all supplications prayers intercessions and giuing of thankes bee made for all men 1 Tim. 2. 1. Commanding to abstaine from meates which God hath created to bee receiued with thanksgiuing 1 Timothie 4. 3. By him therefore let vs offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually that is the fruit of our lipps giuing thankes to his Name See more at the end of the preparatory Admonition to Prayer A PSALME OF THANKSGIuing for recouerie I Will magnifie thee ô Lord for thou hast set mee vp and not made my spirituall foes to triumph ouer me Psal. 30. 1. O Lord my God I cryed vnto thee and thou heardest me v. 2. Thou Lord hast brought my soule out of hell thou hast kept my life from them that go downe into the pit v. 3. Sing praises vnto the Lord ô ye Saints and giue thankes vnto him for a remembrance of his holinesse v. 4. For his wrath endureth but for the twinkling of an eye and in his pleasure is life heauines may endure for a night but ioy commeth in the morning v. 5. O what great troubles and aduersities hast thou shewed me Psal. 71. 18. Yet diddest thou turne and refresh me and broughtest me from the deepe of the earth againe Thou hast turned my heauinesse into ioy thou hast put off sackloth and girded me with gladnesse Psal. 30. 11. Praise
paines I beganne to distaste them all I grew out of loue with this life and entertained death in my most serious thoughts and I perswaded my selfe that those thoughts of death shall neuer dye in me but still liue in my memory and vpon euery good occasion bee stirred vp and reuiued to prepare and dispose mee to my last end that so I may see that Basyliske first and kill it before it see and kill mee O death how bitter is thy remembrance in the pride of health O life how bitter is thy remembrance in the misery of sicknesse Verily I had vtterly fainted vnder my Crosse and my soule had bin put to silence I had sowned and giuen vp not onely my Ghost but thy holy Spirit of comfort if thou hadst not stayed me with flagons and comforted mee with apples and in my hottest fits cooled me with the sweete gales of thy grace I had fallen not onely with Iob to curse the day of my birth but to question the truth of thy Promises But euerlasting thanks bee vnto thee who gauest me victorie ouer that fearefull tentation and by thy holy Spirit didst call to my mind all those sweet promises of thy Gospell whereby I receiued comfort and recouered strength And now I am assured and more then euer before perswaded that neither height nor depth nor principality nor power nor paine nor pleasure nor sicknes nor health nor life nor death nor things present nor things to come shall euer be able to separate me from thy loue in CHRIST IESVS The close out of Scripture I Said in the cutting off of my dayes I shall goe to the gate of the graue I am depriued of the residue of my yeeres Isa. 38. 10. I sayd I shall not see the Lord in the land of the liuing I shall behold man no more with the Inhabitants of the world ver 11. Behold for peace I had great bitternesse but thou hast in loue to my soule deliuered it from the pit of corruption for thou hast cast my sins behind thy backe ver 17. For the graue cannot praise thee death cannot confess thee they that goe downe to the pit cannot hope for thy truth ver 18. The liuing the liuing hee shall prayse thee as I doe this day verse 19. The dying-mans deuotion Suppart vlt. The Admonitions The man that is breathing out his last gaspe needeth◠1 MEeke patience to endure God's good pleasure Of which see the Admonitions for Good-Fridaie for Thursday Euening and for the sicke before 2 Godly sorrow for all the sinnes of his life wherby he hath grieuously displeased his heauenly Father Of which see the Admonition for Tuesday morning 3 Assured confidence to commit his Soule to God as a faithfull Creator Of which see the Admonition for the Child-bearing woman after her deliuery 4 Constant perseuerance to hold on to the end Of which see the Admonition for Saturday morning 5 Liuely apprehension of the ioyes of heauen and powers of the world to come Of which see the Meditation for the Sabbath Euening 6 Christian resolution cheerfully to lay downe his Tabernacle and go willingly to the Father of spirits Of which see the Admonition for Saturday Euening 7 A peaceable disposition to forgiue all his enemies and depart in peace as with God so also with all men Of which see the Admonition for Thursday Morning 8 A charitable and compassionate aflection to consider the poore and destitute according to his estate and wealth to help and succour them that so by their prayers he may be receiued into euerlasting habitations Of which see the Exhortation for Wednesday morning In the extremity of bitter pangs consider ô deuout Christian 1 Thy sins deserue a sharper scourge yet 2 All thou sufferest is nothing to what Christ endured for thee 3 Other Saints and holy Martyrs haue abided a harder tryall and more grieuous afflictions many more terrible conflicts and yet haue been more then Conquerours through Christ. 4 It is a thousand times better to be corrected here though neuer so seuerely then eternally tormented in hell 5 God wil not lay more vpō thee thē he will giue thee ability to beare therfore will vndoubtedly asswage thy paine or increase thy patience 6 The extremity of thy paines wil be but a short time for God wil either take them from thee by recouering thee or thee from them by deliuering thee out of the body 7 The more grieuous thy paines are the greater thy reward shall be if thou patiently endure them THE TEXTS IT is the Lords mercy that wee are not vtterly consumed because his compassion fails not Lam. 3. 20. If thou Lord shalt marke iniquities O Lord who shall stand or who may abide it Psalm 130. 3. He hath not dealt with vs after our sinnes nor rewarded vs after our iniquities Psal. 103. 