THE GVIDE VNTO TRVE BLESSEDNESSE OR A BODY OF THE DOctrine of the Scriptures directing man to the sauing knowledge of GOD. Collected By SAM CROOKE 2. TIM 3.15 Thou hast knowne the holy Scriptures of a Child which are able to make thee wise vnto saluation through the faith which is in Christ Iesus LONDON Printed by Iohn Pindley for Nathaniel Butter and are to be sold at his shop neere S. Austins gate at the signe of the Pyed Bull. 1613. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL SIR ARTHVR CAPELL Knight his singular good Patrone the Author wisheth what the worke describeth TO whome vnder Christ should I render this account of my poore labours in my charge but vnto your selfe Right worshipfull by whose meanes the Lord vouchsafed mee so free and comfortable an entrance therein to Jt is the Lord Iesus the doore of the sheepe of whom you haue obtayned this mercie rather to be among few a faithfull dorekeeper in his house then to dwell with manie in the Simoniacall tabernacles of wickednesse Neither shall it euer repent you that you haue not drunke of those stollen waters or rather of that blood of soules wherewith too manie in these gold-thirstie daies doe purchase Aceldama vnto them and theirs Let others enrich themselues with the wages of vnrighteousnesse let them make their boast of their couetous desire and blesse themselues in their contempt of the Lord but let the Lord keep this for euer in the purpose of the hearts of his seruants to deale faithfully and vprightlie in so honourable and weightie a trust And let such as haue found this blessing in these corrupt daies to haue a free accesse to the worke and charge of the ministerie thankfullie acknowledge the same both to God and man Amongst whome I gladlie professe my selfe to be one and therefore to the honour of God and the iust acknowledgement of your Christian integritie I commend this worke to your worthy name and Patronage your example to the memorie and imitation of posteritie your selfe with all your Worshipfull familie to the holie direction and safe tuition of Almightie God Your worships in Christ euer bounden SAM CROOKE TO THE CHRISTIAN READERS especially those of my charge the inhabitants of Wrington in Somersetshire Christian Reader BLessednesse is the Alpha and Omega of Man the beginning of nature and the end of Grace The naturall Philosopher in his inquest of Happinesse laieth this ground Arist Ethiâ— lib. 1. cap. 1 that All things desire that which either in trueth or in opinion is good for them and that onely is good which tendeth vnto the onely good the vttermost end and perfection of their seuerall natures But where Philosophie ends Religion begins or rather where Reason failes Grace supplies proclaiming all that nature in the blindnesse of Corruption accounts excellent to be vanitie of vanities Eccl. 1.2 and the end of all and whole of man Eccl. 12.13 14. to be the feare of God and the keeping of his Commandements And that with respect to the last Iudgement wherein all workes of men whether good or euill though neuer so secret shall come to light and triall and receiue their due reward Yea so farre was nature in staken in the matter of Blessednesse that it could not truely define so much as the happinesse and perfection of the brute creature which the Scripture sheweth to be the Reuelation and glorious Redemption of the Sonnes of God Rom. 8.19 21. Wherefore as it is euident in nature that all men seeke blessednesse so it is apparant in experience that there is no man that can attaine thereto without a supernaturall guide without which wee see that touching Blessednesse there are as many mindes as men and as many waies as wits euery one crossing another and so all prouing that all are insufficient For this cause I haue framed this Treatise for a direction to that which all men seeke and so few finde Wherein from the ground of nature Ioh. 1.9 as of that light which enlightneth euery man that commeth into the world I endeuor to raise the building of sauing knowledge Although to speake properly the light of nature sheweth rather the necessitie then the way to sauing knowledge and is a ground rather of enquirie then of attaining thereto For all that nature can truely determine and articulatelie pronounce concerning this matter is that Blessednesse is to bee sought and such a blessednesse as may sort with the nature of man the seeker especially in regard of his better part which is his soule The rest well may shee stammer at as that the soule is not onely a reasonable but also a religious and immortall spirit and therefore cannot be blessed without the euerlasting fellowship and fauour of God to whom shee is by band of conscience obliged But plainelie to vtter these more then metaphysicall trueths is of such onely whose tongue-string is loosed and to whom the Lord hath said Ephphata be opened Mar. 7.34 35. And with this helpe Reason it selfe will yet goe further and say that the meanes of acquaintance and fellowship with God can be no other then those which himselfe affordeth and namely his Word the onely infallible Index of the minde of the speaker and therefore it cannot but reiect as vncertain and vnsafe whatsoeuer the presumptuous boldnesse of flesh and blood obtrudeth against or besides this rule And yet further touching the triall of this touchstone whether it be the word of God or no Reason it selfe will acknowledge that whatsoeuer inducements may bee from the authoritie of those whom we credit and respect none but God himselfe can thoroughly resolue vs of it and that either by the apparant traces of diuine maiestie in the letter of the Scripture or by the secret testimonie of the same Spirit that inspired it inclining the heart of the reader or hearer to embrace and subscribe vnto the authoritie of it So that now the true beleeuer may say vnto the Church as those Conuerts to the woman of Samaria Now wee beleeue not because of thy saying Ioh. 4.42 for wee haue heard him our selues Vnto reason thus enlightened or willing thus to be enlightened I hope my manner of proceeding in this Treatise will seeme reasonable wherein I haue with the vttermost of my poore abilitie faithfully endeuoured to comprise the whole bodie of the heauenly doctrine of the Scriptures and that in such a methode as vpon long and serious pensitation I haue iudged most meete to bring light to the matter and ease both for vnderstanding and memorie to the Reader A subiect I grant not of so pleasing a straine either to the writer or to the reader as some other treatises which afford more libertie of inuention and discourse But I haue learned of the blessed Apostle of the Gentiles Phil. 3.1 not to be greeued to write these same seeming triuiall things vnto you knowing that euen from these things is the experience best taken of Christ speaking in
and liues least by any meanes we dishonour him Secondly that we auoide both the company of profane persons who b Psal 73.9 set their mouth against heauen and all vnnecessarie dangers whereby c Mat. 26.69 c. diuers haue beene occasioned to deny the Lord. SECT XXVIII Of the fourth Commandement Q. VVHat are the words of the fourth Commandement A. d Exo. 20.8 c. Remember the Sabbath day to keepe it holy c. Q. What is the meaning of this Commandement A. To challenge at the hand of euery man in behalfe both of himselfe and of all that are vnder his roofe and e Nehem. 13.15 c. Jos 24.15 gouernement one day and now since the resurrection of Christ the first of the seauen in euery weeke to be set apart vnto an holy rest for Gods publique and solemne worship and that vpon a fourefold reason 1. From equitie because God alloweth vs six dayes for our affaires and reserueth but one for himselfe 2. From his owne right because this day is his and not ours 3. From his example who on the seuenth day rested from his work of Creation 4. From hope of blessing because God hath blessed and sanctified the Sabbath not onely as a day of seruice to himselfe but also as a time and a Exod 31.13 Esay 56.6 7. meanes to bestow encrease of grace vpon such as doe conscionably obserue the same Q. What are the duties required in this Commandement A. Three Viz. 1. To remember the Sabbath day that is not onely to looke back vnto the b Gen. 1.2 3 first sanction of it in Paradise before all sacrifices and ceremonies which reason among many others may perswade that it is not ceremoniall but perpetuall not to cease till it be perfectly a Heb. 4.9.10 consummated in the heauenly Sabbath but also so to beare it in minde as to liue in continuall practise of the duties wee learned the Sabbath past and b Luk. 23.54 preparation of our selues and our affaires that wee may freely and duely attend on the Lord in the Sabbath approching 2. To c Esay 58.13 make it our delight to consecrate it as glorious to the Lord performing with care and desire of profit the duties thereof in publique and priuate to wit Of d Act. 13.13 15 Psal 92 See the title pietie as hearing and reading the word communicating in the Sacraments prayer singing of Psalmes conferring meditating of the word and workes of God especially feeding our soules with the contemplation of the heauenly Sabbath c. Of e 1. Cor. 16.2 Nehe. 8.12 mercie as collections for the poore visiting the sicke comforting the sad reconciling such as are at variance and such like Wherein such as are necessarily debarred from the publique duties must with a Mat. 24.20 Psal 42.6 sorrow for such restraint vse more carefully the b Psal 63.1 2 priuate meanes 3. To c Exod. 34.21 31.13 rest from our ordinary though lawfull businesses for the space of that whole naturall day yea to allow rest to the very cattel both that we may shew d Pro. 12.10 mercy euen to the beast and to represent after a sort the euerlasting Sabbath wherein all e Ro. 8.20 21 creatures shall be deliuered from the bondage of corruption Notwithstanding such works are excluded as are presently necessarie either for the f Act. 1.12 Mat. 12.5 actions of pietie belonging to that day or for extraordinarie exigents of charitie for the g 2. Kin. 11.9 c. preseruation of the commonwealth or of our owne or others h Mat. 3.4 Mâ—t. 12.1 c life or i 1 Ver. 11. liuelihood in case of present necessitie or danger Q. What is forbidden in this commandement A. The vnhallowing or profaning of the Sabbath which is