10. Like as a Father pittieth his children so the Lord pittieth them that feare him ver 13. For he knoweth our frame he remembreth that we are but dust ver 14. The sinners in Sion are afraid fearfulnes hath surprized the hypocrites who shall dwell with the deuouring fire who among vs shall dwel with euerlasting burning I◠33. Topheth is ordained of old yea for the King it is prepared Hee hath made it deep and large the pile therof is fire and much wood the breath of the LORD like a streame of Brimstone doth kindle it Isa. 30. 33. A fire is kindled in mine anger and it shall burne to the lowest hell Deut. 32. 22. The Sonne of man shall send his Angells and they shall gather out of his Kingdome all things that offend and them which doe iniquity Mat. 13. 41. And shall cast them into a furnace of fire there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth verse 42. Whose fan is in his hand and hee will throughly purge his floore and gather his wheat into his garner but burne vp the chaffe with vnquenchable fire Mat. 3. 12. Suffering the vengeance of eternall fire Iud. 7. Send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and coole my tongue for I am tormented in this flame Luk. 16. 24. Where the worme dyeth not and the fire is not quenched Mar. 9. 44. 46. In flaming fire taking vengeance of them that knowe not God 2. Thes. 1. 8. Binde him hand and foot cast him into vtter darknes there shall bee weeping and gnashing of teeth Mat. 22. 13. To whom the mist of darknes is reserued for euer 2. Pet. 2. He hath reserued in euerlasting chaines of darknes vnto the iudgement of the great day Iud. 6. 〈◊〉 same shall drinke of the wine of the wrath of God which is powred out without mixture into the cup of his indignation and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy Angels and in the presence of the Lambe Reu. 14. 10. And the smoke of their torment ascendeth vp for euer and euer ver 12. These both were
cast aliue into a lake of fire burning with brimstone Râ—u 19. 20. Depart from me ye cursed into euerlasting fire prepared for the diuel and his angels Mat. 25 41. And they haue no rest day nor night Reu. 14 12. And the diuel that deceiued them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and false Prophets are and shall be tormented day and night for euer and euer Reu. 20. 10. How much she hath glorified her selfe and liued deliciously so much torment sorrow giue her Reu. 18. 7. He began to be sorrowfull and very heauy Mat 26. 37. Then sayd he vnto them My soule is exceeding sorrowfull euen vnto death Mat. 26. 38. And being in an agony he praied more earnestly and his sweat was as it were great droppes of bloud falling downe to the ground Luke 22. 44. There stood by the Crosse of Iesus his Mother and his Mother's sister c Ioh. 19. 25. And Iesus cryed with a loud voice saying My God my God why hast thou forsaken mee Mar. 15. v. 34. Pilate released Barabbas and deliuered Iesus vnto them when he had scourged him to be crucified Mar. 15. 15. The Souldiers plotted a crown of thorns and put it on his head Ioh. 19. 2. And hee bearing his crosse went forth into a place called The place of a skull ver 17. Where they crucified him c. ver 18. One of the Souldiers with a speare pierced his side and forthwith came there out water and bloud ver 34. In the daies of his flesh when he had offered vp prayers supplications with strong crying and teares vnto him that was able to saue him from death and was heard in that he feared Heb. 5. 7. Though he were a sonne yet learned hee obedience by the things which he suffered v. 8. Christ also suffered for vs leauing vs an example that wee should follow his steps 1. Pet. 2. 21. There hath no such tentation taken you but such as is common to men 1. Cor. 10. 13. The same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world 1. Pet 5. 9. Satan smote Iob with sore biles from the sole of his foote to the crowne of his head Iob. 2. 7. And he took him a potsheard to scrape him withall and hee sate downe in the ashes ver 8. I haue sinned what shall I do vnto thee ô thou Preseruer of men why hast thou set mee as a mark against thee so that I am a burden to my selfe Iob. 7. 20. Let the day perish wherein I was borne and the night in which it was sayd There is a man-child conceiued Iob. 3. 3. Let that day be darknesse let not God regard it from aboue neither let the light shine vpon it ver 4. seq I am troubled I am bowed downe greatly I goe mourning all the day long Psal. 38. 6. My loynes are filled with a loathsome disease and there is no soundnesse in my bones v. 7. I am feeble and sore-smitten I haue roared by reason of the disquietnes of my heart v. 8. Lord all my desire is before thee and my groaning is not hid from thee ver 9. See Psal. 6. Psal. 22. Psal. 102. Ps. 30. ps 142. psal 143. I am the man that haue seene affliction by the rod of his wrath Lam. 3. 1. He hath filled me with bitternesse and made me drunke with wormwood ver 15. I think God hath set forth the last Apostles as it were appointed to death for wee are made a spectacle to the world and to Angels and to men 1. Cor. 4. 9. In iournying often in perils of Waters in perils of Robbers in perils by mine owne Countrimen in perils by the Heathen in perils in the Citie in perils in the Wildernesse in perils in the Sea in perils among false brethren 2. Cor. 11. 26. In wearinesse and painfulnes in watchings often in hunger and thirst in fastings often in cold and nakednesse 2. Cor. 11. 27. For thy sake are we killed all the day long we are accounted as sheepe for the slaughter Rom. 8. 36. If in this life onely wee haue hope in Christ then are we of all men most miserable 1. Cor. 15. 19. Others were tryed with mockings and scourgings yea moreouer with bonds imprisonment Heb. 11. 36. They were stoned they were sawed asunder they were slaine with the sword they wandred about in sheep-skins and goate-skins being destitute afflicted and tormented v. 37. Of whom the world was not worthy They wandred in deserts and mountaines and in dennes and in Caues of the earth verse 38. These are they that came out of great tribulation and haue washed their robes and made them white in the bloud of the Lamb Reu. 7 14. I saw as it were a sea of glasse mingled with fire and them that had gotten the victorie ouer the Beast and ouer his image and ouer his name c. Reu. 15. 2. And they sang the Song of Moses and of the Lambe v. 3. God is faithfull who will not suffer you to be tempted aboue that you are able but will with the tentation also make a way to escape that we may be able to escape 1. Cor. 10. 14. The God of all grace who hath called vs to his eternall glorie by Christ Iesus will after that you haue suffered a while make you perfect stablish strengthen settle you 1. Pet. 5. 10. For a small moment haue I forsaken thee but with great mercie will I gather thee Isa. 54. 7. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment but with euerlasting kindnesse will I haue mercy on thee sayth the Lord thy Redeemer ver 8. His anger endureth but a moment in his fauour is life weeping may endure for a night but ioy commeth in the morning ps 30. 5. The diuell shall cast some of you in prison that ye may be tried and ye shall haue tribulation tenne dayes Reu. 2. 10. And it was sayd vnto them that they should rest yet a little season vntil their fellow seruants also and their brethren which should be killed as they were should be fulfilled Reu. 6. 11. The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be reuealed in vs Rom. 8. 18. The light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for vs a far more exceeding and eternall weight of glorie 2 Cor. 4. 17. No chastening for the time seemeth to be ioyous but grieuous neuerthelesse afterward it yeeldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousnesse vnto them which are exercised thereby Heb. 12. 11. If thou art terrified in conscience with the gilt of thy sinnes and fearefully tempted to despaire support thy selfe with these helps 1 Most earnest prayer of thy self of others for thee 2 Bitter teares in aboundance for thy particular sinnes 3 Restitution 4 Reconciliation 5 Almes deedes 6 The comfort of thy Pastor 7 The absolution of the
Church 8 Meditation vpon these heads especially 1 The infinitnesse of God's mercie 2 The price value of Christ's bloud 3 The efficacy of his intercession 4 The vertue of the Sacraments 5 The vniuersalitie and certaintie of Gods promises to the penitent 6 Exampls of mercy shewed to most grieuous sinners THE TEXTS ANd being in an Agonie he prayed more earnestly Luke 22. 44. Pray alwayes with all prayer and supplication in the spirit and watching thereunto with all perseuerance Eph. 6. 18. Be feruent in spirit seruing the Lord Rom. 12. 11. Reioycing in hope patient in tribulation continuing instant in prayer ver 12. Pray one for another that yee may be healed the effectuall seruent prayer of a righteous man auaileth much I am 5. 16. What prayer or what supplication shall be made of any man or of all thy people Israel when euery one shall know his owne griefe and his owne sore and shall spread forth his hands vnto thee 2. Cron. 6. 29. Then heare thou from heauen thy dwelling place and forgiue ver 30. Then Dauids heart smote him after he had numbred the people and Dauid sayd vnto the Lord I haue sinned greatly in this I haue done and now I beseech thee ô Lord take away the iniquitie of thy seruant for I haue done very foolishly 2. Sam. 2◠10. I make my bed to swimme I water my couch with my teares Psal. 6. 6. And hee went out and wept bitterly Mat. 26. 75. He shall restore that which hee tooke violently away or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten or that which was deliuered to him to keepe or the lost thing which he found Leu. 6. 4. Or all that about which hee hath sworne falsly hee shall restore it in the principall and shall adde a fift part more thereto v. 5. If I haue taken any thing from any man by false accusation I restore him foure fold Luke 19. 8. Goe thy way bee reconciled to thy brother and then come and offer thy gift Mat. 5. 24. Agree with thine aduersarie quickly while thou art in the way with him ver 25. Forgiue and ye shall be forgiuen Luke 6. 37. If ye forgiue not men their trespasses neither will my heauenly Father forgiue you Mat. 6. 15. If thy brother trespasse against thee seauen times a day and seauen times a day doe returne vnto thee saying I repent thou shalt forgiue him Luke 17. 4. Be yee kinde one to another tender hearted forgiuing one another euen as God for Christ's sake hath forgiuen you Eph. 4. 32. And his Lord was wroth and deliuered him to the tormentors til he should pay all that was due vnto him Mat. 18. 34. So likewise shall my heauenly Father doe also vnto you if yee from your heart forgiue not euery man his brother their trespasses v. 35. O King let my counsell be acceptable vnto thee and breake off thy sinnes by righteousnesse and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poore Dan. 4. 27. Many sins are forgiuen her for she loued much Luk. 7. 47. Giue almes of such things as ye haue and behold all things are cleane vnto you Luk. 11. 41. Sell that ye haue giue almes prouide your selues baggs that waxe not old and a treasure in the heauens which faileth not Luk. 12. 33. Lay not vp for your selues treasures on earth where rust and moths doe corrupt and where theeues breake through and steale Mat. 6. 