done 1. By making it a common day through common a Neh. 13.15 c. labour in our ordinarie callings b Esay 58.13 talking of our worldly affaires thinking of our owne thoughts or no other but a common vse of the creatures 2. By making it a day of carnall rest vnto idlenesse c Exod. 32.6 feasting pastimes c. Which draw our mindes farther from God then our ordinarie labours 3. By making it a day of sinne or the Diuels holiday doing that on the Lords day which is d Mar. 3.4 no day lawfull but then most e Ezek. 23.37 38 abhominable 4. By beeing f Amos 8.5 Mal. 1 1â— weary of the duties of the Sabbath thinking long till they be ended Q. What are the helpes or hinderances to the keeping of this commandement A. 1. We must adde to the forementioned duty of remembrance an ardent endeauour to tast the a Psal 42.2 3 84.1 c. sweetnes of holy exercises that so wee may come to make the Sabbath our delight 2. We must auoyd and abhorre all b Ezek. 22.26 prophane opinions either disannulling the necessitie of the Sabbath or equalling any other day to it together with such meetings and companies exercises and occasions whereby we shal be in daunger to be drawn to the vnhallowing of this day SECT XXIX Of the fift Commaundement Q. TO proceed to the second Table What are the words of the fift Commaundement A. c Exod. 20.12 Honour thy Father and thy Mother c. Q. What is the meaning and scope of this Commaundement A. That the qualitie of mens persons and places in whatsoeuer estate naturall ciuile or Ecclesiasticall with whatsoeuer relation to vs be duely acknowledged and respected and that vpon a a Eph 6.2 3. promise of the blessing of long life and b Deut. 5.16 prosperitie to such as in so doing shall shew that they regard the c Eph. 6.1 Rom. 13.1 2. image and ordinance of God Q. What is required in this Commaundement A. All due carriage of inferiours to their superiours and by consequent of superiors also to their inferiors and of equalls among themselues vnder the sweet relation betwixt parents and children or betwixt brethren of the same familie and the generall duetie of honour importing First that all inferiours as wiues children young persons subiects seruants hearers c. doe readily acknowledge and yeeld to their superiours d Leuit. 19.3 Eph. 6.5 reuerence in heart word and behauiour e Eph. 6.1 Col. 3.20 Tit. 3.1 Heb. 13.7 obedience and submission to their commaundements counsels and corrections f T it 2.10 fidelitie thankfulnesse g Rom. 13.6 7. Gal. 6.6 maintenance h 1. Tim 2.1 2 prayer to God for them with giuing of thankes i 2. Tim. 1.5 Phil. 4.9 imitation of their vertues and graces c. Secondly that all Superiours as husbands parents aged persons Magistrates Maisters Ministers c. doe answerably affoord to their inferiours a Eph. 5.23 Rom 13.4 protection and support b Mat. 7.9 10 prouision of good things for the bodie and the soule
works though imperfect do b Jam 2.18 approue their faith whereby they lay hold on Christ and his meritorious righteousnesse to be a true faith as c Gal. 5.6 working by loue in all parts of obedience SECT LII Of the execution of the last Iudgement and the euerlasting estate of the Reprobate in torment and the Elect in glory Q. HItherto of the Act of Iudgement What are we to consider in the third and last place A. The Execution of Iudgement Christ by his Almighty power and ministery of his Angels casting the diuels and reprobate men into hell and bringing Gods elect into the possession of his glorious Kingdome wherein the a Mat. 25.46 reprobate shall first bee dispatched that the b Psal 58 10. righteous may reioice to see the vengeance and as it were wash their feet in the bloud of the wicked Q. What shall be the estate of the reprobate in hell A. They shall remaine for euer in vnspeakeable torment of body and anguish of minde being c 2. Thess 1.9 cast out from the fauourable presence of God and glorious fellowship of Christ and his Saints whose happinesse they shall d Luk. 16.23 and 13.28 see and enuy into that horrible dungeon figured in Scripture by e 2. Pet. 2.17 Matth. 8.12 vtter darkenesse or blackenesse of darkenesse weeping and gnashing of teeth the f Mark 9.44 worme that neuer dieth the fire that neuer goeth out the g Reu. 20.15 lake of fire c. Finally where all things are that can be abhorred and nothing that may be desired Q. What shall be the estate of the Elect in heauen A. They shall bee a 1. Cor. 2.9 vnspeakeably and euerlastingly blessed and glorified in soule and body being freed from all passions imperfections infirmities yea from such b 1. Cor. 13.10 graces as suppose imperfection as faith hope repentance the like in a word froÌ„ all the c Reu 21.4 first things endued with perfect d 1. Cor. 13.12 wisdome and holinesse possessed of all the e Psal 16.11 pleasures that are at the right hand of God seated as Princes in f Reuâ—l 3 21. thrones of maiestie and crowned with g 2. Tim. 4.8 crownes of glory hauing h Reu. 2.26 power ouer all creatures and i 2. Pet. 3.13 possession of that new heauen and new earth wherein dwelleth righteousnesse beholding and being k Psal 17.15 filled with the fruition of the glorious l â— Thes 4.17 Reu 21.3 22 23. presence of God and of the Lambe Iesus Christ in the m Heb. 12.22 23 24. company of innumerable Angels and of all the holy Saints that haue been from the beginning of the world c. Q. Shall there not be inequalitie in the proportion of glory and of misery A. Yes for though euery one shall receiue the full measure whereof they are capeable yet First the wicked shall a Matt. 11.22 24. Luk 12.47 48. Reu. 18 7. exceed one another in capacitie of torment according to the greater merit of their sinnes Secondly the Elect shall exceed one another being made capeable of b Dan 12.3 greater glory according to the proportion not of merit but of fauour whereby in their different callings they were c Luke 12 4â— 43 44. 19 â—7 19. furnished with greater graces and made more faithfull in the imploying of them whether in d 2. Cor. 9.6 doing or in e 2. Cor. 4.17 Reu. 7.14 15 suffering for Christ his cause in the time of this life DEVT. 32.29 Oh that men were wise then they would vnderstand this they would consider their latter end A Prayer for the Morning O Lord God the Almightie maker and carefull preseruer of all thy creatures but especially the sauiour sanctifier of them that beleeue by the merit and efficacie of the bloud of Iesus Christ we acknowledge that as all thy works doe praise thee so it becommeth thy Saints especially to blesse thee and that both night and day for the blessings of the night and of the day May it please thee therefore to receiue at the hands of vs thine vnworthy seruants in the name of Iesus Christ this morning sacrifice of thanks praise for all thy mercies and namely those of the night past and of this morning Thou O Lord hast spread the darknes as thy curtaine ouer vs fauouring vs so much as to hide the light of the world and beauty of thy creatures that in the mean time we might commodiously take our rest And in the time of rest thy prouidence O Lord hath not rested in our behalfe but waked for vs whiles wee slept to keepe vs from the feares and danger of the night Yea thou hast blessed the blessing of sleepe vnto vs and hast thereby restored the decaied powres of nature in vs whereas thou mightest iustly haue cursed it turned it into sudden and vnexpected death Againe it hath pleased thee this morning to raise vp the light of the day to shine vnto our bodies laying open vnto vs the goodly shape of thy creatures and inlightning the waies wherein wee are to walke giuing vs ability of body and alacritie of spirit to proceed in the courses of our seuerall callings finally beginning the world with vs as it were and putting vs in possession of all thy works of wonder Further wee remember with thankful hearts all thy mercies formerly bestowed and continued vpon vs namely life health peace libertie maintenance credit fellowship successe in our affaires preseruation from dangers deliuerance from troubles recouery out of sicknesses consolation in afflictions and the issue of them euen a morning of ioy after a night of sorrow Lastly and aboue all for magnifying thy mercy towards vs in the great worke of our redemption and saluation by Iesus Christ and for euery linke of the golden chaine of grace whereby thou hast fastened vs vnto thy selfe namely for election vocation iustification sanctification and hope of glorification likewise for the meanes of grace thy Christ thy spirit thy word thy sacraments thy sabbaths and the assemblies of thy Saints with all the helps of example instruction admonition and fatherly correction by which thou hast indeauoured to further vs in the way of our saluation Yea that though our prouocations of thee be many and greeuous yet thy compassions faile not but are renewed euery morning For all these testimonies of thy bounty thy pitie thy patience towards vs what shall we render vnto thee O Lord Wee doe euen take the cup of saluation and call vpon thy blessed name wee doe according to our pouerty offer thee the calues of our lips confessing thy goodnesse and the due seruice of our bodies and soules as a liuing and reasonable sacrifice And now O Lord wee acknowledge our penurie to be such that we cannot liue but on thine allowance For looking into our selues we finde no store but of sinne and misery our