19. But lay vp for your selues treasures in heauen where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt and where theeues doe not breake through nor steale v. 20. And I say vnto you make vnto your selues friends of the Mammon of vnrighteousnesse that when yee faile they may receiue you into euerlasting habitations Luke 16. 9. While ye haue time doe good vnto all men but especially to them of the houshould of faith Gal. 6. 10. Charge the rich in this world 1 Tim. 6. 17. That they doe good that they be rich in good workes ready to distribute willing to communicate v. 18 Laying vp for themselues a good foundation against the time to come that they may lay hold on eternall life v. 19. To do good and to communicate forget not for with such sacrifice God is well pleased Heb. 13. 16. His soule draweth nigh to the graue and his life to the destroyer Iob. 33. 22. If there bee a messenger with him or an interpreter one of a thousand to shew vnto him his vprightnesse ver 23. Then he is gracious vnto him and saith Deliuer him from going downe to the pit I haue found a ransome ver 24. He will pray vnto God and he will be fauourable vnto him hee shall see his face with ioy v. 26. Is any man sicke among you let him call for the Elders of the Church and let them pray ouer him I am 5. 14. And the prayer of the Faithfull shall saue the sicke c and if hee haue committed sinnes they shal be forgiuen him ver 15. Verily I say vuto you whatsoeuer ye shal bind in earth shall be bound in heauen and whatsoeuer yee shall loose on earth shall bee loosed ia Heauen Matth. 18. 18. And when hee had sayd thus he breathed on them and sayd vnto thē Receiue the holy Ghost Ioh. 20. 22. Whosoeuers sins ye remit they are remitted vnto them and whosoeuers sinnes ye retaine they are retained verse 23. Thy mercy is great aboue the heauens and thy truth reacheth to the clouds Psal. 108. 4. The Lord is gracious and full of compassion slow to anger and of great mercy Psal. 145. 8. The Lord is good vnto all and his tender mercy is ouer all his workes Psal. 145. 9. Thou Lord art good and ready to forgiue and plenteous in mercy to all them that call vpon thee Psal. 86. 5 Thou O Lord art a God full of compassion and gracious long suffering plenteous in mercy and truth ver 15. O giue thanks vnto the Lord for he is good and his mercy endureth for euer Psalm 136. 1. 116. 1. 107. 1. 118. 1. In whom we haue redemption through his blood according to the riches of his grace Eph. 1. 6. By his owne blood hee entered once into the holy place hauing obtained eternall redemption for vs Heb. 9. 12. The precious blood of Christ as of a Lambe without blemish 1 Pet. 1. 19. This is the Cup of the New Testament in my blood which is shed for you Luke 22. 10. The Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood Act 20. 28. Much more being now iustified by his blood we shall bee saued from wrath through him Rom. 5. 9. Ye are made nigh by the blood of Christ Eph. 2. 13. For he is our peace v. 14. If the blood of bulls and of goates and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the vncleane sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh Heb. 9. 13. How much more shall the blood of Christ who through
haue sinned against heauen and against thee c. v. 20. And he arose went to his Father but when he was yet a great way off his Father sawe him and had compassion came fell on his neck and kissed him v. 20. And he said to Iesus Lord remember me when thou commest into thy kingdome Luk. 23. 41. And Iesus said vnto him Vetily I say vnto thee This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise v. 43. Him ye haue taken and by wicked hands haue crucified and slaine Act. 2. 23. Let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Iesus whom yee haue crucified both Lord and Christ v. 36. Now when they heard this they were pricked in heart and said to Peter and the rest of the Apostles Men and brethren what shall wee doe verse 37. Then Peter said Repent and be baptized for the remission of sins v. 38. Then they that gladly receiued the Word were baptized and the same day were added vnto them about three thousand soules verse 41. This is a faithfull saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Iesus came into the world to saue sinners of whom I am chiefe 1 Tim. 1. 15. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy that in mee Iesus Christ might first shew forth all long suffering for a patterne to them which should hereafter belieue on him to eternall life v. 16. A Psalme for the sicke lying at the point of death wherein The humble and faithfull Christian 1 Layeth open his affliction In body In minde 2 Confesseth his many and grieuous sins 3 Earnestly prayeth for Audience Sence of Gods fauour Pardon for his sinne 4 Acknowledgeth God's great mercies through his whole life 5 Professeth his Trust in God Ioy in the holy Ghost Peace of conscience Desire of Death Assured hope of eternall blisse 6 Commendeth his soule to God O Lord God of my saluation I haue cryed day and night before thee ô let my prayer enter into thy presence Psal. 88. 1. For my soule is full of trouble and my life draweth nigh vnto hell v. 2. I am weary of my groaning euery night wash I my bed and water my couch with my teares Psal. 6. 6. I am accounted as one that goeth downe to the pit I haue bin as a man that hath no strength Psal. 88. 3. Free among the dead like vnto them that bee wounded and that lie in the graue which be out of remembrance and cut away from thine hand v. 4. Thine indignation lyeth hard vpon me and thou hast vexed me with all thy stormes v. 6. I am powred out like water and all my bones are out of ioynt my heart also in the middest of my bowells is like melted waxe Psal. 22. 14. My strength is dryed vp like a potsheard and my tongue cleaueth to my gummes and thou shalt bring mee into the dust of death v. 13. The sorrowes of death compasse me and the ouerflowings of vngodlines make me afraid Psal. 18. 3. The paines of hell come about me the Snares of death ouertake me v. 4. Thine arrowes stick fast in me and thy hand presseth mee sore Psal. 38. 2. There is no health in my flesh because of thy displeasure neither any rest in my bones by reason of my sin v. 3. For my wickednesses are gone ouer my head and are like a sore burden too heauy for me to beare v. 4. If thou Lord wilt bee extreame to marke what is done amisse ô Lord who may abide it Psal. 130. 3. Out of the deepe haue I called vnto thee ô Lord Lord heare my voice v. 1. O let thine eares consider well the voice of my complaint v. 2. Lord why abhorrest thou my soule and hidest thy face from me Psal. 88. 14. I am in misery and like to him that is at the point to dye from my youth vp thy terrors haue I suffered with a troubled minde v. 15. Thy wrathfull displeasure goeth ouer me and the feare of thee hath vndone me v. 16. Haue mercy vpon mee ô God after thy great goodnesse according to the multitude of thy mercies doe away mine offences Psal. 51. 1. Wash me throughly from my wickednesse and clense me from my sinne v. 2. Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy Spirit from me v. 11. O giue me the comfort of thy helpe againe and stablish me with thy free Spirit v. 12. Neuerthelesse I am alwaies with thee for thou hast holden me vp by thy right hand Psal. 73. 23. Thou shalt guide me by thy counsell and after that receiue me with glory v. 24. Whom haue I in heauen but thee ô Lord and I desire none in earth in comparison of thee v. 23. Returne to thy rest ô my soule for the Lord hath rewarded thee Psal. 116. 7. Thou hast put gladnesse in my heart more then theirs whose corne and wine and oyle increaseth Psal. 4. 8. I will lay me downe and take my rest for it is thou Lord onely that makest mee dwell in safety v. 9. I will behold thy presence and when I awake vp after thy likenesse I will bee satisfied with it Psal. 17. 16. I shall be satisfied with the plenteousnesse of thine house and thou shalt giue mee drinke of thy pleasures as of the riuers Psal. 36. 8. For with thee is the well of life and in thy light shall I see light v. 9. Thou shalt shew me the path of life in thy presence is fulnes of ioy and at thy right hand there is pleasure for euermore Psal. 16. 12. Into thy hands I commend my Spirit for thou hast redeemed me ô Lord thou God of truth Psal. 31. 6. A Prayer for the sicke lying at the mercy of God and ready to depart AETernall and omnipotent infinite incomprehensible God Lord of my life and determiner of my dayes My body now is resoluing into dust and my soule returning to thee that gauest it O Lord most holy ô God most mighty draw neere vnto me who make hast to come vnto thee Giue mee a cleerer sight of thee by how much the neerer I am out of the darke prison of my body Giue me also a quicker taste of the powers of the life to come that I may more comfortably passe ouer these last troubles of this present life O Lord my soule is heauy euen vnto death for the weight of al my sins aggrauated by the diuel is at once vpon me and I sink and faint vnder this burdon which is too heauy for me to beare Neither is there any meanes vnder heauen to ease mee of it but by laying it vpon him that hath borne our infirmities and carried our sorrowes O Father of mercy and God of all consolation let not the guilt of my sins or horror of thy iudgements or Sathans suggestions or the feare of death or terrors of hell driue me to desperation I confesse that for
my vnmindfulnesse of thee and vngratefulnesse to thee all my life I deserue that thou shouldest vtterly abandon and forsake me now at my death But thy thoughts are not like our thoughts nor thy affections like mine Though a woman could forget the fruit of her wombe yet thou wilt not nor canst not forget those that trust in thee Thy gifts and graces are without repentance and whom thou louest thou louest to the end Thou wilt not breake a bruised reede nor quench the smoking â—lax Though thou hast seuerely corrected me in this thy fearefull visitation yet thou hast not and I know wilt not giue me ouer to eternal death Deare Father shew thy strength in my greatest weakenes confirme thy mercy to me in my greatest misery apply thy comfort to me in this my last extremity Asswage the paines of my body with ghostly comforts and diminish the feare of death by the assured hope of a better life Call to my minde whilest yet I breathe all the errors of my vnderstanding that I may timely reuoke them all the sins of my will that I may heartily bewaile them all the testimonies of thy loue that I may gratefully acknowledge them all the promises of thy Gospell that I may comfortably embrace them all my holy vowes and purposes that I may finally confirme them and gracious Lord accept the will for the deede O let me that am now returning to dust and ashes speake but this once to my Lord maker With all my heart soule and strength I beseech thee by all that my Sauiour Iesus Christ hath done and suffered for mee I intreate thee speake peace to my soule at her departing and say vnto her I am thy saluatioÌ„ Make my election sure by my true repentance perfect charity assured confidence constant patience comfortable perseuerance vnto the end and in the end To the TRINITY GLorious Creator gracious Redeemer euerlasting comforter Lord God Almighty send me ayde helpe from heauen in this my last and most dreadfull conflict with all the powers of hell darknes Arme me with thy compleat armour and endue mee with power from aboue to vanquish Sathan and his infernall bands and to quench all the fierie darts of the wicked in the bloud of my Redeemer I am thine ô God the Father by the right of creation I am thine ô God the Sonne by the right of thy purchase I am thine