vnderstanding full of blindnesse vanitie and infidelitie our consciences dead and remorselesse our hearts hard and impenitent our affections disorderly and violent our appetites sensuall and brutish our whole nature deformed with originall corruption our whole life abounding with the fruits thereof in all maner of actuall transgressions no ability to any good duty no restraint or moderation in sinning against thee yea if we doe any good thing we are apt to blemish it with selfe-loue and hypocrisie if we abstaine from any euill it is manie times rather from the act then from the loue of it In this case O Lord if thou shouldest looke vpon vs as a Iudge straightly to marke iniquities or take this our confession as an euidence against vs how should we be able to stand before thee But we beseech thee take knowledge of it as of our complaint and pitie our pouerty our miserie and our nakednes Cloath vs with the righteousnesse of Iesus Christ that may both hide our filthinesse from thy sight and as the garment of the elder brother make vs accepted before thee and procure thy blessing Acquaint thy selfe with vs O Lord and renew daily with vs the couenant of thy peace and euen now this morning let thy spirit from heauen bring vs a new patent of mercie that being to meet with thee in the waies and works of this day wee may be sure to meet thee as a reconciled Father not as an offeÌ„ded Iudge Fill vs with all ioy and peace in beleeuing Comfort vs ouer all our sinnes by the assurance of thy mercie Confirme vnto our heares our title vnto thy Kingdome And because o Lord we liue vpon thine hand and all our welldoing is from thee graunt that we may yeeld thee so much due that no Lords besides thee may rule ouer vs. And to that end good Lord doe thou free vs from the contrary power rule of Sathan of sinne It is not for thine honour O Lord that thy seruants should be vnder the yoake of thine enemies redeeme vs therefoâ—e mightily froÌ„ the thraldome of the diuel help vs to leade our captiuity captiue and stablish our hearts for euer by thy free spirit For where thy spirit is there is freedome Let that spirit of thine therefore O Lord come vpon vs and strengthen vs with a greater might then that of Samson to breake in sunder the strongest cords euen our speciall sinnes Teach vs to see the vilenesse of them powre vpon vs the spirit of grace and godly sorow that we may mourne for them affect vs with an holy hatred detestation of them waken vs out of our security with the feare of thy iudgements strenghen our weakenesse with the power of thy might arme vs with the furniture of thy grace encourage vs with the presence of thy spirit and be with vs in our spirituall conflict as the King in the armie Couer our heâ—ds assure our hearts instruct our hands helpe vs so to fight that wee may ouercome so to ouercome that we may receaue the crown of victorie Further O Lord we entreat thee so to let thy kingdome preuaile in vs that wee may not onely be thy souldiers but thy seruants and subiects To this end write thy lawes in our inward parts giue vs vnderstanding of thy will set vp the scepter of thy kingdome in our consciences subdue our hearts to the obedience of thy commandements win our affections to the loue of thy statutes conforme our liues to the rule of thy righteousnesse and transforme vs daily into thine image from glorie to glory Blesse all the meanes of grace vnto vs and blesse vs with hearts sanctified and set vpon the meanes for encrease of grace Let thy holy word O Lord bee our chiefest treasure thy statutes our counsellors thy promises our comforters thy sacraments our delicates thy sabbaths our best daies and thy seruants our deerest companions Let thy seruice be our liberty let thy yoake be our ease and thy burthen as wings vnto vs. Let thy louing countenance bee our sunne thy protection our shield and thy fauourable acceptance our exceeding great reward Grant that we may account this time of thy Gospell as our haruest and let vs not now sleepe least we be the sonnes of confusion but let vs so lay vp in these daies of plenty that in the time of dearth wee may haue something in store Teach vs so to number our daies and so to spend them that euerie day and euery night we may be able to giue vp a good account especially in the night of death and morrow of iudgement And now hauing begun to speak to thee our Lord though we be but dust and ashes we are bold to continue our suit euen for bodily blessings Blesse vs therefore we pray thee this day followinâ— and all the daies of our life with that portion of health peace prosperitie and euery good thing that may enable vs and make vs cheerefull in dutie Aduise vs in all our thoughts and purposes giue good successe vnto our lawfull endeauors strengthen vs in our bodily labours sanctifie vs in our meats and drinkes recreations and companies Grant that in doing seruice to our selues and one ano her wee may still remember that wee are thy seruants Giue vs such spirituall eyesight that we may see thee in thy creatures and in thy prouidence Grant that nothing may draw vs away from thee but that euery thing may bring vs neerer vnto thee Lord let vs liue in thy sight Let vs not liue without thee as Gentils let vs not be cast out of thy presence as Kain let vs not runne against thee as Balaam but let vs walke with thee as Enoch Noah and Abraham taking knowledge of thee in all our waies And take thou knowledge of vs vpholding vs with thine hand watching ouer vs with thine eie guiding vs with thy grace setting thine heart vpon vs to loue vs and doe vs good and not euill all the daies of our life Last of all wee come vnto thee O Lord in the behalfe of thy whole Church and of all our brethren and and sisters thine elect seruants wheresoeuer they bee Call the vncalled perfect the called raise vp the fallen strengthen the weake enlighten the ignorant heale the sicke releeue the needie and distressed release such as are in restraint comfort them that mourne especially such as mourne for sinne strengthen the hand and heart of them that stand in the iust defence of religion and right quaile and confound euerie Aduersarie and Antichristian power and pollicie and so publish and propagate the Gospell of Iesus Christ that thy name may be knowne thy kingdome enlarged the number of thy Saints fulfilled Specially wee beseech thee beholde and visite this thy vine which hauing rescued from the Egyptian darkenes and slauerie of Antichrist thou hast beene pleased to plant among vs of this nation Make vs more thankefull for our long peace and for the Gospell of peace Blesse thy seruant Iames
appointed food let it teach vs resolutely to shake of all impediments carefullie to redeeme all occasions and gladlie to embrace all opportunities of doing good Finally vnto all these good purposes worke in vs by thy holie word spirit a dailie encrease of liuing and sauing faith O Lord it is thine onely vnspeakeable gift without whom it is no more possible to beleeue that which thou promisest then to performe whatsoeuer thy law requireth Thou therefore O Father for Christ Iesus sake by the powerfull operation of thy Spirit worke and encrease in vs this mother grace Teach vs so to lay hold on Christ and lodge him in our hearts that we may not onely applie and assure vnto our selues all the promises of life and mercie but also cleanse our selues from all filthinesse of the flesh and spirit and grow vp vnto full holinesse in the feare of thy Maiestie And now Lord for outward things wee submit our selues to thy wise and fatherlie prouidence onely beseeching thee to giue vs this day what thou knowest needefull and behoofefull vnto vs for the day Lord feede vs with food conuenient for vs giue vs such a portion of health maintenance credit and all outward comforts as may make vs thankefull and seruiceable vnto thee And aboue all giue vs grace to employ and improue all thy blessings as thy talents to the furtherance of the worke thou hast giuen vs to doe Lord giue vs euerie day but especially on thy Sabbath dayes more then a naturall and common vse of thy good creatures Let vs in all things tast and see how sweet and gracious a God thou art Let thy good blessings be not as a wall to stop our sight that we may not looke beyond them but as a glasse through which wee may the better discerne thy loue and faithfulnesse towards vs concerning heauenly things Let vs serue thee with an vpright heart in the duties and businesses of this day bringing the generall profession of religion into particular practise according to our seuerall callings Lord let vs neuer bee a burden vnto humane societie nor a blemish vnto the profession of Christianitie by idlenesse or inordinate liuing Make our labours and endeauours fruitfull and beneficiall not onely vnto our selues that wee may eat thereof and reioice before thee but also vnto all others whom they concerne that they may praise thee with vs and for vs. Blesse thy whole Church O Lord and build it vp more and more in perfect beautie Take pittie on those thine elect that walke yet in darkenesse and cause the light of thy Gospell of grace to shine vnto them Confirme thy gracious worke in those who haue receiued the first fruits of thy spirit Comfort such as mourne for sinne Fulfill the desires of all that trulie long and sigh after thee Support and cure the infirmities of all that are humbled vnder thine hand and that haue seene affliction in the rod of thy visitation Preserue the good land wherein woe liue make vs more thankefull for all thy rich blessings and our manifold mightie deliuerances Saue thine Annointed seruant our Soueraigne Lord King Iames with our gracious Queene Anne and the Royall progenie Assist with thy spirit and grace all that are in authoritie sanctifie all those whom thou emploiest in the worke of the ministerie Remember in speciall mercie those whom thou hast knit vnto vs in the bands of consanguinitie affinitie neighbourhood or Christian amitie Finallie vnto all thine and ours vouchsafe Peace and mercy through Iesus Christ thy deere Sonne our alone Redeemer and Sauiour To whom with thee O Father and thy holie Spirit one God and King euerlasting be rendred all honor seruice and thankesgiuing for euermore Amen A short Prayer for the Euening O Almightie God King of Glory Father of Eternitie who dwelling on high abasest thy selfe to behold things in heauen in earth being the first the last giuest beginning ending to all times affaires wherein thy creatures are employed we acknowledg with humble thaÌ„kfull hearts the riches of thy bountie afforded vs thine vnworthie seruants as well this day now past as in the whole course of our liues Thou O Lord hast made vs and that fearfully and wonderfully thou hast been our hope from our mothers brests Thou hast lengthened the daies of our life vnto this houre therein hast shewed vs many mercies Thou hast freed our bodies from diseases dangers our names from reproch our substance from spoile our liberty from violent and vniust restraint Thou hast strengthened vs vnto labour satisfied vs with thy good creatures cheared our hearts with the fellowship and loue of thy people our fellow seruants and blessed our endeauors with successe through thy good prouidence Thou hast heard our prayers accomplished our desires turned away our feares mitigated our troubles and put an end from time to time to all our afflictions Thus hast thou shewed thy selfe to be the God that delightest in the prosperitie of thy seruants But O Lord how can we worthilie magnifie thy mercy towards vs in Iesus Christ In whom thou hast from all eternitie appointed an heauenly Kingdome vnto vs By whose word thou hast called vs by whose blood thou hast redeemed vs by whose Spirit thou hast sanctified and sealed vs vnto the day of redemption In whom we haue this liberty to call thee Abba Father In whom and with whom all earthly blessings are giuen vnto vs not onely for our bodily comfort but also as pledges of our heauenly inheritance Oh how deare therefore are thy thoughts of mercie vnto vs O Lord how great is the summe of them Blessed Father enlarge our hearts to comprehend thy loue and encline them to loue thee who hast so loued vs. But let vs mourne and be ashamed that wee haue returned nothing vnto thy maiestie but hatred for thy good will Let it strike our hearts that wee haue abused thy bodily blessings vnto couetousnesse or intemperance thy patience vnto presumption the grace of thy Gospell vnto licenciousnesse in sinning Let vs abhorre our selues that wee haue prophaned thy sabbaths despised thy word quenched thy spirit vnhallowed thy name many waies defiled the holy profession we haue taken vpon vs. Let vs repent in dust and ashes for our wilfull blindnesse of minde hardnesse of heart remorselessenesse of conscience whereby wee haue resisted the worke of thy grace in vs. Thou O Lord wouldest haue purged vs and we would not be purged thou wouldest haue cured vs but wee would not be cured Thâ—se and all other our sinnes O Lord let vs recount before thee with true sorrow and astonishment of heart But doe not thou O Father straightly marke iniquities nor deale with vs as we haue deserued Truth Lord vnto vs belongeth nothing but confusion and condemnation but vnto thee compassioâ— and forgiuenesse though wee haue grieuously rebelled against thee Thou hast in thy word proclaimed thy selfe vnto vs to be The Lord mercifull gracious slow to anger
according to his gracious promise who also in Christ will b Mat. 10 42. 25.35 2. Tim. 1.18 acknowledge and requite it at the last day 2. To c Jam. 1.27 seale the truth of our religion 3. To d Heb. 6.9 10 1. Joh. 3.14 1. Tim. 6.19 assure our saluation 4. To e Dan. 4.24 Luk. 19.8 make amends to men for former couetousnes and crueltie 5. To f Luk. 11.41 sanctifie our store and bring a g Deu. 25.10 blessing on our labours yea and vpon our h Psal 112.2 37.26 2. Tim. 1 1â— posteritie after vs. SECT XLIX Of the Prouidence of God concerning mankinde after this life and first of particular Judgement at the houre of Death Q. THus farre of Glorification begunne and of Redemption so farre as it is vouchsafed in this life now let vs come to entreat of perfect Redemption and Glorification and that vnder the prouidence or dealing of God with mankinde after this life How doth God then deale with men A. He bringeth them all to Iudgement Q. What is here meant by Iudgement A. The pronouncing and executing of the irreuocable sentence of Absolution or Condemnation which is done Partly on euery man in a Heb. 9.27 particular at the houre of death but Fully and b Act. 17.51 generally vpon all men at the second comming of Christ Q. Must all men then dye A. Yea c Psal 49.10 Eccles 2.16 all both good and bad saue that vnto some namely such as shall bee found aliue at the comming of Christ a change shall bee in stead of Death as shall be shewed Q. Death beeing the punishment of sinne how commeth it to passe that the righteous dye to whom all sinnes are forgiuen A. d Rom. 5.12 Death indeed came on all mankinde by reason of sinne but yet it is not in all things the same to the godly and to the wicked for howsoeuer vnto both it be the a 1. Cor. 15.26 Psal 90.3 enemie of nature as the end of naturall life yet 1. Vnto the godly it is a token of Gods b Ps 37.37 38 loue vnto the wicked of his c Job 18.13 14. anger 2. Vnto the godly it is a d Apoc. 14.13 rest from labour and miserie che e 1 Cor. 15.16 last enemie being now destroyed vnto the wicked it is the f Luk. 12 20 height of all worldly euils 3. Vnto the godly it is the g Rom 6.7 vtter abolishing of sinne and perfection of mortification vnto the wicked it is the conquest of sinne and accomplishment of their spirituall captiuitie 4. Vnto the godly it is so farre from being a separation from Christ that euen the body seuered from the soule and rotting in the graue is yet vnited vnto Christ and the soule freed from the bodie is h Luk. 23 43 Phil. 1.23 with him in Paradise vnto the wicked it is an vtter cutting off from the fauorable presence and patience of God 5. Vnto the a Luk. 16.22 godly it is the beginning of heauenly glorie vnto the b Ver. 23 wicked it is the entrance into hellish and end lesse torments Q. How are men iudged at the houre of death A. First c Heb. 9.27 in that God at that instant pronounceth and the conscience apprehendeth the sentence of blessing or cursing Secondly in that the soule of euerie man is immediately conueyed by the power of God and the ministerie of Angels into that state of happinesse or miscrie d Eccl. 11.3 Luk. 16.26 wherein it shall remaine till the resurrection and from thence-forth both soule and bodie for euer SECT L. Of the Generall and finall Iudgement and first of the preparation thereto Q. TO come to the full and finall Iudgement what are wee to vnderstand thereby A. The great day of Assise for the whole world wherein a Eccl. 12.14 all mens liues that euer haue beene are or shall bee beeing duely examined b 2. Cor. 5.10 euery one shall receiue according to his workes In which Iudgement we are to consider three things and first the preparation thereto Q. Wherein doth the preparation vnto the last Iudgement consist A. In fiue things whereof the First is the foretokening of the time thereof which though it be so c Act 1.7 sealed vp in the treasurie of Gods counsell that neither men nor Angels no nor yet our d Mat. 13.32 Sauior himselfe the Prophet of the Church as man in the daies of his flesh had expresse notice thereof that e 1. Thes 5.2 3 6 from the vncertaintie and suddennesse of it we might bee taught to bee alwaies in readinesse for it yet it hath pleased God and our Lord Iesus Christ to acquaint vs with some f Mat. 24.33 signes whereby wee may discerne of his approch g Ver. 32 as men in spring time may descry Summer approching by the shooting forth of the fig-tree Q. What are the signes fore-tokening the last Iudgement A. They are certaine notable a Mat. 24.6 c. changes in the world and Church some farther off some nearer vnto the comming of Christ as The b Mat. 24.14 publishing and receiuing of the Gospell throughout the world The c 1. Tim. 4.1 2. Thes 2.3 Apostasie of the most part of professors not louing the truth The d 1. Ioh. 2.18 2. Thes 2 3 4 8 c. reueiling of Antichrist the man of sinne and child of perdition who vnder the title of Christs vicegerent opposeth himself vnto Christ in all his offices and ordinances both in Church and Common-wealth Common e 2. Tim. 3.1 c. Mat. 24.12 37. 1. Thes 5.3 corruption in manners ioined with securitie as in the daies of Noah and Lot Warres and troubles in the f Mat. 24.6 world and g Ver. 9. Church h Mat. 24.24 False Christs attended with false Prophets and armed with false miracles The i Rom. 11.25 calling of the Iewes vnto the faith of the Gospell Finally a Mat. 24.29 Luk. 21.25 signes in heauen earth and all elements as the trembling of the earth the roaring of the sea the darkning of the Sunne and Moone c. yea the b 2. Pet. 3.7 10 12. firing of the whole frame of heauen and earth with the c Mat. 24.30 signe of the Sonne of Man whereby his comming shall then bee cleerely apprehended of all men Q. What is the second thing in the preparation vnto the last Iudgement A. The comming of Iesus Christ the d Act. 10.42 Iudge of the world who in his e Act. 1.11 humane f Reu. 1.7 visible body but yet with vnspeakeable glorie shall suddenly g Mat. 24.27 breake forth like lightening through the heauens riding on the h Reu. 1.7 Iud. ver 14 clouds enuironed with i 2. Thes 1.8 flaming fire attended with all the k Ver. 7. Mat. 25.31 host of the Elect Angels and
especially with the l 2. Thes 4.16 voice shoute of an Archangell and the trumpet of God and so shall m Mat 25.31 Reu. 20.21 sit downe on the royall throne of Iudgement Q. What is the third thing A. The summoning and presenting of n Mat. 25.32 Luk. 17.37 all both dead and liuing men together with Diuels before the glorious throne of Christ the Iudge Q. How shall all men both dead and liuing be summoned A. By the a Ioh. 5 28 voice of Christ vttered by the ministerie of b Mat. 24.31 Angels namely by that shout and c 1. Cor. 15.52 trumpet of the Arch-angell whereto the Lord ioyning his diuine power as d Joh 5.25 vnto the word preached for the worke of the first resurrection shall in a moment both raise the dead with their owne bodies and euery part therof though neuer so dispersed and e 1. Cor. 15.52 change the liuing so that it shall bee with them as if they had beene a long time dead and were now raised to life againe Q. Shall there bee no difference betweene the resurrection of the Elect and of the Reprobate A. Yes For howsoeuer they shall f Act 24.15 Joh. 5.28 both rise by the same Almightie voice and power of Christ in the g 2. Cor. 5.10 Reu 20.13 same bodies wherein they liued vpon earth and those so altered in qualitie as that they shall bee able to abide for euer in that estate whereto they shall bee adiudged yet 1. The Elect shall be raised as a 1. Cor. 15. Ver. 20 22. 