ô God the Holy Ghost by the right of thine inhabitation and possession Saue me Father by thy power saue me Sonne by thy merits saue me holy Spirit by thy grace O holy blessed and glorious Trinitie whose power no creature is able to resist Rebuke confound thine enemy that goeth about to deface thine Image in me to spoile thy creature to destroy him for whom thou ô Sonne offeredst thy self on the Crosse by the eternall Spirit to the Father O Father be now to me a father in my greatest need O Iesus be to me a Iesus in my greatest danger O Comforter bee to me a Comforter in my greatest afflictions Holy Righteous Iudge eternall Sathan taketh aduantage of thy fatherly chastising me he grows strong against mee by this my great weaknesse Now hee rageth most furiously because his time is short He assaulteth mee euery way by subtill suggestions by fearfull visions and apparitions Hee terrifieth my flesh with the vgly shape of death he affrighteth my conscience with the horror of the last iudgement and scorcheth my soule euen with flashes of hell fire O Father of spirits deliuer not the soule of thy Turtle Doue that mourneth to thee day and night as a prey vnto him Though neuer so deformed yet I am thy worke O God my Father though neuer so vile yet I am thy purchase ô God my Redeemer though neuer so polluted yet I am thy Temple O God my sanctifier Faithful Creator preserue the worke of thine hand faithfull Redeemer preserue the purchase of thy bloud faithfull Sanctifier preserue the Temple of thine honour I abhorre my selfe in dust and ashes and I conceiue more grief then I am able to expresse for abusing thy workes ô Father thy Word and Sacraments ô Sonne thy gifts graces ô Spirit Father forgiue me all sinnes of infirmity against thy power Sonne forgiue me all sinnes of ignorance against thy wisedome Holy Ghost forgiue mee all sinnes of malice against thy grace Most mighty Father giue mee thy protection Most mercifull Son giue me thy peace Most gracious holy Spirit giue me thy comfort that I may safely peaceably and cheerfully leaue this vale of teares Father possesse me of the kingdome which thou O Sonne hast purchased and thou O Spirit hast sealed vnto mee Into thy hands O Father who breathedst into mee the Spirit of life Into thy hands O Sonne who breathedst out thy Spirit for mee Into thy hand ô Holy Spirit who renewedst a right spirit within mee and hast comforted my spirit to the last gaspe I now commend my spirit Amen To the Lord IESVS at the howre of death VVElcom blessed houre the period of my pilgrimage the terme of my bondage the end of my cares the close of my sighs the bound of my trauels the gole of my race and the hauen of my hopes I haue fought a long fight in much weaknes I haue finished my course though in great faintnesse and the crowne of my ioy is that through the strength of thy grace I haue kept the true faith and now I dye in it I willingly resigne my flesh I despise the world and I defie the diuell who hath no part nor share in mee And now what is my hope My hope Lord Iesu is euen in thee For I know that thou my Redeemer liuest and thou wilt immediatly receiue my soule and raise vp my body also at the last day and I shall see thee in my flesh with these eyes and none other My heart fainteth my strength faileth my tongue faltereth Lord let thy Spirit of comfort helpe mine infirmities and make supplication for mee with sighes and groanes that cannot be expressed I submit my selfe wholly to thy will I commit my soule to thee as my faithfull REDEEMER who hast bought mee with thy most precious bloud I professe to all the world I know no name vnder heauen by which I may be saued but thine my IESV my Sauiour I renounce all confidence in merits saue thine I thankfully acknowledge all thy blessings I vnfeinedly bewaile all my sinnes I stedfastly belieue all thy promises I heartily forgiue all mine enemies I willingly leaue all my friends I vtterly loath all earthly comforts I entirely long for thy comming Come Lord Iesu come quickly Lord Iesu receiue my Spirit The Hand-Maide's Posie written in the end of her Manuell Birth is a bragge Glory a blaze Honour's earths pompe Riches a gaze Fame is but winde Beauty a flower Pleasure a dance the world a bower In heauen with thee Lord let me be On earth my heauen 's alone in
condemneth them to euerlasting torments in hell PARS II. SECT 12. DOMIN 12. Of Christ his Person Q. WHat are we to know and acknowledge concerning Christ the Mediator A. His Person State Office Q. What ought wee to belieue touching his Person A. That he is God and man in one person conceiued by the Holy-Ghost incarnate of the Virgin Marie SECT 13. DOMIN 13. Of Christ's estate of humiliation Q. In what state or states doth the Scripture describe him to vs A. In two states 1. Of humiliation 2. Of exaltation Q. What suffered he in the state of humiliation A. He bare all our infirmities became subiect to the Law and was obedient to death euen the death of the Crosse was buried and descended into hell SECT 14. DOMIN 14. Of Christ his estate of exaltation Q. What did Christ in the state of exaltation A. He laid downe all our infirmities arose from the dead ascended into heauen sitteth at the right hand of God and shall come in the clowdes with great glory to iudge the quicke and the dead SECT 15. DOMIN 15. Of Christ his Propheticall function Q. What office did the Sonne of God take vpon him for the saluation of man A. The Office of a Mediator betwixt God and man Q. How performeth hee this office A. By executing the functions of a Prophet Priest King Q. What appertaineth to Christ's Propheticall function A. To reueale the hidden wisedome of his Father Q. How hath he heretofore executed this function A. Before his Incarnation by the Priests and Prophets of the old Law In the dayes