45. members of the bodie of Christ by vertue deriued from his resurrection the reprobate as malefactors shal be brought forth of the prison of the graue by vertue of the b Reu. 1.7 Iudiciarie power of Christ and of the curse of the Law 2. The Elect shal come forth to euerlasting life which is called the c Joh. 5.29 resurrection of life the reprobate to d Dan. 12.2 shame perpetuall contempt called the resurrection of condemnation 3. The bodies of the Elect shall be e 1 Cor. 15.42 4â— c. spirituall that is glorious powerful nimble and impatible like the bodie of the first Adam in innocency yea rather like the f Ver. 49 Phil. 3.21 body of Christ the second Adam but the bodies of the reprobate shal be full of vncomelines and horror agreeable to the g Reu. 1.7 guiltinesse terror of their consciences and liable to extreame torment Q. How shall all men be presented before the throne of Christ A. The Elect being gathered by the Angels shall with a Luk. 21.28 great ioy be b 1. Thes 4.17 caught vp into the aire to meet the Lord. The Reprobate together with the the Diuell and his Angels shall with c Reu. 6.15 16. extreame horror and confusion bee drawne into his presence Q. What is the fourth thing A. The separation of the Elect from the Reprobate For d Mat. 25.33 Christ the great Shepheard shall then place the Elect as his sheepe that haue heard his voice and followed him on his right hand the reprobate with the Diuels as straying goates on his left hand Q. What is the fift and last thing A. The opening of the e Reu. 20.12 bookâ—s of record by which the dead shall bee iudged Viz. 1. The seuerall bookes of all mens consciences which then by the glorious illumination of Christ the f Mal. 4.2 Sunne of righteousnes shining in his full strength shall be so enlightened that men shall perfectly remember whatsoeuer good or euil they did in the time of life the g Rom. 2.16 1. Cor 4 5 secrets of all hearts being then reueiled 2. The a Exo. 32.32 33. Ezek. 13.9 Reu. 3.5 21.27 book of life that is the eternall decree of GOD to saue his elect by Christ which decree shall then at length be b Mat. 25.34 made knowne to all SECT LI. Of the Act of the last Iudgement Q. THus farre of the preparation to Iudgement What are we to consider in the second place A. The Act of Iudgement wherein the Elect shall c Mat. â—5 34 first be acquitted that they may afterward as d Mat. 19.28 assistants ioine with Christ in the Iudgement of the reprobate both men and e 1. Cor. 6.2 3. Angels Q. How shall the Act of Iudgement be performed A. It hath two parts Viz. 1. Examination 2. Pronouncing of sentence Q. How shall the examination bee framed 1. According to that Law of God which hath beene reuealed vnto men whether it be the law of a Ro. 2.12 c nature only which is the remainder of the morall law written in the hearts of our first parents and conueied by the b Joh. 1.9 power of God vnto all mankindâ— to leaue them without excuse or that written word of God vouchsafed vnto the Church in the scriptures first of the old and after also of the new Testament as the rule of faith and life 2. By the euidence of euery mans conscience bringing all his works whether good or euill to light c Rom. 2.15 bearing witnesse with him or against him together with the d Mat. 12.27 ver 41 42. Heb. 11.7 testimonie of such who either by doctrine company or example haue in the time of this life approoued or condemned him Q. Shall there bee no difference in the examination of the Elect and of the Repr bate A. Yes For First the Elect shall not haue their c Ezek. 18 22 sinnes for which Christ hath satisfied but onely their f Reu. 14.13 good workes remembred Secondly being in Christ they and their workes shall not vndergoe the a Jam. 2.12 strict triall of the Law simply in it selfe but as the b 2. Pet. 1.10 11. obedience thereof proueth them to be true partakers of the grace of the Gospell Q. Shall there be any such reasoning at the last Iudgement as seemeth to be foretold in the 7. 25. of Mathew A. No but the consciences of men being then c 1. Cor. 4.5 enlightened by Christ shall cleare all those doubts and reiect those exceptions and excuses which they seeme now to apprehend Q. How shall the sentence bee pronounced A. By the Iudge himselfe Mat. 25. our Lord Iesus Christ who according to the euidence and verdict of conscience touthing workes shall adiudge the Elect vnto the blessing of the d Ver. 34. kingdome of God his Father the reprobate with the Diuell and his Angels vnto the e Ver. 41 curse of euerlasting fire Q. Shall men then be adiudged to saluation or damnation for their workes sake A. The case is different for 1. Wicked men shall be condemned for the merit of their works because being perfectly euill they deserue the a Rom. 6.23 wages of damnation 2. The Elect shall be pronounced iust because their good
our soueraigne with our gracious Queen Anne Prince Charles the Count Palatine with the Lady Elizabeth adorne them with all Princelie graces answerable to their high estate but especiallie with such spirituall graces as may make them Kings and Priests to thee and thy sonne for euer Impart of the same spirit of grace and gouernement to all the honorable of his Maiesties priuie Counsell to the Nobilitie and Magistracie of the Land Blesse thy seruants the Ministers of thy word and sacraments and giue them sufficiencie fidelitie and successe in thy businesse Take knowledge of our priuate friends our kinsfolkes our charges and whosoeuer may claime interest in this duty at our hands Finally to them and vs and all that call on the name of Iesus Christ both our Lord and theirs grant whatsoeuer we haue or ought to haue asked and that for the only mediations sake of the same thy sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ to whom with thee O Father and the holy Ghost one God be praise and dominion for euer and euer Amen A Prayer for the Euening O Lord God by whose gracious prouidence the night succeedeth the day and the day the night we acknowledge that if wee had no other glasse to see thee in nor booke wherein to reade of thee but that of thy creatures wee could not without shamefull vnthankefulnesse bee ignorant of thee for as much as day vnto day vttereth thy goodnesse and night vnto night teacheth knowledge But whereas thou art further pleased to reueile thy selfe vnto vs in the booke of thy Scriptures and in the glasse of thy Sonne Iesus Christ if now we should not know thee or not acknowledge thee how desperate were our blindnesse how damnable were our vnthankefulnesse wherefore wee entreat thee to accept from vs in the name of Christ humble thankes for the manifold witnesses pledges of thy loue towards vs. Thou O Lord hast made vs not wee our selues yea thou hast made vs men and women not beasts perfect in shape noâ— monsters sensible and of vnderstanding not fooles Thou didst preserue vs in the woâ—be nourish vs when wee hanged vpon the brests prouide vs meanes of education fit vs for some honest employment wherein now by thy goodnesse wee are exercised and doe therein finde thine assistance and blessing Thou hast brought vs forth in a fruitfull land in times of peace and prosperity so â—hat we haue our share in the common blessings of a most happy gouernment Besides thou hast in priuate compassed euery one of vs with particular mercies tending to the comfort of life And euen this day past hast beene our guide our Father and our friend and now bringest vs before thee with matter of praise and not of mourning so that we may adde the day past vnto the number of the daies of our wellbeing And as if thou thoughtest all this too little for vs thou hast from all eternity set thine heart vpon vs and appointed vs to saluation by the meanes of our Lord Iesus Christ reueiled thy couenant of grace vnto vs by thy Gospell confirmed to vs in particular the promises of mercy by the outward seales of thy sacraments and by the inward seale of thy spirit changed our vile and cursed nature and made vs in some measure partakers of thy diuine nature sealed vs vp by the Holy Ghost vnto the day of redemption In a word it is thou O Lord that hast giuen vs light light of nature light of grace and light of glory For all which mercies wee doe now and alwaies magnifie thy glorious grace beseeching thee to stirre vs vp vnto a greater measure of thankefulnesse and obedience that as there is euerie day in the booke of thine account much goeing out towards vs from thee so thou maist finde somewhat from vs comming in vnto thee And now O Lord being answered in our prayers of the Morning and of the former time of our life we are emboldened to come againe vnto thee who therefore doest heare the praier that to thee all flesh may come Wee beseech thee therefore be not weary of our importunity be not ashamed of our pouertie but as the sense thereof leadeth vs vnto thee so let the pitty and commiseration of the same encline thy mercifull heart towards vs. O Lord we cannot come into thy sight but we bring with vs great matter occasioÌ„ either of wrath or of mercy from thee Our naturall corruption which as the leprosie of Adam cleaueth to vs all his posteritie filling vs euen from our conception with the seedes of all euill so that wee brought with vs a world of sinne into this thy world Our actuall transgressions which in imitation of Adams sinne we haue eueryone of vs committed our thoughts our words our works by which the eies of thy glorie haue beene daily prouoked Finally the heinous circumstances whereby our sinnes haue beene made out of measure sinfull as the abuse of thy patience quenching of thy spirit despising of thy Gospell vnthankefulnesse for thy mercies vnfaithfulnesse in thy couenant These O Lord and many moe are the mischiefs with which our natures are blemished our liues pestered our consciences burdened thy heauie wrath most iustly procured Yet because thou hast giuen thy Sonne Iesus Christ a meanes of propitiation in whom thou reconcilest the world to thy selfe wee haue boldenesse through him to entreat thee of grace and pardon Lord let his death and sufferings satisfie thy iustice for all our sinnes and procure vs fauour and forgiuenesse from thee that so mercy may reioice ouer iudgement in our behalfe as both meet together in thee Let thy Christ O Lord be our Iesus to saue vs from our sinnes and deliuer vs from the wrath to come Enrich vs with the treasure of his merits that may both ransome vs out of the hand of our deadly enemie and purchase vs an euerlasting estate in the kingdome of thy glory Let it not greeue thee O Lord thus to make vs more then gainers at thine hand seeing at the hand of him our suretie thou art sure to bee no looser And whereas thou hast not onely promised so to deale with vs but commanded vs to beleeue that promise of thine O Lord in desire to obey thy commandement and to seale vnto thy truth we professe that wee doe beleeue yet priuie to the weakenesse of our faith wee pray thee helpe our vnbeliefe Speak peace O Lord vnto our consciences replenish vs with the comforts of thy spirit multiplie in vs the euidences of our saluation Shed thy loue abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghost set vs as a seale vpoÌ„ thine hand and set thy seale O Lord vpon vs not onelie that seale of Election whereby thou knowest vs to bee thine owne but also the seale of Sanctification whereby we may know our selues to be thine O Lord if we see nothing in our selues but what wee haue of our selues or of the world we cannot say wee belong to any but to Satan
bearing no other but his image and superscription But Lord doe thou deface that cursed image blot out that superscription dissolue in vs the malicious worke of the Diuell Let the old man of corruption bee dispossessed by the new man of grace and the strong man of sinne by the stronger man of thy spirit Let no sinne O Lord haue dominion ouer vs mortifie in vs the whole body of death crucifie and put to shamefull death our speciall corruptions shew vs the ougly face of sinne grant that we may see it as thou seest it and hate it with a perfect hatred euen as thou abhorrest it Yea let vs see thee O Christ whom we haue perced with our sinnes bleeding with the wounds thou hast receaued from vs that wee may iustly detest both our sinnes as the weapons and our selues as the traitors that haue slaine our Sauiour On the contrary side good Lord renew thine owne image in vs. Enlighten our darke minds with the knowledge of thy truth mollifie our hard hearts with the oyle of thy grace reuiue our dead consciences with the soule of new life that liuing in the spirit we may also walke in the spirit Plant in vs faith without presumption loâ—e without dâ—ssimulation feare without infidelitie zeale without hyprocri ie knowledge without pride puritie without iudgeing Giue vs wisdome ioined with simplicitie courage accompanied with meekenesse cheerefulnesse tempered with sobrietie and let euery grace in vs be graced with humilitie Fill vs with all the fruits of a liuely and sauing faith working by loue let the fire thereof flame in our hearts and the light thereof shine in our liues to the praise of thy name and the comfort of our consciences And thus without ceasing lead vs forward to perfection guiding vs by thy grace and after bringing vs to thy glorie And now O Lord hauing in the first place sought thy kingdome and righteousnesse giue vs leaue in the next place to seek thy fauour in outward things Be with vs this night O Lord to watch ouer vs for good and not for euill Let it bee our comfort that thou seest vs in the darke and takest knowledge of vs when wee are vnmindfull of our selues But aboue all things keepe vs euen in our sleepe from being vnmindfull of thee Let our hearts alwaies bee awake and keepe thy watch O Lord euen as wee would thou shouldst keepe a watch ouer vs that whensoeuer thou shalt call for vs by the generall alarum of iudgement or the particular summons of our death whether at midnight or at the cocke crowing or at the dawning of the day we may bee found ready to accompany our heauenly bridegroome In the meane time sanctifie the blessing of sleepe vnto vs that the rest of the night may make vs fit for the labour of the day and night day being spent in thy seruice may prepare vs for that day of thine which shall neuer giue place to night Lastlie seeing thou hast vouchsafed this honour to thy seruants on earth to make intercession vnto thee one for another wee commend vnto thy maiestie the care of thy whole Church and of all our fellow members in the bodie of Christ Cause theÌ„ all in thy due time to be brought forth fashioned and perfected according to the image of Christ our head Let the Angell neuer cease flying with the euerlasting Gospell to enlighten them that sit in darknesse to preach good tidings to the poore to binde vp the broken hearted to proclaime libertie vnto the captiues till Babilon be quite ruined and thy Ierusalem bee reared vp and finished To this end blesse all Christian Princes and States by name thy seruant Iames our Soueraigne with our gracious Queene the royall children and as thou hast crowned them with worldly honour vpon earth so direct them vnto that more glorious crowne in heauen Make them strong and faithfull to maintaine the crowne dignitie of thy sonne that vnder his protection they may happily raigne and execute iudgement Assist with thy counsell the Honorable priuie Counsellors adorne the Nobles with spirituall nobilitie prosper the worke of thy Gospell in the hands of thy seruants the Ministers and the affaires of Iustice in the hands of the Magistrates Vouchsafe to take speciall notice from vs of those whom thou hast specially recommended to vs and to them and vs and all that desire to feare thy name grant all the blessings of mercie and peace in Iesus Christ our onely blessed Sauiour to whom with thee and thine eternall Spirit O Father be all honour obedience and thanksgiuing throughout all generations Amen A priuate Prayer for the pardon of sinne and for the fauour of God O Lord God mighty in power excellent in Maiestie righteous in iudgement rich in mercie Thou art so farre from despising and driuing from thee a weake vile sinfull wretch as I am that thou callest and drawest such vnto thee Vnto thee therefore the God that hearest the prayer I am bold to approch in the name of thy Sonne my Lord Iesus Christ beseeching thee to hold out the golden scepter of thy grace and to admit me into thy presence Let thy power not dismay but strengthen my weakenes Let thy glorie not confound but couer my vilenesse let thy puritie not pursue but purge my wickednesse let the riches of thy mercie not disdaine but take pittie of my pouertie and wretchednesse O Lord I can plead nothing but miserie in my selfe to make way vnto thy mercie from thee alone must all motiues vnto compassion be drawne For till thou didst miraculously create mee I was without any being and if in the state of creation thou sawest any thing in my nature it was thine owne and not mine But woe is mee O Lord that which I could not giue vnto my selfe I did by sinning against thee in Adam take from my selfe and deface thaâ— holy image of thine which was all the contentment thy spirit had in me and all the reioicing I could haue in my selfe And so haue I imitated the patterne of that first sinne in the dayes of my vanitie that thy spirit hath found no matter but of strife and contention with me My whole nature hath been an armorie of weapons an armie of souldiers to fight against thee And how that wicked warre hath been waged by malicious thoughts words and workes prouoking the eyes of thy glorie my conscience in great part witnesseth and thou O Lord that art greater then my conscience canst better tell Yea since the time that I was called by thy mighty word and powerfull grace to some beginnings of new obedience thy spirit hath beene put to continuall strife within me My corrupt flesh hath still maintained a rebellious partie against thee and I my selfe which is the height of shamefull trecherie taking part with it haue giuen the repulse and foyle vnto thy good spirit I ought to haue serued thee in holinesse but I haue caused thee to serue by my sinnes and
wearied thee with mine iniquities I ought to haue beene controuled and kept in order by thee but such hath been my boldnesse in sinning that I haue checked thee and put to silence thy good grace that rebuked sinne in mee I ought to haue liued as vnder couenant with thee but wretch that I am I haue in many particulars broken my vow falsified my faith violated the euerlasting couenant Finally what cōmandement of thine is there O Lord that I haue not transgressed What grace that I haue not abused what curse that I haue not deserued Thou hast graciously disposed mee and led mee into some good actions but euen in the best I haue halted and stumbled through infidelitie selfeloue and manifold infirmities so that if thou challenge that which is thine owne nothing remaineth to mine account euen in my best seruices but the imperfection of them Thus sinning perfectly I haue deserued thine absolute curse but by mine imperfect obedience I can claime no portion of reward no release of punishment at thine hand And now O Lord if thou straightly markest iniquities O Lord who shall stand But there is mercie with thee that thou maist be feared O Lord there is glorie with thee but that is not to be approached there is wisedome with thee but that is not to be comprehended there is iustice with thee but that is not to bee endured but there is mercy with thee yea mercie reioicing ouer iudgement and for that thou art for euer to bee reuerenced and adored That linke of mercie being laid hold on draweth all the golden chaine of thy glorious attributes and reconcileth thy fearefull maiestie vnto poore sinners That linke of mercie O Father of mercies I am bold in the name of Christ and by the hand of faith to lay hold vpon yet feeling the weakenesse and palsie of mine hand I beseech thee strengthen my vnbeliefe And what assurance I cannot haue from my saith weakely embracing thee let me haue it from thy selfe embraced by me yea rather embracing mee who art mighty to saue Thou didst enable thy seruant Iacob to lay hold on thee and not to lot thee goe till thou hadst blessed him Lord giue me the same strength the same courage the same successe Nay let mee not let thee goe for any blessing For what blessing doe I seeke of thee but that thou abide with me by the presence of thy fauor For that blessing teach mee to wrestle with thee my God with the wrestling of God Thou hast promised thou wilt be found of them that seeke thee not and seekest them that goe astray from thee so haue I found thee or rather was found of thee when I was thine enemie the seruant of sin the souldiour of Satan Thou foūdest me by thy word reuealing the way of Saluation vnto me thou foundest me by thy spirit winning my heart vnto the obedience of faith yea it pleased thee to enter into couenant with thy seruant neuer to suffer that spirit and word of thine to depart from mee but to establish thy feare in mine heart that I should not depart from thee Giue me leaue to put thee in remembrance of that promise of thine wherein thou hast caused mee to put my trust and by vertue