of his flesh he executed it in his owne person preaching the Gospell which is the couenant of grace and instituting Sacraments as seales theroof viz. Baptisme which is the seale of regeneration and our entrance into the Church The Lords Supper which is the seale of our spirituall growth and nourishment in the Church Q. How doth he yet execute this function A. By the Ministers of the Word whom he furnisheth with gifts answerable and assisteth them in the holy workes of their sacred calling with his spirit enlightening the vnderstanding and opening the hearts of all belieuers to make their Ministerie effectuall Q. What benefits reape wee by Christ's Propheticall function A. Vocation and the Effects thereof incorporation into Christ's mysticall body faith spirituall wisedome and vnderstanding with other sanctifying graces of the holy Ghost SECT 16. DOMIN 16. Of Christ his Priestly function Q. What appertaineth to Christ's Priestly function A. To cleanse vs from our sins and reconcile vs to God his Father Q. How did hee execute this function A. By fulfilling the Law and offering vp himselfe vpon the Altar of the Crosse for a propitiatory sacrifice for our sinnes Q. How doth he yet execute this office A. By appearing at the right hand of God to make intercession for vs. Q. What benefits reape wee by his Priest-hood A. Iustification with the fruits thereof frée accesse vnto God with confidence setled peace of conscience and vnspeakeable ioy in the holy-Ghost SECT 17. DOMIN 17. Of Christ his Kingly function Q. What appertaineth to Christ's Kingly function A. To rule and gouerne his Church Q. How hath hee executed this function A. By making laws for the whole companie of the faithfull and establishing a perpetuall gouernment in his Church Q. How doth he yet execute this royall function A. First by his spirit ruling in our hearts and subduing the flesh to the Spirit 2. By protecting vs against all our ghostly and bodily enemies 3. By inflicting iudgements vpon the enemies of his Church 4. By aduancing his Elect to a Kingdome in heauen Q. What benefits reape wee by his Kingdome A. Glorification with the parts thereof victory safetie eternall glory SECT 18. DOMIN 18. Of the Church and the parts thereof Q. For whom did Christ take our nature vpon him and discharge his threefold office A. For his Mysticall body the Catholike Church Q. What meane you by the Catholike Church A The whole company of the Elect called already or to be called by the Word Spirit out of the estate of corruption and seruitude of sinne into the glorious liberty of the Sonnes of God to bée co-heires with Christ in his Kingdome Q. Where is this company to be found A. It is partly triumphant in heauen with Christ their Head partly militant vnder the crosse dispersed ouer the face of the whole earth where Christian Religion is professed and belieued SECT 19. DOMIN 19. Of the notes of the true Church Q. Is the Catholike Church a visible company that we may know whither to repaire for the meanes of saluation or is it altogether inuisible A. It is visible in respect of the outward badge of profession and it may be discerned by two notes especially viz. the sincere preaching of the Word and right due administration of the Sacraments agrèeable to the holy Scriptures But it is inuisible in respect of the inward seale of Gods Election who alone knoweth who are his Q. How then may a man know that he belongeth to the number of the Elect and is a liuing member of Christ A. 1. By the testimonie of the spirit which witnesseth to our spirits that we are the Sonnes of God 2. By conformitie of our beliefe to the holy Scriptures in all points necessarie to saluation 3. By a particular assurance of our owne saluation grounded vpon the promises of God in Christ and applyed to vs by faith 4. By the diuerse remarkable effects of a iustifying faith and sanctifying grace which are especially these 1. True humility 2. Unfeigned repentance 3. Sonne-like feare 4. Uniuersall and absolute submission to Gods will 5. Comfortable patience in all afflictions 6. Proficiencie and perseuerance in godlinesse 7. Setled peace of conscience 8. Unspeakable ioy in the holy-Ghost PARS III. SECT 20. DOMIN 20. Of the two-fold worship of God and of faith THis may suffice concerning the knowledge of God and him whom he hath sent Iesus Christ to discharge the Office of a Prophet Priest and King for his Church Q. Now how ought we to worship and serue God A. Both immediately and mediately as before I said Q. How immediately A. Both inwardly and outwardly Q. How inwardly A. By faith and other diuine graces that issue of faith Q. What is faith A. An infused habit or spirituall grace whereby wee stédfastly belieue all things contained in holy Scriptures and particularly apprehend and apply vnto our selues the promises of God in Christ wholly relying vpon him for our saluation SECT 21. DOMN 21. Of humility and honouring God and how they are the fruits of faith Q. What diuine vertues are the speciall issues of faith A. Humility honour reuerence obedience patience loue feare repentance zeale hope and confidence Q. What is humility A. A diuine vertue or grace whereby wée wholly denie our selues and carrie our selues lowly before God and men Q. What is honour A. A diuine grace or vertue whereby we