thereof to claime the continuance of thy fauour and loue Oh let it neuer be said that thou forsakest the workes of thine owne hands or that thou repentest of shewing mercie whose glorie it is to repent onely of the euill Shew thy selfe to bee Iehouah that changest not that thy gifts and callings are without repentance and that thou louest with an euerlasting and victorious loue that ouercommeth all impediments Truth it is O Lord that I deserue thou shouldest be wearie of me and from henceforth pursue me with thine hatred seeing I haue walked so vnworthy of thy loue But though my sins doe testifie against me yet deale thou with me according to thy Name Let thine owne gracious and constant nature moue thee Let thine owne promise and the word of thy Couenant binde thee Let the beginnings of thine owne workemanship and lineaments of thine image preuaile with thee to continue thy mercie truth towards me vnto the end Let it suffice that I know mine iniquities and do not thou take knowledge of them Let it suffice that I set them in order before my selfe by serious examination and before thy Maiestie by vnfained and heartie confession and doe not thou enter into that heauie Iudgement with mee as to set them in order before mee to reprooue me for them Let it suffice that I now look vp by thy spirit of grace vpon my Sauiour whom I haue pierced with my sinnes and doe not O Lord doe not gather my soule among those that shall at the last day behold him to their confusion and waile before him for euer Yea Lord therefore thou shewest mee my sinnes that thou mightest shew mee thy mercie in the pardon of them therefore thou teachest mee to reproue my selfe that I might beleeue in thee who iustifiest the vngodly therefore thou causest the wound of my conscience to bleed and smart that I might looke to thee in Christ in whom thou healest the broken hearted and bindest vp all their sores Thou O Christ art annointed of God the Father to be the author of this soueraigne cure Thou art the Sunne of righteousnes that sheddest the beames of health and saluation into the hearts of thy people Thou hast taken my flesh vpon thee that beeing the kinsman thou mightest bee fit to recouer my patrimonie lost in Adam and to raise vp liuing seede vnto my dead nature O spread the skirt of thy garment ouer me and shrowde my soule from the wrath of GOD my iudge Let the sweet perfume of thine vnualuable sacrifice take away the odious sauour of mine iniquities Let the cry of thy precious blood speaking good things in the eares of God the Father drowne the loud cry of my grieuous transgressions Let thy glorious face and countenance appearing before God for me turne away his eyes from my sinfull deformities Let thy death be my ransome and propitiation to deliuer me from the wrath to come and thine obedience the price to purchase for me the kingdome of glorie Thine it is O Sauiour by a double right The one of nature as thou are the euerlasting Sonne coequall with the Father by which thou claimest for thy selfe the glorie thou haddest from the beginning The other of purchase by thy voluntarie submission and obedience to that Law of which thou wert the Lord and maker which it pleaseth thee by the Couenant of grace to dispence to all beleeuing repentant sinners Herein herein O Christ grant that with all Saints I may haue my share and may enioy that which thou in my behalfe hast so fully payed for Let the assurance of this thy mercie giue rest vnto my conscience from the terrors of death and hell Let the expectation of this thy glorie sustaine my
soule whiles I flutter about like the Doue of Noah finding no rest in this world ouer-flowed with wickednesse till it shall please thee to stretch forth thine hand out of the Arke of heauen and take me to thy glorious rest Finally O my Lord being come vnto thy kingdome remember me thy seruant with the fauour of thy people and visit mee with thy saluation Let me see the felicitie of thy chosen and reioyce with the ioy of thy people and glory with thine inheritance Let mee in this life behold thy face in righteousnes and when I shall awake in the resurrection of the iust let mee bee satisfied with thine image To thee O Christ with the Father and the Holy Ghost one God and King euerlasting be all glorie dominion mercie and saluation ascribed for euer Amen A priuate Prayer for the grace of Sanctification O Lord God Father of lights author and giuer of euery perfect gift the holy one of Israel and the sanctifier thereof before whom the Seraphims hide their faces and in whose sight the heauens are not pure When I compare my filthinesse and pollution with thine absolute puritie I cannot without feare and astonishment without shame and confusion approch into thy presence that am a vile sinner of polluted lips and of vncircumcised heart But when I consider thy great mercy and goodnesse that doest open vnto sinners not onely a way into thy fauourable presence by the vaile of the flesh of Iesus Christ but also thy gracious hand to bestow the gift of holinesse vpon all those that finding lacke of it in themselues doe seeke it of thee I am encouraged to come before thee compassed as I am with miseries and infirmities that I may returne from thee compassed and cloathed with thy glorious graces O Lord if I let thee see my sinnes and defilements thou maiest proceed in iudgement against mee for them if I hide them from thee how can I look to bee cured and cleansed of them Nay I cannot hide them from thee O Lord but labouring to conceale them I shall make them more apparent Onely shew me this fauour not to behold them as a Iudge to bee auenged of them but as the onely soueraigne Physitian of my soule to cure and heale them And so good Lord let me not spare to open vnto thee the sicknes and sores of my corrupt heart and life Yea rather doe thou O Lord for the beginning of thy gracious worke shew me in the glasse of thy word my pollution by sinne that I may seeke after the lauer of thy grace to bee washed and made cleane Light vp O Lord in my heart the lampe of thy word and grace that of thee who onely searchest the heart I may learne to search know my wicked heart by the light of thy word I may bee able to worke vnder groūd vnto the bottome of the mine of sin that lurketh in my nature Let mee count all my sins as Traitors vnto thy glory my safetie search the house of my heart for them but especially for my speciall sin as for the chiefest Rebell Yea grant mee so to search my self that I may auoid preuent thy dreadfull search so to iudge my selfe that I may auoide thy iudgemēt so to cōdemn my self that I may auoid thy sentence so to hate and abhorre my selfe that I may auoide thy wrath so to be auēged of my self that I may auoide thy punishment Let sinne O Lord be as bitter to me in the attempting as in the repenting at least wise more bitter in the repenting then euer it was sweet in the committing that either heedfull preuention may keepe me from bitter repentance or the bitter reares of repentance may exempt mee from that most bitter account in the day of thy iudgement Teach me to bring into discredit with mine heart all iniquitie and all appearances thereof Grant me strength to ouercome my sinfull lusts at least let me alwaies striue against them that I may be assured I am a member of thy Church militant And whensoeuer I cease to striue let me not boast of victorie or reioice of ease but be ashamed of my foyle flight Grant that vnto faith in thee I may alwaies ioyne feare not onely of Satan with whom I am in conflict but also of the frailtie and trecherie of mine owne heart and of the slipperie paths of this sinfull world Bring downe by the batterie of thy spirit the hils of my high and proud thoughts streighten my crooked and distorted affections make plaine and smooth the rough waies of my rebellious and stonie heart that thou maist walke at ease in the middes of me and that I may see thy saluation O God Let me looke on the pleasures and profits of this life not onely as thy liberall allowances to me but also as Satans baites to inueigle me that moderately vsing them I may bee thankefull to thee for them and auoiding the excesse and abuse of them I may bee free from the snares of the Diuell Yea doe thou so weane me from the loue of the world and the things thereof that Satan may bee to seeke of baites to allure mee to sinne Let me account my selfe a stranger on earth and therefore abstaine from fleshly lusts that fight against the soule Let me not value the pleasures of sinne at so high a rate as for them to make shipwracke of a good conscience before thee or of a good report among men Let mee by light esteeming of outward things shew that I take no thought for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof and by the deniall of my selfe approue that I liue by faith putting on the Lord Iesus Christ Teach me not to set my heart on vncertaine riches which the more I desire to haue and loue when I haue them the more they will vex mee when I am to part with them but let mee vse them as things that must shortly leaue mee or I them and thy word onely as that which shall abide with me for euer Teach me with Iacob to account my selfe lesse then the least of thy mercies that by humilitie I may bee fitted for greater graces In all things giue mee grace to take heed of offending thy Maiestie and as I would not thou shouldest breake the brused reede or quench the smoaking flax in mee so graunt that I may not dare to quench the sparke of thy spirit and grace in my heart As I would thou shouldest giue mee rest from the terrors of thy wrath so grant that I may giue thy spirit rest from the prouocations of my sinnes On the other side good Lord grant mee that knowledge of religion that may beget conscience that conscience that may preserue religion binding me not by guilt to the punishment of sinne but by grace to the obedience of righteousnesse setting mee at libertie not from the band of dutifull loue but from the yoake of seruile feare Enlighten mine eies that I may discerne of
to come will come and will not tarrie Q. How shall Christ come to iudgement A. Euen in his d Act. 1.11 humane body but e Mat. 25.31 with vnspeakeable glorie attended with all the holy Angels of God and with the f 1. Thes 4 1â— shout of an Arch-Angell Q. How shall all men be brought into the presence of Christ the Iudge A. a 1. Cor 15.52 The dead shall be raised with their owne bodies and the liuiâ—â— changed and that in a moment at the sound of the last trumpet Q. Shall the resurrection of the Elect and the Reprobate be the same A. No. For b 1. Cor. 15.52 53. the Elect shall rise with glorious bodies but the Reprobate with bodies full of vncomelinesse Q. How shall men appeare before Christ A. c Luk. 21.28 1. Thes 4.17 The Elect shall with ioy be caught vp to meete the Lord but d Reu. 1.7 6.15 16. the Reprobate with horror shall bee drawne into his presence SECT LI. Of Examination and sentence Q. HOw shall men bee tryed in this iudgement A. e Ro. 2.12 15. According to the will of GOD manifested vnto them by nature or by Scripture and the testimonie of their owne consciences touching their obedience or disobedience thereto Q. Shall the Elect vndergoe this tryall A. Yea but with great fauour for a Ezek. 18.22 Reu 14.13 not their sinnes but their good workes onely shall bee remembred and those not strictly censured but onely produced as proofes of that faith in Christ whereby they haue b 2. Pet. 1.10 11 entrance into the kingdome of God Q. How shall sentence bee pronounced A. Christ the Iudge shall award vnto c Mat. 25.34 the Elect the blessed kingdome promised and to d Mat. 25.41 the Reprobate the curse of euerlasting fire e Rom. 6.23 which they haue deserued SECT LII Of the Execution of the last Iudgement Q. HOw shall this sentence be executed A. a Mat. 25.46 Christ by his Almightie power and ministerie of Angels shall caâ—â— the Diuels and wicked men into hell fire and after carrie vp the righteous with himselfe into the blissefull and euerlasting kingdome of glorie ECCL 12. ver 13 14. Let vs heare the end of all feare God and keepe his commandements for this is the whole of man For God will bring euery worke vnto iudgement with euery secret thing whether it be good or euill A short Prayer for the Morning O Eternall and Almightie Lord God who in vnspeakeable wisedome and goodnesse hast made all things for the good of man and man with al and aboue all things for thine owne glorie wee humbly acknowledge our selues to be vtterly vnworthy of the least of all thy mercies which wee either enioy or desire to enioy For O Lord wee are not onely weake creatures vnable to giue vnto thee first that wee should bee recompenced but also sinfull and vnthankefull wretches not rendring vnto thy Maiestie according to thy kinde and gracious dealing with vs. Thou createdst vs O Lord in thine owne image endued with wisedome and true holinesse adorned with all bodily perfections aduanced vnto dominion ouer all thy workes of wonder but wee all in Adam by breaking thy Couenant forfeited our birth-right deâ—aced thine holy image and made our selues more vile then the beasts that perish Thus were wee borne into the world an increase of sinfull men full of ignorance and vanitie of minde of rebellion and obstinacie of heart secure in conscience peruerse in affections vnbridled in appetite vtter enemies vnto thine holinesse carelesse to know or seeke after thee vnwilling either from thy blessings or from thy iudgements to take knowledge of thee Yea Lord when thou causedst the light of thy glorious Gospell to shine vnto vs our foolish hearts despised that light and preferred darknesse before it because our deedes were euill so that if thou hadst not giuen vs as well sight as light and a minde as well as meanes to know thee who art true euen to this day our eyes had beene still blinded by Satan the God and Prince of the darknesse of this world But blessed for ouer be thy glorious Name who for thine owne mercies sake not our merite and by thine owne Almightie power without any disposition or concurrence on our part hast effectually called vs vnto the knowledge and obedience of thy Gospell But what can we plead for our selues O Lord that haue walked vnworthy of this thy great grace and as much as in vs lieth againe defaced thine image in vs euen the new creature For since the time that we gaue our names vnto Christ and professed our selues to bee of his partie wee haue many waies and many times treacherously ioined with Satan with the world and our owne corruption to sinne against the honour of our Sauiour and against the light of knowledge which shineth into our consciences so that by our disobedience and rebellion we haue weakened the cause of thy Truth and opened the mouth of the Aduersarie to reproch the holy Gospell of thy Sonne Iesuâ— Christ which we professe Finally our whole course conuersation aboundeth with continuall breaches of all thy righteous lawes and is shamefully barren of those fruits of righteousnesse which by Iesus Christ should redound vnto thy praise and glorie Wherefore O Lord wee freely confesse against our selues our great wickednesse wee iudge our selues worthy â—o be destroyed for all our iniquities we abhorne our selues and repent before thee in dust and ashes we fly only to thy rich mercie grace in Christ Iesus beseeching thee for his sake to haue mercie on vs with his bloud to wash clense vs from all our sinnes in his face and countenance to behold vs in his absolute merite mediation fauourably to accept vs. So shall there be no condemnation for vs being in Christ Iesus who was made sinne for vs that wee might be made the righteousnes of God in him Further O Lord that wee may soundlie assure our selues that wee are in Christ and withall be enabled to walke more worthie of thy grace wee beseech thee make vs more and more partakers of the spirituall power both of the death and life of Christ Let the power of his death mortifie in vs all carnall and sinfull lusts let it crucifie the world vnto vs and vs vnto the world let it dull and dead our hearts vnto the allurements of sinne let it make vs sencelesse or carelesse of the discouragements that are or may be offered in the way of well-doing Let it arme vs with this mind rather to suffer any trouble and forbeare any pleasure then by sinning against thee to hazard the peace of a good conscience On the other side let the quickening power of the life of Christ reuiue our dead nature vnto new obedience let it in flame our hearts with the loue of thy maiestie let it make thy word sauourie vnto vs and more desirable then our
forgiuing iniquitie transgression and sinne Thou hast made many faithfull promises that thou wilt bee found of them that seeke and sue for mercie vnto thee Thou hast satisfied thy Iustice in the accursed death of thy Sonne our surety and Sauiour Iesus Christ for the sinnes of the whole word of thine elect Thou hast giuen vs of thy Spirit wherby euen we sinfull wretches are taught and enclined to forgiue for thy sake such as haue offended vs how much more wilt thou shew thy selfe a faithfull and mercifull God to pardon all our sinnes and to clense vs from all vnrighteousnesse Wherefore O Lord heare O Lord forgiue O Lord consider nâ— giue a gracious answere vnto our supplication for the Lords sake Yea Lord teach vs to rise vp with thy Maiestie against our sins that our warre with them may assure vs that we haue peace with thee Let vs not be such traitors to thy Maiestie as to harbour thine enemies Breake of in â—uerie one of vs the wicked customes of sinning abolish the power and dominion thereof crucifie the loue and affection thereto Let vs in the bloudy passion of our deare Sauiour see the ougly face heare the dreadfull cry and feele the intolerable burden of our transgressions And let vs not as if the loade were yet too light let vs not blessed God adde more vnto the waight and measure of our sinnes but rather let vs in our proportion beare part in the sufferings of our Sauiour ceasing from sinne for his sake who for our sakes refused not to offer vp his innocent soule a sacrifice for sinne Lord teach vs to doe thy will Knit our hearts vnto thee that wee may feare thy name Let thy good Spirit leade vs in all the pathes of righteousnesse and make our barren nature fruitfull in good workes Quicken vs O Lord for thy names sake with the life of grace and stablish our hearts with thy free Spirit Teach vs freely to submit our selues to the easie yoake and light burden of our Lord Iesus Christ Let thy grace so frame vs vnto heartie obedience that thy commandement may not be grieuous vnto vs. Let thy loue in Christ Iesus be so shed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghost that no difficulties may discourage vs in the way of well doing Let the meditation of the glorious kingdome prepared for vs so possesse and affect vs that the loue of this present world may seeme base and vnworthy of vs. Let the expectation of the suddaine comming of our Lord Iesus Christ so awaken vs that the momentanie pleasures of sinne or cares of this life may not lull vs a sleepe and ensnare vs. Watch ouer vs this night by thy gracious prouidence preserue vs from the dangers of the darknesse refresh vs with the moderate vse of thine ordinance of rest and sleepe raise vs vp with health of bodie and cheare of heart to the duties of the next day Let thy kindnesse and mercie follow vs all the dayes of our life Bring vs in peace with good report especially with a good conscience vnto the bed of the graue that after the sleepe of death wee may awake vnto blessed immortalitie Preserue thy whole Church and adde thereto from day to day such as shall be saued Be mercifull to this Land forgiue the common and crying sinnes of profanenesse worldlinesse crueltie and abuse of thy long patience and liberall blessings especially of thy Gospell Giue grace vnto all estates truely to returne vnto thee and to seek thy face and fauour Especially poure downe a liberall shower of all bodily and spirituall blessings on the Kings Maiestie with the Queene and Royall family sanctifie and assist the Magistrates and Ministers Continue these blessings of peace and of thy Gospell vnto the posteritie after vs. Blesse all that loue vs and are by any band linked or allied vnto vs. Yea take pittie of those that causelessely hate vs. Shew vs all O Lord thy mercie in this life and in the life to come grant vs thy saluation through Iesus Christ thine onely Sonne and our alone Sauiour To whom with thee O Father and thy blessed Spirit be all praise power dominion and obedience henceforth and for euer Amen FINIS