the Mount of Oliues and his Disciples also followed him ver 39. And when he came to the place he said to them Pray lest ye enter into temptation ver 40. And he gate himselfe from them about a stones cast and kneeled downe and prayed ver 41. Saying Father if thou wilt take away this Cup from me neuerthelesse not my will but thine be done ver 42. And there appeared an Angell vnto him from Heauen comforting him ver 43. But being in an Agony he prayed more earnestly and his sweat was like drops of bloud trickling downe the ground ver 44. For thine instruction meditate In the Morning on the creation of Fish and Fowâ—e In the Euening on thy Sauiours Agony Last Passeouer Supper For thy comfort apply to thy selfe the Benefits Corporall of the one Spirituall of the other For thy correction reproue thy Abuse of the one Vnthankfulnesse for the other Quicken Thy thankesgiuing by the Hymne Thine obedience by the admonition Thy zeale and patience by the prayer ensuing The Hymne for Thursday-morning O Lord how manifold are thy workes in wisdome hast thou made them all the earth is full of thy riches Psal. 104. 24. So is the great and wide Sea wherein are things creeping innumerable both small and great beasts ver 25. There goe the Ships and there is that Leuiathan whom thou hast made to take his pastime therein ver 26. These wait all vpon thee that thou mayest giue them their meate in due season ver 27. That thou giuest they gather thou openest thy hand and they are filled with good ver 28. Thou hidest thy face and they are troubled thou takest away their breath and they dye and returne againe to their dust ver 29. They that goe downe to the Sea in ships that doe their businesse in great waters Psal. 107. 23. These see the workes of the Lord and his wonders in the deepe ver 24. For hee commandeth and raiseth vp the stormy wind which lifteth vp the waues thereof ver 25. They mount vp to the Heauens they goe downe againe to the depth their heart is melted because of trouble ver 26. They reele to and fro and stagger like a drunken man and are euen at their wits end ver 27. Then cry they to the Lord in trouble and hee bringeth them out of their distresse v. 28. He maketh the stormes to cease so that the waues thereof are still ver 29. Then are they glad because they are quiet so hee bringeth them to their desired Hauen ver 30. Praise the Lord vpon earth ye Dragons and all deepes Psal. 148. 7. Beasts all Cattel wormes and fethered Fowles ver 10. He sendeth the Springs into the Vallies which run between the mountaines Psal. 104. 10. By these Springs shall the Fowles of the Heauen dwell and sing among the branches ver 12. Let euery thing that hath breath praise the Lord Praise ye the Lord Psal. 150. 6. The Admonition for Thursday Morning being an Exhortation to peace-making or the seauenth Beatitude THE ANALYSIS The deuout soule must labour to make peace and haue peace with all as far as it is possible in 1 Obedience To the LAVVE To the GOSPEL 2 Conformitie to 1 God the Father Sonne H. Ghost 2 The Saints 3 In hope expectation of blessings 1 Temporall as 1 Good daies 2 A good name or honor 2 Spirituall as 1 The glad tydings of the Gospell 2 Wisedome 3 Righteousnesse 4 The guidance of Gods Spirit 5 The vnitie of the Spirit or communion of saints 6 The Beatifical vision or sight of God in Heauen THE TEXTS SEeke peace and ensue it Psal. 34. 14. Execute the iudgement of truth and peace in your gates Zach. 8. 16. Let none of you imagine euill in your hearts against your Neighbour ver 17. Haue Salt and haue peace one with another Mar. 9. 50. Into what house soeuer yee enter first say Peace bee to this house Luke 10. 5. If it bee possible haue peace with all men Rom. 12. 18. Let vs therefore follow after the things that make for peace and things wherewith wee may edifie one another Rom. 14 19. God hath called vs to peace 1 Cor. 7. 15. Be of one minde liue in peace 2 Cor. 13. 12. Let the peace of God rule in your hearts to the which all yee are called in one body Col. 3. 15 Follow righteousnesse faith charity peace with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart 2 Tim. 2. 22. Follow peace with all men c. Heb. 12. 14. God is not the God of confusision but of peace 1 Cor. 14. 33. The God of peace shall be with you Phil. 4. 19. To vs a Sonne is giuen and the gouernment shall bee vpon his shoulders and his Name shall be called Wonderfull Counseller The Mighty God The Euerlasting Father The Prince of peace Isa. 9. 6. Melchiâ—sedec first being by interpretation King of Righteousnesse and after that also King of Salem which is King of peace Heb. 7. 2. That he might be like to the Sonne of God who abideth our Priest continually ver 3. The fruit of the Spirit is loue ioy peace c. Gal. 5. 22. Abraham said Let there bee no strife betweene me and thee and my Herdsmen thy Herdsmen for we are brethren Gen. 13. 8. I labour for peace Psal. 1 20 6. Though I bee free from all men yet haue I made my selfe seruant vnto all that I might gaine the more c. 1 Cor. 9. 19. Why suffer yee not rather wrong 1 Cor. 6. 7. Being reuiled we blesse being persecuted we suffer it 1 Cor. 4. 12. Being defamed wee intreat ver 13. What man is he that desireth life and loueth many dayes that he may see good Psal. 34. 12. Seeke peace c. ver 14. Blessed are the Peace-makers for they shall be called The children of the most High Mat. 5. 9. If the Sonne of peace be there your peace shall rest vpon it if not it shall turne to you againe Luk. 10. 6. The Wisdome from aboue is first pure then peaceable Iam. 3. 17. The fruits of righteousnesse are sowne in peace of them that make peace Iam. 3. 18. The Kingdome of God is not meat and drinke but righteousnesse and peace and ioy in the holy Ghost Rom. 14. 17. Liue in peace and the God of loue and peace shall bee with you 2 Cor. 13. 12. Keepe the vnity of the Spirit in the bond of peace Eph. 4. 3. Follow peace c. without which no man shall see God Heb. 12. 14. The Prayer for Thursday Morning composed of Petitions sutable to the worke of the day Motiues to peaceablenesse agreeable to the precedent exhortation ONe depth calleth vpon another the depth of my ignorance vpoÌ„ the depth of thy Wisdome the depth of my wickednesse vpon the depth of thy goodnesse the depth of my misery vpon the depth of thy mercy O